“What?” Granny Jiang was taken aback.

Hua Che said, “I’m not drunk, so this isn’t just a casual remark. After coming back this time, I don’t want to return there anymore.”

“Why is that?” Granny Jiang finally understood, incredulously asking, “Is Lingxiao Palace not good? Is your master treating you poorly? Are the senior and junior brothers not getting along? Why would you want to stop cultivating when you’ve been doing so well? I know your temperament—if something’s upsetting you at the sect, endure it if you can, and if not, find a way to resolve it. How can you just leave? Have you talked to Master Zhuang about this? Why do you have to leave? Does it have to do with Young Master Chu? Are you trying to avoid him?”

Hua Che was taken aback.

He had thought long and hard before telling Granny Jiang his decision, but he hadn’t expected her to bombard him with questions so fiercely. It took him a while to recover before he asked, “Which one should I answer first?”

Granny Jiang sternly said, “Young Master, you must not be impulsive, and you definitely shouldn’t speak nonsense under the influence of alcohol!”

Hua Che replied, “I’ve said it’s my decision. You know me—once I decide on something, no one can change my mind. In a couple of days, I’ll send a message to Lingxiao Palace, and that’s that…”

“No!” Granny Jiang interrupted loudly, her aged, yellowed eyes fixed intently on Hua Che. “Young Master, have you forgotten why you initially joined Lingxiao Palace?”

“For longevity?” Hua Che smiled faintly, like a clear breeze under a bright moon. “With my current cultivation level, I should live no less than three hundred years.”

Granny Jiang, unwilling to accept this, asked, “Young Master, tell me the truth, what is the real reason? Is it… because of Young Master Chu? When I heard that he joined Lingxiao Palace with you, I was shocked. Are you avoiding him?”

Hua Che’s expression remained calm. “It has nothing to do with him.”

Granny Jiang still felt uneasy. “Could it be… Lady Mei?”

Hua Che was taken aback. “Huh?”

Granny Jiang indignantly continued, “Is it Lady Mei making you leave? She doesn’t want you to be with Young Master Chu, so since she can’t make him listen, she’s making things difficult for you!”

Hua Che was speechless.

No, Granny, where did you get such an active imagination?

“It has nothing to do with Yuntian Shuijing, so don’t overthink it.” Hua Che stood up, feeling the room becoming stifling. He walked over to the window and opened it, letting in the frost-laden night breeze, which finally cooled his flushed cheeks and cleared his slight inebriation.

Suddenly, Granny Jiang hurried over, took a quick step, and knelt down straight before Hua Che.

Caught off guard, Hua Che was shocked and pale, trying to lift Granny Jiang up. "What are you doing!?"

But Granny Jiang remained kneeling on the ground without moving. "Young Master, is it because of me?"

Hua Che's lips trembled slightly. He forcibly helped Granny Jiang stand up, brushing off the dust from her knees. As he did so, he said, "Don't think wildly."

"Is it my wild imagination, or is there something you're hiding from me?" Granny Jiang smiled bitterly. "I've watched you grow up since childhood. How could I not know what's on your mind?"

Having his thoughts seen through made Hua Che suddenly feel at a loss and panicked.

Granny Jiang closed her eyes briefly and said, "A day in the mountains is a thousand years in the world. While you cultivate deep in the mountains, I, in the mortal world, may live for at most thirty more years, even if I'm healthy. But as a cultivator, Young Master, you can live for a hundred or even a thousand years. Our lifespans are inherently unequal. And if something happens to me here, it might be a long, long time before you hear about it."

"Enough." Hua Che's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "My decision is made."

"Young Master..." Granny Jiang's eyes filled with sorrow. "If my presence hinders your path to success, then I deserve to die!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Hua Che sighed helplessly, smiled gently, and spoke elegantly, "I'm just not returning to the sect temporarily. It's not like I've been expelled and can't go back. With my own understanding, I can still achieve greatness and ride away from worldly concerns. Besides, I should be taking care of you in your old age."

Granny Jiang stubbornly shook her head. "I remember, a month after entering the sect, the master would order the disciple to descend the mountain and return to the mortal world to sever worldly ties under the guise of visiting relatives. It's a rule of the sect."

Hua Che was surprised. "Where did you hear all this?"

" From Xiao Pang of Widow Wang’s house at the entrance of the East Street. He's also a cultivator."

Hua Che was speechless.

"If you can't let go of worldly ties, what's the point of cultivation?" Granny Jiang, in a rare display of authority, lectured Hua Che, "Everyone dies eventually. Even cultivators can't escape the cycle of life and death. It's just a matter of sooner or later. Young Master, you're an immortal detached from worldly concerns. How can you still not see through life and death? If you delay your own future for my sake, fine. I'll leave here tomorrow and hide where even Young Master won't find me!"

