Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Drunkenness Again

Bai Zhengliu didn’t show it on his face, but inwardly he was quite concerned.

He truly liked Mei Yinghan. To be precise, he liked doing all kinds of things together with Mei Yinghan.

It was different from how he interacted with anyone else before. By the swordsman’s side, Bai Zhengliu had no worries, no need to stay tense. Their temperaments seemed naturally in sync; even when in the same space without speaking, just one polishing a blade while the other sharpened a sword, it made Bai Zhengliu feel extremely comfortable and happy.

He felt that Mei would be the same.

No need to accommodate the other. Their natural selves were already the most compatible. Occasionally, a single glance was enough to instantly understand each other’s feelings.

Sometimes Bai Zhengliu even regretted: I met Mei too late. If after the master passed away, I wandered the jianghu alone and the first person I met and befriended was Mei, would there have been none of the messy things with Fu Ming? At least after Mei and Gu Miao were together, I wouldn’t have been so unsettled over the “one I love” liking someone else, drinking so much, and getting myself drunk into trouble with Fu Ming—uh, stop, thinking about this makes me nauseous.

Bai Zhengliu shook his head, kicking out the faces of Fu Ming and Gu Miao from his mind, replacing them entirely with Mei Yinghan’s face.

Then, his knife-polishing slowed to a stop, replaced by a slightly sour, odd feeling in his heart.

Would he really not feel unsettled? But why did it feel uncomfortable right now?

Bai Zhengliu was dazed, not even noticing the maintenance oil slowly dripping down the blade onto the floor.

He hugged the Twenty-Eight Generals absentmindedly, and that usually composed face rarely showed a trace of melancholy. When Mei Yinghan came to him again, he saw this scene.

The Tianshan senior slowed his steps, holding his breath.

Even his voice softened, gentle and slow, as he called out: “Bai?”

Bai Zhengliu’s eyelids twitched; he snapped back to reality and met Mei Yinghan’s gaze.

His eyes widened, and in Mei Yinghan’s gaze, the imagined “vigorous, strong black panther” suddenly dissolved, replaced by a “young panther of the same jet-black color, snuggling beside an elder, alert and curious about everything outside.”

Mei Yinghan chuckled at the thought. He cleared his throat lightly, pushed aside the above notions, and asked warmly: “We just checked the sect’s inventory of daily necessities, and it’s a little short. We’re about to go down the mountain to buy supplies; there’s a lot to carry, so we’ll need a few more people. Bai, will you come along?”

Hearing his words, Bai Zhengliu’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

He felt extremely strange.

But at the same time, he really didn’t want to refuse Mei’s invitation.

“I’ll go,” the young man nodded, quickly polished his beloved blade, and said, “Alright, let’s set off.”

Mei Yinghan smiled faintly, “Mm, let’s go then.”The two of them, along with several other Tianshan disciples and Ling Yunzi, who had gone to teach at the Zhao household, descended the mountain together.

During the journey, Mei Yinghan would occasionally talk to Bai Zhengliu and even taught him how to distinguish snow lotuses growing in the snowdrifts.

“…We also found it strange at first,” he said, “the same snow lotus, yet those growing on Tianshan are especially good, far more potent than those from other places. And those on the main peak seem even better than those gathered elsewhere.

“Now we understand—it’s mostly due to the effects of the spiritual stone mines in the mountains.”

Bai Zhengliu listened with keen interest, fully agreeing with the theory: “That makes sense. Spiritual mines benefit people greatly; we’ve already felt it. In that case, other plants and animals should gain from it as well.”

Mei Yinghan: “It’s a pity there isn’t much that can grow on Tianshan in the first place.”

Bai Zhengliu smiled: “It’s already quite good.” He paused, then imagined aloud, “But who knows if there are other spiritual mines outside? If they fell in a warmer, more vegetated place, I really don’t know what it would be like.”

Mei Yinghan followed his words with a thought: “It must be spectacular.”

Bai Zhengliu smiled.

His smile was bright and radiant, and even sunlight could not match it in Mei Yinghan’s eyes.

His heartbeat began thumping again. Mei Yinghan quietly averted his gaze, looking ahead, using the snowy scenery around to steady himself and avoid revealing anything.

Naturally, he had feelings for Bai.

But how to express them—or even whether to express them at all—Mei Yinghan wasn’t sure.

It wasn’t his first time in love, but it was truly the first time he had proactively felt drawn to someone.

The feeling was strange and beautiful. Clearly, he and the swordsman were still just “friends,” yet whatever he did, he thought of the swordsman. Seeing him brought comfort and joy. When the two were close enough to feel each other’s warmth and even hear each other’s breathing—

“Mei,” Bai Zhengliu asked with a questioning look, “are your ears too cold?”

Otherwise, why would his ear tips be red?

Mei Yinghan: “…” He smiled faintly. Regardless of what he felt inside, on the surface he appeared calm and composed. “A little. Once we reach the foot of the mountain, we can ask Uncle Zhao to make each of us a hat that covers our ears.”

Bai Zhengliu nodded: “Mm. I was thinking of helping out Uncle Zhao’s business, though I’m not sure how skilled he is now, or if he’s open for business.”

Mei Yinghan spoke softly: “We should ask Senior Ling Yunzi about that.”

The two of them went to see Ling Yunzi. Upon hearing the swordsman and the knife master’s question, the young lady gave a faint smile: “Hats and such small items are fine, but clothes or other more delicate things—he still makes them roughly. But it doesn’t matter; it’s a good chance for him to practice making clothes for his own people.”This was not a waste. On the contrary, the Zhao family was extremely frugal and had not bought new clothes for many years. Thanks to this occasion, the whole family got a fresh new look.

