Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 31

As they entered the village, Ye Qinming did not deliberately hide their presence—she simply led Gu Xiyan straight in.

The village was far from Danyang City, and the villagers were simple and honest. When they saw the two young women, both possessing exceptional beauty and bearing, they couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances. Even the village children secretly gathered around and followed them.

Hearing the scattered yet sneaky footsteps, Gu Xiyan couldn’t resist whispering to Ye Qinming, “Are there children around us?”

Ye Qinming chuckled softly. “Your ears are too sharp—there are four little ones following us. They think you’re too pretty and can’t stop staring.”

Gu Xiyan tilted her head with a smile. “Maybe they’re looking at you—you must be very beautiful.”

This time, Ye Qinming did not refute her as she had the first time. She only smiled, holding Gu Xiyan’s hand as they walked toward a small courtyard on the eastern side of the village.

When Ye Qinming led Gu Xiyan to the courtyard gate, Du Juan was carrying out a basin of water, seemingly about to pour it out. The moment she saw the familiar figure, the basin slipped from her hands, crashing onto her feet and splashing water all over herself.

She stared blankly at Gu Xiyan, covering her mouth as tears burst forth. With a sob, she took a step toward Gu Xiyan, but as if realizing something, she abruptly turned and ran inside, crying out, “Master, Madam! The young lady—she’s back! She’s still alive, Master, Madam!”

The once-quiet courtyard erupted into chaos. Footsteps, the sound of objects crashing to the ground—everything became a jumble of noise.

Moments later, the sound of hurried, stumbling footsteps came from inside the house. A middle-aged man’s trembling voice, rough with emotion, called out in a broken tone, “What… What did you say? Where is she? Where’s Yan’er?”

“Master, the young lady is outside—she’s right outside!”

Gu Ye burst out of the house. When he saw Gu Xiyan standing safe and sound, his beard quivered, his eyes widened, and tears immediately spilled over. His expression shifted between grief, joy, and disbelief until he could no longer hold back. With a voice close to a wail, he cried, “My Yan’er!”

Hearing his cry, Gu Xiyan felt a sharp pain pierce her heart, and her eyes turned red. As Gu Ye rushed toward her, she dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

Gu Ye opened his mouth, but he was crying so hard that no sound came out. He clung tightly to his long-lost daughter, his tears falling uncontrollably. He pounded his chest, and after a long moment, he choked out, “Yan’er… You unfilial girl, you almost left your mother and me with no way to live!”

In just a few days, Gu Ye’s temples had turned completely gray. Every time he thought about how his daughter had faced those wicked people and monsters alone in the Gu residence—how even her body had been lost—his heart felt like it was being torn apart.

“You wretch—how could you leave us behind? How could you bear to make us, your parents, send off our child first? You heartless girl!” His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, weakly pounding Gu Xiyan a few times.

Gu Xiyan’s heart ached unbearably. She quickly moved to support him. “It’s my fault—I was wrong. Dad, please don’t cry. Get up. Du Juan, help me lift him up.”

With Du Juan’s help, Gu Ye barely stood up. He immediately began to inspect Gu Xiyan carefully. “Are you hurt anywhere? How did you escape? Were you terrified? You’ve gotten so thin, and your complexion looks so pale.”

“Dad, I’m fine. A friend saved me,” she said, glancing around as if searching for Ye Qinming.

Only then did Gu Ye notice Ye Qinming. Seeing the young woman dressed simply in green, he gave her a deep bow. “Thank you for saving my daughter. I will never forget your kindness.”

Ye Qinming returned the gesture and said, “There’s no need for thanks. Xiyan is my friend—it was just a small effort. Besides, she has also helped me.”

Although Gu Ye was curious about when his daughter had befriended this person, he couldn’t dwell on it now.

“Yan’er, hurry and see your mother. Since leaving Danyang that day, she has fallen seriously ill. She’s cried so much these days that her eyes are nearly blind.”

Gu Xiyan’s heart tightened with anxiety, and without thinking, she called out instinctively, “Qinming?”

Ye Qinming understood her meaning and said, “Go ahead.”

Gu Ye quickly added, “Du Juan, hurry and invite our benefactor inside. Brew my best Biluochun tea and prepare some refreshments.”

