Chapter Thirty-Six: Hunger Strike Protest

The spring breeze reminded me to give Master and Lu Xue some time alone. I thought to myself, I’m not a little child in swaddling clothes who needs to cling to Master and Mistress, so why should I disturb them? Yet, an inexplicable annoyance welled up in my heart. I slapped my bowl and chopsticks down and strode out.

“Uncle, why do you say Little Brother is so heavy-hearted?” Eleventh Senior Brother spoke up for me.

The other senior brothers echoed him.

Spring Breeze felt a pang of guilt. “Did I exaggerate?”

“Yes. Uncle, you suddenly brought a living, breathing Mistress to stay here. It’s not just Little Brother—we’re all finding it hard to adjust!” Eleventh Senior Brother complained.

“She found Baihua Island herself. A living Lu Xue! If I had the skill to bring her to your Master, I would have done it long ago,” Spring Breeze replied.

I felt stifled, so I vented my frustration on my training. I practiced spells all morning until exhaustion overtook me, and by noon, I had no appetite. On my way back, I ran into Spring Breeze. I didn't want to talk to him, but he followed me and, catching me unawares, locked me in my room.

“Little Crow, I have something good for you. Do you want it?” Spring Breeze spoke as if coaxing a kitten or puppy.

“No!” I turned my mouth away, pouting.

A plate of fragrant, sweet immortal fruits appeared, and he blocked my path, eating and tempting me. “Ah… Tsk, tsk… This peach is so soft! The cherries are sweet! So delicious! Someone’s going to starve! Want some? Don’t hold back, ask me.”

I ignored him.

“Tsk, tsk… Ah… Ah…” Spring Breeze sat in my room with a big plate of fruit, crossed his legs, eating and making exaggerated sounds of admiration, his voice almost seductive. “Little Crow… Come now, it’s delicious, you sure you don’t want it? If you don’t, I’ll leave.”

“No.” I glanced at the fruit in his hand, picked up my teacup, and drank.

A few gulps of water did nothing, and my empty stomach betrayed me with a rumble.

Spring Breeze’s divine ears caught it instantly. He smiled mischievously and continued to tempt me. “Little Crow, these cherries are red and tender, very tasty.”

He picked up a cherry and tossed it into his mouth, savoring it with evident pleasure, then spat the pit onto my table. He threw another, missed, and it hit his face, rolling under my bed.

He had no concern about making a mess. “Hey, stop it. You’re dirtying my room,” I complained, using a spell to retrieve the cherry, displeased.

“Oh dear, sorry, Little Crow. Don’t be mad, I didn’t mean it.” His gentle apology was clearly meant to provoke me. He picked up a big, juicy peach and waved it in front of me, biting into it with a loud slurp.

“Soft… Sweet… Ah… Wouldn’t a greedy little bird like this?” His tone was as sweet as the peach.

I swallowed, refusing to look at him.

Spring Breeze shook the peach before me, its aroma wafting over, and my stomach thundered.

“Move, stop shaking it. You’re getting juice all over my clothes.” The peach’s juice stained my robe. He lured me with delicious fruit, and I was indeed tempted, but I was angry too, unwilling to let him win.

Embarrassed and flushed, I took off my soiled outer robe, changed into something clean, grabbed the dirty garment, and stormed out, deciding to wash clothes to vent my irritation.

Unexpectedly, as I rushed out, I bumped straight into Senior Brother Bai Ze.

Since Lu Xue arrived, Master hadn’t led our cultivation; Bai Ze took his place. Over the thousand years since escaping the Netherworld, I had diligently improved, treating him with respect as an elder and avoiding any serious mistakes. Gradually, though he remained strict when he saw me, he no longer regarded me with past hostility.

This reckless collision brought back that old look of disdain. I hurriedly apologized.

A waft of fragrance, and Spring Breeze flew out of my room, his face dark. “You wasted my efforts. Go on, be busy. If you have the nerve, starve yourself tonight too!” He vanished like the wind.

“If starving is what you want, so be it.” I refused to back down.

Senior Brother Bai Ze's face was unpleasant. He glanced at my robe, shot me a fierce glare, and departed with a flick of his sleeve.

After afternoon practice, my anger burned in my throat and chest. Unable to hold back, I wanted to go to Immortal Reminiscence Valley and pick a pear, but those trees were planted by Master for Mistress Lu Xue. Thinking of that, disappointment washed over me.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. Ordinary spiritual birds can go anywhere—why not transform into my true form and, like a common bird, eat some fruit without being seen by Mistress?

Resolved, I transformed and flew straight from Cloudview Terrace into the valley. Perched on a tall tree, I grumbled about Spring Breeze’s meddling—I hadn’t seen Master for days and never intended to disturb him and Mistress. I pecked at a pear.

“Han Qing, are these all planted for Xue’er?” Lu Xue’s voice was exquisitely gentle.

“Yes,” Master replied.

Hearing them, I hurriedly hid in the crown of the tree.

“Don’t you want to pick one to eat?” Master asked.

“Yes! Xue’er loves fragrant, sweet pears the most.” Lu Xue replied happily.

She searched beneath the tree for a long time, spotting a large pear hanging from a branch. “Han Qing, I want that one!”

“Alright.” Master soared up and picked the pear, holding it in his hand.

