Hua Yan had a wonderful dream that night, sleeping more soundly than she had in days. She felt extraordinarily at ease, but upon waking, she realized something was amiss—how could she sleep so soundly in the enemy’s stronghold!
Then she remembered Lu Chengsha.
Hua Yan swiftly untied her hairband and yanked open the curtain.
The sun was already high in the sky, its rays filtering through the window lattice. Lu Chengsha was still sitting on the floor. Upon hearing the noise, he turned his gaze toward her.
Hua Yan breathed a sigh of relief, “I almost thought you had left!”
Lu Chengsha replied, “I promised you.”
He didn’t say much more, but Hua Yan’s mood suddenly improved.
Just as Hua Yan was about to get out of bed, she heard Lu Chengsha say, “Change your clothes.” With that, he walked out.
“Oh.” Hua Yan responded, only then realizing she was still wearing Lu Chengsha’s clothes. She couldn’t help but think how petty Great Hero Lu was about such things—what harm was there in letting her wear them a bit longer?
After a moment’s thought, she called out, “Great Hero Lu, can I open your wardrobe?”
Lu Chengsha: “…”
There was a long silence outside the door before he responded in a muffled voice, “…It’s very messy inside.”
Hua Yan replied nonchalantly, “What do you mean by messy?”
Lu Chengsha clearly hadn’t seen her room. In her opinion, Lu Chengsha’s room was excessively tidy, with nothing out of place. If he hadn’t told her it was his bedroom, she would have thought it was an empty room that hadn’t been used in years. In their sect, only Qi Xiusi’s room could compare.
“So I’m opening it, okay?”
After another moment of silence, Lu Chengsha replied, “…Mm.”
Although it was just one word, Hua Yan could detect a hint of helpless resignation in it.
Of course, since he didn’t mind, Hua Yan felt no need to hold back.
The wardrobe was large, placed opposite the bed, and took up nearly half a wall. As soon as Hua Yan opened it, she couldn’t help but laugh again.
Last night, she had only glanced at it, but now she saw—ah, there really were a lot of things. The wardrobe was divided into several sections by shelves, and each section was almost completely full.
Originally, Hua Yan just wanted to see if there were other clothes since the ones she was wearing were indeed too long and didn’t fit well. However, upon opening the wardrobe, her interest shifted to other items.
She casually took out a small, finely crafted iron sword tablet and saw that it had the words “Champion of the Sword Competition” engraved on the bottom.
Hmph, Tingjian Manor has better taste than Dangshan Sect.
She kept searching and found a commemorative item from the Qingcheng Sect’s champion year, a finely crafted wine gourd accompanied by a poem about wandering the world with a sword and a bottle of wine. Unfortunately, Lu Chengsha didn’t drink.
Hua Yan placed both items on the table and continued her exploration.
Clothes and bedding naturally took up most of the space. It seemed that Lu Chengsha’s clothing, from childhood to adulthood, had always been the standard attire of Tingjian Manor.
Miscellaneous items were displayed on the side, including worn brushes and writing practice sheets, old sword tassels and used lanterns, several sword manuals, and some medicine for bruises and injuries—seemingly stored for a long time. There were also teapots, cups, ink stones, and bottles, all haphazardly stuffed in.
From these aged items, Hua Yan seemed to glimpse the boy who had gradually grown up.
Seeing something unfamiliar, Hua Yan couldn’t help but call out, “Great Hero Lu, can you come in for a moment? What is this?”
Lu Chengsha pushed the door open and saw Hua Yan had spread things all over, holding a piece of deer hide and a small can of oil, asking him.
He paused for a moment, then said, “It’s for oiling the sword.”
“Oh, oh, oh,” Hua Yan said enthusiastically, “Perfect, Great Hero Lu, take your sword off, and I’ll oil Wuren for you!”
Lu Chengsha didn’t understand where her enthusiasm came from. He had thought she would find it boring after a glance—there really wasn’t anything interesting in there.
