Hua Qian Gu turned restlessly all through the night, not used to her new bed. On the other hand, Tang Bao loved it, already moving its little house to a corner of the bed. Pulling up the cover, underneath was an ice sheet, exuding a quiet coldness, strangely beautiful and giving off a foggy chill. Tang Bao excitedly rolled from side to side, it told Hua Qian Gu this was a unique treasure, beneficial in helping her absorb the essences of heaven and earth, also beneficial in healing injuries.
Hua Qian Gu endured it until midnight, her lips turned purple from the cold, she was able to sleep here before because she was in a coma, but she could not sleep now.
Finally, she spread her bedding on the floor and slept there until morning.
Tang Bao used her face as a spring, hopping up and down: “Gu Tou piggie, get up! The sun is up already!”
Hua Qian Gu drowsily woke up, wailing in her heart: “Why didn’t you wake me up earlier, this is the first day of greeting Teacher, I’m dead meat, I’m dead meat!”
“Haha, the bed is too comfortable, good for cultivation, I also overslept!”
Hua Qian Gu quickly ran to wash her face, remembering the complicated requirements during and after the disciple selection her teachers had taught her. However, Bai Zi Hua was not in his room, Jue Qing Hall was too big, she looked for a long time but could not find him. She ended up screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Teacher! Teacher!”
Suddenly, a voice rang out near her ear.
“I’m in the writing room.”
Writing room, writing room, where was the writing room? Wandering around for a long time, she finally found it.
Bai Zi Hua was at his desk looking over the reports about Mount Chang Liu, Shi Zun usually handled these matters, not a lot of reports were sent directly to him, but the reports sent were critical.
“This disciple greets Teacher.” Hua Qian Gu bowed her head like she was taught, Bai Zi Hua did not look at her.
“You do not need to do these things from now on. You also do not need to wake up early like you did when you went to classes, relax.”
“Yes.”
“Have you gotten used to your new bed?”
“Um……”
“Jue Qing Hall does not have anything, the only thing it has a lot of are rooms, you can sleep wherever you like, if you do not like that bed then switch to another bed. However, your internal injury will heal faster if you sleep on that bed.”
“I understand.”
“You can take these books on the desk with you to study, you have to memorize them, recite them to me next year. However, you have to rely on yourself to study, you cannot show them to Tang Bao or let it explain them to you.”
Hua Qian Gu picked up the books, the books were about music, poetry, chess, arts, sword fighting, medicine and cooking.
The pages already turned yellow, the books probably were very old, tied together in a stack, on top was labeled “"Qi Jue Pu,” a glance could tell these were valuable ancient books.
Hua Qian Gu was puzzled, she thought a teacher would teach the disciple, push the disciple to train hard, why make her read these books? Also, with her memory, she only needed a few months to memorize the seven books, why give her a year?
But Hua Qian Gu did not ask any questions. It was not until she took the stack of books back to her room and opened them that she felt overwhelmed. Each book was thin and old, filled with only chapter headings. She only needed to touch or think of a chapter heading. The book immediately changed to provide information about that topic.
Each book was very detailed. For example, the music book covered instruments, note arrangements, famous pieces. The sword book covered different weapons, the origin and techniques of different sects, tricks. The medicine book covered extinct herbs, strange insects, poisons, cures. Moreover, the books were animated. For example, if she was reading a sword technique, a small figure appeared and showed her the technique so she could practice along.
Hua Qian Gu realized in alarm it would be difficult to memorize one book in seven years, let alone seven books in one year. Thankfully, Teacher said she only needed to remember, not understand everything. If she tried hard, she could probably do it.
Studying was fun because the books made Hua Qian Gu realize there were so many interesting things in the world. Also, Bai Zi Hua allowed her to set her own schedule. No one visited Jue Qing Hall so Hua Qian Gu was free to do anything she wanted.
From that moment on, Hua Qian Gu was mesmerized with reading the seven books. Except for meal times, she always had a book in her hands. She often grew tired from reading and fell asleep on the spot. Poor Tang Bao, it had to move Hua Qian Gu’s heavy body back to bed.
Tang Bao was curious about the seven books, but it never sneaked a glance because it was not a disciple of Chang Liu. It also knew that its knowledge would automatically be sent back to the information center of Yi Xiu Ge. It did not want to do anything that could hurt Hua Qian Gu.
The days at Jue Qing Hall flew by. Hua Qian Gu immersed herself in reading the books. Tang Bao played with Luo Shi Yi and Qing Shui. Bai Zi Hua stayed in his room to meditate. Hua Qian Gu and Bai Zi Hua did not meet often, usually not even for ten to fifteen days. Hua Qian Gu often felt lonely and scared, but she knew Bai Zi Hua’s cold personality so she did not dare to disturb him.
