How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 88 - Rumbling (2)

There were no other words to describe the horse ride back towards Wu Ying other than−breathtaking. The winter had draped the mountains and valleys with a layer of white and the frozen ponds and trees were glistening under the cold sun. The snow was even thick enough to muffle a lot of the usual surplus and distant background noises, making their journey along the largest river, serene with only the sound of water flowing through rocks or rushing down drops in elevation.

Ghost Valley looked deceptively beautiful and calm under this frosted blanket and brought back memories for Zhou Zi Shu of winter days in his youth back at Four Seasons Manor. Though the winter season was usually very short and only regularly dusted the mountain tops with snow−once in a blue moon they did get snow in the valley below the manor and through the orchards.

Those few times, when the threes would sparkle with frosted snowflakes instead of flower petals, were also those rare occasions when Zhou Zi Shu would actually skip his martial arts training with his junior disciples. Instead, he would go for a long walk along the icy riverbank until he found a good spot to train by his lonesome.

Zhou Zi Shu gazes towards Wen Ke Xing, whom is all bundled up in a thick red outer robe and a large grey scarf, sitting majestically on his grey stallion. Do you remember those winters Ah-Xing?

Having noticed the change in Wen Ke Xing's temperature for the past week, Zhou Zi Shu had made sure to wrap him in thick clothing and ordered their stallions to be kitted with large fur skins. Although Zhou Zi Shu was certain that it was the 'Drunk like a Dream' that was causing the change, he had yet to figure out if it was the insense itself or if it was the memories that was the root cause.

Wen Ke Xing didn't seem to pay attention to it, at least not any concerns that he voiced out loud to Zhou Zi Shu. Though, he had been intrigued as to why he was being pampered all of a sudden and even made a few lascivious suggestions on what they could use the furs for on their way back. Zhou Zi Shu had only laughed, tightened the scarf around that long and slender neck and smacked those wandering hands off his waist before mounting his black stallion and leaving Wen Ke Xing in front of Wuming.

During their ride, Wen Ke Xing had discussed, prodded and questioned the plan thoroughly, a few parts even multiple times until the he had been as satisfied that they had thought of every angle. Though he knew that Zhou Zi Shu had skills beyond what he had imagined, and that these skills were starting to emerge more and more frequently, he still wanted to be prepared for all possibilities if he could.

When they finally approach home and sees the first structures of Wu Ying, Wen Ke Xing reins in his horse and looks over his shoulder, waiting for Zhou Zi Shu to catch up. Motioning for his husband to follow, he beckons his horse forward and steers it up a different trail leading them towards the back of the Long Jiao. Without much thought, Zhou Zi Shu tugs the reins on his horse and follows close behind in silence. The white noise that has been a barely noticeable buzzing in the distance, is now gradually increasing. Zhou Zi Shu's gaze searches until it finds the expected mist further up the trail, hanging over the treetops.

Since Zhou Zi Shu had focused his excursions on areas not connected with Long Jiao, he hadn't explored this part of the Qingya mountains. When the trail opens up into a clearing, a steaming cascading rolling down the mountain side takes up all of his view. The water plunges into a pool that is so warm that even the shores around it are steaming in the cold air.

Zhou Zi Shu takes a few deep breaths and wonders how hot that water is, and if they have time for a relaxing soak before making their final climb up to Wu Ying, when he is suddenly lifted out of his saddle and gently lowered into Wen Ke Xing's arms.

Resting his arms around Zhou Zi Shu's waist, Wen Ke Xing smiles and looks into those walnut-colored ones, his voice excited, "Ah-Xu, do you like this place?"