Chapter 49

Tangled in love and hate, Shi Mei's mind was in turmoil.

After a kiss, Bai She didn't let go but appeared to lean in for another. Shi Mei glanced at him, noticing the smile in his eyes, and instinctively pushed him away. Bai She, not insisting, loosened his grip but didn't release her entirely.

The old woman watched with increasing satisfaction and chuckled, "Ah, it's so pleasing to see young and beautiful people being affectionate. It makes even an old lady like me feel years younger."

"You've had your fun, now tell us how to find the Jade Buddha," Shi Mei requested.

"It's not that easy," the old woman pondered, shakily approaching. "I have an enemy. Bring her to me, and I will tell you."

Shi Mei frowned, "Bring your enemy here? What do you intend to do?"

"I want to tear out her heart, liver, spleen, and lungs, pull out all her teeth, skin her alive, strip her tendons, break her neck, chop her into pieces, and cook a nourishing soup..." the old woman cackled maniacally.

Shi Mei shivered in disgust, thinking to herself, "This is a true vengeful woman."

"So, what do you say?" the old woman asked coldly. "It's not too difficult. Find her, tell her I'm here, and she'll come flying. Then, you..." she pointed at Bai She, "help me disable her martial arts."

Bai She looked at Shi Mei, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Shi Mei gently shook her head, signaling her disapproval of the morally corrupt request.

"Girl," the old woman seemed to read Shi Mei's thoughts and pointed at Bai She, asking, "Do you cherish this man?"

Shi Mei's face flushed red, not again!

"I was young once too. Such a man is rare in this world. Do you realize how many women would risk their lives to snatch him away?" the old woman sighed. "What if one day someone takes him from you, kills you, and leaves your body in these wild mountains to be devoured by beasts, making you live like a ghost, wasting your youth underground like a rat, watching yourself age day by day... Would you resent it, huh?"

Shi Mei frowned. The old woman's enemy seemed to have stolen her lover and then imprisoned her here to wither away. No wonder she harbored such deep hatred.

"She probably lives in the Ghost Fox Forest in Qianguy. The path there is treacherous, but it shouldn't be difficult for you," the old woman glanced at Bai She with a smile. "All you need to do is shout in the Ghost Fox Forest, 'Old witch, do you want the antidote? Your enemy is waiting for you in Dayu Mountain!' She'll surely come."

Shimei felt a pang of apprehension upon hearing his response — was it related to the Qiangu region again?

"You don't have to believe me," the old woman said, eyeing Bai She knowingly. "Finding the Jade Buddha isn't easy; even scouring the entire Dayu Mountain won't suffice. But if you fulfill my wish, I'll tell you how to find it. Hurry, I'm old and won't live much longer. Once I'm gone, this immense wealth will be buried with me."

After a moment of silence, Bai She, holding Shi Mei's hand, turned and walked away.

"Does this mean you agree or not?!" the old woman stepped forward, demanding an answer.

Bai She turned back to look at her, "I don't appreciate being threatened."

The old woman was taken aback.

Bai She remained indifferent, "I can deliver your message, but as for crippling someone's martial arts, wouldn't it be better for you to confront them directly?"

"You dare negotiate with me? Don't you want the Jade Buddha?!" the old woman's face twisted in fury, revealing her domineering nature to Shi Mei.

Bai She chuckled, "I never particularly wanted the Jade Buddha. If it's really that hard to find, it's probably for the best. And it's you who needs my help, right? You can't even leave this tree hollow."

The old woman stared at Bai She in shock, "You... you're pretty shrewd, kid!"

Bai She's lips curled slightly, "Whether you agree or not is up to you."

……

"Fine!" the old woman took a deep breath, "You pass on the message; I'll handle the rest myself."

Bai She nodded, swiftly leaping with Shi Mei out of the cave and back to the ground.

By now... the forest was still enveloped in darkness.

"Why did you say she can't leave the tree hollow?" Shi Mei was puzzled.

Bai She glanced back at the large tree behind them, "If I'm not mistaken, this tree is a rare type of tree coffin."

