Chapter 17: A Family of Three
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The warm sun was setting in the west, and in the old alley that had long been devoid of any sign of life, wisps of cooking smoke began to rise. The courtyard had been tidied up considerably; even the corridor pillars were wiped clean. The slanting sunlight fell on the kitchen window to the left, where two pieces of smoked meat, a salted fish, and some dried ginger, garlic, and vegetables hung.
A fluffy little bird perched on the windowsill, staring longingly at the big salted fish, its glossy black eyes filled with the regret of “bird wants to eat but has nowhere to peck.”
Inside, beside a wooden table, stood a young woman dressed in a blue gown. She held a brand-new kitchen knife, chopping a bunch of fresh garlic shoots. Her delicate face glowed with a translucent radiance under the sunlight, giving her the ethereal beauty of a fox spirit repaying kindness at a countryside cottage.
Near the stove at the back, a handsome man dressed in black skillfully stir-fried some pork.
Since the young heroine could not cook, she resembled the little daughter in the family at this moment, crouching behind the stove to add firewood, her eyes fixed eagerly on Ye Jingtang.
“Didn’t expect it. You’re a grown man, yet you can cook.”
“I was raised by my adoptive father. There were only two men at home. We couldn’t eat out every day. Besides, you’re a girl. If you can’t cook, how will you marry in the future?”
“I’m a wanderer of the martial world. On the road forever—sometimes there’s an inn, sometimes only dry rations. No need to learn cooking.”
“So, at fifteen or sixteen, you still leave all the cooking to the mistress?”
“My master can cook too…”
“Yunli!”
Luo Ning turned sharply and scolded. Then she glanced at Ye Jingtang’s back, her eyes as if wanting to throw the kitchen knife at him.
Zhe Yunli looked at Ye Jingtang thoughtfully, then coquettishly spoke:
“Brother Jingtang~…”
Good heavens...
Ye Jingtang and Luo Ning both stumbled slightly, turning to look at the coquettish Zhe Yunli.
Her sweet face smiled brightly: “You’re making a living in the capital, your connections must be broader than mine and the mistress’s. Is there any way to get into the Black Bureau to help me rescue Hero Chou?”
“…”
Ye Jingtang naturally had no interest in helping two crazy women break into prison. But he did need to go to the Black Bureau to build good relations with the court, to gather information and find an opportunity to enter the palace to retrieve the Dragon’s Roar Map.
Also, he knew his adoptive father had a feud with the Xuanyuan Dynasty but didn’t know the cause. Since Chou Tianhe had once met his adoptive father, he might know something. While getting close to the Black Bureau, arranging a meeting might not be impossible…
As Ye Jingtang pondered, suddenly an elbow jabbed his lower back. Coming back to his senses, he saw the heroine Luo Ning standing beside him with a kitchen knife and garlic shoots, her eyes slightly annoyed:
“The pot’s burning!”
“Hm?”
Ye Jingtang noticed smoke rising from the pot and hurriedly stirred it, telling Luo Ning to add the chopped garlic shoots:
“Hero Chou is known for his righteousness. Tomorrow I’ll visit the Black Bureau to inquire. But let me be clear—I can at most confirm his safety. I won’t help you rescue him.”
Luo Ning, seeing Ye Jingtang truly prepared to help inquire, felt her anger lessen but remained skeptical:
“You’re helping so readily? No unreasonable… demands?”
Ye Jingtang understood her implication and smiled:
“If you feel awkward, you can teach me some martial arts as payment.”
Zhe Yunli confidently patted her chest like a fried egg:
“That’s easy. If you help rescue Hero Chou, I’ll have the Eight Great Masters teach you martial arts.”
Luo Ning nodded as well:
“I don’t owe you anything. Even if you only find out about Chou Tianhe’s situation, I’ll teach you martial arts—though only one move.”
Ye Jingtang agreed heartily:
“No problem.”
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Sizzle, sizzle...
The aroma from the stir-fry gradually filled the small courtyard in the deep alley.
As the sun dipped westward, a small table was set up in the main room.
As the “senior,” Luo Ning sat facing the door in the main seat, with Ye Jingtang and Zhe Yunli opposite her, while the bird stood at the edge of the table.
On the table were three bowls of rice, four dishes and one soup, and a small plate of bird feed.
The three humans and one bird ate in the old but tidy courtyard, the scene surprisingly harmonious. Even if an official came by, they probably would not suspect a thing.
Luo Ning ate slowly with a small bowl, her demeanor graceful and ladylike. She occasionally helped Zhe Yunli with dishes, but Ye Jingtang had no such luck.
He did not try to be courteous, merely feeding the eagerly watching bird now and then.
As for Zhe Yunli...
Her lively nature showed clearly. Seeing the mistress a little gloomy these days, perhaps wanting to lighten the mood, she secretly lifted her embroidered shoe beneath the table and brushed it against the mistress’s leg!
“!”
