Mu Wan returned to her room, where she could see the light from the main hall through the window. The soft glow stretched out across the tiles outside, casting three shadows, though she couldn’t tell which one belonged to Liu Qianxiu. She sat on the bed for a while, flipping through the pages of the book in her hands. However, she couldn’t focus and soon drifted off to sleep, still holding the book.
She wasn’t sure how long she slept, but eventually, Liu Qianxiu returned. The night was chilly, and he brought with him the cool air and the rich scent of sandalwood from the main hall. As Mu Wan inhaled the familiar fragrance, her warm body, made drowsy from sleep, instinctively curled into his arms.
The sudden contact of warmth against coolness made them both shiver slightly. In her half-asleep state, Mu Wan hugged him and murmured, “You’re back.”
“Yes.” Liu Qianxiu replied. He wanted to touch her cheek, but his hands were too cold. Instead, he pulled a light blanket over her and lay down beside her, holding her in his arms.
The scent of sandalwood had a calming effect, and although Mu Wan wanted to talk to him more, the drowsiness was overwhelming. She soon fell back asleep, comforted by the thought that they had plenty of time together and didn’t need to say everything that night.
With the gentle sandalwood fragrance lingering, Mu Wan slept soundly and peacefully. Since she had gone to bed early, she also woke up early the next morning. She noticed that the bed was still warm, but Liu Qianxiu was already gone.
Opening her eyes, Mu Wan took in her surroundings and, after a moment, got out of bed.
It was only six-thirty in the morning. The sun rose early in the mountains, and the day broke quickly, but the air was damp, gathering into a thick mist. The fog was so dense that when Mu Wan stepped outside and looked up, she could only make out the peaks of the surrounding mountains. The air was moist, hinting at an impending rain.
“Shijie, you’re up?” The weather had turned cooler, and the leaves had started to fall. Qingchan, dressed in his Taoist robe with his hair in a bun, had already gathered a small pile of leaves at his feet with a tiny broom. His small figure stood straight and proud as he smiled at Mu Wan.
“Why are you up so early?” Mu Wan walked over and playfully pinched his cheek. The two had grown much closer, and Qingchan let her pinch his rosy cheeks without complaint.
“We get up at six for morning meditation.” Qingchan replied. “Shifu is meditating in the bamboo forest, and Shidi is at the cliff edge where I took you to find him last time.”
Mu Wan did want to go see Liu Qianxiu, but she remembered that the spot where he had slept was still warm when she woke up, meaning he had only just left.
“Do you want to go find Shidi?” Qingchan asked, tilting his head when she didn’t answer right away.
“No.” Mu Wan smiled, tugging on his bun. “Do you have another broom? I’ll help you sweep the leaves for a while.”
Qingchan was naturally happy to have company. Though he had been a Taoist disciple since childhood, he was still a child at heart, not as reserved as Liu Qianxiu or Xuan Qingzi.
However, they hadn’t been sweeping for long when it started to rain. Qingchan put away the broom, furrowed his brow, and said, “Shijie, I’m going to bring an umbrella to Shifu. Why don’t you take one to Shidi?”
Having a reason to go find Liu Qianxiu, Mu Wan readily agreed. Qingchan handed her an oiled paper umbrella, and she set off along the path towards the cliff.
The rain was light but steady, creating a soft patter on the umbrella. The raindrops gathered and dripped onto the wild grass by the roadside. Mu Wan quickened her pace and soon reached the cliff.
Liu Qianxiu sat cross-legged on a meditation mat at the cliff’s edge, his back straight and slender. His blue Taoist robe was already half-soaked from the rain.
“Liu Qianxiu.” Mu Wan called out to him.
Liu Qianxiu stirred, turning his head toward her. The misty look in his eyes cleared as he focused on her. He stood up from the mat, and Mu Wan rushed over, raising the umbrella to shield him.
He was much taller than her, making it a bit of a struggle for her to hold the umbrella over him. Liu Qianxiu placed one hand on her waist and used the other to take the umbrella from her.
Rainwater dripped from his face, his pale skin making the droplets look even colder. Mu Wan frowned, wiping his face with her hand. “Didn’t you notice it was raining?”
Liu Qianxiu held her hand, their fingers intertwined. His palm was cool and dry.
He glanced at the rain and said, “It’s getting heavier.”
“You didn’t notice it was raining?” Mu Wan found his response hard to believe and laughed softly. She looked up at him and said, “The outside world doesn’t affect your meditation, does it?”
The fine rain and mist shrouded the cliff and the pine trees on the mountainside, creating a scene like something out of a fairy tale. As a breeze blew by, Liu Qianxiu’s eyes lowered slightly, meeting her gaze.
“Yes.” he said, leaning down to kiss the corner of her lips. His voice was soft. “The only thing that can disturb my mind is you.”
The rain, now laced with honeyed sweetness, felt like a gentle caress. Mu Wan looked up at him, her eyes crinkling with a smile. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
Even in his Taoist robes, his words were irresistibly romantic.
The rain continued for half the day, eventually dispersing the fog. Mu Wan spent her time reading and taking a nap in her room while Liu Qianxiu continued his meditation. Around one in the afternoon, after she woke up from her nap, Liu Qianxiu came into the room.
He had changed into a fresh Taoist robe, his figure tall and upright, his demeanor serene and otherworldly. When Mu Wan saw him, she put down her book and opened her arms with a smile.
