Chapter 218: On the Lake

Still water, fine wind, cool moon.

On Catching-Moon Lake, a light rain.

The oar had long been loosened; the small boat drifted slowly with the current.

Each of them leaned against the boat's edge; in the cabin, fine wine and fruit delicacies still sat arranged, but all had already eaten their fill.

It was deep night after the poetry gathering had ended; guests who had watched exquisite dances, heard beautiful music, and engaged in lively conversation had returned to their pavilions to sleep, leaving Luzhou utterly quiet. As Seeing Pei Ye and the others strolled along the shore, chatting idly, they saw Qi Qi Zhaohua quietly leaning against the bow, holding a small flask of wine, her head tilted toward the lake, unsure whether she was gazing at the water or the moon.

Fang Fang Jidao did not disturb her; he hadn't even boarded the boat, instead sitting by the lakeside, poking at tiny shrimp in the water with a blade of grass.

Seeing Pei Ye walked over with a smile, tugging Fang Fang Jidao's arm; the two stepped onto the boat first, followed by Yang Yan, Li Li Piaoqing, and Zhang Jun. Qi Qi Zhaohua came back to herself, smiled faintly, and made room for them.

The woman sat at the bow; Seeing Pei Ye and Fang Fang Jidao boarded first and sat to her left and right, then Li Li Piaoqing took her seat beside Seeing Pei Ye, while Yang Yan and Zhang Jun sat down on Fang Fang Jidao's side.

The boat was large enough that six people did not feel crowded; once the rope was released, it glided to the lake's center.

"I really never held an oar before," Seeing Pei Ye said, sitting cross-legged with his hand resting on the cat in his lap, still recounting how the boat had spun two and a half circles in place on the lake, "and sometimes there's wind—you have to adjust your strength. Plus, you all keep moving around randomly."

"No one moved randomly."

"The puppy moved."

"I was trying to grab your oar—you've been rowing for ages and the boat still went backward. Qi Qi Jushi was about to laugh at you."

"I didn't laugh," Qi Qi Zhaohua murmured, tilting her head slightly.

"You laughed inside."

"I didn't laugh inside either. I think Pei Young Master is young but accomplished, sincere, resolute, and brave—he's already one of Baowang's finest talents. Not knowing how to row doesn't matter at all; how can you expect him to excel at everything?"

Li Li Piaoqing widened her eyes.

Qi Qi Zhaohua clapped her hands and laughed; beside her, Seeing Pei Ye nodded vigorously.

Li Li Piaoqing huffed indignantly: "You took off your clothes—let Qi Qi Jushi buy you a new one!"

"That won't do—you already paid the deposit."

"I don't want it anymore."

"I do know how to make clothes," Qi Qi Zhaohua chimed in with a smile, then lowered her voice slightly, "My family… also has fine fabrics ready."

Seeing Pei Ye glanced at her and changed the subject: "Night boating is indeed pleasant—no wonder there wasn't a single boat left on the shore. Fang Brother, what do scholars do on boats? Do you just chat like this?"

Fang Fang Jidao sat with the most upright posture: "Many things. The most common is composing verses on the scenery before you while drinking."

"What's 'drinking poetry'?" Seeing Pei Ye didn't catch on.

Fang Fang Jidao pointed at the lake and smiled: "The pale moon shares its radiance; the bright river mirrors its glow; inside and out, all is clear and pure."

"Oh—" Seeing Pei Ye understood, about to dismiss the dull activity, when Qi Qi Zhaohua continued: "I think it's: 'Gentle ripples still, cold water reflects the stars of heaven.'"

Then she smiled at the boy.

"." Seeing Pei Ye held his breath.

"Can't think of a single line?" Qi Qi Zhaohua smiled and pointed, "The Young Master is laughing at you."

"Huh? No, I'm not!" Li Li Piaoqing forced her flower-like face into seriousness, sitting upright: "I think Pei Young Master's sword art is unmatched, clever and quick-witted, and he's a good person. Not knowing poems isn't laughable at all."

