The Bamboo Basket

The only school in Cloud City was very small, with only twenty students. The age of these students ranged from ten to seventeen years old. There were eleven boys and nine girls. There were two rows of seats in the classroom. Female students sat on one side and male students sat on the other side. The school started at eight o'clock in the morning and ended at two o'clock in the afternoon.

Lee Dachin had been teaching at Cloud City for nearly a year. His students loved him, and his students' parents loved him too, grateful for his dedication. He was happy that Fang Yaoting had acquired another place to build the school. When the people realized that he was building a school, they came out to help him build the school. The land deed belonged to him and was paid for by Fang Yaoting, but the townspeople provided labor for free, a true community effort.

After Lee Dachin closed his textbooks, he looked at the students. "Does anyone have any questions?" he asked.

A male student raised his hand. "Teacher Lee, I know that this is out of subject, but how can one become a great hunter that both humans and spirit fear?"

"Hunter is just a title," Lee Dachin replied, thoughtfully. "If you take the title away, the hunter is still a person. The truth about becoming a great hunter depends on who you want to be. To be awed by others has two different meanings. Humans or spirt, they don't fear power?"

"What are they afraid of?" the male student asked, intrigued.

"Whether it is a spirit or human, the person they fear most is the kindest hunter, not the most powerful hunter," Lee Dachin explained, echoing the Guozhao philosophy.

The students nodded, pondering his words.

"Can a woman become a hunter?" a female student asked bravely.

"Yes, women can be great hunters," Lee Dachin affirmed. "For example, 'Red Moon Hunters' and 'The Twin Butterfly Hunters'—they are all female hunters." Lee Dachin paused. "Any more questions?"

Another female student asked, "Teacher Lee, why doesn't the Guozhao Hunters have a sector?"

"Very good question," Lee Dachin replied. "I have no answer. I can only say that everyone has their own way of life. Some hunters just want to live peacefully and quietly, while some hunters want fame and fortune."

The female student said sadly, "I wish they had a sector. If they did, I will definitely join them."

"I want to study medicine!" a male student shouted. "I heard from other hunters dining in our Inn, one of the Guozhao hunters is very good at medicine."

Another male student shouted bravely, "I want to learn sword!"

The students chatted loudly in the classroom, excited about their futures.

"Well, if I happen to meet them," Lee Dachin said, a twinkle in his eye, "I will ask them why, and I would suggest them to teach in Cloud City." When his students cheered loudly, he laughed, enjoying their enthusiasm.

Lee Dachin smiled and shook his head. Then he heard soft footsteps walking towards the door. He turned around, and Fang Yaoting stood at the door with a smile, waiting for him to dismiss his class.

Lee Dachin said to his students, "Students, everyone had a great summer vacation. I will see you this fall. Remember to tell your parents that you love them."

The male students shook their heads, a typically boyish reaction, and the female students nodded, more openly affectionate. The students packed up their belongings and walked towards the door of the classroom.

Xiao Mei and Guozhao Zhaohui were worried when they saw Fang Yaoting, knowing his strictness.

Xiao Mei held Fang Yaoting's right hand, "Third master, please don't punish."

"If he is late, he will be punished," Fang Yaoting said, teasingly stern.

Xiao Mei's expression suddenly changed to one of panic, fearing for Guozhao Zhiqiang.

"Yaoting, have you forgotten?" Lee Dachin interjected, coming to Guozhao Zhiqiang's rescue. "Today is Zhiqiang's birthday."

"It's been a year?" Fang Yaoting asked, surprised at how fast time had flown.

"I think Ping'an and everyone else will come down," Lee Dachin said. He turned to the two children. "Let's pack up and go home. Where is Bolin?"

"He is still doing horse stance exercise," Fang Yaoting replied.

When Fang Yaoting locked the school door, the two students and Lee Dachin waited. He and Lee Dachin walked in front, and the two students followed them, heading towards their home.

"Should we buy something to cook at home or eat out?" Lee Dachin asked, planning dinner.

"Let's eat at home," Fang Yaoting suggested, preferring a private meal.

Lee Dachin and Fang Yaoting's home was not luxurious; Lee Dachin had made it clear that he wanted to live a simple life. In addition to agreeing to his lover's request, he could only comply, respecting Lee Dachin's wishes. When they approached the house, they found three people standing outside the residence, waiting.

"Young Master," Ma Tong bowed respectfully, recognizing Fang Yaoting.

"Ah Tong, what are you doing here?" Fang Yaoting asked, surprised by the unexpected visit from his family's head servant.

"Young Master, you have not been home for almost two years," Ma Tong explained, concern in his voice. "Master Fang is very worried about you."

"How about we talk inside?" Lee Dachin offered, a polite smile on his face. "Please come in, Senior Ma."

The three servants followed Fang Yaoting into the house.

