This was Fang Ru’s first time encountering someone with such astonishing learning ability.
She considered herself the youngest scholar in the town, but when it came to the speed of learning characters, she was far behind Mo Fan, sparking a trace of curiosity about him.
She also noticed that, despite Mo Fan’s ordinary appearance and the somewhat menacing air his bald head gave him, during their few days together, she found him far more refined and courteous than most.
This discovery ignited a competitive streak in Fang Ru, urging her to test her knowledge against this man. So, she began teaching Mo Fan beyond just characters, delving into couplets, poetry, songs, and the like.
For Mo Fan, in the midst of his fervent learning phase, he didn’t refuse. He had set himself a month to learn, and with plenty of time left, he was eager to absorb more.
However, after two days of study, he realised this world’s poetry and songs were not particularly developed, lacking many timeless masterpieces.
He found the answer to this from Fang Ru.
Though there were some nations in the Southern Borderlands, they were relatively young, the oldest being just over a century old.
Firstly, because the human race had only carved out the Southern Borderlands from the Hundred Thousand Mountains less than a millennium ago.
Secondly, due to the warlike nature of humans, those in power fought for dominance, leading to frequent wars. Many nations were swallowed up by others, and their accumulated poetry and songs were repeatedly swept away, buried in the ashes of history.
Mo Fan’s questions were always peculiar, often about history, geography, or local customs, which gradually overwhelmed Fang Ru, who had initially handled them with ease. She found herself increasingly drawn to this bald student.
She also asked Mo Fan about hunting, mostly curious about the peculiar lives of the beasts in the mountains.
“Sometimes, I envy those beasts. Though they lack intelligence, they live freer than we do.
Unlike me, with all my learning, even earning the title of scholar, but because of the Song Kingdom’s prejudice against women, I can’t fulfil my ambitions. My scholar title merely adds a touch of talent to my beauty. If I don’t want to become a noble’s caged canary, I’m stuck in this Pingyao Town, just an ordinary bird in a cage.”
The more she asked and learned, the more sentimental this Fang family miss became.
Mo Fan looked at her, smiling, “Do you know the joy of a fish if you’re not a fish?
Sometimes, the beasts in the mountains may have it harder than caged birds.”
“Because they not only have to struggle to find food but also stay vigilant to avoid being preyed upon by other beasts, or even hunted by someone like me.”
“But they’re free, aren’t they?” Fang Ru looked at Mo Fan.
“But that freedom comes at the cost of their lives, constantly chased by fate. Is that really freedom?”
Mo Fan gave a wry smile, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the clear blue sky, and said solemnly, “To me, no one in this world is truly free.
The wealthy noble sons, are they free?
No, because above them is the royal authority of the state!
The powerful imperial clans and emperors, are they free?
No, because fate holds their throats, and in the end, they can’t escape becoming a pile of bones!”
“That’s nonsense. If everything in the world is driven by fate, and no one is free, then what’s the point of life?” Fang Ru frowned, disagreeing with Mo Fan’s view.
“No, life has meaning!”
Mo Fan suddenly laughed, took a deep breath, and said, “Different people have different experiences, so their lives hold different meanings.
To me, the meaning of life lies in bonds—bonds of camaraderie through life and death, bonds of growing old with a loved one, bonds of gratitude and care with family…”
Hearing this, Fang Ru fell into thought, then suddenly asked, “What’s the meaning of your life?”
“Perhaps to seek the truth…”
Mo Fan sighed. He had always wanted to know why he came to this world, but how could he explain such a thing?
At least not now. That’s why he kept cultivating, firmly believing that if he became strong enough, he would one day understand it all, uncover the truth behind it!
Fang Ru shook her head, not quite grasping the meaning of Mo Fan’s words, which left the usually proud woman feeling a rare sense of defeat.
She realised that, despite years of studying, she was outdone by her own student.
For the next while, Fang Ru grew quieter, discovering that even in couplets, poetry, and songs, she was far inferior to this Young Master Mo.
Many times, poetry seemed to come effortlessly to Mo Fan.
