The three friends walked for about two arduous hours before finally reaching the cave entrance. As they emerged, they were greeted by a breathtaking sight: an open, vibrant green landscape, stretching towards a pristine seascape that seemed utterly untouched by human hands.
"Ha... ha... ha... now, this is worthy of the free fall and the life-threatening situation!" Zhao Renshu laughed, a sound of excited triumph. He chuckled, putting his hands on his hips, surveying the vista with delight.
"I don't understand why you find this interesting," Guo Baiyu remarked, a hint of annoyance in his tone, clearly irritated by Zhao Renshu's carefree attitude.
Zhao Renshu shrugged, a casual gesture. "Why not? All we can do is make the most of it."
Guo Baiyu simply looked away from Zhao Renshu, his jaw tight.
"It's not bad to sleep in the open," Zhao Renshu continued, moving to stand next to Ping'an. He playfully rubbed his left shoulder against her right. "Remember? The sky is my roof, and the ground is my bed." He smiled, his eyes flirting mischievously with her.
"Ridiculous," Guo Baiyu scoffed, frowning deeply. He turned and walked away, heading towards the edge of the cliff.
"Are you committing suicide because of my ridiculousness?" Zhao Renshu teased, a grin spreading across his face.
Guo Baiyu looked back at him with a blank expression, unperturbed. "The only way out is to go down the cliff to the coastline. We can walk along the coast. There should be villages nearby."
Zhao Renshu walked to Guo Baiyu, curiosity piqued. He stood next to him, stroking his chin with his left thumb as he critically examined the cliff's daunting drop.
"I don't think a scholar boy like you would plan an escape route," Zhao Renshu chuckled, a challenging glint in his eye as he met Guo Baiyu's gaze.
"Ridiculous," Guo Baiyu murmured again, shaking his head. He turned and walked back to Ping'an.
Zhao Renshu followed, his eyes still on Ping'an and Guo Baiyu. He didn't like Guo Baiyu's possessive attitude towards Ping'an. He walked back, his smile unwavering, his eyes still openly flirting with Ping'an.
On the other hand, Guo Baiyu was deeply irritated by Zhao Renshu's blatant flirting. He raised his head, watching as Zhao Renshu once again rubbed his right shoulder against Ping'an's, flirting openly with his eyes. What he hated most was that Zhao Renshu seemed to make Ping'an smile and speak freely, something he himself struggled with. Driven by a surge of possessiveness, he grabbed Ping'an's left hand and gently pulled her down to sit next to him.
Zhao Renshu noticed Guo Baiyu's action, a sly smirk on his face.
Zhao Renshu arched both his eyebrows. "Now who is being ridiculous?" He gave Guo Baiyu a pointed, "evil" glare. "I'll be back in a bit." With that, Zhao Renshu disappeared into the nearby woods.
Ping'an noticed the awkward tension between the two men. She sat down next to Guo Baiyu, looking at him, and the situation felt strangely familiar. She recalled her imaginary scene of her first kiss: sitting on a beautiful mountain, watching the sunset. Yes, that was it. This was her imagined romantic moment, a stark contrast to her actual first kiss underwater, trying to escape two-headed angry monsters. Despite the circumstances, she somehow found it romantic sitting beside Guo Baiyu. Yet, she knew she couldn't truly be with Guo Baiyu. There was a famous saying: "You should know your place and don't try to put a flower on cow's dung." Sitting side by side, the two, once strangers, remained silent for a long time. Finally, Ping'an broke the quiet.
"Childe Guo, why are you here?" she asked softly, then quickly corrected herself as Guo Baiyu turned to her. "I mean, up there... Should you be resting at the Guo residence?"
"I am here because you are here," Guo Baiyu replied, his voice low, avoiding her eye contact, a faint blush on his cheeks.
Ping'an felt as if she were walking on cloud nine. The joy was too profound to express. This was the most caring word anyone had ever said to her, besides Zhao Renshu's invitation to travel.