Granny Jiang was so angry she was panting heavily. Hua Che hurriedly raised his hands in surrender, helped her sit down, and carefully comforted her, "You're getting so worked up even at this age. If I've made a mistake, can't I correct it? Please don't get angry."

Granny Jiang's face was red and her voice hoarse. "Young Master, are you fooling me again?"

"I'm serious this time, I swear!" Hua Che looked at her sincerely, almost swearing by the heavens.

Granny Jiang stubbornly shouted, "Then you'll return to Lingxiao Palace tomorrow!"

Hua Che felt a wave of weariness. "How can I? It's New Year's Eve, of course I'll stay home to accompany you. Besides, the master has ordered us to gather at Yeyou Mansion on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month."

Granny Jiang still looked suspicious, feeling that Hua Che was being evasive and hiding secrets from her.

Hua Che felt both amused and exasperated. He squatted down, rested his head on Granny Jiang's knee like he did in childhood, and coquettishly said, "I can't bear to leave you, Granny. I want to stay with you for a few more years. I promise to leave after the eleventh day, okay?"

Seeing him act coquettishly, Granny Jiang couldn't help but stifle a laugh.

Taking advantage of the situation, Hua Che continued, "Granny, I'm craving for dumplings."

"Alright." Granny Jiang smiled, gently patting Hua Che's head. "I'll make them for you."

Hua Che jumped up and followed Granny Jiang into the kitchen. "Let me help too."

Granny Jiang demonstrated her cooking skills, and Hua Che followed suit, shaping a dumpling into a yuanbao shape (NT: A yuanbao (元宝) is a type of ingot currency, shaped like boat- with a slight indentation in the middle) (1). Although he was just learning, his dumpling-making skills were quite satisfactory, much to Granny Jiang's delight.

As the dumplings were cooking in the pot, round and plump, Hua Che prepared garlic sauce and vinegar. Just as he was about to pick up a dumpling, a knock came from the front hall.

Hua Che stood up. "Granny, please eat first. I'll see who it is."

It was unlikely for anyone to visit on New Year's Eve. Perhaps a neighbour needed something from Granny Jiang. Without much thought, Hua Che lifted the door latch and opened the door, revealing a young man outside.

"Friend Hua, long time no see!" The young man smiled brightly.

Hua Che asked, "You are..."

"Just call me Xiao Pang. My family lives at the East Street corner." The young man smiled warmly. "I saw you at the Martial Arts Tournament. Unfortunately, I got eliminated in the first round and didn't get a chance to greet you. The immortal cultivation world is so vast, meeting a fellow villager is rare! By the way, I practice at Yeyou Mansion under Master Xie Wanting."

Hua Che quickly performed a peer salute. "Respect to Master Xie's esteemed disciple. My apologies for the oversight."

"Call me Xiao Pang," the young man said cheerfully. "It's my honor to know Friend Hua."

Hua Che asked, "On New Year's Eve, why have you come..."

Xiao Pang chuckled, "I'm here to guide someone. There was an old man who asked me where 'Hua Che,Hua Qingkong' lived. I told him they live by West Lake at 'Old Jiang's Noodle Shop.' He didn't know how to get here, so I thought as an immortal entering the mortal world, I should help those in need and spread joy. So here I am, specially bringing him over."

"Looking for me?" Hua Che glanced around. The person hadn't arrived yet, but a sinister and ominous aura had preceded them.

Hua Che's heart suddenly trembled, his eyes filled with fear. He pulled Xiao Pang into the house abruptly and closed the door behind him.

Caught off guard, Xiao Pang almost stumbled. "What's wrong, friend?"

Hua Che's face turned serious, his gaze icy and terrifying. "Granny is in the backyard room. The dumplings have just been cooked. Accompany her and eat some. Also, no matter what you hear, do not come over here. You must watch over Granny for me, no matter what. I'm counting on you."

Xiao Pang couldn't react in time. "Huh?"

"Quickly, go!"

"Oh, oh, oh." Xiao Pang hurriedly ran off. As he stepped out of the main hall, Hua Che immediately set up a barrier, enveloping the entire hall. Mortals outside couldn't hear any noise from inside, nor could they enter.

Just then, a dull knocking sound came.

Hua Che remained silent.

Moments later, the knocking sound resumed.

Hua Che steadied himself as much as possible, making his voice sound less tense. "We're closed. Please come back tomorrow!"

"Hehehehehe..."

Suddenly, a chilling and bone-chilling sneer echoed from outside the door. At the same time, the door was violently slammed open by a powerful force, the intricately carved wooden door instantly splintering into pieces.

"My child, you are indeed here."

 

--

Note from the translator

(1) Yuanbao shape

 

Source: wikipedia

 

Translator: DarNan