“Hmph, Master never picked pears for me. Truly, he treats Mistress differently than his disciples,” I thought, sulking in the treetop.

Lu Xue glanced at the pear and pouted, “Oh, Han Qing, this one’s no good, it’s been pecked by a bird. Throw it away!”

It was the very pear I’d bitten moments ago.

“Let’s give it to the little bird, then.” Master placed the pear I’d bitten back on the branch, his bright eyes scanning the treetop. He picked another and handed it to Lu Xue.

“Han Qing, one isn’t enough. I want many, many more. Do you remember? You knew I liked pears and picked a whole sackful from Spring Breeze! He was so heartbroken… But actually, they were all grown by Xue’er.” Lu Xue cradled the pear, delighted.

“I remember. There are plenty here, all yours, Xue’er. Eat this one first.” Master gazed at Lu Xue, never taking his eyes off her beauty.

Lu Xue took a bite of the pear, smiling softly. “Pears grown by Xue’er taste best. Han Qing’s aren’t as good.”

“Yes. Xue’er’s are the tastiest.” Master smiled gently.

I thought, “Isn’t this good enough? Does she really love pears or not?”

“Do you still remember the Wild Goose Dance of the Empty Mountain?” Master asked.

“How could I forget? That was a dance created by Xue’er, and Han Qing turned it into a martial art.” Lu Xue’s face radiated a sweet smile, like a blooming flower. Her beauty matched Master's perfectly.

“Good,” Master replied.

The two danced together. Lu Xue’s steps and moves were correct but awkward and clumsy, unable to keep in sync with Master. In her haste, she slipped and nearly fell. Master quickly caught her.

Amid the pear clouds, Lu Xue lay in Master’s arms, tears glistening in her almond eyes. “Xue’er endured tribulation, slept for forty thousand years, and my bones no longer retain the agility they once did.”

“Then let’s not dance. Go back and rest,” Master comforted her calmly.

Lu Xue took Master’s arm, and together they left Immortal Reminiscence Valley.

“So two people dancing together… is a beautiful thing, after all…” I stood foolishly in the valley, holding the half-eaten pear. Spring Breeze was right—I shouldn’t come to Immortal Reminiscence Valley anymore.

I transformed back, carrying the pear in my beak, and flew up to Cloudview Terrace. Sitting beside the stone table, I stared blankly at the pear, thinking how Master always deferred to Mistress, treating her with genuine care. All the fruit in the valley was grown for her. I resolved never to transform again, never to visit the valley.

“You must be Fei’er,” came a gentle voice.

“Ah?” I looked up quickly—it was Lu Xue. I hurried to bow. “Mistress.”

Lu Xue fixed her gaze on the pear on the table.

I rushed to explain, “This one was pecked, meant for the little bird.”

Lu Xue smiled sweetly. “Oh, that’s a coincidence—I just picked one exactly the same.”

“Is that so.” I felt a little guilty.

Lu Xue sat opposite me on the stone bench and sighed, “Some little birds always like to sneak a bite from others.” She glanced at me.

“Is that so.” I felt as though she meant me…

She picked up the pear from the table. I wanted to stop her but restrained myself. Bitterly, I thought I’d only taken a bite and now it's gone.

“Fei’er, your Master works hard and has little time to tend these flowers and fruit trees. As a disciple, you must have helped him much. Unfortunately, there are still some neglected spots in Immortal Reminiscence Valley, overgrown with weeds and no pear trees planted. Mistress knows your daily training is demanding—not like those idle birds who just eat without planting.”

I knew she was hinting at something. Though Master allowed me to pick pears, they were meant for Mistress. I thought, eating from others leaves you at a disadvantage. Since I’m greedy and ate the most, I should repay her by planting trees.

“As a disciple, it’s my duty to help Master. I’ll clear the weeds and plant trees when I have time,” I replied.

“I knew Fei’er was a well-educated, filial disciple. I’ll prepare the saplings for you. This pear’s been pecked by a bird—can’t eat it.” Lu Xue smiled and tossed the pear off Cloudview Terrace.

A chill ran through me. It seemed Spring Breeze was right—our fates don’t align!

Even my hunger vanished. Feeling gloomy, I skipped dinner and went straight to evening meditation. Senior Brother Bai Ze noticed my distraction and punished me with several incense sticks. After finally leaving the hall, Spring Breeze waylaid me at the door.

“Little Crow! Thinking about the delicious food at noon? Don’t hold back, or you won’t sleep tonight!” Spring Breeze licked his lips, his expression blissful.

“Don’t tempt me anymore!” I retorted.

I returned to my room, sulking, only to find a plate of fragrant cherries and several pears on the table. This Spring Breeze, he teases people so you don’t know whether to laugh or cry—yet it’s impossible to truly be angry with him.

The next day, Spring Breeze brought many pear saplings. “Little Crow, your Mistress wants to plant trees again?”

“Yes,” I replied, not saying much else.

“I have things to do on the island. Be good, don’t bother those two. Eat well. If you keep starving, I’ll tempt you with more delicious food!”

“Thank you for the fruit, Uncle. But don’t pick pears from Immortal Reminiscence Valley anymore—I can’t eat them.” I said.

“Pears?” Spring Breeze paused, then laughed. “Then I’ll pick them for you from Baihua Island.”