Chapter Seventeen: The Guesthouse with a Home

“Brother Tang, what should we do next?” Liu Mingde asked Tang Yi.

“That’s something we need to think about carefully. Everything must start from the basics. For now, let’s head to the capital of the Great Song Dynasty,” Tang Yi answered after some thought. He added, “But before that, I want to visit the Hundred Flowers Sword Sect.”

“The Hundred Flowers Sword Sect? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that in the cultivation world. Is it some tiny sect?” Gu Zhenzhen, cradling the Black Wind Scarlet Tiger, asked.

“It’s not a cultivation sect, so stop asking. Just follow me,” Tang Yi replied as he led the way down the mountain.

“All these cultivation sects are hidden deep in the mountains, the transportation is so inconvenient,” Tang Yi sighed.

“But isn’t it true that there are magical flying artifacts? Brother Tang, don’t tell me you don’t have one?” Liu Mingde teased.

“Well, as a matter of fact, your Brother Tang really doesn’t own one of those. If I wanted to fly away, it wouldn’t be that hard—if not for you all dragging me down. Hmm, I’ll have to get one for myself someday. For now, let’s hurry up before night falls. I don’t want to spend another night in the wilderness.”

“Yes, yes, it’s all our fault. Let’s get a move on,” Liu Mingde replied, winking at the others. The group, with a rush, all dashed down the mountain, leaving Tang Yi behind.

“Look at these guys, they don’t take me seriously anymore. Sooner or later, I’ll show them… Hey, why are you following me?” Tang Yi was muttering when he realized a beautiful woman was by his side—it was Liu Yuefeng from earlier.

“Brother Tang… may I call you Brother Tang, like the others?” Liu Yuefeng asked timidly.

“Of course, I like being called Brother Tang. Didn’t I say, once you truly love Gu Ziping, I’ll heal your mother? Following me now won’t help. I can’t believe you’d fall for him in such a short time,” Tang Yi said.

“Brother Tang, that’s not what I meant. Didn’t you say you’d only help when I’m truly willing to be with Gu Ziping? But I at least need time to get to know him, right? If we never meet, how could I ever be willing to be with him?” Liu Yuefeng replied.

“Uh… you’re right. Fine, you can come along. Your cultivation isn’t bad; you can help out anyway…” Tang Yi said as he moved further away.

“Hey… Brother Tang, wait for me!” Liu Yuefeng realized Tang Yi was walking faster and faster.

At the foot of the mountain, outside an inn—

“There’s an inn, Brother Tang, look, it’s literally called ‘Home Inn’,” Zhang Qiang shouted.

“It really is ‘Home Inn’,” Hua Shaojie nodded.

Tang Yi stepped forward to check, and sure enough, a sign hung above the door: ‘Home Inn.’

“Why are Gu Zi and the others so slow? They’re so far behind,” Zhang Qiang remarked, seeing Gu Ziping and Liu Yuefeng trailing in the distance.

“You idiot, didn’t you notice? Shaojie and Zhenzhen are paired up too,” Liu Mingde scolded Zhang Qiang.

“Oh, I see!” Zhang Qiang finally nodded in understanding.

Meanwhile, at the Hundred Flowers Sword Sect. On an island in the center of a lake, within a pavilion, Hua Ruoxue sat alone, staring blankly at the water. Under the glow of the setting sun, the lake rippled gently in the breeze, flashing dazzling gold. The evening wind lifted Hua Ruoxue’s long, dark hair, framing her beautiful face—a scene of breathtaking beauty.

“Ruoxue!” A girl of about seventeen or eighteen patted Hua Ruoxue’s back.

“You little rascal, are you looking for trouble?” Hua Ruoxue turned to see a sweet, lovely face and scolded with a smile.

“Ruoxue, are you thinking about your True Immortal Tang again?” the girl teased with a mischievous grin.

Hua Ruoxue blushed, her beauty even more enchanting. “Of course not! Hmph, that scoundrel promised he’d come see me within half a year… I’m not talking to you,” she said, realizing she’d been tricked, and turned back to gaze quietly at the lake.

The little girl fell silent too, staring at the water, her eyes glinting with a different light.

“Qinqin, do you think… Tang Yi will come back?” Hua Ruoxue suddenly asked. This girl, Jiang Qinqin, was five years younger than Hua Ruoxue but her closest confidante.

“Of course he will!” Jiang Qinqin replied with a smile, but Hua Ruoxue said nothing more.

“Ruoxue, are you sure this Tang Yi is the one who saved you when you were little?” Jiang Qinqin asked.

“I think so. His hair is different now, but that feeling… I can’t be wrong…”

…

“Brother Tang, here’s to you!” Gu Ziping raised his cup.

“Brother Tang, cheers!” Lin Jiang, Hua Shaojie, and the others lifted their cups as well.

Seeing this, Tang Yi suddenly felt a surge of emotion, almost to the point of tears. He remembered how in the past, he was ignored by everyone, yet now, so many were willing to follow him, to laugh and run wild together… If only Ruoxue were here—wait, why am I thinking of her? Do I really like her? I must. Isn’t this trip to the Hundred Flowers Sword Sect to fetch her? All right, that’s settled!

“Come, cheers!” Tang Yi shouted, raising his cup and draining it in one go. That night, everyone was happy—everyone except Liu Yuefeng, who was quietly melancholy.

Late at night, two figures sat atop the inn’s roof—Liu Yuefeng and Gu Ziping. Liu Yuefeng hugged her knees, sitting, while Gu Ziping stood beside her. The bright moonlight illuminated Liu Yuefeng’s beautiful face, and for a moment, Gu Ziping was utterly captivated.

“Um, Miss Liu, please don’t be so sad. It makes me feel bad too,” Gu Ziping said, returning to his senses and trying to comfort her.

“I’m just worried about my mother’s injury. Look, the moon’s almost full again. Every full moon, her pain returns—you’ve never seen how much she suffers,” Liu Yuefeng said, her voice trembling with emotion.

“I understand, truly. Brother Tang is a good man. I’ve heard that on the battlefield during the Ten-Year War, he saved countless lives, healing the wounded,” Gu Ziping assured her.

“I’ve heard that too, but why is Brother Tang acting this way now?”

“Well… I’m not sure, but don’t worry. I’ll keep pleading with Brother Tang, and I won’t stop until he agrees to help,” Gu Ziping promised earnestly.

“Thank you. I know you’ve already asked Brother Tang many times. You don’t have to do it anymore—he’s made up his mind,” Liu Yuefeng replied softly.

“It’s all right, Miss Liu. Trust me, I’ll make sure Brother Tang helps your mother.”

Looking at this resolute man, who always silently cared for her, supported her, and helped her selflessly, Liu Yuefeng’s heart softened.

“You can call me Yuefeng. May I… call you Ziping?” Liu Yuefeng looked up at Gu Ziping and spoke gently. At her words, Gu Ziping almost forgot to breathe.

“She let me call her Yuefeng. She called me Ziping. Am I dreaming? I did drink a bit, but I’m not asleep yet… Ouch, that hurts. This isn’t a dream—it’s real,” Gu Ziping rejoiced inwardly.

“Yue… Yuefeng, of course, you can call me Ziping,” Gu Ziping replied, his voice trembling.

A gentle breeze swept by, drawing the two of them closer together, heart to heart.