24. The Heart Is Far Away

As soon as Xiao Yun'er heard that Bai Xuehua was leaving, he couldn't help but step forward and grasp her hand, saying, "Sister Xue, don't forget Xiao Yun'er." Bai Xuehua gazed at Xiao Yun'er's delicate features, her heart stirred with emotion. These past few days spent with Xiao Yun'er had been the most unforgettable days of her life.

If Lingzhi were not present, she would truly have been tempted to lean down and kiss Xiao Yun'er's face. In her heart she silently vowed, "If I, Bai Xuehua, do not die, I will come back to find Xiao Yun'er one day." Yet aloud, she spoke quietly, "I will never forget the kindness with which you saved me, Yun'er. You must take care of yourself." When she finished, her eyes lingered tenderly on Xiao Yun'er for a moment before she walked away toward the distance.

Xiao Yun'er watched Bai Xuehua's figure recede and called after her, "Sister Xue, take care on your journey." Lingzhi also called out, "Sister Xue, stay safe." From the way they looked at each other as they parted, Lingzhi could see a deep bond had formed between them, and she found herself bewildered.

After Bai Xuehua left, Xiao Yun'er felt a sense of loss. He turned to Lingzhi and said, "Sister Ling, would you come to my house for a while?" Lingzhi replied, "Yun'er, I don't wish to trouble your mother. I plan to gather medicinal herbs, so I won't be coming in." Hearing this, Xiao Yun'er was disappointed and asked, "Sister, where are you going—could you bring me along?" Lingzhi smiled, "Yun'er, I am going to the distant Changbai Mountains to gather herbs. It is very dangerous, so it's truly not convenient to bring you. In a few months, when I return from beyond the pass, I promise I will come to see you, all right?"

Xiao Yun'er understood that Lingzhi must have her reasons for not taking him with her, but he was reluctant to see her go. Lingzhi could read the boundless attachment in his gaze. Her heart was startled—perhaps she had been too kind to him. If their feelings grew any deeper, it might not be good for either of them. Like Bai Xuehua, she too should not be entangled by emotion.

So she hardened her heart and said, "Xiao Yun'er, you should go home to see your mother first. When I return from gathering herbs, I will come to find you."

Xiao Yun'er knew that although his Sister Ling was gentle and never angry, once she made up her mind, it could not be changed. He felt a little sad but said, "Sister Ling, be careful while gathering herbs. Xiao Yun'er will wait for you to return."

Lingzhi was about to leave when suddenly she remembered something. She took a small bottle of medicinal pills from her bosom and handed it to Xiao Yun'er, saying, "This is an excellent antidote called Hundred Poison Remedy. It can neutralize all poisons. If you take one pill, for an hour you will be immune to any poison—ordinary toxins cannot harm you. If you are poisoned, just take one pill and it will cure you. There are twelve pills in this bottle."

Xiao Yun'er laughed, "Oh, Sister, this 'Hundred Poison Remedy' can cure a hundred poisons. What if I'm poisoned by the hundred and first kind—what should I do then?"

Lingzhi couldn't help but laugh, "You rascal! Then you might as well die and save everyone from your endless mischief." Xiao Yun'er smiled, "Sister, you don't care about Yun'er anymore! If Yun'er died, you'd be heartbroken." Lingzhi teased, "Stop flattering yourself. If that happened, at least I'd have one less thing to worry about. Who would grieve for you?"

Xiao Yun'er replied, "If Sister worries about Yun'er, does that mean Sister likes Yun'er? I understand now—it's always those you care about who trouble you the most." Lingzhi scolded, "After just a few days apart, where did you learn these silly words to tease me? I can't take it anymore." With that, she placed the bottle of medicine in his hand and floated away.

Xiao Yun'er held the bottle of 'Hundred Poison Remedy' and could still feel her fragrance lingering on it. Though she was already gone, it was as if she were still beside him—the scent remained in his nose, her laughter echoed in his ears.

A cold wind swept past, making Xiao Yun'er shiver. It was only then that he realized Lingzhi and Bai Xuehua had both left, leaving only himself on the snowy ground. For the first time, he truly felt lonely and lost.

It was time to go home; his mother must be terribly worried after he had been gone so long. At this thought, his desire to return surged and he hurried back as fast as he could.

When Xiao Yun'er arrived home, his mother saw him and was torn between anger and joy. She grabbed a wooden stick, ready to strike him, then sighed, "You good-for-nothing, who knows what mischief you've been up to? These days, strangers have been coming to look for you, making me worry and fear for you all the time."

It turned out that after Xiao Yun'er left, Xiao Zhiyong, a subordinate of Xiao Tianfeng, had come looking for him several times, unable to find him and often disturbing his mother. For someone as deeply hidden as she was, she could more or less guess what had happened.

She and Xiao Yun'er had depended on each other for more than ten years. Though they were not truly mother and son, their bond was deep. As a woman who lived in seclusion and was skilled in espionage, there were many who wanted her dead. One careless mistake could cost her life and implicate Xiao Yun'er, so she planned to send him away.

There were also many matters she needed to attend to, and it would be difficult to do so with Xiao Yun'er in tow. Now that he had returned, she deliberately scolded him harshly. Xiao Yun'er, having been adopted when he was very young, did not know the details, and instinctively regarded her as his mother.

After her tirade, she realized that mere scolding would not solve the problem, so she said, "You've gotten yourself into trouble; people keep coming for you. You can't stay here anymore. What should we do? Your Second Uncle Xie has just returned from outside. Go ask him to take you somewhere else."

With the departure of Lingzhi and Bai Xuehua and his mother's scolding, Xiao Yun'er was already crestfallen. But when he heard he could leave home, excitement welled up inside him. He yearned for the world beyond the mountains but had never had the opportunity, as his mother had always been reluctant to let him go.

Now, with her urging him to follow Second Uncle Xie out, Xiao Yun'er was overjoyed. Before the journey even began, his heart was already racing toward the exciting world outside.

Delighted, Xiao Yun'er ran to Second Uncle Xie's house. Second Uncle Xie had been the best hunter in the village. Three years ago, he had single-handedly killed a giant tiger, causing a sensation throughout the village. All the children, including Xiao Yun'er, looked up to him as a hero.

How Xiao Yun'er wished he could kill a tiger too—or, if not a tiger, at least a wolf—so that the other children in the village would envy him.

After Xie killed the tiger, the village children often asked him to tell stories about his hunt. Oddly, after that expedition, Second Uncle Xie never went hunting again. Not long after, he left the village to seek his fortune elsewhere.

He returned the following winter, saying he had found work for a wealthy family in the city and was now back in the mountains to procure game for his employer.