Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Chapter 45: The Liu Family After the Event

The next day, it was sunny.

Lin Rufei entered the Liu residence with the guests and saw Liu Rugong from afar. He was dressed in a big red wedding outfit. He was sitting beside a woman with a graceful and noble demeanor, who was smiling and saying something to him. This person was most likely the madam of the Liu residence, Liu Rugong’s birth mother.

Logically speaking, if her own son wanted to marry a sword, mother Liu should be trying to prevent it from happening, but looking at her attitude, it looked like she had accepted this reality. Although there was some faint sadness between her eyebrows, in the end, she was smiling.

Liu Rugong was also smiling. He was handsome and beautiful, his black hair bundled in a crown and he was looking radiant in a red outfit. Lin Rufei’s gaze shifted towards Luo Shen that was hanging on his waist, the green hilt of Luo Shen also had bright red silk tied to it and it was currently held in the hands of Liu Rugong. 

Seemingly sensing Lin Rufei’s gaze, Liu Rugong stopped talking to his mother, turned his head, and cast a smile towards Lin Rufei. He called out “Lin gongzi.”

Lin Rufei answered.

“You should treat this place like your own home.” Liu gongzi walked up to Lin Rufei and said with a smile, “Today is a busy day, please excuse us if there is a lack of hospitality.”

Lin Rufei said that he was too polite.

Liu Rugong led Lin Rufei to the top guest seat and seated him and then went to entertain other guests. Lin Rufei had nothing to do, so he slowly ate the nuts on the table and incidentally handed a handful to Gu Xuandu. This time, those that were invited by the Liu residence to the wedding banquet were naturally valuable guests, furthermore, they were the kind that had a very good relationship with the Liu residence. These people knew Liu Rugong’s temper. Although many people were incomprehensible when he said that he wanted to marry a sword, however, those that dare to make thoughtless remarks in front of Liu Rugong could be counted with one hand.  

The wedding was held smoothly, Liu Rugong worshipped Heaven and Earth alone and entered the bridal chamber alone. At a glance, it was a bit funny but his serious look made people unable to laugh out.

The atmosphere among the guests was not relaxed either. The crowd watched as Liu Rugong left the stage after the ceremony before they finally let out a sigh of relief and began to raise their glasses in celebration. Some people toasted Lin Rufei and were surprised to learn of his status as the fourth son of the Lin family, saying that they had heard of his victory in a sword fight with Liu gongzi a few days ago and had great admiration for him.

Lin Rufei did not expect that this matter had already spread, so he had to raise his cup to respond. However, his alcohol capacity was low and soon he was slightly drunk and a faint blush appeared on his pale cheeks. Knowing that he could not drink anymore, Lin Rufei excused himself from the table. He wasn’t too familiar with the Liu residence so he just followed a road and kept walking. He found a quiet corner in the Liu residence to rest. 

Today was their gongzi’s wedding so the Liu residence was naturally very lively. 

Lin Rufei was a little drunk and sat on a stone bench with his eyes closed to rest.

Gu Xuandu said, “If you’re sleepy, let’s go back.”

Lin Rufei said, “I don’t seem to see Luo Shen today.”

Gu Xuandu said, “Mnn.”

Luo Shen could have appeared by Liu Rugong’s side at any time, but today she did not appear even when the ceremony was completed. Lin Rufei was still thinking about what happened yesterday and murmured that he should not have taken the initiative and should have asked Liu Rugong’s opinion first. When Gu Xuandu saw him looking down, he pondered for a moment and disappeared for a split second. When he came back again, he had two pieces of rice cakes[1] emitting cool air in his hand. They had a layer of rich brown sugar drizzled on top which looked particularly attractive. Lin Rufei took them and started to nibble on them directly.

The rice cakes were made of glutinous rice with a thin layer of ice crumbs sprinkled on top and it dissolved the dryness of the wine in his mouth. Lin Rufei ate half a piece and was full. He looked at the remaining half piece worriedly but Gu Xuandu had already moved over naturally and nibbled it up.

Lin Rufei looked at Gu Xuandu baffled and said, “You ……”

Gu Xuandu did not seem to realize what was wrong with his actions and said, “What?”

Lin Rufei was silent for a moment and then shook his head, “Nothing.”

After the two of them ate the cold rice cakes, Lin Rufei’s also sobered up a bit. He returned to the banquet, but still did not see Liu Rugong’s figure. According to the normal wedding banquet process, as the groom, Liu Rugong naturally had to come out to receive guests. However, this was already an unusual wedding, since he couldn’t see Liu Rugong’s figure, the rest of the matter didn’t seem to be so important.