"So, you came all the way from Peace Town..." she murmured, a shy smile gracing her lips.
"I was worried about your safety," Guo Baiyu confessed, turning to face Ping'an fully. This time, he looked directly into her eyes, his gaze intense and sincere.
Guo Baiyu leaned closer to Ping'an, their nose tips almost touching. Ping'an's heart began to beat very fast, a frantic drum against her ribs. She heard her inner thoughts, "My first romantic kiss," repeating over and over again. She made up her mind that if he wanted to kiss her, she would let him.
Just as Guo Baiyu leaned in, Zhao Renshu emerged from the woods. He saw that Guo Baiyu was too close to Ping'an, clearly about to kiss her. He quickly strode towards the two, his voice booming. "What are you two doing?"
Zhao Renshu's sudden voice shocked Ping'an and Guo Baiyu, causing them to quickly separate, a flush of embarrassment on their faces.
Zhao Renshu threw two dead rabbits to the ground with a loud thud.
"Why don't you make yourself useful and go get some firewood instead of just sitting there?" Zhao Renshu glared at Guo Baiyu, his voice laced with clear anger.
Guo Baiyu let out a heavy breath through his nostrils, his own anger simmering. He had never encountered anyone as annoying as Zhao Renshu. Deciding to be the more mature one, he completely ignored Zhao Renshu, turning his head away.
"I'll go gather the firewood," Ping'an offered, standing up quickly.
"No need," Zhao Renshu stated firmly.
Zhao Renshu disappeared back into the wood. About thirty minutes later, he walked back towards Guo Baiyu and Ping'an, carrying an armful of firewood. He dropped the wood on the ground and efficiently built a bonfire. He then expertly skinned the two rabbits and removed their internal organs before beginning to roast them over the flames. Zhao Renshu sat opposite Guo Baiyu and Ping'an, pointedly refusing to look at the two people sitting on the other side, his face etched with disappointment and a lingering anger.
Suddenly, Ping'an groaned in pain. She pressed her two hands together, then knelt down and began to pray, her face contorted in agony. The two men looked at her simultaneously, startled. Zhao Renshu, recalling their conversation back in the temple, showed immediate signs of relief, while Guo Baiyu stared at Zhao Renshu with eyes that seemed to accuse him of somehow casting a spell on Ping'an.
Guo Baiyu was worried about her safety, but he did not dare to disturb her during her prayers.
Zhao Renshu stood up and walked to Guo Baiyu, sitting down beside him. He handed one of the roasted rabbits to Guo Baiyu. As Guo Baiyu took the rabbit with his left hand, Zhao Renshu noticed the distinctive scar on his palm.
Zhao Renshu's eyes widened in shock. "Hey... What is with that scar?" He stared intently at Guo Baiyu.
"What about the scar?" Guo Baiyu asked, a puzzled frown on his face.
"How long have you had that scar?" Zhao Renshu pressed, his voice urgent.
"Since birth. Why?" Guo Baiyu questioned, his gaze wary.
Zhao Renshu chuckled, a knowing sound. "Just asking. Did you know that Ping'an has it too, but on both palms?"
"How do you know?" Guo Baiyu asked, surprise in his voice.
Zhao Renshu raised his eyebrows, a smug look on his face. "She showed it to me. She told me that on the fifteenth day of every month, her scars will burn, and she will feel that her hands are on fire. Praying to Buddha can relieve some of her pain."
"So, this is what she is doing right now, right?" Guo Baiyu asked, understanding dawning on him.
"Yep. That's why I'm not worried," Zhao Renshu confirmed, glancing at Ping'an with a soft expression. "By the way, we've never really introduced ourselves. The name is Zhao Renshu."
"Guo Baiyu," he replied, his voice soft and calm, a subtle acknowledgment.
