Three days later, late April — Guyu.
According to Xia Liu’s arrangements, they would leave Fangcheng early tomorrow morning and begin their journey back to the sect.
The sky was filled with clear blue clouds. Even the sunlight seemed a little lazy.
The wind brushed across their cheeks, bringing a sense of comfort so great that one could not help but take a deep breath to savor the faint fragrance mixed within it.
Ji Xing, dressed in a light blue brocade outfit, gently pushed open the door to the room.
She poked her head in and immediately spotted Su Zhan sitting at the table drinking tea.
“Senior Sister, good morning.”
She smiled brightly and greeted Su Zhan. With her hands behind her back, she walked in with light, quick steps.
Behind her came the muffled rustling sound of an oil-paper bag.
Su Zhan set down her teacup and looked up.
Seeing that it was Ji Xing, she showed no surprise. She skillfully found another cup, poured some tea, and placed it at the other end of the table.
“Ta-da～ Today’s breakfast.”
Ji Xing took out the oil-paper bag from behind her back to show it off.
She sat across from Su Zhan, opened it, and arranged the individually wrapped breakfast items on the table.
Steamed buns, meat pies, zeng cakes… six or seven different kinds of breakfast foods, so many that it was hard to know where to begin.
“Why did you buy so much again.” Su Zhan smiled helplessly.
“Later your Xia Senior Sister will say you’re being wasteful.”
“She won’t. This was what Xia Senior Sister told me to bring.”
Ji Xing lifted her teacup and drank it down in one gulp, then offered a piece of beef pie to Su Zhan like presenting a treasure.
“Senior Sister, try this quickly. The shop selling these meat pies has really good business. We had to wait in line for a long time to buy them.”
“Mm. Thank you, Junior Sister.”
Su Zhan accepted it and took a small bite. Ji Xing quietly observed her expression.
Only after seeing Su Zhan’s brows relax did she take a piece for herself and stuff it into her mouth.
These past few days, Su Zhan had rarely left the room.
Xia Liu had ordered her to rest properly inside until her body fully recovered.
In truth, by the second day, the wounds on Su Zhan’s body had already healed to the point where she could perform simple movements.
The only exception was the injury on her abdomen. It had been the most severe and still required a few more days of care.
The medicine also needed to be changed every three or four shichen.
Preparing the medicinal paste alone took a considerable amount of time, let alone applying it.
Although Xia Liu did not say anything, there were several times when she had just finished changing Su Zhan’s medicine and ended up so exhausted that she fell asleep leaning against the bed.
After bringing Su Zhan back, Xia Liu had not rested properly.
In fact, she had barely slept since the start of the trial and was constantly in a state of sleep deprivation.
Because of this, Ji Xing had taken the initiative to offer replacing Xia Liu in caring for Su Zhan.
She helped with whatever she could, taking over Su Zhan’s three daily meals and the medicine changes.
This finally allowed Xia Liu to get some proper sleep.
At first, Ji Xing had been timid and unsure of herself.
When changing Su Zhan’s medicine, she would grow nervous if she used even a little too much force and would repeatedly apologize.
Su Zhan had no choice but to reassure her over and over that it was fine.
Only after Su Zhan was able to get out of bed and move around did Ji Xing gradually return to her usual carefree self.
However, her attitude toward Su Zhan remained exceptionally obedient.
It had to be said that although this girl was a bit stubborn and reckless, she was still a good child who knew how to repay kindness.
With Ji Xing’s help, Xia Liu felt much more at ease. She finally had time to handle other miscellaneous matters.
After confirming that Ji Xing could take good care of Su Zhan, she had spent the past few days leaving early and returning late with the other junior sisters.
During this trial down the mountain, these junior sisters still had some tasks to complete.
The original trial period was one week.
They were already considered late in returning.
Xia Liu said they should finish these matters early so they could return with a clear mind and avoid any further accidents.
Su Zhan had asked Xia Liu whether she felt bad about keeping the junior sisters cooped up in their rooms for several days and had therefore found an excuse to take them out for some fresh air.
Xia Liu had rolled her eyes at her and given no answer.
Having been cooped up in Tang Pavilion for several days, the junior sisters had no objections and expressed their agreement one after another.
They had originally come out together for a trip. Whether Xia Liu was present or not made little difference.
Moreover, Xia Liu did not urge them about anything and only silently watched over their safety.
