Volume Five: Destitute and Disheartened, Gazing North at the Cloud Monument Chapter Three: Misunderstanding

"So how did you two end up together?" Su Mengling also set down her bowl and chopsticks, pulling a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully wiping her mouth.

"She was so exceptional, naturally she had many admirers. We were all just teenagers, so our actions and judgments were inevitably somewhat biased. One morning, I went out early to buy materials for making magical instruments. Passing by her room, I asked if she wanted to join me, but she was too fond of sleep to get up. So I left the academy alone. Just as I reached a secluded grove on the mountain path, I was ambushed by three or four masked figures. They knocked me to the ground from behind and destroyed the magical tools in my bundle. Two of them pinned me in midair with their energy. Then a tall boy pulled out a dagger, saying he would scar my face so that the girl would no longer be infatuated with me."

Su Mengling let out a startled cry, then realized her lapse and glanced around nervously, relieved to see no one was paying attention.

She reached out, gently touching both of Zhuo Hua's cheeks, her gaze full of concern. "Where did the knife cut you? Was it here?"

Zhuo Hua coughed dryly. "Of course, they didn't get the chance. Before those unruly classmates could lay hands on me, she arrived and gave them a thorough beating. They dropped their knives and clubs and fled."

Su Mengling patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank goodness Big Sister arrived in time. Otherwise, Big Brother wouldn’t look as handsome as he does now." She finished with a mischievous grin and stuck out her tongue.

"Indeed! I'm lucky she came when she did. Though, at the time, she was furious—berating me for being useless and crying as she cleaned the dirt off me. After that, she personally oversaw my studies and training. In her words, she hoped I wouldn't hold her back or drag her down at critical moments." Zhuo Hua smiled wryly, then fell silent, lost in the memory.

"Is that all?" Su Mengling was dissatisfied with the brevity of the tale.

"What else do you want to hear?" Zhuo Hua cast her a sidelong glance.

Su Mengling blushed, her hands flailing awkwardly in the air. "Did you two ever do those... those... unspeakable things?"

Zhuo Hua suppressed a laugh, teasing her deliberately. "What unspeakable things? What could those be? I'm quite curious myself."

Su Mengling’s face deepened from red to purple. She stood, leaning across the table, bringing her head close to Zhuo Hua's ear. Cupping her mouth with her right hand, she whispered, "I mean intimate things."

"Oh~~~ Like kissing?"

Zhuo Hua’s voice was loud enough to draw curious glances from neighboring tables. In the Void of Lanling, aside from the strict etiquette of Zhongshen Continent, the other three continents were bold and martial, and the matter Zhuo Hua mentioned was met with nothing more than a chuckle.

But Su Mengling nearly buried her head beneath the table. She regretted, "Why did I ask? Why did I ask!"

"Love begins with passion, but must be restrained by propriety. That should answer your question," Zhuo Hua said.

"Alright, alright, enough about that. Tell me how you fell into such hardship! I was still young back then, but I remember Big Brother as a graceful, handsome youth. Now..." Su Mengling looked Zhuo Hua up and down, "Big Brother, what have you gone through?"

Zhuo Hua took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He was still pondering the question himself—why Lanling had treated him so ruthlessly, not simply killing him to end things swiftly, but abandoning him on the southwestern frontier to endure the world's hardships.

"Big Brother? Big Brother?" Su Mengling nudged Zhuo Hua.

He returned from his reverie, saying, "Three months ago, I was attacked by a powerful villain, my cultivation crippled, my Qi-stabilizing Pearl stolen, and I was left in Guan Yue City of Xiqi Continent. That's all."

"Who could be so bold? Tell me, my father is on friendly terms with the city lord here. We can ask the city lord to send officers to capture the villain and avenge you," Su Mengling said indignantly.

"She's a notorious thief. There aren’t many in the world who can catch her. My troubles are mine to resolve."

Zhuo Hua sensed that the matter wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Lanling had claimed to be acting on the elders’ orders, and it hadn’t sounded like a lie.

"Big Brother, what are your plans now?" Su Mengling asked.

"To go home."

"Where is your home?"

"Bei Lun Continent."

"Bei Lun is vast—where exactly?" Su Mengling pressed.

"Cangwu Mountain." Zhuo Hua could only reveal this much; any further, and the girl likely wouldn’t believe him.

"I heard Cangwu Mountain is covered in snowy peaks, with powerful snow demons roaming the land. Alone as you are, aren’t you afraid you’ll perish on the journey?"

"You’re quite knowledgeable," Zhuo Hua praised.

"Oh, Big Brother! Don’t change the topic. Why not stay at my house for a few days to recover? I’ll talk to Father, have him hire a caravan and some guards. When spring arrives, we’ll set out together," Su Mengling said, full of hopeful plans, heedless of Zhuo Hua’s helpless expression.

