Aunt No. 2 frowned deeply, eyeing the young couple before her with an odd expression. Mei Qing was sweating profusely, his face flushed red, coughing twice while keeping his head lowered as if lost in thought. Bi Zhen, however, simply stared straight ahead with a confident and unwavering expression.
Internally, Aunt No. 2 sighed repeatedly. She had heard the saying that girls often become attached to outsiders, but she had never seen anyone quite like Bi Zhen. Whatever Mei Qing said, she believed without question. Mei Qing had even managed to sway her ancestors’ long-standing traditions of cultivation with just a few words.
“Aunt No. 2,” Mei Qing, feeling somewhat embarrassed by Bi Zhen’s unwavering support, quickly stepped forward and said, “I suspect that the plum valley you mentioned might not actually be a true cave dwelling in the conventional sense. Someone could have easily set up a place to resemble a cave dwelling, simply by making it sufficiently hidden. It wouldn’t necessarily require the internal spiritual veins or abundant spiritual energy typically found in a real cave dwelling. Surely there are other hidden places like that?”
“There probably are,” Aunt No. 2 nodded thoughtfully before hesitating slightly, “But Bi Mountain is so vast that I might not know every corner. Perhaps only the young mistress would have a clearer idea.”
Bi Zhen’s mother was currently refining some unknown magical artifact, so Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had to wait in the room chatting idly while they waited for her.
“Oh, by the way, Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing suddenly said, “I really must be forgetful. I still don’t know the names of your grandmother and mother.”
Mei Qing wasn’t truly forgetful; in this Ming dynasty, it was considered improper to inquire about his future mother-in-law’s name if Bi Zhen hadn’t introduced it herself. However, considering that Bi Zhen’s family had lived here for generations and were likely a well-known aristocratic family, Mei Qing thought it might be useful information for future investigations.
“It’s not really forgetfulness,” Bi Zhen comforted him, “Actually, I don’t know either. I just call my grandmother ‘Grandma’ and my mother ‘Mother.'”
Mei Qing was speechless.
“Then, Aunt No. 1 has been serving your grandmother since childhood, and Aunt No. 2 serves your mother. Why don’t you have anyone to serve you?” Mei Qing asked Bi Zhen, watching Aunt No. 2 bustling around.
“That’s just it. It’s annoying,” Bi Zhen grumbled, “Since I was young, my grandma has said that my fate is different and that I would naturally have people to serve me. Fortunately, she wasn’t wrong, wasn’t she? Now I have you.”
Mei Qing was once again at a loss for words. Bi Zhen realized that comparing Mei Qing to a servant girl might have been inappropriate, so she quickly apologized, saying, “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was—look, I can still order Wukong around, right?”
Wukong, with his white fur, nodded enthusiastically upon hearing this and hurried over to massage and pat Bi Zhen’s back, showing his loyalty with great enthusiasm.
Mei Qing stared blankly at the ceiling, letting out a long sigh.
“There are actually two and a half cave dwellings in our mountain,” Bi Zhen’s mother said, smiling warmly at her daughter and son-in-law. “Besides this one, there’s another across the mountain belonging to the Xu family. We’ve had some connection with them, but since their former lord failed to ascend thirty-some years ago, they’ve closed their gates. Additionally, there’s a cave behind the Xuanwu Temple on the mountaintop, which the temple monks use for their cultivation—it counts as half a dwelling.”
Second Aunt frowned deeply, casting a strange gaze at the young couple before her. Mei Qing was drenched in sweat, his face flushed, and he coughed twice, his brows furrowed as if deep in thought. Bi Zhen, on the other hand, was staring directly at her, her head held high, her expression one of unwavering belief.
Second Aunt sighed inwardly. It was often said that daughters were more outward-looking, but none were as extreme as Bi Zhen. Whatever Mei Qing said, she believed without question. Her ancestors had cultivated in this land for generations, yet with just one word from Mei Qing, she seemed to have betrayed them.
