Chapter 1 Part1 (2/2)
Her life was as l.u.s.trous as an exquisite peach blossom…
A rare softness had formed on the face under the bamboo hat. He wet his lips with a sip of the bitter tea, “Yes, she was very beautiful.” He flatly stated.
However, the implications hidden inside his words made them feel mysterious to the ear.
After finis.h.i.+ng his tea, and parting ways with the old man, Shangguan took the Icy Firmament Sword and walked directly to the Hundred Li Slope. Instead of using the post road, he entered from the underbrush through an overgrown field. By relying on his memory, he was slowly able to find the place he wanted to go.
Before reaching the Hundred Li Slope, one would first see the Disordered Buried Mound. Legends said that malicious spirits were all around the wild field. However, Shangguan knew that only once in awhile would a few small demons that feared humans pop up; there weren’t any malicious spirits here at all.
When he arrived at the place from his memories, Shangguan looked at the scene in front of him and slowly took off his bamboo hat.
Weeds had grown, yet there were no traces of the dried up peach blossom tree from his memories.
He became momentarily unnerved. Ah Zhuo was a peach blossom demon, so her true form was a peach blossom tree. If her true form no longer existed…
His heart clenched. Rays of sunlight blinded him for a moment.
Shangguan took a deep breath and continued to move onwards. The Icy Firmament sword that had made all of the people in the jianghu feel great admiration was now being used as a sickle to cut gra.s.s and to remove the weeds in the surroundings.
Suddenly, the stump of a dead tree advanced into Shangguan’s line of sight. He was startled, but he straightened his body, continuing to survey his surroundings. The scenery around him was transforming, becoming one with the scene from three years ago. The fervent winds of June pa.s.sed by his ear, as the sound of the wind unexpectedly changed into that woman’s call.
'Shangguan Qihua, Shangguan Qihua…'
It was as if it would never stop.
Just like how it had been that June…
In accordance with his promise, he helped Ah Zhuo apply her fertilizer. But aside from the time that was being used to apply her fertilizer, he had plenty of time to spare. Ah Zhuo was a demon who had a lot of things to say. She couldn’t stay still everyday, so she loved to tell him the many ghost stories that had been pa.s.sed down from the Hundred Li Slope from the many people who had pa.s.sed through there . She loved telling him her own stories from her lifetime the most.
As a peach blossom tree that had been planted by the son of a local tyrant who had gotten rich in a night, Ah Zhuo described her birth like this, “The person who planted me was a stutterer. The first year I bloomed, his master taught him the Book of Songs. In the end, he said, “Zhuo…. zh-zh-zh-zhuo” for a really long time, but he was still unable to recite the entire poem. Thus, that was how my name was formed.” Ah Zhuo turned her head to look at him, “Actually, you're pretty compatible with me. Shangguan Qihua- the flowers are brilliant when in bloom [1].”
She whispered into Shangguan’s ear, making his whole face turn red.
[1] Their names are from the line 灼灼其华 (zhuo zhuo qi hua). You can clearly see that this line of the poem is composed of both their names, and as mentioned above it means: The flowers are brilliant when in bloom.
Hua means flowers. Thus, the line means that the flowers bloom gloriously and abundantly. The name Shangguan Qihua and her name, Ah Zhuo form a line of a poem called 桃夭.This is a poem often used to congratulate brides, as the poet compared the spring tender and willowy branches and blooming peach blossoms with the bride's youth and beauty.
Poem:
The peach tree is young and elegant;
Brilliant are its flowers.
This young lady is going to her future home,
And will order well her chamber and house.
The peach tree is young and elegant;
Abundant will be its fruits.
This young lady is going to her future home,
And will order well her house and chamber.
The peach tree is young and elegant;
Luxuriant are its leaves.
This young lady is going to her future home,
And will order well her family.
Translated by tranzgeek
Edited by Ely
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