I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Words of the Common Heart

Duan Rong saw a sachet embroidered with a blossoming peach blossom...

”This sachet was originally embroidered for my elder sister, but with my current condition, I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait for her return...”

”Don’t overthink it, miss!” Duan Rong immediately said.

”But... since this sachet was embroidered for the eldest lady, how can I accept it?” Duan Rong said hesitantly.

”Brother Duan, please don’t refuse. Even if I wanted to embroider one for you, I’m afraid I don’t have the strength. If you decline, it would be more unbearable for me!”

Duan Rong knew that Xiao Baijiao wanted to repay him for the favor of acupuncture.

Duan Rong listened to Xiao Baijiao’s words, filled with melancholy undertones. He wanted to offer words of comfort but couldn’t find the words to express.

”Brother Duan, I’m a bit tired...” A tear fell from Xiao Baijiao’s eye, and she turned away from Duan Rong and gently wiped it away.

Duan Rong stood up and said, ”Second Miss... please rest well... I’ll...”

As Duan Rong spoke, he suddenly paused and asked, ”That painting I made for the second lady the other day, do you know where it is?”

Xiao Baijiao turned her head somewhat puzzled and said, ”It’s in the drawer of the cabinet. I haven’t been well these past few days and haven’t had the chance to get it framed.”

Duan Rong immediately went to the cabinet, opened the drawer, and took out the painting.

Xiao Baijiao watched Duan Rong’s actions, unsure of his intentions.

Duan Rong placed the painting on the coffee table, picked up a pen, ground ink, and wrote a poem in the blank area of the painting.

”I give this poem to you to relieve the knot in your heart,” Duan Rong said, handing the painting to Xiao Baijiao.

Xiao Baijiao sighed lightly, thinking Duan Rong was absurd. How could a simple poem untangle the issues in her heart?

However, she still took the painting and looked at the poem written on the edge, seeing a few lines of elegant calligraphy:

”It’s not about cherishing life, it seems to be past fate’s mistake. Flowers fall and bloom with time, all depend on the lord of the east.”

”Leave when you must go! Stay, but how to hold? If only mountain flowers could fill the crown, don’t ask where shall I return.”

Xiao Baijiao held the painting and stood there, reading it several times, tears streaming down her face unconsciously...

The final phrase, ”don’t ask where shall I return,” almost melted her...

Xiao Baijiao suddenly realized that the emotions clogging her heart had mostly cleared, and even her body felt lighter.

She lifted her head, teary-faced, smiling at Duan Rong and said, ”Brother Duan, indeed this poem is a miraculous elixir for me.”

”As long as the lady likes it, I bid you farewell!” Duan Rong cupped his fists and retreated.

With this poem as company, his presence here was simply unnecessary!

Xiao Baijiao watched Duan Rong leave, then lowered her head again to read the poem on the painting, feeling ever more connected to it.

”This poem isn’t likely written by Brother Duan; it must be the work of a girl sharing my grief...” After a long while, Xiao Baijiao thought as she raised her head and gazed at the sunlight outside the window.

Duan Rong, basking in the sun, walked out of the inner courtyard’s main hall.

Sometimes, the words in one’s heart can’t be spoken, only expressed through poetry.

And those great poets of the ages, they voice the hearts of the masses!

Empty words cannot create poems that endure through time!

Duan Rong looked at the sachet in his hand, seeing the branch of peach blossom on it, exquisitely embroidered and vividly alluring.

Duan Rong brought the sachet to his nose for a sniff, immediately enveloping in fragrance, invigorating his spirits. Inside, besides perfume, were also mugwort and mint.

The refreshing scent was invigorating and mind-clearing!

Duan Rong sniffed as he walked towards the front yard.

As Duan Rong stepped through the front yard door, Zhu Xiaoqi suddenly grabbed him.

Duan Rong, startled by Zhu Xiaoqi’s grab, asked, ”What are you doing?”

”I’m here to apply some medicine to your lump!” Zhu Xiaoqi said with a smile: ”So that the second miss won’t keep saying I laughed at you.”

