Chapter 63

Ruan Qing could understand Grandpa Qi’s deep attachment to Wild Hermits’ Temple, even calling it a lifelong regret. But that didn’t mean he could impose his dream on someone else, expecting them to fulfill it at the expense of their own life. What frustrated her most was his assumption that others should naturally make sacrifices for his ideal, as if it were a given. Considering his age, Ruan Qing kept her tone in check, trying not to sound too sharp as she responded.

“Grandpa Qi, if that’s how you feel, then you should go tell Vice Mayor Xu to cancel the whole development project. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be going against the ancestors of Lao Mei Valley?” She added, “By your logic, why is Lao Mei Valley even developing? If it becomes wealthier and modern, won’t it lose its pastoral look?”

“If you think Nian Qi should spend his life in a rundown temple without water, electricity, or internet, then shouldn’t Lao Mei Valley stay poor too? Should the villagers here live as they always have, never aspiring for a better life?”

Nian Qi was still so young—why should he be confined to a life in the mountains? Why shouldn’t he get to see airplanes, high-speed trains, 3D movies, and city skyscrapers? Most of the men who stayed in the village were already in their mid-thirties; the younger ones had already left for the cities.

“Does that mean we’re just going to abandon Wild Hermits’ Temple?” Grandpa Qi’s voice trembled.

Ruan Qing sighed and rubbed her temples. “Once it’s developed, it’ll be handed over to the Dao Association. They’ll have someone come manage it.”

“But will they properly look after the master’s grave?” Grandpa Qi asked.

“Of course!” she replied. “The lives of the masters are the theme of the scenic area. They’ll take great care of it.” She turned to Qinghua for confirmation. “Right, Master Qinghua?”

Qinghua nodded. “Once development is complete, we’ll send people to manage it.”

“How long will it take to develop?” Grandpa Qi pressed.

Ruan Xiangyun answered, “Projects like this usually take a year or two.”

Without regular upkeep, old houses fall into disrepair within a year, and earth graves erode in rain and sun. It’s why ancestors’ graves need annual visits and fresh soil to maintain their shape.

Grandpa Qi turned to Nian Qi. “Then could you wait here for two more years?”

Ruan Qing’s frustration flared again. She’d just calmed down, but this remark was too much. “Grandpa Qi! How can you say that?”

She continued, anger rising, “How many two-year periods does a person have in their life? His twenties only last a decade—if he stays here for two more years, he’ll be nearly thirty! Do you know what it means to waste someone’s time like that? That’s exactly what you’re suggesting!”

How could a relationship thrive with her partner stuck in the mountains? Ruan Qing’s frustration was understandable, as she cared deeply for Nian Qi.

Ruan Xiangyun, though he wanted Nian Qi to stay too, knew that it was ultimately up to him. You couldn’t force someone to stay. He tried to calm Ruan Qing down. “Qingqing, don’t get upset. Grandpa Qi didn’t mean it seriously.”

But Ruan Qing knew better. Not serious? He meant every word.

In a flash of anger, Ruan Qing blurted out, “Grandpa Qi, if you’re really so drawn to Wild Hermits’ Temple, then go there yourself!”

“It’s not like the old days when you couldn’t find it. Now you know exactly where it is, right? And even if there aren’t proper paths, you can use your phone’s GPS; it’ll guide you so you won’t get lost.” She continued, “The courtyard doors aren’t even locked right now. Nian Qi will be leaving with me today. You all know now that he’s my boyfriend, and he said he’d listen to me.”

“So, on his behalf, I’ll authorize you to stay in the temple until the Dao Association sends someone to take over. You can eat there, sleep there, and live that life of burning wood, drinking spring water, and sleeping on a hard bed if you want!”

“But please don’t expect to keep a young man like Nian Qi trapped in a place like that.”

Seeing she was truly upset, Nian Qi came over to console her. “No need to get angry. He’s an elder, just speaking his mind,” he said gently. These were kin—distant relatives, but kin nonetheless. He didn’t want Ruan Qing to genuinely alienate them on his behalf. In his era, the concept of ‘kin’ was valued far more than it is now, and as an orphan raised in an assassin organization, he’d never had any family of his own. He cherished Ruan Qing’s relatives as if they were his own.

Master Qinghua also tried to mediate, saying, “Elder, don’t worry. The temple will be repaired, and the tombs of our predecessors will be well maintained.”

Ruan Xiangyun, feeling a headache coming on, sighed, “Dad, stop interfering.”

Ruan Xiangyun had heard Nian Qi say he would listen to Ruan Qing, so he wanted to discuss the matter with her to see if she could convince Nian Qi to cooperate with the scenic area development. Whether or not he stayed didn’t matter much, but a title like “heir of an ancient temple with profound martial arts” would make for a great brand.

Unfortunately, before he could get a word in, his father had already provoked Ruan Qing into frustration. “Dad, Dad, go soak your feet,” he said, steering Grandpa Qi toward the other room. “Fengying’s prepared hot water for you. Go soak; it’ll make you feel better. Let the Dao Association worry about the temple.”

Grandpa Qi stood there, bewildered, letting himself be nudged out. At the door, he muttered something under his breath before leaving with his head hung low.

After dealing with his father, Ruan Xiangyun returned to the room, only for Ruan Qing to politely say, “Uncle Xiangyun, could we borrow your living room for a bit? We’d like to discuss some matters with Master Qinghua.”

Ruan Xiangyun felt the sting. Just a moment ago, she had allowed him to listen in without a word of objection. Now she was politely asking him to leave. All because of Dad’s meddling!

