Spoiled Eldest Miss x Two-faced Madman

CHAPTER 79: She Would Never Put Down Her Sword Again

　　An Jiu held a piece of dry biscuit and slowly nibbled on it.

　　After each bite, she would sneak a glance at Fei Chen.

　　The handsome monk sat cross-legged on the ground. Unlike her, who was dragging things out, he had long finished his rations and was now sitting with his eyes closed, chanting scriptures with a face full of devotion.

　　An Jiu swallowed the dry, tasteless biscuit, feeling it scrape painfully down her throat.

　　She had always been a pampered young lady who lived in luxury. Back when she traveled with Pei Ji, she never hesitated to push him around, and she certainly never let herself suffer on the road. She lived freely and indulgently.

　　Even when they stayed at Wuyin Temple, a solemn place of Buddhism, if she wanted to eat meat, Ah Qi would have to sneak out to hunt wild game for her.

　　That alone showed just how much Pei Ji spoiled her.

　　But now that she was traveling with Fei Chen, they weren’t particularly close, and An Jiu felt a bit embarrassed to cause trouble for such an otherworldly monk. Even if Fei Chen probably wouldn’t say anything if she acted the way she usually did, she herself would feel too guilty to keep doing it.

　　Besides, asking Pei Ji to kill for her was one thing. Asking a monk like Fei Chen to do it was a completely different story.

　　No matter how willful she was, she couldn’t possibly ask a monk to go catch and kill animals just to satisfy her craving for meat.

　　She was afraid she'd lose years off her life for that.

　　So this time, she really felt like she’d been holding back a lot, though she wasn’t about to admit it out loud.

　　At first, she could still force herself to chew through the rock-hard rations, but now, with the smell of roasted fish wafting over from not too far away, An Jiu finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and swallowed hard.

　　She snuck another look at Fei Chen. The monk sat perfectly still, eyes lowered and brows relaxed, as if he had completely blocked out the world and fully immersed himself in his scriptures.

　　An Jiu’s gaze drifted to the small courtyard nearby and landed straight on the golden, crispy-skinned roasted fish crackling over the fire.

　　Food is life. 

　　After holding out for quite a while, An Jiu finally cracked.

　　She carefully got up and, seeing that Fei Chen didn’t react at all, slowly walked toward the small courtyard.

　　What she didn’t notice was that the moment she moved, Fei Chen quietly opened his eyes and watched her without making a sound.

　　“Senior, that’s not how you’re supposed to roast fish.” An Jiu stood at the edge of the courtyard, calling out to the old man squatting by the clay stove.

　　Only then did the old man turn his head. He looked at the girl in the red dress standing by the fence with an expectant face and calmly asked, “Oh? Then how should I roast it?”

　　When it came to talking about food, An Jiu was more than ready.

　　She was a pampered young lady who had tasted everything. Her family had hired several chefs, covering all eight major Chinese cuisines, as well as French fine dining and Japanese delicacies. She could enjoy any flavor she wanted.

　　Every day, she could order whatever she felt like eating and get authentic dishes from all over the country right at home.

　　That’s the power of money.

　　Unlike in ancient times, where local delicacies were often confined to their own regions and rarely found elsewhere.

　　That’s why so many martial artists would travel the world, gaining experience and broadening their horizons.

　　An Jiu immediately stepped closer and began explaining to the old man how fish should be roasted. She went on and on about everything—from cooking methods to the nutritional value of fish—with great enthusiasm.

　　She might not have cooked before, but she had definitely eaten well. An Jiu was exactly the type who couldn’t cook but knew all about eating.

　　She could tell you exactly how any dish should be made, step by step.

　　The old man chuckled and said, “You sure know a lot, young lady. Sounds like you’re an expert. Why don’t you roast one for this old man?”

　　An Jiu shook her head like a rattle drum and said seriously, “Oh no, I don’t know how to cook. I only know how to eat. Senior, you roast it, and I’ll guide you. How’s that?”

　　There was no way she’d do it herself. A pampered young lady like her had never done any manual work. How could she possibly get her hands dirty cooking?

　　Back then, she was always bossing around Pei Ji and his servant. Now she was even daring to order around the famous Sword Saint.

