CG - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Wu Gu's home was a standalone house built at the foot of a mountain. It was surrounded by a large, walled-in courtyard with an old iron gate. Though secured with a single lock, Wu Gu didn't use a key; she just gave the gate a few shoves, and it swung open. The first thing to greet them inside was a tree in the center of the yard. Its trunk was tall and soaring, its shade spreading like a canopy, with a chaotic chorus of cicadas hidden among the leaves.

It was the middle of summer. Beneath the tree, an old woman was lying on a yellowed bamboo recliner. The umbrella-like canopy blocked the sunlight, casting a clearly defined circle of shade on the ground. Hearing the gate open, the woman paid it no mind, merely continuing to wave her cattail fan with a slow, leisurely motion. She didn't seem frail, just languid.

Wu Gu ran over cheerfully, calling out, "Granny, I'm back! Monkey said he has to work, so he'll be back for the New Year."

Wei Jinzhi offered the gifts she had prepared in advance. "Hello, Granny. My name is Wei Jinzhi. I'm a friend of Wu Gu's."

It was rare to have an outsider visit. Only then did the old woman slowly lift her eyelids. Her gaze was dark and deep, but then she suddenly smiled, crinkling her face. "A golden glint between your brows. You'd make a top-grade tonic."

If Wei Jinzhi wasn't mistaken, a flash of green light had flickered in the old woman's eyes as she sized her up. She remembered Wu Gu had said the granny's surname was She. She murmured, "She… snake?"

Granny She laughed. "Clever little girl. If you're so clever, how did you end up becoming friends with Wu Gu?"

"Granny," Wu Gu complained. "Can't you be a little nicer to me after all this time?"

The granny leisurely closed her eyes again and resumed fanning herself. "If you're hungry, go make something yourself. Don't disturb my sleep. It's too hot, I can't be bothered to entertain you."

Wu Gu pouted and led Wei Jinzhi to her room. The room was spacious, with four white walls devoid of any extra decoration. A window was set into the wall facing the courtyard, with a desk placed beneath it. From there, one could look up and see the dazzling sunlight in the yard. Against the opposite wall stood a small cabinet that looked like it had been handmade from wood chopped down in the mountains; it was somewhat crude.

There were so few things in the room that Wei Jinzhi took it all in with a single glance. She sat down on the only chair, which let out a creak—a sign of loose joints. She immediately sat up straight, not daring to move again.

Seeing her cautious posture, Wu Gu smiled. "It's fine, it's always like that. If you're not used to it, I can take it out to the yard and fix it later."

"You have to do these things yourself too?"

"When Master was around, I'd just leave it to him. Now that he's gone, I do it myself. It's not hard, just a matter of hammering in a few nails."

Wu Gu had said similar things before. Although Wei Jinzhi's heart ached for her, she was also gratified to see her nonchalant attitude. Wu Gu had never felt inferior because of her family's poor circumstances, which was likely a testament to how well her master had raised her from a young age.

She asked, "If Granny She is a snake, then the Monkey you mentioned is a real monkey."

"Yeah, Monkey is like my little brother. My master brought him back." Wu Gu sat on the bed, facing Wei Jinzhi. "Granny was a snake raised by my master's master's grandmaster. She gained spiritual awareness and later cultivated a human form, so she's been with us ever since. Monkey is a monkey from these mountains. I don't know what method Master used to help him cultivate a human form."

Being back here made Wu Gu miss Lao Wu even more. Every large and small item in the house had been made by his hands and carried so many memories. She gazed at the distant mountains and said, "Master had a great relationship with the spirits in the mountains. When he planted herbs and grasses, he'd ask them to help take care of them. In return, he'd teach them how to cultivate. Sometimes, when there were herbs on steep cliffs that were hard to reach, the mountain spirits would help him. He was a really good person, he just loved to scold me. When I was little, he always liked to take me up the mountain to play." She pointed out the window. "See? That's the one."

