Wang Fugui shook his head. He didn't bother taking off his clothes and got into bed.
But the thoughts in his mind refused to stop.
She knew everything. She didn't cry, nor did she fuss. She simply sent him off silently, asking for no promises.
How could she be so understanding?
Never mind. She didn't care, and neither did he. It was fine, let it be this way. Sleep.
Wang Fugui pulled the covers over his head, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
Half an hour later.
"Ah!!! Damn it!!!"
Wang Fugui threw off the covers, put on his clothes again, kicked open the door, and ran outside.
At the city gate tower, a figure on horseback, holding a torch, galloped forward.
"Halt! State your identity."
The soldier at the city gate shouted.
"Are you blind? I'm Wang Fugui! My father is Wang Gang, the Minister of Personnel!"
Wang Fugui cursed as he didn't slow his horse, darting out of the city gate in a flash.
Riding a horse at full speed in the pitch-black night was a suicidal act. Perhaps fate didn't wish for anything to happen to Wang Fugui, as the moon tonight was exceptionally bright, making the road just visible.
Wang Fugui rode his horse to the foot of the mountain. He casually abandoned the horse to the side, held up his torch, and began to climb the mountain path.
"Don't you dare leave! You can't! If you dare to leave like this, I will search the heavens and the earth to find you and teach you a severe lesson!"
The little Taoist nun's letter was very clear.
This life bids farewell, and I have no fate with you in this life.
Wang Fugui didn't understand why he was so desperate to see her again. Was it like? Was it love? Was it longing? Or was it unwillingness?
He didn't want to admit any of it.
"Hmph, I've always been the one to dump women. What do you mean by dumping me? I can't accept that. Don't wait for me to see you..."
Wang Fugui scrambled up the treacherous mountain path, using both his hands and feet.
The mountain blocked the moonlight, casting everything into darkness. Even with his torch, he stumbled several times.
Ignoring the mud all over his body and hands, Wang Fugui staggered to the mountaintop.
In his entire life, this was the first time he had been so disheveled.
It was hard to imagine that Wang Fugui, who prided himself on being like a flower among thousands, untouched by a single petal, would make such a mess of himself for a woman.
This only fueled the anger in his heart.
"Damn Taoist nun, just wait and see how I'll teach you a lesson! I'll tie you up, whip you severely, ravage you, torment you..."
Despite his outward defiance, Wang Fugui strode with large steps onto the bluestone path, leaving muddy footprints on the stones.
A figure, bathed in moonlight, walked with a faltering gait.
Finally, he reached the small bamboo house. Wang Fugui kicked open the bamboo door, which broke off and fell into the room.
He stepped inside. By the light of his torch, he saw...
He saw nothing.
Inside the house,
It was empty.
After a moment of stunned silence, Wang Fugui stumbled back, bumping into the broken edge of the bamboo door. The pain brought him back to his senses.
He threw the torch at the entrance, sat down by the door, leaning against the frame, and looked up at the crescent moon hanging in the sky.
People are idle, osmanthus flowers fall; the night is quiet, the spring mountain is empty.
The moon rises, startling the mountain birds; at times they chirp in the spring stream.
The scenery was beautiful, the bird songs melodious, yet they couldn't lift his spirits.
"You, in the end... you still left."
Wang Fugui, unaware, felt tears streaming down his cheeks.
He had never imagined he would cry for a woman he had met only once. But the uncontrollable longing surged through him like a tide, consuming his every thought.
"Where did you go? Come back, come back..."
Wang Fugui's low whimpers were particularly jarring in the silent night.
This place was empty, everything had changed. No one could hear his tearful voice, and he didn't have to worry about losing face if it got out.
Drip... drip... drip...
Crisp footsteps echoed from the darkness not far away. Wang Fugui lowered his head and looked up. A familiar, graceful silhouette was walking towards him.
"Why did you come back?"
A lazy voice reached Wang Fugui's ears, and it was so pleasant to hear.
Wang Fugui quickly wiped the tears from his eyes, leaving two muddy streaks on his face, which made the little Taoist nun chuckle.
"I came back to see..."
"I mean, why did you call me back?"
"You... you heard everything?"
"My ears aren't deaf."
The little Taoist nun, carrying a large water kettle, walked to Wang Fugui's side, placed the kettle on the ground, bent down slightly, and looked up at Wang Fugui with a playful smile,
"You cried well. Cry a little more, let me see."
"Hmph, who's crying? I was just... the wind on the mountain was strong, and it got into my eyes."
"Oh, really?"
The little Taoist nun glanced at the broken bamboo door, her smile deepening.
"Pay for the damage. One hundred copper coins."
Wang Fugui let out a wry laugh, suddenly stood up, and pulled the little Taoist nun into his embrace, holding her tightly.
The little Taoist nun's arms remained hanging at her sides, not returning his embrace.
"Your clothes are dirty. Pay for that, twenty copper coins."
"Then... how much would it cost to marry you?"
He could clearly feel the little beauty in his arms tremble slightly.
"Heh, did I ever say I would marry you? How can someone who has left the secular world speak lightly of marriage?"
"Heh heh, if you don't marry me, won't you be unable to marry anyone else for the rest of your life?"
"What? You played with my body, and now you want to play with my feelings too?
Young Master Wang, you are truly shameless."
"I... I didn't want to play with you. On the contrary, what did you mean by the note you left me?"
Wang Fugui took out the crumpled paper from his embrace and held it up to the little Taoist nun, his face displeased, his gaze fierce.
"Hmph,"
The little Taoist nun snorted coldly, walked into the house, took out a large wooden basin, and said without looking up as she poured water into it,
"Do you really think I'm stupid? Can't I see what you're thinking? Since you don't like me, why not just cut ties? What's the point of dragging things out?"
The little Taoist nun finished pouring the water.
"Here, wash your hands and face. You're so dirty."
"Then, since you know everything, why did you still..."
"I was deceived by you, I got caught up in the ambiguity. Who hasn't made a mistake in their youth?"
The little Taoist nun pushed Wang Fugui's hands into the water basin, patiently helping him wash the dirt from his hands.
"Tie Niu,"
Wang Fugui looked at the little Taoist nun with deep affection,
"What if I said, I truly want to marry you?"
The little Taoist nun's hands stopped. She suddenly stood up, tears welling in her eyes, her lips curled in resentment,
"Then what about your fiancée? What about your family? And why should I marry you as a concubine? Why?
It was just a moment of impulse, a sudden whim of yours, yet you keep provoking me here? Just to satisfy your own desires.
Why should I let you manipulate me like this, doing whatever you please?"