Lin Rufei did not like this kind of occasion, so he found a random excuse and left the Liu residence. It was only when he left did he remember that he hadn’t given the invitation to Master Liu, but looking at his gloomy expression during the wedding banquet today, it was obviously not the right time.

Due to the Liu residence’s grand wedding, Gusu City al followed the excitement for a day.

Lin Rufei went back to the inn and fell asleep until midnight when he woke up in a daze. He was a little thirsty, so he dazedly got up to drink some tea. Gu Xuandu saw his dazed appearance and laughed lightly. He raised his hand to hand over a cup of tea.

Lin Rufei took it and swallowed it in a few mouthfuls. His lips were stained with water and his complexion was gradually clearing up. He coughed twice and asked, “What time is it?”

Gu Xuandu answered, “Just passed the 1st hour.”

Lin Rufei hummed an agreement: “It’s a bit hot ……” he said and pulled on his already loose collar, revealing a snow-white collarbone. Gu Xuandu was staring at Lin Rufei but he suddenly shifted his gaze uncomfortably. He got up, walked to the window, and opened it.

With a soft creak, the breeze accompanied by the moonlight rushed into the room. Lin Rufei raised his eyes to look out the window, “The moonlight is so beautiful.”

“Mnn.” Gu Xuandu softly answered.

Lin Rufei had slept for too long so he wasn’t that sleepy anymore. He sat up from the bed, walked to the window, and looked far away: “Hey …… why is he there ……”

Gu Xuandu said, “Maybe because he can’t sleep.”

On top of the highest pavilion in Gusu City, sat a person who should not have appeared. It was the protagonist of today’s big wedding, Liu Rugong. He was still wearing the gorgeous wedding outfit. His hair that was tied up in a neat crown was now in disorder, a head of fine black hair scattered messily on his shoulders. He has become the uninhibited appearance of his former days. He was carrying a jug of wine in his hand and was pouring it into his mouth without stopping as if he wasn’t afraid to get drunk.

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This should have been a sad scene, but when Lin Rufei saw clearly the person standing behind him, he couldn’t get sad no matter what. 

It was an eight-foot-tall strong man with ruddy cheeks and a long beard on his chin. If he had been carrying a big sword in his hand, Lin Rufei would have thought it was the reincarnation of Master Guan Yu[2].

At first Lin Rufei even thought that the scene in front of him was due to his hallucinations from drinking too much. He rubbed his eyes heavily and then rubbed his eyes again until they were red before he hissed at Gu Xuandu and said, “Who is the man behind Liu Rugong?”

Gu Xuandu calmly said, “Judging from his clothes, it’s probably the one we know.”

Lin Rufei: “……”

Probably because his expression collapsed too much[3], Gu Xuandu reached behind him and covered his eyes. His hands were a bit cold as he covered Lin Rufei’s eyes to block out all the light: “No more looking, it’s time to sleep.”

Lin Rufei did not say anything as he silently pulled Gu Xuandu’s hand off his eyes.

The long-bearded man in green clothes standing behind Liu Rugong was like a protector of the Dharma gate. He was nowhere like the graceful fairy a few days ago. He currently had his hands folded across his chest and his face was gloomy as he stood behind Liu Rugong. It made the originally lonely scenery include a somewhat unspeakable comedy and horror ……

As if looking at him more than once, he would carry a knife and cut you.

In the end, Lin Rufei said nothing. He silently closed the window and went back to bed with a “life has no more meaning” expression.

Gu Xuandu was crying and laughing. In his heart, he was thinking that this Luo Shen was worthy of being Liu Rugong’s sword. It really was temperamental. After Liu Rugong said a few words, today it followed its nature and changed into a long-bearded man’s appearance. And if it was possible, he would probably carry a long knife on his back. He simply stood behind Liu Rugong like a murderous threshold guardian.  

Sword spirits had no form at all. It was purely accidental that Lin Rufei could see. So the appearance that they want to take on is based on their heart. But fortunately, Liu Rugong couldn’t see.

Lin Rufei, who took a big hit, didn’t sleep much in the second half of the night. He went to the Liu residence early the next day to deliver the invitation and then found Liu Rugong to say goodbye, saying that he intended to leave Gusu City in the next few days.

Liu Rugong saw him leaving and after a few words of persuasion, he did not continue to force him. However, he looked slightly hesitant as if he wanted to say something.

Lin Rufei knew that once he said goodbye to Liu Rugong, he wouldn’t know when they would meet again so he said frankly, “Does Liu gongzi have something to say?”