Wei Jinzhi's gaze softened. She raised a hand and gently wiped beneath Wu Gu's eye. "From now on, I'll be with you. I promise I'll never be harsh with you."

Wu Gu smiled at her. "You're so nice, you probably aren't harsh with anyone."

Wei Jinzhi said to herself, No, that's different. While she wasn't harsh with others, she couldn't be described as warm, either. At best, she was polite—a politeness that created distance, that kept people at arm's length. But she had no intention of telling Wu Gu any of this. She was afraid Wu Gu wouldn't understand, or that it would frighten her. She could feel Wu Gu's reliance on her, their growing intimacy. She knew the only thing between them was a paper-thin barrier waiting for the right moment to be broken. Perhaps the time just wasn't right yet.

Although it was the height of summer, the temperature in the mountains wasn't too high. Wu Gu's room had a desk fan but no air conditioner. Worried that Wei Jinzhi might be hot, she took the fan out to the yard, disassembled it, and wiped it clean. The freshly washed blades still carried a bit of moisture, and when she turned it on, the breeze it produced was tinged with a hint of coolness. She pulled Wei Jinzhi to sit beside her on the bed. The two of them faced the oscillating fan on the desk, their hair rising and falling in unison with the breeze.

Wu Gu said, "I've cleaned the room, so you can stay for a few days. Tomorrow, I'll go gather some herbs to help you recuperate. Your soul power is quite good, so you should recover quickly."

Wei Jinzhi glanced at the sky outside. In the afterglow of the sunset, the distant mountains were as dark as ink. The house was a traditional three-sided courtyard. When she first arrived, a quick scan suggested there were at least ten rooms. Wu Gu had tidied up two rooms on the west side—one for her, and the one next to it for Wu Yong. If not for the sudden incident in North City, she would have liked to stay here until Wu Gu's vacation ended and they could return together.

That night, Wei Jinzhi was on the phone with her family when someone knocked on her door. She hung up and went to open it. Wu Gu was standing outside, holding the fan. Her eyes were as bright as stars in the night sky, and her lips were curved into a smile. "The fan is for you. I was afraid you'd be hot tonight."

The only fan in the house had been for Wu Gu when she was a child. After she started practicing spiritual arts, she became impervious to heat and cold. Wu Gu placed the fan at the foot of the bed and said, "Rest well, Sister Wei."

"Wu Gu," Wei Jinzhi called out. She had rarely traveled far from home, and being in an unfamiliar environment made her feel more sensitive and vulnerable than usual. She wanted to ask Wu Gu to stay and keep her company, but the words that came out were more convoluted than what was in her heart. "Won't you be hot?"

Wu Gu's smile was lovely. "I won't be. You can use the fan. Sleep well, Sister Wei. I'm going to go ask Granny something."

Wei Jinzhi laughed at her own sudden, twisting emotions. It turned out she wasn't composed and decisive in every situation. "Alright," she said. "You get some sleep too."

After leaving Wei Jinzhi's room, Wu Gu went straight to Granny She's. Without knocking, she went inside and reached out to shake the old woman lying on the bed. Perhaps from having lived too long, the granny was perpetually listless, her eyes rarely open. As usual, she kept them closed and slapped Wu Gu's hands away. "Spit it out."

"Where did you hide the things Master left for me?"

"Your master gave instructions before he passed. On your birthday each year, you're only allowed to have two books of techniques." Granny She opened her eyes and shot Wu Gu a sidelong glance, hitting the nail on the head. "Is it because of some trouble that little girl you brought back is in?"

Wu Gu couldn't hide the pride in her expression. "She was cursed by a Ghost King, and I broke it."

"Have you forgotten that your master told you not to meddle in other people's business? With that golden glint between her brows, it's obvious she's fated to attract ghosts and evil spirits. Why don't you stay far away from her?"

It wasn't that Wu Gu didn't know these things, but she couldn't bear to be apart from Wei Jinzhi now. It would be painful. "Granny, let's not talk about that. Where did you hide the things Master left for me?"

