Chapter 32: Xiao Yu
A thousand miles of destiny, a single thread of red string, a budding young girl, with a heart stirred in springtime, praying to gods and worshiping Buddha, offering congratulations for longevity, all in hopes of meeting that graceful young man during the most beautiful time of her life.
When Xianyue arrived at the foot of Beggar's Peak, various luxurious and exquisite carriages had already crowded the pathway, making further progress impossible. Reluctantly, she dismounted. Though she didn't particularly enjoy the situation, it wasn't much of a concern for Xianyue, who had spent most of the journey eating and drinking, her mouth barely pausing for breath.
Bai Zhanfeng, ever the gentleman, was the first to step down from the carriage, extending his hand toward Xianyue. To his surprise, Xianyue lifted the curtain, glanced not once in his direction, turned her back to him, and leapt off to the other side.
"So many people are watching. Can't you be a bit more ladylike?" Bai Zhanfeng withdrew his hand, his mood turning sour as he approached Xianyue, clearly displeased.
Xianyue blinked innocently at Bai Zhanfeng, tilting her chin up, "I didn't think the great Bai Zhanfeng was someone so delicate and gentle."
Speaking as if to herself, Lei An quickly chimed in, "I also thought Bai Zhanfeng cared only for martial arts and had no interest in such trivial matters as romance."
Lei Yun, deep in thought, added, "If Bai Zhanfeng treated Miss Nian this way, she'd surely be overjoyed."
Bai Zhanfeng turned around, his eyes burning with fury, glaring fiercely at Lei Yun, as if the very air between them had caught fire.
Lan Yixuan hadn't come, but clearly, these two were sent by him to stir up trouble. No wonder he was so relaxed—his confidence had been well-placed.
The mountain path was narrow and winding, and with today's special occasion, it was even more congested. Elegantly dressed noble ladies, accompanied by their servants, as well as girls from humbler households with their mothers in tow, filled the way. Yet none were quite like Xianyue, followed by three strikingly handsome men. Among them, Bai Zhanfeng, with his sharp brows and bright, star-like eyes, exuded the aristocratic bearing of the eldest grandson of the most prominent family in Chu. But he didn't carry the air of a playboy. What more could one want in a husband?
The further they climbed, the wider the path became. At the summit lay a vast open space, atop which the Temple of Yue Lao sat, giving the impression of a hidden ancient temple deep within the mountains.
At the entrance to Beggar's Peak stood a large gray stone, two men tall, with the bold red characters for "Beggar's Peak" clearly inscribed on its face.
"So lively!"
Before her, Xianyue saw a sea of people—men and women, young and old. The central path was paved with black and white cobblestones, and marble lined both sides, gleaming brightly. No aromatic street food, no hawkers' shouts, no overwhelming trinket displays. Yet this place still felt bustling.
Past the stone marking Beggar's Peak, they walked a few more steps. Lifting her gaze, Xianyue peered over the heads of the crowd to glimpse the towering, majestic Temple of Yue Lao. Those same men and women, young and old, flowed in and out of the temple, faces full of reverence. They knelt before the statue of Yue Lao, offering their birthday blessings, then picked up the wooden divination cylinder, closing their eyes and muttering prayers, hoping Yue Lao, in good spirits on his birthday, would grant them a perfect marriage.
"Let's go check it out," Bai Zhanfeng suggested, grabbing Xianyue's hand and steering her through the throng toward the temple.
"I'm not interested," she said flatly.
A martial artist's hearing was sharp, and despite the distance and the faint moonlight, Xianyue could clearly see the faces of girls her age holding newly drawn divination sticks, blushing and beaming with happiness. Their simple contentment made her uneasy. Without a second thought, she yanked her hand away from Bai Zhanfeng and strode off in the opposite direction.
Love? Marriage? Such things were not for Feng Xianyue to enjoy. Her happiness lay in protecting that fragile man who had brought warmth into her life.
