Chapter 66: Hangzhou Part 4

Hulü Guang lived up to his nickname “Bai Ju Er”—truly like a lean, sturdy white horse. Seeing Xiang Xian enter the pool, he hurried over to pour tea, then instructed servants to prepare ice for cold tea, bustling about naked.

“Stop fussing,” Xiang Xian said. “No need to serve me.”

“Good, good.” Hulü Guang spoke with a trace of lingering fear. Xiang Xian realized he had lost A Huang, and his heart ached. His attitude toward his companions had been poor, so he softened a little, beckoned to him, and gestured for Hulü Guang to sit closer.

“Has Xiao Kun been here?” Xiang Xian asked.

“Everyone has finished washing up,” Hulü Guang said.

Xiang Xian nodded. He saw Hulü Guang studying him, hesitating as if he wanted to say something. Xiang Xian raised an eyebrow, but Hulü Guang remained silent. A moment later, Xiang Xian lowered his head and breathed slowly, while Hulü Guang raised his hand. The light of the Heart Lamp glowed in his palm as he slowly approached.

Xiang Xian said, “Planning to sneak attack me?”

Hulü Guang laughed and said, “This will make you feel better, Master.”

With that, Hulü Guang pressed the Heart Lamp from his palm against Xiang Xian’s forehead. In the instant the white light seeped in, Xiang Xian improved once more, just like the last time he had lost his father. Hulü Guang had healed him with this gentle external force—the grief and guilt of losing his father had been transformed into insight into life and death when the Heart Lamp infused his Divine Sense.

This time, a spark of hope ignited in Xiang Xian’s heart. Though A Huang was gone, he still believed he could save it. This was not a permanent farewell; they still had hope, as long as they faced it together with their companions.

That was exactly how they had come this far.

“Thank you. I feel much better,” Xiang Xian said.

Hulü Guang said, “You lie here.”

He blindfolded Xiang Xian’s eyes with a strip of cloth. Xiang Xian lay down horizontally, crossed his legs, and leaned against the rocks in the shallow water of the hot spring pool.

Humans were strange creatures. Those endlessly troubling problems sometimes suddenly became less tangled at a certain moment—perhaps that was the meaning of a sudden flash of insight. They would face them sooner or later.

Because of this, Xiang Xian regained a bit of strength. At that moment, he felt that the victories they had achieved along the way far outnumbered the defeats. Even the battle at Dongting Lake had, in a certain sense, thwarted King Mu’s plans.

Confidence was returning, and Xiang Xian began to believe he could save A Huang—it was only a matter of time.

Footsteps sounded. Xiao Kun arrived; he had already bathed and changed clothes. Seeing Xiang Xian lying by the pool, he said nothing and simply stood on one side of the steaming misty pool, watching silently.

Hulü Guang looked up. Xiao Kun signaled that it was fine—Xiang Xian had unknowingly fallen asleep. A moment later, Hulü Guang withdrew, while Xiang Xian continued to lie in the pool.

“How long did I sleep?” When Xiang Xian woke, the sky was nearly pitch black.

“A little while,” Xiao Kun said from where he sat by the pool. “Shall we go eat dinner?”

“Let’s go.” Xiang Xian’s spirits had improved greatly. The two returned to the hall, where their companions had been waiting for some time. But since Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun had not arrived, no one had touched their chopsticks. Zhen Yue was chatting idly with Chaosheng.

It was the Dragon Boat Festival that day, and the Zhen Family had prepared various zongzi—meat-filled ones, red bean paste ones, and other seasonal foods. The peeled rice dumplings were placed in lacquerware, the glutinous rice glistening and round, the fresh meat tender and savory. There were also local favorites like stir-fried eel with oil and mutton hotpot. During the meal, Zhen Yue said, “My mother says you’ve all been traveling hard. You’re probably tired today, so why not meet tomorrow instead? It would give you time to rest.”

“Thanks,” Xiao Kun said. “That’s true.”

The group had been battered by wind and dust that day; no one wanted to discuss serious matters. They only hoped for a good rest. Madam Zhen must have heard from her son about the fierce battle at Dongting Lake and understood their situation.

Zhen Yue spoke only of Hangzhou’s local customs and scenery. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun were lost in their own thoughts and said nothing. After the simple dinner, everyone dispersed to rest. The clouds gradually cleared, revealing a crescent moon in the sky.

Chaosheng said, “It seems pretty lively outside.”

Zhen Yue replied, “It’s the festival today. The flower boats have been put away, but there’s still a night market by West Lake.”

Wu Yingzong said, “It’s on the other side of the lake—too far. Let’s stroll by the lake tomorrow. Tonight, shall we walk along the edge?”

Zhen Yue suddenly remembered and said, “We still have some leftover fireworks from New Year’s. Want to set some off? I’ll go get them, though they might be damp.”

“Sure!” Chaosheng said. “Everyone come!”

Xiang Xian returned to his room and sat for a while. Not wanting to sleep yet, he got up and went to the courtyard. Xiao Kun’s room was not far across from his bedroom, and the door was closed.

Xiang Xian felt he should talk to Xiao Kun about his current mood and situation.

But Xiao Kun was not in his room. Xiang Xian followed the corridor to a garden on one side and saw someone under the moonlight, back to the corridor, head down as if doing some handiwork. Xiang Xian thought it was Hulü Guang at first, but upon approaching, he realized it was Xiao Kun.