Knowing the Warmth of Southern Tea (GL) - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

In the arrangements regarding Qingzhou, Nan Nuan was the executor, while Nan Wei was the planner and the Crown Prince was the beneficiary. Currently, the only people capable of stopping this plan, aside from Nan Wei, was the Crown Prince himself.

However, the Crown Prince only knew the intended result of the plan, not the methods involved.

It so happened that Gu Zhuang had once been the Crown Prince’s mentor and had saved his life. If Zhuang’s assistance could be secured, the people of Qingzhou might still have a chance.

Gu Zhuang looked at Rongrong and understood exactly what was troubling her. Ultimately, he agreed to Nan Nuan’s request. Though he had originally intended to stay out of it, he finally intervened, viewing it as an act of accumulating merit and performing a good deed.

Nan Nuan also wrote a letter, entrusting Gu Zhuang to deliver it to her brother along the way.

Gu Zhuang had intended to wait until Rongrong woke up before leaving, but she slept until evening and showed no signs of waking. Thus, Zhuang departed; while he could afford to wait, the rising waters of Qingzhou could not.

…

Meanwhile, Rongrong fell into a deep dream—a dream of herself at thirteen years old. Newly arrived in the world of the martial arts, she met a man named Zhi, a native of the Southern Kingdom.

Back then, Rongrong had just left her Master and Senior Sister. Ignorant of the ways of the world and intent only on saving everyone, she looked upon everyone with pity. Consequently, she was easily deceived and ended up in a wretched state—so wretched that she had nothing to eat.

It was during her most miserable moment that she met Zhi. Zhi told her he had been following her for a few days and had never seen a girl so foolish. Despite his disdain, it was Zhi who gave her a basket of food and saved her life.

From then on, they roamed the world together, depending on one another. Or rather, Zhi became the second teacher in Rongrong’s life, teaching her the complexities of human nature and social graces. To Rongrong, Zhi was like both an older brother and a father. Under his protection, she was never swindled again.

They braved the storms of the martial arts world together for three years and became the best of friends. Zhi would often say, “It is your honor to be accompanied by a man as dashing as I; are you perhaps in love with me?” Rongrong would always respond with a roll of her eyes.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this dynamic that Zhi stayed by her side for three years. In truth, Zhi was afraid that Rongrong would fall for him. After all, his heart already belonged to someone else, and he couldn’t bring himself to ruin a young girl’s life.

Later, trouble broke out in the Southern Kingdom. A natural disaster struck, but with the help of the Southern Kingdom’s Holy Maiden, the nation escaped catastrophe. The price, however, was that the Holy Maiden was on the verge of death.

Zhi had to part ways with Rongrong to return to the Southern Kingdom. Rongrong didn’t understand why he was so anxious, or why he was so desperate to return to the country that had exiled him to see the person who had driven him away. Worried that something would happen to him on the road, she followed him back. Since her medical skills were superb, Zhi allowed her to come along.

The two arrived in the Southern Kingdom weary from travel. Rongrong followed Zhi into the forbidden grounds of the nation, where she saw the Holy Maiden lying unconscious in a crystal coffin; it wouldn’t be long before the maiden’s fragrance faded and her jade shattered.

The Southern Kingdom possessed a Divine Stone through which the Holy Maiden communicated with the heavens. Zhi and Rongrong searched through ancient records and finally found a single chance to awaken her. The text read: With absolute sincerity, a life may be traded for a glimmer of hope to awaken the Holy Maiden.

To trade a human life for a mere chance—a chance that might not even work—seemed utterly absurd to Rongrong.

But Zhi smiled and said, “This is for the best.” If it succeeded, she would live; if it failed, dying together seemed like a fine end as well. Zhi was willing to trade his own life with the Divine Stone.

Rongrong thought Zhi had gone mad. Zhi insisted he was perfectly sane and told her that one day she would understand; for now, she just hadn’t “awakened” to love yet.

