The ancient land of Luoshui, home to the Azure Palace.
The majestic and resplendent Azure Palace now stood completed, a stark contrast to the once ordinary and unremarkable small village. Its elegant and towering pavilions and terraces would likely rival even the celestial palaces of the heavens. Wan Yu Yuedan, still clad in his blue robe, sat in the Flawless Cloud Quarter of the Azure Palace on this serene autumn afternoon, admiring the flowers.
While others admired flowers for their colors, though he could not see them, he could still savor their fragrance. In his heart, the flowers were just as beautiful, and he had never forgotten their hues and delicate charm.
"What flower is this? It smells so sweet," asked the person sitting across from Wan Yu Yuedan, dressed in white with black hair and a youthful face. Though he spoke of flowers, he was sniffing the tea in his hand.
"This is just osmanthus. Uncle Plum Blossom Control, have you never noticed osmanthus before? In the height of autumn, admiring osmanthus, eating crabs, and drinking chrysanthemum wine are among the refined pleasures of life," Wan Yu Yuedan said softly. "It's been ten years, yet Uncle Plum Blossom Control hasn't changed at all." Though he addressed him as "Uncle," Fu Zhumei appeared at most two or three years older than him. Yet, hearing Wan Yu Yuedan call him "Uncle" didn't feel odd—Fu Zhumei had once been peers with Wan Yu Yuedan's father, making the title appropriate by seniority.
"You can see what I look like?" Fu Zhumei asked blankly, staring at Wan Yu Yuedan. How could a blind man know he "hadn't changed at all"? Wan Yu Yuedan smiled. "Uncle Plum Blossom Control's voice, the sound of his footsteps, even the depth of his breathing—all are exactly as I remember." Fu Zhumei nodded and took a sip of tea. "But you've grown up." Wan Yu Yuedan inclined his head and took a small sip as well. "Uncle Plum Blossom Control must have come all this way for an important matter?" Though he had only been eleven when they first met, he knew exactly what kind of person this renowned "Uncle Plum Blossom Control" was.
"I..." Fu Zhumei gazed at the cup of tea on the white jade table. The cup was as thin as a cicada's wing, the tea within a clear emerald green—both were luxuries. "There's something I want to ask you." The creases at the corners of Wan Yu Yuedan's eyes lifted slightly as he set down his cup. "What troubles Uncle Plum Blossom Control?" Fu Zhumei lightly touched the tea with his fingertip, the warmth staining his skin with an unusual sensation. "I... I..." There were many things he wanted to say, but when it came to speaking, he didn't know where to begin. His mind was a tangled mess, and no starting point seemed clear. After a long hesitation, he only murmured, "I don't know whether I should retire from the martial world or stay at Good Cloud Mountain." Wan Yu Yuedan's gently arched brows furrowed slightly. "The Central Plains Sword Association? Did Uncle Plum Blossom Control come from Good Cloud Mountain?" Fu Zhumei nodded, his gaze wandering over the refined scenery of the Azure Palace, the fiery osmanthus blooms. "I thought I had left the martial world for good after the Sword Association battle thirty years ago. But... the martial world is always full of unpleasantness. I don't like it." Wan Yu Yuedan sighed softly and continued gently for him, "Yet even if one avoids the martial world, the martial world will seek one out. The Dissolute Shop incident has caused an uproar, and Uncle Plum Blossom Control ultimately finds it hard to remain untouched.""Actually..." Fu Zhumei stared blankly at the osmanthus flowers, "that's not how it is." Wan Yu Yuedan smiled faintly, "Then what exactly happened on Good Cloud Mountain that has left Uncle Plum Blossom Control so perplexed?" Fu Zhumei replied, "I've met Tang Lici." Wan Yu Yuedan lightly tapped the delicate teacup with his fingertip, producing a crisp sound, "Young Master Tang... Young Master Tang is an extraordinary man. With him at the Central Plains Sword Association on Good Cloud Mountain, it will never fall, and with him in the Central Plains Martial Arts World, it won't face utter ruin either." Fu Zhumei said, "He's my good friend." Wan Yu Yuedan paused slightly, "This is something I hadn't heard before."
"We've known each other for many years," Fu Zhumei continued, raising his head to finish the tea. "With him in the Central Plains Martial Arts World, it won't face utter ruin... Little Yue really has such confidence..." Wan Yu Yuedan focused intently, listening seriously. "Does Uncle Plum Blossom Control not share this confidence in Young Master Tang?" Fu Zhumei shook his head, setting down the empty cup, and said vacantly, "I truly don't have confidence, because I've known A-Li for many years. A-Li has never been someone others can rely on. He really does many things extremely well, but after completing them, he'll destroy all the results in an instant... He's never been anyone's pillar or a savior."
