Chapter 20: Seventh Night, Longing to be Together (Part 1)

  When Song Mingkui sent me back to Xifengyuan, I was already unconscious. For several days in a row, I had a high fever and kept falling asleep, waking up from time to time. In my dreams, there were countless devils and fierce ghosts gnawing at the brocade, while she stretched out her hand to me and cried. However, I was surrounded by a group of evil spirits and couldn't get past them to save her. My chest hurt as if someone was breaking my ribs alive, and I kept crying out for Brocade's name. The anxious and frightened face of Yuan Fang would occasionally appear before my eyes.

  I had many strange dreams, sometimes I dreamed that Song Minglei was kneeling on the ground with blood at the corner of his mouth, and Yuan Feibai sat high in front of him with a furious expression. He asked coldly: "What did you say to her? Do you want to torment her to death?"

  Song Mingwei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a haughty expression, and also coldly smiled at him: "Third Master, your words are wrong. The one who really bullied her is you! Have you forgotten how you promised our Xiao Wu Yi back then?"

  Sometimes I dream of Jinxiu with tears all over her face standing in front of me, looking at me painfully. Behind her stands the white mask that killed me. I want to remind her out loud but can't make a sound. All I hear is the white mask saying coldly: "She's going to die soon, now you should be satisfied?"

  ……

  Then I fell into a coma again for several days, and regained consciousness in the midst of a lingering and sorrowful zither melody, with Su Hui's and Xie San Niang's voices beside my ears.

  "Mother, will Muyutou die?" Su Hui's voice was somewhat bitter.

  "Shut up, you little brat! Don't talk nonsense, or Third Master will get anxious again." Third Mistress's voice was tinged with sorrow: "It's really pitiful, he's only fifteen years old after all."

  "But Mr. Zhao said that if Wooden Girl doesn't wake up today, she will never wake up again." As he spoke, Su Hui suddenly burst into tears: "Mother, Wooden Girl is a good person, can you please not let her die?"

  "Foolish child, even Mr. Zhao has said so, what can I do? I also like Mu Yaotou, since she came to our courtyard, the young master is much happier than before, and I want her to live too... Alas, you should go back to Third Master and tell him not to play anymore, shouldn't we first dress Mu Niang in clothes and prepare her for the journey?" Xie San Niang said, and couldn't help but sob.

  Huiwa burst into loud wailing, and as the door creaked open, her cries grew fainter. I struggled to open my eyes, only to find myself lying in my own room, with no one around. I reckon Huiwa had gone to inform Yuan Fei of my death, while Xie San Niang must have gone to prepare a funeral dress for me.

  I struggled to sit up, but the old injury in my ribs made me break out in cold sweat. I thought of Su Hui's words earlier and thought that Zhao Menglin was indeed a brilliant doctor. I couldn't help but think that I shouldn't slack off in practicing martial arts, eating greasy food, or getting emotionally excited! Mr. Zhao said that if I didn't wake up today, I would never wake up again? So does that mean I have hope of living or is it just a brief return to consciousness before dying? I let out a cold laugh, and if it's the latter, then I'll make sure to kill Liu Yansheng first! I gritted my teeth and flipped over, heavily crashing onto the ground. With sweat dripping from my head, I got up with the help of a stool, grabbed the comb on the dresser, and slowly made my way out.

  Suddenly, a thunderstorm raged outside with flashes of lightning and heavy rain. It seemed that heaven itself did not approve of my revenge at this moment. However, as soon as I thought of Jin Xiu's desperate and sorrowful tears, I went madly towards the direction of Zi Yuan. Unfortunately, just after taking a few steps, Su Hui's startled cry came from behind: "Third Master, Mu Ya Tou, Mu Ya Tou, she...she...she..."

  I ignored his cries and continued to walk forward with all my might, I really hated my poor lightness skills. Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of me, Wei Hu had blocked my way, he knelt down on one leg in the rain, shaking his voice said: "Mu Niangzi is seriously injured, please take care of yourself, hurry back!"

  I quietly walked past him, staggering forward, ignoring the fact that he was holding an umbrella for me behind my back, anxiously shouting beside me. I took a few more difficult steps, with only one thought in my mind: to kill Liu Yansheng and avenge Jinxiu.

  A familiar figure in white clothes floated over, I lifted my head and it was Yuan Fei Bai leaning on a crutch, his whole body was soaked, after not seeing him for several days, his face looked haggard, rainwater condensed into droplets on his chin covered with fine stubble, like crystal beads flowing down, he looked at me with surprise and shock in his eyes: "You... you finally woke up, where are you going?"

