T/N: I’ve made some minor edits to all previous chapters. It’s better to fix them now before I get too far ahead with new chapters.
Chapter 37: Gifts
Huang Junyi was a decisive woman. Mingyan only saw a glimpse of her sentimental side when she reminisced about the peach tree and her mother. Otherwise, she was always bold and decisive.
After she left, Mingyan turned to Liu Yunfeng.
His master had fully recovered from his internal injuries and looked healthy and energetic. Mingyan bowed respectfully. “Master.”
“I just heard you call Celestial Huang… ‘Sister’? Are you that close to her?” Liu Yunfeng was bewildered. He knew Mingyan had gone to save Huang Feiyan’s aunt. He had also heard that the woman who escorted him back was Huang Feiyan’s second aunt, meaning… she was the elder sister of the person Mingyan saved. And now, Mingyan was calling her “Sister”…
Liu Yunfeng’s mind raced. Could it be that after being saved, Huang Feiyan’s aunt offered herself to Mingyan, making him Huang Junyi’s brother-in-law?
Unaware of his master’s wild imagination, Mingyan looked at him, puzzled. “Master? What’s wrong?”
“Oh… oh, nothing… You… you and Celestial Huang…?”
Mingyan scratched his head. “Feiyan’s second aunt has been very kind to me. I suppose women don’t like being called ‘Aunt,’ so she asked me to call her ‘Sister.’ I couldn’t refuse.”
“I see…” Liu Yunfeng was slightly disappointed. It would have been nice if his disciple became the son-in-law of such a prominent family…
Mingyan couldn’t understand his master’s disappointment. He didn’t understand old men.
“Ahem, did you gain anything from this trip?” Liu Yunfeng cleared his throat, his tone turning serious.
“Feiyan asked her mother to write a recommendation letter for me to Holy Master Yue Ying of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land. I’ll be going there soon, Master.” Mingyan replied. “I also gained other things. The Huang family treated me very well. I wasn’t mistreated during my stay. I didn’t go there expecting anything in return, but they were generous and remembered my kindness…”
“You’re going to the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land…” Liu Yunfeng looked pleased and patted Mingyan’s shoulder. “You’ve grown. You’ve graduated from my tutelage. I can’t teach you anything more. Go to the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land and strive for greatness. But don’t forget Rain Terrace Blessed Land.”
Mingyan pursed his lips and bowed respectfully. “I’ll never forget your guidance, Master. You led me onto the path of cultivation.”
“Alright, don’t call me Master anymore.” Liu Yunfeng chuckled. “If your future master hears that, there might be a misunderstanding…”
Mingyan looked surprised. “What misunderstanding? Can one only have one master in their lifetime?”
“I was merely your guide, not your master. I know how little I’ve taught you. I don’t deserve the title of ‘Master’.” Liu Yunfeng waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, you won’t be staying in Rain Terrace Blessed Land much longer. Let’s not argue about this. Go see Mengli. She’s been waiting for your return.”
Mingyan wanted to say that Liu Yunfeng would always be his master, but he swallowed his words.
As they walked towards his master’s residence, they encountered several disciples. Many knew about Mingyan’s departure and were surprised to see him back.
Most greeted him politely as “Senior Brother.” A few only acknowledged Liu Yunfeng, ignoring Mingyan. Neither of them minded. Mingyan didn’t expect everyone to like him, and Liu Yunfeng felt it didn’t matter since Mingyan would be leaving soon.
“Mengli has been asking about you constantly these past few days…” Liu Yunfeng sighed. He had initially intended to foster a closer relationship between his daughter and Mingyan, hoping he would become his son-in-law. But after realizing Mingyan was destined for greater things, he had abandoned that idea. However, his daughter was still fond of Mingyan, which troubled him.
Mingyan was silent for a moment. “Mengli should know I’ll be leaving again after returning, right?”
“I told her. She wasn’t happy.” Liu Yunfeng nodded, sighing again as he spoke of his daughter.
“We have to part ways eventually.” Mingyan’s heart was also heavy, but parting was inevitable. He had a path to pursue and couldn’t stay here.
“I know. Mengli understands too. Although she’s young, she’s quite mature. You’ve spent over a year with her and know her well.” Liu Yunfeng nodded. “Just… be gentle with her when you see her. Don’t be too blunt. Spare her feelings.”
He didn’t want his daughter to be hurt. Mingyan understood and nodded.
