20 Confessing to Her

Although he had smoothly taken the young Qiao Feng under his wing, the situation had arisen suddenly, and with his leg still injured, Tian Yu did not ask him to leave immediately. Instead, she told him to rest and recover at home first, and once healed, to come find her at Mount Taishi.

“I’m temporarily staying with the Guo family,” she said. “You grew up at Mount Shaoshi; you should know how to get to the Guo household.”

Qiao Feng responded cheerfully. “I know the way. Don’t worry.”

Whether it was due to his tough constitution or extraordinary talent, just seven days later, he set off alone, carrying a small bundle on his back, and climbed to Junji Peak where the Guo family lived.

The Guo residence sat halfway up Junji Peak, at least twenty zhang above the foothills. The winding mountain path would take an adult half a day to traverse on foot.

Yet Qiao Feng arrived effortlessly just as Tian Yu was finishing her morning exercises.

When the Guo servants reported that someone was looking for her, she nearly couldn’t believe her ears. Upon seeing Qiao Feng’s spirited appearance, she fell silent in surprise.

Qiao Feng was delighted to see her and immediately stepped forward to salute her. Tian Yu waved her hand, telling him not to be so formal, and asked, “Is your leg healed?”

He nodded and added, “Thanks to Young Master Guo’s medicine.”

Tian Yu thought that Guo Songyang’s remedy was indeed effective, but if it had been someone else, the recovery might not have been so swift. Truly, a chosen child was a chosen child—one could not deny it.

“Then let’s go,” she quickly accepted the reality and led him into the Guo household.

Guo Songyang had arranged a spacious place for her to stay, though it felt somewhat lonely with just her alone.

Qiao Feng’s condition improved after moving in, but he was still far from fully recovered.

Though young, he was taciturn and remarkably steady in his actions—bearing the aura of a future leader.

In those seven days, Tian Yu, having already explored Mount Song in its entirety, chose to stay indoors and instead began laying the foundations of martial arts for him.

Not only was he exceptionally gifted and well-suited for martial training, but he was also extremely resilient.

At first, Tian Yu explained to him which parts of his body each exercise was meant to strengthen, but soon she gave up explaining altogether.

No matter what she asked of him, he bit down and did his very best.

His stamina and endurance far exceeded those of his peers.

Even though Tian Yu had mentally prepared herself, she was repeatedly amazed as she guided him through the basics.

At the same time, she faced a dilemma.

At his age, besides building external martial skills, he should also begin studying internal cultivation.

She had two sets of internal arts: one was passed to her by her former master while teaching her sword techniques, and the other was the Beiming Divine Skill she had received from Wuyazi.

The former was solid and reliable, complementing the sword techniques well, but it was clearly no match for the transcendent Beiming Divine Skill.

She wanted to teach Qiao Feng the Beiming Divine Skill but hesitated. After all, her agreement with Wuyazi was merely a transaction; she had not truly joined the carefree sect. Teaching such an extraordinary skill in secret felt inappropriate.

Yet if she did not teach him the Beiming Divine Skill and instead chose the other set, she would inevitably feel regretful for him.

After several days of internal struggle, she decided to hold off teaching him for the time being.

Once she brought him back to Guandong and let Wuyazi witness this chosen child’s innate talent firsthand, she was confident that the old man, who was burning with a desire for revenge against Ding Chunqiu, would be moved.

By then, the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and the Divine Blade Contest had ended over three months ago.

Feeling it was time to bid farewell to Guo Songyang, Tian Yu granted Qiao Feng a few days off during the festival so he could return to Mount Shaoshi to reunite with his parents.

Qiao Feng was touched. “Thank you for your kindness. I will return tomorrow.”

“No, stay home for two more days,” she shook her head. “In two days, I will leave Songyang. You will come with me then.”

Qiao Feng looked surprised but did not ask further. He indeed possessed a maturity beyond his years.

“Alright, I’ll come back to Mount Taishi and meet you in two days,” he said.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a banquet was held at the Guo household. As Guo Songyang’s guest, Tian Yu was invited as well.