"Together? You’ll go with me?" Zhuo Hua asked.

"Yes! Yes! I've never left Guan Yue City. I’m sixteen now and have longed to see the world outside. This is the perfect chance—I’ll accompany you north and finally see the world the elders always speak of. This time, Father won’t be able to keep me here."

"Your kindness is appreciated, but this is a matter I must handle myself. Your hospitality these past two meals, I’ll repay another day. I’ll take my leave now."

Just as Zhuo Hua was about to stand and depart, four or five people rushed in from outside. The leader, an elderly man, hurried to Su Mengling's side, grabbing her hand and speaking with a hint of tears, "Miss! My dear miss! Your half-day disappearance has worried this old man sick!"

Where moments before she exuded heroic confidence, Su Mengling now became a timid kitten upon seeing the old man.

"Grandpa Su, why are you here? I just came out for a meal," she said, guilt and uncertainty in her tone.

"My miss! This isn’t the first time you’ve sneaked out. Before, you’d wander back by dusk, but now it’s already late—how can a young girl roam the streets? What if you meet some unsavory character..."

As he spoke, Grandpa Su’s eyes turned to Zhuo Hua, seated opposite Su Mengling. Zhuo Hua’s hair was yellowed and disheveled, his face relatively clean, but his clothes were tattered, full of holes, missing a sleeve, with a pale arm exposed. He looked exactly like the sort of unsavory character he had just described.

The old man pointed at Zhuo Hua, asking Su Mengling, "Miss, who is this?"

Su Mengling, delighted to be asked about her Big Brother, eagerly introduced, "Grandpa Su, this is the hero who rescued my father and me from the ruined temple ten years ago. I found him today!"

Grandpa Su, half skeptical, turned to Su Mengling. "Miss, these days the world is dangerous and people are not what they used to be. This fellow looks odd—hardly the hero who could save you from a tiger demon. You’re still young; don’t let yourself be deceived."

Hearing Grandpa Su disparage her Big Brother, Su Mengling protested, "Why isn’t he? His surname is Yan; ten years ago he passed by that ruined temple, and he still remembers what I wore and the hairpin I had. How could he not be the one? I won’t let you speak ill of my Big Brother."

Zhuo Hua, caught between the two, was mortified and wanted to escape at once. He stood, clasped his hands, and bowed politely. "Yan thanks the young lady for her hospitality. Until we meet again."

With that, he turned to leave. Su Mengling, still arguing with Grandpa Su, saw him go and called to the Su family guards standing in the street, "Stop him! Don’t let him leave!"

Grandpa Su, thinking Miss had changed her mind and now wanted the stranger apprehended, shouted, "Catch him! Catch that beggar—don’t let him escape!"

The few guards leaning on the railings, chatting idly, saw their chance to impress. They rushed toward the bewildered Zhuo Hua.

Before Zhuo Hua could even ask, "Why are you arresting me?" he was tackled by three or four men, raising a cloud of dust as four burly guards pinned him tightly.

Su Mengling was horrified, rushing over and shouting, "I only asked you to stop him, not like this! Let him go at once!"

The four guards exchanged uncertain glances, hesitating to release him. Anxious, Su Mengling pushed aside the guards with all her strength and helped Zhuo Hua up from the ground.

Zhuo Hua, now covered in dust, had a split at the corner of his left eye bleeding down to his mouth, and his nose was injured, blood streaming from both nostrils. His clothes were torn further; where before he’d only lost one sleeve, now both sleeves were gone, leaving him in a vest-like garment.

The guards suppressed their laughter, fearing the young lady’s wrath.

Su Mengling was so frightened she burst into tears, hurriedly pulling out her handkerchief to wipe the blood from Zhuo Hua's face, apologizing incessantly.

Zhuo Hua, unconcerned, said, "Mengling, it’s alright. I’ve grown used to it these past months. The blood will stop once it dries."

Hearing this, Su Mengling cried even harder, almost pleading, "Big Brother, please come back with me? I’ll have Father find a doctor to treat your wounds. These injuries were caused by our Su family guards—it’s only right we help you heal. Please?"

Grandpa Su, watching all along, finally understood. Seeing Zhuo Hua’s composure in adversity, he realized he was no beggar or charlatan and reckoned Miss’s story was likely true.

He stepped forward and added, "Mr. Yan, our Miss is right. The Su family must compensate for the wrong we’ve done. Please don’t refuse us further."

Zhuo Hua looked at his clothes, now little more than rags, shivering as a cold wind swept through. He nodded, "Then I’ll trouble you."

Su Mengling was overjoyed, grabbing his arm and leading him onto the ornately carved carriage waiting by the roadside.

Grandpa Su gave the order to return home, and the coachman snapped his whip, sending the carriage rocking as it headed toward the Su residence.