"You two go do horse stance with Bolin," Lee Dachin instructed the two junior disciples, excusing them from the adult conversation.

The two children frowned, but they quickly left towards the backyard, knowing better than to disobey.

The five people were now in the living room. Fang Yaoting sat opposite Ma Tong. As Lee Dachin observed, Ma Tong must have a high position in the Fang family because he sat while the two other servants stood behind him, a mark of respect.

"Speak your business," Fang Yaoting commanded, his tone formal.

"Young master, Master Fang wants me to check on your well-being and wants to know when you will go home," Ma Tong stated.

"Not sure yet. Why are you here?" Fang Yaoting asked, sensing there was more to the visit.

Ma Tong looked at the two servants. One servant dropped a long bamboo basket on the floor with a soft thud. The servant opened the top cover, and there were about fifty paintings neatly stored in the basket. The servant reached into the opening of the bamboo basket and pulled out a painting. Then he handed the painting to another servant, who slowly rolled down the painted scroll, revealing its content.

This painting was of a beautiful young lady sitting on a table playing a guzheng, her features delicate and refined.

"This is Lady Li, daughter of a high-ranking officer. She is seventeen years old," Ma Tong announced, a subtle smile on his face as he looked at Fang Yaoting, clearly presenting her as a potential bride.

Lee Dachin immediately understood Ma Tong's true purpose: he was here to introduce a wife for Fang Yaoting. His heart clenched with a familiar ache, knowing that the due date of their love, so desperately feared, would inevitably arrive.

"It might take some time to go through all these paintings," Lee Dachin said, making an excuse. "I'm going to make tea." He stood up and walked about three steps towards the kitchen.

"Dachin, stop there," Fang Yaoting commanded, his voice firm.

Lee Dachin turned around and shook his head, a silent plea to Fang Yaoting not to escalate the situation.

Fang Yaoting, however, ignored the warning. He got up and picked up the painting, rolled it up, and put it back into the bamboo basket. He turned to Ma Tong, his expression resolute. "I have already chosen."

Ma Tong's face brightened with a smile, clearly anticipating good news. "Really? Who is it? May I let Master Fang know?"

Fang Yaoting held Lee Dachin's right hand, interlacing their fingers. "This is him. You go tell father that."

Ma Tong's smile vanished. He shook his head, bewildered. "Young master, are you serious?"

"I'm serious about this," Fang Yaoting said firmly, his eyes locking with Lee Dachin's, a loving smile on his face. "Tell my father I want to marry this man."

Ma Tong, still reeling, stammered, "Young master, can you reconsider?"

Fang Yaoting became very angry, his patience running thin. Lee Dachin, sensing the rising tension, shook his head at Ma Tong again, warning him to back off.

Ma Tong, a servant for more than fifty years, understood Lee Dachin's silent signal. It showed that now was not the right time to put more pressure on Fang Yaoting. He quickly bowed. "I will report to Master Fang. We will rest at Dragon Inn, and I will return to Capital City tomorrow."

"Tell my father not to choose a wife for me," Fang Yaoting added, a final, defiant statement. "I'm not interested."

"Good day, young master. Good day, this childe," Ma Tong said, bowing to both of them. Ma Tong and the two servants left the living room, heading towards the front door.

"I'm going to prepare a meal," Lee Dachin said, trying to diffuse the tension and return to normalcy.

Fang Yaoting wrapped his arms around Lee Dachin from behind, holding him tightly. "Dachin, don't be sad. I won't marry anyone else except you."

"I don't want you to fight your father because of me," Lee Dachin said, his voice soft but worried. "I don't want another Baiyu in my life."

"Why do you say that?" Fang Yaoting asked, surprised. "As far as I know, Baiyu is very happy with his life."

"I am not mad," Lee Dachin clarified. "I want to reason with you."

Fang Yaoting kissed Lee Dachin on his cheek, teasing him gently. "Have I ever told you how cute you look when you are shy or serious?" He kissed Lee Dachin on the neck again. "I want..."

"No..." Lee Dachin protested, laughing softly.

"Yaoting, just picked him up and carry him to bed!" Zhao Renshu laughed from behind, enjoying their private moment.

"Don't worry about meals," Guo Baiyu added. "Ping'an will cook tonight."

The two lovers turned around, startled, to find their friends and their two senior students standing there, having walked in unnoticed.

When Fang Yaoting saw Guozhao Zhiqiang, his facial expression instantly changed from affectionate to stern. "You go do horse stance with your juniors until dinner is ready," he commanded, his "third master" persona returning.

"Ah Bao helps me in the kitchen," Ping'an said, directing Yang Bao.

"Yes, Shimu," Yang Bao replied respectfully. He gently patted the shoulder of Guozhao Zhiqiang, a silent commiseration, and quickly followed Ping'an into the kitchen.