“Second Aunt,” Mei Qing, noticing Bi Zhen’s demeanor, felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly stepped forward to speak. “I suspect that the so-called ‘Mei Valley’ might not be a true spiritual sanctuary as you describe. If someone were willing, they could easily set up a place that resembles a sanctuary. As long as it’s hidden enough, it doesn’t necessarily need to have abundant spiritual veins or energy. Such hidden places must still exist, right?”
“There should be some, but Bi Mountain is so vast, I’m afraid I can’t know all of them. It might be up to the young mistress to know for sure,” Second Aunt nodded, then added with some difficulty.
Bi Zhen’s mother was in the midst of refining some unknown magical artifact, so Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had no choice but to chat idly in the room while they waited.
“By the way, Zhen’er, I’ve been quite absent-minded,” Mei Qing suddenly said. “Up until now, I still don’t know the names of your grandmother and mother.”
Mei Qing wasn’t truly absent-minded; after all, this was the Ming Dynasty, and since Bi Zhen hadn’t told him her mother’s name, it wasn’t appropriate for him to ask. However, he thought that since Bi Zhen’s family had lived here for generations, they must be a well-known family, and it might be useful to know for future reference.
“It’s not that you’re absent-minded,” Bi Zhen comforted him. “Actually, I don’t know either. I just call my grandmother ‘Grandmother’ and my mother ‘Mother.'”
Mei Qing was speechless.
“First Aunt has been serving your grandmother since childhood, and Second Aunt serves your mother. Don’t you have anyone to serve you?” Mei Qing, watching Second Aunt bustling about, turned to ask Bi Zhen.
“That’s what’s so frustrating,” Bi Zhen said angrily. “Since I was a child, my grandmother said my fate was different, and that I would naturally have someone to serve me in the future. Luckily, she wasn’t wrong, and now I have you.”
Mei Qing was again at a loss for words. Bi Zhen, realizing that comparing Mei Qing to a servant girl might not be appropriate, quickly apologized. “I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, look, I still have Wu Kong to serve me, right?”
Wu Kong, a white-furred creature nearby, nodded vigorously, then eagerly stepped forward to massage her shoulders and back, showing his loyalty.
Mei Qing stared blankly at the ceiling, letting out a long sigh.
“There are actually two and a half spiritual sanctuaries in our mountain. Besides this one, there’s one across the mountain at the Xu family’s place. We have some ties with the Xu family, but since the last family head failed to ascend, they’ve closed their doors, and it’s been over thirty years now. Additionally, there’s a stone cave behind the Xuanwu Temple at the mountain peak. It’s been a place for quiet cultivation by the temple, so it’s considered half a sanctuary,” Bi Zhen’s mother explained with a smile as she looked at her daughter and son-in-law.
Bi Zhen’s mother had prepared a pair of heart-locks as a gift for the couple upon their return. However, when Mei Qing presented his own gift, she felt her preparation was somewhat hasty. In terms of craftsmanship, it couldn’t compare to Mei Qing’s. Therefore, she decided to refine it further, putting in more effort.
Bi Zhen, unaware of her mother’s thoughts, simply thanked her warmly for the gift, believing it was meant to bless their union. Mei Qing, however, understood his mother-in-law’s intentions, realizing that despite her calm and gentle demeanor, she had a competitive streak. No wonder she hadn’t forgiven Lu Bing all these years. While silently worrying for Lu Bing, Mei Qing praised the heart-lock’s exquisite craftsmanship, which indeed pleased his mother-in-law, her eyes softening with joy.
Bi Zhen, being straightforward, thought it was only natural for her mother to give her something good and didn’t ponder further. She happily accepted the heart-lock and then inquired about the situation in Bi Mountain, leading to the earlier conversation.
“Besides these two places, are there any other hidden spots?” Bi Zhen glanced at Mei Qing and asked.
