Gou Feng alongside Elder Memu walked together through the garden.
The way was filled of comfortable silent, when without warning, Memu asked,
"Do you still love chicken curry, child?"
Gou Feng froze.
His eyes widened in shock.
"...How do you know that?"
Very few people knew about his fondness for chicken curry, only his deceased mother and Hei Bao.
Memu merely glanced at him.
"I already told you. You've been here before."
Her answer caused Gou Feng to stop walking altogether.
He stood rooted to the spot.
The white tulip remained clutched in his hands.
After several moments, he lowered his gaze to the flower before looking toward the elderly Seer walking ahead of him.
The morning breeze stirred the hem of her robes.
"...Have I truly been here before?"
His voice was soft, barely audible.
This time, Memu did not answer. Instead, she simply continued walking toward the chamber.
After a brief hesitation, Gou Feng followed behind her once more.
The scent of white tulips lingered in the air.
And somewhere deep within his heart, a strange feeling surfaced.
As though he had finally returned to a place he had once called home.
Elder Memu continued leading Gou Feng deeper into the house.
As they passed by the chamber where he had awakened earlier, they turned down another hallway before arriving at a spacious dining room.
Gou Feng paused at the entrance.
The room was simple yet elegant. Sunlight streamed through wide windows, illuminating polished wooden floors and a long dining table filled with freshly prepared dishes.
There were plates of seasonal fruits, steamed vegetables, warm bread, and several side dishes he couldn't immediately recognize.
But what caught his attention most was the large bowl placed at the center of the table.
Chicken curry.
The rich aroma of spices drifted through the room, instantly stirring his appetite.
Two young women dressed in refined white robes stood beside the table. Their clothing was made from expensive fabric embroidered with subtle silver patterns, yet neither carried themselves with arrogance.
Instead, they bowed politely and smiled at him.
Memu glanced between them before speaking.
"These are my apprentices, Mei and Fui."
The two women greeted him warmly.
"It's nice to finally meet you, young master, Gou." Mei said cheerfully.
"We've heard a lot about you," Fui added with a gentle smile.
Gou Feng blinked before offering an awkward nod.
"...Hello."
Memu's eyes softened at his reserved response.
"Come along. Let's all eat before everything gets cold."
She guided Gou Feng toward an empty seat while Mei and Fui took the chairs opposite them.
For a few moments, silence settled over the table.
Gou Feng stared at the dishes before him.
He wasn't sure if he should begin first. His fingers rested quietly on the edge of his bowl.
Mei and Fui exchanged glances before looking helplessly toward their teacher.
Memu sighed softly.
Without a word, she stood up.
Using a serving spoon, she placed a portion of mashed potatoes onto Gou Feng's plate. Then she added a chicken thigh, spooned fragrant curry broth over freshly steamed rice, and set the plate back in front of him.
Only then did she sit down again.
"Eat well," she said, patting his shoulder.
"You'll have a long day ahead of you."
Gou Feng looked at the carefully prepared plate before lifting his gaze toward her.
"...Thank you, Elder."
Though he didn't understand what she meant, he nodded obediently.
Memu smiled.
"There is no need to be so formal all the time."
After a brief hesitation, Gou Feng lowered his head and quietly began eating.
Carefully he took his first bite and it immediately melted in his mouth.
That made him pause.
The curry carried a familiar warmth.
The spices were balanced perfectly, rich without being overwhelming.
His grip on the spoon tightened slightly.
Without warning, memories surfaced.
His mother standing in their small kitchen.
The sound of simmering broth.
Gentle hands serving him extra rice.
A familiar voice asking if the food suited his taste.
His chest tightened.
"...It tastes the same," he said softly.
Across the table, Mei and Fui, who have been staring at him expectantly while he eats, became intrigued.
Mei leaned forward, unable to contain her curiosity.
"How was it?" she asked eagerly.
"Is it good?"
"I hope it suits your taste." Fui joined in, smiling toward Mei.
"Mei made the curry."
Gou Feng blinked before lowering his eyes toward the plate.
"It tastes just like my mother's cooking."
He looked at Mei.
"...Thank you."
Mei face lit up.
"Really?" she asked excitedly.
Gou Feng nodded.
"It's very delicious."
Mei practically beamed.
"I'm so happy!" she exclaimed.
"I was worried you wouldn't like it."
Fui laughed softly beside her.
"She woke up before sunrise to prepare everything."
Mei puffed out her cheeks in embarrassment.
"Fui!"
Fui just smiled and added.
"You've made Mei's entire week."
Mei nodded vigorously, never denying her emotions.
