The next morning, the two men found themselves half-naked on the bed, and Ping'an was not by their side. They opened their eyes and realized that they were facing each other. The situation felt embarrassing and awkward. The two half-naked men felt embarrassed waking up in the same bed without Ping'an, causing them to avoid eye contact with each other. They turned to the door, and they saw two wooden basins with two towels neatly placed on either side. The men's neatly folded clothes were on the table.
Guo Baiyu got up first and dressed himself. He washed his face.
Then, Zhao Renshu dressed himself and washed his face.
"What a mess?" Zhao Renshu murmured, staring at the bed. "I think we need a new bedsheet."
Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu looked at the bedsheet on the floor, stained with blood and their body fluids.
"I think we drank too much last night," Guo Baiyu commented, his voice flat.
Zhao Renshu nodded.
The two men walked out of the room and were met by the bright morning sun. They saw Ping'an in the kitchen. They smelled the food. They walked to the kitchen, and both sat on wooden benches. They kept quiet.
Ping'an walked out of the kitchen, holding two bowls of tea. "I heard Old Lu say that drinking green tea would help with a hangover." She put the two bowls of tea on the table.
The two men grabbed their tea and drank quietly. Ping'an walked back to the kitchen and returned with food. The two men started eating, and then they realized that Ping'an was still standing, holding her bowl of rice.
"Why are you not sitting?" Guo Baiyu asked, looking up.
"It's okay. You two sit," Ping'an replied softly.
"Who eats while standing up?" Zhao Renshu countered. "Sit down and eat. It's more comfortable."
"Really, I'm fine," Ping'an insisted.
Zhao Renshu stood up. "Then I might as well stand up eating with you."
"You continue to sit down and eat," Ping'an said, a slight smile on her face. "The truth is," she paused for a moment, "to be honest, I can't sit anyway."
The two men choked on their food, coughing several times. They suddenly realized why she could not sit.
Zhao Renshu sat back down and started eating. The three said not a word while eating, which made the situation feel awkwardly uncomfortable.
"Oh, by the way," Zhao Renshu said, swallowing his food and breaking the silence. "I'm going to tattoo the protection spell on both of you. How about today?"
"I'm fine with it," Guo Baiyu replied.
"And you?" Zhao Renshu turned to Ping'an.
"Alright," Ping'an agreed.
After breakfast, Guo Baiyu took off his robe. Zhao Renshu began to clean Guo Baiyu's white, flawless left chest. Zhao Renshu put all his tools on the table. Ping'an stood to Guo Baiyu's left. Zhao Renshu dipped the fine needles into the ink and began to tattoo the protection spell on Guo Baiyu.
"These are special inks mixed with dead man's blood left by my late master," Zhao Renshu explained, his voice low. "He said that the combination of this ink and the spell is more powerful." He dipped the sharp needle into the ink and continued tattooing. He asked, "Are you okay?"
Guo Baiyu nodded, his jaw clenched slightly.
Zhao Renshu continued tattooing the words. After about ten characters, Guo Baiyu began to sweat.
"It usually burns like this?" Guo Baiyu asked, his voice strained.
"Ordinary tattoos, not really," Zhao Renshu replied calmly, continuing his work. "With this special ink, it does burn more."
Three hours later, Zhao Renshu completed tattooing the protection spell on Guo Baiyu's left shoulder. He then spent the same amount of time tattooing the same protection spell on Ping'an's left chest.
"It should heal in two days," Zhao Renshu said, wiping his tools.
"I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm going home," Guo Baiyu announced, his voice soft but firm.
Ping'an's heart ached at Guo Baiyu's impending departure, yet she understood his need to attend to matters in Capital City. Though his absence would bring sorrow, she knew that no meeting could last forever.
"Ping'an, do you want to come with me?" Guo Baiyu asked, his eyes searching hers.
"I've put a lot of thought into it," Ping'an replied. "I will not go with you. I grew up as a servant, and I don't want to take my last breath as one. I will stay here with Renshu and learn all the crafty spells he has to offer, so I can defend myself in the future."
"Okay," Guo Baiyu said, his heart aching badly, but he accepted her decision.
Seeing the sadness in Guo Baiyu's eyes, Ping'an smiled. "You always know where to find us. If we happen to come to your hometown, we will visit you."
