Chapter 68 One Hundred Blossom Trees

Standing on Peach Blossom Mountain, overlooking Cloud City below; the morning fog made it difficult to see the small city. The spring breeze was blowing, Fang Yaoting turned to look at Yang Bao and Guozhao Zhiqiang.

Fang Yaoting pointed to the big river below and he said, "Before dinner, each of you need to water one hundred blossom trees, and then go home after the task is completed to have dinner. Remember, you must water your own trees."

As soon as Yang Bao turned left, he could see a small waterfall flowing down from the side of the mountain. He wondered why they needed to fetch water all the way from the main river.

Fang Yaoting looked at Yang Bao and said, "Shan is watching." With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked down the hillside.

Yang Bao looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang and asked, "Shan? Who is Shan?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "I don't know."

Shan said coldly behind Yang Bao, "I am Shan." Yan Bao quickly turned to face Shan. "You are?"

Shan said coldly, "I'm here to watch you do your task. It's best to hurry up because time doesn't wait for you."

Yang Bao grabbed the two buckets with both hands and found that the two buckets were heavier than the ordinary buckets he used to carry water at Dragon Inn. He quickly limped behind Guozhao Zhiqiang.

Yang Bao walked at the fastest speed, but when he was halfway down the trail, Guozhao Zhiqiang was already walking up with his first buckets of water. Yang Bao walked to the river and filled two buckets with water. It was heavy when he tried to pick up the two buckets. How on earth is he going to water a hundred blossom trees, he wondered. He slowly carried two buckets up the mountain trail.

At noon, they saw Ping'an come up and put a basket on the ground. Ping'an looked at the two young people and said, "Let's rest for lunch first." She walked away.

Yang Bao slowly sat down beside Guozhao Zhiqiang. He found that this young man, who should be his senior brother, didn't like to talk. From knowing each other for a month to now, he has spoken to Yang Bao no more than ten words. Also, because of Guozhao Zhiqiang's appearance, Yang Bao wondered if Guozhao Zhiqiang would understand their language.

Guozhao Zhiqiang picked up the basket, grabbed a bowl of food and handed it to Yang Bao. Guozhao Zhiqiang started to eat.

Yang Bao watched Guozhao Zhiqiang closely, and suddenly said, "Senior brother, what do you like to eat? I am good at cooking." He looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, but Guozhao Zhiqiang didn't even look at him, Guozhao Zhiqiang continued to eat as if whatever Yang Bao had said to him, he didn't listen and didn't care.

Yang Bao knows that many people view him differently due to his disability, and this is not the first time he has been rejected when making friends or adjusting. He eats his food slowly, watching the hot summer sun. He said to himself, "The sun will go down in four hours."

Guozhao Zhiqiang put the bowl down in the basket and poured himself a cup of water. Guozhao Zhiqiang finished drinking, put the empty bowl back in the basket, and stood up. He looked down at Yang Bao and said, "Let's hurry up." He stared at Yang Bao coldly. He grabbed his two buckets and walked down the trail.

Yang Bao hurriedly finished his lunch, put the empty bowl into the basket, and grabbed his two buckets. Halfway down the trail, Guozhao Zhiqiang had brought up the two full buckets of water.

When the sun went down, he had only watered thirty-five blossom trees. It was already dark, he still went down the mountain, and saw Guozhao Zhiqiang coming up with his two buckets. He was exhausted, but he would not give up.

Yang Bao asked, "Senior brother, how many trees have you watered?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang walked past Yang Bao and did not answer Yang Bao's question. Yang Bao watched Guozhao Zhiqiang disappear from the mountain trail. Yang Bao walked up the mountain road, he did not see Guozhao Zhiqiang, but instead he saw Shan standing in the middle of the mountain trail.

Yang Bao asked, "Shan, where is senior brother?"

Shan said coldly, "He is inside Peach Blossom Valley, having dinner with the three masters."

Yang Bao muttered, "He watered one hundred blossom trees already?"