Bi Zhen’s mother thought for a moment and said, “There seems to be one place that might be special. It’s a mountain cove not far from here, under the Guayue Peak. It’s a dangerous area, seemingly an ancient battlefield, filled with yin energy, so we avoid it. However, a few years ago, I occasionally saw someone moving about there, but I don’t know where they reside.”
“Someone moving about?” Mei Qing pressed. “Who was it?”
“It was a young girl,” Bi Zhen’s mother looked at Bi Zhen. “She seemed about the same age as A’Zhen, probably in her teens. I saw her a few times, but I haven’t seen her in recent years.”
Mei Qing frowned deeply. Bi Zhen, curious, asked, “We have a neighbor around my age? How come I never knew?”
Bi Zhen’s mother smiled. “Neighbor is a loose term. Among cultivators, many live and die without interacting. Besides, you left for the capital early, so you wouldn’t have had the chance to meet her. Although I only saw her from a distance, I could tell she was also a cultivator, likely a disciple of a reputable sect with decent cultivation.”
Bi Zhen muttered something under her breath. Mei Qing asked, “Who does the girl live with?”
“I haven’t seen anyone else,” Bi Zhen’s mother shook her head. “Later, I occasionally saw a nanny with her, probably a servant. As for her family, I don’t know if they are also here.”
Mei Qing nodded and didn’t ask further.
When Lu Bing’s communication talisman returned, Mei Qing and Bi Zhen were on their way to the mountain cove mentioned by Bi Zhen’s mother.
“This place is surprisingly vast,” Mei Qing laughed. “Well, we can treat this as a leisurely walk.”
Mei Qing’s idea was simple. Since they didn’t know the other party’s background, he and Bi Zhen would pretend to be strangers and directly approach them, then adapt as needed.
It was early spring, and the weather in Anlu was gradually warming. On this sunny day, Mei Qing and Bi Zhen disguised themselves as traveling scholars, leading a skinny donkey, chatting and laughing, adding a touch of elegance to their journey.
“What couple? We’re brothers. You silly A’Qing, if you say that wrong again, I’ll hit you,” Bi Zhen corrected him with a serious expression. She had changed her appearance again, this time into a sickly-looking scholar, and indeed, there were no flaws.
Mei Qing, seeing his wife fully immersed in her role-playing, chuckled. “Exactly. Tonight, let’s find an inn and share a bed, brother.”
Bi Zhen’s face remained unchanged, but her words betrayed her shyness. “Who’s sharing a bed with you! What are you thinking!”
“What am I thinking?” Mei Qing said innocently. “Since we’re brothers, it’s only natural.”
Bi Zhen, annoyed, chased after Mei Qing, and the two of them tussled on the road.
“Ah!” Suddenly, a scream was heard.
They immediately stopped, exchanged glances, and hurried forward.
Although they hadn’t reached the scene yet, they had already sensed what was happening. A young man was lying on the road, and a servant boy was crying beside him.
“Sir, what happened?” Mei Qing, seeing that the two were ordinary people and noticing that the young man’s energy was weak, as if he had been injured, asked.
“Ah, young masters, my master was out for a walk today and suddenly fainted on the road. Could you please help?” The servant boy, tears in his eyes, was at a loss and quickly pleaded when Mei Qing approached.
Bi Zhen stepped forward, placed two fingers on the young man’s wrist, closed her eyes as if in deep thought, then said solemnly, “I see. Your master fainted because of the sudden change from cool to warm weather, coupled with his weak constitution. Let me apply a few acupuncture needles, and he’ll be fine.”
She then took out a long golden needle from her sleeve, pricked the young man’s philtrum, gently twisted it a few times, and tapped his chest lightly, saying, “Wake up, wake up!”
Mei Qing watched with amusement, remembering how Bi Zhen had once disguised herself as a traveling doctor in the Shi family village. Today, she was back at it, fooling people again. In truth, with their cultivation, diagnosing illnesses didn’t require such methods. But Bi Zhen enjoyed playing the part, hence the elaborate act.