Ye Qinming nodded slightly and said, “My surname is Ye, and my name is Qinming. Uncle, you can just call me by my name.”

Gratitude filled Gu Ye’s heart. “I’ve been neglectful. Once they’ve reunited, our family must properly thank Miss Qinming.”

***

Xie Wan was seriously ill and had been bedridden for a long time. Lying on the bed, she vaguely heard the chaotic cries outside, seemingly mentioning her daughter. Struggling to sit up, she nearly fell off the bed when she saw Gu Xiyan.

The mother and daughter naturally cried together, the pain and joy between them beyond words. Thoughtful as always, Ye Qinming excused herself, claiming to be tired, allowing the family to reunite in peace. The once-grief-stricken room was now filled with laughter and joy. Even Gu Ye, a grown man, couldn’t help but secretly wipe his tears several times.

Gu Xiyan personally fed Xie Wan her medicine and stayed by her side until she fell asleep before leaving. She did not share the details of how she ended up there with Gu Ye, but she knew he likely had his suspicions about Ye Qinming’s identity. However, since Gu Ye showed no hostility toward her and even treated her with care, Gu Xiyan felt reassured.

The Gu family had already learned of Ah Qi and Ah Da’s deaths and had sent someone to inform Xiao Wu and the others to reunite with them. For now, Du Juan was the one attending to Gu Xiyan.

Du Juan and the other maids had entered the Gu household together and shared a deep bond. As Gu Xiyan faced Du Juan, she became unusually quiet.

“My lady, the kitchen has already prepared a meal—it will be ready shortly,” Du Juan said softly.

Gu Xiyan nodded. “Where is Miss Ye, who came with me?”

“She said she wanted to take a walk around the village and didn’t let anyone follow her. She hasn’t returned yet, but since the meal will be ready soon, I’ll send someone to find her.”

Gu Xiyan pondered for a moment before asking, “How many people are still here now?”

“There are currently four maids: myself, Jinxiu, Liuli, and Ying’er. We also have two cooks and eight guards, including Ah Er. The others either got separated or were dismissed by Master and Madam. Zhuo Lang and the others are also here—they’ve been keeping Master and Madam company while you were missing,” Du Juan replied, her voice tinged with sadness.

“You’ve all worked hard,” Gu Xiyan said quietly.

“It’s not hard. As long as you’ve returned safely, that’s all that matters,” Du Juan responded earnestly.

As they were speaking, Zhuo Lang and Ah Er arrived. Upon seeing Gu Xiyan, both the man and the young boy were overwhelmed with mixed emotions. After a long pause, they finally called out, “My lady.”

“Sister Gu,” the boy added softly.

Hearing their voices, Gu Xiyan felt a surge of emotion. After a long silence, she said in a low voice, “I’m sorry—I couldn’t bring Ah Da and Ah Qi back with me.”

Ah Er wiped his tears, the pain evident in his eyes, though his tone was resolute. “My lady, as long as you’ve returned, it was all worth it.”

A lump formed in Gu Xiyan’s throat, and she couldn’t say anything more. She waved her hand, signaling them to leave.

Understanding her sorrow, Ah Er and Du Juan did not linger. Du Juan quietly prepared some tea for her in the side courtyard before leaving.

The small village courtyard was naturally far simpler than the grand Gu estate. The modest layout barely accommodated the dozen or so people staying there. Though the environment was basic, the side courtyard had an old locust tree under which stood a bamboo table and four matching chairs, all neatly arranged.

Seated beneath the locust tree, Gu Xiyan caught the sweet fragrance of the blossoms. For a moment, she felt disoriented, unsure of where she was. Just a month ago, she had been able to leisurely enjoy tea and admire flowers before the danger struck. Now, everything had changed, and there was no going back.

As Gu Xiyan sat there, lost in thought, a breeze swept by. She tilted her head back and extended her hand as locust tree blossoms fluttered down, with a few petals landing softly in her pale palm.

She withdrew her hand, and the lingering melancholy in her heart gradually faded. Hearing movement behind her, she turned and smiled. “You’re back?”

A cheerful, melodious voice came from above her. “I guess I just can’t hide from you—you really are sharp.”

Gu Xiyan didn’t know why, but Ye Qinming always seemed happy around her. Shaking her head with a smile, she replied, “It’s because you never truly wanted to hide.”