"Tree coffin?" Shi Mei, unfamiliar with the term, inquired, "What is that?"

"Do you know which types of wood are valuable?" Bai She asked.

"Yes," Shi Mei replied, her recent research coming to mind, "The wood of ancient trees like ebony, sandalwood, and zitan is extremely precious."

"Such woods are considered top-grade for making coffins."

"That's true," Shi Mei agreed, "These trees naturally prevent decay, preserving bodies for centuries as if they were just placed inside... But are they really that miraculous?"

"Most of them have some effect," Bai She pointed at the towering tree in front of them. "However, the best tree for making coffins is the coffin tree."

"Coffin tree?" Shi Mei felt like she was hearing about it for the first time.

"I heard about it from my master. Coffin trees are extremely rare, occurring once in a century, and they usually have a lifespan of over a thousand years. These trees are unique; if a dead person is placed inside them, they might revive."

"What?" Shi Mei shook her head in disbelief, "Dead people can come back to life?"

"It's just a legend I heard. The dead person is said to assimilate the tree's essence and become part of the tree. So, even if they come back to life, they must stay with the tree. If they separate, they'll die soon."

"There's such a thing... Ah."

Absorbed in the conversation, Shi Mei didn't notice a depression in the ground and slipped, falling hard.

Rubbing her sore backside, Shi Mei looked up to find Bai She squatting beside her, "Did you hurt yourself?"

"I'm okay," Shi Mei tried to get up, but Bai She simply extended his hand and picked her up.

"I can walk on my own," Shi Mei glanced at the uneven, pitch-black path below, although her feet were already sore.

"There are many snakes and insects here at night; are you sure you want to walk?" Bai She inquired.

"Well, in that case, it's fine like this," Shi Mei smiled, content to be carried by Bai She out of the woods.

"What should we do next?" Shi Mei queried. "Should we continue searching in Da Yu Mountain or go to Qian Zhong to find that old woman's enemy?"

"I think the chances of finding it here are slim; the terrain is more complicated than expected. Let's rest by the river tonight and search again at dawn. If we still can't find it, we'll go to Qian Zhong to deliver her message. I'm quite curious to see how their grudge ends."

"Me too…" Shi Mei agreed, looking up at Bai She.

"What is it?"

"Are you going to Qian Zhong alone?" asked Shi Mei.

"I might take Qin Zhe with me."

"Can I come too?"

Bai She was surprised, "You're coming too? On a long journey with me?"

"Yes," Shi Mei nodded.

Bai She raised an eyebrow, "Alright, then I won't bring Qin Zhe."

Shi Mei scratched her chin thoughtfully.

Suddenly, they heard a sigh nearby. "Ah, what's called being blinded by love, this is it."

Shi Mei was startled to see Qin Zhe appearing beside them.

By this time, Bai She had returned to the campfire by the pond.

Qin Zhe took out a fire striker and lit the campfire. "I've hidden Guan Luo Ri away; he won't cause trouble for a few days and should recover well."

Bai She nodded, finding a clean spot to gently set down Shi Mei, "How are things with Fu Si and his group?"

"Thank goodness you didn't go," Qin Zhe teased. "That group is so pretentious, it made me nauseous."

"What were they discussing?" Shi Mei frowned.

"Just some nonsense. Fu Si acted as if he knew Guan Luo Ri wouldn't dare to show up, very arrogant. Now, the martial arts community thinks Guan Luo Ri is scared of him, and by extension, you're scared of Guan Luo Ri. So, Fu Si is now seen as a pillar of the martial arts world," Qin Zhe said disdainfully. "Many martial artists are gathering in the capital, mostly to join him in capturing Guan Luo Ri for fame and fortune. Fu Si has big ambitions; probably wants to make his Fu Family Fortress the leading martial arts faction."

Bai She listened but didn't react much. "Did Fu Si stay there the whole time, or did he leave at any point?"

"He left once, but for no more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, probably just a bathroom break," Qin Zhe recalled.

