Chapter 5, Affectionate Sentiments

Let us depart; it is best to leave the valley before nightfall. This is one of the suspected tombs built by Qin Shi Huang, and there will surely be guards stationed here. We have delayed for too long, and I fear complications may arise. It is wiser to leave early. If we encounter so many Qin soldiers again, I will not be able to withstand them. Long Tianyu, aware that he has lost his pistol, realizes that relying solely on his barehanded skills against ancient soldiers and swordsmen will put him at a significant disadvantage; thus, leaving is the best course of action.

Long Tianyu's eyes brightened, and he joyfully said: "As you wish, I would not dare to impose on you."

Long Tianyu nodded, thinking that your experience was like a nightmare, while my situation could only be described as a bizarre dream, something I couldn't even imagine in my wildest dreams. It is truly absurd to be able to traverse time and space back to ancient times and meet people who have been dead for two thousand years.

The collection of works "Zhuangzi" is one of the classics of Daoism, consisting of fifty-two chapters. In later generations, thirty-three chapters have been preserved, divided into seven inner chapters, fifteen outer chapters, and eleven miscellaneous chapters, based on the commentary by Guo Xiang. The thoughts, structure, and literary style of the inner chapters are relatively consistent, and it is generally believed that they were authored by Zhuang Zhou himself. The outer and miscellaneous chapters, however, include works by his later followers and even incorporate individual chapters from other schools of thought, resulting in significant differences in ideas and viewpoints compared to the inner chapters.

Long Tianyu felt a sense of emotion upon her mention, sighing: "Life is but a dream. Regardless of how powerful the nobility may be or how humble the commoners are, in the end, no one can escape the manipulation of fate. Material possessions will vanish like smoke, just as in a dream of Nanke! Had I known this earlier, would I have still been so persistent in upholding my beliefs?"

"Goodness, how beautiful!" Long Tianyu swallowed hard. As the saying goes, even heroes find it difficult to resist the allure of beautiful women. If even heroes are captivated by beauty, how much more so are ordinary men with normal physiological needs? Moreover, even without any romantic involvement, just a glance is enough to be visually delightful and truly pleasing to the eye

This is an idiomatic tale about a man named Chunyu Fen, who dreamed of becoming the governor of Nanke in the Great Huai An Kingdom, enjoying all the glory and wealth. Upon waking, he realized it was merely a grand dream; in reality, the Great Huai An Kingdom was just an ant nest under the big huai tree to the south of his residence. Henceforth, the phrase 'Nanke Yimeng' is used to metaphorically describe a fleeting joy that amounts to nothing.

Long Tianyu curiously gazed at the ancient costume figures that only appeared in movies and television. The various attires reflected the lively scene of different ethnic groups coexisting under a unified system.

Emperor Qin Ershi, fearing the leakage of information, buried the entire song and dance troupe along with two of Ying Zheng's consorts in the royal tomb as accompanying sacrifices. However, Yu Ji, having not consumed the poisoned wine, was bound within a stone coffin for five days. Just as she was in despair, she was fortuitously rescued from the royal tomb by Long Tianyu, allowing her to see the light of day once more

Long Tianyu's gentle affection, an all-encompassing caress, further ignites the blood of Yu Ji, flowing rapidly, her delicate face as red as if it could drip with water, the beauty's heart pounding fiercely, her palms sweating, knowing that this time "there is no escape from calamity," and she no longer wishes to evade her feelings.

Long Tianyu's expression was grave as he stood up, gazing deeply at Yu Ji. He stepped forward, and before Yu Ji could say anything, he sealed the beauty's fragrant lips. Such a gentle and exquisite person, who could remain unmoved

Long Tianyu was filled with excitement when he turned around and saw Yu Ji in tears. He asked, "Miss Yu, what is the matter with you?"

Long Tianyu could no longer concern himself with so much. He thought that he would change his attire after exiting the Weishui Mountain Range and the jungle. He turned to Yu Ji and said, "Miss Yu, please freshen up; we will be setting off soon."

At this moment, both individuals were utterly entranced, completely forgetting their worries, immersed in an incredibly passionate embrace. Under the guidance of Long Tianyu, Yu Ji had been ignited by the flames of desire.

