A Master’s Burden and a Disciple’s Hope

Even Senior Aunt Xue, a woman of such ethereal grace, found herself quietly acknowledging in her heart the exceptional quality of Xia Niansheng’s appearance.

Yet, this observation remained merely a fleeting thought, never lingering beyond a momentary recognition.

Upon seeing Xia Niansheng now, her prevailing emotion was one of surprise.

Both she and Xia Niansheng had returned to the sect earlier that morning, yet here he was, appearing by midday.

He still held a meal box in his hands.

“Senior Aunt Xue.” Xia Niansheng, showing due deference, bowed first.

Senior Aunt Xue nodded gently, her gaze falling upon the meal box in Xia Niansheng’s hands.

“Has Zhi’er finished eating?”

“We ate together; she has already had lunch.”

“Mm.” Senior Aunt Xue nodded. Though she was not one for many words, she found no awkwardness in their silence.

Over the years, she had watched Xia Niansheng grow, never imagining the young man would persist in visiting Wen Zhi even now.

Regarding the affliction of her personal disciple, Senior Aunt Xue had carried a heavy burden of self-reproach for many years.

As her master, she felt she should have detected the anomaly of Wen Zhi’s poisoning sooner; perhaps then, the outcome could have been different.

After all attempts to find a cure proved futile, all she could do was try to compensate Wen Zhi as best she could.

However, the more she tried, the more the proud Wen Zhi perceived herself as a burden.

Her once brilliant disciple grew increasingly solitary, yet her inherent gentleness compelled her to appear strong in her master’s presence.

Trapped in this vicious cycle, Senior Aunt Xue felt an ever-deepening sense of guilt.

Eventually, she chose to respect Wen Zhi’s wishes.

Wen Zhi moved into a secluded cottage on Cold Moon Mountain to recuperate. Despite her blindness, she refused the care of servants, preferring to handle many mundane tasks, such as cleaning her room, by herself.

She only required meals to be delivered daily, and insisted on no special treatment.

Wen Zhi had always possessed immense self-respect; in this regard, Senior Aunt Xue unexpectedly found herself not wishing for her disciple to be like her.

In this difficult environment, the young man had consistently done well, handling Wen Zhi’s sensitive emotions with far greater delicacy than Senior Aunt Xue herself.

To Wen Zhi, Xia Niansheng had, quite naturally, become increasingly important.

Senior Aunt Xue understood nothing of love or romance, nor could she judge whether this development was good or ill.

If he could bring Wen Zhi more happiness, that was enough.

However…

He was Duan Xi Shen’s disciple.

Just as Senior Aunt Xue intended to continue on her way, a sudden thought struck her.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she turned her gaze back to Xia Niansheng.

In the bamboo grove, her eyes pierced through the dappled light and shadow, leaving Xia Niansheng with an inexplicable sense of intricacy.

“…Your master values you greatly.”

Xia Niansheng paused for a few seconds, then finally nodded.

“Thank you, Senior Aunt. I shall take my leave now.”

Senior Aunt Xue offered no further words this time, turning instead towards Wen Zhi’s small courtyard.

Xia Niansheng merely bowed slightly.

They passed each other.

Xia Niansheng continued walking, making his way off Cold Moon Mountain.

His expression was tinged with a hint of bewilderment.

‘Was Senior Aunt Xue… warning him about Duan Xi Shen?’

‘Had Senior Aunt Xue already discovered the anomalies at this point, which was why she had saved him so swiftly in his previous life?’

‘Perhaps it was due to certain apprehensions and uncertainties, or perhaps it was simply her innate sense of justice.’

‘She was using this method to caution him.’

‘Perhaps there had been hints in his previous life, but he had failed to notice anything amiss.’

‘Or perhaps he had simply been unwilling to consider such possibilities.’

‘None of that mattered now.’

‘What truly mattered was…’

‘Had Senior Aunt Xue’s cold poison already progressed to such a severe stage at this time?’

In the fleeting moment they brushed past each other, Xia Niansheng had precisely detected a subtle shift in the ambient temperature.

It was possible that Senior Aunt Xue’s cold poison had flared up just then.

