Chapter 44:
Peach Blossom Spring (Part 1):
Robbery or Seduction?
Two figures emerged from behind a small tree stump, their steps slow and cautious as they approached Chen Henian and the others, keeping their distance.
“Are these the outsiders?” Two girls’ voices, young and curious, their words tinged with a local accent.
“Wang Mazi went to get Granny. We’re here to take a look.”
“Cuicui, that’s strange, what are they wearing?” The jingling of bells accompanied their whispers.
“Are all outsiders like this?”
“Apparently.” Cuicui, the bolder of the two, walked over to Chen Henian, crouching down to examine him.
“Don’t get too close,” her companion warned.
“I’m not afraid,” Cuicui giggled. “Look!”
She pointed at Chen Henian. “This one is handsome.”
Then at Zuo He. “This one’s not bad either. They’re both good-looking.”
Her companion scoffed. “Don’t be silly. What are we going to do with them?”
“Which one do you like better? We can take him home and make him our husband. You’re of age now, aren’t you?” Cuicui teased.
“No way!” The other girl exclaimed, her face flushing, not from disgust, but shyness. “You’re dreaming!”
“Can’t I even dream?” Cuicui retorted.
“Dreams are allowed.”
They exchanged glances, giggling.
“We’re so lucky,” Cuicui looked at Chen Henian’s face, his eyes closed. He was different from the men in their village, his skin so fair, his long eyelashes, his straight nose, his thin lips, all so delicate and beautiful.
She had never seen such a handsome man. She reached out, wanting to touch his face, but he suddenly opened his eyes, startling her.
“Are you trying to take advantage of me?” He wasn’t surprised by her actions, his gaze fixed on her.
Cuicui gasped, scrambling backward, her hand reaching into a small pouch at her waist, throwing a handful of powder at him.
Chen Henian quickly shielded his face. It was peach blossom powder, the same scent as the peach forest, slightly fragrant, a bit irritating to his nose, but harmless. He waved his hand, dispersing the powder, then slowly sat up.
Cuicui stared at his eyes, the black pupils dusted with pink powder, like stars in a dark sky, even more beautiful now. She sat down abruptly, stunned.
“Cuicui!” Her companion rushed to her side, helping her up. She looked at Chen Henian, her voice filled with surprise. “Why… why didn’t you faint?”
“Yes, why didn’t I?” he countered, his height forcing them to look up at him.
“You’re quite resilient!” The girl, unsure what to say, puffed out her chest, her voice defiant. “Just wait until Granny arrives! She’ll teach you a lesson!”
Cuicui tugged at her companion’s sleeve, trying to calm her down.
Just then, another figure stirred.
“How unreasonable! We haven’t done anything to you,” Jiang Wan sat up, rubbing her eyes, a smile on her lips. “You’re the ones who drugged us. Who’s taking advantage of whom?”
The girls stared at her, dumbfounded. “You’re alright too?”
“We’re both fine, but he’s not,” Jiang Wan pointed at Zuo He.
“He’s just sleeping,” Cuicui whispered.
“How do we know you’re not lying?” Jiang Wan asked.
Cuicui sighed, under their scrutiny. “Fine.” She took a small, black pill from another pouch. “Give him this, he’ll wake up soon.”
“Cuicui!” her companion protested.
“It’s alright, Granny will be here soon,” Cuicui said, tossing the pill to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan caught it, placing it in Zuo He’s mouth. The pill must have been bitter, his face contorting as he swallowed it. Cuicui didn’t seem worried, so it probably wasn’t poison. He woke up a few moments later, gagging.
“What happened?” He looked at them, his voice confused. “What did I eat?”
Jiang Wan told him to ask the girls.
He looked at the unfamiliar faces, their blue clothes and pleated skirts, the crescent moon pendants around their necks, the silver bells in their hair.
Cuicui, seeing his gaze, explained, “It wasn’t poison. We won’t harm you, as long as you don’t cause trouble.”
In this strange place, with these strange people, who was harming whom?
“Really?” Chen Henian said. “Weren’t you just trying to touch us? What were you planning to do while we were asleep? Robbery or seduction?”
“I wasn’t! No way!” Cuicui protested. “You’re filthy, who would want to touch you!”
Filthy? He was a bit dirty.
Chen Henian looked down at his mud-stained clothes, his face darkening.
Cuicui giggled. “And you smell! I just made you smell nice with the peach blossom powder. You’re welcome.”
The two girls, their faces bright and cheerful, their skin fair, their cheeks rosy, looked young and innocent.
Chen Henian, remembering his purpose, checked the compass, wanting to proceed, but Cuicui stopped him. “You can’t go in until Granny arrives.”
“We’re looking for something. We’ll leave once we find it,” he said.
“There’s nothing here that belongs to you,” Cuicui tilted her nose up, making a face. “Only bugs. Do you want some?”