"Are you going to disobey your master's words now?"

Wu Gu answered honestly, "Granny, with my current cultivation level, I'd have to rely on luck to beat a Ghost King that was created through sacrifice. If they have another one, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it. Granny, I'm begging you."

"Then can't you just stay away from that little girl and leave her alone?"

Wu Gu shook her head rapidly. "No, I can't leave her alone."

This time, the granny's eyelids lifted a little wider. She stared at her for a long moment before saying, "Isn't she staying for many days? Let me think about it. This was your master's dying wish, after all. It's not something you can change with just a few words."

Wu Gu diligently tucked the granny in, her voice sweet. "Then sleep well, Granny."

After Wu Gu closed the door, the granny's eyes opened, a rare occurrence. Her gaze was dark and deep. She spoke to the empty air, "Little Wu, I'm afraid Mushroom's tribulation is fast approaching. Whether she can overcome it will depend on her own fortune." With that, her eyelids closed once more. She was a snake who had cultivated for centuries. After being enlightened by Wu Gu's grandmaster, she had lived with them ever since.

In the long river of time, as the years flowed by, a look back would reveal that the faces of people in the past had long since blurred. All she remembered were two eyes and a mouth—what difference was there? If Wu Gu was destined to face this tribulation, she thought, then she should be allowed to give it her all. This was her own fate, and she deserved to pour everything she had into it.

The night passed. Wei Jinzhi woke up very early. The bed was too hard, and she hadn't slept comfortably. Getting up, she drew back the curtains. The granny was lying under the tree as usual. Wu Gu was sparring with Wu Yong. Wu Gu lacked his strength, but her movements were light and agile, her steps quick. Wu Yong, on the other hand, wasted no motion; every punch was aimed to gain an advantage. Pang Diao seemed very excited, flapping above their heads as he watched the fight.

Wei Jinzhi watched for a while before stepping outside. The moment her door opened, the commotion in the courtyard came to an abrupt halt. Wu Gu stood still and smiled at her, her eyes catching flecks of sunlight. Wei Jinzhi's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She asked calmly, "Who won?"

Wu Gu's cheeks were flushed from the exercise, giving her a charmingly vibrant look. "Brother Xiao Wu," she said.

Wei Jinzhi went over to greet the granny. "Good morning, Granny." Pang Diao circled in front of her. "Pang Diao, good morning," she added.

Wu Gu waited until she was done with her greetings before saying, "Go wash up. I'll heat up breakfast for you."

Wei Jinzhi gave a lazy nod. As she turned, she covered a small yawn with her hand. Wu Gu froze for a second, having rarely seen Wei Jinzhi in such a languid, delicate state. As she heated up breakfast, her mind was filled with images of this version of Wei Jinzhi.

Breakfast was simple: white porridge, eggs, and a side of stir-fried vegetables. It was only when Wei Jinzhi sat down that she realized she was the last one to get up. And yet, compared to her schedule in North City, this was the earliest she had woken up in a long time. Wu Gu sat with her, peeling an egg for her. Because she hadn't slept well, everything she did was languid. If she weren't so embarrassed, she wouldn't even want to lift a hand to eat.

Halfway through the meal, Granny She walked in and tossed a key on the table. "It's in the room next to yours," she said to Wu Gu.

"Thank you, Granny." Wu Gu placed some vegetables in Wei Jinzhi's bowl. "Sister Wei, take your time eating. I'll be right back." Without waiting for a reply, she rushed off. Wei Jinzhi watched her go before slowly picking up the peeled egg and taking a small bite.

Full of anticipation, Wu Gu opened the room her master had left for her. It wasn't large. The first thing she saw was a portrait of the sect's founding master hanging on the wall, sword in hand, riding the clouds. Below it was an incense table covered in a layer of dust. To the left, against the wall, was a floor-to-ceiling shelf, with two chests at its base. She walked over to the shelf and randomly pulled a book from a small compartment. Standing there, she flipped through a couple of pages before noticing the four large characters handwritten by Lao Wu on the opposite wall: "A True Heart and Sincere Intent." Beneath them were a desk and chair.

