Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Inextricable Trial of Love

The Lord of Imperial Earth Peak was the first to speak: “No objections.”
The other peak lords voiced their agreement, all except the Lord of Jade Water Peak, who said, “I’m only concerned that if she enters the Flowing Cloud Void to cultivate, the Grand Elders may not allow it. Besides, the Flowing Cloud Void is connected to the other side, and there's no telling if she might run into them. If anything goes wrong, it could be disastrous.”
“I’ll explain it to the Grand Elders myself. As for the rest, I trust they can handle it,” the Sect Master replied, then dismissed everyone.
After leaving the main hall, the Lord of Jade Water Peak turned and glanced toward Ning Bai-Xia’s residence, his eyes flickering with thought.
Disciples of the Immortal Chen Sect could only establish their own residences upon reaching the Golden Core stage. Ning Bai-Xia, the designated successor to the Sect Master, had opened a cave dwelling on the main ridge of Immortal Chen Mountain while still in the Foundation stage. Ning Mo-Fei had broken the rules by staying with him when he returned to the sect. Now, having brought his wife along, he paid no heed to the sect’s regulations and went straight to his third brother’s Gourd Cottage.
When Yu You-Wei saw the elegant abode nestled among bamboo, with the name “Gourd Cottage” inscribed above, she laughed. “Such a cute name—surely your idea.”
“Do you like it?” Ning Mo-Fei asked, pleased with himself.
“Your ice-faced third brother would probably rather hang a sign saying ‘Ice Mountain’.”
“Wow! You’re amazing, You-Wei, you know that too!”
“Eh? I was just guessing.” Yu You-Wei chuckled awkwardly, a bit embarrassed. Earlier, in the main hall, the Lord of Jade Water Peak had cast probing glances at her, frequently mentioning Ning Bai-Xia, and especially asking about the details of their wedding ceremony. It seemed like harmless teasing, but in truth, he was warning her to mind her conduct, as if suggesting she had married the fool to get close to Ning Bai-Xia. It left her quite annoyed.
Gourd Cottage had five rooms in a row, three bright and two dark, with side rooms on each end. Except for the eastern side, which was tidy and spacious, every other room was cluttered with all sorts of odd items. Even the old locust tree in the courtyard was hung with bells and little trinkets. The doors, windows, and walls were covered in crude but childlike graffiti.
Yu You-Wei was examining the house closely when Ning Mo-Fei tugged her sleeve and said, “No fasting pills today. Let’s have a real meal.”
“There’s no kitchen, though. Should I make a barbecue?” Yu You-Wei hadn’t thought it through—every sect had disciples who didn’t fast, so there must be a dining hall. She released the little Thunder Eagle and the little White Bear, letting them catch a beast for the barbecue.
The little White Bear, startled from its lazy slumber in the beast control token by Yu You-Wei’s rapid advancement, had its breakthrough interrupted. It remained languid even when released, letting the Thunder Eagle handle the hunting on the mountain.
The Thunder Eagle, wild and untamed, had grown restless in the token and shot out like an arrow.
With the promise of barbecue, the hungry Ning Mo-Fei reluctantly swallowed a fasting pill and continued touring the place with Yu You-Wei.
They discovered a hot spring behind the house, surrounded by artificial rock screens. Vines crawled over the stones, vibrant and lush. Yu You-Wei immediately felt her whole body itch. “Mo-Fei, guard outside and don’t let anyone in. I’m going to wash up, then I’ll make barbecue for you.”
“Let’s bathe together!” Ning Mo-Fei called out carelessly, his voice drifting on the wind, unaware how many might hear him.
“No!” Yu You-Wei cast a coy glance at him, pleading, “Good Mo-Fei, go outside and keep watch.”
“Alright.” Reluctantly, Ning Mo-Fei released his fragrant, soft wife and ran out to the courtyard. Remembering he’d need firewood for the barbecue, and with no kitchen or charcoal prepared, he set his sights on the old locust tree.
When Ning Bai-Xia entered the yard, he was greeted by the sight of the thousand-year spirit locust reduced to a stump, only half remaining. He stared in disbelief. “Fourth brother, what are you doing?”
“Third brother!” Ning Mo-Fei, hands busy splitting wood, turned and leaped over, hugging his brother with excitement. “We’re making barbecue. The little eagle’s gone to catch a beast, I’ve chopped the firewood, and soon You-Wei will cook for us.”
Ning Bai-Xia was amused, uncharacteristically verbose. “Did you really need to chop down a thousand-year spirit locust that shaded half the courtyard for barbecue?”
“Was it too much?” Ning Mo-Fei scratched his head, surveying the scattered branches. “Maybe a bit, but if we don’t use it all today, we can use it tomorrow, and the day after! I want barbecue every day.”
“Smart!” Ning Bai-Xia shook his head with a smile. “Where’s your wife?”
“Out back,” said Ning Mo-Fei without turning around.
Had Yu You-Wei been in a room, Ning Bai-Xia would have sent his brother to fetch her, out of propriety. Hearing she was behind the house, he thought nothing of it and walked straight there, only to see Yu You-Wei kneeling by the hot spring, and suddenly his blood surged.
The pool was small, specially dug for his twin brother, with hot spring water painstakingly diverted from afar. The surrounding rocks were brought in for shelter, with the entrance facing the rear door of the house.
Though man-made, the pool was deep—Ning Mo-Fei was a strong swimmer. Yu You-Wei, who feared water, didn’t dare soak in the hot spring and bathed by kneeling at the edge, holding onto the rim with one hand, washing her hair with the other, clothed but with her curves accentuated in Ning Bai-Xia’s eyes, especially in that alluring posture. Logic told him to leave before he was noticed, but his feet felt rooted to the spot, blood rushing to his head.
Yu You-Wei glanced over, assuming it was Ning Mo-Fei, and smiled softly. “Mo-Fei, you’re naughty. I asked you to stay outside, yet you came in.”
The words “Mo-Fei” struck him like thunder. Ning Bai-Xia’s face turned pale as he spun and fled.
In the courtyard, Ning Mo-Fei was still battling the locust branches. Ning Bai-Xia, feeling guilty, said softly, “Fourth brother, I need to see Master about something. Stop chopping and keep an eye on the door—don’t let anyone in.”
“Alright. When the meat’s done, I’ll save a hind leg for you.” Not knowing what the prey was, Ning Mo-Fei had already promised the fattest hind leg to his third brother.
Bai-Xia, feeling uneasy, agreed and hurried away, rushing into his master’s quiet chamber and standing like a post at the door, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Inside the chamber of Sect Master Ye Qing-Yun, there was only a meditation cushion and a scroll of calligraphy reading ‘Serenity Leads to Far Horizons’, with no tea cups or furniture. Even sunlight seemed reluctant to intrude, the light entering with a coolness.
Ye Qing-Yun, seated cross-legged on the cushion, opened his eyes, instantly seeing that his proud disciple was ensnared by an emotional tribulation, but said nothing.
Meeting his master’s clear gaze, Ning Bai-Xia’s inner turmoil suddenly calmed. He knelt slowly and said in a low voice, “Master, I wish to cultivate the Sever Emotion Technique.”
Ye Qing-Yun’s eyes shone, shaking his head in disapproval. “Running away is not the answer. Besides, you won’t be able to explain it to your parents.”