Chapter Fifty-Five: Love's Wounds from the Passion Flower

When everyone returned to the Orchid Meditation Courtyard, their master and several uncles were absent—no doubt they had gone to the Great Vulture Temple to listen to a Dharma talk. The group was overjoyed by the unexpected victory of Ouyang Tai and Ye Hua, and could not stop praising them.

Qingkai inquired in detail about the contest, and when he heard how Wang Zhi Dao had inexplicably lost, he burst out laughing, saying, “Our youngest brother is truly blessed! But that Wang Zhi Dao is rather strange. We’d better report all this to our master once he returns.”

Ye Hua glanced around, not seeing his senior sister, and asked in surprise, “Second brother, do you know where our senior sister has gone?” Qingkai replied, “Sister Ling just went out a short while ago. I’m not sure myself.” Ye Hua felt a faint sense of disappointment but said nothing more.

Baishi Song spoke to everyone: “All right, everyone should head back. We need to prepare well for the next round.” Then, smiling at Ye Hua and Ouyang Tai, he added, “You two have worked hard today. It’s important to meditate and restore your strength.” Ye Hua replied respectfully, “Yes, eldest brother.” He looked outside—the garden was ablaze with peach blossoms, petals swirling in the gentle spring breeze, yet not a soul was in sight. For some reason, his heart felt listless. He saluted the others and quietly took his leave.

Watching Ye Hua depart, Qingshi couldn’t help but laugh, “Heh, our youngest brother is impressive indeed. That Wang Zhi Dao had just broken through to the sixth realm, yet still lost to him.”

Qingxia and Qingyu chimed in, “That’s nothing! The hawk is even more amazing. I envy him!” Baishi Song pondered for a while, then said, “Where did our youngest brother learn that movement technique? It was rather mysterious—almost ghostly. Could it be from the Ghost Sect?”

Qingxia and Qingyu replied, “Eldest brother, you’re right. Before joining Bishan Temple, our youngest brother had already learned some Daoist arts. Perhaps he’s had other opportunities. We’ve never seen him use that movement technique before.”

Just as Ye Hua stepped into his room, he looked up to see a giant bird standing inside—emerald eyes and golden talons, taking up most of the space, glancing about curiously. Who could it be but Xiaoyao? Ye Hua cried out in surprise, “Xiaoyao! What are you doing here?!”

Xiaoyao turned his head proudly toward Ye Hua and let out a cry. He shifted his wings, trying to turn around, but the moment he flapped them, a wild wind rose and scattered the wooden chairs in the corners. The bed creaked and groaned as though it would collapse at any moment.

Ye Hua laughed anxiously, frowning, “Xiaoyao, be gentle! How could this tiny room possibly contain you? If you use any more strength, you’ll tear the place apart!”

Xiaoyao paused, but because of his enormous size, he couldn’t turn around. He looked at Ye Hua with what seemed like embarrassment and let out a couple of awkward caws.

Ye Hua surveyed the room—it was a complete mess, wood shavings everywhere. Luckily, aside from a bed and a chair, nothing else was in the room, or everything would have been ruined. He could only shake his head with a wry smile and asked the golden eagle, “With your size, how did you even get in here?”

Before Ye Hua finished speaking, arcs of electricity suddenly crackled over Xiaoyao’s body. In the blink of an eye, he shrank drastically. Before Ye Hua could react, the eagle had become no bigger than a sparrow. His iron feathers and golden claws, though not particularly beautiful, were full of spirit and looked exceedingly cute. He fluttered in a small circle in the air and then landed on Ye Hua’s shoulder. Ye Hua turned to look at him, unable to resist gently cupping the little bird in his hands, laughing in astonishment, “Is this really you, Xiaoyao? Haha, haha…” Looking closely, his heart filled with delight.

“How could the mighty roc—soaring ninety thousand miles into the sky—turn into a parrot for a maiden’s cage? But truthfully, even the finest parrot pales in comparison to Xiaoyao’s spirit and beauty.” Teasing, he said, “Hey, you look just like a parrot now, though your feathers aren’t as colorful. Isn’t this a bit of an awkward imitation?”

The golden eagle, seeing Ye Hua grinning foolishly at him, let out a few chirps, clearly displeased. With a flick of his right wing, a spark of electricity shot out. Ye Hua, pleased and distracted, was caught off guard by the sudden flash—there was no time to dodge, and the spark struck him in the face.

Ye Hua felt a jolt of pain and numbness across his face, then a maddening itch. He cried out, “Ouch! Xiaoyao, you!” He reached out to grab Xiaoyao, but his hands closed on empty air—the golden eagle had already taken flight. Ye Hua looked up; the bird was hovering midair, cawing triumphantly.

Just as Ye Hua was about to pounce, he caught a glimpse of red outside the window. His heart skipped a beat and he stopped, going to the window to look out. Instantly, a sharp ache seized him. Outside, a girl in red was talking and laughing with a young man in white. It was none other than Ling Yun’er and the head disciple of Qingliang Monastery, leader of the Five Gentlemen, Xiao Yitian.

