CH 6.2

The next day, Bai Shaoqing left some money to thank the farmer for allowing him to stay the night, and his mood was more excited than ever.

After another seven days of wandering around, the money he had earned that day by playing the zither in the br*thel had been almost used up. Although Bai Shaoqing was skilled in martial arts, he was very noble and virtuous, he abhorred theft and robbery aside from of course stealing martial arts techniques.

He weighed the light money pouch in his hand, and then bought a steamed bun, and sighed, “I don’t have any more money. I won’t rent a room tonight. I will go to the suburbs to find a family who might let me stay over for the night.”

After leaving the city centre, he found that he was surrounded by the romantic scenery of the mountains and flower blossoms.

Although Bai Shaoqing was cold and arrogant, there was also a kind of soft-heartedness in his bones. Seeing the wildflowers blooming in the mountains, he was actually like a child, wandering around the mountains for a long time in wonder. By the time it was necessary to go ask a family if he could stay over for the night, he had already passed all of the villages and would have been unable to find anyone.

“There’s no place to stay.” Originally with his qinggong, he could find the next village in about half a shichen. But he knew that someone was secretly stalking him. How could he be willing to reveal his identity, he said to himself with a smile, “I’ll use the heavens as my blanket.”

He looked for a clean section of the grass next to the stream, and really laid down and slept all night.

The next day Bai Shaoqing woke up to the fragrance of flowers and the song of the birds, and suddenly felt different. When he got up, he saw that the money pouch around his waist was heavy, and there was a paper bag on the grass beside him. 

Bai Shaoqing opened it. There were two steamed buns and a half a roast chicken inside. They were all steaming hot. It was obvious that someone was afraid that he would not be able to eat breakfast, so they had bought it specially for him from the city. 　　

Bai Shaoqing knew very well what had happened, but deliberately feigned suspicion: “Why is there food here? Huh? Why is my money pouch so full? Oh gosh, have I bumped into the Mountain Gods.”

Whilst he was smiling internally, he bowed all around him and said: “Last night, Shaoqing disturbed the Great Mountain Gods’ cultivation, please forgive me. I dare not accept these things. There are many people in this world who are worse off than I. If the Great Immortals wish to do good deeds and accumulate virtue, I will help carry it out on your behalf.”

He picked up the food and the money pouch, and headed all the way back into the city, and unexpectedly, he gave everything to the little beggars at the city gates. The little beggars cheered for a moment, before immediately gathering together to divide the half of the cold roast chicken. Bai Shaoqing watched them gobbling down the food, he smiled slightly and then turned to leave.

He had given everything away and he had spent everything that he had earned. Not to mention paying for accommodation, he didn’t even have enough to buy food. When Bai Shaoqing passed by the restaurants, he couldn’t help but think of the good wine and food in Luoyang’s Tan Xiao Pavilion, he laughed bitterly inside: This joke had gone too far.

He shook his head a few times, looked at the restaurant’s wooden signboard, held back his drool and was just about to turn around, when he suddenly heard a hearty laugh: “Isn’t this Bai xiongdi?” 　　

Bai Shaoqing turned his head in amazement and saw Feng Long rushing out of the restaurant. Feng Long grabbed his hand and said with delight: “Xiongdi left without saying goodbye and for some reason left behind the gift I offered. Da-ge has been chasing you all this way and has finally found you.” He thrust the Bilu sword into Bai Shaoqing’s hands and then pulled him into the restaurant.

“Why is da-ge here?”

“I have a matter to deal with around these parts, I knew that you travel around a lot, and thought that I might bump into you, so I brought the Bilu Sword with me. Unexpectedly, I managed to really bump into you.”

Feng Long asked Bai Shaoqing to sit down at the table with many delicious plates upon it and then hurriedly called the waiter over to order some more delicacies and good wine.

Bai Shaoqing was even more angry. He had always been calm and collected, but today he seemed in competition with Feng Long. He said coldly: “Why don’t you ask who was bullying me? Da-ge once said that you would teach a lesson to all those who bully me, are you going back on your word?”

*Bang*! Feng Long smacked his chopsticks on the table.

His handsome face was dark, he brooded for a long time before he said coldly: “How could I not know? These last few days, I have been following you. Watching you play the zither in the br*thel, watching you fearlessly provoke that hedonistic son of the Prefectural Magistrate, watching you dare to sleep outside alone in the middle of nowhere, Shaoqing, you have too much courage.”

