Lu Qingkong possessed a perverse and reclusive temperament. He spent his days with a stiff, joyless expression, earning him little favor among the disciples of Rizhao Mountain, whether they belonged to the inner or outer sects. Even during morning lessons, he would huddle alone in a corner with his head bowed, a strange figure living in self-imposed isolation.
Fortunately, Rizhao Mountain was home to many eccentrics, and he was far from the most outrageous. The others simply treated him as an oddity who disliked company, brushing past him in haste without bothering to offer a greeting.
Over time, Lu Qingkong grew even more solitary and desolate. The only person in all of Rizhao Mountain he could actually talk to was Ming Zhu—and even that was only because Ming Zhu had been thick-skinned enough to chatter away for ages, enduring countless eye-rolls before finally breaking through.
Because of this, Ming Zhu understood exactly how much those cold, soulless iron mechanisms meant to him. In Lu Qingkong’s eyes, the devices he had personally researched and forged were far easier to get along with than difficult people. For him to steel his heart and offer up his cherished treasures showed just how much guilt he felt over the undeserved calamity he had brought upon Ming Zhu.
Ming Zhu sighed inwardly. *He’s still just a child.*
He pushed the box back and smiled. "Didn't I say I didn't want them? Your senior brother always keeps his word."
"But..." Lu Qingkong looked up, meeting Ming Zhu’s gentle gaze. He hesitated, then lowered his head again, his ears flushing red as he muttered, "You... you take it."
Ming Zhu had never known he had such an endearing side. Propping himself up with his arms, he reached out with slender fingers to idly poke through the items in the box. Deciding not to be overly fastidious, he picked out a small, hollowed-out sphere with carved floral patterns. "I’ll take this one, then. I don't need the others; I wouldn't have a use for them anyway."
Lu Qingkong looked up at him, appearing somewhat dazed.
Ming Zhu could never resist that kind of look. He snapped the small box shut and tucked it back into Lu Qingkong’s arms. Fearing the boy might feel embarrassed, he dangled the sphere by its chain like a pendant and gave it a shake. "Come, tell your senior brother, what is this little toy? It looks like a mere decoration to me. Does it have any special properties?"
The small sphere was pitch black. Through the intricate openwork carving, one could see two even smaller spheres inside, connected by iron wires. They swayed slightly, emitting a faint, pleasant clinking of metal.
Without a word, Lu Qingkong took it back. His nimble fingers pressed lightly on the sphere, and the character for "Lu" engraved on the joint split down the middle, revealing the complex clockwork within.
Ming Zhu gasped. "Ah!"
Lu Qingkong lowered his lashes and tossed it directly onto the floor. Upon impact, there was a soft *clack*, and the internal mechanisms suddenly sprang to life. The two central spheres rolled for a moment before instantly expanding into the height of a man. The hollowed-out outer shell fixed itself in place, resembling a distinctive curved screen that rotated slowly around a central axis.
Lu Qingkong pointed at it and said awkwardly, "Is it... is it pretty?"
Ming Zhu blinked, completely unable to comprehend what was "pretty" about a bunch of iron parts. However, he was a seasoned flatterer. The praise came naturally: "Ah, it’s beautiful! So unique, so exquisite... truly a work of divine craftsmanship!"
Zhou Fuxue spoke up from the side, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "May I ask, Ninth Senior Brother, is this 'unique little toy' of yours just meant to be a decoration? If so, I think you’d better not give it. You’ve turned First Senior Brother’s house into a ruin; he has no place to display such a wallflower."
Knowing he was in the wrong regarding Ming Zhu, Lu Qingkong had been quite peaceful. But when facing others, his foul temper flared up again. He swept a cold glance over Zhou Fuxue and said rudely, "I am giving my senior brother a gift; what does it have to do with you? Stop trying to manage the whole world and learn some manners first."
Zhou Fuxue was so incensed at being called ill-mannered by Lu Qingkong that he almost laughed. "Who gave you the right to talk about manners? I—"
Seeing that the two were about to clash again, Ming Zhu hurriedly intervened. "Hey, don't fight, don't fight. Little Thirteen, how can you speak to your senior brother like that? You’re being quite disrespectful."
Zhou Fuxue, who was clearly trying to vent on Ming Zhu's behalf, was nearly choked with rage at being scolded instead.
Lu Qingkong gave him a cold snort. He stepped forward, grabbed Zhou Fuxue by the collar, and dragged him toward the center of the mechanism.
Zhou Fuxue flailed his arms and legs, but he couldn't break free from Lu Qingkong’s grip. He shouted angrily, "What are you doing? Let me go!"
Ming Zhu also called out anxiously, "Old Ninth, let's talk this out! Your junior brother is still a child, hey!"
