The Lonely Ling Ling

Even craving to have his shoes tread upon the green moss, he tapped lightly on the wooden gate, but it stayed shut for ages.

By a stream not far from Cloud Dwelling Courtyard, Ling Ling idly stepped on the moss-covered stones.

Her eyes kept drifting toward the courtyard's tightly shut redwood gate.

It had been more than a month. Why hadn't her junior brother come back yet?

Lately, Yuexing, Sister Yan, and the other senior sisters were all away. There was no one to play with. Sigh!

Thinking this, Ling Ling waited for a while, but Chen Qinglin still didn't return, so she slowly headed back to her own courtyard.

In the sky not far from the courtyard, Fu Shenxing watched the scene.

He sighed inwardly, then said to the person beside him,

"Senior Brother, is it really all right to keep Ling'er confined to Qingfeng Mountain?"

"I've watched that child grow up. I've long since thought of her as my own daughter."

"Do you think I want anything other than for Ling'er to be happy? She is my daughter, after all." The man beside him looked just as troubled.

"Who lives in that courtyard below? Do you know, junior brother?" He pointed toward Cloud Dwelling Courtyard.

"That's a disciple I took in not long ago, Senior Brother."

"What sort of temperament does this disciple have?" the man asked.

"Though I haven't had him as my disciple for long, I know he's steady and kindhearted. He's just a martial arts fanatic—when he's not training, he's practicing martial arts." Fu Shenxing explained.

"Is that so? A martial arts fanatic. In this world, it's a good thing to have talent and be willing to work hard. And since he's your disciple, junior brother, it would be good if he amounted to something." The man spoke with an unspoken implication.

"Senior Brother, they're both still young. I doubt they're thinking about that sort of thing."

"Whether they are or not, I'm at ease knowing you'll keep an eye on them, junior brother."

The man sighed again.

"Ling'er's illness is due to a congenital lack of vital essence. After all those resources, she's only reached the Mid Inner Qi Realm."

"If she left Qingfeng Mountain and something happened to her with her constitution, we might not reach her in time!"

"My wife and I have spent so many years searching for medicine. We owe you a great deal for looking after her."

"Senior Brother Ling, there's no need to say that. Ever since I joined Qingfeng Mountain, you've looked after me. Without you, I wouldn't be the Fu Shenxing I am today."

"Besides, she's very sweet and obedient. She knows about her health and has never thought of going out, so she's never caused me any trouble. Jinzhi likes Ling'er very much too."

"Obedient? I heard that girl Ling'er has nearly stolen all the Spirit Wine you've been keeping hidden. You went to so much trouble to brew it." Ling Daoming laughed.

"She can drink it. I brewed it for Ling'er in the first place. It has some benefits for strengthening the body and nourishing its foundations."

"You've certainly put a lot of thought into it, junior brother."

"My wife and I truly owe you so much."

"Don't be so formal, Senior Brother. There's no need to say that again."

Ling Daoming suddenly changed the subject.

"I hear you've been spending quite a bit of time with Junior Sister Meng Yunling of Qingzhu Peak lately!"

"What is it? Is the old tree about to bloom?"

"Don't tease me, don't tease me." Fu Shenxing's old face reddened.

After teasing him for a while, Ling Daoming grew serious.

"I'll have to trouble you to keep looking after Ling'er. I heard a Solid Yuan Flower has appeared in Yandu City, Yanzhou. My wife and I are setting off at once."

"Senior Brother, so soon? Won't you go see Ling'er first? She may not say it, but I know how much she longs to see the two of you."

"Sigh! If we saw Ling'er, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to bring ourselves to leave!"

"Please don't tell Ling'er that we came back."

"Senior Brother Ling..."

"I'm counting on you, junior brother!" A streak of light flashed past, and he vanished from sight.

Fu Shenxing looked in the direction Ling Daoming had gone, then glanced at Ling Ling. With a sigh, he vanished too.

Just after leaving Cloud Dwelling Courtyard, Ling Ling seemed to sense something. She looked up at the sky, but saw nothing.

She told herself she was imagining things. It was probably Master!

Head bowed as she walked along the path, she felt utterly alone.

After he bumped right into Chen Qinglin's hand.

"Watch where you're going, Senior Sister."

After bidding farewell to Xie Jingyun, Chen Qinglin had headed back to Cloud Dwelling Courtyard.

On the way, he'd spotted his little senior sister, Ling Ling, walking alone. He'd stood still, hoping to surprise her.

But Ling Ling hadn't watched where she was going. Head down, she'd walked right toward him, so Chen Qinglin had held out a hand to stop her bowed head.

After bumping into someone, Ling Ling hadn't even had time to apologize before she heard Chen Qinglin's voice.

She looked up...

"Junior Brother, you're finally back!"

She threw her arms around Chen Qinglin in delight. This time, it was Chen Qinglin who felt awkward.

He scratched his head, unsure whether to put his hands around her or leave them at his sides.

But he'd seen Ling Ling wandering alone through the mountains, so he didn't push her away.

Then came the girl's unmistakable fragrance and the softness of her body, leaving Chen Qinglin momentarily dazed.

At first, Ling Ling didn't think there was anything wrong with what she was doing. Gradually, she realized, and her little face flushed red.

She felt a little embarrassed.

But for some reason, she didn't let go of the person in front of her.

They stayed like that for a while. Ling Ling sneaked a glance at him, then finally let go, her little face red.

If there was one most beautiful color in the world, it had to be the blush on a face at a moment like this.

"Ahem. What's wrong, Senior Sister? You seemed down just now." Chen Qinglin tried to ease the awkwardness by deliberately changing the subject.

"It's nothing. I was just bored by myself."

After letting go of Chen Qinglin, Ling Ling didn't know what to do with her hands. Her voice had grown very soft too. Fortunately, Chen Qinglin had sharp hearing; otherwise, he wouldn't have heard her at all.

"Were you heading back, Senior Sister?"

"I... I was!" Ling Ling stood in front of Chen Qinglin, strangely ill at ease.

"You're already almost at my place, and the courtyard isn't far. Why don't you come in and sit for a while?"

"Mm, all... all right!" Ling Ling hadn't really wanted to go back after seeing Chen Qinglin. Now that he'd invited her, she stammered out her agreement.

"Junior Brother, you were gone for a long time this trip."

"Was I? Maybe it was because it was my first time away from home for so long. Once I got back, I wanted to stay a little longer."

"Speaking of which, I should thank you, Senior Sister."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"My little sister and younger brother really liked the presents you picked out for them."

"I'm glad they liked them. I was worried they might not."

"Most importantly, my parents liked your gifts too."

"Ah... i-is that so?"

Along the mountain path, a young man and woman walked farther and farther away, disappearing around a bend.

Early the next morning, Chen Qinglin was practicing his sword when a voice sounded from the Jade Token in his robes.

"Come to me."

He stopped practicing, wondering what his master wanted.

He went back inside to straighten his clothes before heading to his master's residence.

As it happened, none of the master and disciples in this household liked overly bright colors. Even their courtyards were simple and refined.

Passing through a courtyard gate, he saw his master, Fu Shenxing, drinking tea beneath a peach tree.

Beneath it stood a stone table and several stone chairs, while the tree was covered in blossoms.

A gust of wind sent petals drifting down.

Chen Qinglin stepped forward to greet his master, then said, "Master, you called for me?"

"Qinglin, have a seat. Let's talk."