Cherishing You As Always - Chapter 6

The journey wasn’t particularly long, but Zihui and I took our time, walking and playing along the way. It took us seven or eight days just to reach the foot of the mountain.

I sent Zihui off to buy some essentials. We hadn’t brought anything from home, so now we had to purchase everything we needed. Fortunately, we had brought horses; otherwise, I truly wouldn’t have known how we’d carry all the supplies up the mountain.

There was a small town at the base of the mountain—cramped, bustling with people. Leading the horse along the road, I could feel how crowded it was. The air was filled with all sorts of smells. While Zihui went shopping, I left the horse at the post station and wandered the streets alone.

Whenever I’m with Zihui, she insists on dragging me around, looking at this and that, but I really wasn’t in the mood to entertain her.

The crowded sea of people, the loud hawking of vendors… the stench of rotting food mixed with the chaotic aromas of the marketplace.

I frowned. This place was so chaotic, so coarse.

Then again, I suppose I’ve grown used to a pampered life. Father was right to send me out to gain some life experience.

I casually glanced at the items on the stalls.

Suddenly, a small object caught my eye. It was a red silk ribbon—something women use to tie their hair. A common item, really. I didn’t understand why my heart skipped a beat when I saw it. Maybe it was because the ribbon was such a vivid red—so striking amidst this dull, gray world.

Without thinking, I reached out to pick it up—only to find my hand pressing against someone else’s. She was faster and had already placed her hand over the ribbon. My hand landed on top of hers.

We both immediately withdrew our hands.

As I looked up, a girl—rather cute in appearance—stood there, her face flushed red. That blush carried traces of panic and fear.

I don’t recall looking like some lecherous rogue, so I smiled and said, “Miss, are you interested in this ribbon?”

She glanced at me shyly, and the fear in her eyes seemed to ease a little. I was quite puzzled but couldn’t say much more—we were strangers, after all.

In a soft, low voice, she said, “May I please have this ribbon?”

She looked so timid, her plea both delicate and sincere.

It was just a ribbon—not a valuable item. I replied, “You touched it first, so naturally, it’s yours.”

I picked up the ribbon and handed it to her. She accepted it carefully and pulled out a small pouch. It was finely made despite its small size—not likely something she bought, probably something she stitched herself.

I glanced at her hands. They were slightly calloused. For a woman, her hands were on the rougher side.

She handed over a piece of silver to the vendor. The man took it, weighed it in his hand, and said, “Miss, this isn’t enough. This is premium stock brought in from out of town—just look at the quality.”

Though his voice wasn’t loud, I clearly saw her flinch. She furrowed her brows and pleaded, “But… last time you said… this was the price.”

I saw the look of disdain in the vendor’s eyes.

So even the market vendors bully women like her—so weak and frail?

“What I said last time doesn’t count now,” the vendor retorted.

She didn’t argue. She simply bit her lip, placed the ribbon back down reluctantly, and said, “Then… I won’t buy it. Could you please return my silver?”

The vendor huffed and threw the silver back at her. She carefully placed it into her pouch and tucked it back into her clothes.

She glanced once more at the bright red ribbon with longing, then turned to leave.

Suddenly moved, I grabbed her arm.

To my surprise, she shrieked as if she had been attacked, squatted down on the ground, and cried out, “No… don’t come near… stay away!”

The marketplace was crowded, and her scream drew everyone’s attention. The area buzzed with curious and judgmental voices.

It took a long while before the crowd finally dispersed.

I stood frozen in place, completely shocked by her sudden outburst.

She crouched there, slowly regaining her composure. I hurried to crouch beside her and reached out a hand to comfort her, but hesitated, fearing she’d react the same way again. So I asked instead, “Miss, are you all right?”

She refused to lift her head and simply shook it.

I grabbed the ribbon from the stall and held it out to her. “You seem to really like this ribbon. Here, I’ll give it to you—would that be okay?”

I offered it purely out of kindness.

She wore plain clothing, no jewelry, and had her hair tied up with a simple wooden pin. Clearly, her family wasn’t well-off.

Since she couldn’t afford the ribbon, I thought I might as well gift it to her. After all, Father had given me more than enough silver for expenses.

Without even glancing at the ribbon, she stood up and said, still with her head lowered, “I’m sorry for scaring you earlier. But we are strangers, and I have done nothing to deserve your kindness. I cannot accept it—thank you.”

Without ever raising her head, she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I lifted my hand, and the ribbon fluttered in the breeze, pointing in the direction she had gone.

But she had already vanished among the people.

I didn’t even manage to call out to her.

We were strangers on separate paths—why should I care so much?

I untied the ribbon and placed it inside my robe. Then I tossed a tael of silver to the vendor. He thanked me profusely, but I glared at him.

Scoundrels like him make me want to give them a good beating.

But in this unfamiliar place, with my brother’s matters still weighing heavily on my mind, I truly wasn’t in the mood to pick a fight.

Later, I sat in a small pavilion outside the inn, twirling the ribbon around my fingers, the girl’s gentle face lingering in my mind.

Was this ribbon hers… or mine now?

After resting at the inn for a day, the next morning Zihui and I took the horses and began our journey up the mountain to study.

Zihui had bought some books, brushes, ink, and other daily necessities—so much that the two horses were nearly collapsing under the weight.

I had walked this mountain path before, but never while carrying so many things.

Neither of us could ride, so we had no choice but to lead the horses on foot.

The mountain was tall and secluded, full of dense forests and rich vegetation. There was a quiet stillness to it, like a deep and ancient woodland.

It became clear that the base of the mountain and its inner depths were two completely different worlds.

Walking and observing the scenery along the way, the journey didn’t feel tiring.

In the distance, we could finally see the academy nestled deep within the mountains, surrounded by towering peaks.

We took a long detour around the outer edge to reach it. The academy was built in a mountain hollow where the terrain was relatively flat, and the environment was serene and beautiful.

Calling it a sacred place would not be an exaggeration.

By the time we arrived, it was already past noon.

Though it was mid-summer, the heat wasn’t noticeable in the mountains.

Even so, after such a long journey, sweat still beaded on my forehead. I casually waved my sleeve to wipe it off, while Zihui panted behind me—she had never climbed a mountain before.

Finally, we reached the front gates.

I looked up and—oh!—the academy was indeed magnificent.

There were numerous elegant buildings, exuding a scholarly dignity and solemn majesty.

On the pillars at the gate hung a large plaque bearing the words: “Lingyun Academy.”

Below it was the name of a powerful official.

It seems this Fengqi Mountain and Lingyun Academy had indeed produced many great scholars and talented individuals.