Chapter 40: Waiting for You

At 9:45 in the evening, the school was still brightly lit.

Chen Shian came downstairs, carrying his bag, and waited by the corridor on the first floor leading to the school gate.

From afar, he could see the half-court on the left side of Basketball Court No. 2, where warning tape marked "Safety Barrier" was still wrapped around the base of the backboard. The shattered glass had long since been cleared away, but a good number of students, taking advantage of the break, were still stopping by to check it out.

Though the broadcast hadn’t announced his name or class, word had already spread among the students: it was "that new Taoist from Class Five, Grade Eleven" who had done it. Fortunately, most people didn’t recognize him, and his appearance had become ever more mysterious in the retelling.

Chen Shian thought to himself that now, with his head shaved and dressed in a school uniform, he could probably blend in with the crowd at the basketball court and no one would realize he was the culprit…

But apart from those in Class Five, there were still some who could recognize him.

He hadn’t waited long before a graceful figure appeared at the stairwell. She scanned the corridor, her gaze finally landing on him. The girl tightened the strap of her backpack and hurried over.

"Was it you? Was it you?"

"Hmm?"

"Was it you who smashed the backboard this evening? Everyone’s saying it was the new Taoist from Class Five!"

Wen Zhixia chattered as she looked at the boy before her in disbelief. She never would have guessed that the polite, refined Chen Shian could possess such explosive strength! It was like discovering a compact car hiding the engine of a heavy-duty truck.

Chen Shian looked embarrassed and whispered, "Best not to talk about it…"

"So it really was you!"

Wen Zhixia was both shocked and delighted, her voice incredulous. "No wonder you didn’t wait for me to have dinner this afternoon—you went to… vandalize school property!"

"Hey now, you make it sound like I did it on purpose."

She giggled, then asked curiously, "Did the school make you pay for it?"

"Not yet."

"Then you probably won’t have to… Of course, with your powerful connections, the school wouldn’t make you pay anyway."

"…"

Chen Shian thought he’d have to apologize to Uncle Lin another day. He hadn’t brought any glory to the school yet—only caused trouble.

He took a couple of steps forward, then looked back to find the girl still peering toward the basketball court.

"Aren’t you coming?"

"Wait for me!"

Wen Zhixia quickly caught up, and the two strolled unhurriedly down the corridor toward the school gate.

"How do you usually train? Are you amazing at basketball?"

"I usually practice Taoism in the mountains. Today was my first time playing basketball."

"Seriously? You must have incredible physical abilities! My classmates in the sports talent program say even they can’t dunk."

"The school has a sports talent program?"

"Yeah, and music and art talent programs too. Do you have any special skills?"

"Delivering souls. I’m very fast at that."

Chen Shian intended to be modest, but in this, he truly could not—his speed was unmatched.

"…That doesn’t count!"

"Playing the erhu, flute, zither, ink painting, calligraphy, swordplay, chess, woodcarving—do those count?"

"You really learned all that? How did you find the time?"

"I didn’t have to go to school. There’s plenty of time on the mountain, so when I got bored, I’d just learn a bit of this and that."

"And how good are you at all of them?"

"I know a little."

With nothing around to demonstrate, Wen Zhixia couldn’t tell what "a little" meant to Chen Shian, but just hearing he’d studied so many things was enough to amaze her.

"Taoists learn all that?"

"Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are all part of the Way. Music is the voice of heaven, chess the balance of yin and yang, calligraphy cultivates the mind, painting expresses meaning. Skill leads to the Way, and the Way is present in daily life. It’s a core tenet in our tradition—unity of the Way and its instruments, the Way inseparable from things. Many predecessors have attained enlightenment through the arts; it’s just that we ordinary practitioners walk a different path to the same destination."

What he said was never taught in class, nor did anyone his age discuss such matters with such depth. Wen Zhixia listened in a daze, pinching her chin in thought.

"So… does that mean anything can become the Way?"

"More or less."

"What about the tea ceremony?"

"Yes."

"And swordsmanship?"

"Yes."

"And foot massage?"

"…What’s that?"

By now, they had walked outside the school. Wen Zhixia pointed across the street at a foot spa.

Chen Shian pondered for a moment, then said uncertainly, "I’d have to try it myself to know…"

She laughed, covering her mouth. "You just want an excuse to get a foot massage, don’t you?"

"I call it being rigorous. I don’t speak lightly about what I haven’t experienced."

"You’re so much fun to talk to!"

Wen Zhixia couldn’t help but sigh. After a whole day of stifling study, now, released from class, with the cool night breeze and Chen Shian telling her things she’d never known, she felt a nostalgic comfort—like listening to her grandfather tell old stories on summer nights.

"Did you understand everything I said?" he asked.

"It’s fun precisely because I don’t understand it, but it sounds reasonable!"

She thought for a while, then finally found the words: "It’s like when you’re a kid and everything’s new, and your parents reveal some mystery and it’s all so fresh!"

"Mm," Chen Shian nodded. "That’s curiosity."

"And when you grow up and know more yourself, you get annoyed when they repeat things you already know, or they say something you disagree with and you think it’s wrong!"

