Chapter 136: The Wind Stirs
What had touched her forehead was unmistakable. He Yan stood frozen for a moment, unsure how to react, not daring to move. The spot where his lips had brushed felt searingly hot.
Xiao Jue was equally rigid, standing motionless in place. His beautiful eyes were lowered, revealing nothing of his expression.
It was the boatman who laughed and broke the silence. “Why are you standing still? Young master, we’ve arrived.”
Xiao Jue seemed to snap back to reality only then, releasing her hand as if stung by a bee. He turned away coldly. “Let’s go.”
He Yan let out an “Oh,” suppressing the storm raging inside her and pretending nothing had happened as she followed behind Xiao Jue. Yet inwardly, she was screaming.
She had actually… kissed Xiao Jue?
Even though it was just her forehead, such intimate contact… was impossible to ignore. Even if it was an accident, the timing couldn’t have been worse!
They had just crossed the Lovers’ Bridge. If the Water God saw this, he might truly think they were a couple and start meddling with their fates. He Yan shuddered at the thought.
Perhaps because of what had just happened, Xiao Jue walked extremely fast. He Yan had no choice but to quicken her pace to keep up. When they returned to Cui Yuezhi’s side, the onlookers burst into applause. Cui Yuezhi laughed heartily. “Huanqing, truly worthy of being a son of the Cui family! You made it across on your first try! I was thinking if you failed this time, you might not dare to try again. Hahaha, I never expected… I never expected you’d cross the Lovers’ Bridge so smoothly!”
He Yan thought to herself, He’s already planning for next time? This Lovers’ Bridge really has no shame.
“Now it’s settled,” Aunt Wei said with a smile, patting He Yan’s hand. “Having crossed the Lovers’ Bridge with Young Master Huanqing, you two will never part, whether in the heavens above or the underworld below!”
He Yan: “…”
How terrifying.
Chi Wu and Fei Nu both wore expressions of speechless dismay. Only Lin Shuanghe was thoroughly amused, fanning himself as he remarked, “Listening to this makes me want to give it a try.”
“Then go ahead,” He Yan retorted irritably. Lin Shuanghe had certainly not held back on the teasing earlier.
“Ah, better not,” Lin Shuanghe said with feigned restraint. “With so many beauties in the world, why limit myself to just one? This bridge isn’t for me. Besides, where would I find a lady strong enough to carry me across?”
Xiao Jue: “Shut up.”
He Yan didn’t dare say another word. The joke was unbearably awkward. The one silver lining in this unfortunate situation was that, because they were far away when they finally stepped off the bridge, the crowd had only seen her nearly fall and Xiao Jue catching her—they hadn’t witnessed the accidental kiss on her forehead. Otherwise, if Lin Shuanghe had used that as material for his teasing, she would have wanted to vanish on the spot.
“Now that you’ve crossed the Lovers’ Bridge, come see the other festivities of our Water God Festival,” Cui Yuezhi said cheerfully. “Look, this is the floating market.”
Jiyang relied on its waterways, and the river was already lined with boats of all sizes. At the stern, someone sat rowing, while the bow displayed an array of snacks, fruits, jewelry, and cosmetics. If someone on the shore took a liking to something, they could wave, and the boat would dock, allowing the customer to browse at leisure. If a passenger on one boat fancied goods from another, both vessels would pause in the middle of the river, and the vendor would let them make their selection.He Yan noticed a small boat selling horse-hoof-shaped pastries wrapped in large green leaves, topped with yam and red dates and sprinkled with a fine layer of honey sugar. They looked incredibly tempting. Seeing her interest, Cui Yuezhi instructed a servant to call the boat to shore and bought several packets.
He Yan accepted them, thanked him, and took a bite. Instantly, the rich aroma filled her mouth, the sweetness making her salivate. She sighed inwardly, thinking that compared to this, the Da Nai cakes she and He Yun Sheng had sold in Shuojing were quite ordinary.
She ate with such focus, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's, that Xiao Jue seemed unable to bear it. "You have crumbs on your mouth," he said.
"What?" He Yan didn't catch it.
The next moment, he tossed a handkerchief onto her face with annoyance. "Wipe it off. It's embarrassing."
He Yan: "..."
She wiped her mouth and muttered, "So particular."
Just then, exclamations of surprise came from another direction. Turning to look, she saw a crowd gathered around an equestrian field, though it was unclear what was happening.
Never one to hesitate when curious, she pointed over there. "What's that?"
"That?" Cui Yuezhi followed her gaze. "That's called 'Wind Snatching.'"
"What's Wind Snatching?"