Dejected, Ruan Xiangyun went outside to join Grandpa Qi in soaking their feet. After all the trekking, it felt good to relax.

Grandpa Qi looked over and asked, “Why’d you come out, too?”

Ruan Xiangyun thought to himself, If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in there. He replied, “Ruan Qing and the Dao Association are discussing matters.”

“What matters? Surely they’re discussing the temple?”

“Yes, the transfer of the temple,” Ruan Xiangyun said.

Grandpa Qi grew alarmed. “Then why did you come out! Without an adult present, those two kids might get swindled by that old sly fox!”

To him, it was unthinkable that Nian Qi would so casually hand over the temple unless Ruan Qing had lured him with worldly desires—and certainly with the Dao Association’s encouragement. Otherwise, how could the temple just end up in their hands?

Seeing how the situation was unfolding, GrandpaQi muttered to himself, “If you want to know who’s stirring up trouble, look at who benefits in the end.” Anxious and flustered, he began to dry his feet, ready to head back and keep an eye on things, fearing the young ones would be taken advantage of. Ruan Xiangyun held him back, saying, “Don’t get involved. Ruan Qing’s a university graduate—she’s well-educated, isn’t she? And Nian Qi… he’s no pushover either.”

But Grandpa Qi, who hadn’t seen Nian Qi in action during negotiations, still thought of him as a naïve kid, easily swayed. He was insistent on going.

“Go ahead!” Ruan Xiangyun snapped, frustrated. “Then when Ruan Qing throws you out, don’t say I didn’t try to stop you.”

Grandpa Qi hesitated, then reluctantly put his feet back into the warm water. They refilled it once, and by the time it had cooled, the three inside finally emerged. Ruan Xiangyun and Grandpa Qi looked on eagerly.

Ruan Qing shook hands with Daoist Qinghua, saying, “We’ll leave it to you, Master Qinghua.”

Nian Qi cast a glance at Qinghua, who quickly withdrew his hand. “Of course. We’ll stay in touch when the time comes.”

“Alright,” Ruan Qing replied. “Drive safely.”

They all walked Qinghua out, and the Dao Association car left Lao Mei Valley.

As soon as he could, Grandpa Qi approached her and asked, “So, what did you talk about?”

Ruan Qing’s anger had cooled; after all, Grandpa Qi hadn’t actually done anything to harm her or Nian Qi. It was simply a clash of values, with his stubbornness stemming from regret over unfulfilled wishes. She replied, “Just about transferring the temple.”

“Don’t let them swindle you,” Grandpa Qi cautioned.

Ruan Qing suppressed a smile. Truthfully, she felt they were the ones swindling the Dao Association. The Wild Hermits’ Temple had long been abandoned, and it rightfully belonged to them. Daoist Qinghua had been forthright, explaining that once the project was settled, the government would provide funding, and he’d make sure Nian Qi got his fair share. Ruan Qing didn’t dare decline outright, fearing it would raise suspicions, so she agreed. She reassured Grandpa Qi, “Don’t worry. When it’s time to sign, I’ll have a lawyer review everything. We won’t let Nian Qi get shortchanged.”

Hearing that even lawyers would be involved, Grandpa Qi recognized his own limitations and finally relented.

Ruan Qing said, “Well then, Grandpa Qi… I’m going to take Nian Qi with me now.”

“What? Right now?” he asked, startled.

“Yes,” she replied. “There’s so much to do for his ID—taking an official photo, tidying him up for the records. I’ll take him to the county for everything.”

Grandpa Qi’s lips quivered as he asked, “Will he… come back?”

For a moment, Ruan Qing felt a twinge of regret for snapping at him earlier. She remembered Grandpa Qi mumbling when Ruan Xiangyun had pushed him out of the room earlier, but she hadn’t caught his words. Nian Qi had leaned over and whispered, “He said, ‘They’re not sincere; it’s all about money.’” It was true; his hopes weren’t fair to Nian Qi. But, looking at it differently, of all those who’d appeared over the past two days, no one had shown more devotion to the temple or Master Zaojiao than Grandpa Qi.

Ruan Qing took a deep breath and said, “He’ll come back if needed.”

But really, what business could possibly bring him back to Lao Mei Valley? All those contracts and projects could be handled from the county. All the important people were based in the county or the city. In reality, once Nian Qi left, he might never return.

Grandpa Qi wiped his eyes and stamped his feet, saying, “I understand. Go. See the world, broaden your horizons.”

What was meant to be a day’s affair had turned into a four-day ordeal in Lao Mei Valley. At last, Ruan Qing and Nian Qi departed.

As the villagers gathered at the entrance to bid them farewell, Grandpa Qi glanced at the sky, calculated his pace up the mountain, and, with a resolute nod, returned home. He packed his clothes, shoes, rice, bacon, salt, spices, and a few seeds. He even found a piglet and tucked it into his basket. While his son and daughter-in-law were busy at the farewell gathering, he climbed into his old three-wheeler and drove decisively toward the mountains.

The young should see the world and not waste their youth in the mountains. As for him, he was already old. His wife had long passed, his son was thriving, and his grandson was in college. He had no more attachments “outside.”

Ruan Qing was right—not just for young people like Nian Qi, but for anyone. If you have a choice, you should pursue what you truly want. Some people want to leave the mountains to see the bustling world. Others want to enter the mountains, tending to graves and guarding the ancient temple.

“Master,” he murmured, “I’m coming.”