"I'll cook it for you again next time!"
Gou Feng lowered his eyes.
"...I'd like that."
Memu quietly observed the interaction.
The once silent dining table had gradually become lively.
Warm.
Filled with gentle conversation and laughter.
Seeing the atmosphere soften, the elder released a quiet sigh of contentment.
"You girls should eat properly too," she reminded them.
Mei and Fui immediately nodded.
"Yes, Elder!"
As breakfast continued, Mei occasionally asked whether Gou
Feng preferred sweeter curries or spicier ones, while Fui politely recommended different dishes on the table.
At first, Gou Feng only answered with short responses.
But little by little, the tension in his shoulders eased.
For the first time in several days, he found himself eating without headaches clouding his thoughts.
After the meal ended, Fui guided Gou Feng down a corridor.
"Where are we heading?"
"I'll take you to prepare for the purification bath," Fui said.
Gou Feng blinked.
"...Purification bath?"
She nodded.
"It will help settle your spirit and soothe your body."
Before he could ask further questions, Fui gestured for him to follow further.
"This way."
Gou Feng obediently followed, passing through another corridor until they arrived before a large wooden door.
Fui slid it open, and the gentle scent of flowers immediately drifted outward.
At the center stood a large stone
bathtub filled with steaming water.
The steam rose softly from a spacious stone bathtub.
Floating upon the clear water were countless white tulip petals.
Among them drifted unfamiliar green leaves and delicate blossoms he had never seen before.
Nearby, two large incense candles burned steadily, their flames flickering steadily despite the absence of wind.
Their smoke curled upward in elegant spirals.
Elder Memu stood beside the bath.
Gou Feng watched as she carefully dropped the last handful of tulip petals into the water.
Then she poured a small amount of pink liquid into the bath.
As she did, she softly recited words in a language Gou Feng had never heard before.
The unfamiliar sounds carried a strange rhythm.
Neither hurried nor forceful, it almost sounds like a prayer.
"Elder," Fui announced their presence.
Memu turned around and smiled.
"You're here."
She approached Gou Feng and gently patted his shoulder.
"Enjoy your bath. Your clothes are inside that cabinet."
She pointed toward a wooden cupboard near the wall.
"We'll be waiting in the living room."
Gou Feng glanced between the floating petals and the elderly Seer.
"...Thank you."
Memu nodded.
"Take your time."
Memu gave his shoulder one last reassuring pat before she and Fui quietly stepped outside.
The bathroom door closed behind them.
Silence settled over the room.
Gou Feng turned his attention toward the bathtub.
White tulips floated peacefully atop the water.
Several unfamiliar green leaves drifted among them.
He crouched slightly, observing them with curiosity, before he subconsciously reached out and gently nudged one of the leaves with the tip of his finger.
Ripples spread across the surface of the water.
"A purification bath..." he murmured to himself.
His tone carried more curiosity than suspicion.
"I've never heard of something like this before. It looks nice, though, and harmless."
The water remained crystal clear.
Yet he distinctly remembered Elder Memu pouring something into it earlier.
Perhaps it had been some kind of medicinal oil.
He wasn't sure, and strangely enough…
He didn't feel the need to question it further.
For reasons he couldn't explain, he trusted the elderly Seer.
The thought surprised even himself.
Perhaps it was because of Elder Memu's gentle demeanor.
Or perhaps it was because, ever since waking up that morning, the endless noise inside his mind had finally become quiet.
Whatever the reason, Gou Feng found that he trusted the elderly Seer without understanding why.
Slowly, he undressed himself into the privacy of the room before stepping carefully into the bath.
The moment the lukewarm water embraced him, his tense muscles relaxed.
A quiet breath escaped his lips.
"Haaa…"
The soothing warmth seeped deep into his aching body.
The bruises from yesterday no longer throbbed as sharply.
The persistent heaviness lingering within his chest eased slightly.
He leaned back against the edge of the tub.
White tulip petals drifted around him.
The floral fragrance wrapped around him like a gentle embrace.
Closing his eyes, Gou Feng allowed himself to simply exist in the stillness.
No headaches.
No nightmares.
No questions demanding immediate answers.
Only the quiet sound of water, the scent of flowers, and the unfamiliar peace he had not realized he desperately needed.
For the first time in many days, Gou Feng felt fully light and unguarded.
Outside, birds continued singing within the ancestral grounds.
Inside, surrounded by warmth and the scent of white tulips, Gou Feng allowed himself to rest.
Just for a little while.
Simply existing within the quiet peace he had unknowingly been longing for.