Seeing Pei Ye rolled his eyes.

"What do you mean? I'm complimenting you."

"Your smile hasn't left your lips."

So the girl burst into open laughter; after laughing, she leaned against the boat's edge, her eyes falling again on the cat in Seeing Pei Ye's lap, round as a jade ball, and asked once more: "Really, not even a single touch?"

Qi Qi Zhaohua froze; she had no cultivation, her eyesight slightly poor, and in the deep night's concealment, the cat had been too still—only now did she realize there was a seventh living being in the cabin.

The woman leaned closer and immediately brightened: ". So beautiful."

Seeing Pei Ye lifted the cat and held it in his palm: "Right?"

"So small—two months old?"

"Uh, one month. Just now, actually."

"It looks older than a month," Qi Qi Zhaohua gazed at it tenderly, then asked a question no one had ever asked, and Seeing Pei Ye had never considered.

And it was devastating: "Is it a male or female kitten?"

"."

"Hmm?" Qi Qi Zhaohua looked at him curiously.

"It—" Seeing Pei Ye choked.

He didn't know if it was male or female, because he knew it wasn't a cat at all.

The Immortal Hunter was the only celestial spirit in the world—there was no second, no reproduction, so there was no male or female.

It could speak, and its voice was clear and melodious, but that voice was neither male nor female—not the ambiguous tone humans called androgynous, but one that simply could not be defined by the concepts of "male" or "female."

Because it wasn't a human voice at all.

If one must name it, it was merely "the voice of the Chi Dragon."

But then again—cats do have genders.

This form it took… Seeing Pei Ye cautiously extended his hand toward the black cat; the cat's emerald eyes regarded him calmly.

It was probably just an appearance.

Seeing Pei Ye dared not test it. He studied the cat's expression and ventured: "Female… uh, neutered."

After all, unneutered cats had two round balls visible.

"Ah? So young?"

". Yes."

"Better to wait until it's bigger," Qi Qi Zhaohua tilted her head to glance at the kitten's rear; Seeing Pei Ye's heart leapt—he feared the cat might suddenly turn and blast her hair off with fire.

"Little kitty~ Let me hold you, okay?" The woman bent down, gently extending her hand.

The black cat turned its head and leapt back onto Seeing Pei Ye's shoulder.

"Ah, usually cats are quite fond of me," Qi Qi Zhaohua said, disappointed, resting her chin on her hand. "Your cat really is loyal to its master."

Li Li Piaoqing nodded vigorously in deep agreement.

The cabin fell quiet for a while, save for the continuous low murmurs of Yang Yan and Zhang Jun discussing swords. Li Li Piaoqing smiled: "Since someone can't recite poetry, let's talk about something else."

"Good."

"Hmm, let me think… Ah! What are everyone's aspirations?"

This silenced Yang Yan and Zhang Jun's conversation; all fell silent, eyes distant. Until Qi Qi Zhaohua softly laughed: "Let's speak of our inner ambitions. I think… the grandest one must be to drink wine."

Seeing Pei Ye disagreed: "I believe the grandest one is such that the other five must toast him."

Qi Qi Zhaohua laughed: "That'd be a boasting contest."

"It's supposed to be boasting—if everyone's humble, what kind of ambition is that?" Seeing Pei Ye elbowed the girl beside him. "Li Li Piaoqing, what's your ambition?"

"Hmm—I want Cuiyu to become the number one in the Five Provinces!"

"Too low."

"Too low? There are many powerful sects in the surrounding provinces!"

"Too low. Say it again."

"Then I want Cuiyu to become… the number one of the Eight Provinces!"

Seeing Pei Ye raised her arm: "One day, all fifty provinces of Shaolong will echo the name of Cuiyu!"

"." Li Li Piaoqing stared. "That's not an ambition—it's delusion."