While some spoke of composing a poem in seven steps, for Mo Fan, it took fewer than three. Each poem was a masterpiece, leaving Fang Ru stunned and even entranced.
During this time, Mo Fan noticed Fang Ru had taken to feeding fish, spending considerable time each day by the small pond in the courtyard.
“Why do you enjoy feeding fish so much?”
Mo Fan, puzzled, looked at the fish in the pond, a hint of understanding in his eyes.
“When I’m in a bad mood, I like feeding fish. It makes me feel at ease, enough to forget my troubles,” Fang Ru smiled.
“Why are you in a bad mood?”
“Because tomorrow marks a month…”
Fang Ru’s voice was soft, but Mo Fan heard it, and he seemed to understand why she felt this way.
Mo Fan sighed inwardly. A month of daily companionship had evidently stirred in this Fang family miss a longing for the wider world and a hint of special affection for him.
After a moment’s silence, Mo Fan suddenly said to Fang Ru, “Come on!”
“Where to?” Fang Ru looked at Mo Fan.
“To let you feel freedom!”
Mo Fan smiled, and without waiting for her consent, grabbed her soft hand and headed out of the courtyard.
“Brother Mo, what’s this?”
In the front yard, Fang Lin, who was airing out books, was stunned by the sight, thinking, “When did Sister get so close to Brother Mo?”
“Taking your sister out to clear her mind!”
“Oh, and Master Fang, don’t worry too much. I’ll bring her back!”
Mo Fan raised his hand, waving it behind him at the father and son, then pulled Fang Ru out of the Fang family school.
“This… Father, Brother Mo’s got some nerve, snatching Sister away in broad daylight right in front of us! I’ll go tie that kid up!”
Fang Lin grumbled, ready to chase after them.
“Get back here!”
Master Fang scolded irritably, then looked at the departing figures, a smile finally spreading across his face, “Haven’t you noticed your sister’s leg is healed?”
“Huh… it, it really is!”
“Mo Fan is a blessing! Shame he doesn’t belong here. Let Ru’er have a proper goodbye with him!”
That day, Mo Fan took Fang Ru out of the Fang family school, out of Pingyao Town, and into the Demon Spirit Mountains, showing her beasts she’d never seen up close, breathtaking scenery she’d never witnessed, and the bloody struggles between beasts…
That day, Fang Ru felt as if she’d flown out of her cage, seeing the vast lands and soaring among the blue sky and white clouds.
At night, Mo Fan escorted Fang Ru back to the Fang family school.
“Mo Fan, thank you. This has been the freest and happiest day of my life!”
“Thank you too. Without you, I don’t know how long it would’ve taken me to learn so many characters.”
Mo Fan smiled at her, feeling not quite loss, but a touch of sentiment.
“Are you leaving tomorrow?” Fang Ru asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes, no feast lasts forever. I’ve been in Pingyao Town for a month; it’s time to go.”
Mo Fan gave a faint smile, then took two gold ingots from his waist and handed them over, “This is the payment I promised Master Fang. I won’t come tomorrow, so please pass it to him for me!”
“Can’t you…”
“No.”
Fang Ru started to speak but was cut off by Mo Fan, who looked earnestly at the pretty woman in the plain dress, “I’m not worth anyone’s lingering affection, nor am I the one you’re waiting for. I’m just someone who opened a window for you.”
“I’m off!”
With that, Mo Fan turned to leave, then, as if remembering something, said over his shoulder, “Oh, and stop feeding the fish. That way, you won’t feel down anymore!”
Watching Mo Fan fade into the night, Fang Ru’s face was already streaked with tears.
“Silly child, Mo Fan isn’t ordinary. His life isn’t meant for us common folk to hold onto!”
Master Fang appeared behind Fang Ru at some point, sighing.
He could tell Mo Fan was far more than just a hunter.
…
As Mo Fan was about to return to his rented place, he suddenly stopped.
At some point, the once-bustling street had grown eerily quiet. The crowd vanished from his sight, replaced by wisps of black mist drifting about…