This made Rongrong even angrier. She understood that he loved the Holy Maiden; it wasn’t that she was oblivious. But even if you adore her and are willing to die for her, does she have you in her heart? She was the one who exiled you. If she cared for you, why weren’t you together? You are about to throw your life away for someone who doesn’t care about you at all. Is it worth it?

Rongrong was sixteen then—the age when most girls married—yet she remained emotionally unawakened. Perhaps it was because of this that Zhi had felt comfortable traveling the world with her.

Zhi simply ruffled her hair. Fuming with rage, Rongrong shot him a glare and ran back to the forbidden grounds. Using her brilliant medical skills, she used silver needles to grant the Holy Maiden a brief “moment of lucidity before the end.”

“Do you know that Zhi intends to use his life to trade for a glimmer of hope for you?” The Holy Maiden hadn’t expected to wake up. Though her body could not move, her consciousness had returned. Seeing the dazed maiden, Rongrong was deformed with anger.

“I believe it isn’t worth it.”

The Holy Maiden’s voice was raspy. “Perhaps… you are right.” Three years ago, she had prophesied this great calamity for her nation and had long ago decided to trade her life for its survival. She had dismissed thoughts of life and death, worried only for her childhood sweetheart—Zhi. That was why she had exiled him.

Rongrong was nearly dead from anger. She laughed bitterly. “I am right. I wish I were wrong. I wish he were doing this for someone worthy, for a cause that was worth it—not for a cold, selfish Holy Maiden.”

“You won’t let him die, will you?” The Holy Maiden knew a glimmer of hope existed, but that glimmer wasn’t Zhi; it was Rongrong.

Rongrong ignored her and pulled out the needles. Before losing consciousness again, the Holy Maiden whispered, “Thank you.” It was unclear who she was thanking.

Rongrong certainly didn’t want Zhi to die, but she couldn’t interfere with his decision. She felt both of them were lunatics. On the day Zhi went to make the exchange, Rongrong followed. She overheard the conversation between the Divine Stone and Zhi. She tried to stop him, but without a trace of hesitation, Zhi placed his hand on the stone. It began to drain his life force. Once started, it could not be stopped.

Watching Zhi’s face grow paler and paler, Rongrong felt for the first time a sense of powerlessness—the feeling that she couldn’t save everyone. In desperation, she placed her hand over Zhi’s. The sensation was agonizing, as if everything inside her was being sucked out.

“Leave this place!” Zhi shouted. Suddenly, the Divine Stone flashed with light. It stopped draining them, and both collapsed to the ground.

“Your sincerity gave the Holy Maiden a chance. And her sincerity saved your life. I have taken ten years of life from each of you as a turning point; I shall not pursue her trespass. I ask you, Murong Rong, are you willing to make a trade with me?”

“What trade?”

“Trade your ‘silken tresses’ for the Holy Maiden’s health.” Rongrong thought about it; “silken tresses” just meant hair. She agreed generously.

The trade was completed, and the Divine Stone returned to being an ordinary rock. The Holy Maiden woke up fully. Zhi managed to stand up and stumbled toward her. Their shared smile at each other was worth more than anything in the mortal world.

Watching them, Rongrong felt “full”—perhaps she had eaten too much just now.

Ultimately, Zhi stayed in the Southern Kingdom with the Holy Maiden, while Rongrong continued her journey through the martial arts world. The Holy Maiden cast a spell on her to ensure her safety, leaving an orchid mark on Rongrong’s wrist. From then on, as long as she showed this mark in the Southern Kingdom, the people would treat her with the highest ceremony. In that land, divine power stood above royal power.

Upon parting, Zhi told Rongrong he hoped she would “awaken” soon. Rongrong felt that if “awakening” meant being caught in life-and-death drama like him, she’d rather pass! After all, she didn’t yet have the resolve to give up her life for another person. It really just wasn’t worth it!