Chapter 7: Youqin’s Inquiry into the Heart Requires Cultivation

Inside a small courtyard at the foot of the prefectural city walls, the frail Qin Youqin paced back and forth in her room, her face etched with worry. Nearly two hours had passed since she parted ways with Qin Anyu, and his failure to return left her anxious, fearing that something might have gone wrong.

Suddenly, she heard a sound at the courtyard gate. She rushed to the window, pushed it open just a sliver, and peered out. Upon catching sight of the figure standing at the gate, her hesitation vanished, replaced by a joyful cry: "Young Master is back!"

She flung the door open and dashed out. Seeing that Qin Anyu was leading a horse, she reached out toward the large bundle tied to its back. Noticing her running with one arm dangling limply, yet still attempting to take the heavy load, Qin Anyu pressed a hand against her forehead. "I'll handle this; go tether the horse."

Unable to reach, she relented, taking the reins and hanging them on a post before securing the gate. She hurried back to the room, looked into Qin Anyu’s eyes, and asked, "Young Master, did you kill the ones who needed to be killed?"

He smiled. "Not all of them."

Qin Youqin let out an "Oh" before continuing, "Young Master, will we be living here from now on?"

Qin Anyu turned to look at her. "I am heading into the mountains. Will you come?"

Her gaze was resolute. "As long as Young Master does not mind that I am disabled, I will follow you until the day I die."

Qin Anyu sighed inwardly. "From now on, don't call me Young Master. Just call me Brother."

She shook her head violently. "No. Young Master is Young Master."

"What if I insist that you leave if you don't?" he asked.

Qin Youqin hesitated for a moment, then replied firmly, "Young Master will always be Young Master. Calling you anything else would make my heart ache."

*This girl has been thoroughly brainwashed,* Qin Anyu thought with another sigh. *I shall let her be.*

Before he could speak, she asked, "Young Master, are we going to the mountains now?"

*Gurgle, gurgle…*

Her stomach let out a hollow growl, and she instantly looked embarrassed.

"You didn't go out to eat?" he asked.

She feigned composure and waved her hand. "I wasn't hungry then. I was waiting for you to return so we could cook and eat together."

He tapped her forehead. "Still so silly. Even sillier than me."

She pouted. "Young Master isn't silly at all; it's those other people who are."

Ignoring her habitual deference, Qin Anyu untied the bundle and brought out four oil-paper packages, a clay pot, and a jar of wine. "I knew you would be foolish enough to starve yourself. There is as much roast chicken and duck as you can eat, but only one pot of wild mushroom soup."

She giggled. "I'll go get the bowls."

Moments later, she returned with three bowls and two pairs of chopsticks. She placed two bowls before him. "Young Master, one for the soup, one for the wine."

After pouring him a drink and serving him the soup, she said, "Young Master, I will go buy some flatbread."

Qin Anyu pushed two oil-paper packages toward her. "There is flatbread in the bundle. Drink your soup and eat the meat first. Sit down and eat."

She scurried to check the bundle and gasped, "So many packages, so much flatbread?"

Qin Anyu asked, "You only see the food, but did you not notice all the gold, the banknotes, and the medicinal herbs?"

Qin Youqin laughed softly. "I saw them. But as long as there is food, I won't go hungry..."

Her voice trailed off. Qin Anyu understood what she meant—she must have suffered greatly during her time at the Qin estate. "Drink your soup, then eat the rest. Eat quickly; we must be on our way."

Seeing her scoop up some soup and tear off a small piece of bread to eat by the door, he tapped the table. "Sit across from me and eat."

She shook her head like a rattle. "I cannot. I am a servant; I cannot sit at the same table as my master."

He glared at her fiercely. "Have you forgotten how to listen?"

Seeing his stern expression, she blinked, placed the bread and soup on the table, pulled a stool over to the wall, and sat there instead. "Young Master, I will eat here."

She took a sip of soup, followed by a small, slow bite of bread. Watching her, Qin Anyu realized this was the limit of what she could manage, so he stopped pressing the issue. "Did those who made you go hungry receive their punishment?"

A month ago, when she had delivered the money and herbs, she had been full-cheeked and energetic. Now, her face was gaunt, and her arms were nothing but bone. Aside from her bright eyes, she was a pitiful sight. One could only imagine the inhuman torment she had endured.

At his sudden question, she began to cough violently. She quickly covered her mouth with the bread and took several sips of soup, eventually calming down. "Thank you, Young Master. Those people received the punishment they deserved."

He took a sip of wine and a piece of chicken. "I could only do that much for you. If any escaped, you will have to take your own revenge in the future."

Qin Youqin shook her head. "Young Master has already helped me take revenge; it is more than I ever expected."

Qin Anyu asked, "Do you like to cultivate?"

Her eyes turned red and watery, her mouth hanging open in shock until she saw the crumbs on her own lips. She quickly closed her mouth, finished the bread with a gulp of soup, and replied, "I do not like it."

"You truly don't?"

"Young Master, you have left the Qin estate now; there is no longer a source for money or herbs. Once we enter the mountains, I will search for herbs to ensure your supply."

"Do you truly not like cultivation?"

"Young Master, please don't try to comfort me. Even setting aside the money and herbs, with this crippled arm of mine, it is impossible for me to cultivate."

"Do you want to cultivate?"

Seeing him persist in the question, she took a deep breath and shouted, "Young Master, I want to cultivate!" Her voice dropped immediately after. "But..."

Qin Anyu interrupted her: "As long as you want to, leave the rest to me."

She stared at him, her eyes wide, tears finally spilling over. She nodded vigorously, choking out, "Yes, I leave it to Young Master."

He was never comfortable with such displays, so he tore off half a roast chicken and handed it to her. "You've finished the soup and the bread; now eat this."

Seeing her hesitate, he added, "Cultivation requires a strong body."

She stood up at once, took the chicken, and began to eat ravenously. Her eyes gleamed with intensity, even as tears streamed down her face. Watching her, Qin Anyu could only sigh. Although his own cultivation was not yet fully restored, he could vaguely discern that her aptitude was excellent. In the Immortal Realm, such talent would have been discovered by major powers at a very young age, yet here, it had been left to wither in the dust.

Geniuses were everywhere, but without the right soil or environment, they could only remain ordinary. As he thought this, a sense of inexplicable joy arose within him. He understood why, and muttered to himself in his heart: *Since she is your friend, she is my friend. But as you can see, she is too bound by etiquette. This is not my fault, and you never succeeded in changing her, either.*

He found himself laughing at his own thoughts. The dignified Immortal Emperor Wowo—when had he ever had the patience to explain such trivial matters to a mere mortal?