Chapter 130

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Chapter 130: Parting

Actually, Little Meng was overthinking it. Zhang Xiaohua was merely speaking from his heart. He had rarely had female playmates since childhood, and during these past ten days, when he was at his weakest, having a girl of similar age take care of him and keep him company felt wonderful. Naturally, he wondered what it would be like if they spent more time together, but he had no idea what these feelings meant, let alone understand the concept of “first love”.

Then Zhang Xiaohua continued: “It was fate that brought us together in this remote wilderness. But after today, who knows when we will meet again? Based on Mistress Jingxuan’s advice, you should concentrate on your martial arts training. Maybe when you have mastered your skills and you go out in the martial world to fight for justice, we might meet again.”

Little Meng thought for a moment and then asked: “Brother Xiaohua, I don’t know which sect Mistress belongs to, but can you tell me where you are from?”

Zhang Xiaohua was silent for a moment and then said: “I’m not part of any sect and only know some incomplete martial techniques. I’ve told you everything I can, but there are some things related to the safety of others, so it’s better if I don’t say more.”

Oh, poor Zhang Xiaohua, how could you be so unaware of a girl’s feelings? Couldn’t you just say a little more?

But perhaps it was precisely this behavior that made Little Meng feel he was different from others.

Little Meng nodded and said: “I know that Brother Xiaohua is from Lu Town and lives in Guo Village. That’s enough.”

Then, Little Meng bit her lower lip and brought her hand, which she had been hiding behind her back, forward. In a trembling voice, she said to Zhang Xiaohua: “Brother Xiaohua, after today, I don’t know when we’ll meet again. This is something I found in my pouch, something I always carry with me. I can’t remember where it came from, but it feels familiar, so I believe it must be mine. I’d like to give it to you as a keepsake.”

When Zhang Xiaohua looked closely, he saw that her jade-like delicate hand was holding a pair of pearl hairpins. He was taken aback and quickly waved his hand, saying: “Such a precious item, how could I possibly accept it?”

Little Meng, annoyed, said: “What’s so precious about this? Is it because it’s valuable? Even if it’s worth a lot of silver, if no one uses it and it’s just thrown aside, how much is it really worth? But even something worthless, if someone treasures it, isn’t it more precious than something that nobody wants? If you don’t want it, I’ll just throw it into the river.”

With that, she pretended to throw it away. Zhang Xiaohua, seeing this, quickly said: “Don’t throw it! I’ll take it.” He hurriedly caught it, muttering to himself: “This must be worth four or five taels of silver at least, it would be such a waste to throw it into the water.”

Little Meng, unaware of his thoughts, saw him accept it and smiled sweetly.

Then, Zhang Xiaohua searched all over himself and, feeling embarrassed, took out his small toy sword and handed it to Little Meng. She, not understanding why, reached out to take it, only to find that it was surprisingly heavy. She almost dropped it, but managed to hold on with some effort. Zhang Xiaohua, feeling apologetic, said: “As the saying goes, it’s improper to receive without giving in return. I’ve searched all over, and this is the only thing I have. How about I give it to you as a keepsake?”

Little Meng looked at the unusually heavy, dark thing and couldn’t help but laugh. She said: “How am I supposed to carry such a ‘precious’ thing?” She emphasized the word “heavy” in her pronunciation. Zhang Xiaohua scratched his head, spread his hands, and said: “But it’s the only thing I have.”

[TL_Note: The word precious is composed of 2 characters in Chinese, and one of them means heavy]

Seeing his sincerity, Little Meng’s eyes rolled her eyes, and she said with a smile: “Alright, I’ll accept it. But this little thing is too heavy, and it’s inconvenient for me to carry. How about I leave it with you for safekeeping?”

She then handed it back to him with some effort. Zhang Xiaohua tilted his head in thought, then accepted it, saying: “Alright, it’s a deal. This item is yours from now on, but I’ll just keep it for you temporarily.”

Little Meng smiled and nodded.

However, after putting the small sword back into his coat, Zhang Xiaohua still felt uneasy. He tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then slapped his forehead, saying: “I’ve got it!”

