Chapter 22. Sweet peach wine

"Where are we going?" Hatsuki asked in a fastened breath. Her calves were aching, and her ankles were dying, trying to keep up. Kai walked much faster than her after all. 

"To the peach blossom," Kai replied. The panting was so obvious he turned towards Hatsuki, and his steps halted. 'Am I walking too fast?' he thought to himself after all, none of his exes ever had trouble keeping up with his speed. 

'"Oh…okay" She replied while also taking a little break. Her hands were on her knees and her head knelt. Her cheeks were red and her palms were sweaty, after all, she was just a human. 

After a while, Hatsuki finally gathered the strength to straighten her back and although her breath panted, she could also get a clearer look at Kai. He was fairly young, perhaps twenty-one in the human years. He had a silent personality, or so she guessed. 

"Shall we go?" He inquired since he could feel Hatsuki's eyes. 

"Eh, let's go," Hatsuki nodded, and they resumed their walk. This time around Kai walked slower to let Hatsuki be by his side. 

Every now and then, a group of people would walk past them while not a moment there was silence. The medicinal sect was truly lively. 

"This is the nostrum of disciples." Kai introduced the hall dedicated to the disciples who wished to create medicine. It was fairly smaller in comparison to the halls they had just walked by but unlike the others, it was much livelier. 

"While most of us are allowed to create the medications unless we have a report and actual evidence it cannot be sent to the heavens or the earth" He explained. It was the most that Kai had spoken. 

"That's good. There are higher chances of casualties after all" Hatsuki hummed. There was a sweet smell lingering in the air, it was airy and refreshing but she couldn't quite guess it. "...That's true" He agreed although he wished to defend it.

Without any casualty how were they supposed to improve though? Especially since not many signed up for the dummy elixirs. 

Their pace was as slow as a tortoise but at last, they had arrived at the back of the nostrum hall where a little arched gate was built. They walked through it and suddenly, they were at a peach farm. 

Hundreds of peach trees were in blossom. The peachy pink flowers blossomed, and the petals fell over them like the blessings of heaven. It had a sweet fragrance and from afar, they could hear loud peals of laughter. 

Hatsuki was mesmerised. It was unlike anything she had seen and once again, the urge to have a camera stayed on her mind so that she could relish it time and again, forever and ever perhaps. 

They walked passed the little trees at the very centre was a large tree with a thick trunk. Next to it was a little mat. A big pot filled with washed rice too was present although no fire sources could be seen. 

"Ayyyy, Kai! Finally, you returned. I thought you'd only arrive at the end of the century. Could you help carry these petals? We could sell them off to some of the-" spoke a woman who seemed older than Kai but not too old. She wore a baby blue hanfu had her hair was tied to a ponytail. 

"Ayy, it seems you have brought someone new" Her eyes didn't hide the teasingness as her brows raised with smugness. Kai gently parted his lips, about to refute while Hatsuki had her eyes stare at the new woman, then at Kai and then at LiMing who had just arrived. 

"It's Miss Asano Hatsuki, sister. She's one of our classmates" LiMing answered while bringing out four big claypot jars. 

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought she was your…girlfriend. Thought you had finally let go of that bitch Hua" The woman was quick and loud with her words. Her voice was distinct since it had a rough huskiness feel while still having a higher pitch. 

"It's okay. I am sorry for my late introduction although. I am Asano Hatsuki and you may call me Hatsuki. Nice to meet you" Hatsuki introduced herself with a bow. 

"Oh no, that's all alright. No need to be so formal in us sisters, we aren't like those old men. I am LiFen the oldest and that super hardworkingwoman over there is my sister LiMing." The woman introduced herself. She had a tomboy charm to her. Her eyes sparkled with liveliness. 

In the meantime, Kai walked past the two women and helped LiMing with the jars. He carried four more jars and let them bask under the sun.

"I see." Hatsuki nodded while watching the set-up they had placed. They had laid a mat under the biggest cherry tree and kept some lunches and tea. 

"We are having a picnic here today while making some peach wine. Would you like to join us?" LiFen asked while shaking off the little petals of her hair. 

"Is it okay? I would love to join although I am troubling, ya'll" Hatsuki had a bright smile plastered on her lips. Just the idea of a picnic was so joyful and although it was with strangers, wasn't it better than people she knew anyway? 

"Sure, we'd be delighted to have you over. But with that being said, you would also need to help us with the winemaking then" LiMing answered from afar as she carried a little foldable table towards the mat. 

"Sure! I'd be happy to help" 

The two Li sisters asked both Kai and Hatsuki to gather the blossoms while they went to the kitchen to gather some more snacks. 

Since both Kai and Hatsuki were silent people, they both just plucked blossoms from the trees and placed them in the basket. The gentle air blew swirling away a few petals. 

"Oh no!" Hatsuki gasped. Since the petals flew to the ground, she tried to catch a few which were floating but her balance wasn't the greatest, making her feet slip as she fell on the ground. 

Kai sharply turned towards Hatsuki, only to find her fallen. He quickly got on his knees and tried to shake her shoulder. 

"Miss Asano! Asano!" 

"Uh…I am fine. Although it seems that I've gotten drunk without even having the wine" 

"Eh? Ahaha…It's not a time to be joking though" Kai had finally broken the mould of silence.