Spring Winds

"How do you know its one-sided?"

Master's words rang through my head as I held Zhu Na Ran's kite in my hands. It was a dull and straightforward kite that one could buy from any kite vendor. A crude bright red bird drawing laid on the surface of the white paper with a tail of green and red ribbons. Perhaps it was supposed to be a phoenix? I wasn't too sure.

Stroking the surface of the kite, I thought about that particular day as a faint smile appeared on my face. I wasn't sure why I bothered to keep this item, but at the same time, I couldn't bear toss it out. After all, it was the item that brought us together.

I could even remember the shock of the hit from the kite. I wasn't sure if this is when I started to grow an attachment to Zhu Na Ran or afterward when I got to know her. Perhaps, it was because of how ridiculous the situation and my junior sister was that I couldn't help but feel a little interested in her.

Though we may not have known each other for more than a year, I already felt some attachment to Zhu Na Ran. The thing was that at the time, I didn't realize that my feelings Zhu Na Ran would grow to more than just that of an older sister.

"Huh," I sighed with a melancholic smile. "How did you know before I did, Master?" Its been a few days since I had that talk with Master in my garden. Since then, I've holed myself within my chambers. Zhu Na Ran dropped by a few times to see how I was doing, and each time, I just brushed her off or chased her away.

I admit its not the best way to confront my emotions, but I don't know any other options.

"But, but we're both women. It would be wrong if we were to be together!" Blushing, I recall my hysterical reaction. I can't believe I broke so quickly, but then again, my emotions were all over the place.

Taking out a piece of paper and a brush, I write a note.

'Going into closed-door cultivation, do not disturb.'

Though they say running from the problem is not the solution, maybe the answer will come to me when my solitude accompanies me.

"Huh, what would do you in my place. Master?"

---

"Ughh, I'm so bored!" Lying on a tree branch, I let myself lay limply in a tree. Digging through my chest pockets, I pull out a crumpled piece of paper. "Going to closed-door cultivation, do not disturb?" When I went over to Senior Sister's courtyard a couple of days ago to see how she was doing.

And to see if she was still mad.

I came across this piece of paper on her table. As the note indicated, she would be by herself for who knows how long! And that means that I'll be by myself until she comes out again. At first, I jumped for joy as that said that I wouldn't need to practice.

Yay!

However, prepared is Senior Sister's favorite word as she even left me homework! And she said that I had to master this technique and show them to her when she came back! What sort of trick is this! I'd instead go into closed-door cultivation so that at least I don't need to grow white hairs wondering how long I can procrastinate on my work!

"Aiyah, Senior Sister, how could you be so cruel to this junior," I signed as I let my arms hang limply by my sides. Since then, I played around a bit, flew some kites; they didn't crash into any people, by the way! And I just napped for the past few days.

However, the novelty of being on my own wore off quickly.

It became boring without Senior Sister around. No one to tease or to play around. Even Master had to leave on another mission.

"Dang, Sect Master is trying to milk all the youth that's left in Master." Ever since the day I've beaten up that Yun Duan Peak mosquito, Master has been busier than ever. Sect Master was the one who had to apologize on behalf of his sh*itty disciple; it feels like Master this is Master's punishment. For whatever reason, that is.

Sect Master claims that since Master has been cultivating alone for the past few years, he has some time and energy to complete 'some' tasks.

Poor Master.

He barely had time to go on his secret food binges, before being dragged away for another mission.

As a good disciple, I can only burn some incense sticks from Master's long lost days of leisure.

I should probably do something.

But I don't feel like doing anything.

Wait.

I know! Sitting up straight, I quickly dash on over to my courtyard. Grabbing a piece of scrap paper and a brush, I immediately write a note for Master and Senior Sister and grab anything that I will need for the next few days.

"Haha, why didn't I think of this sooner!" I laughed as I strolled down the busy streets of Yu Dao City. Dressed as a young scholarly looking young master, I casually mingled amongst the crowd.

The street vendors hawking their wares, and children ran through the streets. Though, I kept a keen eye on my wallet, as I know my fair share of pickpocketing back when I was younger and needed to it survive. However, I couldn't risk losing my purse, as it was, in fact, Senior Sister's wallet.

