Moran Manor
Upon hearing that guests had arrived, Mo Bai, the owner of the manor, rushed out of his study. He had received a handwritten letter from a scholar at the academy a few days prior, informing him of a visit from fellow disciples. Having eagerly awaited their arrival, he was overcome with excitement.
In the years since leaving the academy, I’ve missed the people, the scenery, and the events there so dearly. Unfortunately, being confined to Moran Manor, I haven’t been able to return. Now, finally seeing fellow disciples again, we must stay up all night and talk. Mo Bai excitedly ran to the entrance, his eyes first falling upon a striking figure in red, his heart skipping a beat. Then, seeing Nangong Xi’er standing beside them, his heart skipped another beat.
“In the more than ten years I’ve been away from the academy… the teacher has taken in so many beautiful female disciples?” Mo Bai murmured under his breath.
“Nangong Xi’er, greetings to Senior Brother Mo Bai.” Nangong Xi’er bowed with clasped hands.
Jimo Huaxue cast a cold glance at the middle-aged scholar but said nothing.
Mo Bai didn’t seem to mind Jimo Huaxue’s indifference at all. He quickly returned the greeting and said, “So it’s Junior Sister Nangong Xi’er! We met years ago, but back then you were just a little kid. Now you’ve grown into a fine young lady. Please, both of you, come in, come in.”
“Hey, hey, Senior Brother, can you see me?” Su Baiyi waved his hand in front of Mo Bai’s face.
“Hmm? Oh. And this little brother is?” Mo Bai turned his head.
“Su Baiyi, newly enrolled in the academy, greetings to Senior Brother Mo Bai,” Su Baiyi said with a smile.
“Greetings, Junior Brother, greetings.” Mo Bai gave a slightly embarrassed smile. “Please come in, all three of you.”
“I am not your junior sister,” Jimo Huaxue suddenly said.
“Hmm?” Mo Bai was stunned. “Then who is this young lady?”
“Who is older, you or Yulou?” Jimo Huaxue asked.
“Yulou? Are you referring to Second Senior Brother? I am four years younger than him,” Mo Bai replied, puzzled.
Jimo Huaxue nodded. “Then I am your second sister-in-law.”
“What!” Mo Bai was shocked. When Nan Yulou went down the mountain to challenge the world’s swordsmen, he was still studying at the academy, so he knew all about Nan Yulou’s affairs. Although Nan Yulou didn’t really get married, he did have a legendary love story in the Jianghu. He looked carefully at the woman in red in front of him and became even more certain of his thoughts, so scared that he stuttered, “Sword…Sword…Sword Immortal, Ji…Mo…”
“Just call her Second Sister-in-law,” Nangong Xi’er reminded him.
Mo Bai immediately swallowed the words he was about to say and corrected himself, “Second Sister-in-law!”
Jimo Huaxue nodded in satisfaction, her expression softening considerably. She then stepped into the manor. Su Baiyi and Nangong Xi’er exchanged a glance and smiled.
This one and only Sword Immortal, usually cold as ice and seemingly indifferent to everything, becomes gentle whenever the topic or people related to Second Senior Brother are mentioned.
Nangong Xi’er stepped forward and followed, while Mo Bai suddenly felt a special sense of camaraderie with Su Baiyi beside him. He enthusiastically put his arm around Su Baiyi’s shoulders as they walked inside. “How did you meet the Sword Immortal City Lord? So many people would pay a fortune just to have a glimpse of such a divine figure. Although she hasn’t been included in the main list of the Heavenly Martial Rankings due to her rare appearances, as the only Sword Immortal recognized by the Heavenly Martial Elder, many say she ranks among the top three in the world! Above Bai Jile of the Heavenly Palace!”
Su Baiyi smiled awkwardly. “It’s a long story, a long story.”
“No worries, no worries. We’ll chat all night by candlelight, and you can tell me all about it,” Mo Bai laughed. “It’s been too long since I left the academy. Besides the Sword Immortal’s story, tell me more about what’s happening there.”
“Senior Brother, I just enrolled in the academy,” Su Baiyi said with a helpless expression.
“Just enrolled?” Mo Bai sighed. “Well, well, hearing the Sword Immortal’s story is not bad either.”
Mo Bai then led the trio to the main hall to rest. In the hall hung a scroll with four characters: “Unbound by Rules.” The characters were written as freely and boldly as their meaning implied, and were hung in the most prominent spot. The three of them saw it as soon as they entered. Su Baiyi, having studied calligraphy under Xie Kanhua for many years, immediately recognized the extraordinary quality of the writing and exclaimed, “Excellent calligraphy, filled with true meaning.”
