“No shoving, absolutely not,” Mu Chen said as he found a spot amid the scattered peach blossoms and sat down. He pulled a folding fan from his robes, fanned the sweat from his brow, and said cheerfully, “Ah-Ci, you know about propriety between men and women. I was a hundred percent unwilling when you took Xun Changqing. Now that I’ve taken Zhou Man, it’s the same. How about we swap?”
Wei Lingci didn’t catch the meaning at first and asked, “How would we swap?”
“Simple. You give me Xun Changqing, and I’ll give you Zhou Man. Perfect for everyone!”
Mu Chen often spoke and acted absurdly, but they were minor things. He generally cared about Wei Lingci’s affairs, so Xun Changqing respected him somewhat. But swapping disciples? She’d never heard of such a thing. She glared at him, about to open her mouth in refusal.
“Xun Changqing, no talking!”
Mu Chen cut her off first, then turned to Wei Lingci and continued, “As you can see, Zhou Man is just a year younger than Xun Changqing, but she’s quiet and obedient. She’d definitely be well-behaved under you. Xun Changqing has a spoiled temperament—probably from some noble family—doesn’t like work, talks too much, disturbs your peace. Give her to me; Purple Ying Pavilion will be quiet and clean for sure.”
Xun Changqing tilted her head. If he put it that way, wasn’t she utterly worthless!
The three sat deep in the peach grove. Xun Changqing’s fair face was tinged pink by the surrounding peach colors, a rosy glow beneath the white. With her head tilted, her peach-blossom eyes shimmered with moisture. She really pondered Mu Chen’s words and found them amusing. Tricked by him in just a few sentences—truly such a child.
Mu Chen didn’t know that the sect leader had already sent word to her repeatedly, urging her to take Zhou Man. But she had long promised Xun Changqing that she wouldn’t take any more disciples in this lifetime besides her. Breaking her word would hurt her little disciple and dissipate the feelings built over these years. Moreover, Changqing had been obedient and sensible these years; she was fully satisfied and had no intention of taking another.
Smiling, she countered, “If Changqing is so unbearable, why do you want to swap?”
“I’m helpless about it—propriety between men and women. Zhou Man is a girl; how can I take her?”
“You don’t need to teach her. The Literature Hall and Martial Hall are enough; just guide her occasionally when you’re free.”
“Come on, don’t fool me. You keep Xun Changqing by your side day and night, personally teaching her martial arts. The literary and martial halls are just for show. If I did that, Master would chase me down cursing that I’m misleading the youth.”
Mu Chen truly had a headache. He really didn’t like having a little tail following him. Though Xun Changqing was only twelve, she was far more worry-free than her peers. The mountain disciples would gang up and fight at the slightest dissatisfaction—kitchens and training grounds were battlefields, youthful hot-bloodedness overriding all else. Only Xun Changqing was like a proper young lady, quietly following her master all day, well-behaved and rule-abiding, crucially never causing trouble.
Her martial and literary skills were outstanding, and she was so easygoing—she should’ve been brought back to Morning Cloud Pavilion. Perfect!
He patiently negotiated with Wei Lingci, but she smiled faintly as if he were joking. He dropped his smile and said solemnly, “Ah-Ci, I’m serious. You take Zhou Man, and I’ll bring Little Changqing back to Morning Cloud Pavilion. We’re neighbors; no issue there.”
Xun Changqing sat close to Wei Lingci and reached to tug her sleeve. She couldn’t speak, but coquetry would work too. But before her hand touched Wei Lingci’s hem, Mu Chen grabbed it and shoved her half a zhang away, completely separating her from Wei Lingci. Not even a glance could pass.
She huffed, leaned against a tree, turned, and kicked it. Instantly, peach blossoms rained down, brilliantly pink.
Wei Lingci looked up at the petals falling with Xun Changqing’s anger, casually saying, “Changqing has been in my tutelage for four years; I won’t abandon her midway. Brother, find another way. Either way, we’re taking disciples. If it’s not Zhou Man this time, it’ll be some Zhang San or Li Si next. Once on Soaring Cloud Mountain, they must obey the sect leader.”
Her words were resolute. Mu Chen knew her temperament—once she said it, it was final. Unable to persuade her, he conceded defeat. Looking at Xun Changqing standing like a green pine under the tree, he shook his head. Fine, someone else’s disciple couldn’t be stolen back. Better to see if he could shove Zhou Man onto Eldest Brother’s door instead.
In the end, only the two remained in the Peach Blossom Grove.
Xun Changqing scooted closer to her master’s side, sat cross-legged, very obediently. She turned her head to gaze at Wei Lingci, her fine brows lifting with her mood. “Master, did Grandmaster ask you to take Zhou Man first, and since you refused, it went to Second Uncle-Master?”
“No, I didn’t know about it beforehand.” Wei Lingci lay down again, slightly closing her eyes, but pondering Zhou Man’s identity. For the Soaring Cloud Sect Leader to value her so much, her background must be extraordinary.
Xun Changqing was in high spirits and lay down beside her, inching closer. She turned on her side to watch her, grabbed a handful of peach blossoms, and sprinkled them before her. The peach scent grew even stronger as she laughed. “Master, don’t fool me. Grandmaster must have asked you first before going to Second Uncle-Master.”
