Persuading Lun Peng

She lowered her face and did not answer, thinking to herself: *Should I teach these guys a lesson or find a way to slip away?*

Wan Ru raised her head, pointed into the air, and said:

"Look, there's a dragon!"

The crowd believed her and turned to look, seeing nothing. By the time they turned back, she had already run off. Of course, her small legs could not carry her very fast, but she was mischievous, causing chaos and breaking things wherever she went.

In no time, dozens of people were chasing after her. She kept running until she hit a dead end. The butcher woman, whose meat had been knocked away by her, grumbled:

"Do you have the money to pay for this meat now?"

The tanghulu vendor, whom she had crashed into earlier, causing all the candied haws to fall, snapped:

"Hey, don't think just because you're a child you can destroy whatever you want."

A vegetable vendor, who had been caught in the chase, scattering his produce with a cabbage leaf still stuck to his head, said:

"Whose child is this? So mischievous."

She said innocently, "I was with my senior brothers and got lost. Now I cannot find my way home."

Seeing this, they gathered to discuss. After a few minutes, they turned to her and said:

"We will find your brothers for you, little girl."

She smiled happily and giggled:

"Thank you, everyone."

Thus, everyone was charmed by her cuteness into searching for her Eldest Senior Brother and her own brother.

Meanwhile, Eldest Senior Brother had been watching a dispute since morning that Lun Peng could not seem to resolve. Hao Qian was eating tanghulu while watching Eldest Senior Brother mediate between a chicken vendor and a vegetable vendor.

The vegetable vendor accused the chicken vendor of not watching her chickens, letting them wander over to eat her vegetables.

"Everyone, calm down. Every matter has its explanation."

The vegetable vendor said, "Gluttony ruins the taste, and too much talk turns wisdom into madness."

The chicken vendor retorted, "Let them gossip. As long as I know I did nothing wrong, what can anyone do to me?"

Hao Qian finished his tanghulu and noticed a little girl standing by to watch, which suddenly reminded him of his own little sister. Without a second thought, he rushed over to Eldest Senior Brother, tugging at his collar, and said anxiously:

"We must go quickly. We have abandoned Junior Sister!"

Eldest Senior Brother said in horror, "What? Quick, let's go find her!"

The two abandoned the dispute and went to search for their sister.

On her end, Wan Ru was eating sugar candy while looking for her two senior brothers. The butcher woman remarked:

"They really don't know how to look after their little sister. Leaving a child in the middle of nowhere like this."

While enjoying her treat, she spotted a white robe and a red robe running around in circles.

Her eyes widened, and her eyelashes fluttered as she spotted her targets. Waiting until they were not paying attention, she ran toward them.

"Brother Qian, Eldest Senior Brother, save me!"

Eldest Senior Brother, having keen hearing, caught her voice and said:

"Junior Brother, did you hear something?"

Hao Qian, who was climbing a nearby pillar, replied:

"I didn't hear anything."

Then he climbed higher to look around. Eldest Senior Brother impatiently pulled Hao Qian down, saying:

"I know where Junior Sister is. Follow me."

Hao Qian leaped down without hesitation: "Let's go."

Wan Ru had been standing there for a while, looking around, and said:

"No need to search anymore. We must run now!"

Eldest Senior Brother rushed to her side in surprise: "Junior Sister!"

Hao Qian saw her and said happily: "Wan Ru!"

Before the three could properly reunite, the people she had troubled caught up to them.

"Hey, you little girl!"

Terrified, Wan Ru turned around, quickly lifted her skirt, and ran. Eldest Senior Brother and Hao Qian, utterly clueless, could only run after her.

Hao Qian asked her as he ran:

"Hey, why are you running?"

She pointed behind her and said:

"Look behind us, Brother!"

Behind them was a crowd chasing her. Hao Qian smiled bitterly:

"You caused trouble again, didn't you?"

Eldest Senior Brother ran alongside his junior brother and sister, gradually piecing things together. Without a single wasted movement, he scooped up one under each arm—despite Lun Peng being rather slender— and lightly used his inner strength to leap onto the rooftops, escaping their pursuers.

