Heaven’s Shadow

Lying in the small grass hut, Lu Chen rested his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, seemingly at peace. It was as if the events outside had nothing to do with him anymore. As noon passed, everything quieted down, and the Feiyan Platform seemed to return to its usual state.

At this moment, a sudden knocking sounded at the hut’s door. Lu Chen got up and opened it, finding Su Qingjun standing outside. He smiled and asked, “All done?”

Su Qingjun smiled back, “Yes, my master has left.”

Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief, nodding. He glanced around his modest hut and said, “This place is so small and shabby; it’s cramped with two people standing inside. I won’t invite you in.”

Su Qingjun peeked inside the hut and was slightly taken aback. “Oh, it’s not very nice, is it?”

Lu Chen rolled his eyes. “This hut is on your Feiyan Platform. Didn’t you know?”

Su Qingjun replied, “I really didn’t. The people from the Hundred Herbs Hall built it. You don’t expect me to have specially built a house for you, right? Besides, I don’t know how to do that.”

Lu Chen nodded, thinking that if Su Qingjun had built it, the hut might have been spacious and comfortable. But the people from the Hundred Herbs Hall didn’t respect the menial disciples, so they only cared about maintaining the hawk fruit tree and didn’t put any effort into his hut. He was lucky to have a place to lie down.

Feeling awkward speaking through the door, Lu Chen stepped outside, and the two stood on the ridge by the spirit field. A gentle breeze blew, and the sight of floating white clouds in the distance made them feel refreshed.

“Just now,” Su Qingjun replied.

Lu Chen clicked his tongue. “So, when the Burning Heart Talisman was activated earlier…”

“I had just arrived, took a detour to the back of the mountain, and then came down,” Su Qingjun explained.

Lu Chen nodded. “Have I ever told you that you’re actually quite good at lying when you get serious?”

Su Qingjun’s pale cheeks flushed slightly, and she retorted, “Nonsense, no such thing.”

Lu Chen laughed and then recounted the morning’s events. After listening, Su Qingjun’s face showed a hint of apology. “You’ve had a tough time, but I wasn’t wrong about you. You’re indeed smarter than the others.”

After a pause, Su Qingjun added, “The spirit stones are in my cave. I don’t have them with me now, but I’ll go get them for you later.”

Lu Chen waved his hand with a calm expression, “No rush. I trust you; anytime is fine.”

Su Qingjun glanced at him, “Really, not in a hurry?”

Lu Chen’s expression turned serious, “No, very much in a hurry!”

※※※

Standing on the ridge, a mountain breeze blew past. For some reason, perhaps because the burdens on their minds had lifted, Su Qingjun seemed unusually relaxed, smiling more than usual.

She looked at the hawk fruit trees and asked, “How’s the situation with the hawk fruits?”

Lu Chen replied, “You’re quite lucky; nothing unusual happened, and none of the fruits have ripened yet. But I estimate that starting tomorrow, the fruits will begin to ripen. I’ll keep an eye on things, and you should too…”

Su Qingjun smiled sweetly, “Got it, I won’t leave Feiyan Platform.”

“Really?” Lu Chen asked.

“Of course. Why would I lie about that? And didn’t you say you didn’t trust me?”

“Because you said the same thing before, but then you snuck away last night.”

“Uh…” Su Qingjun was momentarily speechless, then laughed, “That was because of an urgent matter! Anyway, the urgent matter is over now, and I really won’t leave… Hey, why are you looking at me like that?”

Lu Chen stared at Su Qingjun’s pretty face. After a moment, he nodded and said, “I used to think you were always aloof and unapproachable, but now that I know you a bit better, I’ve realized you’re quite easygoing.”

Su Qingjun was also slightly taken aback. She felt a bit strange, as it was the first time she’d spoken so much with a low-ranking disciple other than her own family members.

While she was hesitating, Lu Chen continued, “Since that’s the case, there’s something I didn’t plan to say, but I wonder if you’d like to hear it?”

Seeing his serious expression, Su Qingjun became more solemn. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Please go ahead.”

Lu Chen shook his head, “It’s not about giving advice. As a lowly disciple, I wouldn’t dare. But from what I’ve seen, your family has many affairs, and during these twenty-odd days of taking the hawk fruit, I don’t think anyone will guarantee that nobody will come to you with all sorts of issues, right?”

