Spring Winds

Chapter 85: Reunited

"Ehhh? What the heck?" Stepping through the exit, Zhu Na Ran looked around the barren area, devoid of anything other than an old statue that stood in the centre of the room.

Illuminated by the moonlight that shone through the hole in the ceiling, a statue of two figures.

"Where the heck is the treasure?" (A)

Where's the gold, the silver taels, the jade!?" Letting go of her senior sister's hand, Zhu Na Ran ran around the room, her sharp eyes searching for anything that gleamed or glimmered. "Senior Sister, help me look!

Two sets of eyes are better than one!" ( ^)

Unfortunately for her, no matter how much she scrutinised the stone chamber, all that lay around her were unassuming rocks and dust.

"Aiyah was there any treasure really here, to begin with?!" (`A;)

"Hah, you're still going on about that treasure?"

"Yes! ()

That legend of treasure must've come from somewhere! It couldn't have been made up."

"Hmph, you'd be surprised, Junior Sister."

Zhu Na Ran could hear her senior sister let out a tired sigh. The kind that a parent would use when trying to argue with a determined and stubborn child.

'Hmph, fine. ()

I guess when I find it, the treasure will just belong to me then!' (#)

"Junior Sister, there's nothing else in this room, except for this statue."

"Ah, yes, yes!" Why didn't she think of that sooner! She was too excited that she forgot about the key point of this room, the statue!

This mysterious stone statue must be tied to the tomb's secrets or treasure, somehow!

Rushing over the stone statue, her treasure-seeking eyes, scanned the figure up and down as she paced around it from all angles.

"Hmm, although, this statue looks rather plain," she muttered as she stopped right in front of it.

"It just looks like a memorial figure of Wan Li and Yao Mei."

Looking up at the simple statue, one wouldn't think too much about it. It was crude in nature as the years had done a number on the stone figure.

However, even so, one could see the love that still faintly radiated from it, as it depicted Wan Li jumping into Yao Mei's awaiting arms.

Although the faces became weathered away, and a little unclear, the pure smiles of joy written on both their faces remained ever-present.

'Hmm, I suppose someone wanted to give them a happier ending with this piece.'

"Reunion of lovebirds," Ye Lian Hua read from the small stone tablet that rested at the base of the statue. "What a fitting name."

"Em," Zhu Na Ran nodded as she noticed that the tips of their clothes seemed to fly up and shape themselves as wings with one on each girl. 'Hmm, it really does look like a bird.'

However, that could just be her reading into this too much.

"Anyways, enough of this," her senior sister broke the silence between them. "Let's get out of here." Pulling out her sword, the silver blade quickly lowered itself to the ground; waiting for the pair to board it.

"We can't have the other's wait any longer."

"Herm," she pouted, feeling disappointed that she went through all of this trouble only to come out empty-handed. "Fine." (.) *sniff*

'I can't believe that there was no treasure! (.

This auntie feels robbed and deceived!' ^

However, before she could board the craft, a distinct crumbing noise could be heard. Followed by the be loathed plum blossom scent!

"Ughhh, what!" Squinting through her watering eyes, she could clearly see the statute of the two lovers crumbling! "What the heck?!" ('';)

"What did you do?"

'Wha-! Why is Senior Sister looking at me as if I caused this?!' `

"Why do you think that I did something? (#_

I didn't even touch it!"

'Aiyah, why does Senior Sister look like she doesn't believe me!

Ah, this auntie has been wronged!

Wronged, I say!' (A)

More and more, the chunks of rock broke off from each other like a shell, releasing more of that nauseating plum blossom perfume in the process.

"Ughhh, I thought we were done with this!" ( )

'No more! I think I'm going to puke just from the mere thought of plum blossoms!'

Her senior sister tried to haul her onto her blade to escape the perfume once more. However, it was too late!

Her body was already feeling drowsy with sleep, and her senses grew numb like before; lulling her back into a deep slumber.

'Aiyah, here we go again' (.

---

'Huh? (_`)

Well, this is new'

Standing in a grassy field, the tall soft grass roared like the ocean as the wind blew past her ear. As far as the eyes could see, it was rolling green waves of grass.

However, an outlier stuck out to her, as the dark pink tops of a blossom tree stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Hmm, I wonder if that's where I need to go," she muttered out loud as she looked around one more time. As if expecting the tea house to pop out once more.

