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墨書 Inktalez
Is this the place?
Spirit Sword Destiny supported the Master, turned around the shadow wall, and walked into this unremarkable courtyard. The house was quite old, with moss growing at the base of the walls, and in the center of the yard stood a lush Ginkgo Tree.
A woman with her hair tied up in a bun, dressed simply, was sweeping the floor with swift movements. Catching a glimpse of them entering, she put down her broom and came forward, bowing slightly: "You must be the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master, right? Your friends are coming today, and I have already cleaned the house thoroughly." She introduced herself, saying, "You can call me Sister Yu. I come here to clean and cook." Shen Jinglan nodded: "You carry on with your work; we will explore on our own."
Surrounding the courtyard was a main house, along with two side rooms on either side. They first entered the left side room.
"Let me handle those trivial matters; there's no need to call in an outsider," Spirit Sword Destiny said.
Shen Jinglan shook his head: "Yin, I only want you to accompany me here for rest, not to serve me."
Spirit Sword Destiny felt helpless and asked again: "Then who are the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master she mentioned?"
"I had someone buy this house and hire help while spreading the word that two brothers would be living here. I am your elder brother," Shen Jinglan smiled slightly, glancing at him sideways. "Do you want to hear her call us 'Master' and 'Madam'?"
Spirit Sword Destiny turned his head away, speechless under his gaze.
Shen Jinglan changed the subject: "Take a look around the room to see if anything is missing; we can go out later to get some supplies."
"Okay, I'm looking," Spirit Sword Destiny replied. He had already been paying attention without needing to be told.
He had promised the Master that he would set aside all affairs for this month and accompany him wherever he went. However, he did not expect that the Master's wish was simply to stay in a mundane place and live a plain life for a month.
The Master had gone up the mountain to cultivate since childhood and had not been involved in worldly affairs since then. Perhaps he wanted to experience how ordinary people live.
This house was also chosen by the Master; it seemed that someone had lived here before but had been relocated by the Master’s arrangements. The Master did not let him interfere with these matters; everything was personally arranged by him.
The furniture in the house showed signs of age, with a dull sheen that made it look somewhat fragile. However, the bedding had all been replaced with new ones, the window paper seemed to have been redone, and the floor was very clean.
Shen Jinglan looked at a wall and said, "That wall is too empty; we need to hang a painting of flowers and birds."
They went through the rest of the house one by one, and Shen Jinglan had many more suggestions.
Next to a bunk bed, he wanted to add a bronze stove, and on top of the peach wood cabinet, he wanted to place a jar of Sugar Melon. Stepping outside, he noticed the yard was a bit empty as well; he suggested placing a large vat under the Ginkgo Tree to raise a few golden red koi fish.
Surprisingly, even though it was winter and other households had strings of cured fish and preserved meat hanging from their eaves, they had none and needed to add some.
The previous residents had probably pickled some items but took them along when they moved out.
"Yin, what are you laughing at?" Shen Jinglan suddenly asked him.
Spirit Sword Destiny smiled and said, "The Master has such good spirits."
He indeed took a careful look at the furnishings in the house. The essentials for daily living were quite adequate; he hadn't expected that the Master was concerned only with these things.
It seemed as if he really intended to stay here for a long time, living just like an ordinary person.
Sister Yu had already gone into the kitchen to busy herself. Spirit Sword Destiny said, "I'll go talk to her about the cured meat." He walked in and glanced at the jars of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar on the stove; they were clearly all newly replaced. He nodded to himself.
He gave Sister Yu some silver coins and instructed her to buy some cured meat and salted fish.
Sister Yu accepted the money and then asked, "Second Master, I noticed that the Master seems unwell. Is there anything he should avoid eating?"
"No need," Spirit Sword Destiny thought she was quite considerate. He replied, "Just make it light."
"Alright!" Sister Yu responded, indicating she understood.
Sister Yu was busy preparing dinner, and they went out to the nearby market to shop.
Spirit Sword Destiny supported the leader as they wandered through the bustling market. In the end, they really bought two framed calligraphy pieces, a ceramic jar for storing sugar, and a pound of Sugar Melon.