She held out her hand, and a hard-shelled insect with wings crawled out of her sleeve, flying towards Chen Henian’s face.
“I raised it. Do you like it?” she asked.
Chen Henian, his expression unchanged, caught the insect between his fingers.
Cuicui gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
“I can crush it,” he threatened.
“No, no, no—! It’s just a harmless little bug! I like it very much! Please, let it go!” she pleaded.
Her voice was sweet and childish.
Chen Henian, unmoved, said, “Where are we? Who are you?”
The other girl, her temper flaring, said, “This is our home! What do you want?! Let it go, or I’ll poison you!”
“Poison?” Chen Henian seized on that word.
“Yes,” the girl said. “We have plenty of poison. Are you afraid?”
Yunan, insects, poison.
He felt a flicker of familiarity, a distant memory, but nothing concrete.
“Such a fierce little girl,” Jiang Wan said, rolling her eyes. “I also have something scary. Do you want to see?”
Without waiting for their reply, she summoned the Black Wraith, its aura so powerful it made their heads spin.
“Are you afraid of ghosts?” she asked, smiling sweetly.
The Black Wraith’s presence darkened the sky, and the girls screamed, running away, just as a group of people approached, dressed in similar clothes, led by a middle-aged woman, two bare-chested men flanking her.
“Granny! Granny! You’re here!” The girls hid behind the woman.
The woman, Granny, tapped her wooden staff, the bells attached to it jingling, stopping the Black Wraith’s advance.
“Mountain-Shaking Wood,” Chen Henian’s voice dropped, recognizing the powerful artifact. Only those with high status in the Daoist community possessed such a staff.
He released the insect, which flew back to Cuicui.
With the adults present, Jiang Wan recalled the Black Wraith, smiling at the woman. “Greetings, Elder.”
Zuo He also bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Elder.”
Chen Henian remained silent, wary of the woman’s intense scrutiny.
She waved her hand dismissively, stepping forward, her gaze sweeping over them, her eyes dark and unreadable.
She snorted, looking at Chen Henian. “Is Zhou Xianzhi your father?”
Chen Henian was startled, not by the disrespectful term, but by the mention of his master’s name.
“Tell the truth!” the woman’s voice was sharp, her hand tightening around her staff, her eyes searching.
“You’re mistaken,” Chen Henian replied. “I’m his disciple.”
“Disciple? He took a disciple?”
“With your fate, it’s not surprising,” the woman’s tone was unpleasant, but she knew more than she let on. “Where’s Zhou Xianzhi? Is he dead?!”
“He’s still alive,” Chen Henian replied.
“He’s clever, sending a disciple in his place,” the woman said, her voice laced with disapproval.
“Perhaps he’s too old and frail to come himself.”
“He is old,” Chen Henian said.
The woman glared at him, and he looked back, his expression a mixture of innocence and confusion.
“Enough, follow me.”
She turned and walked away, leading her entourage.
Chen Henian, his mind filled with questions, followed her along a narrow path, leading to a cluster of wooden houses, a large, well-established village, its roofs adorned with jingling bells.
“Granny, which one is he?” Cuicui, her curiosity piqued, asked, walking beside her.
“An old friend,” the woman replied, a hint of something in her voice.
An old friend?
Chen Henian was intrigued.
His master, despite his skills, wasn’t well-regarded. He was a trickster, using aliases, known in the community as the Three Yin Hand.
Why Three Yin Hand?
Because of his three yin aspects.
First, his unique Yin Hand technique.
Second, his specialization in dealing with yin entities.
Third, his cunning and deceitful nature.
Those who crossed him were often left humiliated and penniless.
His master’s real name was Zhou Xianzhi, but only those close to him knew it.
The woman, despite being called Granny, wasn’t old, perhaps forty years old, her arms strong, her demeanor mysterious. Chen Henian observed her discreetly, until he noticed the silver bell at her waist, a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
His master had a similar bell.
He had mentioned it once, while drunk, a beautiful place in the depths of Yunan, with serene mountains and rivers, and beautiful women.
But he had never elaborated, rarely speaking of his past.
The woman’s surname was Zhao, a respected elder in the village, her granddaughter Zhao Cuicui.
Granny Zhao led them to her house, her authority evident as she dismissed the villagers gathered outside.
Two hosts, three guests.
Cuicui served them tea.
They sat around a circular table. Granny Zhao placed her staff on the floor, looking at Chen Henian. “Ask your questions. Staring at me won’t give you any answers.”
Chen Henian averted his gaze, taking a sip of tea, observing the room, its wooden walls and simple furnishings, a secluded and ancient place.
He put down his cup, his voice serious. “I have only one question.”
“Have you had breakfast yet?”
He frowned, his stomach growling. “I’m hungry. Food first.”
