Chasing the Moon Amid Multicolored Clouds

Feiyu smiled brightly and said, “Young Master Yun, there’s no need to be so modest. Just look at Feihong—she’s already become so formidable after learning only a few moves from Aunt Jiu. You’re always with Aunt Jiu, you must have exchanged countless techniques. Your skills must be impressive as well. Since we have nothing else to do, why don’t you teach us a few moves?”

Little Yun blushed. He wanted to say that he didn’t know any martial arts at all, but feared they would look down on him, so he could only force a smile and reply, “Miss Feiyu, please don’t make things difficult for me. I barely know anything about martial arts—I was hoping to learn from you, actually!”

Feiyu couldn’t help but burst into tinkling laughter. “Young Master Yun, stop pretending. You not knowing martial arts is like Confucius being illiterate—who would believe that? Is it that you look down on us and don’t want to teach us?”

Although Feihong often bickered and quarreled with Feiyu, in truth, they were the closest of sisters. So Feihong joined in with a laugh, “Young Master Yun—no, I should call you Young Hero Yun! There’s no need to be embarrassed. I know you’re younger than us, but as the saying goes, the capable are the teachers. Besides, you’re Aunt Jiu’s chosen one. You’ll be our elder in the future, so stop pretending.”

Little Yun was at his wits’ end, besieged by the two, and couldn’t help but cast a pleading look at Xiaojing. Normally, Xiaojing treated him quite well, but this time she pretended not to notice and even added with a smile, “Young Master Yun, since the two ladies insist, why not show them a move or two?”

Feihong also laughed, “Exactly, this is called ‘throwing bricks to attract jade’—our little sparring match has brought out Young Hero Yun’s dazzling display.”

Little Yun gave a helpless smile. “Very well then, I’ll show you a single move, but I must make it clear in advance—just one move.”

With that, Little Yun mimicked the move “Blossoms and Full Moon” he’d seen from Miss Jiu, copying it as best as he could, for it was the only move he had managed to remember.

He performed “Blossoms and Full Moon” slowly and deliberately. Feihong watched, a little puzzled—it looked very much like the move Aunt Jiu had taught her, yet there were too many flaws and openings. Feihong thought to herself that even her own attempts at “Blossoms and Full Moon” seemed far superior; she didn’t realize that Little Yun had not truly mastered the technique.

Feiyu couldn’t recall the name of the move at first, but it looked familiar—she’d seen Feihong use it before, something called “Blossoms and Full Moon.” But Feihong’s version was much more polished.

Xiaojing found the whole scene rather amusing. As soon as Little Yun finished, Feiyu asked slyly, “Young Master Yun, what’s this move called?”

Little Yun blushed. “This is a new sword move I just created, called ‘Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon.’”

Feiyu grinned mischievously. “Oh! So it’s ‘Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon’? For a moment, I thought it was the ‘Blossoms and Full Moon’ move Feihong uses!”

Little Yun could tell that, despite her smile, Feiyu’s tone and gaze were teasing—she had seen through his clumsy imitation. Still, he felt secretly pleased that his attempt was at least recognizable as “Blossoms and Full Moon.”

Feihong laughed as well. “I thought you were doing ‘Blossoms and Full Moon’ too, Young Master Yun.”

Seeing their doubtful looks, Little Yun protested, “It’s not ‘Blossoms and Full Moon,’ it’s my own creation—‘Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon’... Oh, you wouldn’t understand even if I explained it. Xiaojing, let’s go.”

Feiyu teased, “Of course we understand—‘Colorful Clouds,’ that’s you, Young Master Yun; ‘the Moon,’ that’s Lady Yue. ‘Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon’ means Young Master Yun pursuing Lady Yue—am I right?”

The two sisters erupted in laughter. Embarrassed, Little Yun muttered, “Nonsense,” and hurried off, leaving behind the sound of their merry laughter.

When Little Yun returned to the Osmanthus Garden and found Miss Jiu absent, he asked Xiaojing to take him to Hanxing’s room. Hanxing’s quarters were about a hundred paces from Miss Jiu’s garden.

Miss Jiu was chatting with Xing’er when Little Yun arrived. Xing’er greeted him warmly, her laughter making Little Yun blush yet again. Just as he was about to sit down, a maid came in to announce that the second young lady from the Xiao family of Xianyang Manor had arrived for a visit.

Xing’er immediately prepared to go out with Miss Jiu to greet the guest. Little Yun was about to follow when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of this Second Miss Xiao and was struck with shock. He recognized her from Shouyang Mountain—Xiao Tianfeng, who had once fought the wounded Bai Xuehua. Little Yun had plenty of dealings with her, especially when he’d managed to spirit Bai Xuehua away right under her nose.

Afraid of being recognized, he quickly covered his face and exclaimed, “Oh! My head hurts so much!”

Miss Jiu and Xing’er were both startled. Little Yun continued, “Dear sister, my head suddenly aches terribly. Please ask Xiaojing to help me lie down for a while.”

Miss Jiu was full of suspicion—seeing Little Yun clutching his head and fleeing, she thought it best not to question him in front of others. “Xiaojing, take him to the Osmanthus Garden to rest.”

Xing’er interjected, “The Osmanthus Garden is a bit of a walk from here. Since Young Master Yun needs to rest, and I don’t want to seem stingy, I have a bed and a quiet place right here. Let him rest here.”

Miss Jiu was startled—she wondered if Xing’er also fancied this little rascal. Out loud, she said, “Wouldn’t that be improper?”

Xing’er laughed, “Oh, come now! We’re people of the martial world—who needs to fuss over the old Confucian rules about gentlemen and ladies? Since you’re bold enough to marry Young Master Yun despite what others might say, I don’t care about gossip either. My bed is empty anyway—let Young Master Yun rest for a while. What harm is there in that?”

Turning to the maid, she said, “Xiao Ye, take Young Master Yun inside.”