Chapter 34: A Strange Case of Amnesia

Watching Shen Yue and Gu Qingxiao’s figures slowly disappear, Gu Qingyi felt his good mood for the day evaporate.

“Figures. Who could stay in a good mood after getting grossed out first thing in the morning?” He let out a helpless sigh and turned to leave.

Time slipped by in a blink. After saying their goodbyes to Shen Yue and Gu Qingxiao, Gu Qingyi set off once more on his journey.

……………..

In a quiet mountain valley, a waterfall poured down, its mist drifting like silk through the air, filling the space with crisp freshness.

This was where Gu Qingyi came to cultivate.

Clad in a blue robe, hair tied loosely at the back, his sharp features betrayed a heroic spirit impossible to hide.

On this day Gu Qingyi was training beneath the waterfall when a sudden stabbing pain shot through his chest and head. The world spun, everything went black, and he lost his balance, falling hard from the high ledge beneath the waterfall.

With a heavy splash he crashed into the river below, swept away by the raging current.

When Gu Qingyi opened his eyes again, he found himself lying somewhere completely unfamiliar.

Glancing around in confusion, he searched his memory for any hint of the place. Nothing came up—he didn’t recognize a thing.

A sudden headache like his skull was getting split open forced him to clutch his head, face twisted with pain.

“Are you alright? Are you okay?” A worried, pretty young girl hurried over and tried to help Gu Qingyi up, her voice rushed with concern.

Though simply dressed, she radiated an inner grace that even her plain clothes couldn’t hide, her delicate features gentle and bright.

“I’m fine now.” As the pain faded, Gu Qingyi waved her off and tried to calm himself.

The girl quietly urged, “Here, drink this while it’s hot—it’ll help you feel better.” Seeing that he seemed alright, she dashed outside and returned a moment later with a bowl of steaming medicine.

Still puzzled, Gu Qingyi asked, “Who are you? Where am I? And… who am I?” Backing away a few steps, another wave of pain hit his head.

“What’s wrong—does your head hurt? Just drink the medicine first!” The girl hurried closer, worry etched on her face.

Gu Qingyi took the bowl and drank. Almost instantly, the ache faded away.

Relieved, the girl explained patiently, “You’re in Xiaoxi Village. My name’s Qin Wan. I found you this morning passed out by a tree near the river, so I brought you home.”

Qin Wan touched Gu Qingyi’s forehead gently, studying him closely. “You really don’t remember who you are?”

“My mind is a mess. I can’t remember anything.” Gu Qingyi shook his head with a sigh.

As she gazed at the handsome young man in blue, a rosy blush crept onto Qin Wan’s cheeks.

Stammering a little, Qin Wan said, “You look a bit older than me, so… can I just call you Brother Mu from now on? How about that?”

Gu Qingyi didn’t respond, but his silence seemed to mean yes.

Qin Wan smiled and said warmly, “It’s getting late, Brother Mu. I’ll let you rest. See you tomorrow!”

Unnoticed, night crept in. The moon hung in the sky wrapped in a misty veil, shrouded in soft silver light, with stars twinkling at its side.

After Qin Wan left, Gu Qingyi stared out the window at the peaceful view for a long time, slowly growing tired until his eyelids drooped shut.

As darkness faded away, a gentle pink brushed the distant sky, and the rising sun promised the start of a new day.

That morning, Qin Wan took Gu Qingyi down to the river to catch fish. Laughter echoed between them, each teasing the other when things went awry.

In no time at all—just enough to brew a pot of tea—Qin Wan watched Gu Qingyi expertly scoop fish from the river and couldn’t help but clap. “Brother Mu, you’re amazing! All these perch, you catch them like it’s nothing!”

A wicker basket by Qin Wan’s side brimmed with lively, wriggling fish.

And so the days slipped by. The two of them lived together, laughed together, filling each day with simple, happy moments.

………………

One day, on their walk, they passed through a sea of blooming flowers where the fragrance filled the air.

Excited, Qin Wan tugged Gu Qingyi over to enjoy the view. Flowers of every color stretched as far as the eye could see, like a magical wonderland.

In the center stood a grand peach tree, but sadly only a few lonely green leaves remained—almost all its blossoms had fallen away, leaving a sense of quiet decay.

There was no sign left of spring’s peach blossoms in full bloom.

Taking in the scene, Qin Wan sighed in regret. “When spring comes to Luoyang, the flowers are like a brocade. But I missed it again.” Her expression dimmed. “I guess it’s just not my fate. Anyway, it’s getting late. Brother Mu, let’s go home.” Hand in hand, the two walked toward the sunset until their shadows shrank, then disappeared.

…………………

Time raced by like a white horse passing a crack in the wall.

In the blink of an eye, two months had gone by. The pair had grown even closer, long days together making them feel like family.

They’d explored every mountain peak, every corner of Xiaoxi Village together. They learned from each other—net-weaving, cooking, and wondering about the world beyond.

Looking back, Qin Wan felt these days were the happiest of her life.

One day, after working for days, Gu Qingyi finally finished carving a small statue for her—maybe a little clumsy, but done with all his heart. Almost bursting with excitement, he presented it to Qin Wan.

“Qin Wan, this is for you! I carved it myself. I hope it’ll always protect you.” He handed her the little statue. “It might not look like much—it’s my first time carving—but I still hope you’ll keep it.”

Qin Wan took the statue with delight. “If it’s from Brother Mu, I love it! Who says it’s not good? I think it’s perfect—thank you!”

“Really? I’m glad you like it!” Gu Qingyi smiled, scratching the back of his head.

Qin Wan nodded earnestly. “Of course I do, I mean it!”

And so their days were filled with laughter and joy, the hours slipping away in their carefree company.

……………..

Qin Wan thought maybe their quiet life could last forever, that she and Gu Qingyi could always live without worry.

What she didn’t know was that Gu Qingyi was a cultivator, while she herself was just an ordinary person.

Cultivators lived for centuries, but ordinary folks barely got a hundred years at most.

If you never step on the path of cultivation, no matter how young or lovely you are, life is short. Time always wins—you can’t outrun age.

Lifespan was a gap between them Qin Wan could never cross.

Even so, she was content just being with Gu Qingyi, cherishing every good day by his side.

After all, these were the happiest, most carefree days she’d known since the day she was born.

Before Gu Qingyi came into her world, Qin Wan always felt something was missing. Only when he arrived did she realize what it was—love and companionship. Gu Qingyi filled her life with color.

Amid this beautiful valley, they kept living their simple, joyful days, with every memory a treasure.

Even the strange days when Gu Qingyi lost his memory became a moment they’d never forget.

Time flowed on in peace and happiness, and Gu Qingyi and Qin Wan only grew closer.

But as the days passed, Qin Wan found that her feelings for kind, gentle, and charming Gu Qingyi quietly deepened—like a girl falling for the first time.

One day, they walked together among the mountains while the sun set. The evening glow painted Qin Wan’s face, making her even more beautiful.

Gu Qingyi paused, gazing at Qin Wan. Something warmed his heart—an emotion he could barely name.

Time went on, and Qin Wan grew up, now seventeen years old.

The innocence in her face faded, replaced by a graceful beauty unique to young women—a charm that, for any normal man, was hard to resist.