Jimo Huaxue smiled even more broadly. “Unbound by Rules. Unbound by Rules.” Yet even such a free-spirited person was once willing to be confined within a city.
Noticing their gazes, Mo Bai felt a surge of joy. He cherished this calligraphy deeply, having specifically asked Second Senior Brother for it before he descended the mountain. Upon returning to the manor, he hung it in the main hall. Unfortunately, most guests failed to grasp the true meaning of the characters, seeing it merely as an unremarkable work by an unknown calligrapher, lacking in grandeur.
Jimo Huaxue suddenly turned to Mo Bai and asked, “Do you practice swordsmanship?”
Mo Bai immediately straightened his posture and replied solemnly, “As a disciple of the academy, Mo Bai, I diligently follow the teachings of the Confucian Sage. Since descending the mountain, I have practiced swordsmanship every morning and evening without fail.”
“Good. Do you have brush and ink here?” Jimo Huaxue asked further.
Mo Bai couldn’t help but laugh. “Sword Immortal…”
“Call her Second Sister-in-law,” Su Baiyi reminded him, noticing Jimo Huaxue’s expression change.
Mo Bai immediately corrected himself, saying, “Second Sister-in-law, your questions really hit the mark. My Moran Manor specializes in the business of the Four Treasures of the Study—brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones—so we naturally have them.”
“Then bring me paper and ink. The size of the paper should be the same as this scroll,” Jimo Huaxue said, looking at the calligraphy.
“Alright, alright.” Though unsure of the Sword Immortal’s intentions, Mo Bai promptly instructed his servants to prepare the paper, brush, and ink, and have them brought in.
Jimo Huaxue nodded, picked up the brush, closed her eyes, and then slowly wrote five characters.
May I gain the heart of one.
These five characters were written with exceptional elegance, each stroke gentle and warm. Even though they were simply five large black characters, just looking at them filled one’s heart with warmth. For the three sword practitioners present, they could see an unparalleled sword intent within the writing.
Mo Bai’s eyes widened in admiration. “Truly excellent calligraphy, and excellent swordsmanship as well. Worthy of Second Sister-in-law, worthy of the Sword Immortal!”
“Do you like it?” Jimo Huaxue asked.
Mo Bai nodded. “More than just like it!”
“Good. I’ll give you this calligraphy, and you give me that one, how about it?” Jimo Huaxue asked.
Mo Bai was taken aback and frowned slightly. Although the four characters written by Second Senior Brother were free and unrestrained, brimming with his heroic spirit, they couldn’t compare to the calligraphy in front of him. These five characters were not only beautiful, but also contained hidden sword intent. For someone like him who practiced swordsmanship, observing the Sword Immortal’s sword intent daily could unknowingly improve his sword skills significantly. After a moment’s hesitation, Mo Bai shook his head. “This was a gift from Second Senior Brother. Although our relationship wasn’t particularly deep, he still willingly gave me this calligraphy, and I’m very grateful to him. Your calligraphy is also excellent, Second Sister-in-law, but I can’t exchange it. Even though you have a special status, please allow Mo Bai to keep this memento.” After speaking, Mo Bai bowed respectfully.
Su Baiyi glanced at Nangong Xi’er and chuckled, “The people of the academy, indeed, are just as interesting whether they are in the mountains or out in the world.”
Jimo Huaxue smiled and gently said, “Very good. It should never be replaced. If you were to replace it, you would be dishonoring the four characters Yulou left for you back then. Even though you may be secluded in this manor, you can still be ‘unbound by rules.’ Well, I have another request.”
Mo Bai nodded. “I will do my best.”
“Place my five characters beneath those four,” Jimo Huaxue said, pointing to the calligraphy on the wall. “In this way, they become—”
“Unbound by Rules. May I gain the heart of one.”
Mo Bai didn’t know why, but his nose suddenly tingled with the urge to cry. He was already in middle age, and his parents had long since passed away. He hadn’t cried for a long time, but at this moment, he suddenly felt a strong impulse to weep.
Nangong Xi’er also wiped her eyes, murmuring to herself, “It’s truly wonderful that Second Senior Brother could meet this Sword Immortal.”
Su Baiyi smiled. “Senior Brother Mo Bai, Second Sister-in-law has bestowed calligraphy upon us. Tonight, we must thank her with fine wine and dishes. Be sure to have the best wine!”
Mo Bai wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “Of course, of course.”