Chapter 12: A Hair's Breadth

  After knocking on the door three times with no response, Wang Yueheng slowly pushed open the door, and a pungent smell of alcohol rushed out, causing Wang Yueheng and her maid Xiao Zhen to cover their noses.

  Wu Ming unconsciously turned over, tightly wrapped in the quilt and continued to sleep soundly. The even snoring disappeared, replaced by a long, gentle breathing sound.

  "This sloppy drunkard." Little Zhen couldn't help but mutter.

  Wang Yuehan glared at Xiao Zhen with a hint of blame, then quietly walked to the fireplace and examined it carefully for a moment. Her face was full of puzzlement: The fireplace made of neatly arranged block-shaped mountain stones was absolutely a rare novelty. Although it looked rough, it was sturdy and cleverly crafted. The texture of the red and black stones flowed smoothly and intersected with each other, forming a unique aesthetic when combined together.

  Wang Yuehan had only seen similar things in foreign pictures, and for a moment, she felt a strong sense of novelty. She thought of the small cottage's simple and beautiful pointed roof, the elegant exposed balcony two feet off the ground at the entrance, the thick wooden pillars, and the natural fragrance-emitting cedar railings. Looking inside again, she saw the double-layered plate-like walls, stools made from tree roots, simple and practical furniture, and other items. She discovered that every part of the small cottage had a unique, bold, and straightforward style, yet it also exuded a warm and cozy atmosphere.

  Xiao Zhen didn't have Wang Yuehan's vision and mood, pouting her small mouth to add firewood to the fireplace, quickly walking to the back door to open it, in order to disperse the pungent wine smell throughout the house. However, when she pushed open the back door, she was attracted by the sound of running water brought by the long-haired bamboo flying in mid-air. The gurgling water flowed out from the front of the corridor's eaves, pouring down onto the inclined surface of the large stone slab on the ground. Although the amount of water wasn't small, the sound wasn't loud either. The entire setup seemed simple yet was actually very ingenious and convenient.

  Wang Yuehan also came out, and the two of them looked around and whispered to each other, very curious about the sleeping drunkard's exquisite skills.

  Wang Yuehan paused for a moment, then bent down to pick up the wooden bucket with dirty clothes soaking in it. Xiao Zhen immediately rushed over, took the water and picked up the soap nearby, starting to scrub quickly. Wang Yuehan found a broom made of sorghum at the back door, went back inside to sweep the floor, carefully sweeping every corner, then got a towel, dampened it, wrung it out, and meticulously wiped down the few pieces of furniture in the room, not even missing the surface of the stove.

  After finishing, Wang Yuehan's nose was covered with fine sweat beads, her hair at the temples was wet and stuck to her smooth face. Xiao Zhen had already washed several dirty clothes without complaining a word.

  Both of them had a hint of shyness on their faces, yet it was natural and effortless, as if this was what they were supposed to do. Not to mention Wu Ming's cold and stern demeanor had an inexplicable charm to it. Just the fact that Wu Ming had saved them in their time of need filled their hearts with gratitude. At this moment, doing something for Wu Ming within their power seemed insignificant compared to the debt of gratitude they owed him for saving their lives.

  A gust of mountain wind came, and Wang Yuehan hurried to close the front door. The fire in the fireplace stopped shaking and burned brighter, filling the small warm room with a fragrance that slowly spread from the burning incense wood.

  Wang Yuehan stood behind the closed door, surveying the clean and tidy interior, her gaze finally falling on Wu Wei's sharply defined face, his long sword-like eyebrows, straight nose, and slightly raised strong jaw covered in short whiskers, so familiar yet so strange. This handsome face, set off by his disheveled long hair, looked so refined and natural.

  Unconsciously, Wang Yuehan's heart thumped suddenly, and the doubts in her mind grew thicker: it was too similar, too similar!

  "What's wrong with you?"

  Wu Ming woke up with a start and looked at Wang Yuehuan, who had been frightened into jumping up, in stunned silence, unable to believe his eyes.

  Xiao Zhen rushed in quickly upon hearing the noise, saw that nothing was wrong and went out again to dry clothes.

  Wu Ming hastily grabbed his long gown and put it on, quickly lifted his legs to get out of bed and put on his shoes. He walked to the wall stove, calmly poured himself a bowl of water, put down the copper kettle and sat at the low table, silently watching Wang Yuehuan as she gradually came back to herself.

  Wang Yuehan calmed down, hesitated for a moment and sat down in front of Wu Ming, took over the bowl of water handed by Wu Wei, put down the bowl and brushed aside the hair covering her face: "Sorry, I knocked on the door when I came in, the door wasn't locked, after coming in and seeing you weren't awake, it wasn't good to wake you up."

  Wu Ming faced the good-tempered Wang Yuehan, not knowing what to say. He drank a large bowl of water in one gulp, then refilled it and asked, rubbing his temples: "Today isn't a day for worship, why have you all come here?"

  "We came specifically to thank you. On the Qinglong Festival, we couldn't find you and were told that you had gone into the mountains. I reckon you're at home today."

  The sound of shaking clothes came from the backyard, Wu Ming frowned and said in a low voice after a pause: "Let bygones be bygones, there's no need to hold grudges."

  Wang Yuehan trembled slightly, feeling a warmth in her heart. Wasn't the sentence "no need to bear grudges" also a kind of understanding and comfort? Wu Ming's seemingly ordinary words moved Wang Yuehan deeply.

