Chapter 84: We Are Not Thieves

Purple Lotus lifted her eyelids and glanced ahead.

“Ah!”

A chorus of shrill cries from the young women rang out—the very ones who had been turning to cast flirtatious glances at him now lost all composure after receiving a single look from Purple Lotus, their faces reddening as they shrieked incessantly.

Such lack of restraint; watching them, I couldn't help but shake my head and sigh. Why, though we are all women, do they not value themselves or show any self-respect?

“Not far now. We’ll arrive in a short while,” Purple Lotus said.

“Oh! A short while more, is it?” I replied gloomily. I had lost count of how many times he’d told me “just a little longer!” Yet after all those assurances, his answer remained the same—“a little while.” Really!

“Mm.” He nodded slowly, his steps growing more hurried.

It was the fifth month in the mortal world, and locust blossoms lined the street in full bloom. When we reached the gate of a courtyard with red walls and green tiles, Purple Lotus stopped.

Lifting my gaze to the golden plaque above the gate, I asked, “Master, this must be the home of the Immortal Gu Mo, right?”

“Yes. Isn’t the name ‘Lingxian Residence’ written on the plaque? Foolish girl.” As he spoke, he reached out to pat my head, as if stroking the head of a little bean.

“Let’s go!”

With that, he approached the gate. Just as I thought he would knock, he slipped an arm around my waist, and the two of us soared over the wall, landing inside the courtyard.

“Master, are we here as thieves?”

Seeing we hadn’t knocked and had sneaked in, I felt a sudden surge of excitement. Worried that speaking too loudly might alert the owner to two uninvited guests slipping into his home, I purposefully lowered my voice to ask him.

“As thieves?” He turned to me, his handsome brows furrowing into caterpillars, speaking with earnest gravity: “Disciple, let go of those old notions. Now that you have me, there’s nothing to worry about. Thieving is hardly an honorable pursuit; a young man’s ambitions should reach far and wide. Better to do proper things—don’t chase petty gains only to end up disgraced.”

“Oh!” I dragged out my reply, thinking he’d misunderstood me again. I’d meant that climbing over the wall was akin to thievery, but he thought I actually wanted to become a thief.

“Master, you brought Little Fish over the wall—doesn’t that mean you’re here to steal something?” I huffed at him, meaning to say: Master, you’re the one making Little Fish a thief, not the other way around.

“Stealing? How is this stealing?” Purple Lotus looked at me with a face full of pain, “In Little Fish’s heart, is your master really that sort of immortal?”

“No, not at all.”

Afraid I’d anger him, I shook my head emphatically.

“Is that so?”

He watched me closely, not entirely convinced.

“Master is not a thief. Little Fish was mistaken,” I lowered my head and apologized sincerely.

“Mm.” He nodded, saying, “The only reason I did this was to avoid disturbing the peace inside with a knock. Gu Mo and I have been friends for ten thousand years, closer than family. Knocking and calling out would feel too distant; jumping in directly is much better—no trouble for anyone, and easy for us.”

“Oh!” I nodded, half understanding. “So Master and the Immortal Gu Mo are old friends! Then I suppose knocking is unnecessary.”

“Exactly, Little Fish.”

He took my hand and led me into a vast pear orchard. It was summer, and the trees had begun to bear small, glossy green fruits, each hanging from the branches. A gentle breeze stirred, and the young pears danced in the wind. Unfortunately, we had come too early; if we’d waited a few more days, I imagined we could have tasted some fresh, sweet pears.

We passed through the orchard, opened the inner gate, and entered another courtyard. Before our eyes was another pear grove, but this one was utterly different from the last. If the outer orchard was summer’s portrait, then this inner grove, with its snow-white blossoms and fragrance filling the air, was the poetry of spring.

Suddenly, a woman’s soft laughter floated from within the pear trees.