Listening to the Rain by the Railing

Dawn Rain Peak, Rain Listening Pavilion.

Curtains of rain poured over the peak, linking heaven and earth, their soft patter unceasing.

Shang Qingzheng parted the beaded curtain and gazed at the fine rain outside, though her thoughts had long since drifted far away.

Little Sixteen lay beside the hem of her skirt, looking idly around. Gradually, the jade flute hanging at Shang Qingzheng's waist caught the cat's attention, and now a little paw was reaching out to scratch at the Golden Tassel dangling from it.

Six or seven days had passed since their first encounter. Last time, the two of them had sat on the ground in the bamboo grove, chatting freely and enjoying each other's company.

At the thought, a gentle smile appeared on Shang Qingzheng's white-jade face. It had been a long time since she had felt so lighthearted.

It was not simply happiness, but a long-lost sense of ease. There was nothing she needed to concern herself with, nothing she had to attend to. She could say whatever came to mind, freely and without restraint.

It had soothed much of the agitation that had troubled her these past days, allowing her to finally enter meditation and cultivate again.

Shang Qingzheng had an indescribable feeling about this ordinary disciple she had met by chance.

He seemed ordinary, yet was anything but. His appearance was unremarkable, yet he stood apart—at least, he was unlike anyone she had ever met.

His words leaped and darted like a heavenly steed galloping through the skies. Novel, peculiar expressions always popped out of his mouth, words she had never heard or seen before.

Though they had known each other only a short while, her curiosity kept growing, and she could not help wanting to learn more.

"You rarely visit me. What has gotten into you lately? Twice in ten days."

Footsteps approached from afar. Li Zhouying had changed into a crimson dress, her figure swaying with graceful poise.

Shang Qingzheng had been staring absently out the window. At those words, she released the beaded curtain, turned, and smiled.

"The heavens scatter starry droplets, and we listen to the rain by the railing. Sister Zhouying, come enjoy it with me."

A smile appeared on Li Zhouying's usually cool face. She walked slowly to the couch and sat sideways, summoning a tea set with her pale hand to brew tea. Her tone was airy.

"You don't mean that.

"Who doesn't know that within the Three Peaks, fine rain moistens the land like cream? It falls every three days without fail, and you've never been one to enjoy listening to rain."

Then, as she arranged the tea utensils, her expression turned serious.

"Are you worried about the Jade Bamboo Essence? Rest assured, I've already assigned dozens of disciples to watch it daily and inspect it monthly. I guarantee you'll have a mountain full of Jade Bamboo next year."

The girl knelt with her feet crossed beneath her and her hips resting on her heels. Hearing this, she hurried to explain.

"You've misunderstood, Sister Zhouying. That wasn't what I meant. I truly came to listen to the rain and clear my mind."

Li Zhouying neither accepted nor rejected her answer. She passed her a cup of clear tea and said with a soft laugh,

"Then stay here and enjoy it. A few more disciples arrived just now. I'll go see to their assignments."

Shang Qingzheng accepted the teacup and set it down, bending her straight back slightly in thanks.

"I've troubled you with so much. Thank you for your care, Sister Zhouying."

Li Zhouying rose as well and returned the courtesy. "Not at all. Young lady, you do me far too much honor."

With that, she slowly backed out of the pavilion and vanished in a flicker.

Once Li Zhouying had left, Shang Qingzheng gradually relaxed. Propping her chin on her slender hand, she tilted her head and toyed with the teacup, mumbling,

"She misunderstood me again. Still... this is fine. Now I'll have a reason to come here often."

After another little while, the clouds dispersed and the rain cleared, and the sky slowly brightened. With nothing to do, Shang Qingzheng scooped up Little Sixteen, who was sleeping soundly beside the couch.

Abruptly awakened, Little Sixteen squinted sleepily at the person before it, looking utterly bewildered.

Shang Qingzheng cradled the cat's head in both hands and murmured to herself,

"Tell me... what sort of person is he, really?"

Little Sixteen: "..."

"How about... we go find him? You want to play with him too, don't you?"

Little Sixteen: "..."

Shang Qingzheng rubbed the cat's head with her delicate hands. Seeing those big, round eyes darting about, she wrinkled her nose.

"Hmph. Looking this way and that, pretending to be deaf and mute."

Then, without caring whether the cat in her hands agreed, she picked Little Sixteen up and left the pavilion.

