1 Departure

The sound of explosions sounded several times along with the falling of bamboo tree trunks on the ground. A girl dressed in black seemed to move swiftly swinging her sword until it slashed at the green bamboo many times.

She was panting for breath, sweat was already pouring down her temples and back. Her face was pale, not showing any expression. The exhaustion pales in comparison to her chaotic mood.

"Girl, stop! You've been training since morning. Do you want to cut down all my bamboo gardens?!" An old man sitting on a rock grumbled while crossing his arms across his chest. His facial expression looked so ugly.

"You can plant it again next time." Ye Ningjie replied as she continued to slash her sword.

The old geezer immediately pouted. His hand moved to take a bamboo leaf that was still very fresh. The bamboo leaf then flew swiftly from his hand towards Ye Ningjie's feet.

Woosshh!

Ye Ningjie jumped up to dodge her teacher's attack. Green bamboo leaves just flew past her.

"Are you still mad at me?" asked Duan Feng, the old man who had taken care of Ye Ningjie for the past ten years. He was not only a teacher but also a second father to the girl.

"Why am I mad at you?"

Duan Feng chuckled. He went to a small wooden hut in the middle of a bamboo grove and came back with two jars of wine. The old man sat back down on the rock, opening the jar of wine.

"If you want to go, then go," he said then.

Ye Ningjie immediately turned to look at the old man. "You always hold me back. Why do you suddenly want to let me go?"

The old man sighed. He took a sip of his wine, then said, "Your body is here, but your mind is always elsewhere. Instead of destroying my bamboo garden, I'd better let you go."

The sword in Ye Ningjie's hand immediately fell to the ground. "Are you ... serious?"

"You've practiced enough. I believe your mind is mature and not easily influenced by emotions," said Duan Feng. He smiled widely.

The pretty girl dropped her knees to the ground. Her eyes looked red. There was surprise and happiness in her eyes. "Thank you! Master, I promise to be a good girl. I will always remember everything you taught me," she said earnestly.

Duan Feng nodded in satisfaction. The old man waved his hand, inviting the girl student to come closer. "Come here...."

Ye Ningjie immediately stood up, then stepped closer to her teacher. The old man patted the rock beside him, asking her to sit there.

"What do you want to say, Master?" Ye Ningjie asked after sitting there.

"How old are you now?"

"Eighteen."

The old man nodded, then handed her a jug of wine. She hesitated to accept the gift. "For me?"

"Drink! Don't you often steal wine from my cellar secretly?"

Ye Ningjie's face immediately turned red. All this time the old man had always forbidden her to get drunk or just drink wine. The old man would get angry and grumble if she was caught drinking alcohol. Duan Feng said she was still young so it wasn't enough to drink liquor.

However, she was not an obedient girl. Sometimes she stole wine for her pleasure. It seemed that Duan Feng had always counted the number of jars so he knew how it was decreasing one after another.

"I …."

"From now on I will release you. You can drink wine and even vomit and die."

"Master …." Ye Ningjie protested her teacher's words.

The old man laughed loudly. "I mean, I won't limit you anymore. Once you get out of this place, your life is yours."

"Why does it sound like you don't think of me as a student anymore?" Ye Ningjie asked as she opened the lid of the jar. Inhaled the aroma of the wine, then tasted it a little. It still feels the same as usual.

"You, no matter what the circumstances, are still my only student." Duan Feng looked at his disciple with a gentle look in his eyes. "Go! Get justice for your family. Save your sisters!"

Ye Ningjie nodded. Her resolve was unanimous. She would descend the mountain, go to the imperial capital and rescue her imprisoned sisters. They're the only family left. Her life will not be calm if she just quietly hides in this secluded place.

"You have to be careful. And you can go tonight."

Ye Ningjie's brow furrowed. "But why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Ever since that bad incident happened a week ago, Duan Feng had always forbidden her to go save her sisters. Even when she was very angry and wanted to throw a tantrum, the old man still insisted on forbidding. Why did the old man suddenly allow it? It even seems a little urgent.

"The sooner the better. Who knows what might happen to your sisters. I just…. don't want you to lose more," the old man said as he looked up at the twilight sky.

"Master, I will definitely come back soon." Ye Ningjie hugged the old man warmly. "I promise I'll be safe."

Duan Feng smiled, rubbing the girl's back. His responsibilities are probably almost done. The daughter of King Ye Tian who had been guarded for ten years finally had to be released.

***

In the evening, Ye Ningjie had already packed everything needed. Apart from clothes, some important notes were also brought. It wasn't her first time going down the mountain, but it would probably be a long time for her.

Duan Feng was already waiting for her at the door. The old man was holding a paper package that smelled good. "You haven't had dinner yet. So take this."

Ye Ningjie happily accepted it. It was her favorite osmanthus cake. Duan Feng must have made it up on purpose for their farewell.

"Thank you." She smiled sweetly at the old geezer. "Take care of yourself. You'll be lonely here alone."

Duan Feng laughed at that. Most old people are lonely. They have lost loved ones. However, it was not a problem for him.

"Go through the eastern route."

"Why?" Ye Ningjie asked in surprise.

At that moment she suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves from a distance. The voice is not small, it must be a group of people.

"They've finally come," Duan Feng muttered. He quickly pulled Ye Ningjie to the back of the house.

"Master, who do you mean?" Ye Ningjie felt confused and anxious. She ran after her teacher to the backyard. "Is it the imperial people?"

"They might be looking for you. Go! I will hold them back!"

Ye Ningjie finally understood why Duan Feng had urged her to leave all of a sudden. The old man must have expected this to happen. How stupid she was for not thinking this far.

Then, how could she possibly just walk away from her teacher?

"Master, I…." Ye Ningjie became anxious and guilty. She grasped the old man's hand, then pleaded. "Go with me!"

"Girl, don't mind me! I will be fine. Are you doubting my abilities?"

Ye Ningjie bit her lip in doubt. She believed her teacher was not a weak person, but she was nevertheless worried about the old man's safety.

"Hurry up! They will be here soon!" Duan Feng pushed Ye Ningjie away.

"Believe me, I will be fine," Duan Feng said trying to reassure.

Finally, Ye Ningjie nodded. She picked up her sword, then bowed deeply to Duan Feng. This journey would be dangerous. She didn't know when they would meet again, or maybe would never see each other at all.

She gritted her teeth. Immediately she jumped on the horse. Without daring to look back, she left the place she had lived in for years.

"Master, I will always remember your kindness," she muttered quietly. Her eyes glazed over a little.

"Huang Feiyu bastard! You have to make up for everything!"