They reached Liu Yunfeng’s residence and saw a young girl sitting in the courtyard, flipping a copper coin and muttering to herself. “Heads, he’s on his way back. Tails, he’s preparing to return. If it lands on its side, he’s already back…”
It was Liu Mengli. She hadn’t changed much, but her pout suggested she was in a bad mood. She tossed the coin into the air. It landed on its side, wedged between two stones.
“Already back?” Her eyes lit up, and she looked around, spotting Mingyan and Liu Yunfeng at the entrance.
“Brother! You’re back?!” She jumped up, ran towards him, and leaped into his arms, hugging him tightly. “Brother! Brother! You’re finally back!”
“You’ve forgotten about Daddy now that Brother is back?” Liu Yunfeng sighed, seeing her excitement. This was what he worried about. His daughter was too fond of Mingyan, but with her limited talent, she couldn’t go to a Sacred Land with him. They would have to part ways eventually…
“I can see Daddy anytime, but Brother is leaving soon. Every moment is precious. It’s not the same!” Liu Mengli glared at her father.
Hearing her mention his departure, Mingyan and Liu Yunfeng exchanged glances, relieved. It seemed Mengli was prepared.
Sometimes, Mingyan felt Mengli wasn’t like an eight-year-old. She was much more mature, far more so than the other eight-year-olds he had known in his village.
Mingyan supported her in his arms. “I brought you some small gifts, Mengli.”
Liu Mengli’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Gifts? What gifts?”
He set her down and took off his spatial pouch. It had originally been used to store spirit fruits and herbs, a small trinket Huang Junyi had made and given to him, thinking he couldn’t access his Qi Sea yet since he wasn’t at the Illuminating Sea Realm.
Since it was a gift from Huang Junyi, Mingyan couldn’t give it away. It wasn’t like the peach blossom cakes, which were consumable. This pouch, even if he didn’t need it, held special meaning.
He took out two paper dolls, one resembling himself and the other resembling Liu Mengli, and handed them to her.
Liu Mengli looked at them curiously.
The two paper dolls were holding hands, their features slightly blurred, but clearly representing Mingyan and herself. She smiled. “Did you make these yourself, Brother?”
“Yes, but I had some help.” Mingyan smiled. “Try injecting your spiritual energy into them.”
Liu Mengli carefully held the dolls and injected her energy, afraid of crushing them.
As she did, their blurred features became clearer, and they gradually came to life, transforming into miniature, lifelike figures of Mingyan and herself, no longer resembling paper dolls. Mingyan was smiling, holding her hand and pointing towards the distance, while Liu Mengli looked in that direction, her face filled with longing.
“Wow…” Liu Mengli’s eyes widened in amazement. “So magical!”
Mingyan had made the dolls himself, and Huang Junyi had inscribed them with formations that activated upon contact with spiritual energy.
“Do you like them?” Mingyan asked, smiling.
“Yes! I love them!” Liu Mengli carefully held the dolls in her hands, afraid of damaging them.
Liu Yunfeng, who had been silent, sighed in relief, seeing his daughter’s joy. She had been melancholic these past few days. It seemed only Mingyan could cheer her up. But what would happen after he left? He felt a headache coming on.
“Master, I have a gift for you too.” Mingyan took out a jar of peach blossom wine from the pouch. “This is the wine I promised you.”
“Oh? For me too?” Liu Yunfeng was surprised.
“Yes. This is peach blossom wine brewed by Huang Qingfei, Family Head Huang’s younger sister,” Mingyan said. “She’s the reason I went to the Huang family.”
Huang Qingfei had sent him ten jars of this wine the day after she woke up, each brewed for at least a hundred years using the blossoms from the peach tree in the courtyard where he had stayed. It was incredibly potent.
Mingyan offered five jars to Liu Yunfeng. “Master, this is hundred-year-old peach blossom wine. Savor it…”
“Hundred-year-old?” Liu Yunfeng’s eyes widened. The wine was older than him. Seeing the five jars, he quickly said, “Don’t give me so much. I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to drink it. Two jars are enough. One to show off, and one to entertain guests…”
“This… there’s no need…”
“Alright, alright, this was a gift to you. I shouldn’t take so much. Just two jars. I won’t accept any more.” Liu Yunfeng waved his hand dismissively, his tone firm. Mingyan relented. “Alright…”
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