Long Tianyu was taken aback by this question, momentarily stunned. It was only then that she recalled the allusion to "a dream of the South Branch," originating from Li Gongzuo's "Tales of the South Branch Governor" during the Tang Dynasty, a work created a thousand years after the Qin Dynasty. She certainly had not heard of it

As the emerald garments fell away, the clothes of Yu Ji dropped one by one to the ground. Under the setting sun, her beautiful body, resembling white jade and mutton fat, was fully revealed before Long Tianyu's eyes. At this moment, she was already blushing with embarrassment, burying her charming face in Long Tianyu's chest, so flustered that she had forgotten to moan.

I remember having read books about Zhuangzi in the university library: Zhuang Zhou, a man from the Song state, contemporary with King Hui of Liang and King Xuan of Qi, once served as an official in the Qiyuan. The "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Laozi and Han Fei" records that King Wei of Chu, having heard of his virtue, invited him to be his chancellor, but he declined, living in poverty for the rest of his life

Yu Ji, somewhat puzzled, asked: "Brother Long, where are we going?"

Yu Ji felt grateful in her heart. After his figure disappeared into the jungle, she shyly removed her long gown, revealing her ivory-smooth body. She then put on the dried undergarments and shorts, and immediately donned the outer garment and long skirt again.

When Long Tianyu returned, Yu Ji had already dressed herself in a simple white high-waisted long dress, with ribbons tied above her chest. The flowing skirt swayed gracefully, and a ribbon cinched her waist, accentuating her delicate figure. Her long, slender legs were complemented by a pair of crystal-clear, delicate white feet, bare and resting on the cobblestones, highlighting their smooth and translucent appearance

A modern person suddenly travels back to ancient times, and what he desires most is to explore this world, satisfying his curiosity. Every person he encounters is an ancient individual, and everything he sees consists of historical artifacts and sites. In his own era, these things were merely piles of dirt; now, having crossed over, witnessing their real existence must evoke excitement and thrill in him

Brother Long does not covet beauty; he is a true hero. I wonder if Yu Ji is fortunate enough to follow him. Alas, perhaps he may not even care for me, this Ji girl. Yu Ji, feeling sorrowful and self-pitying, could not help but shed tears.

Long Tianyu smiled and said, "Of course, I will send you back to your homeland, settle you down, and then I will travel the world."

Let's go! Yu Ji felt the other person's burning gaze, lowering her head slightly, her cheeks flushed, her heart secretly delighted, bashfully radiant.

Long Tianyu gazed at Yu'er’s graceful and skillful dance, each movement exuding charm. He sighed inwardly, for he saw a face that seemed to carry endless sorrow and self-pity, tender as congealed fat, with tearful eyes that evoked a natural sense of closeness and compassion. This is Yu Ji, a woman celebrated throughout the ages, loyal to love.

Yu Ji's starry eyes were half-closed, and she only felt a pair of large hands slipping into her ethereal garments, exploring the forbidden territory that had never been invaded by anyone. She couldn't help but let out a soft hum, occasionally instinctively flinching, but it held no real significance.

Long Tianyu smiled slightly and said, "Alright, I will go over there to prepare two wooden sticks as walking sticks. The mountain path is overgrown with thorns, which will be useful for clearing the way. You should change into your inner and outer garments here, and we will set off in a quarter of an hour." He took this opportunity to step away, allowing the lady to change her clothes with peace of mind.

Yu Ji nodded and said, "I will follow Brother Long's arrangements; I have no objections."

In philosophy, the path of nihilism sometimes endows it with certain materiality, bearing a tint of materialism; in politics, it occasionally advocates for absolute non-action, while at other times it supports non-action from those above and action from those below; in terms of attitude towards life, it sometimes promotes engagement with the world, while at other times it favors withdrawal from it; in terms of worldview, it sometimes advocates for minimal desires, while at other times it champions indulgence; unfortunately, it belongs to the realm of idealism and has not been esteemed by later education

Long Tianyu was utterly bewildered; a beauty of this caliber, in the twenty-first century, was akin to a celestial being descending to earth, a rarity in the world. Due to their close and intimate interactions over the past two months, despite not having truly lost himself, their feelings for each other had deepened significantly. Upon witnessing this captivating scene, he felt his resistance waning, nearly approaching zero.