". And we won't be called Cuiyu anymore," the girl looked up. "Master said, when the Cicada Line returns, we may restore the name Yufei Mountain."

"Then all fifty provinces of Shaolong will echo the name of Yufei Mountain!"

Qi Qi Zhaohua smiled: "That ambition is grand enough—Yang Young Master, if you don't want to toast, you can't lose."

Yang Yan blinked: "Huh? I—I don't have any ambition."

Qi Qi Zhaohua smiled gently: "Surely you have something you want to do—even something small, or something distant."

"."

"Is there nothing you want to do, right now, in your heart?"

"I want…" Yang Yan stared at the lake. "I want to return to the sect, and sleep one night on my own bed."

"."

"Of course…" the boy whispered, "that's impossible."

Qi Qi Zhaohua fell silent, sighing with the softest tenderness: ". Yes. The most unattainable thing in this world is 'that time.'"

Then she composed herself, lifted her head, and smiled: "Zhang Girl, what about you?"

Zhang Jun raised her head and first glanced at Seeing Pei Ye, who was smiling at her.

"I want…" the girl said seriously, "to create a sword art higher than Mount Tai."

Qi Qi Zhaohua blinked, turning to Seeing Pei Ye: "I don't understand this—Pei Young Master, how does this ambition compare to Li Girl's?"

"Let me think… Li Piaoqing's seems harder, but Zhang Junxue's is more lofty."

Qi Qi Zhaohua rested her chin on her hand: ". I asked which is grander, not for you to balance both."

". Then Zhang Jun."

Qi Qi Zhaohua smiled, turning to the next: "Fang Jidao, what about you?"

Fang Fang Jidao smiled shyly and whispered: "My ambition… you know it already, Qi Jushi."

Qi Qi Zhaohua nodded: "Fang Jidao wishes to fully comprehend the Five Classics and revive the Sage's teachings. Let me speak for him—this ambition may not reach the heights of the two girls', but its scope is at least equal to Zhang Girl's."

"I asked who's grandest, not for you to balance."

". Then still Zhang Girl." Qi Qi Zhaohua smiled, turning to Fang Fang Jidao with gentle warmth: "You've been traveling hard these days. Tomorrow I'll give you a letter of recommendation to the National Academy—pick a good day and set off."

"Qi Jushi… I want to wait until you've finished with the lake's matter, and go together."

Qi Zhao Hua ignored him.

"Now it's your turn, Miss Qi," Seeing Pei Ye smiled.

"I have no grand ambitions—only to go to Shenjing and do something meaningful. That would be enough for this life."

Seeing Pei Ye shook his head: "Not sincere. I said you aim to become Chancellor."

"Hahaha." Qi Zhao Hua laughed heartily, then grew serious, smiling softly: "I wish to be a right arm to a virtuous chancellor."

"Hmm, that does sound impressive. Then where do you rank?"

"I rank below Fang Fang Jidao."

"Hmm, then among us, it seems Jun Xue still has the highest ambition."

Zhang Jun Xue looked up, eyes wide, her face still pouting with grievance—they had agreed to boast together, yet only she had truly spoken in grand terms.

"Young Master Pei, you haven't spoken yet," Qi Zhao Hua reminded seriously.

Everyone turned to look at him, clearly unwilling to let him off.

"My ambition is truly shallow—nothing compared to Jun Xue's."

Zhang Jun Xue glared at him again.

Qi Zhao Hua laughed: "I want to hear just how shallow."

Li Piao Qing also propped her chin, smiling as she gazed at him.

"Alright." Seeing Pei Ye leaned against the boat's edge, one hand resting on the lake's surface. Since entering this world, this was the first time the boy had clearly voiced his inner ambition.

He spoke clearly: "I aim to become Number One on the Crane List."

"."

It was indeed a shallow, simple, and powerful ambition—the clearest of the night, utterly undeniable.