  Wang Yuehan lowered her head to take a sip of water, hiding the panic in her eyes. After a long while, she gently put down the bowl and mustered up the courage to gaze steadily into Wu Ming's aloof eyes: "I've been asking around for a long time, only knowing that your surname is Wu. The villagers at the foot of the mountain said you're a Taoist priest from the ancestral temple of Longhu Mountain, with exceptional medical skills and a warm heart..."

  "What did you want to say?" Wu Ming interrupted Wang Yuehan's words somewhat roughly.

  Wang Yuhe bit her lip: "You look very much like someone, that person is my brother, the second term of Huangpu Military Academy in Guangzhou, unfortunately killed in battle in Wuchang four years ago during the Northern Expedition, our family has his photo hanging in the main hall."

  Wu Ming stared into Wang Yuehan's eyes: "Don't you think it's absurd? There are many people in the world who look alike, I'm a poor man's child, growing up in the mountains since childhood, and I don't seem to have any relationship with the brother you mentioned. Miss Wang, if there's nothing else, please leave!"

  Xiao Zhen finished hanging the clothes and returned to the house, heard this and stomped her foot in anger. Wang Yuehan stood up with difficulty, just about to apologize and leave, when she suddenly remembered something. She slowly raised her head and looked into Wu Ming's eyes: "Mr. Wu, how did you know my surname is Wang?"

  Wu Ming quickly reacted: "I heard that Cheng Yuan's younger brother said you looked for me twice. Some things shouldn't be said, but I still want to tell you, in a few days I will leave this place for a long journey, if Miss Wang wants to thank me in person, she has already done so."

  "What's wrong with you? People down the mountain said you were very good, but I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. Miss and I have gone up the mountain four times to thank you, was it easy?" Little Jing couldn't help but loudly complain.

  "Xiao Zhen!" Wang Yuehan quietly pulled Xiao Zhen, who leaned on Wang Yuehan's arm and glared at Wu Ming with a huff.

  Wu Ming stood up: "Little girl, don't be arrogant and argue for a moment's verbal victory. If you're not careful, in the future you might not only harm yourself, but also implicate your family's young lady."

  "You..." Xiaozhen was speechless, suddenly remembering that her old grandfather at home had scolded her for this before, saying the same phrase "disaster comes from the mouth" and she had also vowed to correct herself.

  "Thank you, Mr. Wu!" Wang Yuexuan, who understood people's intentions, helped Xiao Zhen out of the predicament. She knew that although Wu Ming's words were harsh, they were also for Xiao Zhen and her own good.

  "You're welcome, you've already thanked me."

  Wu Ming finished speaking and returned to the bedside, quickly putting on his shoes and fastening his Taoist robe. He strode over to open the door, walked out into the front courtyard, and stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing up at the sky where dark clouds were gathering. A sense of unease arose in his heart for no reason.

  The mountain wind grew stronger, and the tall ginkgo trees shed their yellow leaves one by one. The bamboo swayed gently, and the forest waves rose and fell, as if it was going to rain.

  Wang Yuehan and Xiao Zhen, wearing their woolen coats, arrived behind Wu Ming. They saw Wu Ming staring blankly at the sky where dark clouds were surging, his long hair fluttering in the strong wind. Wang Yuehan was momentarily stunned.

  She paused for a moment, and then politely bid farewell to Wu Ming. She hastily left with Xiao Zhen, walking along the winding path shaded by bamboo groves. As she walked, Wang Yuehan suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if she had seen the hidden sorrow deep within Wu Ming's cold eyes, and his tall figure seemed especially lonely.

  Wang Yuehan suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned around, her beautiful eyes flushing with a hint of red. She didn't know why she felt this way or why she was so lost and hurt. All she knew was that perhaps from now on, she would never see the shadow that had suddenly burst into her dreams again.

  Two people walked out of the mountain gate, along the winding stone steps hastily descended hundreds of meters. The howling wind suddenly stopped, and the sky was a dull gray, with all sounds hushed. A few large drops of icy rain fell down, hitting the stone steps with a pattering sound. Xiao Zhen looked up at the sky in alarm, discovering a vast veil of rain hanging under the western sky, quickly submerging the distant mountains.

  Xiao Zhen hastily pulled Wang Yuehan, and they ran together to the recessed rock wall beside the mountain road: "Miss, hide from the rain first, you've just recovered from your illness, getting wet will definitely make you fall ill again. I'll run down the mountain to call Maolin Uncle to bring an umbrella to pick you up, there's also a raincoat in the carriage."

  "Xiao Zhen, be careful!" Wang Yuehan shouted loudly as Xiao Zhen rushed down the mountain.

  The raindrops grew larger and larger, mixed with hailstones that poured down from the sky amidst the rain curtain, filling the air with the roar of strong winds and the sound of rain.

  Splashing rainwater didn't leak over the tightly attached rock wall under Wang Yuehuan, her face was streaming with water, and her whole body was chilled to the bone.

  Suddenly, an oil-paper umbrella covered the gap above the rock wall. Dazed Wang Yueheng smelled that familiar breath and slowly opened her eyes to gaze at Wu Ming's familiar face with a complex expression.

  Wu Ming's shirt was already soaked, water droplets rolling down from his wet hair, but his eyes were still as cold as ever. After making sure Wang Yuehan could walk on her own, he took the lead and walked in front of her, escorting her down the slippery stone steps.

  Wang Yuehan carefully followed, seeing Wu Ming walking half a step ahead of her, yet holding the entire umbrella over his own head. Her heart surged with inexplicable excitement and sadness, as uncontrollable tears welled up and rolled down, mingling with the rainwater.