They concealed their aura and pretended to be ordinary people. Even the Cosmic Bag was disguised as a common cloth bag. In front of the many people in the market, it was inconvenient to stuff everything into the Cosmic Bag, so Spirit Sword Destiny carried everything by hand; it wasn't too heavy anyway.
As for the fish tank, they also found a Celadon Jar that one person couldn't wrap their arms around; it seemed quite heavy. Although Spirit Sword Destiny could carry it with one hand, it might attract too much attention, so they agreed with the shopkeeper to pay a deposit and have someone deliver it later.
When they returned home, dinner was ready. After eating, they placed all the new items in their designated spots.
After putting the ceramic jar filled with Sugar Melon on the top shelf, Shen Jinglan sat down on the edge of the bed in this room.
He was already feeling a bit exhausted. After a quick wash-up, he intended to lie down and rest.
"I'll sleep here from now on. Which room do you want to stay in?"
He looked at Spirit Sword Destiny with deep eyes.
"Then I'll sleep next door. If you need anything, just call me," Spirit Sword Destiny replied.
Shen Jinglan moved his lips as if wanting to say something but hesitated.
Later that night, Spirit Sword Destiny heard intermittent coughing coming from next door. After a long while, it finally stopped; it seemed that he had fallen asleep.
The next morning, Spirit Sword Destiny returned from the market.
He heard that there was a breakfast shop nearby famous for its rice cakes, which were snatched up as soon as they were made. One had to go early to buy them. Based on his understanding of the leader, he figured that the leader would love to eat them.
As he walked into the courtyard, he immediately spotted the Master. Surprisingly, the Master was up early today. While chatting with Sister Yu, he used both hands to hold onto the grass rope, helping her pull up a wooden bucket filled with water from the well. Sister Yu hurriedly reached for the grass rope in his hands, seemingly embarrassed to let him, a "patient," assist her.
"Big... Brother, let me do it," Spirit Sword Destiny exclaimed in shock as he rushed forward.
He almost let the word "Master" slip out.
Shen Jinglan turned at the sound and smiled at him. With a quick switch of his hands, the sound of water splashing echoed as the heavy bucket was pulled up from the well's edge.
When it was time for breakfast, Shen Jinglan enjoyed the hot tea brewed by Sister Yu while eating rice cakes and tasting some dishes. Suddenly, he said, "I chatted with her and found out that I once fought with her grandfather." He chuckled happily and took another bite of rice cake. "But he couldn't beat me; he ended up crying and ran home to find his parents."
It was just the two of them having breakfast, as Sister Yu had already stepped away.
"What? If what the Master says is true, then this place is..."
"Yes," Shen Jinglan replied. "This is my ancestral home, where I used to live."
He glanced around the hall: "Many places have changed, but I can still vaguely see traces of the past." His voice carried a hint of nostalgia.
Spirit Sword Destiny couldn't help but follow his tone and re-examine the house. It seemed that this old residence belonged to a branch of the Shen Family that had split off to avoid disaster. As for the main family, they had been exterminated overnight by Tang Xuan Zhu's master; the once-renowned Shen Family Manor had long since become ruins.
He had sensed this already, and now many things made sense.
Spirit Sword Destiny thought for a moment and asked, "The koi in the fish tank under the tree—could it be that you raised them during your childhood?"
Shen Jinglan smiled and corrected him: "Don't call me Master; call me Big Brother."
"...Big Brother." Spirit Sword Destiny had no choice but to change his address.
"Mm," Shen Jinglan nodded, his bright eyes filled with enthusiasm. "When I was young, there was a large jar at home that housed five red Carp." He smiled and continued, "I was quite mischievous back then and made a bet with others. This koi had such vibrant colors that it didn't look like it could be eaten at all, but I thought, why not? If I eat it and something happens, it's my own fault. So, I secretly caught one, asked the girl next door to help me gut and scale it, and I started a fire to roast it myself. After eating it, nothing happened, and I won a bag of fish skin peanuts."
Spirit Sword Destiny couldn't help but laugh and sigh, "You... big brother were really quite the troublemaker back then. I wonder how that koi tasted. Do you still want to catch a few from the jar now to relive the old flavors?"
"Forget it, it's not tasty at all, not tasty in the slightest," Shen Jinglan replied. "Let them stay in the fish tank peacefully."
