The horse's carriage stopped on a dirt road and the three friends got out of the carriage. They grabbed their personal belongings from the carriage. Guo Baiyu paid the driver and the three friends looked up at the mountain' trail.
Zhao Renshu, "We have to walk the rest of the way."
Guo Baiyu, "How far?"
Zhao Renshu, "About a half of hour."
GuoBaiyu, "It's better be worth it."
Zhao Renshu promised, "It will."
The three friends carried their personal belongings on their backs, and then went up the mountain along the narrow path. The scenery is very colorful. There are red, blue, yellow, pink and white flowers everywhere. There are tall trees on both sides of the narrow path. If they did not know that there is a house here, they would think it is just an ordinary mountain area thay is inhabitable. On the journey up the mountain, about thirty minutes, they reached a tall tree in the middle of the mountainside. Zhao Renshu stopped.
Zhao Renshu, "We are here." He was very excited.
Ping'an and Guo Baiyu looked at each other.
Ping'an, "Renshu, this is just a tree?"
Zhao Renshu, "That's because you haven't entered yet."
Ping'an, "I don't see a door."
Zhao Renshu smiled at Ping'an, "Don't be so surprised, I'm not crazy." Zhao Renshu placed a talisman on the tree. He close his eyes and said, "Open."
Suddenly, the tall tree slowly slid to the left, and there was a path inside the mountain. They heard running water and birds chirping. Zhao Renshu step into the platform first.
Zhao Renshu looked back at the two friends who were still standing outside the door, "What are you two waiting for?" He smirked at them. "Welcome!"
Zhao Renshu led the way down the four steps onto a small walkway. It was neatly clean, it didn't look as deserted as Ping'an and Gou Baiyu imagined.
There are small white stones beside the path leading to the open area. On the right is a large pond with a small pavilion built into the pond, and a small waterfall flows into the pond from the mountainside. Many peach trees are surrounded the waterfall and pond. It is magnificently beautiful.
When the three friends get closer to the house, they saw a large open area with a big table.
Zhao Renshu, "Here we are. Welcome to my humble home."
Ping'an, "You live here?" She was surprised. She had never seen anything so beautiful. The top open blue sky and beautiful peach blossom trees. Whenever the wind blows over the peach blossom trees, the fragrance of the peach blossom fills the open area with the aroma of peach.
Zhao Renshu, "Yep." He smiled. "Told you, you will like it here."
Ping'an, "Can I really live here?"
Zhao Renshu, "You can live here as long as you want. There is only two of us here." He paused, then he corrected himself. "The other person is not counted because he is not a human being. He is the spirit who guards the Spirits Cave."
Guo Baiyu and Ping'an gave Zhao Renshu a confusing expression.
Zhao Renshu, "This is a bit complicated. I'll explain when we settle down." He took his left thumb and started scratching his chin. This is a diehard habit. Whenever he gets excited or thinks deeply, he will scratch his chin with his thumb. "Anyway, I will show you two around."
The three friends threw their belongings on the table. Guo Baiyu and Ping An followed Zhao Renshu. Zhao Renshu showed them around. This is a very simple setup. On the left side near the pond is the kitchen with only the roof and three walls. Then there is a dining table in the middle. Behind the kitchen is the bathroom. There are two bamboo sheds on the right. One is larger than the other.
Zhao Renshu, "The first one there belong to my deceased master. The other one is my bedroom." He pointed to two bamboo sheds. "Ping'an, if you don't mind, you can take my master bedroom. Are you scare?" He joked.
Ping'an, "After all I've seen, I don't believe a room will scare me."
Zhao Renshu, "You will share the room with me." He puts his left arm around Guo Baiyu's shoulder.
They return to the dining table and grabbed their belonging. Ping 'an walked to the first shed. Guo Baiyu followed Zhao Renshu to his bedroom.
Ping'an opened the door to the first bamboo shed. Everything is very clean. It looks like someone is cleaning it every day. When she put her bag on the table, a knock on the door startled Ping'an. She turned and opened the door. Zhao Renshu held a bucket of water in his right hand. In his left hand, he is holding four towels and a feather dust.
Zhao Renshu, "Here, you have to clean it up yourself. Sorry, I haven't returned for three years. Everything is a little messy."
Ping'an, "It looks very clean. I don't think I need to clean it anymore. I should be the one saying sorry and also thank you."
Zhao Renshu, "Nay... I always hope that someone will live here with me. The spirit and I are not in very good term. Other than protecting the spirit cave, taken cases, and collecting money, the old man is not allow to go anywhere..... Yeah, I'll explain it later since you going to be living here."
Ping'an, "I haven't decided yet."
Zhao Renshu said seriously, "Why would you be his personal maid? When you can stand equal next to me."
Ping'an, "How is Baiyu?"
Zhao Renshu exhaled he knew Ping'an tried to change the subject, "He is fine, he is cleaning."
Ping'an, "Why are you not helping him clean?"
Zhao Renshu, "I told him I will catch some fish for dinner. He cleans up and I will cook."
Before Ping'an could say more, he quickly walked out of the door and head toward the pond.
After Ping'an finished unpacking, she walked into the kitchen. Zhao Renshu is nowhere to be found. She saw three fishes, four peaches and a small amount of water spinach on the table. She looked around in the kitchen and found a big wooden barrel. When she opened the bucket, there was rice inside. She began to cook dinner. After an hour later, she put three grilled fishes and a plate of fried water spinach on the table. When she began to peel the white peaches, she heard the quarrel between Zhao Renshu and Gou Baiyu in the distance.