Ye Qinming dangled upside down from a branch, a mischievous smile curling at her lips. “Want to climb a tree?”

Gu Xiyan was caught off guard, then laughed despite herself. “Miss Ye, are you planning to leave me stuck in a tree again?”

Ye Qinming burst into laughter. There she goes calling me ‘Miss Ye’ again, she thought. Dropping lightly to the ground in front of Gu Xiyan, she teased, “Young Lady Gu, how petty—you’re still holding onto that.”

“That time, I was mocked endlessly. It was probably the most reckless thing I’ve ever done—climbing down from a tree,” Gu Xiyan chuckled, finding it funny even now.

Seeing her smile more often, Ye Qinming’s gaze softened. “This time, I won’t leave you behind.”

With that, she wrapped her arms around Gu Xiyan, and with a graceful leap, landed on a branch. She spun lightly and settled herself down, placing Gu Xiyan near the trunk. Steadying her by the back, she asked, “Are you sitting securely?”

Sitting high above the ground without support, Gu Xiyan felt a bit tense, but the reassuring hand behind her eased her nerves.

The fragrance of locust blossoms was stronger up here, but what caught Gu Xiyan’s attention was the faint scent lingering on Ye Qinming when she held her. Without realizing it, she leaned slightly closer and took a subtle sniff.

Ye Qinming laughed softly. “What are you doing? You’re like a puppy.”

Feeling embarrassed, Gu Xiyan pursed her lips before saying quietly, “You smell faintly of blood—did you go do something?”

Ye Qinming froze for a moment, lowered her head to sniff herself, and furrowed her brow slightly. There was indeed a trace of something. Thinking back, she realized she must have gotten splattered earlier without noticing. Did she not clean up properly?

“I was being rude,” Gu Xiyan added, thinking her question had made Ye Qinming uncomfortable.

Waving a hand dismissively, Ye Qinming grinned. “Not at all—I’m just amazed by your sharp senses. If you can catch even the slightest scent, I won’t be able to get away with anything in the future. Too easy to get caught red-handed.”

Gu Xiyan only smiled quietly, but inside, a trace of sadness lingered. Ye Qinming was different from her—sooner or later, she would leave and return to the world where she belonged.

“I just took care of a foolish demon wandering nearby,” Ye Qinming said casually, but her words made Gu Xiyan’s heart skip a beat.

“You didn’t get hurt, did you?” Concern was clear on her face. Ye Qinming, for some reason, felt a surge of warmth at her worry. Tilting her head, she smiled playfully. “No injuries—but I did burn through some spiritual energy. If Xiyan is willing to share a little, I wouldn’t say no.”

Lowering her head slightly, Gu Xiyan murmured, “If you want it, you can have it.”

Ye Qinming’s gaze lingered on her soft, pink lips. She licked the corner of her own mouth instinctively but quickly caught herself, feeling like a scoundrel. Clearing her throat, she added, “I was joking. I’m fine—otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to carry you.”

Only then did Gu Xiyan’s racing heart begin to settle. Yet, when Ye Qinming mentioned borrowing spiritual energy, it stirred memories of that kiss in the forest. Even though she knew it was wrong, she found herself unable to control these thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, she lowered her gaze slightly. “Was the demon after me?” she asked softly. The village had always been peaceful, and Ye Qinming hadn’t mentioned any demons before. Yet, as soon as she arrived, Ye Qinming had to go and slay one.

Ye Qinming frowned. “Don’t blame yourself for everything. That wolf demon had already killed many people—it wasn’t an ordinary beast that cultivated into a spirit. It was clearly from the Demon Realm, having escaped into the human world. Creatures like that will harm others sooner or later, whether you’re here or not.”

“I understand,” Gu Xiyan replied softly. “I’m just afraid that my presence will bring misfortune to those around me. Qinming… you mentioned puppet magic—how is it performed?”

She couldn’t bear to leave her parents, but in this world, every gain required a sacrifice. She needed to make her decision soon.

Author’s Note:

Green Tea: You’re so stingy.

White Lotus: Mm, I’ve never been generous. You kiss me, you bully me, I remember it all. I’ll make sure to return it double in the future.

Green Tea: Mm, then I’ll just eat you up, and later you’ll… hehe.

White Lotus: …