Following her request, he unfastened the sword, not telling Hua Yan that he had just oiled it before leaving.
Soon, Hua Yan was lying on the floor, holding the oil in one hand and the deer hide in the other, carefully and meticulously polishing the sword. She was so focused that she didn’t even notice her bangs falling.
Before he realized it, Lu Chengsha found himself using his fingertips to tuck her bangs behind her ear.
Hua Yan looked up with a “Hmm?” as if she didn’t know what had happened.
Lu Chengsha slightly averted his gaze, trying to hide his nervousness.
Fortunately, Hua Yan didn’t notice at all.
She turned back and continued polishing Lu Chengsha’s sword.
Hua Yan really wanted to see if she could polish the sword to reveal a treasure-like appearance, but after a long time, she found the sword’s body was still black—it was just a piece of black iron. Well… she could consider it as helping Great Hero Lu maintain his sword.
After finishing, she touched the sword’s surface and found the texture quite nice.
She hadn’t touched it for long before Lu Chengsha coughed lightly.
Hua Yan asked, “What’s wrong?” She was a bit worried, “You didn’t catch a cold sleeping on the floor, did you?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “…I’m fine.”
The Wuren Sword had been with him for years. Though it wasn’t a legendary sword, its frequent use made it feel like a part of his body.
Using the deer hide to polish the sword had been fine, but now, seeing Hua Yan’s fair hand gently caressing the blade, Lu Chengsha felt something was amiss.
Seeing that he was fine, Hua Yan continued to touch the sword.
Lu Chengsha pressed her wrist with one finger and said softly, “…It’s polished enough. Give it back.”
Hua Yan responded, “Hmm?”
Wasn’t Great Hero Lu being a bit too stingy lately?
He couldn’t even bear to let her touch the sword a little longer!
If he wanted to touch the Chunhua Sword, Hua Yan would agree without hesitation—even though it was a sword he had given her.
Hua Yan felt a slight crack in her relationship with Great Hero Lu.
Especially when Lu Chengsha, after sheathing the sword, silently stuffed everything back into the wardrobe.
Did he really not want her to see them?
And she had painstakingly arranged them!
She felt that after arranging them, Great Hero Lu’s room seemed much more lively!
Hua Yan’s discontent was written all over her face.
Lu Chengsha had no choice but to open the wardrobe again and said, “…Feel free to arrange them as you like.”
Hua Yan was delighted.
Her room in the Zhengyi Sect was just like this, filled with various little things given by other elders and hall masters. Yu Ye or Xie Yingxian would occasionally bring her things when they traveled. Hua Yan liked to display them where she could see them at any time, even setting up several convenient shelves so that she could see the dazzling decorations as soon as she opened her eyes.
In no time, Lu Chengsha watched as Hua Yan turned his bedroom into what looked like a marketplace.
Lu Chengsha even wondered if he really had that many things.
Hua Yan finished arranging and clapped her hands, still feeling it wasn’t enough. She rummaged through the bundle she had brought with her and pulled out a scroll, which she then hung on the wall, admiring it with a look of satisfaction.
Lu Chengsha: “…”
He endured for a while before finally closing his eyes and saying, “Take that down.”
Hua Yan asked curiously, “Why? Doesn’t it look like you? I think it’s pretty good! I even bought two more! The vendor said it wards off evil, and I feel it does give a sense of security.”
Lu Chengsha said, “…Take it down.”
Hua Yan saw that Lu Chengsha really couldn’t accept having a portrait of himself hanging in his bedroom, so she said, “Alright, I’ll put it away in your wardrobe. Consider it a gift from me!”
Lu Chengsha inexplicably felt relieved but also found it strange.
It was just a portrait. Normally, he wouldn’t have felt anything seeing it, but having it on the wall with both of them looking at it made him very uncomfortable.