Liu Rugong hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: “Lin gongzi, if I may be so bold to ask for a favor ……”

Lin Rufei said, “Why don’t you let me hear it first?”

Liu Rugong coughed lightly, “I wonder if Lin gongzi could draw a portrait of Luo Shen for me?”

Lin Rufei wondered, “What do you need this portrait for?”

Liu Rugong laughed, “I just want to keep it as a memory.” He treated the events of that night as a story in a book, but stories were easily forgotten after a long time. If he didn’t leave something, he was worried that he would really forget it one day and then he would definitely feel some regret. 

Lin Rufei thought for a moment and agreed to Liu Rugong’s request, saying to give him a few days and he would send the portrait to Liu Rugong.

When Liu Rugong saw that Lin Rufei agreed so quickly, he was also very happy and said that he would never mention the matter of Lin Rufei stripping his clothes again. Lin Rufei said sincerely that it was okay to mention it, after all, the one who lost face was not himself(LRF). Liu Rugong was speechless and he was also livid.

After leaving the Liu residence, Lin Rufei went to buy materials for painting and planned to spend some days drawing down Luo Shen’s appearance.

Although he did not practice swordplay, he was good at everything from the zither and Go to calligraphy and painting. His paintings[4] were even more praiseworthy. Lin Rufei did not find it troublesome to put such a characteristic beauty as Luo Shen on paper.

However, when he returned to the inn and laid out the paper, he hesitated to move his brush.

Gu Xuandu saw his frown and wondered, “Why aren’t you drawing?”

Lin Rufei looked up and couldn’t help but laugh and cry: “When I think of Luo Shen, all I can think of is that long-bearded man’s appearance——”

Gu Xuandu laughed out loud.

Lin Rufei was unhappy with him taking joy in his suffering. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. His face was full of worry: “What should I do?”

Gu Xuandu’s eyes turned and said, “Do you really want to draw?”

Lin Rufei said, “I’ve promised Liu Rugong.”

Gu Xuandu said, “Then let me help you.” When he finished speaking, he shook his long sleeves and his body suddenly changed. He actually took on the form of Luo Shen.

Lin Rufei looked frozen: “Senior ……”

“Who are you calling senior, hm?” Gu Xuandu who became Luo Shen gave a coquettish sweet smile. That charm was even more enchanting than the real Luo Shen by a few points. While speaking, he also walked in front of Lin Rufei and showed his face, “You better remember it.”

Lin Rufei: “……” senior, you really know how to play.

Seeing Lin Rufei’s frightened look, Gu Xuandu laughed. He then changed back and pointed his finger at the drawing paper on the table: “Did you remember?”

Lin Rufei said obediently, “I remember.”

He lifted his brush and drew.

This painting took him five days to paint, during which Lin Rufei didn’t even leave the door of the inn. Fu Hua and Yu Rui had begun to lose their hair in worry and even asked the innkeeper privately whether there was any reliable temple in the vicinity to worship. They wanted to see if their gongzi was truly bewitched by a beautiful demon. Good thing was that halfway through, Liu Rugong came to visit and said that Lin Rufei was painting a friend he knew. When Fu Hua and Yu Rui heard this, they finally let out a sigh of relief. 

After the scroll was painted, Lin Rufei personally sent it to the Liu residence.

Liu Rugong was very happy to see the scroll, but just after receiving it in his hand, he felt something strange and asked, “Lin gongzi, why are there two scrolls?”

Lin Rufei calmly explained, “I saw Luo Shen again a few days ago.”

Liu Rugong didn’t understand: “So?”

Lin Rufei said, “There was a little change in her appearance, so I drew…..both of her looks.”

Liu Rugong brightened up and was very surprised: “So that’s how it is!”

Lin Rufei let out a long sigh. He reached out and gave a heavy pat on Liu Rugong’s shoulder. His voice held a seriousness that Liu Rugong could not understand: “Brother, happy wedding.” This scroll will be considered his wedding gift to Liu Rugong.

Liu Rugong was oblivious, he thought Lin Rufei was just joking with him so he also smiled and said thank you. Lin Rufei then got up without hesitation and said goodbye without even waiting for Liu Rugong to open the two paintings.

Liu Rugong was not in a hurry so he sent Lin Rufei away first. He then returned to the room and carefully unrolled the scrolls Lin Rufei gave him. A beautiful woman dressed in green jumped off the paper. She had bright eyes and white teeth. She really was as bright and dazzling as a lotus flower standing in the clear water of the pond, like the ancient poem describing the goddess Luo Shen.