Buying the fabric did not deplete the family savings. When sending Zhao Da down the mountain, the Tianshan disciples intentionally told him that when they rescued him, they had found a decent snow lotus in his arms. The sect bought it, which conveniently became the seed money for Zhao Da’s business.

Hearing this, everyone felt relieved. No matter what, this family’s life should be able to continue.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the foot of the mountain. The Tianshan disciples dispersed, taking their shopping lists to gather supplies. Bai and Mei temporarily followed Ling Yunzi, indeed going to the Zhao household.

Zhao Da’s wife, Madam Sun, received them. Unlike the concerns Bai and Mei had imagined, the family, though modest, was in good spirits. Zhao Da even used the hand from which he had lost his little finger to play with the children, making exaggerated expressions: “What, you actually have five fingers on your hand!”

Seeing this, Bai and Mei were first stunned, then smiled in relief.

They did not stay long at the Zhao household. After placing an order for “two hats,” they quickly departed—accurately speaking, they hurriedly escaped.

Zhao Da, hearing that these were the two heroes who had saved him, insisted on covering their expenses. Bai and Mei refused, and since they could not persuade Zhao Da, they left this difficult task to Ling Yunzi.

After leaving the Zhao household, the two exchanged smiles.

They bought the items on their list and rejoined the other disciples to ascend the mountain.

Although it was a bit quieter than in previous years, this New Year still arrived amid the laughter of the Tianshan disciples, including Bai Zhengliu, the guest from outside.

On New Year’s Eve, after a busy half day in the kitchen, the group finally sat at the table.

At first, Bai Zhengliu marveled, never expecting that one day someone would say to him: “Brother Bai, since you are a knife master, your knife skills must be excellent—these pieces of mutton are entrusted to you…”

And indeed, the dishes he helped prepare tasted noticeably different.

Moreover, Mei Yinghan was also praised: “Senior brother normally practices swordsmanship, and the sword flowers he produces are beautiful—he must be very good at carving on radishes too.”

Thinking of this, Bai Zhengliu could not help but laugh, his shoulders shaking.

Just then, Mei Yinghan called him: “Brother Bai…”

Bai Zhengliu turned to him smiling.

Mei Yinghan’s words made his smile falter for a moment, yet he could still speak: “A toast to you. May your martial skills improve in the coming year, and may all go well.”

“Martial skills improve, all go well.”

The eight words repeated once aloud, and Bai Zhengliu repeated them in his mind.

He thought: “Mei’s words seem ordinary, but when I consider them carefully, they are exactly the two things I need most right now.”“Good!” Bai Zhengliu felt a surge of boldness in his chest. “Cheers!”

The two clinked glasses with smiles. Soon after, countless Tianshan disciples came forward to toast Bai Zhengliu.

They toasted in gratitude for his past rescues, in admiration of his knife skills and martial prowess, in respect for his conduct during the Blood Demon chaos.

Glass after glass, Bai Zhengliu slowly realized: “Hmm, I think I’ve had a bit too much.”

The Tianshan disciples noticed as well, and gradually stopped disturbing the knife master.

At this moment, Bai Zhengliu propped up his chin. His cheeks flushed a thin pink from the alcohol, and with half-lidded, hazy eyes, he gazed at Mei Yinghan.

Mei Yinghan quickly noticed the look from his beloved, and turned to meet his gaze.

Their eyes intertwined, clearly the same scene as their past days and nights, yet now carrying a subtle difference.

They held each other’s gaze for a little too long, as if unable to look away.

Something was brewing, sprouting…

The surrounding noise fell silent; the voices of junior disciples and seniors drinking and chatting gradually faded into the distance.

The world seemed vast, high and boundless. Yet it also seemed small, able to contain only the two of them.

The knife master saw the swordsman move closer, and closer still.

The gaze of Tianshan’s senior master fell on Bai Zhengliu’s face, then drifted slightly downward…

Realizing this, Bai Zhengliu suddenly felt his mouth dry and tongue thick.

His thoughts cleared for a brief instant, followed by a tremendous heartbeat, thundering like lightning.

At this moment, Mei Yinghan moved even closer.

He whispered to Bai Zhengliu: “Brother Bai, you…”

A pause.

The swordsman seemed drunk as well. It took him a moment to consider the right words to say at this moment.

A strong impulse surged in Mei Yinghan’s heart, urging him to finally speak the words he had long kept in mind, clear in thought but unsure how to express, to Bai Zhengliu.So, the swordsman slightly adjusted his earlier words and said: “Brother Bai, I… to you…”

To “I” what?

Bai Zhengliu froze, thinking. In the haze of his mind, his gaze slowly fell on Mei Yinghan’s lips.

He watched those lips move, forming words.

But perhaps due to his muddled state, the knife master suddenly felt a bit impatient to listen.

He abruptly raised his hand, grabbed Mei Yinghan’s collar, and instantly closed the distance between them.

Then—

A hand blocked the space between him and Mei Yinghan, stopping the impending kiss.

“Brother Bai,” he heard Mei Yinghan’s voice, much clearer than before, gentle and slow: “You’re drunk.”

As before, there was a brief pause between the swordsman’s words.

Then, he sighed and said: “…We’re both drunk.”

Author’s note:

This can count as progress (hesitant). Although it’s a bit slower than I initially imagined, at least the “window paper” has been pierced… Should I delete my earlier writings (scratches head)?

Won’t dwell too long—these next few days, it will be completely clear that they’re together.