Su Qingjun remained silent.

“If they come crying and complaining again, saying they’ve encountered an insurmountable problem only you can solve, what will you do?” Lu Chen looked at Su Qingjun’s beautiful face and asked calmly, “When the time comes, will you go down the mountain or not? Are you sure you won’t make any mistakes in your decision?”

Su Qingjun remained silent for a long time before giving a bitter smile and softly saying, “I don’t know.”

Lu Chen watched her for a while, then smiled and said, “You’ve had a long morning. Go back and get some rest.”

After saying that, Lu Chen turned and walked back to his hut. As the somewhat shabby wooden door closed in front of her, Su Qingjun lowered her head slightly. The excitement and joy she felt from rushing back in time suddenly seemed to vanish for some reason.

She stood staring at the hut for a moment, then looked at the hawk fruit trees in the spirit field. After a while, she silently turned and walked towards the distant cave dwelling.

※※※

The Feiyan Platform was very quiet in the afternoon. As dusk approached, the setting sun cast its golden light, and Lu Chen suddenly noticed someone opening a crack in the window beside him. A woman’s voice came from outside:

“I have some delicious spiritual fruits here. Want some?”

“Yes!” Lu Chen jumped up.

Under the red glow of the setting sun, Lu Chen and Su Qingjun sat side by side on the ridge, keeping a slight distance between them. A plate of eight or nine spiritual fruits, red as peaches, lay on the ground between them, along with four or five fruit cores.

Lu Chen was holding a spiritual fruit, taking large bites. Su Qingjun watched him with a gradually amused expression and finally couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “You really don’t hold back, do you?”

Lu Chen replied, “Of course not! Normally, I don’t get to eat these spiritual fruits. Why would I miss the chance now?”

“You’re quite interesting.”

“How so?”

“You’re different from others.”

“In what way?”

“You’re a menial disciple, yet you don’t seem to fear me, a Golden Core cultivator. You speak to me naturally and comfortably, which is rare. Um, I mean it in a good way.”

Lu Chen paused slightly in his eating, his eyes flickering, and said, “Is that so? I think I’ve heard others say that about me before.”

“Really? Who?” Su Qingjun asked.

Lu Chen smiled and waved his hand dismissively, “An old bald guy, not as good as you.”

“Oh…” Su Qingjun nodded, then hesitated, not saying anything more.

Lu Chen glanced at her, casually tossed aside another fruit core, and smiled, “I’ve eaten the spiritual fruits. You can ask whatever you want now.”

Su Qingjun gave him a sharp look but then burst into laughter. She sighed and said, “Talking to someone smart like you is really easy.” Straightening up, she continued, “Alright, I’ll be direct. The last few things you said to me today, I understand they’re a big issue, but… well, you know, it’s a dilemma, and I’m not sure what to do. From what you said earlier, do you have any suggestions?”

Lu Chen clapped his hands and said, “It depends on how you see the situation.”

“What do you mean?”

“Those relatives of yours who come to bother you—have their issues really been matters of life and death, truly urgent?”

Su Qingjun remained silent.

Lu Chen continued, “Everyone has different perspectives. What seems like a small matter to us might be a life-and-death issue to someone else. But I don’t believe you haven’t thought about it. Could those matters not be delayed for a few days? Is it really necessary for you to attend to them immediately?”

Su Qingjun gazed into the distance, still silent, but her silence seemed to speak volumes.

After a long pause, Su Qingjun nodded slightly and whispered, “You’re right about many things, but sometimes I still…”

“Still can’t put your pride aside?” Lu Chen said calmly.

Su Qingjun gave a bitter smile.

“Honestly, you’re the first young lady from a prestigious family I’ve met who’s like this,” Lu Chen said. “You seem to carry the entire Su family’s weight on your shoulders, feeling like you have to solve everything yourself. When people ask for your help, you feel embarrassed to refuse.”

Su Qingjun frowned slightly, troubled. After a moment, she realized the surroundings had quieted down. She looked up at Lu Chen in surprise and asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Lu Chen sighed, “I’ve been quite blunt and direct. Aren’t you angry?”

Su Qingjun shook her head, “You’re just speaking the truth. Why would I be angry?”

Lu Chen looked at her for a while, his gaze softening, and then nodded, “Alright.”

“Hmm?”

“I have a way to help you.” (To be continued.)