"Bai Zhanfeng, happiness is something you hold in your own hands. How can you resort to praying to gods?" Xianyue stared at the pursuing Bai Zhanfeng, scrutinizing him from head to toe. It wasn't like him to do something so childish.
"Don't all you girls like this sort of thing?" he replied.
He had never pursued a girl before and had no idea how to win their hearts. He only remembered Nian Xiaoyu, who used to cling to him day and night, pestering him to visit the Temple of Yue Lao every day when they passed through Yanjing.
In front of Xianyue stood a massive night-glowing stone, its surface smooth and lustrous. In the moonlight, its red hue was even more radiant, resembling the Yue Lao depicted on the red lanterns. The god sat crouched, his head slightly lowered, with a long rectangular slot at his feet. Inside the slot were small jade figures, each the size of a palm, tied together by red strings. Yue Lao's bowed posture resembled that of a thinker.
Surrounding Xianyue were rows of girls her age, standing in reverent silence, hands clasped in prayer.
To Xianyue, this looked more like a naturally occurring work of art. She glanced at the people around her and smiled. She was the heavens, she was the earth. Her faith was in guarding that man.
A hundred steps down from Beggar's Peak, another wide expanse awaited, at the center of which stood a towering tree. Its thick trunk would require five people holding hands to fully embrace it. Xianyue looked up, unable to see the tree's top, as its branches seemed to merge with the night sky. This ancient tree, three or four hundred years old, was revered by young ladies as the Wishing Tree, said to be sacred. Legend had it that even if two people had never met before, as long as they wrote their names on a plaque, tied together with a red string, they would eventually come together and never be parted.
Plaques, grayish in color, had one side inscribed with one's own name, and the other with the name of a beloved. These plaques were then tied with a red string, symbolizing the bond of a married couple, forever united. At this moment, beneath the tree, pairs of men and women gazed upward, and refined gentlemen held plaques tied with red strings, tossing them onto the sacred tree, hoping it would bless them with everlasting love and companionship.
"Let's go," Bai Zhanfeng said, pulling the still-gazing Xianyue toward a stall selling the plaques.
Quickly surveying the options, Bai Zhanfeng grabbed the best purple bamboo plaque from the rack.
"Sir, you've got a good eye," the vendor began to praise Bai Zhanfeng, hoping to strike a deal, but a sharp glance from Bai Zhanfeng cut him off mid-sentence.
"Engrave your name," Bai Zhanfeng said, handing one of the purple bamboo plaques to Xianyue.
Xianyue looked at the plaque forced into her hands, then back at Bai Zhanfeng, suspiciously. His tone left no room for negotiation or refusal. But what right did he have to make her do this?
"If you said this to Miss Nian, she'd be moved to tears," Xianyue quipped, ready to return the plaque. But Bai Zhanfeng stopped her halfway, saying, "If you don't write your name today, I'll pester you every day from now on. No more drinking, no more snacks, and forget about sleeping peacefully."
Xianyue's hand paused, staring at Bai Zhanfeng, who looked entirely serious, without a hint of jest. Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand, took off the hairpin from her head, and engraved her name onto the plaque before handing it back to Bai Zhanfeng. "There, Bai Zhanfeng. It's done, just as you asked. Now, can you stop bothering me and controlling me?"
She wasn't one to bow down easily. It was just engraving a name. She didn't believe in such superstitions meant to fool children.
Lei Yun and Lei An exchanged a knowing glance, thinking to themselves that Bai Zhanfeng had grown smarter.
Bai Zhanfeng took the plaque with Xianyue's name etched on it, smiling smugly. He carved his own name on the other side, tied the two plaques together with a red string, tugged on it to ensure it was secure, and then said, "Wait here for me."
Bai Zhanfeng leaped into the air, like a dragon in flight, and swiftly reached the top of the Wishing Tree. Glancing around for the perfect spot, he hung the plaques on a high branch. Seeing Xianyue watching him from below, he grinned and was about to descend when a shout pierced the air: "Brother Feng! You found another woman behind my back? I'll kill her!"
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