Then, Zhang Xiaohua took one of the pearl hairpins from the pair in his hand, handed it to Little Meng, and said: “Since you’ve given me this pair of hairpins, they’re mine now. How about I give you one back, so we each have one half?”

Upon hearing this, Little Meng’s face turned as red as the sunset, almost as if it could drip blood. She looked at the pearl hairpin in front of her, unsure whether to accept it or not. She had only wanted to give her first playmate a keepsake, but it seemed that Xiaohua had misunderstood. If a girl and a boy each kept one of the pair, what would that mean?! What would it imply?! Was Zhang Xiaohua trying to hint at something? Should she accept it or not? Should she explain to him? She had a slight fondness for Zhang Xiaohua, but not to this extent!

It seemed that whether she accepted it or not, it would be problematic!

But then, Zhang Xiaohua’s next words reached her ears: “This pair of hairpins must be worth at least four taels of silver. If I keep one, that’s just two taels, so my conscience would be at ease.”

The blush on Little Meng’s face had not yet faded, and she glared at Zhang Xiaohua fiercely. She stomped her foot, snatched the hairpin from his hand, and scolded: “At ease, my foot!”

With that, she turned and ran back to the cottage.

Zhang Xiaohua was left standing there, stunned, muttering to himself: “Weren’t things going well just a moment ago? I kindly returned a hairpin to her, so how did things turn out like this?”

Then, Zhang Xiaohua instinctively looked up at the sky and mumbled: “It’s not even raining. Why did she rush back so suddenly? It’s not like she needs to bring in the laundry.”

That evening, Little Meng remained cold and distant, not offering him any smiles. Zhang Xiaohua was completely baffled, unable to understand how he had offended her.

The next morning, when Zhang Xiaohua woke up, he discovered a small cloth bundle placed by the side of his bed. Opening it, he found some scattered silver inside. A warmth spread through his heart, but at the same time, a sense of foreboding crept in. Holding the bundle, he hurried outside, and as expected, the house was empty. Mistress Jingxuan and Little Meng had already left before dawn.

Holding the warm bundle, Zhang Xiaohua understood that Mistress Jingxuan was truly a kind person. Even though she had already given him some silver the day before, she still worried that he might not have enough and left more for him as she departed. He made a mental note to repay her double the amount the next time they met.

However, he failed to notice that the cloth wrapping the silver was actually Little Meng’s handkerchief! But this was typical of him, as long as it had to do with silver, he only had eyes for the silver.

Zhang Xiaohua stood at the entrance of the cottage, lost in thought for a moment before coming to his senses. Feeling a bit wistful, he went back inside. Mistress must have come to his room before leaving, probably intending to say goodbye, but unable to wake him up. She must have found it surprising. Perhaps it was for the best that they left quietly, without disturbing a cloud, so as they do not hold hands and look at each other with tears in their eyes, leaving her speechless and choked.

Meanwhile, several miles away, someone else was thinking, “How could Xiaohua sleep like a pig? No matter how much I called him, he wouldn’t wake up!”

The cottage, which usually housed three people, suddenly felt much lonelier with only one remaining. Little Meng had been by his side constantly during the past few days, always talking to him. Even though Mistress Jingxuan was often away from the cottage, Zhang Xiaohua still saw her every morning and evening, so it felt like there was always someone around. But now, left alone to guard the cottage, he quickly grew bored.

Zhang Xiaohua, ever since he learned to read, had always used books to pass the time. But where could he find books in this simple cottage?

He wandered to the clearing in front of the cottage, thinking of practicing the Big Dipper Divine Fist. But after just a few moves and some twisting motions, a sharp pain shot through his body, forcing him to stop, cold sweat dripping from his face.

What should he do now?

But then, as Zhang Xiaohua looked at the small hill not far from the cottage, a new idea came to him.

He had been at this cottage for quite a while but had never taken more than a few steps outside. Now, with some time on his hands, taking a walk around the back seemed like a good idea.

Before long, Zhang Xiaohua grabbed a small stick he found in the cottage, using it as a makeshift cane in his left hand, and began making his way toward the back mountain, leaving footprints with each step.