No one needed to explain its weight: Qi Zhao Hua slowly clapped her hands; Li Piao Qing stared, eyes shining like stars.

"Well then, since we've all spoken, who deserves the most toasts?" Qi Zhao Hua looked around. "I vote for Young Master Pei."

Li Piao Qing raised her hand: "I vote for Seeing Pei Ye."

Yang Yan hesitated: "... I vote for Zhang Jun Xue. The path of the sword has been opened by so few predecessors—it's truly narrow."

Zhang Jun Xue muttered: "I vote for myself."

No one expected that—laughter broke out instantly.

The girl explained seriously: "My ambition lasts a lifetime. He wins the Crane List, maybe in ten or so years it's done—can't compare to me."

Then everyone turned to Fang Fang Jidao, who raised his hand without surprise: "I vote for the Recluse."

Seeing Pei Ye watched Qi Zhao Hua roll her eyes.

Seeing Pei Ye raised his hand: "Then I vote for Fang Fang Jidao."

Thus, Seeing Pei Ye and Zhang Jun Xue each had two votes; Fang Fang Jidao and Qi Zhao Hua each had one. Li Piao Qing, who spoke first, received none.

Realizing this, Seeing Pei Ye immediately turned and raised his hand: "I change my vote—I vote for Li Piao Qing."

The girl huffed: "You said Zhang Jun Xue first."

"I changed it."

But it didn't affect the "big picture."

Qi Zhao Hua smiled: "Since we can't pick the most lofty, let's toast each other. May all friends on this boat, twenty years from now, fulfill their dreams."

The girl poured a small pot of wine into six tiny cups and handed them out.

Seeing Pei Ye took his and frowned: "That's all?"

"It's just for merriment. How could we drink freely on a boat? What if we fell in?"

"Pour me some more."

Qi Zhao Hua tipped the last dregs of the pot into his cup.

They all drank their wine with laughter. Seeing Pei Ye had a little left over—he turned his head and offered the cup to the small cat on his shoulder.

The green eyes lifted, meeting the boy's bright gaze. Between them, no words were needed, nor a second cup—because their purpose was the same.

The black cat glanced at him, bored, then lowered its head and took a sip.

Seeing Pei Ye set down his cup. The night wind was cool, the rain light, the autumn lake still and cold. They leaned back against the boat, savoring the quiet joy, the only sound the gentle lap of waves against the hull.

Qi Zhao Hua's eyes half-lidded, her thoughts already drifting to twenty years hence. She murmured softly: "Recalling when we drank on Lu Lake, all here were heroes..."

She didn't finish the verse—she smiled, lips pressed together.

Seeing Pei Ye smiled too, lounging lazily. After a long while, he murmured: "Miss Qi, they say your poem today had no feeling."

"That's true."

"Can you write one with feeling?"

"..."

"Can't you?"

"It might spoil the mood."

"Such a fine scene—how could it be spoiled?"

"... Then alright."

The boat fell silent again, like the deep night.

Seeing Pei Ye turned his head. The woman's face was beautiful, pale, eyes half-closed. Beneath the moon, her soft voice drifted from the bow, weaving through the drizzle like a dream.

"Who remembers the boy with the small flute, when clouds gathered, wetting his clothes? He called me on his ox to cross the brook. We saw fish laughing, pointing, holding lotus leaves to catch the rainbow."

"."

"."

The night boat grew even quieter. Finally, Fang Fang Jidao couldn't help whispering: "Recluse, what's the second stanza?"

"... Ten years of jade vows now a dream, the letter's seal blurred with time. Autumn's Xiao River never returns. Wind chills my sleeves, rain seeps into my bones, chilling my soul."

Qi Zhao Hua opened her eyes, gazing at the lake, smiling softly: "This 'Immortal at the River'—let's call it 'The Dream of Then.'"

The boat remained silent as sleep, each person lost in their own thoughts.

(End of Chapter)