Chapter 4: Peach or Osmanthus Cake?

"Are you deaf?" Jue Chen asks angrily and immediately Ling Quan rushes into the hall and approaches Jue Chen.

"Master, I couldn't stop her." Ling Quan complains sadly.

"I – I wanted to see you, master." Liuwen stammers awkwardly and Jue Chen walks back to the seat and sits with a stern expression.

"Ling Quan." Jue Chen calls out slyly.

"Take her out of here and strike her thirty times!" Jue Chen commands angrily with his eyes fixed on the tablet.

"Master?" Ling Quan calls apathetically trying to plead but Jue Chen's stare makes him fret, he stammers.

"Ok—okay."

"Master, I am your student. I want to learn from you and always be with you." Liuwen said courageously, Jue Chen smirks mockingly.

"Fine! Practice starts tomorrow." Jue Chen stands and vanishes graciously as Liuwen exhales in relief.

"Why do you always play with fire?" Ling Quan asks sarcastically while they walk out of the study but Liuwen responds with a bright smile.

In Fai Hall, Jue Chen quietly drinks tea while reading an ancient tablet while Ling Quan stands at a distance on guard.

Liuwen runs wild in the hallway close to the hall entrance calling happily:

"Master! Master!"

Jue Chen loses concentration and faces the entrance awaiting her arrival, reaching the central platform Liuwen stumbles and almost falls to the ground as Jue Chen catches her while grabbing her waist tightly after some minutes; he lets go of her waist and she falls to the ground.

"Ouch!" Liuwen screams sadly.

"Why are you so noisy?" Jue Chen asks annoyingly while walking back to his seat.

Liuwen stands and follows him to his desk; she sits on the floor close to his desk and rests her head on her hand staring at Jue Chen in admiration with a blush.

Jue Chen couldn't resist the pressure from her gaze, he clears his throat nervously with his eyes fixed on the tablet and she blinks her eyes sassily with a smile.

"I don't know how to play the zither master and Ling Quan is the opposite".

"Then why did you decide to be my student when you are this useless?" Jue Chen asks angrily while standing up from the seat and she follows awkwardly.

"Sorry master" she mutters sadly in a low tone.

"Quan, bring the zither here" Jue Chen commands nervously and Ling Quan nods leaving the hall, Liuwen hurries and holds Jue Chen's arm happily.

"Master, are you planning on teaching me?"

At first, Jue Chen stands in a spot looking surprised but seconds later he pulls Liuwen's hand off his robe and walks to a distance.

"I am your master, of course, I am to teach you." Jue Chen pauses annoyingly.

"But, don't ever be close to me or any male immortal." He adds angrily, Liuwen nods sadly and Ling Quan comes in.

"Master, I have prepared the zither for you." Ling Quan informs politely and leaves the room.

"Come." Jue Chen calls out to Liuwen and she follows him out of the hall to another wing.

The pleasant melodious sound comes out from the springs as Jue Chen smoothly moves his fingers on the zither, his appearance looks more attractive when icy.

"This is the best music I have ever had," Liuwen mutters to herself softly as she slowly nods her head; Jue Chen pauses when he notices Liuwen's impulsive mood and after some minutes she becomes aware of the situation and opens her eyes, she faces angry Jue Chen and let out a mischievous smile.

"Master..." She mutters sheepishly.

"Come here and play." He commands politely and Liuwen approaches him as she sits closer to him.

Liuwen places her fingers on the zither and Jue Chen places his hands on her hand and she starts playing, moving her fingers on the springs with the support of Jue Chen.

"This is amazing," Liuwen said courageously with a smile but Jue Chen ignores her as he continues moving their fingers on the zither springs.

Liuwen's heart pounds strongly thus affecting Jue Chen, he pulls his hands and pushes Liuwen away. She stands immediately and bows sadly.

"Master..."

Jue Chen faces another direction avoiding her gaze.

"Go to the study and reflect on yourself by writing the commandment of heaven fifty times!" He said angrily, Liuwen nods sadly and leaves the hall while Jue Chen exhales and continues playing the zither.

<><><><><>

Liuwen spent days studying, memorizing, and writing the commandments of heaven, those few days Jue Chen sent Ling Quan to supervise her and send meals.

The heavenly realm is peaceful as all internal affairs have been solved with wisdom by the heavenly emperor and the God of War.

Immortal Chang and Jue Chen were playing the usual game-to-go in Qinwen Palace.

"Why do you keep playing when you end up losing?" Jue Chen asks mockingly as he drinks the tea in the small cup and immortal Chang scoffs.

"Of course I am bored and you are the only one who accepts me and has my time."

"Is that a compliment?"

They continue discussing and playing the game as immortal Jin walks into the hall with some maidens holding some trays that contain Osmanthus cakes and a bowl of cherries.

"Place them there" Immortal Jin commands the maids and they place the trays sequentially and leave the hall with a bow.

Immortal Jin approaches Jue Chen who hasn't noticed her arrival.

"Brother Chen." She calls out politely, Jue Chen and immortal Chang turn to her with an awkward facial expression.

"I specially made Osmanthus cake for you, please try them." Jue Chen nods annoyingly and turns back to the game board, immortal Chang stretches out his hand to collect a piece of cake from the tray but Immortal Jin pushes his hand away, he smirks.

"Master, master!" Liuwen runs into the hall without any form of curtsy holding a flat plate that contains delicious snacks.

"Why are you here?" Jue Chen asks abruptly and Liuwen approaches him, kneels closer to his table, and places the flat plate on the table.

"I made these for you," Liuwen said nervously.

"Oww?" Jue Chen wide his eyes while nodding his head slowly as he collects a piece of the snack from the plate.

"What is the name of this?" He asks slyly.

"Peach cake." She smiles brightly.

"Peach cake --- why?" Jue Chen and immortal Chang become anxious.

"I used the flower from the peach tree and dew water to bake these," Liuwen explains courageously as they nod their head in admiration and bite the cake.

"Delicious! So delicious." Immortal Chang exclaims in surprise as immortal Jin rolls her eyes angrily and leaves the hall with the trays.

"Do you love it, master?" Liuwen goes closer to Jue Chen and he faces her nodding his head while eating the cake.

"What do you want?" Jue Chen asks after a brief silence and she quickly grabs his hand and clusters it to her chest.

"Master, I want you to be my responsibility. I will make your food and also make you happy." Liuwen said impulsively with a small smile.

Immortal Chang stands while pointing at Liuwen and nodding his head.

"You are so bold," he said apathetically and leaves the hall.