The two stood beneath the flowering trees. Ling Yun’er’s cheeks were tinged with pink, her profile as lovely as a spring peach. Ye Hua stood quietly at the window, utterly entranced. Whatever they discussed, Ling Yun’er would sometimes cover her mouth and smile, sometimes furrow her brows in gentle worry. Xiao Yitian, on the other hand, spoke with ease and confidence, appearing even more refined and handsome.

Time slipped by unnoticed. At last, the two exchanged bows in farewell, reluctant to part. Ye Hua watched as Ling Yun’er lingered a while beneath the trees before finally returning indoors.

A heavy sadness pressed on Ye Hua’s heart for reasons he could not name. He felt utterly drained, unable to take any pleasure in the bright spring day outside. Xiaoyao had, at some point, landed silently on his shoulder, and seemed to sense his mood, making not a sound.

“Youngest brother! Youngest brother!” came a clear, sweet call from outside. Ye Hua’s heart jumped. Before he could answer, someone pushed the door open and entered, her smile radiant—it was Ling Yun’er.

“You little rascal! Who would have thought! Haha!” Ling Yun’er sized Ye Hua up and down, clicking her tongue in amazement. Ye Hua stammered, “Senior sister, senior sister…” She interrupted him with a laugh: “I heard from the brothers that Wang Zhi Dao had just broken through to the sixth realm, yet you beat him while at the fourth. That’s really something!”

Ye Hua replied with embarrassment, “Honestly, I was no match for Senior Brother Wang. Maybe he let me win… or perhaps because he’d just broken through, his energy was unstable, and his inner breath in disarray…” As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, barely audible.

Ling Yun’er laughed, “What luck you have! When eldest brother said you defeated Wang Zhi Dao, I could hardly believe it. Maybe it was just as you say.”

Ye Hua said, “Senior sister, I saw you returning with Brother Xiao…” Ling Yun’er’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I was going to visit the sisters at Clear Chrysanthemum Courtyard when I happened to meet Brother Xiao on the way, so we chatted awhile.”

Ye Hua asked curiously, “Didn’t Sister Li from Longquan Monastery just have a match with you? Why go visit her?” Ling Yun’er grinned mischievously, “To find out more about her, of course! She’s been taught the legendary Longquan Divine Sword—she must be extraordinary.”

Ye Hua nodded, “That makes sense.” After a moment, Ling Yun’er sighed, “If the first round was this tough, who knows how difficult the next will be? Best not to entertain any wild ambitions.” Then, murmuring to herself, “Where should I go to amuse myself these next few days?”

Ye Hua, hearing her question, thought for a moment and replied, “I heard the brothers say the best place to visit near Great Vulture Temple is Jade Elephant Gorge—clear waters, lush woods, fantastically shaped rocks, and a uniquely beautiful flower called the Manzi Sulan. Its blooming season is brief, and these few days are the peak. Why not go there together with the others?”

Ling Yun’er asked in wonder, “Manzi Sulan? What kind of flower is that, with such a strange name?”

Ye Hua explained, “They say it’s a rare variety of orchid with five deep red, translucent petals and pale markings. It blooms for only four or five days. Legend has it that the goddess scattered myriad blossoms from the heavens, and the Manzi Sulan alone embodies the deepest feelings of women. Later, women’s tears nourished it, so it became the flower of longing.”

Ling Yun’er murmured, “A flower of deep love… I must see it for myself! Let’s go and discuss it with the brothers.” With that, she grabbed Ye Hua’s sleeve and pulled him along.

They went to the guest hall, where the brothers were gathered. Ling Yun’er smiled, “This is convenient—no need to go calling everyone. Brothers, how about an outing to Jade Elephant Gorge?”

Qingkai shook his head, puzzled, “Little sister, why do you suddenly want to go there? Though the scenery is exquisite, it’s a wild and little-traveled place, often shrouded in mist. Who knows what poisonous insects or strange beasts might be about! You should rest and recover your strength.”

Ling Yun’er laughed, “Second brother, when did you become so timid? Are we, cultivators, to be frightened by a few bugs? Eldest brother, what do you think?” Baishi Song pondered, “It would be worthwhile, but we must inform our master first. Many of us are still recovering—we should focus on that.”

Ling Yun’er, hearing this, could only nod, “That’s true. But the Manzi Sulan will probably have withered by then.”

Qingxia and Qingyu said together, “What’s so special about flowers? None can compare to our little sister! Youngest brother, where’s your hawk? Where has it gone off to?” Ye Hua replied, “Xiaoyao is in my room.” “Ah!” With a shriek, Qingxia and Qingyu dashed out at once.

Ling Yun’er looked puzzled. “A giant hawk, Xiaoyao? Youngest brother, you’ve tamed a spirit beast?” Ye Hua said, “It’s not that I tamed him—he’s just an old acquaintance.” Ling Yun’er asked, “How come I didn’t see him in your room just now?”

Ye Hua smiled, “He was curled up on my bed. Maybe you didn’t notice.” Ling Yun’er, still childlike at heart, immediately forgot about the trip to Jade Elephant Gorge and exclaimed, “Then I want to see him too!” With that, she hurried out, leaving Ye Hua with no choice but to follow.