"Does Uncle Plum Blossom Control know Young Master Tang very well?" Wan Yu Yuedan smiled gently, showing no surprise at these words. Fu Zhumei gazed at the distant mountains behind Azure Fall Palace. "Little Yue, do you know? He once spent a month building a beautiful house out of books and wine bottles. After finishing it, he held a banquet inside, inviting many people to drink there, and then..." He sighed painfully. "Then he set the house on fire, nearly burning all the guests alive." Wan Yu Yuedan's delicate eyes flickered slightly. "Oh?" Fu Zhumei nodded. "But I understand he didn't mean to kill anyone. He built that house just to burn it down..." Wan Yu Yuedan smiled. "Yet rumors say Young Master Tang is gentle and refined, courteous and polite. The martial world believes the Myriad Apertures Studio Master is no ordinary man and will surely lead everyone to overcome this Poison Affliction." Fu Zhumei looked dazedly at the jade-white table. "I don't doubt it at all. Of course, he's stronger than Liu Yan. But A-Li has a very peculiar temper. He's actually quite fragile and prone to mental breakdowns. Yet because he's so fiercely competitive, he never lets anyone see when he's at his limit. If someone discovers he's actually broken, he'd either die of anger or go mad. Chi Yun is dead. I don't know whether I should stay on Good Cloud Mountain or disappear forever..." Wan Yu Yuedan exhaled slowly and smiled. "I understand." Fu Zhumei rubbed his hair. "I... I've been rambling incoherently. Little Yue, do you really understand?""I understand." Wan Yu Yuedan fumbled as he poured a cup of tea for Fu Zhumei. "But I believe in Young Master Tang." He spoke slowly, "I believe no one knows their own weaknesses better than themselves. As the adopted son of the Imperial Father-in-law, the Myriad Apertures Studio Master, and possessing extraordinary martial skills, even if Young Master Tang truly wanted to burn a few people to death, I doubt anyone could stop him... Yet he didn't remain in the capital or at Ten Thousand Apertures House to act recklessly... By involving himself in the jianghu and interfering with Dissolute Shop's affairs, he abandoned his protective barriers. He knew this confrontation would have wins and losses, knew his weaknesses would be challenged, that he might lose or even die—yet he shows no regret. Uncle Plum Blossom Control, not everyone can make such a resolution. Resolve requires courage, and courage... must stem from the conviction that drives one forward."
"I know what A-Li's conviction is—he wants to be a good person." Fu Zhumei suddenly grew agitated, slapping the table. "Because he's done too many chaotic things, he wants to change and become good. But... but the person who told him to be good is now killing and setting fires, trampling on their own words. How can such a conviction persuade anyone? How can it make someone steadfastly pursue difficult goals? That was a conviction forced upon A-Li by A-Yan, not one A-Li arrived at himself!" With a clang, the teacup before him toppled over, its delicate porcelain shattering as tea spilled across the table and floor.
"Young Master Tang may be a fragile man, but he is by no means an irresolute one." Wan Yu Yuedan slowly raised his cup and finished his tea. "I respect everything he bears as a man... Uncle Plum Blossom Control, don't treat him as a child. Believe that he won't disappoint you."
Fu Zhumei stared blankly at Wan Yu Yuedan, unsure how to respond. As Wan Yu Yuedan set his cup down, he smiled gently. "Uncle Plum Blossom Control is truly a very kind person." Fu Zhumei nodded, though he had meant to agree with the earlier statement about not treating Young Master Tang as a child. After nodding, he rubbed his hair awkwardly. Wan Yu Yuedan's smile deepened, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "Ah... Uncle Plum Blossom Control, I heard there's an exceptionally skilled chef at Luoyang Silver Horn Tavern named Fu Zhumei. I wonder if you know him?" Fu Zhumei gasped, growing even more flustered. "I... I..." Wan Yu Yuedan continued softly, "I truly didn't know your real name was Zhu Mei. When I heard the news, I was quite surprised. I even made a special trip to try the dishes. The pastries you make are divine, though your fish and meat preparations are rather lacking." Fu Zhumei widened his clear eyes, staring at Wan Yu Yuedan in utter shock. "You—you—when did you go to Silver Horn to eat? Why did you go specifically?" Wan Yu Yuedan arched his elegant brows slightly. "Because I wanted to, so I went." Fu Zhumei rubbed his hair vigorously. "You... you..." He truly didn't know what to say."Uncle Plum Blossom Control, there's something at Azure Fall Palace I'd like you to take a look at." After sharing a laugh, Wan Yu Yuedan stood up. "This way, please follow me." Fu Zhumei's mind was still reeling from the fact that Wan Yu Yuedan had specifically gone to Silver Horn Tavern to eat his cooking, so he absentmindedly agreed before suddenly saying, "Little Yue, don't call me Uncle Plum Blossom Control anymore—call me Xiao Fu instead." With a gentle smile, Wan Yu Yuedan continued walking without turning back. "Why?" Fu Zhumei replied, "Because... because... when you call me 'Uncle Plum Blossom Control,' I often don't realize you're calling me—I have to think about it first." Wan Yu Yuedan said softly, "Alright."
The two walked around a long corridor and arrived at a spacious garden. Fu Zhumei saw soft flowers and grass covering the ground—some already withered, some still in full bloom, while most bore vibrant little fruits, plump and glossy, giving the entire garden a warm and lively atmosphere. Amidst the blossoms and shrubs, dozens of jade-green stone tablets stood quietly, each inscribed with names. "This is... a graveyard?" Fu Zhumei murmured in surprise. What did Wan Yu Yuedan want him to see here? Wan Yu Yuedan pointed toward the rows of tombstones, directing him to look closely at one in particular. "That is the grave of a young woman. She wasn't from Azure Fall Palace, but she died here. Before her death, she said... she really wanted to see you." Fu Zhumei stared blankly at the grave. "Who was she?" Wan Yu Yuedan answered, "A killer from Vermilion Dew Tower." Fu Zhumei gazed at the tombstone in confusion, faintly recalling something—or perhaps nothing at all. Who was she? Had she been a friend he once knew?
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