Guo Baiyu, "I told you that we need a better way to bring the deer back."
Zhao Renshu, "This is fine. I am not complaining. Why are you complaining? You are not the one who soaked in blood?"
Guo Baiyu, "Look at how nasty you look right now? Soaked in blood, and you smell like blood."
Zhao Renshu grimed, "Well, young master Guo, I didn't grow up in a mansion. I don't have servants who will do everything for me. I have the sky as my blanket and ground as my bed. I can eat and sleep anywhere."
Guo Baiyu, "There is no point of auguring with you. Your annoying arrogance is to the point that it is unfixable. Your lips is faster than your brain."
Zhao Renshu interrupted and said, "I'm not a scholar of poetry. Am I?" He mocked Guo Baiyu. When he saw Guo Baiyu walk farther and leave him behind carrying the deer all by alone. He felt that the deer was getting heavier. "Hey.... Hey... Come back and help me... No venison for you tonight.... Hey... come back...." He shouted to Guo Baiyu. He murmured to himself, "Fuck."
Guo Baiyu shook his head and continued to walk farther and farther away from Zhao Renshu. Guo Baiyu went to the kitchen first.
Ping'an knew from the expression on Guo Baiyu's face that Zhao Renshu definitely make him angry. She poured him a cup of tea to calm himself down. Guo Baiyu sat drinking the tea. Ping'an's heart beat fast and faster, while staring at Guo Baiyu. His handsome white flawless face. His slightly pink lips. His silky black hair was neatly combed, and up tied with a piece of white jade in the front. No matter how she looks at him. He is perfect in every way. When they first met, she didn't realize how handsome he was. When they were sitting across from each other, she looked at him, and then she realized that anyone who married him would be lucky.
Ping'an, "Renshu makes you angry again?"
Guo Baiyu nodded.
Ping'an, "Don't take it to heart. He don't think before he speak. Is not like you don't know him, but that is what make him special. He don't have any bad intention. He is a free spirit, roaming the world on his own term." Ping'an chuckled.
Zhao Renshu dropped the dead deer on the ground and a loud thump on the floor made Guo Baiyu and Ping'an and Baiyu stared at him. He was covered with blood from his shoulders to his shoes. They could see the strong smell of blood from Zhao Renshu. He walked into the kitchen, took out a knife, and then began to skin the deer.
Ping'an, "Can you wash your hands and eat first?"
Zhao Renshu, "Why? You two look great together sitting there. Why don't you two enjoy your meal?" He was not looking at them, but continued to skin the deerskin. "These will make great glove in the winter." He completely ignored Ping'an and Guo Baiyu completely.
Guo Baiyu had always been a calm person, but at this time his blood was boiling in his body. He felt his heart beat faster and faster. He felt his chest will burst at any giving minute. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists to suppress his anger. He didn't know what was wrong with him. Since knowing Ping'an, he has a strong sense of protection for her. This is the second time he is angry with someone. He exhaled and decided to be the better person.
Guo Baiyu, "Ignore him." He picked up his chopsticks. He chose some food and puts it on Ping'an's blow of rice. "Let's eat first. Keep your eyes on me. Let us adults talk and let the child roam the world on his own term."
Zhao Renshu, "Who are you calling child?" Zhao Renshu stood up angrily, shouted angrily, and pointed the bloody kitchen knife at Guo Baiyu.
Then the two began to argue again. Anywhere from names calling, pointing fingers at each other's face, who was better than who, etc.... Ping'an could not help but start laughing. Her laughter stopped the two people from yelling at each other and focused their attention on her.
Guo Baiyu, "What is so funny?"
Zhao Renshu, "Yeah, what is so funny?"
Now, the two people who once at each other's throat are teaming up against Ping'an.
Ping'an is still laughing to the point she almost choked on her food. She cleared her throat and said, "You two look so cute together. I have to laugh."
Hearing her laugh somehow made them forget what they were fighting for in the first place.
Ping'an smiled, "Then you go wash your hands and eat, and I will help you with that." She pointed to the half-skin deer on the kitchen floor.
Zhao Renshu threw his knife on the floor beside to the deer. He walked to the bathroom. Ping'an followed him to the bathroom. She grabbed the wooded pitcher, took some water, and then slowly poured the water onto Zhao Renshu's hands.
Ping'an, "No wonder Baiyu is angry...you are completely soaked in blood...after we skinned the deerskin, you need to take a bath."
Zhao Renshu seduced, "Should we take a bath together?"
Ping'an, "Stop your nonsense."
Zhao Renshu was being silly, "I'm telling the truth. Down there..." he pointed to the pond. "We can take a bath there. Taking a bath in the pond is much cleaner than here. Sitting on the rocks and sunbathing is really a wonderful feeling. We can also swim naked... you don't have to be shy, because no one will care, it will be only the two of us." He studies Ping'an's expression.
Ping'an did not make eye contact with him, "Uh...huh..." She dropped the wooden pitcher back into the large ceramic water pot.
Zhao Renshu gave Ping'an a dirty flirty expression, "Unless..."
Ping'an, "Unless what?" She turned around.
With a flirty smirked on his face, Zhao Renshu said, "Unless you want the three of us to take a bath together."
Ping'an remained calm, "I am not falling for it."
Zhao Renshu, "Let us bet. If he agrees, we will take a bath together."
Ping'an, "Deal." Ping'an knew deeply inside her heart that she will not lose, because Guo Baiyu is a gentleman and he will never agree to swim naked.