Wei Qingming’s lungs and internal organs had been injured by He Hong’s ice and snow, leaving her with a persistent cough for several days. It was a pity; despite winning such glory for the sect, she didn’t even get a decent bowl of medicine. Not only that, but the very next day after returning to the sect by boat, she was summoned to the Lingbao Pavilion to serve as a pill-refining attendant for Chief Qu.
I followed her to the Lingbao Pavilion and watched, heart aching, as she coughed while channeling the True Sun Fire into the furnace. She merely smiled and said, "It’s warm here, at least. Azhi, if you find the heat unbearable, you don’t have to stay with me."
"Chief Qu is truly too much! Could he not wait a bit before making you fire up this wretched furnace? He’s tormenting a sick person!" I said huffily. "Besides, you’re the sect’s greatest hero! Why stay in this broken place? Martial Aunt Wei, you should just leave the sect!"
Wei Qingming chuckled and winked. She reached out, twirling a stray lock of my hair between her fingers, and whispered, "I was the one who... *cough*... asked to come immediately. Once these seven days of punishment are over... *cough, cough*... we shall set off for Gomeng Mountain, alright?"
So, it was for me again. She likely had official duties coming up soon, and she had to rush through everything to make time. My eyes welled with tears of pity and affection. I leaned into her embrace, nodding silently.
The night patrols assigned by the Divine Firmament Hall went ignored, and the spiritual herb garden of the Clear Nuance Pavilion was left unguarded. Martial Aunt Wei slickly slipped away from the sect. As guests, our group followed Deacon Cheng, who efficiently handled the paperwork and politely saw us to the mountain gate. Our friends from the sect accompanied us deep into the peach blossom forest before turning back.
It was nearly the eleventh month, and the winter winds of the north were rising. Wei Qingming, newly recovered from her cold, stood wrapped in a fur cloak. She waited for us amidst the bare, gnarled branches of the leafless peach forest, a smile on her face. Awane and Honglu stood behind her.
The moment I stepped past the gate, I rushed toward her, running down the mountain slope and falling heavily into her arms. I tilted my head to look at her face; the sickly pallor had vanished. I pressed my forehead against hers to confirm she was well, then broke into a joyful smile.
Honglu would accompany us to Gomeng Mountain, but Awane came to bid me farewell, offering a graceful bow. "The Master has given me a task. It is a shame I cannot meet your master, Miss. Please accept these humble gifts." She handed over a gift box, which Honglu smartly took and placed with the rest of the luggage.
Lu Kaifeng had already discussed the return journey with Wei Qingming. Surprisingly, Wei had funded the charter of a flying boat. Though there were only eight of us, the vessel was a luxury craft meant for twenty, easily accommodating the two sets of carriages and horses we had used on the way there.
The flying boat was swift. The journey was not much further than the trip from the capital to Gomeng Mountain, taking just over a day and a night. Along the way, everyone gathered in the cabin to play cards. Ren Xuzhou, who had missed the final two matches, was meeting Wei Qingming for the first time and was intensely curious. Lu Lingfeng took the opportunity to introduce her as my lover. Third Brother loved such gossip, and his interest grew even sharper... though he was disgruntled that Wei Qingming was so handsome, claiming she was only slightly inferior to himself.
Zhu Yixin, who had bickered with him since childhood, rolled her eyes and threw a handful of melon seeds at him. "You’re far worse than Qing-di! You’re like a tortoise swallowing a lead weight—you have no idea how heavy you are."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. While I agreed with her judgment, I didn't think that was quite how the idiom went...
Ren Xuzhou clamored for justice, asking everyone to weigh in. Lu Kaifeng and Qiao Songlin ignored him. My opinion and Zhu Yixin’s were obvious, and Lu Lingfeng, for the sake of future treasures, naturally had nothing to say...
Wei Qingming, however, was exceptionally sycophantic. To please my "family," she was willing to say anything, no matter how contrary to the truth. She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "A man as refined and handsome as Third Brother is rare in this world. I cannot hope to compare." Ren Xuzhou, satisfied, let out a great laugh and, in his joy, played a terrible card, losing the round miserably.
As we headed south, the climate grew warmer. The Myriad Demon Stockade still held the colors of late autumn. Once we passed Jin Province, Wei Qingming spent her time by the cabin window, watching the scenery. Though she had traveled the world and surely passed this way before, her heart was different now. Her eyes were full of tenderness as she looked upon the land where I had grown up for over twenty years.