  I wanted to get around him, but at this moment all my strength was exhausted, and I let go of the handrail, falling to the ground. I fell into Yuan Fei's arms, and unexpectedly pressed Yuan Fei to the ground as well. Wei Hu had already covered us with a large oil-paper umbrella. Yuan Fei tightly hugged me and trembled with fear, repeatedly asking: "Where are you going, Mu Xi?"

  I looked at the umbrella and thought of Qiao Wan giving Jin Xiu an umbrella to leave the Guantao residence. Looking back, I realized that I had only walked out a few dozen meters.

  Brocade, brocade, my poor one, it's all because of your uselessness. When you were healthy, I didn't have the ability to protect you, and now that you're ill like this, how can I protect you?!

  I couldn't help but hold Yuan Feibai tightly and burst into despairing loud sobs, then I lost consciousness again in a very useless manner.

  The next day I woke up, Zhao Menglin came to take my pulse and said that resting for a few days would be fine. He also mentioned what he had said before, such as strengthening the body, nourishing the mind, and absolutely not eating spicy or pungent foods, avoiding getting angry and so on.

  This illness of mine has caused a huge commotion in Xifengyuan, and I've been constantly thinking of ways to take revenge on Jinyou. As a result, no matter who talks to me, I just stare blankly without responding. Even when Song Mingpei and Biying came to visit me, I ignored them, and they had to leave with sad faces. I heard that Jinyou has been in Xi'an all along but hasn't shown up again.

  Yu Fei didn't force me to talk, nor did he leave my side, personally feeding me medicine and soup, and occasionally helping me tune the zither to dispel worries.

  Today, I finally got out of bed. I got up early and came to the martial arts arena. After a while, Su Hui pushed Yuan Feibai over, followed by Han Xiuzhu. As soon as Su Hui saw me, she exclaimed: "Mu Ya... Mu Niangzi is the first one here today, it's really rare!"

  Yu Fei looked at me for a moment, with a hint of understanding in his eyes, and smiled: "It seems that Mu Ge has already made up his mind!"

  I also returned a smile, and bowed to Yuan Fei and Han Xiuzhu: "In the past, Mu Xing was mischievous and didn't understand things. Please forgive me, Third Master and Mr. Han. From today on, please be strict with Mu Xing in martial arts training."

  This might be the first time I've practiced martial arts so seriously, because I've come to realize a truth: if I want to protect my loved ones, I need to make myself stronger first. Even though it's very likely that I won't live past thirty, I must do everything I can before I rush to the Yellow Springs.

  The so-called people who know you best are always your most formidable enemies. I started asking Zhang Demao to help me investigate Liu Yansheng.

  I started borrowing various books from Yuan Fei, mostly military ones. Whenever I had time, I would run to his private library. Sometimes, I would humbly ask him and Han Xiuzhu for guidance. Su Hui always said that I seemed like a different person, with an unusually calm smile on my face, just like the Buddha's empty expression. Han Xiuzhu's gaze towards me became deeper day by day. Only Yuan Fei treated me as usual, calmly answering my questions. Now that time is precious, I no longer hide my talents and often discuss problems with him, raising one point to refute three. We would sometimes talk through the night until dawn, our enthusiasm never diminishing. He was indeed a prodigy of the world, with insights on current events surpassing those of his predecessors, even having modern views. It can be said that he is the only person since Song Minglian who could discuss such profound topics with me. His gaze towards me also became increasingly warm and joyful. He cared more about my daily life than before, asking about my well-being, but unfortunately, I no longer had the energy to explore whether his behavior was genuine or not, or if it was for the sake of his mysterious lover. My heart only had one wish: to avenge Jinxiu by killing Liu Yansheng.

  Yu Fei Bai started having Wei Hu teach me horseback archery. As for riding, I fell off a few times, so Yu Fei Bai had Wei Hu slow down the pace. It wasn't until after two days that I finally learned it. However, when it came to shooting techniques, I seemed to have some natural talent - I grasped the essentials in just one short period of time and my shots were incredibly accurate. The only thing lacking was power and control. Even Wei Hu couldn't help but praise me repeatedly. During our break, I studied the bow and arrow intently. Suddenly, an idea struck me and I asked Wei Hu: "Wei Zhuang Shi, do we have bows in the Eastern Courtyard that can shoot dozens or even hundreds of arrows in a row?"

  He fell silent for a moment, then replied: "Miss, I've seen the most formidable archers in the Imperial Guard, but even they can only fire ten arrows in succession. As for those legendary figures on the Jianghu who can fire dozens or even hundreds of hidden projectiles in a row... I'm afraid such people have yet to be found in this world."