Guo Baiyu gave her a faint, almost melancholic smile.
"We will send you off tomorrow morning," Zhao Renshu said, smiling warmly at Guo Baiyu.
That night, Ping'an couldn't sleep. The thought of parting from Guo Baiyu tomorrow was excruciating. She walked to the door and opened it. From a distance, she saw Guo Baiyu still sitting at the dining table. She walked towards him.
"Can't sleep?" she asked, sitting next to him.
"Yes," Guo Baiyu admitted.
"Me too," Ping'an replied softly.
They clearly saw each other's faces in the light of the full moon. Ping'an's heart trembled as she looked at Guo Baiyu's handsome features and his silky, long black hair. Ping'an studied every little detail on his face and remembered it in her heart, because he would belong to someone else after their separation tomorrow.
Guo Baiyu turned to face Ping'an. "I really want you to go with me, but I also accept your decision."
"Thank you. I...." She cleared her throat, emotion tightening her voice. "I will never forget you."
"Me too," Guo Baiyu said, a sad look in his eyes. "I envy Renshu. At least he can be with the one he loves."
"I'm not like him," Guo Baiyu continued, his voice heavy. "My mother was my father's third wife. His first wife could not get pregnant. His second wife had four daughters. My father later married my mother. After she gave birth to me, she fell ill and died. My mother died when I was five years old. Shortly after her death, my father married his fourth wife, and she gave birth to three sons. Then his second wife also gave birth to a son. His first wife, in her forties, became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Everyone in this household is always at each other's throats. Everyone strives to be at the top of my father's living will."
Ping'an saw profound sadness in his eyes.
"When I grew up, I came to realize that there are only two ways to live in this house," Guo Baiyu continued. "One is not to fight for it and be treated badly. The other is to fight for it."
"Since then, you have chosen to fight for it," Ping'an observed, her voice gentle.
"Maybe I was too ambitious at the time," Guo Baiyu smiled faintly. "I don't want to be better than anyone in the house. If I want to fight for this, I want to be the best of all the Guos." He chuckled, a self-deprecating sound. "I have endured all kinds of hard work in order to acquire my skills. I have always maintained finishing in first place in class. You know..." He stared deeply at Ping'an. "My entire life, since I could remember, I've felt that I was missing something. Something very important, but not too long ago... I found it."
"Don't carry the world on your back," Ping'an comforted him, offering a gentle smile. "I learned this from Renshu. I always thought that my life was not worthy, but not too long ago I also found my encouragements. You and Renshu are my encouragements to continue fighting for a better life. You gave me strength, and Renshu gave me courage, so I am no longer afraid to face the future, knowing that you two will always support me."
Guo Baiyu stretched out his hand and pulled her into his arms. "When I looked at you on that dirt road, I knew I was looking at what I had searched for my entire life."
Ping'an was speechless.
"I liked you since the first day we met," he whispered softly in her ear. "You will always hold a special place in my heart forever. No matter where you are or who you are with, my feelings for you will never change." He then kissed her on the cheek.
Ping'an could not find anything to say in return. She just smiled and nodded at him.
Guo Baiyu released her from his embrace. "Good night." He walked to Zhao Renshu's bedroom.
Guo Baiyu didn't come to bed, so Zhao Renshu walked to the door to look for him, but when he walked past the window, he saw Ping'an approaching where Guo Baiyu was sitting.
He couldn't hear what they were talking about, but suddenly he saw Guo Baiyu pull Ping'an into his embrace. Guo Baiyu held Ping'an for a long time. Then he kissed her on the cheek and walked to the bedroom door. Zhao Renshu quickly jumped back to bed and pretended he was asleep. He heard Guo Baiyu close the door, blow out the candle, and sit on the bed. He felt that Guo Baiyu had been staring at him for a long time. Then he heard Guo Baiyu say, "You are a lucky person." Then Guo Baiyu lay beside him.
The next morning, Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Zhao Renshu stood on the dirt road at the bottom of the hillside.
"Until next time," Guo Baiyu smiled at Ping'an and Zhao Renshu.
"Don't worry," Zhao Renshu replied. "If we happen to come to Capital City, we will definitely visit you."
Guo Baiyu patted lightly on Zhao Renshu's right shoulder. He stood in front of Ping'an, lowered his head, and kissed her on the lips. Zhao Renshu smiled at the lovers.