As the Pancuan countryside passed and the murmuring Yuan River came into view, the mountain gate appeared. Lu Kaifeng said, "I shall go ahead," and used a movement technique of the Meal-Cloud Realm, transforming into a streak of light to report to our Master.
Wei Qingming seemed unable to focus on the scenery any longer. She stood up, saying she would change her clothes. It was rare to see her nervous. I giggled and teased her for a good while before letting her return to her room.
Finally, we arrived at the familiar mountain gate. Everyone chatted and laughed as they disembarked and headed to their respective quarters. Lu Kaifeng waited at the steps of the Luomeng Pavilion, whispering with a smile, "Master knows. You may enter."
As we reached the hall doors, it was my turn to be nervous. Wei Qingming simply smoothed her robes as usual, stood at the base of the steps, lifted the hem of her robe, and performed a half-kneeling salute. She called out toward the interior with steady composure, "Wei Qingming, disciple of the Wujing Sect, pays respects to Master Huan of Gomeng Mountain."
"Hehe." A crisp, feminine giggle drifted from the hall; she was clearly still lounging in bed. "Is this the Wei lad? I’ve heard much of you. Come in, quickly."
I covered my face. I always felt that the one lacking dignity was my Master, the elder who never followed the rules... Fortunately, Wei Qingming had seen my memories long ago and likely knew of Master’s irreverent nature, otherwise, this would have been mortifying.
Wei Qingming stood up briskly, brushed a non-existent wrinkle from her lapel, and walked slowly into the hall.
Today, the Luomeng Pavilion was styled like a royal celestial garden, a sign that Master was in a good mood and intended to put on airs to intimidate a guest. This was consistent with her habits. Precious seal incense drifted in silky threads of smoke, veiling her reclining figure on the couch and adding an air of mystery. As I walked behind Wei Qingming, I broke into a cold sweat. Since she hadn't gotten out of bed, I feared Master might still be in her nightgown...
Fortunately, by the time Wei Qingming stood respectfully in the center of the hall with her head bowed, Master had gracefully descended from the couch, having at least donned a robe suitable for guests. Her charm was particularly potent today, her smile enchanting as she masked her lips with her hand. Alarm bells rang in my head—was she planning to use her beauty to test if her disciple’s future husband was loyal and reliable?
However, she didn't know that Wei Qingming was actually a woman. Her methods for dealing with men likely wouldn't work...
Master kept her hands behind her back, tilting her head as she looked the "Wei lad" up and down. Suddenly, she extended a slender finger, gently tilting Wei’s chin upward. She said in wonder, "You... you have secrets on you..."
Right! The illusion-dispelling mechanism of the Luomeng Pavilion! Usually, no one brought illusions before Master, so I had forgotten... I felt my soul nearly leave my body. Although I had intended to come clean to Master today, confessing of my own volition was entirely different from being exposed and interrogated! I hurriedly used my Illusionary Sight to check the Yin-Essence Mark and the illusionary runes on Wei Qingming. Everything seemed normal, but the gap between my cultivation and Master’s was too vast. Furthermore, we were inside her magical treasure; there was no telling what she could see!
Wei Qingming’s expression remained unchanged. she cupped her hands in a calm salute. "I do not know which secret the Perfected One refers to."
I was even more horrified. That sentence was far too provocative!
Master giggled again, seemingly delighted. Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, she silently released the pressure of the Meal-Cloud Realm. The force was so overwhelming that my legs shook, and I fell to my knees with a thud.
Wei Qingming narrowed her eyes. She kept her head bowed to show respect, but she gritted her teeth against the mountain-heavy pressure. She knelt slowly, her posture straight and proud. Her attitude was clear: *I kneel out of respect for the master of the one I love, but if you wish to force me to bend by might alone, it shall never happen!*
Her defiance provoked a cold sneer from Master. Without warning, a heavy palm struck down toward the crown of Wei’s head. I cried out in pain, "Master!"
The illusionary runes across Wei Qingming’s body began to manifest, golden light trembling violently as she struggled against the illusionary arts of a Meal-Cloud master. Even I could recognize the basic structure of the runes from years ago, let alone Master.
Under this tyrannical power, Wei Qingming’s meridians were seized. The pain was excruciating, yet she didn't make a sound, nor did she beg for mercy.
Master found this fascinating. She increased the pressure, making Wei’s pain even more severe, while deliberately using a brutal memory-extraction technique to force her into unconsciousness. I wept and tried to rush forward to save her, but Master waved a hand, pinning me to a pillar with irresistible force.