However, as soon as he rounded the cottage, he discovered a rather steep slope behind it. Given his current frail condition, climbing it seemed challenging. Unwilling to give up, Zhang Xiaohua followed the slope to the side, hoping to find a gentler slope. Sure enough, after walking for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he found a spot where the slope was less steep. After carefully surveying the area, Zhang Xiaohua cautiously used his small cane to slowly climb up. Once he reached the top of the slope, a new scene unfolded before his eyes.

He found himself in a flat land covered with trees. The bleakness of winter had stripped the trees bare, leaving only their branches stretching toward the sky. The ground was littered with fallen leaves and weeds. The small hill that was visible from the cottage now lay at the edge of his vision, at the end of the forest, its distance unclear.

Zhang Xiaohua continued walking along the slope, eventually finding a place to descend. He slid down the slope and continued through the forest, enjoying the soft rustling of leaves underfoot. As he walked, he observed his surroundings. The forest was occasionally filled with the delightful chirping of birds and the sounds of small animals moving through the branches. Zhang Xiaohua heard these sounds clearly and thought they might be squirrels. After walking for a while longer, he heard the rustling of leaves and grass, a rapid and intermittent noise. At first, Zhang Xiaohua thought someone else might be walking nearby, but after listening for a while, he realized it was probably just some rabbits foraging for food before winter.

Thinking about the small animals made Zhang Xiaohua swallow his saliva. Life at the cottage was very peaceful, so much so that even meat was a rarity. He hadn’t smelled the aroma of meat for many days and was craving it. How nice it would be if he could catch a rabbit to satisfy his hunger!

But then, what about his injuries? Zhang Xiaohua glanced at the small cane in his hand and quickly dismissed the idea.

Zhang Xiaohua walked on for a while longer, then looked up at the small hill, which was still not far ahead. He finally understood the saying in books, “Seeing a mountain will tire out even a horse”. If he insisted on going forward, he might exhaust himself by the end of the day.

Far or not, he was only out for a walk and had no intention of tiring himself out. He casually picked up a few dry branches from the ground, then turned and headed back.

At that moment, Zhang Xiaohua pondered a question. Mistress Jingxuan left early and returned late every day. What could she be busy with in this place where birds poop every day? However, given Mistress Jingxuan’s remarkable lightness skill, her range of activity was naturally wide. Perhaps she was searching for something or someone?

Perhaps due to his contemplation or simply because he was retracing his steps, Zhang Xiaohua soon found himself back at the base of the steep slope. Looking at the difficult climb ahead, he shook his head. Mistress Jingxuan must have her own reasons for what she does, worrying about this wasn’t his concern.

Shaking his head, Zhang Xiaohua began his arduous climb up the slope.

Returning to the cottage, Zhang Xiaohua was drenched in sweat, but felt unusually refreshed. Life lies in movement, the ancients did not deceive him.

The remaining time was equally uneventful. Zhang Xiaohua took the fishing rod left by Little Meng and attempted to fish. However, there were no suitable baits around the cottage, so he had to follow Little Meng’s example, casting the line into the river, watching the flowing water, and praying for a bite.

It seemed Zhang Xiaohua’s sincerity was lacking. Heaven did not heed his prayers, and not only did he fail to catch any fish, but he also didn’t catch anything at all. Thus, this boring time was spent in such a manner.

A few days later, Zhang Xiaohua felt significantly better and decided to try practicing his fist technique again. Although he still couldn’t fully execute all the moves in some areas, his limbs were becoming more agile, and he no longer appeared sick.

The weather grew colder day by day, but Zhang Xiaohua was puzzled. He remembered being quite sensitive to the cold last winter and had worn a cotton-padded jacket early on. This year, however, despite the cold wind blowing and the snow not yet falling, he was still wearing the light jacket he had from Huanxi Villa without feeling cold. It was truly strange.

Could it be that this place was in the south, where winter was not as harsh as at Guo Village?

After immersing himself in martial arts for several days, Zhang Xiaohua did not find an answer to his dilemma. However, the problem with his martial technique gradually resolved over time. He could now manage to complete a full set of the Big Dipper Divine Fist.