"No matter how far you send me, we will be separated in the end. Goodbye," Guo Baiyu said, his voice tinged with sorrow. He turned around and walked away from Ping'an and Zhao Renshu. Every step he took pierced his heart like a knife. His heart ached; it was a heartbreaking farewell.
Zhao Renshu and Ping'an watched Guo Baiyu slowly disappear down the mountain path towards Cloud City at the bottom of the mountain.
"So..... What did he say to you last night?" Zhao Renshu asked, his curiosity barely contained.
"He told me about his childhood and growing up," Ping'an replied.
"Then why did he hug you, if he was only telling his life story?" Zhao Renshu pressed, his eyebrows raised.
Ping'an turned around and walked up the mountain path. Zhao Renshu quickly chased after her.
"Why are you keeping secrets from me?" Zhao Renshu demanded, refusing to let it go.
"What secrets?" Ping'an asked, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"For example, last night, or when you kissed him." Zhao Renshu was very upset, his face twisted into a "mad dog" expression, as if he was ready to bite Ping'an if she chose the wrong word.
"Why are you upset?" Ping'an asked, her smile widening.
"Um.... Um... Why am I upset?" Zhao Renshu spluttered. "I think you know why!" He stared at her angrily.
"There is no secret," she replied, her smile unwavering.
"I don't believe it," Zhao Renshu said, still angry.
"Why aren't you angry when he kisses my lips in front of you?" Ping'an questioned. "But you were mad about when he kissed me and our conversation last night?"
"It's because I was right there! I saw him kiss you!" Zhao Renshu's voice rose in exasperation.
Ping'an turned around, realizing that the great hunter feared by criminals and evil was being totally unreasonable.
"He just confessed his feelings," Ping'an explained calmly. "He felt that if he didn't say it, he would regret it forever."
"What kind of confession?" Zhao Renshu asked, intrigued despite his annoyance.
"He confessed that since he first met me on that dirt road, he has loved me, and I will always hold a special place in his heart." Ping'an recited.
"That bastard..." Zhao Renshu muttered, annoyed. "He stole my line." He was furious. "What about the kiss?"
"Do you remember that black underground water?" Ping'an asked.
"Yeah... What about it?" Zhao Renshu replied, his curiosity piqued.
"I don't know how to swim. I was drowning. He gave me air by mouth. When I came to, he had already blown air into my mouth." Ping'an explained.
"What the hell is this?!" Zhao Renshu roared, his anger flaring. "When I was struggling to save our lives, fighting against the two-headed octopus, you two were making out? Argh! Next time I see that bastard, I will punch him in the face!" He clenched his fists hard.
Ping'an approached him, put her hand on his face, and then pulled him closer, kissing his lips softly.
Zhao Renshu's anger spontaneously stopped. He wrapped his arms around her. Their tongues circled inside each other's mouths. Then, the agreement between Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu suddenly appeared in Zhao Renshu's thoughts. He had promised Guo Baiyu not to take advantage of Ping'an while she was still undecided. He decided to break the sweet kiss.
"I also have a confession," Zhao Renshu said, his voice a little strained.
"What?" Ping'an asked, her eyes wide.
Zhao Renshu embraced Ping'an. "I'm not good at making romantic speeches like Baiyu, but what I want to confess comes from the bottom of my heart. The first time you rushed into the door, I had a feeling that I must protect this woman. I don't know why. It was a feeling inside me. I'm smiling because I knew what I had been searching for all my life was right in front of me." He pecked her on her lips.
"What did you two promise each other?" Ping'an asked, her gaze steady.
Zhao Renshu felt nervous. "On that hill, we agreed that within three years, until you choose one of us, we would not be jealous of each other's acts towards you. Therefore, the other night, when we..." He trailed off, sensing her embarrassment. Still holding Ping'an, he asked, "Are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" Ping'an asked, confused.
Zhao Renshu smiled at Ping'an, a playful glint in his eye. "Are you ready to learn?"
"I was born ready," Ping'an joked, giving him a big smile.
"Ha... Ha... Ha... That's the spirit, my love," Zhao Renshu laughed heartily.
He gently pinched her left cheek. He held her right hand, and the two walked towards their home.