"What's gotten into you?"
"If you keep this up, I'll hit back!"
"Enough is enough."
"We're not that close, so don't throw a tantrum at me."
After a brief commotion, Zhu Zan proved he wasn't making empty threats. In a few swift moves, he snatched the branch away and tossed it aside.
"Don't think I won't hit a woman." He stared at the woman glaring at him with clenched fists. "If anyone hits me, I'll hit them back, whether they're a man, woman, or child—I don't care."
Miss Jun glared at him fiercely without saying a word, her emotions clearly still running high.
Zhu Zan shifted into another defensive stance.
"Miss Jun, we're just doing business. Say what you need to say and leave it at that. Don't take your anger out on me. I've neither the time nor the mood for your drama." His tone grew serious.
Miss Jun stared at him for a moment before holding out her hand.
"Hand it over," she said.
Though her voice was hoarse and curt, Zhu Zan didn't question her; he knew exactly what she meant.
Hesitating briefly, as if afraid she might pounce on him, he carefully tossed the Immortal Ziying Plant to her from a few steps away.
Miss Jun caught it and took a step forward.
Zhu Zan instantly raised his arm in a defensive posture and stepped back, but she simply brushed past him and walked in the other direction.
"Now we're even," Miss Jun said without turning her head. "You can go. Get lost, far away. And don't let me see you again."
Her hair and clothes were a bit disheveled from her earlier frenzy, but her voice and posture had regained their composure. There was no sign of the madness from before.
And with that, she left. First striding briskly, then breaking into a run. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.
Zhu Zan stood frozen, still in his defensive stance as if not quite processing what just happened. Only when he saw her vanish at the mountain pass did he straighten up.
"What kind of nonsense was that?" he muttered.
Looking back, the whole situation felt downright bizarre—especially since it was the first time he'd seen her cry and throw such a tantrum.
Zhu Zan gazed at Miss Jun's disappearing silhouette.
"First playing hard to get, huh?" he scoffed knowingly. "Not falling for it."
With that, he strode off in the opposite direction and soon vanished into the valley.
The valley returned to its tranquil state. The scattered rocks on the ground, the rope lying among the grass, and the branch tossed carelessly aside all seemed oddly fitting in this desolate place. Within a day or two, they'd blend seamlessly into the surroundings.
Who knows how long passed. A gust of wind swept through, stirring the grass and trees, breaking the stillness of the valley. Then came the sound of footsteps—Zhu Zan had returned.
Gone was the lighthearted, carefree demeanor from earlier. His face was calm and pensive as he first looked up at the cliff, then scanned his surroundings. Finally, he walked over and picked up the rope lying on the ground.
He handled the rope like a miser unwilling to part with it. Although it had failed to serve its purpose on the cliff earlier, perhaps it might still prove useful elsewhere.
Instead of putting it away, Zhu Zan examined the rope's ends intently.
There were two ends. One was tied in a knot—the one he had fastened to his waist but had to cut with his blade, leaving a clean cut.
Zhu Zan then picked up the other end and ran his fingers over it—it too had a clean cut. His expression darkened.
............…
"See this?"
Zhu Zan strode over to Miss Jun, who was sitting by the mountainside trail snacking on dried meat, and threw the rope down in front of her.
Miss Jun showed no surprise at his sudden appearance.
Nor did Zhu Zan bother explaining why he'd followed her. His presence here didn't feel out of place at all.
It was as if they were always like this—one sitting, one standing, together in this spot.
Miss Jun glanced at the rope on the ground and said nothing.
"I wasn't trying to scare you, nor was I unprepared when the accident happened," Zhu Zan said. "I was sabotaged."
Miss Jun lowered her gaze, chewing on the dried meat.
"So what?" she said. "Whether it's poor preparation or getting sabotaged, doesn't it all come down to your own stupidity?"
"Hey!" Zhu Zan exclaimed. "How can those be the same thing?"
