Chapter Fifteen: Lu Liao and the Enchantress

Passing by a stream, the young girl Tang Xiaoqi took a moment for a simple wash. When Gu Ye looked at her again, he saw a face radiant with youth and charm, her skin as white as jade with a rosy glow, brows arched like willow leaves, and eyes clear as autumn water. The sight made the young Taoist’s heart pound, and he dared not meet her gaze directly.

He recited silently to himself until the image of a beautiful girl, eyes curved like a crescent moon and smiling sweetly, surfaced in his mind, and only then did his heart gradually settle.

Throughout the journey, Tang Xiaoqi never questioned why the young Taoist always stayed at the finest inns and dined at the most expensive restaurants. She simply followed him in silence, offering no words of thanks. Great kindness needs no words, she understood. She resolutely refused Gu Ye’s offer to buy her new clothes, choosing instead to wash her garments until they were spotless. Though plain, they brought her peace of mind.

Entering Zizhou and stepping into the mountains, Tang Xiaoqi felt no anxiety or fear. Though the young Taoist was youthful and innocent, he was kind and courteous, always maintaining a respectful five-pace distance from her—never more, never less.

The mountain path was difficult, her throat parched and her legs trembling with fatigue, yet she was too shy to ask the absentminded Taoist ahead to pause for rest, enduring it as best she could.

Winding their way through the hills, they finally arrived at a peak of elegant beauty. Beside a stream and beneath the shade of trees, several bamboo chairs and wooden tables, a clay stove and teapot were set out casually. Scattered chess pieces lay upon a board, a guqin rested askew, and books lay open. Though it seemed chaotic, the place exuded a refined tranquility.

Apart from the chirping of birds and insects and the gentle flow of the stream, there was no sign of human presence. Gu Ye knew he was about to visit a reclusive scholar and did not dare to disturb lightly. He and Tang Xiaoqi stood quietly for a while, but eventually, impatience got the better of him.

“I’ll go look around nearby. Don’t wander off—you’ll be safe here. I’ll be back soon.”

Left alone, Tang Xiaoqi eyed a cup of clear, faintly green tea, swallowing with difficulty. She stood idly for a while, her legs aching. Gathering the scattered chess pieces, she straightened the guqin, and then took a cloth to wipe down the tables and chairs. Only then did she take a teacup, wash it by the stream, pour herself some tea, and sit in a bamboo chair to drink a satisfying sip.

With a long, contented sigh, she massaged her aching legs. Having tidied things up, she felt she had earned her drink and took another sip, her conscience clear. Casually, her gaze fell upon a book’s cover; curiosity piqued, she opened it. “The Classic of Length and Shortness? What kind of classic is this? How strange,” she muttered.

“Ah! What a stink!” Tang Xiaoqi had not noticed a young man had appeared beside her.

Her face flushed red. She looked up to see a plainly dressed young scholar fanning his nose and exclaiming how foul it smelled, yet not moving away.

Strangely, Tang Xiaoqi did not feel offended. The young man spoke as if stating a fact, but his eyes held none of the usual disgust or contempt.

Noticing her gaze, the young man exclaimed in surprise, “Oh! Such a beautiful young lady! Are you a fox spirit?”

Though the youth before her was fine-browed and handsome, his lively eyes betrayed a sly nature. Annoyed, Tang Xiaoqi retorted, “Yes, I am a fox spirit. You’re standing so close—aren’t you afraid I’ll eat you in one bite?”

The young man scratched his head, looking at Tang Xiaoqi skeptically. “Could it be that Heaven has seen my lonely years of study in the mountains and sent a fox spirit to keep me company? No, no—if that were the case, why not sooner? Or is this some kind of test?”

Tang Xiaoqi stared at him in bewilderment, thinking privately that he must have studied himself into madness.

Suddenly, the young man’s grin turned wicked. “My will is unshakable. What have I to fear from a little fox spirit? Come, let’s see who devours whom—you me, or me you.”

Tang Xiaoqi blanched, flustered and indignant, pointing at him and stammering, “You blockheaded scholar! I am flesh and blood, not some fox spirit. Scoundrel! Rascal!”

The young man looked around. In broad daylight, what monster could there be? In all his four years in the mountains, he’d never encountered such luck. Realizing he’d likely been mistaken, he nonetheless bristled at being called a scoundrel.

“Say, where did you come from, wild girl? You barged into my home, drank my tea, rifled through my books. I didn’t climb your courtyard wall to peek at you—so why call me a scoundrel?”

Tang Xiaoqi felt at a loss, a little guilty. She pointed at the now spotless table. “I tidied up for you. What’s the harm in a cup of tea, you miser?”

The young man glanced at the now empty chessboard and shrieked, “Ah! My game! Master was about to lose, but slipped away with some excuse. Now he’ll deny everything!”

A voice called from the slope below, “Hmph! The outcome is far from settled.” In no time, Li Bai approached, followed by a young Taoist with features somewhat resembling his own.

The young man pursed his lips, clearly unimpressed by Li Bai.

Li Bai didn’t seem to notice. He took the young Taoist’s arm and introduced him to the other. “Come, let’s meet. This is Taoist Gu Ye of Shangqing Temple in Chang’an, disciple of my good friend Master Yuan Qiu. This rascal is Lu Liaoliao, who joined as a disciple with your Uncle Dong Yanzi four years ago. You two have already met, I suppose.”

Gu Ye, ever courteous, saluted Lu Liaoliao. “Gu Ye of Shangqing Temple, greetings, Junior Brother Liaoliao.”

Being addressed as “junior brother” clearly irked Lu Liaoliao, who protested, “Gu Ye, you don’t look much older than me. I must be your senior by a couple of years. How am I the junior?”