At that moment, the girl was still wearing his robe, standing on tiptoe as she forcefully stuffed the scroll into the wardrobe. Surrounding her were his old or rarely used items, creating a scene entirely different from his usual environment.
It seemed to vividly proclaim the presence of another person in his life.
Lu Chengsha felt momentarily dazed. After regaining his composure, he said, “Change your clothes, we’re leaving.”
“Oh… okay.” Hua Yan responded as she finished putting away the items.
***
Lu Chengsha led her out through the small door again. His reactions were much quicker than Hua Yan’s, and he always managed to avoid people they encountered along the way. Fortunately, it was midday, and there weren’t many people around. Before long, they reached the outskirts of a graveyard.
Unlike the orderly graveyard with neatly erected tombstones, this graveyard appeared neglected, with overgrown weeds and haphazardly placed tombstones.
After walking for a while, Lu Chengsha stopped in front of a tombstone.
The writing on the tombstone was somewhat childish, reading “Granny Xu’s Grave.” Compared to the other tombstones, the weeds around this one were cleared cleanly.
Lu Chengsha lowered his eyes, remaining silent.
Though his expression didn’t change, Hua Yan sensed a gentle emotion.
So she also paid her respects.
Thinking back, it hadn’t been long since she lost her own parents.
After her father and mother passed away one after another, Hua Yan had a period of depression, spending her time in her father’s study, reading martial arts tales to pass the time. Other disciples tried various ways to cheer her up, and Yu Ye would occasionally come to comfort her. It wasn’t until Xie Yingxian dragged her out to take on the role of the holy maiden that Hua Yan slowly accepted the situation and recovered.
But Lu Chengsha seemed to have no one left by his side.
Looking at the tombstone, Hua Yan thought to herself, Granny Xu, thank you. Great Hero Lu has really grown into a remarkable and kind person. I hope your spirit is at peace in heaven, and I hope Great Hero Lu can meet more people as good as you.
Before leaving, Lu Chengsha cleared the surrounding weeds again, and Hua Yan helped him.
“Did you write the words on the tombstone?” Hua Yan asked.
Lu Chengsha replied, “Yes.”
Hua Yan casually said, “They’re quite cute.”
Lu Chengsha: “…”
After pulling out the last weed and shaking the dirt off his hands, Lu Chengsha said, “She had a son, who was an outer disciple, but he also died later.”
So that’s how it was.
Hua Yan sighed.
As they walked away, Hua Yan asked, “Where is your mother’s grave?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “I don’t know.”
Hua Yan was shocked, “Huh?”
Lu Chengsha explained, “She sent a letter through someone, saying she was already dead.”
What?
“Could there still be a chance?” Hua Yan wondered. But if his mother wasn’t dead, why wouldn’t she come to see Lu Chengsha?
As she was pondering this, she suddenly heard Lu Chengsha ask, “When did your parents… pass away?”
Hua Yan was taken aback for a moment, then replied without much thought, “My mother passed away about two or three months ago, and my father a little earlier than that.”
Lu Chengsha asked, “Was it… very hard for you?”
Hua Yan was stunned again.
Could it be that Lu Chengsha actually felt sorry for her?
She wasn’t particularly affected by it anymore, but since Lu Chengsha asked, she nodded and said, “Of course, it was hard, but it’s all in the past now.”
As she spoke, she felt a hand patting her head.
Hua Yan gave up resisting and leaned her head in, finding the touch quite comforting.
Then she heard Lu Chengsha ask, “Who killed them?”
Hua Yan: “…”
Her father had died of illness, and her mother had relapsed and given up on treatment… how should she explain this!
Seeing her silence, Lu Chengsha asked again, “Was it related to that person from last time?”
His tone hadn’t changed, but Hua Yan detected a hint of coldness.
Although Yu Ye wasn’t a good person, it wasn’t fair to blame him for this.
