Moonlit Reunion [子夜归]

Chapter 18

Mei Zhuyu ultimately decided against going early to clear the mountain forest. Handling the spirits and creatures in the wild without reason would be too disruptive. Although it was outside the city, causing too much commotion might catch the attention of the two overseers of Chang'an's demon market, creating unnecessary trouble for the planned trip to Azalea Mountain.

Another important reason was that he didn't have the time. The night before their outing, he was busy bathing, changing into clean clothes, and burning incense to pay respects to his ancestral master, praying for a smooth journey. At the temple, when his two younger disciples occasionally went out on risky tasks, they would bathe, light incense, and pray respectfully to the master for protection. Mei Zhuyu had never done this himself before, but this time was different; he hoped things would go smoothly.

After all, going out with the one he secretly admired made him feel nervous. His master and fellow seniors were all celibate cultivators who had never spent time with women, so naturally, they had never taught him how to handle such situations. Even though Mei Zhuyu was a fierce Daoist capable of defeating demons hundreds of years old, in this unfamiliar realm, he was completely out of his element.

After offering incense to the ancestral master with reverence, Mei Zhuyu sat by the window, gazing intently at the stars above, his fingers moving subtly in calculation. After a while, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Thankfully, the weather looked promising for tomorrow—no rain, and they should be able to set out smoothly.

In contrast to Mei Zhuyu's careful preparations, Wu Zhen had almost forgotten about the outing. She had arranged to play polo with someone, met a decent opponent, and, caught up in the excitement, ended up staying at the polo grounds for two days straight. Wu Zhen was interested in many things, but her enthusiasm rarely lasted long; after a few days, she would lose interest completely. Nearly everyone who knew her understood that, while she knew a bit about many things, she rarely took anything seriously.

After two days of polo, she had tired her new opponent out, leaving him sprawled like a dead dog. During a break, Mei Si came over and asked, "Sister Zhen, is it true you're going to Azalea Mountain tomorrow with my cousin? Are you taking us with you?"

Only then did Wu Zhen remember her plans. Taking a sip of water, she waved Mei Si off, saying, "We're spending time alone to nurture our connection. Why would I bring you along to mess things up?"

"Not sure whether this bittersweet feeling was envy or something else." Mei Si thought to himself.

Having remembered her date, Wu Zhen promptly tossed her polo stick aside. "I'm heading back." Midway out, she turned to her followers, fixing them with a knowing look. "Tomorrow, go wherever you want, but you are not to show up at Azalea Mountain. Got it?"

After all, the young gentleman seemed shy; if they showed up to watch, it might make him uncomfortable.

"...Yes, Zhen-jie." They had planned to follow and peek, but now that she had warned them, it was too risky. If only they'd kept quiet; they could have followed secretly tomorrow.

After a good night's rest, Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu set off on horseback, full of energy. The morning markets weren't open yet, but the streets of the local wards were already lively. Many vendors carried their wares through the alleys, calling out to customers, while breakfast stalls began winding down. Women washed clothes and vegetables in the canals, chatting about family matters. Men off to work hurried along, while idle fellows gathered under the trees at street corners to play chess or listen to storytelling. Wu Zhen caught a bit of a conversation about last year's Dragon Boat Race during the Dragon Boat Festival.