"Mm," he said again. "That’s rebellion."

"So what should you do?"

"Nothing. It’s perfectly natural."

"Would you be like that?"

"I wouldn’t."

"Why not?"

"My master taught me early on to practice self-restraint, solitude, to guard my heart and clarify my nature. He never imposed himself on me, never claimed ownership, never interfered too much."

As they walked, the girl followed along like a chick trailing its mother, nodding as she listened.

No wonder Chen Shian, though the same age as his peers, felt so different. Besides growing up in a Taoist temple, his education had been fundamentally different: while others spent more than a decade chasing grades, he’d spent eighteen years cultivating himself.

Wen Zhixia couldn’t imagine that sort of state of mind. The young Taoist beside her was like the ocean—the more she got to know him, the more unique and fascinating he seemed.

She sighed softly. "If I’d known Taoist practice was so wonderful, letting you understand so much, I’d have gone to the mountain and become a nun! I’m so sick of endless school and exams."

"The right state of mind is what matters. Shaving your head is just a hairstyle."

"Get out!"

She reached out to playfully swat him, then realized it was too intimate and blushed, though thankfully the darkness hid it. She glanced at him—seeing he hadn’t noticed, she relaxed.

Since the semester began, September’s weather had gradually turned to autumn. The days were still oppressively hot like midsummer, but the nights had grown cool. The breeze on her face felt delightful as the boy and girl, both in school uniforms, walked side by side, their shadows stretched long beneath the streetlights.

Wen Zhixia was used to walking to and from school alone—especially at night, as a girl, she’d always felt a bit unsafe and walked quickly.

But with Chen Shian by her side, she was no longer afraid of the nighttime walk.

He was a Taoist, after all! No demon or ghost would dare approach him, even in the darkest night.

And as for thugs? He could shatter a backboard—who could stand up to his punch?

She felt incredibly secure. Having Chen Shian as a companion was wonderful.

As they passed a fragrant sausage stand, Chen Shian heard her stomach growl.

"Are you hungry?"

"How did you know?"

"I heard your stomach rumbling."

"…That’s not necessary to mention."

She blushed. She was indeed hungry. With such intense study every day, who wouldn’t be? She’d been planning to skip dinner, shower, and go to bed early to lose weight, but after he pointed it out, her empty stomach protested even more.

"Are you hungry too?" she asked.

"If you’re hungry, eat. Why ask me?"

"Come on, tell me!"

"I’m hungry."

Relieved to hear it, she realized she wasn’t the only glutton.

She stopped Chen Shian and halted in front of the sausage stand.

The stall was brightly lit, the glow reflecting off the sizzling sausages, their skins cut with neat slits, oil bubbling as they roasted, making her mouth water.

"How much for these sausages?" she asked, her voice sweet and naive. By asking, she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep if she didn’t eat one tonight.

"Three yuan each."

"Oh, I’ll take two!"

"Spicy?"

The vendor asked, but Wen Zhixia turned to Chen Shian.

"Do you want spicy?"

"Huh?"

"My treat! Hurry, do you want spicy or not?"

"Just a little."

"Boss, both spicy… those two, please."

She pointed to the best-roasted sausages—crisp skins, tender meat bursting from within.

"Alright."

The vendor worked swiftly, expertly adding seasoning to the two sausages.

Wen Zhixia took out her phone and scanned to pay.

"Need a bag?"

"No, thank you~"

She put her phone away, happily accepted the sausages, and handed one to Chen Shian.

Bathed in the night, illuminated by the sausage stand’s lights, the smile on her face was pure joy—sincere happiness at sharing.

"Thank you."

"Heh, you’re welcome~"

Chen Shian took the hot sausage from her small hand. Their pace slowed further as they ate and walked.

"How is it? Is it very spicy?"

"Mm, a bit. You can really handle spicy food."

"Hehe, it tastes best that way."

At a time when both were hungry, the sausages were a delight—not just for Wen Zhixia, but even for Chen Shian.

"Since you’ve treated me to sausage, next time I’ll brew you some beauty and wellness tea."

"From the store?"

"If I have the herbs, I’ll gather them in the wild. Otherwise, I’ll buy some and mix them for you."

"You can do that too? What’s in it?"

"Usually rose, hibiscus, goji berries, red dates, lotus leaf, hawthorn, white peony root, poria—depends, I’ll blend it for you."

"Will it be bitter?"

"No, if it is, just add some honey."

"Honey!"

Wen Zhixia loved honey. Just the thought made her smile.

Neither of them ate quickly, and they hadn’t finished their sausages by the time Wen Zhixia reached home. Chen Shian saw where she pointed—it was right next to his own complex, very close and convenient.

"I’m heading in. I’ll wait for you at this corner at 6:15 tomorrow morning. Bye!"

"Bye."

He repeated the unfamiliar word, waving as she did, watching her swipe her card to enter the building.

When he was a child living in the mountains, his classmates lived in the village, and they could never manage to go to school together.

He hadn’t expected, after all these years, to finally experience that feeling.

It was rather nice.