Only when blood trickled from the corner of Wei Qingming’s mouth and she lost consciousness entirely did Master stop. She slowly pulled a large mass of shimmering memories from the top of Wei’s head, toying with it in her hand as she laughed with delight. "So it’s a girl! Azhi, what exactly is your relationship with her?"
I was both furious and heartbroken, sobbing uncontrollably. I snapped, "It’s exactly the kind of relationship you think it is!"
"Oh, the kitten has claws." She walked over with a grin, scratching my chin teasingly. "Don't you want to see what your lover looked like as a child? Tsk, tsk, this girl is quite handsome; she must have been even cuter as a little one. If you won't look, I will."
"You... you..." Though I was tempted, I still cried, "She didn't give permission, what right do you have to look..."
She ignored me completely. Regardless of whether I wanted to see or not, she waved her hand, and the large memory sphere shattered into countless tiny orbs, swirling around her like golden dandelions. She flicked one with her finger, smiling. "Which one should we see first? Oh, the emotions in this one are so intense. This is the one..."
The Wei Manor. It was late spring, and the garden was filled with the fragrance of white orange blossoms.
A thin, weak boy of seven or eight was practicing swordplay in the courtyard. His expression was melancholy, and the more he practiced, the more dejected he became. He stumbled over the same set of moves four or five times, always making a mistake in the same spot. He stopped in frustration, politely placing his sword on a jade table and taking a sip of tea. Then, another child stepped out from the shade of the trees—it was Wei Qingming as a child. Their features were so similar they were clearly siblings.
She wore a small robe similar to her brother’s, but upon closer inspection, she was clearly a girl. Seeing the sword on the table, she said coldly, "Where are you stuck?"
The brother was somewhat embarrassed but explained the problem with a specific move. Wei Qingming thought for a moment, picked up the sword, and asked, "Here?" The blade flashed in the sunlight, fluttering like a butterfly.
The brother nodded. She said, "You forgot to lead with your wrist first. If you thrust with a stiff arm, it is naturally difficult to pivot."
"A-Yun, you’re amazing!" the brother exclaimed. "You weren't even watching me practice. How did you know?"
"I saw Father teaching you yesterday," Wei Qingming said. Then, she prepared to scale the wall to leave the manor.
Though tears still hung on my face, I couldn't help but laugh through my sobs at the sight of her small frame scrambling up a tree to hop the wall. The contrast with her current self was too great. Although I was still furious with Master, I had to admit that Wei Qingming was incredibly cute as a child... especially that little face. It wasn't bony and sharp like it was now; it was chubby, yet she insisted on acting like a little adult with a stern expression that made one want to reach out and pinch her cheeks.
Wei Qingming climbed over the wall with practiced ease and vanished. A woman’s voice called from inside the house, "Qingshan, where did Qingyun go?"
"Oh!" Wei Qingshan turned to cover for her. "She said she was going to Neighbor Wang’s house to borrow a book!"
"That child, honestly..." The woman’s tone was helpless yet fond.
Wei Qingming—or rather, Wei Qingyun—wasn't going to borrow a book. She had an appointment to catch crickets. She slipped into a narrow passage between two large estates.
Land in the capital was precious; even wealthy families built their walls as far out as possible, often feuding over a mere foot of ground. This passage beside the Wei Manor should have been an alley for carriages, but it was now only half a foot wide. Only a child could squeeze through sideways, making it a perfect hiding spot. She silently recited a mantra, and her illusionary runes activated. Her features began to shift slightly until she looked exactly like Wei Qingshan.
Even the little "adult" was surprised. She grinned, looking at her hands and touching her face, then happily emerged from the passage. She summoned a flying carriage; with the curtains drawn, no one could see a child was inside as it sped toward the eastern suburbs. My heart tightened. I knew what she would find when she returned home today...
The cricket they had agreed to catch was a rare breed called "Widow Green," which grew in haunted houses or old graves and was known to defeat even the most aggressive crickets. Facing the "ghost house," the group of young boys hesitated, pushing each other forward, all of them afraid. Wei Qingming seemed a bit scared too, but she feigned composure. "It’s broad daylight, what is there to fear? If you won't go, the catch belongs to me."
The one who had provided the equipment and information was another boy, the leader of the group. Hearing this, his pride was stung. Not wanting to be outdone, he was the first to push open the door of the legendary ghost house.