He had witnessed Senior Aunt Xue enduring bouts of the cold poison before; she had suffered that bone-chilling cold for many years.

Beyond Wen Zhi… Senior Aunt Xue’s cold poison also needed to be prioritized for treatment.

Xia Niansheng suddenly smiled faintly.

‘After his rebirth, he found himself resembling a physician more than anything else.’

****

Senior Aunt Xue entered the courtyard, where Wen Zhi sat quietly beneath the eaves, just as she always did.

Her dim, hazy eyes were devoid of light, yet her expression at that moment suggested she was deep in thought.

Sensing another presence in the courtyard, Wen Zhi lifted her head, ‘looking’ towards Senior Aunt Xue.

She was intimately familiar with her master’s footsteps, so even without sight, she knew the arrival was not Xia Niansheng returning.

‘But he had only just left…’

“Master?” Wen Zhi called out tentatively.

“Zhi’er.” A rare smile graced Senior Aunt Xue’s face as she responded to Wen Zhi.

“These are some flower and herb seeds.”

Senior Aunt Xue drew closer to Wen Zhi, retrieved a cloth pouch from her robes, and placed it beside Wen Zhi’s hand.

This was something Wen Zhi had mentioned to Senior Aunt Xue a few days prior.

While Xia Niansheng had been clearing weeds from the courtyard, it had suddenly occurred to Wen Zhi that she could plant some flowers there.

“Thank you, Master.”

A smile bloomed on Wen Zhi’s face as she reached out towards her hand.

Blind, she relied solely on touch, her fingers coincidentally brushing against Senior Aunt Xue’s palm.

It was so cold it felt like the profound ice from the extreme northern lands.

Wen Zhi took the cloth pouch, her expression momentarily freezing before she asked with concern:

“Just now… did Master’s cold poison flare up again?”

As Senior Aunt Xue’s sole personal disciple, Wen Zhi was, naturally, among the very few who knew about her master’s cold poison.

A wave of worry washed over Wen Zhi. “And it seems to be worsening… Master’s hand is still icy cold.”

When the cold poison was dormant, Senior Aunt Xue was fine, but once it flared, her entire body would turn frigid, her meridians and veins nearing a state of congelation. Even if submerged in a hot spring, a thin layer of ice would immediately form around her.

With no known cure, Senior Aunt Xue could only endure it in silence.

“It hasn’t worsened,” Senior Aunt Xue explained, knowing Wen Zhi’s concern. “It’s merely a residual effect from forcibly suppressing a flare-up of the cold poison during this recent journey.”

Compared to her disciple’s plight, her own cold poison was nothing.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Wen Zhi’s aura was growing increasingly frail.

Although Senior Aunt Xue’s condition had not truly worsened, Wen Zhi felt a temporary easing of her worry, yet a pang of heartache remained.

It seemed fate was indeed unjust, for both master and disciple harbored physical imperfections.

Yet, they were clearly the ones who deserved happiness most.

This, too, was a persistent thought that lingered in Xia Niansheng’s heart.

Wen Zhi nodded. “That’s good…”

She then prepared to ask if Senior Aunt Xue had encountered Xia Niansheng just now.

“Master, did you… see Xia Niansheng just now?”

“I did. He rendered meritorious service on this mission, and the Sect Master will likely seek him out shortly.”

‘Master’s reaction… Had Xia Niansheng not told her that he had a way to treat her?’

Before she could ask, Senior Aunt Xue’s words sparked another question.

“Meritorious service? What did he do?”

Senior Aunt Xue froze, suddenly regretting having spoken those extra words.

However, seeing no real need to hide such a matter from Wen Zhi, she eventually replied, “He used a compound pill to save White Snow Jade’s life.”

Wen Zhi paused for two seconds upon hearing this, then nodded again.

Senior Aunt Xue truly knew little of matters of the heart, and so she fell silent along with Wen Zhi.

But in the next second, a slight curve appeared at the corner of Wen Zhi’s lips.

Before Senior Aunt Xue could even wonder why, Wen Zhi suddenly spoke:

“He said he’s found a way to cure me.”