"You're so smart, yet you didn't notice someone was scheming against you? What is that if not stupidity?" Miss Jun retorted.
Zhu Zan was about to say something when Miss Jun raised a hand, waving her piece of dried meat.
"No, I misspoke," she said.
Zhu Zan squinted down at her.
Miss Jun lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.
"It's not your stupidity. It's that the other person is too skilled and cunning," she said.
Wasn't that still an insult?
Zhu Zan glared but then abruptly crossed his arms and took a step back, scrutinizing her with a frown.
"Who taught you this? Why are you so improper?" he asked.
Taught by whom?
By someone even more conceited and capable than you—someone who eventually died foraging for this very herb.
Miss Jun looked down at the dried meat in her hand, and the emotions she had worked so hard to suppress resurfaced.
Zhu Zan noticed this and quickly interjected.
"Hey, hey, don't lose your temper again," he said. "I'm innocent. Even if my actions stirred up memories of someone else, it's not fair for you to lash out at me."
His forthrightness disarmed her, and her emotions subsided.
Indeed, he wasn't truly foolish. Though he sometimes pretended to act silly, deep down, he understood things quite clearly.
Her earlier outburst hadn't been sheer madness—it was obvious she had been triggered by past memories and events.
"What's so hard to understand? People and their affairs—there's always a person behind every incident," Zhu Zan said. Then, looking at Miss Jun, he added, "There's no love or hate without cause in this world. Which is why I can't figure out—why do you act so oddly toward my family? What's so unspeakable about it?"
Miss Jun slowly brought the dried meat to her mouth and took small bites.
"There's nothing to talk about," she said. "Nothing at all."
Then she waved her hand dismissively.
"That's that. The Immortal Ziying Plant you owed me is repaid. We're even now. You and your father can head to the capital. Stop following me."
Zhu Zan plopped down with a thud.
"Who's following you?" he scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. Whatever you're looking for or doing—live or die—it's none of my concern."
Miss Jun turned to look at him.
"Actually, what I'm saying is, could you not drag me into your mess?" she replied. "Everywhere you go, someone's after your life. If you're traveling with me, what if they conveniently decide to kill me too? Wouldn't that be ridiculously unlucky for me?"
Zhu Zan snorted.
"What do you mean I'm dragging you into my mess?" he said, sitting cross-legged. "Besides, who says this mystery person is after me and not you?"
Miss Jun gave him a sideways glance.
"Cut your rope to kill me? Is this person blind?" she asked.
Zhu Zan shook his head.
"No, that just shows how sharp their judgment is," he said. "They know how formidable I am, so to kill you, they'd have to take me out first to ensure no loose ends."
Miss Jun burst out laughing.
"You're shameless," she said with a scoff.
"It's the truth. Why should I hide it?" Zhu Zan replied earnestly.
Miss Jun laughed again, stuffing the rest of the dried meat into her mouth in a few bites. Then, grabbing her waterskin for a drink, she stood and led her horse over.
"I'm telling you, Miss Jun, don't start thinking you're all that popular," Zhu Zan said, tugging his own horse along as he followed. "Don't forget how many enemies you've made and how much trouble you've caused. Now there are even more people who want you dead."
Miss Jun let out a nonchalant "Oh."
"Then why are you sticking with me?" she asked.
"Who's sticking with you?" Zhu Zan replied. "There's a whole road ahead of us—why can you take it, but I can't?"
Miss Jun gave another "Oh" and said no more, but the wilderness didn't stay quiet.
"Hey, hey, don't get any funny ideas."
"We'll settle whatever we owe, but don't read too much into it."
"How about this—we strike another deal? You hire me to find herbs for you."
"Considering past goodwill, how about five thousand taels for each plant?"
***************************************************************
Thanks to Nan Fang's "Bing Yi" for gifting Ling Jiu (*^__^*) hehe…
Thank you all for voting, subscribing, and supporting with your tips.