Bai She frowned, deep in thought.

Qin Zai approached her, rolling up his sleeve to show Shimei, “Look at this!”

Shi Mei looked puzzled, then saw scratches and bruises on Qin Zhe's arm, indicating he was injured. "What happened?"

Bai She was curious, "Did you encounter some expert to get injured like this?"

"Not an expert, a woman!" Qin Zhe became animated, complaining to Shi Mei, "That Hong Ye from your Fragrance House... I was just trying to help her catch a cat, and she accused me of trying to steal it. When I tried to prevent her from falling, she claimed I was touching her inappropriately and scratched me like crazy. I've roamed the martial arts world for years and never been beaten up like this!"

Shi Mei couldn't help but laugh, asking, "You didn't fight back, did you?!"

Qin Zhe grimaced, "How could I possibly get into a petty argument with a girl?"

Bai She, overhearing the conversation, thought for a moment and asked, "Did she scold you?"

"Yes, she was really fierce," Qin Zhe nodded in confirmation.

"And she hit you?"

"Here's the proof!" Qin Zhe showed his arm.

After inspecting, Bai She patted his shoulder, "You've succeeded!"

"Huh?"

"You said it yourself - if she hits and scolds you, it means success."

Qin Zhe's open-mouthed expression was genuinely satisfying to see.

Shi Mei, covering her mouth to suppress laughter, ran to the bonfire to warm herself.

"By the way," Bai She said to Qin Zhe, "I need you to look into something for me."

"What is it?"

Bai She leaned in and whispered something in Qin Zhe's ear.

Qin Zhe looked surprised and gazed at him, "Are you joking?"

Bai She shook his head in response.

"How is that possible?!" Qin Zhe frowned, his expression turning unusually serious, almost intimidating.

Shi Mei, misinterpreting their interaction as an argument, looked up at them.

"I don't believe it," Qin Zhe said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you sure?"

Bai She shrugged nonchalantly, "It's just a suspicion of mine. If you also have doubts, go and verify them. I hope it's not true."

"Alright," agreed Qin Zhe, turning to leave but then pausing to ask Shi Mei, "By the way, little Mei Zi?"

Shi Mei turned to face him.

"Does Hong Ye have any particular weaknesses?" Qin Zhe inquired, squinting thoughtfully.

Shi Mei blinked, puzzled. "What kind of weaknesses?"

"Like, being afraid of snakes, not eating fatty meat, or certain things she likes, for instance?" Qin Zhe prodded with interest.

"What are you planning to do?" Shi Mei frowned at him. "Hong Ye is my good sister; you better not bully her!"

"I'm not bullying her. But this girl needs some discipline, or she'll be out of control soon," Qin Zhe stated earnestly. "I'm doing this for her own good!"

Shi Mei pondered for a moment before replying, "Weaknesses? I wouldn't tell you even if I knew. But if you give her money, she'll definitely be happy."

"Huh?" Qin Zhe furrowed his brows in confusion. "Give her money? Like jewelry?"

"No," Shi Mei shook her head, "I mean actual money, gold and silver. Hong Ye loves to save money. She sends it to the families of her deceased brothers every month, and she's also saving up for her own dowry."

Qin Zhe nodded thoughtfully.

Bai She, who had been sitting and poking the campfire with a stick, chimed in, "She seems like a kind-hearted girl, don't trouble her."

"What do you mean by 'trouble'?" Qin Zhe continued his inquiry. "So, she must have saved quite a bit by now?"

"Probably," Shi Mei pondered. "But her most treasured dowry item is the Fire Kirin."

Bai She hurriedly tried to intervene, realizing what was being revealed, but it was too late; Shi Mei had already spoken.

"What?!" Qin Zhe stood gaping at Shi Mei. "A Fire Kirin? What's that?"

It then dawned on Shi Mei that Bai She had mentioned Qin Zhe's near-obsession with acquiring a Fire Kirin, even willing to spend a fortune on it.

"A Fire Kirin? Is it real? Does the Fragrance House actually have one?" Qin Zhe turned to Bai She, his curiosity piqued.