Due to Yu Ji's still frail condition and the fact that she was not wearing shoes, having lost them in the royal tomb, her delicate feet were at risk of being pricked by the thorns scattered on the ground. Long Tianyu was filled with a sense of compassion and cherishment for her, and he carried Yu Ji on his back, walking towards the mountains beyond.

The two were drowsy and, upon waking, found it was already afternoon. Long Tianyu dressed himself, but his attire was from the modern era: a T-shirt and military-style trousers. His short hair made him appear particularly spirited and handsome, yet it was vastly different from the clothing of the Qin Dynasty. It was likely that he would be recognized as an oddity as soon as he stepped outside

Yu Ji felt that every word spoken by the man was novel and thought-provoking. She murmured to herself and asked, "What is a dream of the Southern Branch?"

Yu Ji was seeing Long Yunyu dressed in splendid Qin Dynasty attire for the first time. Compared to the tattered hemp garments she had changed into from the village man in the mountains, it was undoubtedly a hundred times more impressive. Gazing at Long Tianyu's face, with its jade-like elegance, bright eyes like stars, and those charming smiles at the corners of his mouth, it truly captivated any woman.

In history, she was Xiang Yu's woman. Should I take the sword and seize love, becoming a third party? Ah, she doesn't even know Xiang Yu yet, what nonsense is that! Long Tianyu was torn between his thoughts, uncertain how long he could remain in this world. Therefore, he didn't want to hurt her during these days, but now his resistance was growing weaker.

When Yu Ji finished her dance in the colorful attire, she stood gracefully on the lawn, her eyes shimmering with tears as she gazed at Long Tianyu. There was a sense of reluctance, a touch of self-pity, a surge of excitement, and a feeling of confusion as she stared at him.

Long Tianyu sighed inwardly: "What a shy, delicate, and beautiful woman! Any man who sees her would want to dedicate his entire life to cherishing her. I wonder what that Xiang Yu looks like to have such a stunning beauty as his wife. No wonder the tale of 'The King and the Concubine' was enacted, becoming a story passed down through the ages; it is indeed worthy!"

Yu Ji smiled slightly, finding it amusing that this Brother Long was being so eloquent, which indeed gave him a scholarly air! She then performed a slight bow, her long sleeves cascading down at her waist, swaying gracefully with her dancing posture. Her figure moved elegantly, her feet concealed beneath the flowing fabric, dancing lightly as if gliding over the water's surface. Her steps and demeanor resembled light clouds obscuring the moon. The flowing hem of her colorful garment, which wrapped around her hips three times before cascading down, fully showcased the perfect curve of her well-rounded hips, exuding an abundance of charm with every sway.

By the banks of the Wei River lies the land of the old Qin in the west. Now, with the ascension of the Second Emperor of Qin, there has been a widespread massacre of royal family members and court officials, causing a surge of resentment in the area around Xianyang. Long Tianyu has been carrying Yu Ji out of the mountains, and it has already been three days. During this time, they exchanged for several sets of peasant clothing in the homes of villagers in the mountainous countryside. Especially for Yu Ji, her beauty is so striking that if she were to walk on the official road, it would inevitably attract trouble. Given Long Tianyu's current abilities, he is not yet capable of protecting himself, let alone safeguarding such a heavenly beauty in these chaotic times.

Yu Ji was momentarily stunned, her cherry lips being sucked by the other party. This time, he was truly too excited, his arms tightening significantly more than before, as if he were afraid of losing her. Finally, she could no longer control her emotions, her jade arms entwining as she fervently responded.

After passing through the Hangu Pass and traveling east for several days, I arrived at the ancient city of Luoyang. The wide ancient road, paved with stone slabs, is flanked by tall buildings and spacious halls, with tiered platforms and scenic pavilions, adorned with painted beams and carved eaves, all splendidly arranged. The houses are grand in scale, and the population is thriving; the marketplace is filled with millet, yellow rice, buckwheat, wheat, and sorghum, as well as cattle, pigs, and sheep, with a continuous flow of people engaged in trade.

Long Tianyu gazed at Yu Ji, whose features were picturesque, her delicate face blushing with spring-like shyness. A surge of intense love welled up in his heart as he began to passionately kiss her exquisite body, simultaneously lifting her in his arms and walking towards the bed draped with long garments

The two traveled together for a month, and their relationship grew increasingly intimate. Initially, they would sleep apart at night, but later, during their camping, they occasionally shared the same bed. Although they had not yet broken through the final barrier between them, their feelings for each other were deepening rapidly. Yu Ji felt grateful for his ability to maintain a gentlemanly demeanor and to care for her in every possible way. However, at times, she felt a bit helpless; this dense fellow was still not taking the initiative. Did she have to take the lead and offer herself? That would be utterly embarrassing!

