[Translation] Fate Chooses You (佳偶天成) by Shi Si Lang (十四郎): Chapter 7: Qianqiao’s Worries

 

On the third floor of the restaurant, the private room was separated by green bamboo curtains, the scent of wine filling the air. When Lu Qianqiao lifted the curtain, he paused in surprise — Lord Meishan was gone. Only an unfamiliar man remained, reclining lazily beside a low table as he poured himself wine. Seeing the two suddenly barge in, he neither startled nor angered, merely smiled faintly.

“Ah…” Xinmei did not know whether to feel relieved or something else. Lord Meishan was gone, and the man left behind was called… Fu Jiuyun, right?

“Meishan already slipped away,” he said leisurely, as though enjoying a show. “You came a little too late.”

Lu Qianqiao never wasted words. He turned to leave at once, but Fu Jiuyun called after him again.

“Wait a moment. Why are you looking for him?”

“That’s none of your business.”

The bamboo curtain swayed as he stepped outside.

“I know where he lives.”

That casual sentence stopped the frost-covered man outside in his tracks. Fu Jiuyun poked his head through the curtain and smiled carelessly.

“Agree to one condition, and I’ll tell you where he lives.”

…

Spring wind carried flower petals through the window. Xinmei could not help yawning. Across from her came Fu Jiuyun’s gentle voice:

“Don’t move. I haven’t finished drawing yet.”

She could only stiffly resume her pose — standing beside the window, holding a peach blossom branch and smiling until her cheeks hurt.

A moment ago they had clearly been negotiating terms. She had already prepared herself to seize a chance to run if the two men started fighting. Who knew Fu Jiuyun would simply point at her and say:

“Lend me this little girl. I’ll paint her portrait, and then I’ll tell you where Meishan lives.”

Xinmei was speechless.

Lu Qianqiao sat opposite Fu Jiuyun, holding a wine cup and silently gazing at the spring scenery outside the window, seemingly lost in thought. A few flower petals drifted into his wine, but he did not notice and drank it all in one gulp.

“I’ve heard…” Fu Jiuyun suddenly spoke into the silence, “that in the far western lands there exists a clan descended from the ancient War Ghosts. All possess crimson eyes with double pupils, sharper features than ordinary people, proud temperaments, and they rarely grow close to others. Regardless of gender, once they reach twenty-five years old, they must face an extremely dangerous trial. More than half the clan dies at that age. Is that true?”

Lu Qianqiao said nothing.

“During the ancient war between gods and demons, the War Ghost clan contributed greatly, and so the gods blessed them with earth-shaking abilities. Unfortunately, this is now the age where the gods have vanished. Without divine protection, the War Ghost clan has gradually declined, and that trial at twenty-five has become fatal once more. I imagine the clan is deeply troubled by this.”

Only then did Lu Qianqiao move. He set down his wine cup, his voice calm.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Fu Jiuyun smiled.

“Nothing in particular. I’m simply unlike Meishan — I actually know a little about these hidden matters. As for how a War Ghost with mixed human blood survives that trial… I know nothing at all. For answers to that, only Meishan can help you.”

After speaking, he suddenly clapped his hands.

“Where is Qinniang? Bring wine. Bring music.”

Sure enough, a beautiful married woman entered from behind the bamboo curtain, filled their cups, then withdrew. Moments later, the sound of a zither flowed like spring water, easing the stagnant tension inside the room.

Father had once said that men who spent money drinking and fooling around with women outside were no good. This man managed to fit both categories perfectly. Xinmei rolled her eyes in disdain.

Fu Jiuyun tapped the low table.

“You there, little girl. Stop twitching your eyelids. It looks ugly.”

Ahhh! Xinmei desperately wanted to jump out the window.

As the sun gradually set behind the western hills, Fu Jiuyun finally completed the portrait. He seemed very satisfied with it, smiling at it for quite a while before beckoning Xinmei over.

“Come take a look yourself.”

Dragging her aching legs over, she glanced at the painting — and was instantly shocked.

Who was this glamorous beauty in the portrait, standing tall and proud, overflowing with confidence?!

Fu Jiuyun smiled smugly.

“You’re still far too immature right now, completely lacking charm. I kindly painted you as if you were two years older. Use this as your goal and work hard to grow up, understand?”

Xinmei’s eyes filled with grateful tears.

“Even though you’re full of bad intentions, I never expected you to paint so well! Amazing!”

The motion of handing over the painting paused. Smiling kindly, he asked:

“…What did you just say?”

“Amazing!”

“The sentence before that.”

“I never expected you to paint so well!”

“Before that.”

“You’re full of bad intentions.”

He neatly folded the painting and tucked it into his sleeve, suddenly no longer interested.

“That’s enough for today. Meishan lives at Meishan Residence on Whitehead Mountain to the south. Go find him yourself.”

What happened to him? Was he suddenly feeling unwell? Xinmei scratched her head in confusion, only to be dragged downstairs by Lu Qianqiao immediately afterward.

Fu Jiuyun turned to Qinniang and asked:

“Do you have a mirror?”

Blushing, Qinniang handed him a small bronze mirror. He examined himself from the front, the side, upside down, every possible angle.

Exactly where was he “full of bad intentions”?