"That jar of Sugar Melon, is that also a childhood treat you remember fondly?"
Shen Jinglan said, "It's a bit sticky; actually, I didn't love it that much. There's a story behind it. Back then, I was as mischievous as a monkey; no one could outdo me. The kids on this street all looked up to me as their leader," he sighed lightly. "But it didn't matter much; when I got home, I still got beaten. My father would hit me hard, and when he did too much, my mother couldn't bear to see it and would sneak some Sugar Melons from the jar on top of the cupboard and quietly put them in my palm."
"However, although my father had his reasons for hitting me each time, many times I felt unjustified," Shen Jinglan said. "Back then, I thought if I ever had children in the future, I would never hit them; I'd just talk to them reasonably."
"To be your descendant must be quite a blessing," Spirit Sword Destiny remarked.
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinglan's face of Xu Xiaofei appeared in his mind.
At this moment, Shen Jinglan took a nap while Spirit Sword Destiny walked alone under the Ginkgo Tree in the courtyard, looking down at the green-glazed jar containing Carp swimming gracefully in the clear water.
They had bought them after some inquiries from an old shop that had been passed down through generations. Perhaps one of these five koi had been eaten by the master long ago...
Thinking of this made him smile. It seemed he saw the reflection of young Shen Jinglan in the clear Water Surface.
With short spiky hair and a fair face adorned with a lively smile, he exuded a vigorous vitality.
Since they were here to take a break from their affairs, they didn't ask about anything after settling in. With nothing much to do, they played chess or read books. Sometimes they would go out for a stroll and let Sister Yu know not to cook for them as they were going to try out famous restaurants in the city.
Spirit Sword Destiny noticed that Shen Jinglan's energy seemed to be declining more and more; his coughing at night gradually increased. It seemed that before long, the master would have to enter seclusion again.
Shen Jinglan wanted to take a walk along the lakeside again.
Spirit Sword Destiny naturally accompanied him. As they walked halfway, the number of tourists gradually decreased until only the two of them remained. All that could be seen were the withered branches of the Weeping Willow, reflected in the shimmering lake. Spirit Sword Destiny noticed that the body he was supporting was becoming heavier with each step, realizing that the leader was tired and needed a place to sit and rest. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Shen Jinglan say, "I can't walk anymore."
He withdrew his arm from Spirit Sword Destiny's support and wrapped his arms around his waist from behind, whispering, "Let me lean on you for a while." He rested his head on Spirit Sword Destiny's shoulder.
"Alright," Spirit Sword Destiny replied without moving. The leader's breath was so close to his neck that he could clearly feel it… shallow and rapid; this body was weak and fatigued, perhaps trembling slightly due to illness. Yet the hands holding him did not let go.
Just like in that illusion...
Shen Jinglan's thoughts suddenly drifted far away.
This time it was no longer an illusion; he had long wanted to hold Spirit Sword Destiny like this.
He had always been straightforward and candid, never one to be shy or reserved, but there was one thing he could never bring himself to say. First, he didn't know if Spirit Sword Destiny felt for him anything beyond respect and admiration for a mentor; second, he might not have more than five years left to live. If Spirit Sword Destiny shared similar feelings for him, that affection would only become a burden, a shackle of the dead upon the living... Shen Jinglan felt a mix of emotions and suddenly thought of Xu Xiaofei. If he and Spirit Sword Destiny were to become romantically involved, would Spirit Sword Destiny ever be able to let him go?
In the end, he dared not and could not.
In the first half of his life, he lived boldly and freely, never compromising himself; perhaps his friends indulged him knowing he was destined for a short life. Yet in the second half of his life, he learned the meaning of "endurance," enduring endless physical suffering and suppressing his feelings for the person before him.
Shen Jinglan suddenly said softly, "The scenery here is quite nice, isn't it?"
The other person shivered slightly and took a moment before replying, "Yes... the scenery here is quite nice."
The waters of Xiao Se Lake spread out before them in early spring, with distant mountains in varying shades of indigo. They quietly gazed at the lake and mountains.
After a while, Shen Jinglan slowly released his hold and straightened up. "I’ve regained some strength; let’s go."
