Chapter Thirty-Seven: Repayment to the Master’s Wife

After that, each day after finishing my cultivation, I would quietly shoulder a hoe and a spade, take Shanhe with me, and carry saplings to Yixian Valley to weed and plant trees. Shanhe was delighted to accompany me for a breath of fresh air. She was the only half-beast in the entire Jade Pure Domain whom Master allowed to leave the Hundred Beasts Garden.

The Jade Pure Domain was full of senior brothers, always discussing martial feats and chivalrous deeds with great fervor. Only when I was with her could I talk about the things that interest a young woman. She appeared fierce and formidable on the outside, but in truth, a tender-hearted girl lived within her.

Every day, upon reaching Yixian Valley, Shanhe would run a few laps around the lake, then leap into the water to frolic for a while. She would clamber ashore, gnaw here and there, help me dig a few holes for the trees, get herself covered in mud, then jump back into the water for a bath, splashing mud and water all over me as she shook herself dry. This little creature was still ruled by her beastly instincts; should she ever take full human form, she would likely have to undergo some tribulations and cultivate for several thousand years more.

By the time the heavy starlight poured down into the valley, I would drag my exhausted body home, carrying Shanhe in my arms. After evening practice, Dongfang Mo would wait halfway to join me on the way back.

Under the sparse stars and bright moon, the two of us, brothers, would walk slowly along the winding paths...

“I heard what Mistress said to you at Wangyun Terrace that day,” Dongfang Mo remarked.

“Don’t repeat it to anyone,” I cautioned him.

Dongfang Mo smiled. “You still don’t trust me? I’m not Eleventh Brother, after all.”

Indeed, Dongfang Mo was the one I was closest to among all my senior brothers. He was always calm and taciturn, never one to prattle on. Perhaps in temperament he resembled our master in certain ways; that might be why Master favored him more.

“Little Brother, Mistress is really bullying you too much. The pears were given to us by Master, and it was Master who allowed you to pick them. Making you plant trees alone as compensation—there’s no sense in it,” Dongfang Mo said, his rare verbosity betraying his sense of justice.

“It’s all right. I ate the most, so it’s only right that I do it,” I replied, feeling downcast.

“Actually, I think you should tell Master—” Dongfang Mo began.

“No! Don’t! Such trivial matters shouldn’t trouble Master. It was my own failing as a disciple, not fulfilling my duty,” I hastened to explain, fearing he would get serious and stubborn again.

“Very well. You must be tired. Let me massage your back,” Dongfang Mo offered, beginning to thump at my back.

I frowned slightly. “No need, Brother. I’m not tired.”

“Then at least give me a smile.”

“I don’t feel like smiling, Brother.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to use my ultimate move.”

Suddenly, my back felt a tingling itch, as if a swarm of tiny insects were crawling across it, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Brother, stop! It’s tickling, you’re not massaging me, you’re scratching!”

“That’s exactly what I intend!” Dongfang Mo chuckled mischievously. Usually so dignified and proper, he now turned trickster, having cast a little spell while massaging my back.

“Dongfang Mo! You’re doing this on purpose!” I twisted away from him, laughing and trying to escape. But carrying Shanhe, I couldn’t run fast; Dongfang Mo lunged and grabbed my arm, tickling me until I laughed helplessly, forced to beg for mercy. “Brother… I yield! Let me go! I’m laughing, see, I’m laughing!”

Dongfang Mo released me. I bent over, gasping for breath, unable to stifle my lingering laughter. Shanhe, jostled awake, was about to let out a roar; I quickly covered her mouth. In the deep of night, if she started howling, no one in the Jade Pure Domain would get any sleep, and if Master found out, it would be trouble.

“Little Brother, was it here that I scratched you back then? Does it still hurt?” Dongfang Mo asked, suddenly serious.

“It’s been two thousand years! How could it still hurt? Master’s medicine was excellent—there isn’t even a scar left!” If he hadn’t brought it up, I would have forgotten it altogether and truly believed it had been a wolf demon, not him.

