4. Gift of a flute

4. Gift of a flute

"You can do that?" Han Beiming didn't hesitate, took it out, and threw it to me.

"It's alright." I fiddled with it; it was a purple flute. Purple jade is extremely rare, let alone such a large piece of jade made into a flute.

"Play one for me." Han Beiming sat on the rock, looking at me. "You can play one, and you didn't even tell me. Hurry up."

"You didn't even ask," I muttered.

The melodious tune echoed through the mountains. Its ups and downs, sweet and serene, gave people a comfortable feeling.

For a long time, Han Beiming listened quietly, neither interrupting nor leaving. He didn't look at me, but I knew he seemed to be hesitating about something. I hoped my flute playing could bring him some peace of mind, even if only briefly. I didn't want to disrupt that intimate atmosphere.

"What's wrong?" I looked at Han Beiming, who was inexplicably agitated.

"I've realized... I know so little about you," Han Beiming said quietly.

"Just because I can play the flute?" I looked at him, thinking he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

"Not really." Because I've never cared about you before, and I had no idea you knew so much. I've never asked about your likes or dislikes, because I've never cared.

"I didn't say I couldn't."

"Yes. I only knew that Fei Yu would... but it's not too late to know now. A fine gift for a beautiful woman is never wrong."

"A beauty?" I raised an eyebrow. "First, 'beauty' is a term used to describe women. Second, I am definitely not a beauty."

“I’m not talking about appearance, but about your heart. Hearing your flute playing, I know your heart is pure.” Han Beiming smiled as he looked at me.

"Aren't they all...the same?" Are there people whose hearts are impure? At least there aren't any around me.

“It’s different. I’m different.” Han Beiming’s smile vanished.

“When you’re out in the world, killing and bloodshed are unavoidable.” I patted him on the shoulder. “That doesn’t mean you’re not pure. I think you’re a good person. You’re my first friend besides my brothers, so everyone says you’re a good person.”

"Haha." He laughed loudly. "A good person? You're the first person to describe me like that. If my father heard that, he'd be so angry he'd vomit blood."

"ah?"

"Let's go, it's getting late." He didn't explain and walked away.

I stood alone in the spring breeze, pondering his words, yet a chill crept into my heart.

"My brother's been so busy lately, he hasn't slept with me at all," Fei Yu said at the dinner table, looking at me with a hint of resentment. Han Yitian silently served him food without looking at me.

"Good boy." I put down my chopsticks and patted his head.

"Does my brother not want me anymore?" Fei Yu pouted and looked at me.

“How could that be? Fei Yu is my darling. Forever. I would never abandon you.” I held his little hand.

"Pinky promise." Fei Yu held out her hand.

"Okay." I reached out my hand.

Fei Yu laughed, and Han Beiming laughed too, but it wasn't a happy laugh; it had a sarcastic tone. Han Yitian maintained his cool demeanor. Second Brother also laughed, a gentle laugh.

I'm very happy now. Not only do I have Fei Yu to rely on, making me feel needed, but I also have a friend, Han Beiming, who is very trustworthy. I think this is what they call chivalry in the martial arts world—making many friends and making the world your home. I hope I grow up quickly; when I'm 16, maybe I can leave here and roam the martial arts world. Therefore, I must practice my martial arts diligently to ensure I won't be bullied when I'm out and about. Of course, I'm introverted and not particularly good-looking, so I shouldn't attract any trouble. Unlike the three young masters who dominate the martial arts world today. I've heard they are all stunningly beautiful, possess outstanding martial arts skills, and are morally ambiguous, making them the object of many people's pursuit. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the social customs have been open, and many people take male concubines. Especially handsome men, who are always more likely to cause trouble than women. After all, most women don't leave their homes.

"Could it be that I want to test my swordsmanship with you?" Han Yitian suddenly threw a sharp sword at me in my father's martial arts arena.

"Me? You must have the wrong person. I'm young and inexperienced; I even learned martial arts by stealing information."

I looked left and right, but I didn't see my second brother. Nobody noticed me, and I had no one to use as an excuse.

"But I'm terrible at it." I tapped and knocked on the sword. I was familiar with the sword, but I wasn't proficient with it either.

"It's alright, just a few moves, I'll go easy on you." Han Yitian's arrogance was unbearable. I angrily assumed a stance, ready. "Cheng Rang."

He didn't hold back as he claimed; his moves were swift and deadly, each strike aimed straight for the vitals. One misstep, and I'd be knocked to the ground. I was completely focused, calmly responding. The only thing that could rival him was my composure and his agitation. Ever since he moved into our house, he'd disliked me, often glaring at me silently. A chill ran through me, making me shiver. Sometimes, he'd look at me with jealousy, disdain, and provocation, a heat that seemed to want to melt me. Was he jealous of my close relationship with his friend Han Beiming, or jealous that I was an inseparable part of Fei Yu? I didn't know. Mature beyond my years, I couldn't afford to be too sharp, for I deeply understood the saying, "The tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind." So, it was best to be an unassuming, ordinary person. I had no ambition for those glamorous titles, rankings, or positions; in fact, I avoided them altogether.

Caught off guard, his swordplay reversed, catching me completely off guard. The sharp blade hurtled towards me, and I was stunned. I hadn't expected him to use such a sharp weapon, nor had I anticipated that he would aim for my vitals. Han Yitian was clearly surprised as well; he immediately withdrew his attack, but only two-thirds of the way. He reversed the blade, using the side of the sword instead of the sharp edge. However, he still couldn't avoid injuring me.

Blood streamed down my arm as I looked at him. He looked at him, full of apology. I waved my hand.

"It's nothing. Just a minor injury."

"Who said it's a minor injury?" a furious roar erupted. "Go get healed." Han Beiming appeared out of nowhere. His bloodshot eyes glared at Han Yitian, and he sneered. He grabbed my arm and led me away.

Watching Han Beiming apply acupuncture to stop the bleeding, I felt he was making a mountain out of a molehill. If this kind of injury could cause such a big deal, I'd be far too weak. It was just a little bit of bleeding; it didn't damage my aorta.

However, what bothered me was whether Han Beiming had been watching our duel the whole time. Knowing my sharp mind, I knew that in that kind of arena, he couldn't possibly arrive at such a crucial moment unless he had been watching from the sidelines. I was upset, feeling he hadn't intervened to stop an unnecessary fight. But perhaps he hadn't expected Han Yitian to hurt me, hadn't expected me to not even dodge. Maybe he simply wanted to see my swordsmanship, or maybe he just wanted to see me wield my sword. That must be it.