Spirit Sword Destiny supported his arm again, and they walked together, occasionally chatting as if nothing had happened.
After returning from the lakeside, Shen Jinglan went to sleep. His cough persisted, and he felt alternately cold and hot, gradually becoming disoriented.
In a daze, it seemed that someone pushed the door open and entered, gently wiping the blood from the corner of his lips, feeding him some warm medicine, and cleaning his body drenched in cold sweat before changing his inner garments.
When he woke up for the second time, Spirit Sword Destiny was still by his bedside, looking at him with concern. He had not slept all night, yet his face showed little sign of fatigue.
Shen Jinglan could not get up and could only lie there saying, “Pack up; we’ll return to Youzhou tomorrow. I miss Chef Yao's pastries.”
Spirit Sword Destiny smiled and said, “After all this time of me mentioning it, the Sect Leader finally wants to go back.”
Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning that Shen Jinglan had originally estimated he could hold on for another month before needing to enter seclusion, but now he could no longer endure; it was a sign that his illness had worsened.
A fragrance wafted in from outside. Spirit Sword Destiny said, “Sister Yu has prepared breakfast; you must be hungry. I asked her to make some plain porridge and vegetables. I’ll go get it.”
He stood up to leave when Shen Jinglan grabbed his hand.
With a smile, he said, “Don’t rush; I still have a few words for you.”
He glanced around; the room seemed just as it had been in the past. He said, “This guest room is where I used to sleep. My father loved to lecture me; every time he started teaching me something, I would find an excuse to slip away. My mother also tried to save me and would call me to help her with chores during those times. But once I fell from a tree and broke my leg, I could only lie in bed. When my father wanted to lecture me then, I couldn’t run away anymore, and my mother couldn’t save me either.”
It was just like now—enduring pain while bedridden.
“My father pointed at the beams of the house and said there were Ancestral Spirits. Whatever mistakes I made or troubles I caused were all being watched by my ancestors; he made it sound so real that it almost frightened me. Later on, when I began my cultivation journey, I realized that those who had passed away had reincarnated and wouldn’t be watching over me. However, assuming Ancestral Spirits are still present, my return this time is just for them to take another look at me.”
When he was young, his parents died from an epidemic while he was staying at his grandmother's house and thus escaped disaster. He was later sent to Shattered Star Sect. As a teenager who had just begun to achieve success in his cultivation, he had taken the opportunity to return here when descending the mountain, hoping to buy back this house that had changed ownership.
He paused outside the courtyard, watching the family live happily and bustlingly, while he had bought the place but had hardly stayed there for a year before quietly leaving.
Years later, he returned once again.
"If there really are Ancestral Spirits, they probably wouldn't be too pleased with me. The main family specifically set aside a branch to ensure the continuation of the Shen Family bloodline for the sake of passing on the lineage. However, such matters should naturally follow fate; how can one force what cannot be forced?" Shen Jinglan smiled, "Although the Shen Family bloodline ends with me..."
He focused on Spirit Sword Destiny, and the hand that held it gradually tightened: "I brought you here so that they would know that I have no descendants; you are my entire legacy. I will leave everything I have to you. Of course, aside from other things, the most valuable are those cultivation insights and secret techniques. In the past, I taught you hand in hand, but over these years we have spent little time together, and your cultivation time has decreased compared to before. So after I return, I will begin to write down everything I've learned throughout my life."
"Master..." Spirit Sword Destiny looked down at the hand Shen Jinglan was holding.
He was not a man of few words, yet now he couldn't utter a single one.
Shen Jinglan also gazed at him for a long time before finally smiling and releasing his hand: "You go ahead; I'm a bit hungry."
There wasn't much to tidy up at home. After giving a few instructions to Sister Yu, they set off back to Youzhou.
Spirit Sword Destiny didn't want the Master to exert himself too much and ordered a Deer Chariot to be sent from the sect. Two horses resembling giant beasts, covered in tiger stripes and with hooves striking like thunder and fire, were harnessed to the chariot. The carriage was spacious and comfortable, enhanced by magical techniques; inside it felt completely smooth without any bumps.
Traveling day and night at high speed, they returned to the Youzhou headquarters after three days away.
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