(t/n: I would link to the poem but it is in Chinese. If you guys are interested, you can search up “Luo Shen Fu” — or “Ode to the Nymph of the Luo River”)

When Liu Rugong saw the scroll, a faint smile surfaced between his eyebrows. He then opened the second one. However, after seeing the figure on the second scroll, the smile on his face froze. It turned into confusion, doubt, and finally consternation ……

The second scroll was a long-bearded man in green clothes. His face was ruddy and his gaze was like a torch. He had a murderous aura as he stood with a sword. It shocked people very much.

Liu Rugong was indeed shocked, but he was shocked not by the appearance of the painting, but by what Lin Rufei said.

Lin Rufei said, “I saw Luo Shen again a few days ago, there was a little change in her appearance” ——The meaning of this sentence was so obvious that even if Liu Rugong wanted to pretend not to understand it, he couldn’t.

This was Luo Shen’s current appearance.

Liu Rugong lowered his head expressionlessly and looked at his sword hanging at his waist.

The sword buzzed and did not give Liu Rugong any face.

It was indeed worthy of being his sword, Liu Rugong thought. It really has a personality …… As he was thinking this, Liu Rugong smilingly put away the two scrolls.

After many years, when his Liu family descendants inherited Liu Rugong’s private property and learned that these were two of Liu Rugong’s favorite people, they carefully took out a scroll and opened it.

Then they saw the angry eyes in the painting scroll as if the next moment, the big man was going to raise a knife to kill. The Liu clan was shocked, thinking that their ancestor’s hobby was really unique. In the end, they simply didn’t dare to open the second one and carefully sealed it all up. 

Lin Rufei speedily left the Liu residence. He was afraid that Liu Rugong, who finally reacted, would come to find trouble with him. 

Gu Xuandu was laughing uncontrollably next to him, he said, “Xiao Jiu, exactly what the hell were you thinking?” 

Lin Rufei coughed and packed his luggage. He also didn’t forget to explain to Gu Xuandu. He helplessly said that in fact, he did not want to do so, but the long-bearded man’s appearance was really impossible to get rid of. Under some hesitation, he finally lifted his brush and painted Luo Shen’s appearance. As for what reaction Liu Rugong would have when he saw the painting, it was out of his consideration.

Lin Rufei finished packing his luggage and called Fu Hua and Yu Rui as they got on the carriage together. Under the clattering of hooves, several people drove out of Gusu City.

Their next destination was another town a thousand miles away from Gusu City. There was a powerful swordsman in that town. He was not the son of an aristocratic family, but he was quite famous in Jianghu. This time Kunlun’s invitation also included his. 

The weather was getting hotter and hotter, Fu Hua deliberately put a lot of ice in the carriage to cool down. Lin Rufei ate the chilled lotus seed soup made by Yu Rui as he looked at the blazing sun outside the carriage.

This time Yu Rui was watching so it was difficult for Lin Rufei to give food to Gu Xuandu. Gu Xuandu stared at Lin Rufei with a grim expression. That look made Lin Rufei feel somewhat sorry.

He could only focus on the nose, as the nose focus on the heart[5] and pretended not to see it

Out of Gusu City, a hundred miles ahead, the scenery gradually turned desolate. After traveling for about a dozen days, the surrounding neat buildings have gradually become low and dilapidated mud houses. The road was lined with green wheat waves and the merchant figures on the road gradually became less and less.

The Summer breeze was hot and dry. It scraped away the only remaining coolness under the shade of the trees. However, the barefooted children did not care at all. Their skin was already scorched tan but they still ran and played on both sides of the road in the hot sun. Their carriage happened to be driving to a fork in the road so Fu Hua stopped the carriage and tried to find a random child to ask for directions.

Who knew that when the children saw the carriage, they all showed a frightened look. They scattered and fled and only a thin child remained in the same place. When Fu Hua saw the situation, she hurriedly rushed forward, squatted down, and called to him.

This child was born thin but his eyes were surprisingly large. He looked blankly at Fu Hua. 

“Little friend, which way is the road to the Fu Family Village?” Fu Hua asked.

The child’s expression was a bit dull as if he couldn’t understand what Fu Hua said. It wasn’t until Fu Hua patiently asked three times, did he hesitantly stretch out his hand and point out a road.

When Fu Hua saw this situation, she was a bit worried that the child just randomly pointed. She wanted to ask two more questions, but the child was a little stutter-er and couldn’t speak clearly. 

