Spring Winds

"S-stupid, Master and his crazy tricks," Chattering along the mountain trail, I shivered as the cool mountain breeze sends waves of cold air against my wet clothing.

After Master had left me, I still had to make the journey from the caves to the manor, which was a long and treacherous journey.

It would have been faster if Master would've sent me with a teleportation talisman, but no. Just leave your cold, wet disciple at the side of the mountain and let her figure out where the manor is—knowing very well that she can't navigate for sh*t!

"W-when, I see y-you again, Master," I seethed between my teeth, "Oh, I don't even know, but it will be bad!"

Finally, familiar rooftops peek over the tops of the trees as the trail bends along the side of the mountain. Hastening my speed, I briskly walk towards the manor.

"Welcome back," Master smiles at the gate. "I hope you had a good trip!"

"Of course," I grit as I sent hard glare his way. Ignoring Master's obnoxious grin, I rushed back into my room and slammed the door shut.

"Hah," finally in the safety of my room, I walk over to my dresser. Unfortunately, I only had one set of my sect robes, and they require drying. It looks like I will need to wear my old clothes for the time being.

Quickly changing out of the wet robes and into the dry ones, I walk outside to go and hang my uniform.

Unexpectedly, Master was standing at the entrance of my courtyard.

"How might this disciple help you, Master," I asked with a twang of annoyance.

Master chuckled a bit. Tsk, what is so funny?

"A-Ran, would you be a dear and run a few errands for me?"

"What are you planning?"

"What!" Master sputtered in shock. "H-how, how could you think that this Master is planning something?"

I narrowed my eyes at the invisible sweat drops on Master's face. "I don't know. You could call it a force of habit."

"Hah, fine," Master resigned. "Can you do this simple task for your old Master? Please, just this once," Master pouted. I couldn't help but cringe a little at Master's pouting face; it just didn't seem right, in my opinion.

"Hah, fine." There's no use in rejecting his request; I know that if I don't accept, he would be pestering me about it all day.

Master's face instantly lit up and smiled. "Ah-ha! I knew my A-Ran wouldn't disappoint!"

"But," I interrupted his happy parade, "I want some pocket money and my talisman making tools back." After all, there's no free lunch in this world.

"Deal," Master smiled and handed me a string of coins, a coin pouch, and a small list. "The string is for you, and the pouch is money for the items on the list. Oh" — fumbling in his robes, he pulled out two talismans. — "these are for you to get to location and back."

Grabbing the pieces of paper, I smiled. Freedom! "Thank you, Master, I will return as quickly as possible!"

Infusing some spiritual energy into the talisman, it began to activate.

"Have a safe trip," Master waved with a mysterious smile.

"Eh," I answered back and began my task.

---

"Let's see here, what else do I need to get," I mumbled as I walked along the crowded streets of Qian Bei City. It was a small location, but it was the closest city to our sect, so it would have to do.

Though, I'm not sure why Master would choose this city per se. I would've been able to go across the continent and back within a few hours with the teleportation talisman. Perhaps there's something special in this city?

"Hmm, I still need to grab some firecrackers and red paper for decoration." Lunar New Year was fast approaching, and the necessary items for the celebration were going fast. Even though I haggled the prices as best, I could, and sometimes you can't beat the pros.

Tsk, housewives.

How do you even haggle for half a dozen eggs with only five coppers? That is daylight robbery!

"Haha, Big Brother Yu, will you buy me this bracelet?"

Turning around, I see a young couple latched onto each other as they viewed the items on a jewelry stall.

The young man, who the young woman referred to as Big Brother Yu, appeared stoic to her advances, but for here, I could see that he didn't hate it. "Fine, I'll buy it for you," and he took out a few coins and handed it to the seller. Taking the bracelet, he gently slid it on to the young girl's wrist.

"Yay, thank you, Big Brother Yu! You're the best," the young woman smiled brightly at the young man and then pulled him along to the next stall. All while he had a small smile on his face.

What a happy couple.

As I watched their backs, the vision of Senior Sister and I came to mind. "What the heck," why is this happening to my mind?

Maybe, I'm just tired.

After picking up the last items on the list, I decided to eat before I head back.

While walking towards a bun stall, I couldn't help but notice an older woman with a small child in her arms, sitting quietly in the shadow of an alleyway.

"Four meat buns please," I ordered, and the baker gave me four white steaming buns. "Thank you."

Taking one of the buns out and wrapping it in the excess paper, I put it in my sleeve.

"Grandma, it's becoming colder, here's some food," I crouched down and handed the old woman the package.

"Ah, ah,"— the old woman looked at me in shock and then at the package —"how can I pay you back? I can't accept this," and she tried to push away my hand.

"Grandma, take it. If not for yourself then for your child," I nodded over to the sleeping child in her skinny arms.

"Ah, thank you, benefactor," she attempted to bow, but I stopped her before she could.

"There's no need for that," I said as I helped her back up.

"Here," the old woman took my hand and placed something in my hands. It was a small piece of candy. "Someone like you deserves something sweet."

"Thank you," smiling, I waved the old woman goodbye and walked to find a place to eat.

I ended up settling in a small gazebo that overlooked a frozen pond. Leaning against the railing, I look up at the partly cloudy sky.

Biting into my bun, the savory flavor of meat coats my tongue. Perhaps Master sent me here for the food? The street food here seems pretty good.

As I ate, I watched the fluffy clouds slowly move across the orange sky.

"Hehe, that one looks like a rabbit," I mumbled between bites.

Slowly the clouds separated a bit before coming together. "Huh that one looks like -" I nearly choked on my food as I continued to watch the clouds change.

What the heck, why do those two clouds look like Senior Sister and I leaning in for a kiss!

Rubbing my eyes, I look up at the sky again. The image has faded into that of regular clouds.

"Hah, I must be going crazy." What is this feeling? I can't seem to put my finger on it.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump!

Gripping onto my chest, I stare at my frozen reflection.

Looking back at me was a girl with an odd look on her face.

Tearing my eyes away from that odd girl, I take out the teleportation talisman. I've spent too much time here; it's time for me to go back.

---

"What the heck is going on here!?!" After I had teleported back to the main hall, greeting me was the sight of an intoxicated Senior Sister and Master.

"Haha! A-Ran is here," Master slurred before taking another swing of wine.

It doesn't surprise me that Master would do this, but you, Senior Sister!

What happened to rule-following and upholding sect values! How can you be such a hypocrite!

Senior Sister didn't respond to my shock as she laid face down on the table with a small cup of wine in her hand.

Senior Sister, don't tell me that you're a lightweight!

"Master, maybe you had enough," I walked over and tried to take the wine bottle out of his hands.

"What? No, no, no!" Master shook his head fiercely as he hugged the wine. "I'm barely tipsy!" And then Master fell over and instantly started snoring, still holding his wine.