Hua Yan shook her head and said, “It has nothing to do with him.” She thought for a moment and then vaguely added, “In short, it happened in the Demon Sect.”
Lu Chengsha patted her head and said, “I will avenge them for you.”
Hua Yan felt touched but could only muster a wry smile. “…Thank you.”
After walking a bit further, she heard Lu Chengsha ask, “Are you very familiar with him?”
Hua Yan asked, puzzled, “You mean?”
Lu Chengsha clarified, “You and that person.”
Hua Yan never expected him to ask this suddenly and felt a bit guilty. But then she remembered that she had long since cut ties with Yu Ye. Ever since Yu Ye betrayed the sect, they had nothing to do with each other.
Feeling confident, Hua Yan said, “I’m not familiar with him!”
Lu Chengsha nodded at her words, “So he was indeed lying.”
Hua Yan nodded vigorously, “Yes, that’s right, everything he said is fake. Don’t believe him!”
Lu Chengsha replied, “Mm.”
Hua Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
Afterward, she sensed that Lu Chengsha seemed to have something he wanted to say but was holding back. She waited and waited until she couldn’t bear it any longer and said, “Great Hero Lu, if you have something to ask, just ask!”
Lu Chengsha finally said, “…What were you like as a child?”
That was her question from yesterday!
His voice grew slightly smaller, as if this curiosity made him feel a bit embarrassed, but he was still very earnest, “I want to know.”
They were already preparing to head up the mountain. Hua Yan thought for a moment and said, “Wait here for a bit.”
After hearing Lu Chengsha’s “Mm,” Hua Yan quickly went to Tingjian Manor’s kitchen. Using her lightness skill, she moved swiftly, grabbing a few dishes and packing them up before quickly returning to Lu Chengsha’s side.
“Alright.” Hua Yan patted the food box in her hand and said, “The road to Meditation Cave is long. Ask me anything you want to know, and I’ll tell you from the beginning! I’ll start from when I was just born. Although I only know from what my parents told me, it should be accurate. When my mother first gave birth to me…” She handed an oiled paper-wrapped chicken leg to Lu Chengsha and took one for herself, eating as she spoke, “…I was very small, not even five pounds. Our… our relatives and friends were worried about whether I could survive… My father was also very worried, afraid that if I was born ugly, my mother would be so upset she’d smack me to death…”
Lu Chengsha tilted his head, listening to her finish, and said, “You weren’t ugly.”
“Of course, I’m not ugly now! That was just when I was born…” Hua Yan said, realizing that Lu Chengsha hadn’t eaten at all. She quickly added, “Don’t just listen to me, Great Hero Lu, eat while it’s hot!”
Lu Chengsha had no choice but to eat as he walked, listening to her.
Hua Yan replaced the people from her sect with neighboring relatives and friends, enthusiastically recounting the events of her childhood in detail, using her hands and feet to gesture animatedly as if performing. After talking for so long that her mouth went dry, she stopped and drank some soup. Noticing that Lu Chengsha had stopped to wait for her, she suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and asked, “Um… am I talking too much? Should I be more concise?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “No, keep going.”
Hua Yan, still uncertain, blinked and asked, “Really?” She had never talked this freely in her sect.
Lu Chengsha nodded seriously, as if afraid she wouldn’t believe him, and said again, “Really.”
Hua Yan instantly felt relieved, “Then I’ll continue! Where was I…”
Lu Chengsha said, “Your third birthday.”
Hua Yan continued enthusiastically, “On my third birthday…”
The last time she came, carrying a food box, the path to the top of the mountain seemed so long. Hua Yan used her lightness skill and still took a long time to reach the Meditation Cave. This time, with the daylight bright, she and Lu Chengsha walked and ate together, making the journey seem very short. By the time she was talking about her fifth birthday, they could already see the frost and icicles ahead.
The cold wind howled, and frost flowers touched her face, but Hua Yan suddenly felt that it wouldn’t matter if the road were a bit longer.