Eldest Senior Brother pushed their heads down and said:

"Keep your heads down, you two."

The three held their breath, waiting for the crowd to pass. Hao Qian curiously peeked to check if they had gone, then reported to the others. He said mischievously:

"They're gone. Let's head down."

She slowly sat up and said:

"Phew, thank goodness we weren't caught."

Eldest Senior Brother could not help but flick her forehead. She covered her head to resist, but Hao Qian held her in place and flicked her ear from behind. Eldest Senior Brother put his hands on his hips and said:

"Taking people to town is supposed to be fun, but bringing a directionally challenged fellow and a troublemaker makes it impossible to relax. Now, it's not just my robes that are white, but my hair is turning white too."

She acted cute, taking Eldest Senior Brother's hand and swaying it, her eyes pleading:

"Eldest Senior Brother, please do not tell Master about this."

Eldest Senior Brother raised his voice:

"No."

She clasped her hands in supplication: "Please, I promise I won't do it again next time."

Lun Peng crossed his arms and said, "There's a next time?"

Wan Ru's face fell, terrified that Eldest Senior Brother would tell Master.

Hao Qian, feeling guilty for leaving Wan Ru behind earlier, defended her:

"It goes both ways. Didn't you and I fail to keep a proper eye on her, Eldest Senior Brother?"

Eldest Senior Brother, realizing he was indeed also at fault, said:

"I am sorry, Junior Sister. But you must not do this again next time, alright?"

Wan Ru smiled: "Yes, there will definitely not be a next time."

The three enjoyed their time. When the crescent moon hung behind the bamboo grove, it was time for everyone to return to their rooms. Wan Ru lay in bed, unable to sleep. After a while, she sat up and got out of bed.

Walking to the window, the moonlight seemed to rush to her side. Step by step, it followed her.

Tonight was a crescent moon.

Maidens of marriageable age often dream and yearn for their beloved under the moonlight. They send their love through the moon, which serves as their confidant whenever longing arises.

Whom did she miss? Whom did she love? It no longer mattered. The moonlight seemed to touch her emotions, weaving through hatred, love, pain, pity, self-pity, and loneliness, leaving only her and the moon.

She shed tears, not even knowing for whom they fell.

The next morning.

The three returned to the mountain to continue their cultivation. This time, she took her training seriously, no longer slacking off. Sometimes, even in the middle of the night, the powerful and fierce sound of her sword swinging could be heard.

In just six months, she made remarkable progress, becoming capable of protecting herself.

Summer arrived, bringing life to all things, and various sects began preparing their disciples to showcase their prowess.

Wan Ru heard of this from Hao Qian. Delighted and curious, she said to her brother:

"Will our sect be participating?"

"That depends on Eldest Senior Brother. If he goes, we will certainly be allowed to go."

She thought for a moment and said:

"Then we can just go beg Eldest Senior Brother to go, right?"

Hao Qian shook his head: "It is not that simple. Although Master is very easygoing about this—whether we go or not is fine—Eldest Senior Brother has never liked competing or fighting with anyone."

She hummed, slightly annoyed:

"This is an opportunity to broaden our horizons, yet he refuses to go. How stubborn."

"Who are you calling stubborn?"

She startled, looking at her brother. Hao Qian covered his face in refusal, leaving her with no hope of rescue.

She had to face what she had done herself. Wan Ru turned around and said:

"No, I didn't say anything."

Eldest Senior Brother looked at her skeptically. Wan Ru continued:

"Eldest Senior Brother, please participate in the Zheng Sha Fa Gathering."

Eldest Senior Brother looked at her, then glared at Hao Qian with a faint smile. In the blink of an eye, he vanished. She raised her hand, wanting to call him back:

"Wait, wait!"

Her brother sighed, patting her shoulder:

"Now you cannot persuade him anymore."

With determination in her eyes, she asked her brother:

"I want to go to the Zheng Sha Fa. How long until it starts, Brother?"

Hao Qian smiled, slightly mocking her:

"Three days."

She smiled, a grin full of confidence.

"More than enough."

She turned back, crossed her arms, and declared to Hao Qian:

"Within three days, we will head to the Zheng Sha Fa."