“I was born and raised in Shangqing Temple, and have been a disciple for seventeen years. You entered only four years ago. The address is correct,” Gu Ye replied calmly.

Lu Liaoliao had no choice but to offer a stiff salute and call him “Senior Brother Gu Ye.”

Tang Xiaoqi found it amusing and giggled.

Li Bai looked at her with approval, then asked casually, “Young lady, are you by chance Miss Geshu Xiaoye?”

Tang Xiaoqi looked confused. Gu Ye’s face turned red, and he quickly waved his hands. “This is Miss Tang Xiaoqi, whom I met by chance on the road. Due to a misunderstanding, she was poisoned by a strange toxin. I brought her here to see if Uncle Dong Yanzi could help. She’s not Miss Geshu Xiaoye.”

Li Bai chuckled awkwardly, “Ah, my mistake. As for medicine and herbs, your Master’s wife is more skilled. Take the lady to see her.”

Lu Liaoliao led Tang Xiaoqi away. Gu Ye, still blushing, looked at Li Bai in surprise. “I never mentioned Geshu Xiaoye to you, Master Uncle. How did you know the name?”

“Didn’t you bring a letter from your adoptive mother, the Supreme True Master of Yuzhen Temple? She mentioned you’re fond of General Geshu’s daughter. You came to Shu this time because of her, didn’t you?” Li Bai smiled strangely.

“N-no, it wasn’t because of Miss Geshu. It’s just that my friends in Chang’an heard the notorious libertine, Lord Xihua, might show up at the Flower Queen Festival in Chengdu. We didn’t want him to harm any innocent women, so we agreed to go catch him together,” Gu Ye stammered, his face red.

“If Miss Geshu weren’t attending, would you still go?” Li Bai pressed.

“Of course! As a disciple of Shangqing Temple, how could I allow such a villain to run rampant?” Gu Ye answered proudly.

“Most of those noble youths are just second-generation idle sons. They only befriend you because of your adoptive mother. You’d do well to keep your distance—better for her, and besides, there’s little to gain from their company,” Li Bai said, shaking his head.

“I’m just a minor Taoist. What prospects do I have?” Gu Ye muttered, a trace of resentment in his voice.

Though young and innocent, Gu Ye was not naive. In Chang’an, he’d heard rumors that his adoptive mother, the Supreme True Master of Yuzhen Temple, was actually Princess Yuzhen of the Tang Dynasty—his true mother. And his real father was rumored to be none other than this very poet, Li Bai.

He remembered how, as a child, these two often visited Shangqing Temple together. How could he not know the rumors were likely true? To be the son of a princess and a poet, yet only a minor Taoist—it was hard not to feel downcast. It was impossible not to harbor some resentment.

Li Bai sighed deeply. “Since you insist on going, I won’t stop you. Here, I have a pair of legendary swords—Ganjiang and Moye, one male and one female. Take them with you.

The female sword, Moye, you may give to Miss Geshu. Whether she accepts it is another matter. In any case, with these swords, you’ll have greater means to protect yourself.”

“As for catching that libertine at the Flower Queen Festival, take Junior Brother Lu Liaoliao with you. With him at your side, I’ll be more at ease.”

Gu Ye listened to Li Bai’s words in silence, secretly delighted. Ganjiang and Moye—weren’t these the famed swords of legend? The notion of the male and female swords representing a pair made his heart soar. But hearing that Lu Liaoliao was to join him, with the implication of being his protector, left him indignant. Cautiously, he asked, “Is Junior Brother Lu Liaoliao very skilled?”

Li Bai smiled lightly. “Why not test him yourself?”

The next morning, Gu Ye stepped out of his room to see, by the woods, Lu Liaoliao practicing swordplay. Gu Ye, proud yet curious, walked over. The wooden houses of Dongchang Cliff were not far apart; Tang Xiaoqi also crept over secretly.

He saw that Lu Liaoliao’s movements were calm and unhurried—nothing remarkable. Gu Ye greeted him with a sly smile, “Practicing swordplay, Junior Brother?”

Again with the “junior brother,” and that smile was clearly provocative. Glancing at Tang Xiaoqi behind Gu Ye, Lu Liaoliao became wary.

“My swordsmanship is crude, Senior Brother Gu Ye. You’ll laugh,” Lu Liaoliao replied perfunctorily.

“Our elders are close, so we brothers should be close as well. You’ve not been here long, but how could I laugh at you? But a little guidance, perhaps, I can offer,” Gu Ye said generously.

Lu Liaoliao eyed him suspiciously. “And how will you guide me?”

“Let’s have a little sparring between brothers,” Gu Ye said, stepping forward and drawing his newly acquired sword, Ganjiang, with a metallic ring.

One look at the cold gleam of the blade told Lu Liaoliao it was razor-sharp. Swallowing nervously, he said dryly, “Swords are dangerous. Perhaps we shouldn’t.”

Gu Ye twirled the sword in a flourish, full of confidence. “I’ve studied the sword since I was seven—ten years now. I’m not so careless as to injure you by mistake.”

Lu Liaoliao was intimidated. He’d been in the mountains only four years, most of it spent learning strategy rather than swordsmanship. How could he compete with someone who’d trained since childhood?

He forced a laugh. “I’m still new to the sword, Senior Brother. I only practice for health. Best not to spar.”

Gu Ye’s eyes showed clear disdain as he feigned anger. “Are you looking down on me, Junior Brother?”

Lu Liaoliao still shook his head.

Seeing his cowardice, Tang Xiaoqi couldn’t help but mutter, “Yesterday you were so fierce—I thought you were tough, but you’re just a coward!”

Stung by the beauty’s taunt, Lu Liaoliao’s pride wouldn’t allow retreat.

“Fine! Let’s spar, then!”