  I remembered Gu Long's "The Legendary Twins" and suddenly asked: "Have you ever heard of 'Bao Yu Li Zhen'?"

  He stared at me with wide eyes, and for the next few days, in the scorching summer heat, Wei Hu and I were drenched in sweat as we hid in his wooden workshop, researching a weapon that could shoot out dozens or even hundreds of arrows at once. Wei Hu was also gradually becoming obsessed. Originally, he had found an expert craftsman named Lu Yuan for us, who was even more taciturn than Wei Hu, with severe burns on his face, and claimed to be a descendant of Lu Ban. On the first day of July, we successfully researched a crossbow that could shoot out 100 arrows at once, requiring two people to operate it simultaneously, one lifting and one shooting, with a range of around 400 meters, which was quite powerful for that era.

  I am considering whether to name it Shenzhou No. 1 or something in the name of Jinxiu, when a very scary and hoarse laughter comes from behind me. I turn my head back, his eyes are emitting excited light, that burnt face under the moonlight, as if it is an evil ghost's grin, I am still afraid, unconsciously backing away, but turning my head back, that Wei Hu's smile is even more terrifying, I start to suspect that people who do technical work in that era are all like this.

  With the initial model a success, I felt relieved and, suppressing my nervousness, continued to explain my next plan to Lu Yuan. I asked him to miniaturize the crossbow's dimensions so it could be worn on the wrist, preferably disguised as an ordinary accessory, but still function as a deadly hidden weapon, ideally capable of firing poisonous projectiles. Unexpectedly, Lu Yuan gave me a piercing look from head to toe before taking a step forward and grabbing my shoulders, shouting sternly: "How can someone as young as you have such cunning ideas? Why is your heart so malicious?"

  Looking at that ghostly face similar to Song Danping, I was so scared that my shoulders seemed to be crushed by him. Wei Hu hurried forward and pulled open Lu Yuan, but after being reminded by Lu Yuan, he also looked at me with suspicion. I adjusted my collar and calmly said: "When Mr. Lu is ready, I will tell you my purpose."

  On the second day, Zhang Demao came to deliver daily necessities as usual. I took advantage of the opportunity to hand over the drawings of the crossbow and the latest wrist-mounted crossbow design to him, which I had secretly made in my account book. His eyes sparkled with a hint of a smile as he accepted them.

  The Double Seventh Festival is approaching, in ancient times the Qixi Festival was a very important festival for children, because on this day they worshiped the double stars and prayed that they would be clever and wise, so that they could be with their loved ones and have a happy life.

  Embroidered curtains open for the second time,

  screens made of jade serve as a stage.

  The small blue bridge over the clear stream,

  a meeting place where cleverness is begged at night.

  When Xie San Niang came to find me in high spirits, I was sitting in Wei Hu's workshop with my hair disheveled and my face covered in mud, with a bunch of drafting papers in front of me and a charcoal pen stuck behind my ear. I looked no different from an ordinary construction worker. Xie San Niang was shocked and then dragged me to the garden, ignoring my struggles, and gave me a stern lecture. She said that as a 15-year-old girl, I should take care of my appearance, especially since I would have to serve Master San in the future. I listened with my head bowed, feeling embarrassed, when Yuan Fei Bai and Song Ming Lei happened to pass by the plum garden. They saw me like this and were also startled. Song Ming Lei's eyes flashed with a hint of heartache, while Yuan Fei Bai let out a sigh and beckoned me to sit on a small stool beside him. He gently wiped my face with his sleeve and said softly, "Don't mind San Niang's nagging, even I, as your fake father, find it heartbreaking to see you like this. Listen to me and stop messing around with those things. What do you want to achieve? Let me help you."

  I looked at the stain on his white sleeve, and my heart skipped a beat. He had always been fastidious and avoided physical contact with others, so why did he not avoid staining his clothes in front of everyone today?

  I raised my head, directly facing his bright and beautiful eyes. For a moment, I had countless words to ask him, but my mouth couldn't open for a long time. Turning my face away, Song Minghui's face was calm and cold, and the look in his eyes towards me was surprisingly desolate.

  On the Double Seventh Festival, Xie San Niang helped me bathe and wash my hair with celestial river water, then changed into my best pale purple silk skirt, combed a morning moon bun on my head, wore white orchids on the bun, lightly painted eyebrows, applied lip gloss and rouge, dotted vermilion lips, printed light powder on forehead, and finally dyed fingernails with phoenix fairy juice.

  After this dressing, even Su Hui couldn't help but praise me, saying that Mu Yaotou could be so beautiful too. Song Mingkai looked at me gently from the corner, while Yuan Feibai stared deeply at me without a word.