Although no one bothered him, Jue Qing Hall did not seem empty anymore for Bai Zi Hua. Sometimes when Bai Zi Hua looked for Hua Qian Gu, he found her reading and giggling to herself, flying on a sword to chase after butterflies, practicing sword fighting beside the peach trees, breaking dishes in the kitchen while trying out new recipes, looking at the moon and mumbling to herself or playing with Tang Bao. He never kept track of her, but it seemed he could always hear her running back and forth with the silver bells clanging in happiness.
After several days of not seeing each other, not knowing where he was, if he already went out or not, she yelled out in alarm: “Teacher! Teacher!”
He never had a disciple before, he also did not know how to teach someone, let alone a little girl. Although their relationship improved, her eyes showed she was still a little afraid of him, after living with him for some time, knowing he was strict but kind, the way she talked and her eyes had calmed down considerably.
“Teacher! Teacher!”
Hearing the familiar cry, Bai Zi Hua reluctantly shook his head. “I am in the sword room.”
A while later, Hua Qian Gu panted, stumbling in, her hands held a small bowl.
“Do not run so fast, the Cang Lan jade tiles are slippery, you have fallen many times but are still not careful. Your injury has not healed fully, you should not use your internal energy, you only need to know the techniques, not practice completely.”
“Haha, how did you know?” Hua Qian Gu giggled, she thought of a new technique just now while in her room, using her internal energy, she slipped and fell, her bottom really hurt.
“What is this?” Bai Zi Hua looked at the small bowl in her hands, he could smell it from afar, he did not know why recently she became interested in trying new recipes. Whenever she cooked a new dish, she always brought it to him for a taste.
“It’s called Shui Jing Zui Lian Hua!” Hua Qian Gu opened the lid, a bit of cool air escaped, there was a stunning lotus in the small bowl, pink and blooming, dew still remained on the petals, a trace of wine was also detected, like a beauty weeping.
Although Bai Zi Hua’s face was expressionless like always, his eyes showed his appreciation. Accepting the chopsticks from Hua Qian Gu, taking a bite, the coolness of the lotus and the heaviness of the wine filled his mouth, it was truly delicious.
“Teacher, how is it?”
Bai Zi Hua looked at her excited face, nodding gently: “It is good.”
Then he accepted the white cloth Hua Qian Gu held out, elegantly wiped his mouth.
“Uhmm! Teacher, can I ask you for a small favor?”
“What is it?” Bai Zi Hua looked down at her, although he had told her to tell him anything, ask him anything, but she had lived in Jue Qing Hall for six months, she never said anything.
“Teacher, can you reserve a bit of time each day, only a bit of time to eat dinner with me and Tang Bao?”
Bai Zi Hua looked at her pitiful eyes, suddenly realizing that she always ate with her father, then later on the mountain she ate with Qing Shui and friends, now she ate by herself but she probably was not used to eating alone.
So he gently nodded his head.
“Awesome!!!” Hua Qian Gu screamed out in excitement. Teacher actually agreed!! Hahahahahaha, she planned this for a long time so from now on, she could see Teacher a little each day, but only until her cooking skill was good enough that she dared to make the request.
Haha, Luo Shi Yi was right, Teacher might appear cold, but he was the easiest to talk to out of the three Heads. Who knew Teacher could be bullied so easily, haha, it seemed she could make more requests from now on, she should work on her pleading ability.
She held the small bow and happily ran out, her mind pondering what should she make for dinner? Teacher did not eat meat, she needed to make a lot of vegetarian dishes that taste delicious and look good.
Hua Qian Gu was at the doorway, Bai Zi Hua suddenly remembered something.
“Wait.”
Hua Qian Gu stopped, turning her head around. “Teacher, do you have something for me to do?”
“Where did you get the crystal lotus?”
“Oh that, I saw the lotus plant blooming nicely in the back pond, I thought of this dish, that’s why I cut the flower.”
What, what? His crystal lotus plant that was a thousand years old! He brought it from the cold barren north, carefully planted it for a hundred years, it finally bloomed two flowers this year. She, she, she……
Bai Zi Hua looked up and sighed, then lamented: “Hua Qian Gu, your punishment is no dinner tonight!”
Hua Qian Gu wearily slipped down the stairs. Who can tell her what happened? Did he not agree to eat dinner with her……? Having an immortal teacher was so unpredictable……
Thus that evening, the first dinner of Xiao Gu and Teacher.
Teacher and Tang Bao sat at the table, Xiao Gu looked on and drooled.
Wah! Who can feel her pain……