"Do you think it's kind of weird that the three of us met?" Zhao Renshu mused, looking directly at Guo Baiyu. "Also, the scars on our palms make it even weirder."
"What do you mean?" Guo Baiyu asked, pointedly avoiding eye contact with Zhao Renshu, hoping that Zhao Renshu would get the hint and stop talking to him.
"I mean, do you think this is weird? Can you just answer the question?" Zhao Renshu scoffed, exasperated. He knew that Guo Baiyu wanted to avoid him by not making eye contact, and Guo Baiyu's stubbornness bothered him, but he persisted. "Don't bother saving your portion for her. She won't eat it."
"How do you know she won't eat it?" Guo Baiyu asked, his face blank, his tone still calm.
"It's because I am very close to her, and I know her very well," Zhao Renshu declared, giving Guo Baiyu a mocking stare.
"The two of you had only known each other for two days. How does that make you close to her?" Guo Baiyu retorted, still refusing to look at Zhao Renshu, his voice an even calm.
"You might have known her before me, but I am certain she is closer to me than you," Zhao Renshu countered, bursting into laughter, enjoying the argument.
Guo Baiyu looked the other way, a sigh escaping him. "Having this conversation with you is pointless." He knew that Zhao Renshu was merely teasing him, so he ended their conversation by closing his eyes and meditating.
"Hey, what is so pointless about it?" Zhao Renshu called out, still laughing, pleased that he felt he had won the battle.
Ping'an stopped praying at about midnight. She turned to the two men. She saw an area covered with banana leaves, and Zhao Renshu was already asleep, a faint smile on his face. Guo Baiyu was still putting more firewood on the bonfire, maintaining the warmth. Ping'an stood up and walked to Guo Baiyu. She sat down between Zhao Renshu and Guo Baiyu, a comfortable silence settling between them.
"You must be hungry?" Guo Baiyu asked softly, glancing at her.
Ping'an nodded.
"Childe Zhao said you don't eat meat today," Guo Baiyu explained, handing Ping'an a bunch of twelve bananas. "I got you these while you were praying. How are you feeling now?"
Ping'an nodded again, then broke one banana from the bunch and peeled it. "Better," she replied. She turned her head and looked at Zhao Renshu, who was sleeping peacefully. "I wish I could be like him." She gazed at Zhao Renshu, a wistful look in her eyes. "Able to fall asleep in this situation." She took a bite of the banana.
"Childe Zhao said not to get out of the circle he drew," Guo Baiyu continued, a hint of disdain in his voice. "This is to protect us from evil spirits. He insisted that we sleep on the ground, but I think banana leaves are better."
Ping'an giggled, a soft, pleasant sound. "Childe Guo, you can stop calling Renshu 'Childe.' He once told me that he did not grow up in a wealthy family, nor did he live in a big house, and was not fed with a silver spoon. He is not anyone's young master. He gets angry when people call him 'Childe' or 'Young Master.'"
"Why do you call him by name?" Guo Baiyu asked, a sudden edge to his voice.
Zhao Renshu, hearing the conversation, tossed his body to his right side and, with his eyes still closed, mumbled, "Because I told her she can."
Guo Baiyu rolled his eyes, a flicker of irritation. "Were you pretending to be asleep?" He frowned. "Ridiculous."
"I closed my eyes, you assumed I was asleep," Zhao Renshu retorted, his voice still muffled.
Guo Baiyu ignored Zhao Renshu, turning his full attention to Ping'an. "From now on, call me Baiyu."
Ping'an was caught off guard, a small gasp escaping her. "Heh!"
"Call me Baiyu," Guo Baiyu stated firmly, his gaze unwavering.
Zhao Renshu suddenly burst out laughing, rolling onto his back. "Ha... ha... ha... ha... ha...!" He laughed so hard that he clutched his stomach, doubled over in cramps. He sniffed the air a few times, a knowing smirk on his face. "I believe I smell vinegar!" He continued to laugh, still holding his stomach.