Without a word, Lu Qingkong threw Zhou Fuxue directly into the center of the device. A faint light flashed from the formation at the base, and the two hollowed-out leaves snapped shut. In an instant, the device shrank back to its original tiny size, leaving Zhou Fuxue dangling from the chain hooked around Lu Qingkong's finger.
Ming Zhu stared, dumbfounded, at the spot where Zhou Fuxue had vanished into thin air.
Lu Qingkong dangled the sphere before his eyes and said calmly, "This is a mechanical artifact I made by mixing powdered Sumeru Stone with tungsten iron. I engraved a life-sustaining formation at the base, allowing a person to survive inside for a short time. My original intention was to make a storage pendant, but I ended up with this by mistake. It’s quite convenient for storing things."
Ming Zhu blinked, took the pendant, and squinted into it. Sure enough, next to the two small spheres inside, he saw a figure of Zhou Fuxue, shrunk dozens of times over. He looked absolutely livid, desperately clawing at the gaps in the openwork as if trying to climb out, his mouth moving incessantly as he shouted things that couldn't be heard.
Ming Zhu stammered, "I—I see. Hurry up and let your junior brother out."
Lu Qingkong acted as if he hadn't heard. He flicked the sphere with his finger, sending Zhou Fuxue tumbling inside. The boy’s expression became even more furious.
Ming Zhu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Stop it. Why are you being so petty with a child?"
Lu Qingkong said, "This is called the Zhenyu Pearl. If you like it, Senior Brother, use it to carry your things."
As he spoke, he pressed the "Lu" insignia at the top of the pearl and gave it a casual flick. Zhou Fuxue’s figure appeared out of thin air, stumbling a few steps and nearly falling flat on his face.
Since arriving at Rizhao, Zhou Fuxue had never suffered such a grievance. Once he regained his footing, he glared death at Lu Qingkong, looking as if he wanted to pounce and bite him.
Lu Qingkong ignored him entirely. He hung the Zhenyu Pearl around Ming Zhu’s neck and said, "I won't disturb you further. Farewell."
With that, he picked up his box and brushed past Zhou Fuxue. He hurried down the steps, his thin figure darting into the curtain of rain and quickly vanishing.
Zhou Fuxue slammed the door shut in a rage. When he turned back, he saw Ming Zhu’s slender hand clutching the pitch-black Zhenyu Pearl, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
Ming Zhu was leaning against the bed, the brocade quilt covering him from the waist down. His long hair was unbound, spilling over him like fallen flowers on flowing water—a truly pleasing sight. However, Zhou Fuxue instinctively felt that the wretched pearl around his neck was a total eyesore. He walked over with a cold face and said, "Senior Brother, this junk... this pearl is too cold. You haven't recovered yet; you should take it off."
*Once it's off, I'll throw it outside,* Zhou Fuxue thought.
Ming Zhu kept his head down, staring at the pearl, and didn't notice the coldness on Zhou Fuxue’s face. He shook his head. "It’s no big deal. I have a great use for this pearl."
Zhou Fuxue gave a muffled "mm" and said nothing more.
Ming Zhu set the pearl down and looked up at Zhou Fuxue. He cleared his throat and said with a beaming smile, "Fuxue, how old are you this year?"
This was the first time Ming Zhu had called him by his name. For some reason, the soft, warm tone of his voice felt like a kitten’s paw scratching at Zhou Fuxue’s heart. He tried to remain composed and said, "I’ll be eleven next month."
Ming Zhu let out a long, drawn-out "Oh," sounding extremely playful. He muttered to himself, "Five more years, then."
Zhou Fuxue didn't catch that. "...What?"
Ming Zhu said with a grin, "I said, in five more years, our Fuxue will grow into a handsome young gentleman. I wonder how many senior and junior sisters you’ll charm by then."
A faint blush immediately crept onto Zhou Fuxue’s face. He gave Ming Zhu a sharp glare. "First Senior Brother!"
Ming Zhu burst into laughter, but before he could get two laughs out, karma struck—he choked on his own saliva. He leaned over the edge of the bed, coughing for a long time before he finally settled down.
A short while later, Shen Dian returned in a hurry, clutching a pile of medicine bottles. His outer robe was covered in raindrops, which he promptly stripped off and tossed aside. He then pressed Ming Zhu down to apply medicine to the reopened wounds on his back.
While Shen Dian was applying the ointment, he must have brushed against a ticklish spot on Ming Zhu’s waist. Ming Zhu thrashed about with every touch until the medicine was finally applied. By the end, Ming Zhu’s eyes were tearing up, though whether from pain or laughter was unclear.
Shen Dian crossly tossed a set of Rizhao Mountain robes onto his face. "Put these on quickly and stop making a spectacle of yourself."
Ming Zhu used two fingers to disdainfully poke at the simple, elegant Rizhao robes. He nitpicked, "I usually never wear the sect uniform. You... you get me another set."