The chests contained the magical artifacts her master had left for her. She rummaged through them and found about a dozen high-grade items, though none were as good as the two she regularly used. Closing the chests, she went back to the bookshelf. Only then did she see that each small compartment was engraved with words. The one in front of her read, "Mushroom's Twenty-Fifth Birthday."

She stood on her tiptoes to look up and squatted to look down. The labeled ages increased or decreased accordingly. She looked for the compartments for her eighteenth and nineteenth years and, sure enough, they were empty. She understood Lao Wu's painstaking efforts. He had selected the techniques she was to learn each year in order of difficulty, from easy to hard, and had Granny She give them to her on her birthday so she could progress steadily and build a solid foundation. She wanted to cry, but she was also incredibly happy.

While grateful for Lao Wu's efforts, she quickly searched for the sections for older ages. She guessed that the more powerful techniques would have been placed later by Lao Wu, and she was looking for the most powerful one. After some thought, she chose a book from the compartment for age forty-eight. Just as she was about to leave, she remembered she hadn't offered incense to the founding master. After doing so, she went to find Wei Jinzhi, feeling delighted.

When Wu Gu found Wei Jinzhi under the western corridor, she was sitting in a lounge chair, playing with Pang Diao. Wei Jinzhi noticed the joy in her expression but didn't ask, waiting for her to speak. But Wu Gu didn't need to be asked. She said happily, "Master left me a whole wall of techniques. Sister Wei, would you like to go for a walk this afternoon? If not, we can just stay home and read."

The way she said it meant that even if Wei Jinzhi had wanted to go out, she would have agreed to stay. So she said, "Alright. Then find a book for me to read."

Wu Gu went back to her room and returned with a copy of Journey to the West for Wei Jinzhi. The spine had been reinforced with paste, and Wu Gu's name was written on the flyleaf. It must have been one of Wu Gu's extracurricular books from when she was a child. Wu Gu pulled up a chair and sat next to her. A breeze blew through the corridor, so neither of them felt the sweltering heat. The summer day made one feel lazy, and Pang Diao, unable to resist, perched on Wu Gu's shoulder and closed his eyes for a nap.

Wu Gu opened her book to the first page, where her master had written a message in yellowed ink. After reading the first sentence, she gave a sheepish laugh. Lao Wu had written, "Let me guess how old you are when you opened this. I knew you couldn't sit still and had no patience. How many times have I told you that cultivation cannot be rushed, that you shouldn't aim for instant success? You must remember to guard against arrogance and impatience, that haste makes waste. Why can't you ever remember…" Lao Wu's words seemed to echo in her ears. She quickly flipped to the second page.

About an hour later, Wu Gu suddenly jumped up from her chair and slammed the book on the ground with a loud smack. "Lao Wu, you've gone too far!" she exclaimed in frustration.

Wei Jinzhi asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Wu Gu pointed at the book on the floor, her voice laced with chagrin. "Lao Wu knew I'd peek at the advanced techniques, so this entire book is about health and wellness! Don't you think he's gone too far?"

Although Wei Jinzhi didn't understand the specifics, she had no trouble grasping the main point. She chuckled softly. "Your master certainly knew your personality well."

Wu Gu pouted and slumped back into her chair, drained of energy. The sunlight falling on the courtyard was too bright and glaring, so she closed her eyes to quiet her mind. She had been too impatient lately, but her master was right—one must guard against arrogance and impatience in all things. When she opened her eyes again, she was back to being the confident Wu Gu, her eyes full of light. "Sister Wei," she said, "let me take you to play in the mountains."

Wei Jinzhi caressed Wu Gu's cheek, her voice gentle yet full of reassurance. "No matter what happens, I'll be with you. So there's no need to rush." Wu Gu nodded, pressing her lips together as she smiled at her.

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