Shan said, "And you, my friend, have seventy-five trees to go."

Yang Bao frowned, "No wonder you look down on me...I'm so useless..."

Fang Yaoting walked slowly towards Yang Bao. Fang Yaoting said coldly, "If you don't want others to look down on you, then you should strengthen your game." He threw a bun to Yang Bao. "Your dinner." He started walking away. "Once you get to the top, do horse stance until morning."

Yang Bao frowned sadly, "Yes, third master."

Yang Bao has tried his best, but after two months, he still cannot water a hundred blossom trees before sunset. On the other hand, he noticed that Guozhao Zhiqiang has improved significantly. Every day, Guozhao Zhiqiang can complete the task before sunset.

Early in the morning, Yang Bao woke up and found two red eggs beside the bed. He sat up happily, holding the two red eggs in his hands. He didn't want to cry, but tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. No one has given him red eggs since his parents died.

Guozhao Zhiqiang stared at Yang Bao who was holding two red eggs and cried silently across from him. He asked, "Is it your birthday today?

Yang Bao quickly wiped away his tears and said, "Yes..."

Guozhao Zhiqiang stood up and said, "Happy birthday." Before Yang Bao could thank him, he walked out of the room.

By noon that day, Yang Bao had only watered six trees, and Guozhao Zhiqiang had almost finished watering his one hundred trees.

Just as Yang Bao was walking down the path out of breath, he met Guozhao Zhiqiang. Guozhao Zhiqiang said coldly, "It's better to water your hundred trees before sunset, unless you can't have your birthday dinner with us."

Yang Bao turned around quickly and looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang's back. He shouted, "Senior brother, is there a dinner party for me?" Guozhao Zhiqiang didn't answered or turned back to looked at Yang Bao. "Senior brother!"

Standing behind Yang Bao, Shan said coldly, "There is a dinner party for you, but if you haven't completed the task, you can eat the cold bun prepared by Master Fang. Today is your birthday, it doesn't mean you will get special treatment." Shan sneered at Yang Bao. "If you want to have dinner with each other on your birthday, hurry up."

Yang Bao was so focus on watering his one hundred trees, and before he knew it, he had already watered the last two trees. He smiled happily, "This will be the last time to go up this mountain." Even his legs were sore, but he rushed up the path quickly. "Even if I had to climb the trail, I will make it to dinner tonight."

After watering the last two trees, Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Yang Bao and said, "Let's go to dinner."

The two brothers walked to Peach Blossom Valley but saw Fang Yaoting standing in the middle of the empty yard. Shan stood beside Fang Yaoting. Fang Yaoting looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang and then at Yang Bao. He said, "Shan, pay attention to Zhiqiang when he does the horse stance, and he can't eat and drink until this time the next day."

Shan politely said, "Yes, Master Fang."

Fang Yaoting did not look at Yang Bao but looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang coldly. He said, "Do you know what you did wrong?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Yes, I know what I did wrong."

The dinner table was full, but Yang Bao had no appetite at all. After all, he wanted to celebrate his birthday with everyone, even though, Guozhao Zhiqiang didn't talk much to him, but deep down, he admired Guozhao Zhiqiang immensely. While eating, he wanted to ask what Guozhao Zhiqiang had done wrong, but he was afraid that his doubt will only bring more trouble to Guozhao Zhiqiang.

That night, Yang Bao couldn't sleep, and when he walked to the bathroom, he saw Shan standing beside Guozhao Zhiqiang. Shan said, "Why did you do this? Do you think Master Fang wouldn't know?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "I took a chance."

Shan said, "Zhiqiang, everything you do in this mountain can't escape my eyes."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "I know."

Shan asked, "If you know why you're still doing it?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "It's his birthday today."

Shan scoffed, "So, this doesn't mean you can disobey Master Fang's order, Master Fang's order is very clear, you must water your one hundred blossom trees before dinner, and he didn't even notice that you helped him water half of his."

Yang Bao murmured, "He helped me?"