Shen Dian nearly threw a medicine bottle at his face. "Your courtyard is in ruins; where am I supposed to find your other clothes? My dear ancestor, just put them on. You’re staying at my place for a few days. I’ve already told the Junior Sect Uncle about the situation at Buzhiya; someone will come to renovate it in a few days."
Ming Zhu said, "No, I feel restless wearing this. Um, Little Thirteen, could I trouble you to run to the Garment Court? Just tell them you’re picking up my clothes."
Shen Dian remarked sarcastically, "You certainly know how to order people around."
Zhou Fuxue gave an "mm" and obediently ran out with his umbrella.
Once Zhou Fuxue was gone, Shen Dian finally asked, "Alright, speak. What is it that you couldn't say in front of Fuxue?"
Ming Zhu pointed to his own neck. "Look at this."
Shen Dian covered his eyes and let out a groan. "First Senior Brother, can you have some dignity? Don't be so indecent."
Ming Zhu: "..."
Ming Zhu had no idea how pointing at his neck was indecent. He simply pulled the Zhenyu Pearl off and showed it to Shen Dian. "Old Ninth gave this to me today. It’s a storage artifact that can even hold living people."
This piqued Shen Dian’s interest. He picked it up to examine it. "I’ve heard of thousands of artifacts in this world, and storage devices come in all shapes and sizes, but I’ve never heard of one that can store living things. Tsk tsk, Ninth Senior Brother has a temper that makes him seem barely human, but those hands of his are certainly nimble."
Ming Zhu giggled twice. Shen Dian, who had been immersed in Lu Qingkong’s craftsmanship, suddenly looked up warily. "Wait... why are you laughing like that?"
Ming Zhu held the Zhenyu Pearl, swinging it gently. His eyes, shimmering with a watery light from the fever, were as captivating as ripples on a pond. "When the introductory disciples of Rizhao reach their sixteenth year, they go down the mountain for a journey of experience, and they must be accompanied by a senior brother. You say, in five years, when Fuxue comes of age..."
Shen Dian hurriedly interrupted him. "No, no, no. Every time you’ve tried to find a way out of Rizhao Mountain over the years, Master has flown into a rage. He definitely won't let you accompany Fuxue down the mountain. Don't even think about it."
Ming Zhu wound the chain of the Zhenyu Pearl around his finger, letting out a noncommittal hum.
Shen Dian tried to persuade him further, but seeing the eager excitement still on his face, he said helplessly, "Are you really not afraid of being punished?"
Ming Zhu replied lightheartedly, "I’ve endured it all these years; what is there to fear?"
As he spoke, he put the Zhenyu Pearl back on and flopped back onto the bed. "Alright, nothing more for you to do. Scram. I’ll be staying here with Little Thirteen for the next few days to save myself the trouble of moving around."
Shen Dian said sourly, "Since when did you and Fuxue become so close?"
Ming Zhu closed his eyes, his lashes trembling slightly. He gave a soft smile. "That child looks cold on the outside, but he remembers every single person who is good to him more clearly than anyone. Even though he has no spiritual veins, he is bound to become a peerless figure when he grows up. He is not to be underestimated."
Shen Dian pulled the quilt up a bit and said crossly, "I recall you praising Seventh Senior Brother the same way. Do you remember how he ended up? Did he grow into a peerless figure?"
Ming Zhu clicked his tongue and gave him a playful kick. "Why so much nonsense? Scram. Next time I see your Seventh Senior Brother, I’ll be sure to tell him you were speaking ill of him."
Shen Dian snorted, packed up his medicine bottles, and said, "That’s assuming you can even leave Rizhao Mountain."
Ming Zhu: "Scram."
Shen Dian strode away.
The rain continued to fall over Rizhao. Zhou Fuxue ran back from the Garment Court, clutching several sets of red robes. The rain was a misty shroud, and the world was silent. The dense, lush trees seemed to be draped in a layer of white gauze, ethereal and hazy.
He walked quickly through the secluded paths of the dense forest with his umbrella, vanishing around a corner in a few moments.
Early summer arrived in the mountains; flowers fell like rain from the void.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 畛域珠 | Zhenyu Pearl | A spatial mechanical artifact created by Lu Qingkong. "Zhenyu" refers to boundaries or realms. |
| 芥子须弥石 | Sumeru Stone | A mythical stone used for spatial expansion (lit. "Mustard Seed Sumeru"). |
| 钨铁 | Tungsten Iron | A heavy, durable metal used in smithing. |
| 成衣苑 | Garment Court | The department or area in the sect responsible for disciples' clothing. |
| 空冥花 | Void-Dark Flower | A poetic name for a flower mentioned in the closing lines. |
| 七师兄 | Seventh Senior Brother | A previously unmentioned senior brother of Ming Zhu. |
