Chapter Forty-Nine: Gongsun Xi Becomes a Disciple

Early the next morning, Pei Min escorted Gongsun You and Gongsun Xi out through the southern gate.

“These are some flatbreads and dried rations for you to eat on the road—be careful not to lose them!” Pei Min handed Gongsun You the bundle he’d prepared that morning, having quietly tucked half a string of copper coins inside—more than enough for their journey home.

Unable to refuse his kindness, Gongsun You accepted the bundle. Remembering Gongsun Xi’s playful pledge of herself the night before, her cheeks colored with a faint blush. Though it was a jest, Pei Min was the only man she had ever grown so close to, sharing all her interests and passions. A vague fondness filled her heart. Yet, as they were about to part, unsure of when they might meet again—or if fate would ever cross their paths once more—melancholy crept in.

Gongsun Xi, too, felt reluctant to leave. She had a deep impression of Pei Min—the one who had bested her, the one who had helped her swordsmanship improve.

“Until we meet again! I’m sure we’ll see each other!” Pei Min, however, was not troubled by the farewell. He believed they would meet again: he, Pei Min, was not destined to remain unknown, and Gongsun Dan-niang’s sword dance would not fade quietly from history just because of his arrival. They would both become famous in the Tang realm; if both wished for it, what could possibly keep them apart?

Perhaps influenced by Pei Min’s confidence, both Gongsun You and Gongsun Xi brightened a little and, after bidding mutual farewells, set off.

Pei Min watched them until they disappeared from view.

After walking half a mile, Gongsun Xi suddenly slapped her forehead. “Oh no, I forgot! I didn’t give him the ‘Treatise of Yue Yi’!”

Still pensive from their parting, Gongsun You had neglected this detail. Now, at Gongsun Xi’s exclamation, she remembered: the previous night, after their playful banter, they’d discussed serious matters. Pei Min had helped them time and again, and though he sought no reward, the sisters wished to do something in return. Conveniently, they still possessed the “Treatise of Yue Yi,” which they had stolen from Jiang Bo. It had originally belonged to the Wang family, but their uncle had long since passed away, and his only daughter had taken her own life. They could not return the treatise to Jiang Bo, nor could they hand it over to the uncle who had caused Wang Wan’s death… Thus, this priceless treasure of the calligraphic world had become ownerless.

Neither Gongsun You nor Gongsun Xi had any fondness for calligraphy; the treatise meant nothing to them. Comparing Pei Min’s scholarly and martial talents, they thought it better to give the “Treatise of Yue Yi” to him than let it waste away in their hands—a pearl gathering dust. It was, in their minds, a hero’s sword for a hero.

Yet, in the moment of parting, they had completely forgotten.

“Luckily, we haven’t gone far. Let’s go back and give it to him,” Gongsun You said hurriedly.

Gongsun Xi shoved her bundle onto her back and dashed off. “I’ll go! You wait here, big sister—I’ll be right back.” Before Gongsun You could reply, Gongsun Xi was already a distant figure.

“This child!” Gongsun You shook her head, resigned, and waited where she stood.

Pei Min, having watched the two women disappear, was just about to turn his attention to his studies for the upcoming examination when he saw a familiar figure hurrying toward him from afar. Worried that something had happened, he quickly went to meet her.

Gongsun Xi?

No matter how similar the sisters looked, Pei Min could always tell them apart by intuition.

“Miss Xi, why have you come back?” he called out as he walked quickly toward her.

Gongsun Xi did not reply until she was close. “I almost forgot the most important thing!”

“What is it?” Pei Min was puzzled.

Instead of answering, Gongsun Xi brought her feet together, respectfully holding out a rectangular wooden box with both hands. “This is a gift for you, a… a… present. Please accept it!”

She stumbled over her words, and Pei Min didn’t quite catch what the gift was. He felt a little awkward at Gongsun Xi’s sudden formality—so unlike her usual free-spirited self—as he hurriedly took the box from her and told her there was no need for such ceremony.

A sly, triumphant smile appeared on Gongsun Xi’s face as Pei Min took the box. For a moment, he was dazed. Gongsun Xi and her sister were identical, both stunning beauties, yet this mischievous smile revealed a lively charm and straightforwardness entirely different from her sister’s grace.

Just as he was lost in thought, Gongsun Xi suddenly bowed deeply, almost to the ground. “Gongsun Xi pays respects to Master—greetings to my teacher!”

Now Pei Min was truly stunned. Forgetting propriety, he rushed to help her up. “What are you doing?”

Gongsun Xi laughed. “You’ve accepted my gift of apprenticeship, so of course you’re my teacher now. It’s only proper for a student to greet her master.”

Only now did Pei Min realize her garbled “a… a…” had been meant as “apprenticeship.” He pressed a hand to his forehead. “Miss Xi, there’s no need for all this. If we meet again, we can exchange pointers—I’d never withhold anything from you. Such formality isn’t necessary.”

“But I want to learn your swordsmanship!” Gongsun Xi insisted.

Pei Min waved his hand. “Don’t tease me. My patchwork sword style can’t compare to your Yue Maiden Sword. If you learned my techniques, you’d only regress.”

Gongsun Xi’s expression turned earnest. “Not your current patchwork swordsmanship—the future one. The sword style you will create.” She smiled, eyes narrowing, then muttered under her breath, “I’m not interested in what you have now.”

Pei Min was taken aback. He’d never belittled his own sword style and firmly believed that one day it would become a supreme art, uniting all the mysteries of the sword into a style of his own. He hadn’t expected anyone to see through his ambitions. Suddenly, he recalled the conversation with Gongsun You at the Three Heroes Inn—he’d only hinted at his intentions, never made them explicit. Could it be…?

“Did your sister tell you?” Pei Min couldn’t help but ask.

Gongsun Xi replied at once, “That… Master, just let it go.”

The answer was clear. Pei Min couldn’t help but sigh in the words of old, “The one who truly understands me is Gongsun You!”

A strange feeling welled up in Gongsun Xi’s heart, and she pouted, “Master, well?”

“Very well!” Pei Min said cheerfully. “If I truly succeed one day, I will teach you.”

“Thank you, Master!” Gongsun Xi nearly jumped for joy. Ever since Gongsun You had told her about Pei Min’s ‘patchwork sword style,’ she’d had this thought. She knew she could never do such a thing herself, but for some reason, she believed Pei Min could. How could a sword lover like her not long to learn a style that might surpass even the Yue Maiden Sword?

Pei Min shook his head with a wry smile; he’d unwittingly taken on a disciple.

“Ah, I almost forgot!” Gongsun Xi slapped her forehead again. “My sister is still waiting for me up ahead. Master, until we meet again…” As soon as she finished, she turned and dashed off without a second thought, whirlwind as ever.