"Look, there are many horses in the field," Cui Yuezhi explained with a smile. "The track is a circle, with a high platform in the center. At the top of the platform is a flag. Riders must leap onto the platform as they pass by to snatch the flag. After grabbing it, they must jump down, ideally landing back on their horse. If they manage to get the flag within the allotted time, they succeed at Wind Snatching. Those who succeed win prizes. There's a water clock nearby—the shorter the time, the bigger the prize."
After listening, He Yan whispered, "Isn't this just flag racing?"
Lin Shuanghe fanned himself and asked with a smile, "It sounds interesting. What kind of prizes are there?"
"The prizes vary widely," Cui Yuezhi replied. "If a man is competing for himself, it's usually weapons or sometimes silver. If he's competing for a woman, it's mostly jewelry, gems, or fabrics."
As he spoke, he led the group toward the equestrian field. The field in Jiyang wasn't large, nothing compared to the Martial Arts Field at the foot of White Moon Mountain in Liang Province, but it was already crowded. Several men in tight-fitting attire rode past on horseback, their steeds kicking up gusts of wind. As they passed the high platform, they leaped up one after another, scrambling toward the top of the flagpole.
The flagpole was extremely high, with no footholds around it—success relied entirely on skill. One man fell before even reaching the top, landing in the sandpit below. Another managed to grab the flag partway up but fell without remounting his horse, earning only a string of copper coins as a prize.
Nearby, a table was set up, displaying an array of prizes for Wind Snatching, dazzling and plentiful. He Yan's eyes immediately fell on a whip at the top.
The whip was long, appearing exceptionally sturdy, with a glossy purple hue that suggested it was of excellent quality. He Yan, now cautious about revealing her identity, avoided using a sword and often relied on a whip instead. However, the whips from the Martial Arts Field were hardly treasures. This one looked far superior to any she had used before.
For a moment, He Yan felt a stirring of desire.She asked the horse ranch owner, "Excuse me, what prize is this whip?"
The horse ranch owner chuckled, "You have a good eye, miss. This is the grand prize of today's 'Wind Snatch'—the Purple Jade Whip. In the copper clepsydra challenge, whoever can grab the flag in the shortest time will win this whip. Many young men came today for this whip, but so far, no one has taken it. I think it'll be hard to claim today!"
Her question drew the attention of the others. Cui Yuezhi smiled and asked, "Yuyan likes this whip?"
"It looks quite special," He Yan replied modestly.
"Why not let Huanqing compete for it?" Cui Yuezhi suggested with a smile. "I've seen Huanqing's foundation—he must have practiced martial arts before. He shouldn't be afraid to give it a try."
After all, Cui Yuezhi was also a martial artist and could tell at a glance how skilled someone was.
He Yan looked at Xiao Jue, who said coldly, "Don't even think about it."
"I'm already thinking about it," He Yan leaned closer to him and pleaded in a low voice, "Help me this once, get this whip for me. With this whip, it'll be easier for me to serve you in the future. If it weren't for the fact that everyone here today seems to be a man, I'd definitely go up myself. Commander, General, Young Master... husband?"
Xiao Jue snapped, "Shut up."
He Yan had no choice but to fall silent, but her gaze drifted back to the Purple Jade Whip, her eyes filled with longing. It wasn't easy to come across a good weapon like this, especially one that could be obtained without spending a single coin. Such opportunities were rare—once in a decade. Wouldn't it be a pity to miss it?
But today... of all days, she was on her period, and her abdomen felt slightly uncomfortable. Still, it should be bearable, right? He Yan pondered for a moment. If she could grab the flag in the shortest time, the pain would only last a little while. It wouldn't be too bad.
With this thought, she smiled and asked the horse ranch owner, "Excuse me, can women participate?"
The horse ranch owner was taken aback, as were the people around them. He hesitated, "Well... yes, they can. But no one has ever done it before."
Xiao Jue turned his head and looked at her incredulously. "Have you lost your mind?"
"I have no choice," He Yan sighed helplessly. "But I think this whip will be hard to come by in the future. Don't worry, you know my skills. A small challenge like this won't be too difficult for me."
"Aren't you... aren't you..." At this point, he seemed unable to continue, leaving his words hanging.
He Yan looked at him curiously. "Aren't I what?" As she spoke, she raised her hand to tie up her hair—her long locks would only get in the way. As for her clothes, she'd have to tie them up as well.
Just as she lifted her hand, Xiao Jue grabbed her elbow.
"What's wrong?" He Yan asked.
Xiao Jue suppressed his frustration, his gaze sharp as a knife as he spoke word by word, "I'll go."