The group searched all afternoon, finally pinpointing the location by sound. They carefully set the cage.
As they waited with bated breath, someone outside hit the window frame with a stone and let out a ghostly wail. The children screamed and scattered in all directions. Wei Qingming was annoyed by their clumsiness. Just as she was about to shout at them to stop, a small black shadow leaped from a crack in the stones, nearly escaping past the bamboo cage. Wei Qingming moved with lightning speed, shifting the cage to trap the cricket inside, calmly locking the door.
The boys, who had been terrified, saw the long-sought Widow Green and began clamoring for Wei Qingming to hand it over. At this age, Wei Qingming was quite stubborn. She said coldly, "You didn't help; in fact, you nearly scared it away. I was the one who waited for the insect. You have no right to it."
Naturally, they didn't agree, and a fight broke out. Wei Qingming’s martial foundation at the time seemed to be the Wei family’s ancestral boxing style, which had a military feel to it. She easily knocked them down with a few kicks and punches. Dusting herself off, she picked up the cricket cage and walked out the door.
Three other children approached her sneakily, whispering, "Success?"
"Yes." Wei Qingming frowned. "You scared them too early. You almost spooked the cricket. You should have waited until we were dividing the spoils to make your move."
I nearly died laughing. She really was a little rascal! Conspiring with outsiders to hijack the treasure—Wei Qingming was full of schemes even at a young age... and her speech, half-refined and half-ruffian, suggested she had read plenty of adventure novels as a child.
The three accomplices held out their hands. "Where’s our commission?"
"I don't have it yet," Wei Qingming said calmly. "This is a birthday gift for my brother... sister. Once I use it to win money at the gambling dens, I’ll pay you."
So wicked! Since it was a gift, how could she take it to a gambling den? She had already learned how to give empty promises... and she was already thinking of going to such unsavory places to fight crickets!
The four parted ways. When Wei Qingming climbed back over the wall into her home, carrying the chirping insect, the evening clouds were sinking in the west. But the house was deathly silent. Wei Qingshan had practiced his sword again in the afternoon; the sword’s position on the table had shifted slightly, but he was nowhere to be found.
Wei Qingming searched the western courtyard for a long time without seeing a single servant. Suspicion rising, she carefully tucked the cricket cage into her belt and drew the Hanguang Sword from her robe, hiding it against her arm.
She didn't call out. She searched quietly from the west to the east. In the eastern courtyard, she found a massive formation drawn in fresh blood on the ground. Its design was eerie and inexplicable. And lying in the center was her five-year-old sister, Xiaoyan...
Wei Qingming froze. Her sword fell to the ground. Her small face turned deathly pale, and she stumbled back two steps, covering her mouth as if to vomit. Yet, she forced herself to be brave and steady, rushing forward and falling to her knees.
She reached out, trembling, to check her sister’s breath. It was a futile gesture; anyone could see that her sister had been drained of blood, used as a sacrifice for the formation.
"Xiaoyan... Xiaoyan..." she wailed. "Father, Mother! Brother! Quick, come... save her..."
She called out the names of the butler, the wet nurse, and the maids. She tried to pick up her sister, but she was too small and weak. She ran through every corner of the house, her face covered in tears, but only the swaying orange trees remained to silently mourn the tragedy. The twenty-odd members of the Wei household had vanished without a trace in a single night.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
故梦山 | Gomeng Mountain | The protagonist's home sect/mountain.
落梦阁 | Luomeng Pavilion | Master Huan's residence.
餐霞境界 | Meal-Cloud Realm | A high level of cultivation (Canxia Realm).
魏庆云 | Wei Qingyun | Wei Qingming's childhood name.
魏晴山 | Wei Qingshan | Wei Qingming's older brother.
晓烟 | Xiaoyan | Wei Qingming's younger sister.
寡妇青 | Widow Green | A rare and powerful species of cricket.
含光剑 | Hanguang Sword | Wei Qingming's sword.
阴元印记 | Yin-Essence Mark | The seal concealing Wei's gender.
幻纹 | Illusionary Runes | Magical markings used for disguises.
桓真人 | Master Huan | Azhi's master; a powerful cultivator.
灵宝阁 | Lingbao Pavilion | The "Spirit Treasure" Pavilion of the Wujing Sect.
璩首座 | Chief Qu | The head of the Lingbao Pavilion.
酱香干 | Jiang Xianggan | A nickname for one of Wei's childhood accomplices.
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