What a depressing question…

Lu Qianqiao walked extremely fast. After leaving the restaurant, he headed south at a rapid pace. Xinmei had no choice but to jog after him while clutching her stomach. She was hungry… but that heartless General Piaoji certainly would not kindly let her eat.

At times like this, one had to rely on oneself.

With sharp eyes, she spotted a sesame pancake stall by the roadside. The owner had just arranged freshly baked pancakes in neat rows, still steaming hot. Xinmei immediately grabbed four of them with one hand while tossing several copper coins down with the other, all while being dragged forward.

“I already paid!” she shouted over her shoulder.

Taking a bite, she discovered they were made with genuine duck fat. What an honest vendor. She quickly devoured three of them, leaving her hands greasy. Unable to find a handkerchief, she noticed Lu Qianqiao’s flowing green robe ahead of her.

It looked… surprisingly soft…

Secretly grabbing a corner of his robe, she vigorously wiped her hands on it. Just as she lowered her head to wipe her mouth too, he suddenly stopped. Unable to halt in time, Xinmei slammed hard into his back, stumbled backward several steps, then was yanked forward again by the invisible force of the Binding Demon Rope before he finally caught her.

Looking up, she saw they had arrived at an inn. Xinmei covered her face in shock.

H-he… could it be they were about to enact that classic cliché where a lone man and woman spend the night together in one room, leading to endless romantic tension and heart-pounding moments?!

This was bad. Hard tactics had failed, so now he was trying emotional tactics! She had to stay alert, alert…

Lu Qianqiao glanced at her.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

Eh? Her poor little heart immediately began racing…

He smiled faintly, somewhat mockingly.

“Unfortunately, you’ll be disappointed.”

Then he dragged her onward. They walked and walked… right out of the city.

…

So rigid and cold-hearted — no wonder the emperor demoted him to guard the imperial tombs…

Xinmei squatted tearfully in a forest outside the city, building a fire. The Binding Demon Rope had been tied to an ancient tree so massive that ten people together could barely encircle it. Unless she possessed the strength to uproot mountains, she might as well obediently tend the fire.

When Lu Qianqiao returned carrying a waterskin, the fire was already blazing. He removed an ordinary-looking leather pouch from his waist and took out an iron stand, a small iron pot, a bag of flour, several strips of dried meat, bowls, chopsticks, seasonings, and other miscellaneous items. Xinmei stared in amazement.

She had heard of a treasure called a Universe Bag, crafted hundreds of years ago by an immortal artisan from Zhouyue Kingdom. It looked completely ordinary on the outside, like an old worn pouch, but inside it could practically contain heaven and earth. Fewer than ten had ever been made. Aside from one preserved in the Qiong Kingdom imperial palace, the rest had vanished without a trace. She never imagined this poker-faced man actually possessed such a treasure.

He poured water into the pot and set it over the fire. Then he kneaded dough, pinched it into little lumps, and dropped them into the boiling water along with wild vegetables and dried meat. His movements were natural and efficient, as though he had performed such ordinary tasks thousands of times before.

The mighty General Piaoji people spoke of… the War Ghost with mixed human blood… even the bandit who supposedly wanted to force an innocent girl into becoming his bandit wife… all of those identities suddenly seemed strangely distant.

After adding seasonings and simmering it for a while, a rich aroma filled the air. Xinmei instantly became so hungry her eyes could not leave the pot. But after thinking about it carefully, she concluded this man certainly would not share food with her. Hesitantly, she pulled out the last duck-fat pancake from her robe and wondered whether to eat it.

“Eat.”

He filled a bowl with the cooked dough soup and placed it by her feet.

Xinmei froze for a long time before reacting.

“Uh… th-thank you…”

Carefully sipping the broth, she found it savory with a hint of spice. Though she was not quite used to the flavor, it was unexpectedly delicious. As she drank, she secretly watched the firelight flicker across his face.

He seemed to have many worries…

She cleared her throat.

“There’s no hardship in the world that can’t be overcome…”

So hurry up and let me go already! she screamed internally.

Lu Qianqiao looked at her somewhat unexpectedly. Her bright eyes sparkled with hopeful anticipation. He turned away again, his voice calm.

“Go to sleep after you finish eating.”

Hah! She refused to believe he had no weaknesses!

Xinmei moved the fire aside, spread a blanket over the warm ground, and curled up fully clothed pretending to sleep, leaving only the tiniest slit between her eyelids as she secretly watched his back. He sat motionless beneath the tree with his back to her. The mountain forest at midnight was deathly quiet except for the crackling of the fire.

After who knew how long, Xinmei thought he might have fallen asleep. Quietly, she slipped a hand into her robe, intending to release Qiuyue and have it knock him unconscious.

The instant she moved, he turned around as though he had eyes in the back of his head, looking at her mockingly.

“What are you trying to do?”

His mood seemed slightly better. That question was even asked leisurely.

Xinmei laughed awkwardly.

“N-nothing… I think a bug bit me…”

“I know you possess a powerful spirit beast.” Lu Qianqiao smiled faintly, though the smile radiated killing intent. “Unless you want roast pelican for tomorrow’s meal, go to sleep quietly.”

Roast pelican?! He meant roasting Qiuyue and eating it?!

Even Qiuyue, transformed into talisman paper inside her robe, trembled three times and desperately burrowed deeper inside.

With tearful eyes, Xinmei turned over and went to sleep. Fine. He won this round.