Chapter 12

"You little fellow are quite perceptive. You deserve praise."

The pear tree lowered a flowering branch and gently curled it around Ye Fu's head.

A feeling imbued with the rhythm of nature flowed slowly forth.

Ye Fu nodded in satisfaction, chuckled teasingly, and patted the pear tree's trunk. "Don't worry, little fellow. As long as I have a bite to eat, you won't go hungry."

The pear tree rustled and trembled.

"Spring is no time for studying, and the summer heat is just right for sleeping..." Humming a song from his school days, Ye Fu reclined contentedly in the pear tree's "embrace." With the gentle breeze and sunshine, and the quiet atmosphere like a winding path leading to a secluded retreat, he leisurely savored the "peaceful passage of time" in this other world.

Knock, knock, knock.

The servant from earlier knocked on the door.

Ye Fu was about to call out, "Come in," when he felt the pear tree tremble behind him. The curve that had hollowed out slowly returned to its original shape, pushing him upright.

You don't want anyone to see? Ye Fu thought.

Then he called toward the wooden door, "Please come in."

The servant pushed the door open and entered. Just as he was about to speak, he immediately sensed that the courtyard was somewhat different from before, more vibrant with life. He spotted Ye Fu sitting on a stone stool beneath the pear tree, then immediately looked at the tree behind him and saw at once how different it was.

The pear tree had indeed been covered in beautiful blossoms before, but they had only been ordinary pear blossoms, nowhere near as splendid and colorful as they were now. Vitality twined among the petals, which gave off a faint glow.

The servant was astonished to discover that the pear tree had actually begun to show signs of awakening sentience and gaining enlightenment.

Was it him?

Clutching a scroll, the servant forgot to speak for a moment. Ye Fu knew what the servant was thinking and watched him with a smile.

No, no, it shouldn't be him, the servant thought, shaking his head to himself. The pear tree must have just happened to reach the point of enlightenment. After all, sir has nurtured it for so long. Besides, this person looks so ordinary, and there isn't the slightest fluctuation of Spiritual Qi about him. How could he bring the pear tree to enlightenment?

Having settled on that thought, the servant raised his chin again and walked toward Ye Fu with a calm expression.

Ye Fu had heard that train of thought. He was rather pleased, since he hoped to seem ordinary in other people's eyes. He was also curious about the sir on the servant's mind. To inspire such trust and respect in him, he must be a very interesting person.

"Guest, this residence is now officially rented to you. There is no fixed rental period; it is entirely up to sir." The servant nodded politely and pointed to the contents of the scroll with fingers as slender as bamboo twigs.

"The rental period is up to your sir? Then couldn't I be left homeless at any time?" Ye Fu chuckled, tapping his fingers on the stone table.

"Rest assured, guest. Sir would not do such a thing."

"Can you guarantee that on your sir's behalf?"

The servant faltered. Looking at Ye Fu, he suddenly felt that something was different. It was almost like facing sir, and even Ye Fu's words carried a note that brooked no contradiction. He quickly shook his head, dismissing it as an illusion brought on by missing sir.

"I cannot speak for my sir, but that is all I can tell you, guest."

Ye Fu propped his chin on his hand and leaned forward. "How about this, then? I'll ask you one question, and I won't pursue the matter."

"Please ask, guest."

"I mean, um... who exactly is your sir?"

The servant's brows rose at once, and a sense of pride in his association with sir unconsciously showed itself. He was always like this whenever "sir" was mentioned. "Guest, you do not need to know."

Ye Fu smiled. "Then he must be truly remarkable. Could your sir be an Immortal? I suppose it's only right that a mortal like me shouldn't know an Immortal's name."

"Guest, you only came to rent a house. The rental has now been completed."

The implication was that he should not concern himself with things that were none of his business.

Ye Fu suddenly laughed twice and raised his brows. "Look how seriously you're taking it." He accepted the authorization scroll from the servant, patted it in his hand, and said with a hint of a smile, "Perhaps your sir is remarkable, perhaps even a remarkable great sage." He paused and pondered for a moment. "But your behavior actually does quite a bit to spoil strangers' impressions of your sir."

The servant was briefly taken aback. Once again, he sensed a bearing in Ye Fu similar to sir's.

"There is no need for you to trouble yourself, guest. The authorization has been delivered. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

"Please."

The servant walked out with his chin raised.

Ye Fu didn't mind. He could understand the servant's pride, since the person he relied on was remarkable. Ye Fu himself had an even-tempered heart, so he didn't feel put out. He held to a simple belief: "People are not all the same." He lay back against the pear tree's trunk as before, and the perceptive tree bent into a comfortable curve for him.

"You're the one who understands people." Ye Fu stroked the pear tree's bark with satisfaction.

After he had rested for a short while, there was another knock at the courtyard gate.

This time it was the innkeeper.

As soon as the innkeeper entered the courtyard, he sensed that the atmosphere was different from before. A quick glance revealed the pear tree, shimmering faintly. He distinctly remembered that it had not been like this before, so full of life.

Could it be because of this guest? Unlike the servant, the innkeeper had no sir on his mind, so he could only attribute the change in the pear tree to Ye Fu. Thus, Ye Fu's identity began to take on an air of mystery in the innkeeper's mind.

Ye Fu did not hear the innkeeper's thoughts this time. He was wondering about something: why, now that the innkeeper had come in, had the pear tree not restrained itself at all, instead bending into a comfortable curve for Ye Fu as before?

As he wondered, the innkeeper came up to him. "Guest, your identification is ready."

He handed Ye Fu a wooden plaque. On it were two large characters, "Ye Fu," and a line of smaller characters: "From Black Stone City, Layered Cloud Kingdom, Eastern Lands."