"Never mind. It's decided. We're going right now."

Shadows flitted through the bamboo grove, fallen leaves piled layer upon layer, and every shade of green and white in sight was tinged with jade.

Jiang Yang had kept these three little bamboo seedlings company for over half a month. Watching them grow bit by bit brought an unexpected sense of satisfaction to his heart.

He had just finished his morning cultivation and breathing exercises, and was now studying "Finger-Sword Awakening of Insects."

This Spells technique was both a spell and something like a sword art. Through constant practice, Jiang Yang could now press his fingers together and release one or two threads of sword light.

Qi flowed through the three yin meridians of the hand, condensing into sword light as fine as silk, yet tough and keen. Jiang Yang had tested it. He would not claim it could cut through gold and jade, but slicing grass and severing roots was no trouble at all.

That did suit its creator's original intent. After all, if it were too powerful, whether the pests died would be uncertain, but the Spirit Plant would certainly suffer grievous damage.

The Jade Bamboo he was tending was still in its seedling stage and had yet to attract the gnawing of the Dusk-Elephant Twin Insects, but it was best to guard against trouble before it arose.

Jiang Yang did not want to face them with a half-mastered Spell Arts technique when the time came. If one careless mistake killed the Spirit Plant, he would have nowhere even to cry.

Just then, he heard the rustle of footsteps on fallen leaves. Jiang Yang looked up from his book and saw Shang Qingzheng standing prettily some distance away, holding Little Sixteen.

A smile rose on Jiang Yang's face. He brushed the hem of his robe and stood, just about to speak, when the girl spoke first.

"Little Sixteen was naughty and sneaked out again. I chased the little rascal all the way here..."

Little Sixteen: "?"

Jiang Yang thought nothing of it and spoke up in the cat's defense.

"Kittens are all like that. Once they've been cooped up long enough to get bored, they love coming out to romp around."

Shang Qingzheng caught sight of the book in Jiang Yang's hand and asked hesitantly,

"Were you cultivating? Did I interrupt you?"

Jiang Yang waved the booklet in his hand and smiled brightly.

"No. You mean this? It's a pest-control Spells. I'm planning to practice it in my spare time so I won't be all paws when the time comes."

Shang Qingzheng pursed her lips in a soft laugh, lifting Little Sixteen's snowy-white paw.

"All paws? I think 'having your hands full' would be more fitting."

"As long as you know what I mean. Come sit." Jiang Yang put the Spells book into his Storage Bag and beckoned Shang Qingzheng over.

After their last meeting, Jiang Yang had felt keenly how bare his surroundings were, so he had found several square stones nearby and arranged them as a table and seats. He would be staying here for three whole months, after all. He could hardly sit on the ground every day.

Inviting the girl to sit, Jiang Yang said frankly,

"The accommodations are humble, with the earth for a mat and the sky for a canopy. There's no tea either, so you'll have to make do."

Shang Qingzheng set Little Sixteen on the ground and brushed her fingers over the rough stone surface.

"It's no trouble. Dining on the wind and sleeping beneath the dew has its charms. As for tea, that's easy."

With a sweep of her sleeve, a tea set appeared on the bluestone tabletop.

Seeing Shang Qingzheng begin bustling about, Jiang Yang leaned closer and asked curiously,

"Do... direct disciples like you all carry tea utensils around with them?"

He had actually wanted to say "rich ladies," but felt that would be presumptuous, so he changed his wording. Jiang Yang's own Storage Bag was too small. Never mind that he could not afford Spirit Tea—even if he could, he would not have room for it.

Shang Qingzheng paused at the question. She had carried the tea set with her for so long, and it was such an ordinary thing to do, that she had never really considered the matter.

Now that he had asked, she did not brush him off. Only after quietly thinking it over did she answer,

"Hmm... not necessarily. It depends on the person.

"I only carry mine for convenience. In truth, I've hardly ever taken it out to use. Its main purpose is probably just to keep up appearances."

Shang Qingzheng concealed nothing, stating her true thoughts plainly.

If Sister Zhouying had not served her tea earlier, she would not even have remembered the set of utensils stored in her pouch.

She cast a spell to condense water and heated it with her magical power, then took tea leaves from a brocade pouch and added them.

After all that bustle, wisps of delicate fragrance began drifting out through the steam.