"Huh?" He Yan was momentarily stunned, but before she could say anything, she saw Xiao Jue stride forward and speak to the horse ranch owner.
"Is Huanqing going to compete in the Wind Snatch?" Cui Yuezhi asked in surprise. "For the whip Yuyan likes?"
He Yan was speechless. Although she had pleaded with Xiao Jue, she hadn't actually expected him to do something like this. A general commanding tens of thousands of soldiers, participating in such an event—and Second Young Master Xiao was always so proud, surely he would look down on such things. She never imagined he would actually go.The stable owner led Xiao Jue inside to fetch the horse. Aunt Wei smiled and spoke, her tone tinged with envy, "Young Master Huanqing treats Miss Yuyan very well indeed."
That was true, but... for a moment, He Yan also felt somewhat bewildered.
Lin Shuanghe glanced at He Yan, then looked in the direction where Xiao Jue had gone. The motion of his fan gradually slowed, and he stood there lost in thought.
Not long after, Xiao Jue rode out on horseback.
It was spring, a season of fresh greenery and soft warmth. The handsome nobleman seemed to brighten the surrounding spring scenery. To align with Jiyang's Water God Festival, he had not worn a long robe that day, opting instead for dark blue casual attire, which only accentuated his dashing and elegant appearance. His gaze was lazy yet indifferent as he sat upright on horseback, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
He Yan heard exclamations from women behind her: "What a handsome young master!"
"His features are so striking, and he looks so noble!"
"When did Jiyang have such a figure? Which family's young master is this?"
Upon hearing this, He Yan felt a sense of pride. A line of poetry surfaced in her mind: "Green grass lush, clouds white, imagining you riding with such fine grace"—this was exactly it.
Suddenly, she recalled their youth at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, during the winter hunting competition. The one who hunted the most game would receive a reward. Xiao Jue had taken the top spot alone. Back then, He Yan could barely draw a bow and shoot an arrow, and by the end, she hadn't caught a single prey. She could only join the others in their admiration and envy, watching the young man stride through the snow in his brocade robes and fox fur, his demeanor full of grace.
Many years had passed, yet he remained the same. Whenever he stood among a crowd, he became the most dazzling one. No matter what he went through, it could never tarnish the brilliance of a pearl.
Xiao Jue began riding around the field.
By now, not only men but also many young women had gathered, all drawn by the sight of Xiao Jue. Lin Shuanghe walked over to He Yan and whispered, "Little sister, you're truly impressive. Xiao Huaijin is even willing to show off like this for you."
He Yan blushed. "I didn'tt expect him to help either." Who could have guessed? She wondered if Xiao Jue had also been possessed by someone, but given how he had treated her before, it didn't seem likely.
"Are you so moved that you wish to pledge yourself to him?"
He Yan was startled and instinctively wanted to refute loudly, but then she remembered that Cui Yuezhi and the others were still nearby and she couldn't be too unrestrained. She replied softly, "No! I don't even like the Commander."
"If you don't like him, why are you so nervous?" Lin Shuanghe teased. "Brother, your ears are turning red."
He Yan quickly covered her ears with both hands. "That's not true! Don't talk nonsense!"
Just then, sudden exclamations erupted around them. The two followed the sound and saw that Xiao Jue had already galloped to the base of the high platform. Without pausing, he leaped up, scaling the slippery pole as effortlessly as walking on flat ground.
Even those in the crowd who were skilled in martial arts would find it difficult to climb up, let alone witness such a display of ease and dominance.
He moved with lightning speed, reaching the top of the pole in the blink of an eye. Stepping onto the pole's end, he casually snatched the red flag.
The wind blew, and the flag fluttered in his hand. For a moment, the young man's face overlapped with that of the bright, youthful figure from springtime. His gaze was casual as he raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling and curling his lips toward the crowd below—or perhaps just toward He Yan—and said, "Got it."He Yan stared at him in a daze. In that instant, she heard the sound of her own heartbeat, so loud it was impossible to ignore. Suddenly, memories surfaced from her youth—lessons she had once heard from her teacher at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy.
The Transmission of the Lamp records that when the Sixth Patriarch Huineng first resided at Faxing Temple, the wind stirred the temple banners. Two monks argued—one said the wind was moving, the other said the banners were moving. The Sixth Patriarch said, "It is not the wind that moves, nor the banners that move—it is your mind that moves."
She had once found these words obscure and difficult to understand, unable to grasp their true meaning. Now, without explanation or discussion, with just a single glance—just one look—this scene, this moment, made everything perfectly clear.
It was not the wind that moved, nor the banners that moved—it was her heart that moved.
There will be a second update tonight.
(End of Chapter)
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