Sure enough, the young man groaned and slowly opened his eyes, weakly asking the servant, “Si Qin, what happened?”
Si Qin quickly replied, “Master, you finally woke up. You suddenly fainted, and I was so scared. It was these two young masters who helped revive you.”
The young man turned to look at Bi Zhen and Mei Qing and said, “I am Liu Mengmei from Anlu. I am deeply grateful for your help today.”
“It’s nothing,” Bi Zhen smiled. “We are brothers from the capital, surnamed Mei, here to visit relatives. How are you feeling now? Can you move?”
Liu Mengmei nodded and, with the help of Mei Qing and Si Qin, slowly stood up. “There’s a small tea shed not far ahead. Why don’t we go there and rest for a while?”
Bi Zhen agreed, and the four of them slowly made their way there. After a few miles, they indeed saw a small thatched shed with a cloth banner bearing the character for “tea” fluttering in the wind.
The tea shed was quiet, with only two elderly men inside, one dressed as a woodcutter and the other as a wealthy man, resting.
“It seems Brother Liu is quite familiar with this place,” Mei Qing smiled. “This tea shed must be known only to locals.”
“Not really,” Liu Mengmei smiled weakly. “I just came from here and fainted on the road, so I know about this tea shed.”
Bi Zhen, unaware of the deeper implications, simply felt grateful for her mother’s gift, which symbolized eternal love. Mei Qing, however, understood his mother-in-law’s intentions. He realized that although Bi Zhen’s mother appeared gentle and composed, she was actually quite competitive—no wonder she hadn’t forgiven Lu Bing all these years. Feeling sympathy for Lu Bing, Mei Qing loudly praised the craftsmanship of the Heart-Linked Lock, saying it had broadened his horizons. As expected, his mother-in-law’s face lit up with joy and tenderness.
Bi Zhen, being rather careless in nature, simply thought her mother giving her something good was only natural. Delighted, she accepted the lock and then asked about the situation in Bi Mountain, leading to the conversation just mentioned.
“Then, besides those two places, is there any other particularly hidden location?” Bi Zhen looked at Mei Qing and asked.
Bi Zhen’s mother thought for a moment and replied, “There might be one. Not far from here, at the foot of Guayue Peak, there’s a secluded valley. It used to be a dangerous place—an ancient battlefield with heavy negative energy, so we usually avoid going there. However, a few years ago, I happened to see someone entering and leaving that area, though I never found out where they lived.”
“A person?” Mei Qing pressed, “Who was it?”
“A young girl,” Bi Zhen’s mother looked at Bi Zhen, “About your age, I believe. I saw her once about ten years ago, but haven’t seen her recently.”
Mei Qing’s brow furrowed deeply. Bi Zhen, curious, asked, “We have a neighbor around my age and I didn’t even know about it?”
Bi Zhen’s mother laughed, “Calling her a neighbor is stretching it. In the cultivation world, people often live their entire lives without interacting. Besides, you went to the capital early on, so you wouldn’t have had the chance to meet her. Although I only saw the girl from afar twice, I could tell she was also a cultivator, likely from a reputable sect with considerable cultivation skills.”
Bi Zhen muttered something incoherently. Mei Qing then asked, “Did the girl live with anyone else?”
“I never saw anyone with her,” Bi Zhen’s mother shook her head, “Later, I once saw a maid accompanying her, probably a servant. As for her family, I don’t know if they were also here.”
Mei Qing nodded and asked no more.
When Lu Bing’s transmission talisman returned, Mei Qing and Bi Zhen were already on their way to the secluded valley Bi Zhen’s mother had described.
“This place is so big,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Great, we can pretend we’re just out for a walk.”
Mei Qing’s plan was simple—if they didn’t know the other party’s background, they would pretend to be ordinary travelers and just walk in directly, improvising as needed.