This Big Dipper Divine Fist was indeed a remarkable skill. Regardless of whether Xiaohua’s movements were slow or fast, as long as he practiced repeatedly, by the ninth round, the flow would inevitably manifest. Of course, the difference lay in the extent of that flow.

Previously, when Zhang Xiaohua practiced martial arts at the villa, he would train three times a day, morning, noon, and evening, completing 27 rounds each time. This generated three different flows of cold and warm energy that circulated throughout his body. Now, with no need to farm while living at the cottage, he devoted all his time to practicing his martial arts. Through repeated practice, he discovered that this flow was not limitless. After practicing 81 rounds of boxing each day, his body would experience the flow nine times. Beyond that, no matter how fast or slow he moved, the flow would cease to appear.

Could it be that this flow could only manifest nine times a day?

In addition to practicing his martial technique, Zhang Xiaohua also attempted to hone the sword moves taught to him by Elder Yu. It was these moves that allowed him to kill the highly skilled black-clad elder during the night attack. Zhang Xiaohua deeply understood the importance of these sixteen life-saving variations, so how could he not practice them diligently?

Unfortunately, sword techniques were not like fist techniques. They required swift movements and agility in the air. After practicing for a short while, Zhang Xiaohua immediately felt physically exhausted and had to stop. However, it wasn’t without gain. As soon as he stopped, a thought struck him. If, after piercing the black-clad elder’s throat, he had immediately executed another variation, perhaps the life-threatening palm strike wouldn’t have landed on him. Of course, this was just a thought. But merely having variations in sword moves without corresponding changes in footwork meant the sword technique would always result in tragic mutual destruction. Zhang Xiaohua’s level of understanding probably hadn’t yet reached that point.

Zhang Xiaohua continued to practice his martial technique day by day, slowly improving his sword techniques as well. His body grew stronger each day, but there was still no news about the people he waited for. There was no one passing by on land, nor any boats on the river. Sometimes, Zhang Xiaohua wondered how Mistress Jingxuan had even found this remote cottage in the first place.

Zhang Xiaohua began to have doubts. Should he keep waiting, or not? Perhaps he should have left with Mistress Jingxuan at that time.

While Zhang Xiaohua was wrestling with this dilemma, the first snow of the new year finally fell. In fact, whether it was the new year or not, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t remember as he had lost track of time. However, seeing the snow naturally made him think of new beginnings, so he treated it as a good omen for the new year.

Zhang Xiaohua had visited the forest behind the cottage a few times since his first visit, but he always returned empty-handed. Now, with the heavy snowfall, it seemed like a good opportunity for hunting. One morning, Zhang Xiaohua once again took his small cane and headed straight for the steep slope behind the cottage. People tend to follow habits, and Zhang Xiaohua was no exception, he took the same route he had chosen the first time.

As Zhang Xiaohua entered this snow-white world, he marveled not only at the miraculous sight of ice sculptures and snow-covered landscapes but also felt fortunate to see numerous animal tracks in the thick snow. Surely this time, he wouldn’t return empty-handed.

However, when Zhang Xiaohua actually entered the forest, he realized how wrong he was. The thick snow either lay undisturbed or was covered with countless shallow, indistinct traces. Where could he find rabbit tracks or any other animal footprints? It seemed that in this vast, desolate land, the only tracks visible were his own, leading from afar.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Xiaohua oriented himself and headed toward the distant small hill. Perhaps he would find some tasty prey over there.

Perhaps because of the snow, Zhang Xiaohua rarely heard birds chirping along the way. They were probably all lazily hiding in their nests. From what Zhang Xiaohua observed, there were no signs of animals in the snow either. But that wasn’t too surprising, the snow was still falling heavily and had likely buried any traces.

After walking for a while, the small hill still seemed as distant as ever. However, this time, Zhang Xiaohua was determined. The thought of hunting over there kept him from giving up as quickly as he had on previous attempts, unless, of course, he could find a rabbit in the forest. But crafty rabbits always have multiple burrows, so how could Zhang Xiaohua, with his limited hunting experience, possibly find one?

And so, with high hopes and a craving for meat, Zhang Xiaohua continued to trudge through the snow with great difficulty.
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