Long Tianyu was dressed in the official attire of the Qin Dynasty, securing several modern pieces of equipment within his outfit. His hair, grown long over the past month, was tied back, and after shaving the beard from his face, a handsome and refined visage emerged on the surface of the lake

Long Tianyu was taken aback upon hearing this. He had not expected that this Yu Ji not only possessed unparalleled beauty, but from her understanding of Zhuangzi, it could be inferred that this beauty's intelligence was also exceptionally remarkable. No wonder her charm has been passed down through the ages, enduring and timeless. He immediately regarded her with newfound respect.

Yu Ji pawned her golden hairpin and exchanged it for silver coins. After enjoying a lavish meal at a tavern, she purchased a fine steed, several changes of clothing, as well as provisions for their journey, including dry rations and a tent. To avoid any unnecessary complications, the two did not linger too long in the city and made their way to the stream on the eastern outskirts, where they bathed and changed into new garments

After hearing that he would send her back to Chu, Yu Ji felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She thought to herself: "I am merely a songstress in the world of dust and wind. No matter how famous or talented I am, people only see me as a performer meant to please them. The nobility cares only for my beauty and body; when my looks fade, who will still appreciate my talent and inner qualities?"

Long Tianyu turned around and looked at Yu Ji, who was dressed in a light green gown. Her ample bosom and slender waist, along with her graceful figure, were complemented by her long hair cascading over her shoulders, adorned only with a single white jade hairpin. She wore no other embellishments, and her green attire contrasted beautifully with her fair skin, resembling a bright moon hanging high in the night sky. Her bright eyes and white teeth, along with her luscious lips, made her look enchanting. Her eyes were as clear as a tranquil lake, and her cheeks bore a faint blush, while her cherry-red lips appeared vividly enticing. The allure she exuded after her bath was captivating beyond measure. The mutual enhancement of their appearances was akin to a bright moon suspended in the night sky, with bright eyes and white teeth, luscious lips, and eyes as clear as a serene lake, complemented by a faint blush on her cheeks and the vivid allure of her cherry-red lips, making her post-bath charm irresistibly captivating.

The dance of Yu Ji captivates the world, exquisite and magnificent, with her garments flowing gracefully, resembling a fairy gliding over the waves

Yu Ji gazed at Long Tianyu, her eyes filled with deep affection and infatuation. Her heart stirred, and a faint blush quietly appeared on her cheeks, which felt slightly warm. Thinking that after he escorted her to Chu, he might soon leave, a pang of sadness welled up in her heart. This mix of joy and sorrow suddenly gave Yu Ji the courage to say: "Brother Long, let me dance a piece for you!"

Yu Ji wiped away her tears with her delicate hands and forced a smile, saying: "No, it's nothing. This time, having escaped from death feels like a nightmare. Now that I see the light of day again, I have some feelings about it."

As Yu Ji chewed, she nodded and said: "I see, this is indeed similar to how Zhuang Zhou adeptly uses strange and whimsical parables to explain profound principles. Throughout history, only he has truly comprehended life, disregarding the distinctions between life and death, longevity and mortality, success and failure, right and wrong, honor and disgrace. He has transcended all worldly desires and the entanglements of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, perceiving himself as one with the universe and all things in nature, with no distinction between 'self' and 'not self.' I did not expect that Brother Long would also have such unique insights"

Witnessing the rise and fall of history, spanning two thousand years of time and space, how many people, ancient and modern, can achieve such a feat? Damn it, I have done it.

After several days of casual conversation, Long Tianyu learned that Yu Ji was one of the most talented courtesans of the Qin Dynasty, known alongside the other three, Xue Mengyi, Lan Yudie, and Liu Shishi, as the Four Great Courtesans of the Strong Qin. They were famously referred to as "East Yu, West Liu, South Lan, and North Xue." It was only because Emperor Qin Shi Huang admired Yu Ji's talents that he invited her to showcase her beauty. However, unbeknownst to him, she fell ill and passed away at Shachiu before they could meet during his tour.