It was early spring, and the weather in Anlu had begun to warm. On this particularly sunny day, Mei Qing and Bi Zhen, disguised as two traveling scholars, led a thin donkey and chatted happily, exuding a certain charm.
“Not husband and wife—brothers,” Bi Zhen corrected him in mock seriousness. She had changed her appearance again, now looking like a pale, sickly scholar, and indeed gave no hint of her true identity.
Seeing how much his wife was enjoying the role-play, Mei Qing grinned, “Exactly. Tonight, you and I can find a roadside inn and talk the night away.”
Bi Zhen’s expression remained calm, but her voice betrayed a hint of embarrassment, “Who wants to talk with you all night? What are you thinking?”
“What was I thinking?” Mei Qing feigned innocence, “After all, we’re brothers, so it’s only natural.”
Bi Zhen, now genuinely annoyed, chased after Mei Qing, and the two began playfully fighting along the road.
“Ahh!” Suddenly, a scream echoed.
The two immediately stopped and exchanged glances before rushing forward.
Although their physical forms had not yet arrived, their spiritual senses had already scanned the area ahead. A young man was lying on the road, and a servant boy was crying beside him.
“Young sir, what seems to be the problem?” Mei Qing noticed that the two were merely ordinary people and sensed that the young man’s energy was sluggish, as if he had suffered some injury.
“Ah, my lords,” the young servant, tears streaming down his face, was at a loss when he heard Mei Qing’s voice, “My young master went out today, and for no apparent reason, suddenly collapsed on the road. I beg you, please help him.”
Bi Zhen stepped forward, placed two fingers on the young man’s wrist, and closed her eyes in a dramatic manner, as if deeply contemplating. After a moment, she solemnly declared, “I see. Your master simply became overheated due to the early spring warmth, and upon suddenly emerging from a cool place, his body reacted to the sudden temperature change. Combined with his naturally weak constitution, he fainted. Allow me to administer a few needles, and he will be fine.”
So saying, she pulled out a long golden needle from her sleeve and inserted it into the young man’s philtrum, gently twisting it before lightly tapping his chest, then said, “Wake up! Wake up!”
Mei Qing watched with amusement. He remembered that Bi Zhen had once disguised herself as a traveling physician in the Shi family village. Now, she was playing the role again, deceiving the common folk. In truth, cultivators like them could diagnose illnesses without touching pulses. But Bi Zhen enjoyed playing her roles with flair, so she put on this whole act.
Sure enough, the young man groaned, “Oh!” and slowly opened his eyes, weakly asking the servant, “Si Qin, what happened to me?”
Si Qin quickly replied, “Master, you’ve finally woken up. You suddenly collapsed, and I was so scared. These two gentlemen helped you recover.”
The young man turned his head to look at Bi Zhen and Mei Qing and said, “My name is Liu Mengmei of Anlu. I am deeply grateful to you both for your help today.”
“It was nothing,” Bi Zhen laughed, “We are travelers from the capital, surnamed Mei, visiting relatives here. How are you feeling now, Master Liu? Can you walk?”
Liu Mengmei nodded and, with the help of Mei Qing and Si Qin, slowly stood up. He then said, “Not far ahead, around the corner, there’s a small teahouse. Perhaps we could rest there for a while?”
Bi Zhen nodded in agreement, and the four of them slowly made their way forward. After walking a few miles, they indeed saw a small grass hut with a cloth banner fluttering in the wind, bearing the single character for “tea.”
The small teahouse was quiet, with only two elderly men inside—one dressed as a woodcutter and the other like a wealthy landowner—resting there.
“It seems Master Liu knows this place well,” Mei Qing smiled, “Such a teahouse would be hard to find unless one lived here for a long time.”
“Not at all,” Liu Mengmei weakly smiled, “I had just come out from here not long ago when I collapsed on the road, so naturally, I know about this teahouse.”
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