“Little Brother, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Dongfang Mo apologized three times, bowing to me.

Seeing him so contrite, I felt a bit bewildered. “Why bring that up again? You bit Master much harder than you scratched me. Anyway, you didn’t mean to scratch me; you were only trying to push me away. All right, forget it! Just don’t tickle me again, it’s too much to bear.” I patted his shoulder.

Dongfang Mo stretched out his hand in front of me, forming a wolf’s paw, and started to laugh. I yelped and shot away, “I said, no more tickling—!”

“Then cheer up and smile more.”

“I am happy!”

“Smile,” Dongfang Mo commanded.

“Ha… ha… ha…” I drew out the syllables in a mock laugh, not realizing his own smile had faded. His face grew troubled as he murmured, “Little Brother… I truly hope you can always be happy. I’m sorry, I really am…”

In the study, Master was reviewing documents sent from the western regions and the Tujun Province. Baize brought him a cup of tea, his face hesitant.

“Is there something else?” Master asked, reviewing the papers without looking up.

“Revered One, just now I passed by the back mountain and saw Yufei and Dongfang Mo laughing, scolding, and slinging arms about each other.” Senior Brother Baize frowned deeply, his expression grave.

“Oh, they knew each other before coming to the mountain, so naturally they’re close,” Master replied, unconcerned, continuing his review.

“Revered One, all these years you’ve been lenient with Yufei. Yet she and Lord Chunfeng have committed indecent acts here in the Jade Pure Domain!”

Master put down his brush, his sharp gaze fixing on Baize. “What indecent acts?”

“Indulging in carnal pleasure… If this goes on, it may lead to…” Baize spoke obliquely.

“Lead to what?” Master pressed.

“Lead to… to trouble…” Baize stammered.

“What trouble?”

“Revered One… if Immortal Lady Lu Xue learns of the matter with the lip print…” Baize faltered.

“Are you suggesting that I, too, have committed ‘indecent acts’ with Fei’er?” Master’s gaze was piercing.

“I wouldn’t dare!” Baize immediately fell to his knees in fright.

“There’s no need to be so nervous and suspicious. Back then, Fei’er fell victim to a mind-bending spell and hallucinated. That was a thousand years ago. Did you not understand what I said then? You are elder to most of them, half their master; you should keep your heart upright!”

“Revered One, after experiencing the pleasures of the flesh, Yufei can no longer restrain herself. The other day at noon, she and Lord Chunfeng were alone together, engaging in amorous acts, speaking in lewd and ambiguous terms. She said she wanted sweetness at noon, and again at night, or she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Lord Chunfeng soiled her clothing, and she rushed to wash it. I saw and heard this myself. This disciple has become a wanton woman and should not remain here…” Baize declared.

“Smack!” Master struck the brush against the jade brush rest, shattering the millennium-old spirit jade.

The next day at mealtime, the senior brothers gathered, all wearing long faces and sighing.

Eleventh Brother began to mimic Master’s tone.

“Baize, you’ve worked hard lately. How is Bairu’s health?”

“Much better, Exalted One.”

“Does she still need your care?”

“I’ve been too busy lately and sent her to distant relatives.”

“If there’s no one to care for her, bring her here. She always liked being with Xue’er.”

After imitating Master, Eleventh Brother curled his lips. “Just so Mistress can have company, he’ll bring Bairu here. If I freeze to death outside, no one cares!”

“You deserve it for eavesdropping. Why didn’t you listen longer?” Fifteenth Brother teased.

Eleventh Brother shook his head, looking as listless as if he’d lost his appetite. “I couldn’t bear to listen anymore, it was too sad! Master doesn’t need me to serve tea or water now. I haven’t seen Master in days. I feel like a child without a mother!”

“Same here.” The brothers echoed his sentiment.

Kunpeng Brother was even more troubled. “I’ve fallen into Mistress’s hands! She asked me for Eternal Life Water from the North Sea, saying she wants to use it to keep Master’s skin youthful. I could hardly refuse, but that is the sacred elixir our clan spends a lifetime refining. Though it does beautify, it’s meant for life-saving, not mere vanity.”