　　The old man glanced at An Jiu with a smile, shook his head, and stepped aside to grab a fish basket. Turns out there were still several fish inside.

　　He took one out, cleaned and gutted it, scaled and washed it thoroughly, then skewered it on a stick. He looked at An Jiu and said, “Explain it to me again. I want to see if it’s really as delicious as you say.”

　　An Jiu quickly stepped closer and began explaining in detail all over again. The two of them—one old, one young—huddled together by the fire, chatting and roasting fish like old friends.

　　The whole time, Fei Chen kept a close eye on them, clearly on edge. When he saw An Jiu looking completely at ease, even laughing and chatting so naturally with that mysterious elder, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed just a little.

　　Still, he didn’t dare let his guard down and stayed alert, watching their every move.

　　Before long, the rich, delicious aroma drifted over on the wind. Fei Chen looked over and saw the young girl and the old man each holding a skewer, happily devouring the roasted fish. Only then did he realize why An Jiu had gone to find the old man on her own.

　　A helpless, slightly exasperated look briefly crossed the monk’s usually calm face.

　　He quietly turned his body to avoid the direction of the wind, no longer watching them, and calmly closed his eyes to continue chanting his scriptures.

　　On the other side, An Jiu and the old man were eating heartily. The old man praised, “You weren’t bluffing. This really does taste much better the way you said.”

　　An Jiu grinned with oil glistening on her lips and said proudly, “Of course! When it comes to eating, no one can beat me.”

　　The old man’s interest was piqued. “Is that so? You’re still so young. I bet you’ve barely stepped outside your front door. How can you claim to know more than the rest of the world?”

　　An Jiu said, “Don’t underestimate me. I’ve been to quite a few places.”

　　The old man grew even more curious. Back in his younger days, he had roamed the martial world and seen a lot. He laughed and said, “In that case, let me test you a little.”

　　So the two of them, with the scent of roasted fish in the air, began chatting about the lands across the country. They talked about roasted lamb and butter tea from the northwest, hearty stews and smoked chicken from the freezing north, and spring noodles and salt-braised duck from Jiangnan. Aside from food, they also discussed the customs and traditions of each place, all of which were incredibly fascinating.

　　As the old man listened, his sharp, lively eyes gradually brightened. Gazing into the distant sky, he seemed to long for the day he might once again see those beautiful landscapes and savor those delicious local dishes.

　　He had once been such a carefree, unrestrained man, but he had been hiding away in these deep mountains for far too long. Many of the things the young girl talked about were no longer quite the same as he remembered.

　　Fifty years had passed, and the outside world had changed beyond recognition. It felt like everything had been turned upside down.

　　The old man suddenly let out a deep sigh. Even the delicious roasted fish in his mouth lost its flavor.

　　“Senior, why are you sighing all of a sudden? Is something troubling you?” An Jiu asked.

　　The old man turned his head and saw the genuine concern shining in the girl’s eyes. His thoughts drifted again.

　　In his memories, there seemed to be another lovely young girl who used to follow him around, always nagging him to bathe and change clothes, insisting he keep himself neat and tidy. For a wandering swordsman like him, that was such a difficult thing to do.

　　Whenever that happened, he would always let out a long, helpless sigh. The girl would ask him, “Hero, why are you sighing? My mother says people shouldn't sigh too much, or they'll sigh away all their good fortune.”

　　Why did he sigh back then?

　　Of course, it was because of her.

　　Thinking of this, the old man suddenly smiled and said, “I was just thinking, at your young age, you've already traveled so far and seen so many beautiful places. Compared to you, this old man is nothing.”

　　“Senior, you can still go out there. You're still healthy. Don't you get bored staying in these mountains all the time?” An Jiu asked casually, as if it was just small talk.

　　The old man paused, then slowly shook his head and said, “Forget it.”

　　As for why he said that, he didn’t explain, and An Jiu didn’t press him.

　　After a long silence, the old man suddenly said, “Girl, tell me more about the outside world. After all these years, are there any famous swordsmen in the martial world now?”