Guo Baiyu let out a big, deep breath through his nostrils, his anger evident.
Ping'an looked at Guo Baiyu, then at Zhao Renshu, and smiled widely while eating the banana. The two men noticed her amusement and immediately became suspicious.
"Why do you look so happy, heh?" Zhao Renshu asked, abruptly stopping his laughter and sitting up.
Guo Baiyu turned his head to look at Ping'an, continuing to ignore Zhao Renshu.
"I think..." Ping'an said amusingly, a playful glint in her eyes, "If you two work together, the combination of the two of you will be perfect."
The two men gasped in unison. "No! I will never work with him!" they declared, turning to face each other. They rolled their eyes at each other for about two minutes, a silent, comical battle of wills, then looked away with matching expressions of disdain.
"Think of it this way," Ping'an continued, trying to mediate. "Renshu is full of life, a very easy-going person and friendly. He is quick-thinking and always willing to help others. He turns the worst situations into advantageous gains. He is willing to give strangers a chance."
When Ping'an praised Zhao Renshu, he couldn't resist. He smiled triumphantly at Guo Baiyu and raised his brow, provoking him at every opportunity.
"The downside is that he never thinks before speaking," Ping'an went on, her tone turning more serious. "Sometimes what he says can be offensive. He is a hothead. Everything is 'fist come first, talk later.'" She turned to Guo Baiyu. "Childe Guo...."
Zhao Renshu's triumphant smile quickly disappeared. He smiled disappointedly and shook his head, a pout forming on his lips.
When Ping'an looked at Guo Baiyu, he was seething with quiet anger.
Ping'an swallowed, tightening her lips slightly. "Sorry, Baiyu is the exact opposite. He is smart and possesses well-maintained manners. He thinks before he speaks. He has a good observation of his surrounding environment. The downside is, he keeps everything inside. He won't talk to anyone unless they approach him. This makes it difficult for people to approach him and makes people feel unwelcome." She smiled at the two men, a knowing look on her face. "Your weakness is the other's strength. That's why I said, the combination of the two of you is perfect."
"You made it sound like we are a perfect couple?" Zhao Renshu exclaimed, feeling deeply insulted. He looked from Ping'an to Guo Baiyu, disgust evident in his eyes.
"That was not my intention," Ping'an quickly clarified.
"What is your intention?" Guo Baiyu demanded, his voice steady.
"I am expressing my opinion," Ping'an replied simply.
"I don't know about him, but I don't like men," Zhao Renshu snapped, seeming genuinely angry now. "Don't try to get me to connect with him."
Ping'an bit her lower lip, her gaze earnest. "My intention is to help the two of you understand each other better. I really hope you two become friends and stop with this mind war."
At that moment, the two men simultaneously reached out and held her hands, one gripping her left, the other her right.
Both men turned to Ping'an, their voices unified, "I like you."
Ping'an's jaw dropped, her eyes wide as she rolled them between the two men, utterly stunned.
Zhao Renshu leaned back behind Ping'an. He stretched out his right hand and playfully pushed Guo Baiyu's left shoulder. "What did you say?" he challenged, staring directly at Guo Baiyu.
Guo Baiyu looked at Zhao Renshu, his expression softening slightly. "I... I like her," he admitted, staring back, a silent challenge in his own eyes.
Ping'an held the two men's hands together, a mix of disbelief and happiness on her face. "I am not stupid. I can tell you two like me. To be honest... I am very happy. Who wouldn't be happy? But I can't like you back in the way you like me."
"Why not?" Guo Baiyu asked, a genuine hurt in his voice.
Ping'an smiled sadly at Guo Baiyu. "Because you are the young master of the Guo family. If you are going to get married one day, your bride will be some upper-class lady. If she's not from a wealthy family, then she would be the daughter of a high-ranking official."