Only then did Duan Rong notice the porcelain bottle, the size of a fist, in Zhu Xiaoqi’s hand.

She carefully used a wooden spatula to scoop out a bit of black ointment and spread it on a small piece of cloth...

Then she pressed the cloth with the ointment onto Duan Rong’s forehead.

As Zhu Xiaoqi applied it, she said, ”This is an ointment made by Elder Xiao for reducing swelling and bruising. Don’t take it off for a day or two, and the lump will surely subside.”

Standing in front of Duan Rong on tiptoe, Zhu Xiaoqi applied the ointment to his forehead, pressing gently on the cloth, ensuring the ointment spread evenly across the swelling.

The sunlight illuminated Zhu Xiaoqi’s earnest face, her little dark eyes sparkling, her fresh litchi-like lips slightly parted...

Yet Duan Rong only lowered his head, looking at the sachet in his hand...

As Zhu Xiaoqi finished applying the ointment, she followed Duan Rong’s gaze and then saw the sachet in his hand. Suddenly angered, she struck his swollen forehead with a small fist.

Duan Rong exclaimed in pain and jumped.

Zhu Xiaoqi turned her head and said, ”Alright, off you go!”

Duan Rong touched his forehead to find an ointment patch already applied.

Despite the pain, Duan Rong felt grateful for Zhu Xiaoqi’s help and thanked her before leaving the courtyard.

Zhu Xiaoqi sat by the well, vigorously scrubbing clothes, ignoring Duan Rong’s gratitude.

Only when Duan Rong’s figure disappeared at the courtyard entrance did she mutter, ”What’s so great about it, it’s just a sachet!”

Muttering to herself, Zhu Xiaoqi scrubbed the clothes even harder...

Duan Rong, holding the sachet, walked out of the courtyard.

As soon as he stepped out of the gate, a face approached.

A stiff, expressionless face. Who else but Kong Bin?

Only then did Duan Rong remember he hadn’t seen Kong Bin for quite a while.

They exchanged glances, Kong Bin’s gaze lingering on the sachet in Duan Rong’s hand.

However, neither spoke to the other.

Even though Kong Bin and Duan Rong were apprentice escort masters of the same batch, their cultivation progress differed greatly.

Xiao Zongting had already separated them for teachings.

Today was the scheduled examination and discussion day between Xiao Zongting and Kong Bin.

Thus, Kong Bin arrived at Xiao Zongting’s courtyard at the agreed time, not expecting to encounter Duan Rong, as he hadn’t been around during his last two visits.

With no expression, Kong Bin passed by Duan Rong and entered Xiao Zongting’s courtyard.

Duan Rong glanced back at Kong Bin’s receding figure, then tucked the sachet into his sleeve and left.

By the well in the front yard, Zhu Xiaoqi continued scrubbing fiercely.

”Xiaoqi, is Elder Xiao here?” Kong Bin asked politely.

”Not here!”

With Xiao Zongting absent, he could only wait.

Kong Bin strolled over to Zhu Xiaoqi, trying to chat, ”Xiaoqi, washing clothes?”

”Yeah,” Zhu Xiaoqi snorted softly.

”I saw Duan Rong leave just now, holding a sachet. Who made that?” Kong Bin forced an awkward smile, inquiring gently.

”The Second Miss!” Zhu Xiaoqi coldly replied, her expression already changing.

Kong Bin recalled Xiao Baijiao’s alluring face, feeling a stir, and asked, ”Does every apprentice escort master have one?”

Zhu Xiaoqi, already sulking over the sachet, found Kong Bin’s questions about it increasingly annoying. Being straightforward by nature, her temper flared instantly.

She abruptly sat up, face flushed, and yelled at Kong Bin, ”Coming in, all about the sachet—what’s it got to do with you? Want whatever others have? Take a look at your own ghostly reflection in a pee pool, do you deserve it?”

Kong Bin was rendered speechless, standing there, his face alternating between red and white.