Senior Brother Shijun stroked his broad, bearded face. “With Master so youthful, it’s me who ought to worry about my skin.”

The sight of burly, unattractive Shijun, so vain about his looks, set everyone laughing.

I ate quietly, saying nothing.

“Little Brother, why have you been off planting trees these days and barely saying a word? That’s not like you,” Seventeenth Brother asked, seeing my gloom.

“Little Brother isn’t going to plant trees—he’s going on dates! Fool!” Eleventh Brother smacked Seventeenth Brother on the head.

In truth, it wasn’t dating—I was hiding from a date.

“Using tree planting as an excuse to take Shanhe into the valley at every opportunity. You once said you liked Shanhe, and I remember!” Eleventh Brother grinned.

Unable to explain myself to him, I could only sigh, “Yes, I like Shanhe. I like her very much.”

“Little Brother, don’t spend all your time on dates. How long has it been since you made snow pear cakes for Master and all of us?” Fourteenth Brother chimed in.

“You make them. I won’t anymore,” I replied, my spirits low.

Fourteenth Brother pleaded, “When I make them, Mistress complains, and Master won’t eat them. Help me out, will you? Mistress is really hard to please. Please, Little Brother.”

I nodded, thinking, if I made them, Mistress would probably dislike them even more.

“Everyone, help me solve the Eternal Life Water problem first,” Kunpeng Brother lamented.

Fifteenth Brother covered half his face and whispered, “Probably Mistress wants it for herself.”

“Sigh, who would have thought the Mistress Master longed for these forty thousand years would turn out like this?” The brothers all sighed, complaining about how she assigned them chores.

“Fine Nectar. Shijun Brother has a fine nectar, very precious, produced from ten-thousand-year jade. Though not as effective as Eternal Life Water, it’s also beautifying. Let’s see if Mistress will accept it.” One, it was easier to obtain than Eternal Life Water; two, Brother Shijun was always generous and wouldn’t mind. So I offered the suggestion.

“Yes! My nectar is easy to get. I apply it to my face all the time,” Shijun Brother said, stroking his broad face with a smile.

Eleventh Brother almost burst out laughing. “You use nectar, and it still makes you look like a demon repellent? Let’s hope Mistress doesn’t ruin her looks.”

“Without it, I’d look worse.” Shijun Brother, for all his vanity, could still face reality.

“That’s it—give her the nectar and tell her it’s Eternal Life Water. She’s slept forty thousand years; she’ll never know. Haha! Little Brother, your idea is brilliant!” Eleventh Brother clapped my shoulder.

“No, don’t deceive Mistress. That wasn’t my idea.” Eleventh Brother always tried to pin his bad ideas on me. I had a bad feeling about this.

“That’s right. It wasn’t Little Brother’s idea,” Dongfang Mo spoke up for me.

After afternoon practice, I took Shanhe to Yixian Valley again to plant trees. Digging left me sweaty and parched, so I gulped down mouthfuls of spring water. However sweet the valley’s pears, I would never eat them again.

Shanhe was helping me dig holes with all her might, but the harder she worked, the more chaotic it became, and she splattered mud all over me.

“That’s enough. Lord Chunfeng doesn’t like dirty little animals. You have to be clean for Chunfeng to like you,” I said as I dug and planted, panting from the effort. Ever since kissing Lord Chunfeng, this little creature had become utterly infatuated. I had to remind her—her enthusiasm was overwhelming.

Shanhe stopped and ran up to me, about to let out a roar. I hastily covered her mouth. “Shh! Don’t shout, or Master will hear.”

I didn’t want Master to know about my tree planting, nor about Mistress’s conversation with me. Chunfeng was right—a disciple should not trouble the master.

As soon as I finished speaking, I sensed someone slowly approaching...

I looked up, and my heart thudded—why had Master suddenly come to Yixian Valley?