Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 40: It's Preposterous

Accepting her offer, Wuyi took the indicated seat, carefully balancing his plate of steamed buns, meat from the hot pot, and teacup. Her eyes continued to observe him closely as he settled down, and he felt a newfound self-consciousness, as if every move was under scrutiny. Feedback from the Statue of Harmony indicated she was extremely curious about him.

He did not probe deeper; he had already made mistakes when trying to read people knowing too much is not always a good thing. Besides, she intended no harm and was just curious. The situation was simply too awkward.

He ate quickly, as if trying to escape the intensity of her gaze, feeling like a mouse in the presence of a cat. Her observation was not impolite, but it made him unusually clumsy. Something about her that the Statue of Knowledge told Wuyi was that she was powerful, maybe more powerful than Congming, not to mention she was very beautiful. All this made him more nervous.

He became aware of his own actions, like absentmindedly wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, which only heightened his self-consciousness. The silence between them felt heavy, almost oppressive. Even the simple act of eating steamed buns and meat from the hot pot seemed awkward, causing him to cough as the food felt dry in his mouth.

When he attempted to wash it down with herbal tea, he almost choked. He couldn't help but sense her disapproval as her eyebrows twitched, and her expression turned stern.

Hastening through his meal, eager to escape her scrutiny, Wuyi pushed the last remnants of the steamed bun and meat from the hot pot into his mouth and stood up abruptly. In his haste, he nearly knocked over the bench. As he made his way toward the door, he remembered Boluo's teachings about proper etiquette in the presence of a lady. Swallowing the last bits of his meal, he turned back to her.

"Good night to you, lady," he mumbled, aware that his words were awkward but unable to conjure anything better. With that, he shuffled toward the door, eager to leave the uncomfortable silence behind.

"Wait," she called out, causing Wuyi to pause in his retreat. "Do you sleep upstairs, or out in the beast pens?"

He stumbled over his words, flustered by the question. "Both. Sometimes. I mean, either. Ah, good night, then, lady." Without waiting for a response, he turned and practically sprinted away. His hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor as he made his escape.

It wasn't until he was halfway up the stone-paved lane that the peculiarity of her question struck him. Then his mind went toward the thought of what a ravishing beauty she was. He shook his head, trying to get thoughts away from his mind.

It wasn't until he was undressing for bed that night that he realized he still clutched his empty cup of tea. He went to sleep feeling like a fool, pondering the enigma that was this lady.

The next time Wuyi met the mysterious lady was the following night, at about the same time. His mentors were still busy, so he decided to go out and have some fun in the town. This time, he stayed out longer because he wanted to listen to zither music at a local inn.

He had secretly had a few cups of wine, thinking that no one would pay attention to him drinking, with the passive support of the Statue of Shadow and his assassin's stealth, people rarely noticed him unless they were actively looking for him. He thought he would not get drunk, but he misjudged. Because of that, he was being extra careful about where he was walking.

He had almost tripped over a rut in the cobblestone if it were not for his statues guiding his path.

Eventually, he found himself in the "Ladies' Lotus Pond," a secluded area adjacent to the bustling kitchen courtyard. It was a tranquil space, featuring a koi pond at its center, surrounded by beds of medicinal herbs like ginseng and goji berries, interspersed with flowering peonies and chrysanthemums. Stone pathways, inlaid with jade, meandered through the garden.

Wuyi knew better than to go to bed in his current state; the room would spin, and nausea would follow. So, he opted for the calming atmosphere of the Ladies' Lotus Pond. At this late hour, no one visited here much.

Nestled between a warm wall and a smaller lily pond, a corner of the garden was home to seven varieties of Eastern herbs like reishi mushrooms and jujube trees. Their fragrances were intoxicating during the day, but now, as dusk turned to night, the scents seemed to alleviate his mild dizziness. He splashed his face with water from the pond and leaned against the warm rock wall.

The croaking of frogs filled the air as he focused on the pond's placid surface to steady himself.

Footsteps approached, followed by a woman's voice, sharp as a blade. "Are you drunk?"

Wuyi turned to respond, mistaking her for someone else in his haze. "Not quite," he said. "Neither the time nor the money was sufficient," he added with a chuckle.

"I suppose you learned this from your caretaker, Boluo, was it?" The woman's voice was tinged with bitterness. "Fools and drunks like them bring everyone down to their level."

Wuyi looked up, squinting in the dim light. It was her—the lady from the previous evening. She stood on the jade-inlaid path, wearing a simple yet elegant silk shift. At first glance, she appeared youthful, her petite frame shorter than his own. But her face was undeniably that of a woman, her mouth set in a disapproving line, her eyes framed by furrowed brows.

Her hair was tied in a traditional style, but a few strands had escaped, framing her face and neck. By heavens, Wuyi had to accept the lady was beautiful.

It wasn't that Wuyi felt the need to defend Boluo; rather, it was that he knew Boluo was miles away in another town and couldn't possibly be held responsible for his actions.

The lady took two steps closer, her silk robes rustling softly. "No one has ever taught you better, have they? No one has warned you against the perils of drunkenness, especially at your age. It's preposterous."

In the desert, it's said that wine reveals the truth. Wuyi felt compelled to speak his truth. "Actually, my lady, Boluo would be quite displeased with me at this moment. First, he would scold me for not standing when a lady addresses me."

He staggered to his feet, swaying slightly. "Then, he would lecture me extensively on the conduct expected from someone who carries the noble blood of the Yuanjing clan, even if I am just a bastard that no one cares about." He managed a bow, and upon successfully straightening up, he added a flourish. "So, good evening to you, fair lady of the Garden of Chrysanthemums.

I bid you good night and shall remove my unworthy presence from your sight."