Rumors 3

There was only a small sliver of sun hanging over the line of mountains in the West when Qin Feng arrived at the center of the Elders' yard. And Elder Ming Guanhe was already there. He looked a little deep in thought, however, rather than angered that he had been made to wait for a nameless Outer School disciple. And a herb-grower at that.

Still, Qin Feng didn't dare take a chance, and had already begun to dip his head in apology, the moment that he started inside. Which seemed to be enough to draw a bark of laughter from the scar-faced Elder.

"Ha! You managed to get yourself cleaned up, huh. That was quick! Come, come. Let us not waste any time. My daughter is eager to meet you."

Qin Feng bowed again, to signal his agreement, and wasted no time stepping behind the Elder as he started to move. And hid his relieved expression behind Ming Guanhe's back. That was close. And knew that he should probably be thankful that the old man had not kicked up a fuss that he had been kept waiting.

Of course, he would have to deal with the two women, over the matter of bathing in front of them later. Not to mention the fact that one of them was Elder Xuan's daughter! But that would be latter.

For now, he would had other matters to worry about. Like how he was going to deal with Elder Ming Guanhe. And his never-before seen daughter!

To be honest, Qin Feng was a little concerned about the Elder's recent change in attitude, when it came to his affairs. Ming Guanhe seemed to be paying quite a bit of attention on his little medicine farm and what he had managed to gain, when he was out in the Woods.

And Qin Feng seriously doubted that it was all because of Elder Xuan.

After all, a simple instruction from Elder Ming's lips would be sufficient to have the attendants and the rest of the Medicine Hall's staff behaving a lot more kindly towards him. And probably have Chen Xing guide him more closely, when it came to the more lucrative herbs to grow and manage. He certainly did not need to get personally involved.

Nor did he have to take on the duty of guiding Qin Feng on those last two Hunts. Indeed, he didn't need to have included Qin Feng in them at all!

So what was his reason for doing that?

Could it be that there was some truth in all those rumours about his daughter? And her unusual illness? Was he really resorting to weird medicines and unusual practices, to nurse her back to health? If so, what was Qin Feng's role in all of this?

Ming Guanhe couldn't be thinking of marrying her off to him, could he?

Or was this a favor that he was doing for Elder Xuan? To warn him off Senior Martial Sister Xuan Mei? That was more likely, wasn't it? She had been visiting him a little more frequently than she should, and that might have given the lofty Elder Xuan the wrong idea.

Of course, if it was the latter, it would be a simple thing to agree. And Qin Feng certainly didn't have any qualms promising to keep well away from her.

After what had happened a short while ago, he was rather certain that Xuan Mei would be treating him a lot more coldly. Not to mention, she was unlike to spread the news around, that she had actually seen him ... in such an embarrassing state.

"Qingsong ah! Qingsong! Your father is back!"

The sudden cry from Ming Guanhe, just three steps ahead of him, broke him out of his thoughts. For a moment, he wondered who the Elder was calling out to. Who was this Qingsong? And what was this about his (or her) father?

Then it struck him. Was this Qingsong Ming Guanhe's daughter then?

The door of one of the houses opened then. And a girl, dressed in a light blue dress, stepped out of the same into the light of the dying day. She was short, and didn't look a day past thirteen, by Qin Feng's estimation. Her face was very pale and her hair was tied up in a bun that sat on top of her head, much like the topknot that most male disciples sported in the Heaven Sword School.

"Father! You're back! I was about to start dinner without you," she announced somewhat haughtily, with a distinct pout. Her voice was a little huskier than Qin Feng expected, making her sound older than her small, teenage frame. Although it did sound stronger than someone who had been ill for a long time, as the rumours had painted her.

Then her eyes turned to him, and seemed to study Qin Feng from head to toe. And there was an curious air washed over her face at once. "Is this the herb-grower disciple that you were talking about? The one who had managed to ... help the sisters from the Rear Gardens with their monthly stomach-aches?"

"Don't be rude, Qingsong. This is Qin Feng, and yes, he is the Outer School disciple who has been supplying Yuan Mei and the other girls with the medicines that they need. So you should treat him well. After all, you might be in their shoes in another year or two."

Ming Guanhe's voice was more gentle than Qin Feng had thought possible. Which more or less supported the tales that he was doting on his little girl. And Ming Qingsong merely sniffed and grinned back at her father, before turning her gaze back towards the younger man.

But there was no hiding the blush on her face, despite her manner. Clearly, she had not been expecting her father to silence her using that particular subject. Qin Feng, of course, pretended not to have seen a thing.

He wasn't about to make trouble. Not for Elder Ming's precious daughter.

Besides, she might really end up showing up at his little herb garden, looking for those herbs. So laughing at her now was certainly not a good idea.

In any case, neither of them had any chance to get into each other's bad books, since Elder Ming was already waving them towards the house, and their dinner:

"Well, in that case, we shouldn't waste any more time. Come, my dear. Show father just how far you have come with those dishes that you have been boasting about. I am sure that Qin Feng here will sing your praises to all the other girls in the Rear Gardens, if you are able to impress him!"

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