'I guess this is not another play.'

Trying to take hold of her loose hair, Zhu Na Ran gathered her hair in her hands and tried to tuck them behind her ear, but to no avail.

"Aiyah, I really need to get a new ribbon.

This is much too annoying!" (#)

Tying her hair into a knot, she knew that she would suffer the consequence of such later; however, the wind was too annoying for her to care about that.

Though she had to admit, this breeze is perfect for kite flying.

'Spring is upon us,' she thought as she started to venture towards the tree.

Marching towards the tree, the wind seemed to be not so subtly, pushing her towards it.

'I'm going; I'm going!

You don't need to push, ah!'(^)

Nearly stumbling her way to the plum blossom tree, peering through the grass, she could see that she wasn't alone. In fact, that man that broke the news to Yao Mei was there!

Before she could wonder why this man, whom she learned before was named Su Jian, was here. Su Jian quickly answered her question albeit, not directly at her.

In this world was still just a mere reflection of the past after all.

However, she didn't remember this scene in the play. 'Could this be extra scenes?' ()

"Ah Li," the man called out as he placed some flowers at the girl's simple stone tablet. "I've told your Ah Mei what had happened to you.

But, I still don't understand why you did do it?

Why didn't you tell her, or ask me for help?"

'That's what I wanna know! Wan Li's death just came so sudden and seemed so pointless other than shock value.

Aiyah, too sad, much too sad!' ( ;;)

Alas, the tablet couldn't respond, and the dead would never speak again.

Suddenly a large gust of wind blew past them and shook the fragile petals from their branch; creating a shower of light pink blossoms to fall upon them.

Su Jian looked up at the falling petals with a strange look in his eye as a blossom fell into his palm. "Ah Li, even if you had someone else in your heart, it wouldn't have mattered.

Even if you never love me, I'd rather have you by my side. At least then, I could be selfish as to have you as my one and only wife in this lifetime."

'Whattttt!?' ()

Zhu Na Ran knew that Su Jian was close to Wan Li somehow, but not like this! 'Damn, this poor guy!

What are you thinking? Falling for a lily

It's like you like to be hurt, ah.' ( )

Of course, she knew that Su Jian had no way of knowing as Wan Li kept this side of herself deep within her heart. The only time she would reveal her true self was when she was by Yao Mei's side.

"Was it really so bad to marry me?

You'd rather go to the Yellow Springs[1] than be with me?"

'OH, MY GODS!' ('';)

Zhu Na Ran had to hold her jaw to prevent it from dropping to the floor. Although, even then, she was sure that her jaw wouldn't reattach after such a shock.

'Aiyah, so Wan Li really rather die than marry this guy?

Hah, too pitiful.

For such a smart and compassionate girl, how could she do this to Yao Mei?

And I even kind of feel bad for this guy. His fiancee would rather die than marry him. That must've done something to his esteem.'

However, Zhu Na Ran thought it was out of character for Wan Li to do such a thing. Perhaps her father really forced her to a position in which death was better than continuing to live.

As for what that was, perhaps she would never know.

'Aiyah,' Zhu Na Ran sighed as she shook her head. 'Either way, this really is deserving of the title of 'Tragedy of the Century.''

The scene faded away another gust of wind blew by. The blossoms were no longer there as they were replaced by lush green leaves, which cast a cool shade onto the green grass.

Under the green tree, Wan Li, dressed in white with a simple cape over her shoulders. Sitting in silence, a wooden lunch box by her side, Wan Li looked as if she were waiting for someone to appear.

"Sigh," Wan Li huffed softly as she brushed the grass from the edge of her skirt. "When is that girl coming?"

"You freaking idiot!"

'Eh?!' ()

Zhu Na Ran and Wan Li looked up in shock as a rather angry Yao Mei marched over to them.

'Ehhhh?! ( A) OMG!!

What the heck is going on?!'

Standing up, Wan Li looked as if she wanted to explain herself to Yao Mei. Her face switched from joy, guilt, and relief as Yao Mei came closer into view.

"Ah Me-"

However, before Wan Li could speak any more, Yao Mei swiftly pulled Wan Li into her embrace and kissed her!

[1] Yellow Springs - In texts and poetry of ancient China, the Yellow Springs refers to the subterranean realm of the dead and was thus "the imagined location of innumerable graves."