Chapter Twenty-One: Half a Day in This Fleeting Life

Gu Weiyu tucked the paper crane into her storage pouch and began the walk back, accompanied by Yueya.

“Hic—” Having indulged in too many pastries, Gu Weiyu felt rather stuffed. She opened her palm to reveal a pale green cake. “Sister Yueya, here, have this!”

Yueya accepted the treat and nibbled at it in small bites. Every time her mistress visited, she brought with her delicious pastries or fruit. Even if it was just a single cake or a spirit fruit, Yueya’s heart brimmed with happiness.

“Come, let’s go take a look at Lingshuang Pavilion and Furong Residence.” Noting that Yueya had finished eating, Gu Weiyu smiled warmly.

She had just received the paper crane and was eager to show it off to her twelfth brother and the others, perhaps even give it a try herself!

Her great-grandfather was truly thoughtful—the jade slip he gave her was filled with every bit of cultivation knowledge she might need! She had long coveted the paper crane and had already mastered its use.

Inside Lingshuang Pavilion, Gu Qingyun was sitting cross-legged, cultivating amid the plum grove. When Liuguang informed him that his eleventh sister had arrived, he immediately abandoned his training.

“Eleventh Sister, what brings you here?” Gu Qingyun dashed into the house, his footsteps thumping. “Is the sun rising in the west today?”

“Oh? Does this mean I’m not welcome?” Gu Weiyu cast him a sidelong glance.

Gu Qingyun scratched his head sheepishly. “Eleventh Sister, of course you’re welcome! I’d even greet you with my shoes on the wrong feet!”

“Pfft…” Just then, Gu Weihuan walked in and couldn’t help but giggle. “Twelfth Brother, if you don’t know the idiom, don’t use it carelessly. It’s ‘greeting with shoes on the wrong feet,’ not with a donkey!”

Gu Weiyu was already laughing heartily at the side. Gu Qingyun’s round, honest face turned slightly annoyed. “Stop making fun of me!”

“Eleventh Sister, did you call us here for something?” Gu Weihuan decided to let him off, choosing a seat as she spoke.

“I’ve got something wonderful to show you!” Gu Weiyu announced mysteriously. With that, she produced a pink paper crane and waved it before the two.

“This… Is it a message crane?” Gu Weihuan took the crane and examined it.

“It can not only send messages, but also carry people!” Gu Weiyu took the crane back, infused it with spiritual power, and tossed it into the air.

At once, the crane grew with the wind, soon spanning two meters in length. Gu Weiyu stepped up and mounted the crane, which then began to gently carry her aloft.

“Wow—” Both Gu Weihuan and Gu Qingyun stared in amazement, their faces full of envy.

“Do you want to try?” Gu Weiyu brought the crane to a halt and called to them.

“I do! I do!” Gu Qingyun shouted eagerly, unable to wait.

Gu Weiyu glanced at Gu Weihuan. “Ninth Sister, hold on. I’ll come back for you in a moment!”

Gu Qingyun had already scrambled onto the crane, hands and feet together, urging in her ear, “Eleventh Sister, fly! Quick!”

Gu Weiyu piloted the paper crane higher. Gu Qingyun, seated behind, threw his hands in the air, full of excitement. “Higher! Even higher! Haha…”

All the noise was making Gu Weiyu’s ears ring. “Xiaoyun, if you keep shouting, I’ll throw you off!”

At that, Gu Qingyun fell silent, hurriedly hugging her tight for fear she might actually toss him down.

“Ninth Sister, your turn!” After circling the sky with Gu Qingyun, Gu Weiyu brought the crane back down.

“Flying in the sky is amazing!” Gu Qingyun exclaimed as he hopped off, still reluctant to part with the experience.

Gu Weihuan climbed onto the crane slowly, clinging tightly to Gu Weiyu, her heart thumping nervously.

“Ninth Sister, hold on tight. I’m taking off—” Sensing her fear, Gu Weiyu flew very slowly this time. “Ninth Sister, look! Isn’t that your Furong Residence down below?”