　　An Jiu’s heart skipped a beat. She noticed a faint glimmer of hope in the old man’s eyes. She pursed her lips and answered truthfully, “Senior, I don’t know much about the martial world, but I’ve heard of a few well-known sword masters. The most famous is the Bishui Sword from Mount Hua. Then there’s the leader of the Emei Sect, and also the Líng Shé Swordsman…”

　　As An Jiu went on, the light in the old man’s sharp, bright eyes gradually dimmed, until eventually, they became dull and lifeless.

　　“None of them. None of them are her,” the old man murmured when she finished.

　　In that moment, it was as if he had suddenly aged ten years. His eyes no longer held the brightness they had when they first met, and his voice became heavy and worn.

　　It was like the spirit that had been holding him up all this time had quietly slipped away.

　　An Jiu felt a twinge of sadness in her heart. She had read the original story and knew the truth. She knew why You Qianhe had hidden himself away in these mountains for so many years.

　　During those five years of teaching the young girl, You Qianhe became more and more astonished by her talent.

　　She was like a piece of unpolished jade, and he was the one who discovered her. In the future, he would shape her into a peerless gem admired by the world.

　　You Qianhe was certain that in five years, the girl would become an unrivaled swordmaster, maybe even surpass him, the Sword Saint himself.

　　And in the end, he was right. As the five years drew to a close, when they sparred again, You Qianhe could already feel himself struggling to keep up with her sword.

　　Her sword was lighter, livelier, and more full of life than his.

　　If his sword was something he had tamed and controlled, then her sword was one that moved in perfect harmony with its master.

　　In You Qianhe's hand, the sword was a weapon, a tool to be used. But in her hand, that sharp and deadly blade had become a trusted companion, even a loyal follower that willingly obeyed her.

　　She was born to wield a sword!

　　There was no one in the world more suited to it than her.

　　Through her, You Qianhe glimpsed the ultimate path of swordsmanship. It was a place he had spent his whole life pursuing, yet this girl was already close enough to reach it.

　　But unlike You Qianhe’s excitement, as the day drew near, the young girl, now eighteen and blooming, had only one thing on her mind—her long-awaited marriage.

　　You Qianhe, of course, noticed the change in her. As they sparred, her sword moves grew shyer, softer, and more delicate, quietly revealing the feelings in her heart.

　　The sword moves with the heart. Her heart had been moved, so her sword naturally changed with it.

　　You Qianhe was at a complete loss.

　　The five-year promise had been a temporary excuse. He had hoped that, as she grew older, she would come to understand that her feelings for him were nothing more than gratitude—not true love.

　　But You Qianhe had miscalculated.

　　The girl genuinely loved him, far beyond just seeing him as her savior.

　　You Qianhe was caught in an impossible situation. He knew all too well that this girl was never someone with a ruthless, decisive nature. In fact, she didn’t even like practicing swordsmanship. Her true nature was gentle and kind. She didn’t want to kill, nor did she want to see blood. If she had a choice, she would much rather hold a sewing needle than a blade.

　　She only practiced the sword because of him.

　　But now, how was he supposed to tell her that the five-year promise was just a lie? That he only saw her as his disciple, never as a woman?

　　Facing her flushed cheeks and those sparkling, hopeful eyes, You Qianhe simply couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

　　What’s more, he had long realized that even if he agreed to marry her, she would likely never pick up a sword again after they wed.

　　No matter whether he accepted her feelings or not, she was never destined to stay on the path of the sword. This road—he was the one who had forced her onto it.

　　After a long, painful struggle, You Qianhe finally made his choice.

　　On the day before their five-year promise was due, he disappeared without a sound, hiding away deep in a nameless mountain, never stepping beyond it again.

　　This way, things would be fine, right?

　　This way, the girl would never find him.

　　And because she couldn’t find him, she would always hold on to hope.

　　She would walk further and deeper on the path of the sword.

　　Whether it was to find him and marry him, or to hate him for betraying his promise and kill him, either way—

　　She would never put down her sword again.

　　One day, she would stand at the peak of the martial world, becoming a swordmaster admired by thousands.

　

　　

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T/N: Sigh, his choice… it just screams scumbag to me. But at the same time, it feels very human. Every option was wrong, but it made me realize he’s ultimately too self-centered. You can’t force people onto paths they don’t want to take!　

　　　　　　

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