Guo Baiyu sat there, expressionless, but he knew precisely what she meant, the weight of his family's expectations heavy upon him.
"You, on the other hand," Ping'an said, turning to Zhao Renshu, her voice softening, "I can't promise to venture far and wide with you because I have a responsibility to take care of my grandma. Until she passes away, I cannot think about myself or be selfish."
"I don't want to talk about this now," Zhao Renshu interjected, a faint smile on his lips, though his eyes held a touch of disappointment. "As long as you know that we both like you, let us end the conversation." He gave them a faint, almost forced smile. "It's time to sleep. We need to get out of here."
The morning sunrise awakened Guo Baiyu. Two hours later, Zhao Renshu also woke up. The two men decided to let Ping'an sleep longer as they gathered as many strong vines as they could find. They painstakingly tied the vines together, forming one long, sturdy rope. They then threw the vines down the sheer cliff face. The vines stretched taut, finally touching the bottom.
"One of us must go down first," Zhao Renshu stated, his gaze fixed on the descent. "I think I'll go down first."
"You want to check the surrounding area to see if it's safe?" Guo Baiyu asked, his brow raised.
"You can read minds now?" Zhao Renshu laughed, a teasing glint in his eye.
"Honestly, I have never met a person as annoying as you before," Guo Baiyu murmured, a touch of genuine exasperation in his voice.
"Now you have met one," Zhao Renshu replied with a shrug, unbothered.
Guo Baiyu turned his back to Zhao Renshu and started to walk away, a silent dismissal.
"Stop!" Zhao Renshu shouted, his voice sharp.
Guo Baiyu turned around, his face still expressionless. "I don't have any more business with you."
"We need to talk," Zhao Renshu insisted, walking closer.
"I have nothing to say," Guo Baiyu countered, his voice flat.
"We do," Zhao Renshu pressed, his voice lowering. "Ping'an."
Guo Baiyu rolled his eyes away from Zhao Renshu, a flicker of irritation. "What about her?"
"You like her, I like her," Zhao Renshu stated, his gaze direct. "What are we going to do?"
Guo Baiyu took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "She can choose who she wants to be with."
Zhao Renshu's expression hardened, questioning Guo Baiyu's trustworthiness. "What if you take advantage of her?"
Guo Baiyu sighed angrily, his jaw clenching. "The most likely person to take advantage of her is you. Look at your behavior around her!" Guo Baiyu had always been a righteous person since childhood, so Zhao Renshu's words greatly offended him.
Zhao Renshu smirked, a sly look in his eyes. "Fine! Fine! I will behave more properly towards her from now on since you don't like it. Let us make a deal. Until she chooses one of us, there will be no advance in any kind of activities. For example, kissing, hugging, deliberately being alone with her, or even having relations with her." Zhao Renshu paused, catching his breath. He giggled, teasing Guo Baiyu with a wicked glint in his eye. "If there are such activities, then we do it together. Deal?"
Guo Baiyu looked at him, then slowly shook his head in profound disappointment, but a reluctant agreement was in his gaze.
Zhao Renshu continued with his proposal, his voice serious despite the underlying tease. "Within three years, we cannot be jealous of each other. We will respect each other. When the three-year arrangement is over, we will also respect her decision. We don't need to tell her about it..."
"Deal," Guo Baiyu said, his voice firm.
"No need to tell me what?" Ping'an asked from behind them, her voice clear and curious.
The two men spun around, facing Ping'an, their faces frozen in surprise.
"Nothing," Zhao Renshu stammered, caught off guard. "It's just that there is only one banana left." He reached inside his shirt and took out a banana, offering a wide, sheepish smile to both Ping'an and Guo Baiyu. "I was suggesting that we lie to you, that we have already eaten."
Guo Baiyu, despite the situation, showed a faint smile, a rare sight.
Ping'an smiled at the two men, her eyes sparkling. "You can keep it. I am not hungry. Let's get out of here."