Chapter 1680: Everything One Could Ask For
Young Hero Zhang stood atop the tree canopy as well, his face filled with shock and anger as he stared at Xu Yu and Fang Chen. He had never expected that the dignified princess would openly admire the moon with another man inside the royal residence.
He wondered if that was her so-called teacher.
Xu Yu turned and glanced at him, her expression darkening slightly. "You? What are you doing here?"
Young Hero Zhang cupped his fist. "Princess, I was worried about your safety."
"I'm inside the royal residence. What danger could there be?" replied Xu Yu calmly. "As for you, leave at once. Do not disturb the refined mood between my teacher and me."
Young Hero Zhang's face flushed red and pale in turns. He stared at Fang Chen in defiance. "Teacher? What teacher is this? I've never heard that the Xu Family had invited a teacher for you. And besides, since when does a teacher admire the moon alone with his disciple? If word spreads of a lone man and woman together like this, I'm afraid it would tarnish your reputation."
"You're meddling too much in my affairs." Xu Yu seemed to understand his meaning and replied coolly, "Jealousy will cloud your judgment. I advise you to leave now. I'll pretend nothing happened tonight."
"Leave?"
Young Hero Zhang hadn't expected such treatment. The deep admiration in his heart suddenly twisted into petty anger. He growled, "If I shout right now, I wonder whether His Highness would be furious upon discovering the princess and her teacher here admiring the moon?"
"I already told my father and mother when I came out," responded Xu Yu.
Young Hero Zhang froze for a moment, recalling that detail, then quickly changed tack. "There are many honored guests at the residence tonight. If they see this, who knows what rumors will circulate in the marketplace tomorrow?"
"So you're threatening me. Then go ahead and shout," Xu Yu said coldly.
"Princess, do not force me." His face grew darker.
Xu Yu sighed. "Go on. I'm quite curious what sort of stories will spread tomorrow. In any case, I have no intention of marrying in this lifetime."
That sentence ignited the fire of jealousy in his heart, burning away his reason. The next moment, a sharp cry rang throughout the residence.
Guards swarmed in from all directions. Xu Deshou and the others stepped out from the banquet hall.
When they saw the scene in the treetop, their expressions turned strange.
"Isn't that Young Hero Zhang?"
"The princess is there too. And the other is..."
Some glanced toward Xu Deshou for clues.
"Your Highness," Young Hero Zhang called down from above, "Your daughter is here admiring the moon with her teacher, alone together. I fear it may be improper."
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Xu Deshou narrowed his eyes, then suddenly smiled. "Young Hero Zhang, how considerate of you. Come down first. I will handle this matter."
"Yes!"
Young Hero Zhang leapt down gracefully, landing lightly.
Several young women watched with even greater admiration.
He had just landed before Xu Deshou and was about to speak when Xu Deshou struck him on the crown of the head with a palm.
Blood burst from his seven orifices.
"W-why..."
His eyes bulged as he stared at Xu Deshou. Confusion, disbelief, unwillingness, and questioning all mingled within them. Then his life force faded.
Silence fell.
"Throw him out to feed the dogs," Xu Deshou instructed calmly.
Young Hero Zhang's body was quickly carried away.
"Yu'er, I won't disturb you and Teacher Fang anymore."
Xu Deshou waved toward the treetop and warmly invited the guests back to continue the feast.
After that day, all manner of rumors spread through the city.
***
Time flowed on.
A handsome young man stood respectfully before Fang Chen. "Teacher, I don't quite understand this cultivation method..."
After receiving clarification, his face lit up with delight. "Thank you, Teacher!"
He bowed gratefully, then glanced nervously at Xu Yu nearby.
"Elder Sister... I'll take my leave?"
Xu Yu, now in her thirties, smiled and nodded. "Go on."
After he left, she sighed softly. "My younger brother's martial attainments have probably surpassed Father's at his peak."
She paused and looked at Fang Chen. "Teacher, why do you teach him but not me?"
"Wouldn't it be nice to rest?" Fang Chen smiled faintly. "The Dongsheng Empire is peaceful now. There's little need for martial arts. Without martial training, you get to see different scenery."
"Different scenery..."
***
That year, the two went travelling together. They spent twenty years away.
When they returned to the Xu residence, Xu Deshou's lifespan was nearly exhausted, and the once-young boy had grown into a mature man.
He respectfully led them to the sickbed.
"T-Teacher..." Xu Deshou stretched out a trembling hand toward Fang Chen, but lacked the strength. It fell back to the bed.
"Father, I'm back," Xu Yu called out softly at the bedside.
Xu Deshou nodded weakly. "It's good that you've returned... good..."
"Father may be heading to reincarnation soon..." said Xu Yu's brother. He tentatively glanced at Fang Chen. "Teacher... is there... a method for immortality?"
Fang Chen smiled and shook his head.
Xu Deshou sighed, closed his eyes, and breathed his last.
Xu Yu's younger brother, who resembled their father, sighed. "Father held on to his last breath just to ask Teacher that question."
Xu Yu gazed at her father's body. "Death is not the end. Father has gone to reincarnate. Don't be too sad."
Her brother glanced at Fang Chen, still as youthful as ever, and found himself believing her.
***
Xu Deshou's funeral was grand.
Afterward, Fang Chen and Xu Yu never left the Xu Family residence again. Her nieces and nephews often came to chat with them, sometimes asking Fang Chen whether he was truly an immortal. Only after they themselves grew into their thirties did they stop asking.
As for Xu Yu, she calmly accepted her aging. She believed that in this life she was a mortal, and mortals had to grow old. The only thing that made her uncomfortable was that Fang Chen remained far too young.
In a pavilion within the residence courtyard, Xu Yu leaned gently against Fang Chen's shoulder, watching the sun set.
"Teacher, what was I like in the life before the last?"
"When you were young, you were obedient. When you got old, you became rebellious."
"That must have caused you much trouble, Teacher."
"Not too much."
Fang Chen looked down at her. "If you're tired, close your eyes and rest."
Her life force was nearly spent.
Xu Yu slowly closed her eyes and murmured softly, so softly that only someone close could hear.
"All I sought in this life... was a good companion by my side... Teacher... is my good companion."