The atmosphere was warm and joyous. Not wanting to disappoint the elders of the Guo family, she drank two cups of wine, a rare indulgence for her.

After the banquet, Guo Songyang invited her to the summit of Junji Peak to admire the moon, saying that at this hour, the bright moon hung low over Mingyue Peak at Mount Shaoshi—a rare and beautiful sight.

Thinking it a good opportunity to discuss her return to Guandong, she agreed.

The two walked side by side, slowly ascending the mountain path.

Though she had only drunk a few cups, Tian Yu felt more relaxed than usual.

Moonlight, as silver as silk, illuminated her usually austere features with a rare softness.

Guo Songyang walked at her side, occasionally glancing at her. Seeing her steady steps and clear expression, he knew she was not drunk, but at a steep section, he instinctively reached out to steady her.

“Be careful,” he said.

“You’re so considerate,” Tian Yu teased. “After bringing me up here so many times, you still remember to remind me.”

Not an excessive joke, but he blushed deeply as the wine warmth surged to his cheeks.

“It’s dangerous walking at night,” he said, his voice slightly unsteady but trying to sound calm. “Better to be careful than sorry.”

“True,” she agreed.

As they spoke, they reached the summit of Junji Peak.

Looking up, the jade moon hung precisely as he said, over Mingyue Peak to the west.

The moon shone brilliantly while the mountains lay in shadow.

The graceful mountain peak seemed to cradle the moon’s edge, as if someone had set a giant pearl atop that beautiful summit.

Tian Yu thought it was truly breathtaking.

Having admired the view long enough, she turned to speak.

Yet before she could utter her prepared farewell, he suddenly said, “Actually... I have something to tell you. That’s why I specially invited you up the mountain.”

Tian Yu blinked.

“What a coincidence,” she smiled. “I happen to have something to say to you as well.”

He had been looking at the moon, not at her, but hearing her words, he immediately turned his face toward her.

Their eyes met, and they spoke simultaneously.

“You first?”

“No, you first.”

They spoke in unison.

Tian Yu laughed and stopped the exchange of politeness. “Then I’ll go first.”

He nodded lightly.

“I want to bid you farewell,” she said plainly. “During this trip to the Pass, your hospitality has been most enjoyable, but I have been away from home too long, and it’s simply not right.”

“I have decided to set out for Guandong in two days.”

Guo Songyang almost stood frozen.

After a long moment, he clenched his hands and, voice trembling, said, “You’re leaving?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I can’t be a guest at your house forever, eating and drinking for free.”

The latter half was a casual joke she often made, but he could not help but take it seriously.

“I don’t mind if you stay forever,” he said, looking at her with utmost sincerity.

Tian Yu paused.

Wait, wasn’t that a bit too ambiguous?

Her heart skipped a beat. Trying to ignore it, she smiled and said, “Alright then, if I come back to Songyang in the future, I definitely won’t stay at the inn.”

Then recalling something, she asked, “By the way, you said you had something to tell me?”

Guo Songyang studied her expression, trying to find any hint of unease. After a long time, he found nothing.

A faint bitterness rose in his heart.

“Yes,” he said softly, suppressing his disappointment. “I wanted to ask you to watch over my newly conceived technique.”

Tian Yu breathed a sigh of relief and immediately agreed. If he didn’t mind, they could test it right then.

Guo Songyang lowered his eyes, his voice drifting like clouds.

“That technique is still just a rough draft, incomplete.”

Tian Yu was taken aback.

He continued, “I had thought to perfect it fully before asking you to try it.”

“But since you’ve decided to leave for Guandong in two days, we can forget about the test.”

He smiled at her as he spoke, seemingly carefree.

But Tian Yu saw clearly that he wasn’t telling the whole truth.

Reflecting further, she realized when he first mentioned wanting her to watch over his technique, his demeanor was already unusual. Perhaps what he really wanted to say was something else entirely.

At that moment, the thought she had forcibly pushed aside earlier surged back to her mind.

She caught her breath and thought: Could it be that he originally intended to confess to her?