“Why did da-ge follow me?” Bai Shaoqing straightened his neck: “Does the Wulin Alliance Leader like to sneak around?”

“You left without saying goodbye, wasn’t it because you didn’t want to see me?” Feng Long said angrily: “If I jumped out to save you, would you be happy? I wanted to give you the Bilu Sword back and leave, but seeing your troublesome appearance, how could I not worry about you?”

Bai Shaoqing shook slightly, his eyes sparkled suddenly, and he lowered his head hurriedly.

“If you knew that I didn’t want to see you, then why did you suddenly come out and pretend to invite me to dinner?” 　　

The two of them walked leisurely. In the beginning, it was Feng Long who was following Bai Shaoqing, but unconsciously, it gradually turned into Bai Shaoqing who was following Feng Long around visiting the sights and scenery everywhere.

Feng Long enjoyed seeing wonderful scenery, and the places he yearned to see were either deep in the mountains or over steep cliffs.

“There is Yuzhi Mountain1 nearby. On the 20th of every month, on the peak of the mountain, the spring water flowing down reflects perfectly the moonlight from the heavens. It is a truly beautiful sight.” Feng Long pointed to a spot not too far away

Bai Shaoqing turned his head, the mountain really did look like a finger, although it was thin and long, it stood very much upright.

Bai Shaoqing smiled and said nothing.

Feng Long’s gaze suddenly froze. His eyes were always deep and astute, at this moment they looked a little disoriented, after looking at Bai Shaoqing for a long while, there seemed to be an additional gleaming ray of light in his eyes.

A calm hand came slowly as if breaking through layers of obstacles, gently pressing on Bai Shaoqing’s thin shoulders.

Bai Shaoqing was feeling a little numb, as if his shoulder had been touched gently by someone for the first time, as if this was the first time that someone had looked at him in this way. In his haziness, he seemed to have an urge to deliver himself.

He had delivered himself quite a few times, only this time, he was actually very nervous.

Under the moonlight, Feng Long was incredibly handsome with his slightly tanned skin and thick eyebrows which revealed a strong personality; it was as if he had been meticulously sculpted by the heavens.

His throat felt dry, Bai Shaoqing moved his lips, suddenly he felt that he didn’t want to wait any longer.

“Da-ge…….”

An indistinct noise, it was like a pebble skimming on the surface of a calm lake, as if disturbing the impeccable reflection cast by the moonlight. Feng Long suddenly shook, as if he’d suddenly come back to his senses, his face looked panicked and ashamed, but all this quickly faded away, and then he smiled: “Shaoqing, your clothes are all wet, although the weather is warm, you will still catch a cold like this.” With his hands still pressed on Bai Shaoqing’s shoulders, he quietly used his martial arts to dry the other’s clothing.

A burst of warmth came over him, and Bai Shaoqing stared at Feng Long: Although he likes me, he doesn’t dare to tell me. Oh right, he believes me to be of noble character and unquestionable integrity, someone of pure innocence, how could he know that I’ve been sullied long ago?

A night of unparalleled scenery, with the addition of some unspeakable thoughts between the two of them. The sky was gradually getting brighter, Feng Long glanced at Bai Shaoqing and said softly, “Shaoqing, close your eyes.” His words were not as clear as yesterday evening.

Bai Shaoqing secretly smiled internally and opened his eyes: “Da-ge, although I don’t know martial arts, I have always longed to be like the people of Wulin flying here and there. If you hold me and perform qinggong, I won’t be afraid.”

“Do you like qinggong?” Feng Long asked, “I will teach you.”

“It’s too late to learn now, such a pity.” Bai Shaoqing sighed, “As long as someone is willing to show me a taste of qingqong that’s enough.”

Feng Long’s eyes flickered again, then he lowered his head and smiled for a long time: “Then I’ll carry you up the mountain everyday.”

“Great, We saw Yuzhi Mountain last night, where are we going tonight?” 　　

Feng Long frowned, then his eyes lit up suddenly, and he said excitedly: “I’ll take you to a place. There is a place where no one is allowed to go, the scenery there is very unique.”

“Where?”

“Don’t ask, just follow me.”

He stretched out both his hands, grabbed Bai Shaoqing and headed down the mountain.