Chapter 27: Sworn Brotherhood

Ahead, there stood a thatched cottage. Beside it, a wooden fence enclosed a small yard where chickens, ducks, and geese were kept. Further to the left lay a vegetable garden.

Chi Mu gazed at this sanctuary hidden deep within the mountains and exchanged a glance with Fu Ningli before speaking to the farm woman, "We apologize for trespassing and disturbing you."

"Since you have arrived, come inside and have a cup of tea before you go."

The farm woman ignored the chicken that had just escaped and led them into the cottage. Inside sat an ancient wooden table, topped with a set of purple clay teapots—a set worth an entire village.

The woman poured water for them. Fu Ningli turned his teacup in his hand but did not drink. Chi Mu, however, took a small sip, and her eyes lit up instantly. She stared intently at the clear water in the cup and asked, "Is this natural sacred water?"

"What sacred water? I don't know how to brew tea; I just scoop it from the river. Look, that river right in front of the door. It's exceptionally clear. I drink it all the time and never get a stomachache, so I felt safe serving it to you."

Upon hearing this, Chi Mu immediately ran outside to the riverbank. She cupped a handful of water to her lips, tasted it, and exclaimed joyfully, "It really is natural sacred water! Grandma's eyes can be cured!" She pulled a glass bottle from her bag and began to fill it.

Fu Ningli followed her closely. "This water can cure my grandmother's eyes?"

"Yes. The source of this mountain spring is formed from the dew atop the peaks, nurtured by the mountain ranges as it flows. I haven't seen such pure water in a long time. If I use this as a medicinal base to cleanse her eyes, I can definitely heal her."

The farm woman stood behind them and gave a soft hum. "It’s a good thing I’m here, or this river would have been polluted by the villagers long ago."

After filling the bottle, Chi Mu stood up and thanked her. Seeing that the young woman was well-mannered and knowledgeable, the farm woman couldn't help but chat a bit more. "I see you are young but quite learned—clearing miasma, breaking Eight Trigrams formations, neutralizing hallucinogenic drugs... I wonder, do you know anything about the art of incense?"

"I know a thing or two."

"I have just developed a new incense. Come with me and take a look."

"All right."

Inside the cottage stood a wooden cabinet with ten layers and eighty compartments. One layer was filled with incense-making tools, eight layers held raw materials, and one layer contained the finished products. The farm woman took a jar of incense paste from the finished collection and handed it to Chi Mu. "Try this."

Chi Mu applied a little to the back of her hand and held it to her nose to smell. "The powder is fine, and the scent is sweet without being cloying. If you added a hint of agarwood, it might be even better."

"Agarwood?" The farm woman fell into deep thought. "I felt this paste was missing something. If I add agarwood... that's it! That's it! With agarwood, this paste will be perfect!"

The farm woman was overjoyed. "Little girl, what is your name? I am going to write your name on this incense paste!"

"Sister, I only offered a suggestion, you don't have to—"

"No, I am a professional incense maker; how could I take advantage of you? Since you called me 'sister,' why don't we become sworn sisters today?"

"?"

"I am forty-three this year. You can call me Old Ji. What should I call you, sister?"

"Little Chi."

"Good!"

The farm woman pulled Chi Mu to her knees and swore to the heavens, "Great Heaven and Earth, Sun and Moon, I, Ji Yanquing..." She paused, looking at Chi Mu.

Chi Mu braced herself and continued, "I, Chi Mu..."

Then, they spoke in unison, "Swear in these Ghost Mountains to be sisters. From this life forward, we share honor and disgrace. With sincere hearts, heaven as our witness, we shall never waver!"

The ceremony was complete. Ji Yanquing produced an incense plaque and handed it to Chi Mu. "The new product is ready, and I will be leaving the mountains tomorrow. In the future, if you come to the capital—whether you go to the Ji family or the Nangong family—just show this plaque, and someone will contact me."

Chi Mu had no token to give in return, but she had WeChat. She pulled up her QR code. "Old Ji, why don't we scan to add each other?"

Ji Yanquing replied sheepishly, "I don't have a phone."

Chi Mu choked and silently tucked her phone back into her pocket.

As evening fell, the chicken flew back into its coop. Ji Yanquing caught it and gave it to Chi Mu. "This chicken is fat and the meat is tender. Take it back and slaughter it for dinner."

Thus, on the way down the mountain, Fu Ningli carried the chicken, with chicken feathers flying everywhere. Chi Mu studied the incense plaque, reading the inscription aloud: "Madame Nangong, Ji Yanquing."

Fu Ningli’s figure stiffened. "Madame Nangong?"

"You know her?"

"The Nangong family is a prominent clan in the capital. Everyone knows that Madame Nangong, Ji Yanquing, manages the cosmetics sector of the family. She is obsessed with the art of incense and is rarely seen in public."

"You know about affairs in the capital, too?"

"My company operates in the cosmetics industry, so I know a bit about the Nangong family."

"Your business must be quite large, then."

Chi Mu tucked the plaque away and hugged her black bag tightly. "A fruitful day, and I even made a sworn sister. This trip was worth it!"

The hen in Fu Ningli's arms let out a cluck at the perfect moment. Chi Mu beamed, stroked its comb, and laughed, "Heading home! Time to cure Grandma's eyes!"

Halfway down the mountain, seeing Fu Ningli and Chi Mu returning unscathed, Geng Yu let out a long sigh of relief and fell to his knees. "Thank heavens, thank... Miss Chi!"

...

As the sun set, Lu Baihui stewed a whole chicken. A neighbor, Mother Chen, came over with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, laughing as she sat down. "Old Lu, your grandson is truly a fine young man. Is he married?"

"Not yet."

"Look at my son. He's the same age as Ningli, and his kids are already old enough to run errands. Is it because the city girls have too high of a standard that your Ningli can't find a wife?"

Lu Baihui smiled but said nothing.

Mother Chen feigned a sigh. "They say Ningli is smart and good at his studies, but look, he still can't find a wife when he's grown up. Well, it makes sense—Ningli has no father or mother, his leg is lame, and you are blind and can't help him. No girl would want to marry him."

"Actually, our Ningli—"

Mother Chen interrupted Lu Baihui and spoke directly to Fu Ningli. "Ningli, there’s a girl in the next village, five years older than you. She looks alright and is a decent person, though she does have body odor. Shall I arrange a meeting for you tomorrow?"

Fu Ningli didn't answer Mother Chen. Instead, he looked at the woman sitting opposite him. "Sister-in-law, you've been staring at me, and your face is flushed. Are you not feeling well?"

The woman hurriedly looked away, her cheeks turning even redder. Fu Ningli’s face was so devastatingly handsome that it was enough to make any woman's heart race. Mother Chen saw this and glared fiercely at her daughter-in-law.

Chen Gengsheng couldn't hide his embarrassment. Unable to lash out in front of everyone, he sneered, "A man who looks better than a woman—what kind of future could he possibly have?"

"Our Ningli has a very bright future."

Chi Mu returned from washing her hands and sat down beside Fu Ningli, affectionately linking her arm through his. "Mother Chen, I am Ningli’s girlfriend. And sister-in-law, my Ningli is a bit shy, so please don't stare at him so much."

Chi Mu was beautiful, and every movement she made was captivating. Fu Ningli felt his body stiffen slightly as she held his arm. He looked at Chen Gengsheng, who was staring fixedly at Chi Mu, and said in a cold, thin voice, "Chen Gengsheng, is my girlfriend pretty?"