Luo Ning’s delicate eating motion suddenly froze. Her eyes flicked to the teasing Ye Jingtang, blazing with anger and embarrassment, then she acted as if nothing had happened and continued eating.
??
Zhe Yunli frowned, incredulous—why no reaction from the mistress? Shouldn’t she blush or glare at Ye Jingtang?
Could it be she dared not get angry?
Thinking so, Zhe Yunli tried again, brushing her embroidered shoe against Ye Jingtang’s leg quietly.
Ye Jingtang reacted swiftly, turning to look under the table, then raising his eyes to Zhe Yunli with a strange expression:
“Why are you kicking me?”
!!
Zhe Yunli’s expression stiffened, thinking—how can you not even pretend? Aren’t you afraid of embarrassing me?—and she tried to run up.
Luo Ning caught on that it was Zhe Yunli causing trouble and furiously furrowed her brows, slapping the table:
“Yunli! Come back here!”
“Ah! Mistress, I’m sorry, I was just joking…”
Slap, slap—
As Yunli rose, Luo Ning grabbed a broom and smacked her backside twice.
“A pure young lady, rubbing against a man’s leg? Did your master teach you no manners? You’re getting more and more unruly…”
“Ah—Mistress, I really was wrong, just joking. Please don’t be so angry…”
Ye Jingtang naturally dared not explain to Zhe Yunli. She had joked at a volcano’s edge. He bowed his head and ate, pretending not to notice.
The little bird, however, was very enthusiastic. It flew to the two and chirped, seemingly pleading: “Stop fighting, fighting is dishonorable…”
Thankfully, Ye Jingtang paid no attention, or dinner might have ended with white-cut chicken…
-----
Unconsciously, the moon rose above the branches.
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The courtyard hidden in the old alley had been completely renewed. The ground and steps were neatly cleaned, cracks in the doors and windows patched with templates, and even a simple bird’s nest was made under the eaves.
Knock, knock, knock—
Dressed in a linen-colored dress, Zhe Yunli crouched on the main house’s roof, hammering wooden boards over holes.
Ye Jingtang stood on the kitchen roof of the neighboring courtyard, removing tiles and tossing them over to Zhe Yunli—of course, after getting the landlady’s permission.
Luo Ning had a headache from Yunli’s antics in the afternoon and didn’t want to go out. She had gone indoors early and was fast asleep, ignoring everyone.
After a long day’s work, the roof was fully repaired, looking like a normal little home.
The two jumped down from the roof. Though there were a few small stools inside, sitting beside Luo Ning at this time wouldn’t bring a smile. Seeing the enchanting moonlight, they chose to practice martial arts in the spotless courtyard.
Zhe Yunli practiced her many martial arts slowly under the eaves; the little bird mimicked her with some success in the “White Crane Spreads Its Wings” move, though the rest was erratic flapping.
Ye Jingtang stood in the center of the courtyard, a sword at his waist, eyes closed in concentration.
Having grasped the first move through his adoptive father’s “Introduction,” he had at least started.
To Ye Jingtang, the “Eight Steps Mad Blade” should be a combo, as indicated by the “left hand drawing the sword” move.
A combo must flow continuously, “the end of one move connecting to the start of the next,” with no gaps.
Drawing the sword with the left hand, holding it inverted for a horizontal slash, the stopping posture must have the blade tip outward and the hilt pointing toward the right hand, becoming a “right hand normal grip.”
Slash—
Ye Jingtang drew the sword with his left hand, swept horizontally, then transferred the inverted blade to his right hand, bending forward in a stabbing and slashing posture.
Whoosh—
Ye Jingtang pushed the blade forward with his right hand, thrusting ahead, releasing a resonant clang.
Feeling it slightly, he began adjusting his footwork, waist, and back to find the most fitting stance for the blade.
Zhe Yunli watched him practice slowly and, after a long gaze, said puzzledly:
“What kind of nonsense are you practicing?”
Ye Jingtang sheathed his sword and made another horizontal slash followed by a forward cut:
“Swordplay, can’t you tell?”
“This counts as swordplay? It’s just stage tricks…”
“Yunli!”
From the main house window, Luo Ning peeked out. Having witnessed Ye Jingtang’s astonishing comprehension, she naturally did not mock but wore a solemn expression:
“Are you creating your own sword style?”
Ye Jingtang shook his head:
“I’m learning the moves taught by the elders. It’s rude to ask questions while someone’s practicing.”
Luo Ning and Zhe Yunli naturally stopped interrupting and watched Ye Jingtang’s clumsy moves seriously.
Yet as night deepened, Ye Jingtang still hadn’t produced anything substantial.
Earlier that day, Zhe Yunli had gone out and bought bedding. The small east annex was cleaned and set up with a bed frame and bedding.
Ye Jingtang didn’t mind sharing a bed with the girl, but Luo Ning and Zhe Yunli probably wouldn’t agree, so they each slept in separate rooms. Thus, the day quietly ended…