Wandering Swordsman |

The next morning, Zhao Xue gently woke He Yun, who had slept on the table all night. She said softly, "Brother Yun, Brother Yun, you must not have slept well last night. Get up and go to bed. I'll go prepare breakfast."

He Yun mumbled sleepily, "Uh... okay."

Then, urged by Zhao Xue, he struggled to sit up and collapsed onto the bed. Still drowsy, he fell fast asleep again.

Seeing He Yun finally lying in bed, Zhao Xue felt a little relieved. She gently closed the door and decided to prepare breakfast first. As she left the room, she bumped into a passing disciple of Jingtian Pavilion. Zhao Xue politely asked, "Excuse me, young man, how do I get to the kitchen?"

Seeing Zhao Xue's inquiry, the disciple of Jingtian Pavilion smiled and replied, "Are you preparing for breakfast, young lady?"

Zhao Xue nodded and said, "Yes."

The disciple from Jingtian Pavilion added, "Miss, we will have breakfast ready in half an hour and distribute it to each room. You can simply wait in your room."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xue secretly praised Jingtian Pavilion for its thorough consideration, and immediately thanked them, saying, "Then thank you in advance, young man."

The disciple from Jingtian Pavilion smiled slightly and said, "Does the young lady have any other questions? If not, then I will take my leave."

Zhao Xue quickly shook her head and said, "Uh, no problem. Thank you, sir. You can go ahead and get back to work."

The disciple of Jingtian Pavilion nodded, bowed respectfully, and left. Zhao Xue watched him go, feeling a warmth in her heart. She turned and looked around, realizing that there was still some time before half an hour had passed, and He Yun was still sleeping, so it wouldn't be good to go back and disturb him. Therefore, she decided to wander around and familiarize herself with the environment of Jingtian Pavilion.

Zhao Xue walked slowly along the corridor. The morning sunlight shone through the windows, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The architecture of Jingtian Pavilion was elegant and simple, with every detail exuding a tranquil and solemn atmosphere. She passed through one pavilion after another and saw many disciples of Jingtian Pavilion practicing martial arts. Some were practicing swordsmanship, while others were practicing boxing, and everyone's expression was very focused.

Zhao Xue walked to a training ground and saw several disciples practicing swordsmanship. Their movements were fluid and natural, each move full of power and beauty. Zhao Xue secretly admired them; the disciples of Jingtian Pavilion were not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also extremely serious about their training.

Zhao Xue continued her stroll, her mood gradually relaxing with each light step. She wandered along the corridors of Jingtian Pavilion, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility. Just then, a faint floral fragrance drifted on the breeze, like an invisible thread guiding her steps. Unconsciously, she followed the scent, slowly moving forward until she finally arrived at a small courtyard in a corner of Jingtian Pavilion.

The wooden door to the courtyard looked rather old, with much of the paint peeling off, revealing the marks of time. Zhao Xue hesitated for a moment, feeling somewhat apprehensive, but ultimately decided to follow the scent of flowers and push the door open to take a look. The hinges made a slight creaking sound, as if the door was welcoming her. The moment the door opened, the scene before her made Zhao Xue hold her breath.

The entire small garden was covered in a thick blanket of white snow, a pristine and flawless world. Yet, against this white backdrop, plum blossoms bloomed proudly, like clusters of red flames burning amidst the snow, exceptionally eye-catching. The petals, bathed in sunlight, shimmered with a translucent luster, each blossom seemingly proclaiming its own vitality. The fragrance of the blossoms filled the air, refreshing and invigorating, bringing an indescribable sense of tranquility and beauty.

Zhao Xue was stunned by the beautiful scenery before her, and for a moment she was speechless. She stood there quietly, as if time had stood still. Just then, a gentle voice broke the silence: "Does the young lady also like these plum blossoms?"

Zhao Xue looked in the direction of the sound and saw a woman slowly emerge from the plum blossom bushes. The woman wore a light green dress, as delicate and graceful as the tenderest willow leaves in spring. Her hair was tied up high, secured with a simple jade hairpin, further emphasizing her ethereal beauty. Her face was like a painting, with exquisite features, skin as white as snow, eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water, and lips like cherries; she seemed like a fairy descended from heaven.

A sense of awe arose in Zhao Xue's heart. She paused for a moment, then recognized the woman—it was Situ Meng, whom she had brushed past the previous night. Zhao Xue quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Miss Situ."

Seeing Zhao Xue's politeness, Situ Meng's eyes flashed with admiration. She smiled slightly, a smile as warm and friendly as a spring breeze: "Miss, please come in quickly and close the door. It wouldn't be good if the fragrance of the flowers attracted too many people." Her voice was soft, carrying a reassuring power.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xue quickly pushed open the door and went into the garden, closing the wooden door behind her. She gently shut the door, afraid of disturbing this moment of tranquility.

After Zhao Xue closed the door, she took another careful look at the small courtyard and couldn't help but sigh, "This is truly a wonderful place."

Situ Meng smiled and nodded gently, "Yes, this is my favorite place. It's rare that you also like these flowers. May I ask your name?"

Zhao Xue bowed slightly and replied politely, "My surname is Zhao, and my given name is Xue. I wonder if Miss Situ remembers that we met briefly yesterday at the door of the study."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Situ Meng's eyes. She smiled and said, "So it was you! I was deeply impressed when you and that young man walked out of my father's study yesterday. I never expected to meet you here again today."

"Since we are so destined to meet, please don't be so formal as to call me 'Miss Situ'. Just call me Situ Meng."

Zhao Xue was taken aback, not expecting Situ Meng to be so cheerful and generous. This made Zhao Xue feel a little embarrassed, and she stammered, "Miss Situ..."

Situ Meng sighed softly, took a few steps forward, took Zhao Xue's hand, and said gently, "Alright, Miss Zhao. You can call me whatever you want, just don't call me 'Miss Situ' anymore."

Zhao Xue sensed Situ Meng's kindness, and her tension gradually eased. She asked softly, "Miss Situ, aren't plum blossoms only found in the Jiangnan region? How come they're here on Changbai Mountain in the north?"

Situ Meng smiled slightly, pointed to a blooming red plum tree, and explained softly, "This plum blossom is called 'Vermilion Plum.' My mother loved the vermilion red plum blossoms in winter the most. When my father came to Changbai Mountain, he planted more than ten of them here. Every winter, this place becomes a sea of ​​plum blossoms, a breathtaking sight."

Zhao Xue listened intently, gazing at the vermilion plum tree, a sense of longing welling up within her. She then asked, "Miss Situ, your mother must be from Jiangnan, right?"

Situ Meng's smile faded slightly, and her expression turned somber. She said softly, "I don't know if my mother was from Jiangnan. My father said that my mother passed away not long after giving birth to me in Jiangnan. I never met her when I was little; I only heard my father say that she loved this 'Vermilion Plum' the most when she was alive."

Seeing Situ Meng's somber expression, Zhao Xue felt a pang of guilt and quickly said, "I'm sorry, Miss Situ. I've touched a sore spot."