"Don't you dare touch it!" Shi Mei became anxious. "That's Hong Ye's precious dowry, and besides, the Fire Kirin is wary of strangers; it'll definitely bite you if you get close!"

"There's really a Fire Kirin?!" Qin Zhe's face lit up with excitement, disregarding everything else, and he took off running.

"Hey!" Shi Mei called after him, urgently grabbing Bai She. "Could he be going back to steal Hong Ye's horse?"

"Hmm..." Bai She pondered, stroking his chin. "It's quite possible."

"This is bad," Shi Mei fretted, hitting her leg. "Hong Ye will definitely go after him with a sword!"

Bai She chuckled. "Then he's even more successful."

Shi Mei gave him a side glance, cupping his face to turn it towards her. "Who said getting beaten up equals success? A girl smiling gently at you, that's what real success looks like!"

After hearing this, Bai She pressed his hand against the ground and leaned down towards her. Shi Mei looked up, puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Bai She gently brushed her hair, blown by the evening breeze, behind her ear. "Women are really hard to understand. Qin Zhe said it's the opposite with you: when you say 'no,' it means 'yes,' and when you say 'yes,' it's best not to continue."

"Huh?" Shi Mei was puzzled.

Bai She studied her for a moment. "Then what you say differs from him, but since you're a woman, you probably make more sense."

"Exactly!" Shi Mei nodded earnestly. "In these matters, it must be natural and mutually consensual."

"I am indeed willing," Bai She nodded expressionlessly, causing Shi Mei to startle—worried that Bai She was getting drowsy and beginning to become dull-witted, as he tended to be single-minded when fatigued.

"Then give me a standard," Bai She leaned closer to Shi Mei, asking softly, "What does gentle treatment look like? So I can gauge and avoid doing anything that displeases you."

Shi Mei felt bewildered, not quite grasping Bai She's words. "How do I demonstrate it?"

Bai She gently pinched her chin. "For example, what does a gentle smile look like? Smile for me to see."

Shi Mei suddenly had an absurd thought, as if Bai She, with his handsome face, was acting like a rogue, using the typical rogue's line—"Smile for me, darling."

Annoyed by this thought, Shi Mei kicked him and pushed him away. "Stop it!"

Bai She raised an eyebrow, slowly drawing closer. "I understand now; this is your version of gentle treatment... It seems you've always been very gentle with me."

"Uh... not really," Shi Mei felt like she had fallen into some sort of trap.

Baisha’s breath heated her ear as he whispered softly, "Would you marry me?"

……

Shi Mei, meanwhile, was stiff all over, staring intently at Bai She.

Bai She, seeing her eyes widen, was about to lean in for a kiss when suddenly Shi Mei covered her ears and then...

"Ah..." she screamed in alarm.

Bai She was startled by her reaction, but Shi Mei seemed even more terrified at the moment.

At the same time, the lurking disciples of the Ghost Blade Sect, who were preparing to rest, heard the commotion and came out to see. At the campfire, they saw Bai She pinning Shi Mei down, while she held her head, screaming.

The brothers exchanged glances, thinking to themselves that their leader had finally lost patience and was about to make a bold move. "What a spot for such an action!" they mused.

Bai She sighed, sitting up and rubbing his forehead, he asked Shi Mei, "Was that you being gentle or me succeeding just now?"

Shi Mei sat up, clutching her red ears and shook her head, "I don't know!"

"Would you consider it then?"

"I don't know!"

"Who are you?"

"I don't know!"

Bai She rubbed his brow, looking at Shi Mei, "Sleep, you seem very tired."

Shi Mei quickly lay down, using her bag as a pillow and covering herself with a small blanket.

Bai She, concerned she might be cold, pulled her closer to rest against him. She didn't resist, though she remained stiff.

Bai She leaned back against a rock, resting, gazing up at the night sky. He amusingly recalled Xiao Fuzi snuggling in a blanket, meowing in confusion, and chuckled to himself - "Really not straightforward."