A Heart That Holds Both Love and the Dao
Mu Wan really was tired from climbing the mountain.
The slanting sunlight of three in the afternoon streamed into the room.
She rubbed her eyes.
Ever since becoming pregnant, she had grown sleepier than before.
Seeing her rub her eyes, Liu Qianxiu walked over.
The moment he approached, Mu Wan simply leaned against him, her breath brushing lightly across his chest.
He gently stroked her hair.
"Sleep for a while, okay?"
That final syllable was especially tender and indulgent.
Sweetness rose in Mu Wan's heart.
She wrapped her arms around him and said in a spoiled, affectionate voice,
"Stay with me."
"All right."
Liu Qianxiu pinched her earlobe.
It tickled.
Mu Wan dodged away and hurried toward the bed, where she lay down.
Liu Qianxiu picked up a book and sat beside her.
He took her hand.
His palm was dry and cool.
Mu Wan intertwined their fingers and gradually closed her eyes.
Incense burned throughout the Taoist temple, filling the air with the scent of sandalwood. The fragrance was even stronger here than at home.
Mu Wan's breathing slowly deepened.
Liu Qianxiu lowered his eyes and watched her.
Once she appeared to be asleep, he stood, preparing to leave.
But the instant he moved, Mu Wan's fingers tightened around his.
The room was quiet, and the sunlight was gentle.
Her palm was warm.
Although her fingers had tightened around his, she showed no sign of opening her eyes.
Liu Qianxiu sat back down.
Bracing one arm beside her, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
"Still awake?"
His voice was very soft.
Mu Wan kept her eyes closed.
She did not answer his question.
"Where are you going?"
He kissed her cheek lightly, a soothing touch as gentle as a dragonfly skimming across water.
"I'm going to prepare dinner. Go to sleep first. I'll come wake you later."
Mu Wan did not answer.
She had already fallen asleep.
She lay on her side, her thick black hair spread across the pillow.
Her small face looked especially pale. Perhaps because she had not finished what she wanted to say, her delicate brows remained faintly furrowed.
Tenderness filled Liu Qianxiu's eyes.
He kissed her lips softly.
Then he released her hand, stood, and left.
Mu Wan slept deeply and peacefully.
When she woke, darkness had already begun settling over the room.
She vaguely remembered Liu Qianxiu saying he was going to make dinner before she fell asleep.
Judging by the time, dinner should be almost ready.
She got out of bed, put on her shoes, opened the door, and walked outside.
The moment the door opened, a calming scent of sandalwood flowed into her senses.
Crimson clouds filled the horizon. The colors were exceptionally clear and beautiful, lifting her spirits almost immediately.
The moment Mu Wan stepped outside, Qingchan saw her.
He was still holding the toy she had given him.
He hurried over.
"Big Sister~ You're awake?"
The little Taoist wore his robes with his hair tied into a small bun.
He looked extraordinarily adorable, like a miniature Taoist priest.
Mu Wan reached out and gently pinched the little bun on top of his head.
"Where are your junior brother and your master?"
"Junior Brother is making dinner. Master is cultivating..."
Qingchan had barely finished answering when a voice came from nearby.
"Qingchan."
The voice sounded elderly and somewhat ethereal.
Mu Wan paused.
She looked up.
A Taoist priest stood at the entrance of the main hall.
It was Xuanqingzi.
He appeared to be in his sixties.
He wore his hair long, the black-and-white strands tied in a traditional Taoist knot.
His robe was dark, his figure lean, and his features stern.
Mu Wan looked at him and nodded politely.
"Hello, Master."
Xuanqingzi already knew Liu Qianxiu and Mu Wan were coming.
Qingyuan Temple was merely a place where he and Qingchan cultivated, and he had no objections to a woman visiting.
He gave a slight nod in response.
Taoist priests seemed to naturally possess a distant and reserved temperament.
Mu Wan did not feel offended by his cool manner.
Still, standing there, she genuinely had no idea what to say.
Just as the silence was beginning to feel awkward, Liu Qianxiu's voice sounded behind her.
"Master."
Xuanqingzi turned around.
The moment his eyes met Liu Qianxiu's, a trace of warmth appeared in his stern gaze.
Xuanqingzi had been an old friend of Liu Qianxiu's grandfather.
He had known Liu Qianxiu since childhood and had, in a sense, watched him grow up.
To Liu Qianxiu, Xuanqingzi was also an elder.
After they exchanged greetings, Liu Qianxiu formally introduced Mu Wan to Xuanqingzi.
The master nodded to show that he understood.
Then they went to the rear courtyard for dinner.
After dinner, Xuanqingzi and his disciples began their evening cultivation.
In the past, when the master was absent, Mu Wan might have gone over and tempted Liu Qianxiu.
But with Xuanqingzi sitting right there, she absolutely did not dare cross any boundaries.
"Go back to the room and read."
Liu Qianxiu had brought several books for her because he was worried she might become bored.
"I'll come back as soon as possible."
"Do your evening cultivation properly," Mu Wan said with a smile.
Ever since they met, she had constantly clung to him. He had barely had a proper evening cultivation session since.
Now that Xuanqingzi was present, Mu Wan certainly could not ask him to leave early.
Liu Qianxiu did not reply.
He merely stroked her head.
Like a kitten having its fur smoothed, Mu Wan smiled happily.
"I'll go back first," she whispered.
"Wait."
Just as Mu Wan stood to leave, Xuanqingzi, who was seated beside the low table, suddenly stopped her.
Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu both turned toward him.
Xuanqingzi stood up.
He walked toward a cabinet beside the main hall and retrieved something.
It was a small square box.
It looked old, but it was perfectly clean, possessing a simple, antique elegance.
He handed the box to Mu Wan.
"This is for you," Xuanqingzi said.
His expression remained as calm and stern as ever.
Mu Wan was surprised by the unexpected gift.
But Liu Qianxiu regarded Xuanqingzi as an elder, so the gift could naturally be considered something given to her by an elder of the family.
Mu Wan did not refuse.
She accepted it.
Inside was a jade pendant.
The jade was smooth and lustrous, its appearance revealing that it was quite old.
Mu Wan returned to the room to sleep.
Only three people remained in the main hall.
Xuanqingzi closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.
Then he asked Liu Qianxiu a question.
"When is the wedding?"
Liu Qianxiu nodded slightly.
"The eighth day of next month."
"Mm."
Xuanqingzi acknowledged the answer calmly.
Qingchan sat on Xuanqingzi's other side.
The little boy propped his chin in his hands.
He looked at his master.
Then he looked at his junior brother.
After a long moment, he finally asked,
"Junior Brother, now that Big Sister is in your heart, is the Dao still there too?"
Children always thought simply.
To Qingchan, perhaps a heart could only hold one thing.
If one thing entered, another must leave.
Xuanqingzi slowly opened his eyes.
He looked at his young disciple.
Then he said in a deep voice,
"Qingchan, the human heart is very large."
"It can hold the Dao."
"And it can hold a person too."
— End of Chapter 57 —
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