Fu Hua had no choice but to take a piece of candy and stuffed it into the child’s hand. She intended to find another one to ask.

Who knew that when she just sent out the candy in her hand, other children came around. The thin child saw the situation and hurriedly shoved the candy in his hand directly into the mouth. He didn’t even dare to chew and just swallowed it whole. The candy was too big and it was directly stuck in his throat. His cheeks began to flush blue because of the lack of oxygen. Fu Hua frightenedly cried out. She hastily picked up the child and heavily patted his back. The child coughed out twice with difficulty before coughing the candy out of his throat. 

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His eyes were filled with tears but he didn’t dare to cry and his next action was to reach out and pick up the candy that had fallen onto the dirt. However, the other children’s action was a step faster than his. After they grabbed the candy, they didn’t care about the dirt that covered it and they hastily ate it. The ravenous look as they swallowed the candy was exactly like the one that the child being held by Fu Hua had.  

Fu Hua was frightened by this situation. She pinched the child’s face and said angrily: “How can you eat like this, what if you choke?”

The child did not cry even though he was pinched, but his eyes fell on the crowd of people fighting for the candy, and only when he saw the candy being shared by the older children did tears start to accumulate in his eyes. Fu Hua couldn’t bear seeing children cry so she was currently even more flustered. 

Lin Rufei also noticed the situation outside of the carriage. He lifted the curtain and saw Fu Hua and the child. He hesitated for a moment, then beckoned to Fu Hua, instructing her to bring the child to the carriage. The child was so thin and bony that he didn’t even move in her arms. He was like a poor doll made of straw.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Rufei said.

Fu Hua busily narrated what happened when she was asking the child for directions and how the candy got stuck in his throat. When Lin Rufei finished listening, he looked at the tearful small child in her arms and said in a warm voice: “Little friend, is there any discomfort?” The child was small and the candy was very likely to hurt his throat.

The child was very slow to respond and it took a while before he shook his head.

Lin Rufei also did not rush. He let Yu Rui take out a wet towel and carefully wiped the child’s wretched face.

The child gradually calmed down. He hid in Fu Hua’s arms and did not move. Lin Rufei asked him a few questions and he answered all of them in a piecemeal manner.

“What should we do?” Fu Hua frowned, “If his parents saw this, maybe they would blame us.” Although she had good intentions when she gave out the candy, she didn’t take into account that the child’s throat was small. Fortunately, nothing serious happened……

Lin Rufei said, “Did the children outside all leave?” 

Fu Hua went out to look and then helplessly said: “Long gone.” The group of children ate the candy and scattered and now they don’t know where they have gone.

After thinking about it, Lin Rufei put his eyes on the child in front of him. He reached out his hand and instructed Fu Hua to hand him the child.

The child was obviously a little scared, but he didn’t dare struggle. Once he was in Lin Rufei’s arms, he was as stiff as a stone. Lin Rufei also did not expect the child to actually be so light. He was almost like a skeleton wrapped in a layer of skin. His dark eyes were large to the point of frightening. Currently, he was cowering and didn’t dare look at Lin Rufei.

Lin Rufei said: “Little friend, where are your parents?”

The child did not say anything.

Lin Rufei asked again, “Do you know how to get to the Fu Family Village?”

The child nodded his head.

Lin Rufei said, “Is it to the left or to the right?”

“Left ……” The child said vaguely.

In accordance with this method, Lin Rufei patiently asked for a long time. He was finally able to barely figure out the child’s situation. His home was in the Fu Family Village, but his parents’ situation was unknown and he somehow appeared on this official road. Lin Rufei asked him if he wanted to return to the Fu Family Village and he nodded repeatedly. When he saw this, Lin Rufei hesitantly said: “Why don’t we take him back? He should be a member from the Fu Family Village.”

Fu Hua nodded and said yes.

So the carriage drove out again, but this time, there was a confused little child in the carriage.

********

The author has something to say:

Gu Xuandu: I have all the looks you like.

Lin Rufei: Senior you’re so flirty.

Gu Xuandu: Since I’ll be pursuing excitement, then I will pursue it until the end.

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[1] Closest image I could find uwu

[2] A Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China (wikipedia) read more about him here

[3] Like overly shocked

[4] The word here is 丹青 (danqing) In Chinese painting, danqing refers to paintings on silk and Xuan paper. Danqing is painted with an ink brush, color ink, or Chinese pigments using natural plant, mineral, and both metal pigments and pigment blends. (wikipedia) Example: 

[5] It means that the spirit is concentrated and the mind is not distracted.