They had thought they would stay at Tang Pavilion for two weeks before returning directly to the sect.
Now that something had happened and they could still go out and have fun, it was already beyond their expectations.
Rather than complaining, it was better to enjoy themselves.
“Yesterday, Xia Senior Sister took them to a small mountain nearby. They spent the whole day identifying medicinal herbs there. One of the junior sisters caught a small snake and said she wanted to bring it back to the sect to raise.”
“But who would have thought the little snake was poisonous. That junior sister got bitten. Her mouth swelled up. Fortunately, she had brought an antidote pill, so nothing serious happened. Afterward, though, she was scolded by Xia Senior Sister with a dark face.”
After finishing breakfast, Ji Xing began chattering about yesterday’s events in order to relieve Su Zhan’s boredom.
Su Zhan listened attentively, occasionally nodding in response.
Having someone to accompany her was indeed nice.
At the very least, she did not feel bored.
Speaking of which, during this trial she had not done anything and had instead caused Xia Liu a lot of trouble. She really ought to thank her properly.
“Your Xia Senior Sister is also the type who becomes anxious out of concern. Don’t take it to heart. When it comes to your safety and lives, it’s only natural for her to speak a little harshly when she’s worried.”
Su Zhan spoke softly.
“Mm. We all know Xia Senior Sister has a sharp tongue but a soft heart.”
Ji Xing nodded. Suddenly she seemed to remember something and let out an “Ah.”
“Speaking of which, Xia Senior Sister mentioned to me this morning that a Senior surnamed Su wants to see you. She asked whether you want to meet her.”
“Surnamed Su?”
Su Zhan fell silent.
That was probably Granny Su. Yet she did not know how she should face that old woman, nor what she should say.
“Xia Senior Sister also said that if you don’t know whether you should meet her, you can write down what you want to say in a letter. She will find a way to pass it on for you.”
Ji Xing continued, “I feel like Xia Senior Sister doesn’t want you to go see that Senior Su. When she mentioned that Senior Su, Xia Senior Sister’s expression didn’t look good. She even said something about not wanting you to repeat the same mistake.”
“Ah…”
Su Zhan was startled. She understood Xia Liu’s worry.
She was afraid that Granny Su would also treat her as a substitute and do something unfavorable?
However, Granny Su was already of that age, and she had always been quite kind to her.
It was not dangerous so much as it was the desire of an old person who hoped to have someone by her side in her later years.
Su Zhan felt that if Granny Su could look at her a few more times, perhaps she would have fewer regrets.
“It’s fine. Since that Granny Su is both a senior and an elder, meeting her once before we leave won’t cause any problems.”
Thinking this, Su Zhan shook her head and suppressed her messy thoughts. She smiled helplessly.
“Besides… the day we went to find you, if it weren’t for Granny Su lending me her cat, I might have arrived late. You might have been in danger.”
“This… That’s true. But since Xia Senior Sister said it that way, she must have her reasons.”
Ji Xing nodded seriously. “If Senior Sister wants to meet that senior, then I must accompany you. I need to thank that senior as well.”
“Alright. Then I’ll do as you say.”
Su Zhan nodded with some amusement.
Why did it feel like after she got injured, everyone was treating her like a porcelain doll? Ji Xing was like this, and Xia Liu was like this too.
***
At the small pavilion at Hulu Kou, the old woman sat in her wheelchair in front of the hall.
She threaded a storage ring onto a necklace and gently tied it around the white cat’s neck.
The white cat looked up, tilting its head in confusion.
She pondered for a long time before reaching out to stroke the white cat’s head.
With a low, dry laugh, she gave instructions one word at a time.
“Later, you will take this to that girl. It won’t be a loss for her to call me Granny. Don’t go running off to play somewhere else.”
“Tomorrow, that girl is supposed to leave. Although I don’t know whether she is willing to see me, I no longer have time to wait for her.”
“My time is short. Before I die, I must fulfill one final wish. This time I will be wandering far and wide. I cannot take you with me…”
“If you take a liking to her and she is also willing to keep you, then go with her. If not, then don’t force it. You should have the freedom of the heavens and earth. Find your own place.”
The white cat stood on its hind legs and let out a soft meow.
It lowered its head and obediently nuzzled the back of the woman’s hand, then licked her palm.
Whether it understood or not was unknown.