I may or may not have swiped her wallet on the day she kicked me out of her bedchambers. It's not like she will need it for the next few days anyway.

And I doubt she will notice that a few coins have gone missing, right? Tapping my fan against my nose, I ponder on what I should do next with my new found freedom. I already at some snacks at the famous You Yi teahouse. I must say, the stories there were genuinely worth the money, and the women there were beautiful too. If not a bit too flirtatious. Honestly, this is what makes a luxury teahouse stand out from the ordinary ones, a single crane amongst the crowd of chickens.

Anyways, the storyteller of You Yi was truly spectacular. Their method of storytelling was different from anything I've ever experienced. The crowd seemed to share the same sentiment as they were completely engrossed in the story. So were the waitresses.

As for the story, it was a simple forbidden love story between a thief and a noble young miss.

The storyteller was interesting for speaking in the first person, rather than in the usual third person. The superb storytelling gave the audience a first-hand experience of the characters' trials and tribulations.

"Hmm, some people are just really gifted," I mused, recalling the scenes that the storyteller described with a vivid description from the meeting of the two protagonists to their tragic parting. Only an excellent storyteller could pull on the heartstrings of the audience.

"Ahh, well, that was fun." Strolling down the shopping district, luxury jewelry shops and fabric stores lined the streets as young noblewomen shuffled in an out of the various shops. Hmm, I wonder if Senior Sister ever had the experience of shopping for accessories and cute clothes.

Continuing my walk, I noticed an abnormality in the scene of fancy shops and people. An older man was sitting in a darkened alleyway with an old blanket displaying some old looking accessories. The general crowd seemed to have ignored the little older man. However, perhaps it was my martial senses that were tingling because I felt this older man was than what met the eye.

However, before I could approach him, a group of ruffians gathered around his area.

"Hey, old man! When are you going to pay your debts!" A buff looking man, perhaps the leader, stared down the older man.

"Please, give more some more time!" The older man begged. His frail form even bowed in front of the gruff men.

"Ha! You think we are going to fall fro that again?" The man questioned. "Old man, you gave us that same excuse last time, don't think that it will work this time!"

"I don't have money right now," the old man said, as he took a look in his small and ragged coin box, but it was empty. Feeling for something in his robes, he pulls something out as his eyes brighten a bit before saying, "Here, you can take this for now." The older man's thin fingers held out a dull-looking hair stick. The rust and grim made the hair stick look more like scrap metal than an accessory. "Or, or you can take these accessories, to pay my debts!"

The ruffians grimaced and sneered at the older man's efforts to persuade them. "Old man, you know what happens when you don't pay your dues!" And one of the ruffians grabbed the older man by the collar and lifted his small form into the air.

"Wait, plea-"

"A bunch of young men, bullying the elders. Tsk, how shameful," and clocked one of the bullies in the face. He was quick to fall, as the saying goes. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

"Hey! Stay out of this!" One of them yelled before charging up at me. Geez, already a fight on my day off. Hopefully, Senior Sister doesn't get word of this, or else my punishment might add up when I return.

Since they were only street rats, I made quick work of them.

"Alright, old man. Perhaps you should leave while you still can," I remarked as I brushed my hands clean after my brief fight. I see the older man huddled in the corner, looking at me in shock and a bit of fear.

He shuffles backward against the alley wall as I come closer to him. "Please, please don't hurt me," he begs. "Take anything, but please don't hurt me." He flinched back and held his arm in front of his head as I leaned in. Picking up the fallen hair stick that laid by his side, I pull back and stand up. "Huh?"

"Old man, I'll buy this hair stick. How much?"

"T-take it, just take it," the older man stuttered in shock.

"Eh? I can't do that. If I did, it would go against my teachings," taking out my wallet, not Senior Sister's, I take out a few silvers and threw it into the old man's forgotten coin box. "Take that and buy yourself something to eat."

"T-thank you, hero!" The older man called out.

"Eh, it's no problem," I called back and continued to walk along the street. Looking at the dirty hair stick, I couldn't help myself as a faint smile makes its way on my face. Maybe if I cleaned this up, it would be an excellent gift for Senior Sister.

Tucking the hair stick into my chest pockets, I stopped walking as my smile grows wider.

"Senior Sister Wan, how long do you intend to follow me for?"