Eyes tightly shut, Gu Weihuan hesitated, then cautiously opened her eyes and glanced down.

In summer, Furong Residence looked especially beautiful. Within, a small pond was dotted with white and pink lotus blossoms, framed by round lotus leaves—delicate and lovely.

From above, the view was breathtaking! Gu Weihuan couldn’t help but murmur, “So beautiful…”

Beyond Furong Residence was Peach Blossom Hollow. Gu Weiyu cast a longing glance at the plump peaches hanging on the trees below, wishing she could pluck one to eat.

Lost in her craving, a sudden shout rang out behind her, “Fourth Sister—”

Startled, Gu Weiyu’s paper crane wobbled, nearly pitching both riders to the ground.

“Eleventh Sister, be careful!” Gu Weihuan exclaimed in alarm.

Gu Weiyu swiftly landed the crane in the courtyard below. Looking up, she saw a young woman in a teal dress leaning against a peach tree, a juicy peach in her hand.

“Catch!”

An unidentified flying object hurtled toward them. Gu Weiyu instinctively reached out and caught it—only to find it was a round, adorable peach.

“Thank you, Fourth Sister!” Gu Weiyu grinned, delighted to satisfy her craving.

Gu Weihuan, also holding a peach, beamed. “Fourth Sister, how did you know I was thinking about the peaches in your garden?”

“Wash them before you eat.” The young woman in blue glanced at them coolly, her voice as cold and distant as her expression.

Unfazed, Gu Weihuan pulled Gu Weiyu aside to wash the peaches, and whispered, “Fourth Sister may seem cold, but she’s warm-hearted. She’s really very nice.”

Gu Weiyu wholeheartedly agreed—just for the sake of the peach, she felt that though Fourth Sister, Gu Weilan, was reticent, she treated them well in her own way.

They finished their peaches in the courtyard, and Gu Weiyu approached Gu Weilan again. “Fourth Sister, may I take a peach for Twelfth Brother?”

Gu Weilan looked at the little girl standing beneath the tree with some surprise. Most of the clan’s children were a little afraid of her, but this one, like Gu Weihuan, showed no fear.

“Go ahead.” Another peach sailed through the air. Gu Weiyu quickly caught it. “Thank you for Twelfth Brother, Fourth Sister!”

Gu Weilan gave a faint acknowledgment, then leapt down from the tree and vanished into the peach grove.

“Let’s go. Xiaoyun must be getting impatient!” With Fourth Sister gone, Gu Weihuan remembered their skyward arrival and guessed Gu Qingyun and Liuguang were probably worried.

Gu Weiyu piloted the paper crane back up. Sure enough, she saw Gu Qingyun and Liuguang anxiously hurrying from the courtyard, running toward them.

She guided the crane to Lingshuang Pavilion, and both girls dismounted.

“Eleventh Sister, what happened just now?” Gu Qingyun asked, worried.

“We’re fine. We just ran into Fourth Sister, who even gave us peaches! Here, this one’s for you.” Gu Weiyu took the peach from her pouch and handed it to him.

“The peaches from Fourth Sister’s garden are delicious—it’s a rare treat!” Gu Weihuan added.

“Liuguang, please wash this peach for me.” Gu Qingyun’s mouth was already watering. Always a glutton, he could hardly wait after hearing such praise.

Liuguang took the peach to wash, while Gu Weiyu and Gu Weihuan sat out front. Suddenly, Gu Weihuan remarked, “Before you two came, Fifth Sister used to dislike me the most. If it weren’t for Fourth Sister, I’d probably have a ruined face by now!”

“You should thank me—now she dislikes me the most!” Gu Weiyu winked mischievously.

“I don’t like Fifth Sister either—she’s just too much!” Gu Qingyun muttered through a mouthful of peach.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Fifth Sister in two days,” Gu Weiyu noted. “Strange, I’m almost not used to not being scolded.”

“I heard from Third Brother that she’s gone to our maternal grandparents’ house.” Gu Weihuan giggled.

“Let her be!” Gu Qingyun tossed the peach pit aside, utterly unconcerned.