Chapter 53: The Mysterious Girl

At this moment, Fang Xu intended to find Qiu Chuji and explain everything clearly. If possible, he even planned to be straightforward with Qiu Chuji about his own intentions. After all, Fang Xu did not wish for any misunderstanding or estrangement to arise between them, as he believed they would need to continue cooperating in the future. There was simply no other way—after all, within the whole of Great Qin, the Quanzhen Monastery was the only place proficient in the art of alchemy.

Now, only Qiu Chuji remained as the monastery’s sole heir; the other abbots and disciples had likely already laid down their lives for Great Qin. The thought sent an involuntary shiver through Fang Xu—he could not tell whether it was the chill of night or a cold tremor from within, for he understood how turbulent and uncertain the world had become.

Was he to drift with the current, or seek serenity in acceptance? Even he was unsure. Despite his confusion and uncertainty, Fang Xu knew that for now, he was simply assisting Qin Suwen.

With these thoughts, Fang Xu resolved to seek out Qiu Chuji for a proper conversation. Yet a sudden embarrassment overtook him—he realized he was lost! It was hardly surprising; Fang Xu was infamous for his lack of direction. Without guidance, he could easily vanish without a trace. As this was his first time at Quanzhen Monastery, and without Qiu Chuji to lead him, he had no idea where anything was.

Wandering aimlessly, Fang Xu found himself stopping in front of a peach tree that towered overhead. He was dumbstruck. It should have been a season when peach blossoms had long since withered, yet this tree before him was in full bloom.

This seemed almost impossible to Fang Xu, for such a phenomenon defied any natural law. For a moment, he wondered if he was hallucinating. But as he gazed at the flowering peach tree, he could not help but recall a poem:

“In the Peach Blossom Nook stands a Peach Blossom Hermitage,
Beneath the Hermitage dwells the Peach Blossom Immortal.
The Immortal plants peach trees, and sells peach blossoms for wine,
When sober, he sits before the flowers; drunk, he sleeps beneath them.
Day after day, half-drunk, half-awake; year after year, blossoms fall and bloom.
Better to die amidst flowers and wine than bow before chariots and horses.
Dust and hoofbeats are the ways of the ambitious; wine cups and flower branches belong to the recluse.
If one compares the famous to the hidden, one stands on earth, the other in heaven.
If one compares flowers and wine to chariots and horses, why are they so busy while I am so free?
Others laugh at my madness; I laugh at their blindness.
Have you not seen the tombs of heroes at Wuling? No flowers, no wine, only fields tilled by hand…”

Fang Xu could not say why this Peach Blossom Hermitage Song came to mind—perhaps his heart mirrored the scene before him.

“Others laugh at my madness; I laugh at their blindness?” A sudden sigh, soft and melancholy, drifted from behind the peach tree, sending a cold sweat down Fang Xu’s back.

“Who’s there?” Fang Xu’s nerves tensed; for a moment, he considered calling for Old Wu and the others to come to his aid.

He did not know whether the person hidden was friend or foe, and so dared not act rashly. But when a shadow slowly emerged from behind the peach tree, Fang Xu was momentarily stunned.

The girl who appeared seemed startled upon seeing Fang Xu, a flicker of panic in her eyes. But Fang Xu, oblivious to this, was wholly captivated by her appearance. As a breeze drifted by, a few peach petals fluttered down, brushing against her slender hair. She gave a soft, indignant exclamation, but Fang Xu was too mesmerized to react.

If Qin Suwen possessed the sweet charm of a young maiden, then this girl radiated a mature, commanding allure.

“Miss, may I ask—” Fang Xu began to clasp his hands in greeting, but before he could finish, the girl cried out with a sharp scream, leaving him dumbfounded. He had no idea what had just happened. Why was she looking at him as though she had seen a ghost? A chill ran down Fang Xu’s spine.

Yet, suppressing his fear, he turned around to check—and found nothing behind him.

“Miss, there’s nothing—” As Fang Xu turned back, he realized the girl had already vanished without a trace.

“Young master! Are you all right?” Before Fang Xu could collect himself, Old Wu and the others rushed to his side, surrounding him protectively. Upon hearing the scream, they had dashed over at once. Seeing that Fang Xu was unharmed, they breathed a sigh of relief, though they continued to shield him, hands resting on the hilts of their embroidered spring blades, ready for anything.

Only now did Fang Xu realize he had never truly understood Old Wu and his men. Though they appeared lax most of the time, they could move with astonishing speed if something happened. They all knew that if any harm befell Fang Xu, they would be held gravely responsible.

“Young master, what happened?” Old Wu checked the surroundings, his gaze tense as he examined Fang Xu anxiously from head to toe, fearing the slightest injury.

“It’s nothing at all. Thank you for your trouble.” Fang Xu understood why they had appeared—the mysterious girl’s scream had summoned them. Their concern warmed him; no matter their reasons, it showed he truly mattered to them.

“So long as you’re safe, young master. How strange, though! At this time of year, the peach blossoms should have withered—how can this tree be in such full bloom?” With Fang Xu unharmed, Old Wu and the others finally noticed the magnificent flowering peach tree, and could not help but feel perplexed. Such a sight was unheard of, and even Old Wu frowned in confusion.