Understanding her gesture, Liu Qianxiu walked over and lifted her from the bed, giving her a kiss.
“Get ready. We’re going to catch some fish.”
They were going to the Qingyuan River behind the mountain. Mu Wan propped herself up on the bed, looking down at him, and asked, “Aren’t you going to continue meditating?”
“No.” Liu Qianxiu replied, placing her back on the bed and finding her shoes.
“Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Mu Wan glanced out the window toward the main hall, where all was silent. “Weren’t you here to meditate? What if Shifu isn’t happy about you leaving?”
He sat on the bed, listening patiently as she rambled on. When she finally finished, he asked, “Who said I came here to meditate?”
Mu Wan blinked in surprise.
Taking advantage of her momentary confusion, Liu Qianxiu slipped the other shoe onto her foot. Then he leaned in, playfully tapping her nose, his actions filled with affection.
“I came to spend time with you.”
His face was so close, and he looked so handsome. In Mu Wan’s heart, a little flower blossomed, fragrant and sweet. She jumped up eagerly. “Then let’s go!”
They grabbed some fishing gear and headed down the path to the Qingyuan River. The grass on either side of the path was wet from the rain, leaving their legs damp as they walked by.
Mu Wan loved the back of the mountain, with its vast bamboo forest. The bamboo leaves were lush and green, exuding a light, fresh fragrance. She followed behind Liu Qianxiu, watching as his Taoist robe swayed with his movements. He had a perfect blend of a heroic and Taoist aura, making her heart race.
Though they said they were going fishing, it was really just a fun outing. Mu Wan took off her shoes, and Liu Qianxiu helped her onto the boat. After rowing to the center of the river and casting the net, they both lay down on the boat.
After a day of rain, the weather had cleared. The sky was blue, with large, fluffy white clouds that looked like they were made of cotton candy.
The fishing net sank into the river, and the boat drifted gently in the calm, clear water, as if part of a painting.
Mu Wan felt completely relaxed. She lay on Liu Qianxiu, gazing up at the blue sky and white clouds, breathing in the fresh air after the autumn rain. The river flowed gently, and the boat rocked lightly, as if time and the world had come to a peaceful halt.
Resting in Liu Qianxiu’s arms, he was reading a book, its pages infused with the scent of the incense from the main hall, fresh and natural. Mu Wan rolled over, and Liu Qianxiu looked down at her. Her eyes were fixed on the cover of his book, an ancient text filled with classical Chinese characters, each phrase laden with profound meaning.
“Did you bring your homework here?” Mu Wan asked with a laugh.
He set the book aside and gently pinched her earlobe, “It’s a habit.”
It was indeed a habit. Most of the time, he was quiet, and when he was quiet, he would read. The wind rustled the pages as the book lay beside him, and Mu Wan glanced at a few lines.
The text was in traditional Chinese, which she could mostly understand, but the meaning eluded her. Compared to Liu Qianxiu and his peers, she felt illiterate.
“How many books do you have to read like this?” Mu Wan wondered aloud. “I bet Shifu has probably read all of them by now.”
“No.” Liu Qianxiu corrected her, his eyes gentle as he tucked her hair behind her ear. “The understanding of each book changes depending on when you read it. Taoist practice emphasizes enlightenment, not the quantity of books read. Shifu has been on his path of enlightenment for nearly eighty years, yet the books remain the same.”
Mu Wan didn’t fully grasp his explanation, but she caught the key point. Her eyes widened, and she asked, “Shifu has been on his path for nearly eighty years… How old is he?”
“Eighty-two.” Liu Qianxiu replied.
In the entertainment industry, celebrities were obsessed with maintaining their youthful appearance, but no one could truly escape the ravages of time. Even those who seemed to age slowly couldn’t hide their old age once they reached eighty.
Xuan Qingzi appeared to be in his sixties, but in reality, he was eighty-two. What kind of immortal was this?
Mu Wan scrutinized Liu Qianxiu’s features. He was six or seven years older than her, yet he looked about the same age as men her age.
Mu Wan reached out, gently touching his cheek. “Will you stay this young in the future?”
Liu Qianxiu sighed softly, taking her hand in his.
“My future will always be with you.” he said, kissing her fingertips with a slight smile. “You’ll see for yourself.”
His kisses on her fingers tickled her, and his words made her heart flutter. Mu Wan smiled, meeting his dark eyes, and shifted her position to be eye-level with him. As she moved, he placed his hands on her waist, lifting her closer.
His future would be with her—how long was the future?
Mu Wan cupped his face in her hands, leaning down to kiss him. Their lips met in a tender, lingering kiss as the breeze around them couldn’t dissipate their warmth. Mu Wan giggled softly into the kiss.
“Liu Qianxiu.” she called out, her beautiful eyes narrowing with mischief, “Are you afraid of getting married? Is that why you brought me to the temple for some peace of mind?”
His fingers threaded through her hair as he looked into her eyes, his gaze filled with warmth and affection.
“Afraid of what?”
Afraid… She wasn’t quite sure what.
She licked her lips, hesitating for a moment. “Aren’t you afraid?”
Her voice was soft, her hair falling gently around her face. A ray of sunlight filtered through, illuminating her delicate features.
“Yes.” Liu Qianxiu nodded, smiling as brightly as the sun breaking through a valley.
“I’m afraid you won’t want to marry me.”
Mu Wan, lying against his chest, felt the rumble of his voice as he spoke, and she laughed, her heart full.
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