Der Mond scheint hell über den leeren Bergen, und Blumen füllen den Himmel

Kapitel 75

That was the fragrance of dying flowers, unforgettable, and chillingly refreshing.

Long ago, Rongrong said he was "optimistic and accepting of fate, finding joy in whatever comes his way, neither seeking personal gain nor loving the world." But Rongrong didn't truly understand; he was merely "pretending" to be optimistic and accepting of fate… Having experienced many sorrowful events, although he could now smile flawlessly, it didn't mean the wounds had disappeared… And seeing through things… after seeing through things, he inevitably felt the world growing increasingly lonely and tasteless. He didn't actually want to see through the ways of the world; he actually wanted to be able to cry, but more and more complicated things happened—these things were intertwined with those things, national affairs, martial arts world affairs, family affairs… entangled him, and there was so much helplessness in those things… If he couldn't see through them, being entangled in them would be very painful.

Gazing at the vast sea of stars tonight, Sheng Xiang stood quietly, a rare sight. He smiled as he watched Zhao Xiang's still resentful figure, then suddenly realized that if he continued to smile… perhaps he would never shed a tear again in his entire life…

She once said, "I won't let myself be sad."

Was that statement a sign of magnanimity or a curse?

"Young Master, it's getting chilly. What are you doing standing here?" Xiao Yun came out after changing her clothes, rubbing her hands and looking at Sheng Xiang strangely. "I finally came back safe and sound. Don't let yourself catch a cold, or the Master will beat me."

“I’m counting stars here,” Shengxiang said, smiling brightly under the starlight, without the slightest hint of reluctance.

at night.

Saint Incense is sleeping.

Someone gently knocked on the window outside. Shengxiang opened her eyes and whispered, "The window is open."

Someone pushed open the window and was inside the room in a flash. His words startled Shengxiang: "This humble Taoist is a Golden Core cultivator."

Shengxiang choked on her own saliva. Generally speaking, it was usually a beautiful young woman who would sneak into a handsome young man's room in the middle of the night. How come it was an old Taoist priest who was almost fifty years old who had entered his room? "A Golden Core Taoist priest?"

The person who sneaked into his room was dressed in night clothes, his face covered with a black cloth, but judging from his figure and accent, he was indeed a Jin Dan cultivator. Sheng Xiang sat up in astonishment and said, "This young master's household is honest and upright; we don't have much money to rob the rich and give to the poor. Old Taoist priest, if you need travel expenses, please go to the Murong residence by the Jinshui River..."

Master Jin Dan said in a low voice, "Young Master Sheng Xiang, I was unaware that you were the son of the Prime Minister. I have offended you greatly."

"Huh?" Shengxiang exclaimed in surprise, "When did you offend me? How come I didn't know?"

Master Jin Dan coughed lightly, "This humble Taoist has a favor to ask."

"What is it?" Shengxiang said. "I only handle two kinds of things: one is that we need one more player to play cards, and the other is that we need three more players to play cards."

Master Jindan coughed again, pretending not to hear his nonsense, "This humble Taoist would like to ask, is Young Master Shengxiang's friend surnamed Yu named Cuiwei?"

Shengxiang's eyes darted around a couple of times. "So what if it is? So what if it isn't?"

Master Jindan solemnly replied, "It is true that you risked your life to save people. Whether it was true or not, I am equally grateful."

Shengxiang glanced at him sideways and said, "Daoist Master, you are truly an honest man."

"Is that so?" asked the Golden Elixir Daoist.

Shengxiang sighed, “Daoist, when people say ‘So what if it is? So what if it isn’t?’ it’s the same as saying it is. That’s common sense…” He crawled out of bed to find clothes to put on, thought for a moment, and then brought over two hand warmers with a smile. He held one in his arms and put the other in the arms of the Golden Core Daoist.

"As expected..." the Golden Core Daoist murmured, "Young Master Shengxiang, do you know the truth about the Junshan Puyang Blade?"

Shengxiang's eyes widened. "Didn't I hear that everyone was so grateful that they forged a knife to give to Dayu?"

The Golden Core Daoist replied solemnly, "Of course not!"

"Huh?" Shengxiang was completely taken aback. "What is that?"

"When Zhuge Zhi returned to Shu, he made a few inquiries and learned that his friend surnamed Yu was none other than the 'Ghost-Faced Demon' Yu Cuiwei. The news spread, and the people who were rescued that day were all very angry..." Master Jindan said in a deep voice, "Thus, the sword-forging gathering at Junshan was originally a killing gathering."

"Anger?" Shengxiang frowned. "Why be angry when someone has saved you?"

"Everyone here is a renowned elder from their respective sects. To be rescued by a lecherous demon and treated as a heroic youth is a disgrace far worse than letting them die in the ancient well of Moqu Manor. Therefore, most of those at the sword-forging gathering are people who hate Yu Cuiwei to the bone..." Master Jindan said. "Everyone pretends not to know that the person surnamed Yu is Yu Cuiwei, and plans to kill him at Junshan to silence him, thus ending this shameful affair. Everyone will assume that he was truly rescued by a young man surnamed Yu, and that person will naturally have no connection whatsoever with the 'ghost-faced demon.' It's just that Yu Cuiwei did not arrive as scheduled."

Shengxiang shook her head and sighed, "I don't know what you old men are thinking... I heard you're from a reputable sect? The kind that's very kind?"

"I believe that although Yu Cuiwei certainly deserves to die, we were saved by him, and we cannot allow him to die at the hands of the very elders of the martial world he once saved. Moreover, his good deeds are even more worthy of being publicized throughout the martial world than those of chivalrous heroes, so that the evildoers of the martial world will have the will to repent and reform. Therefore, I wish to save Yu Cuiwei's life," the Golden Elixir Daoist continued in a deep voice, "and also expose the actions of certain people who kill to silence witnesses and seek fame in the martial world."

Shengxiang shrank back and muttered, "A grand ideal... and then?"

"This humble Taoist priest cannot fight against eleven sects by himself alone, so I would like to ask Young Master Shengxiang to tell me the truth about Yu Cuiwei. If possible, I would also like to ask Young Master Shengxiang to lend me a helping hand."

Shengxiang sighed again, "So that's what happened... Daoist, let me tell you, the great hero Qu Zhiliang is also causing trouble for Yu Cuiwei. Do you really want to protect him?"

Master Jin Dan was taken aback. "Master Qu?"

Shengxiang nodded. "Are you still willing to vouch for me?"

Master Jindan said solemnly, "Why wouldn't I dare? If Yu Cuiwei has truly reformed, I must also tell Hero Qu that Yu Cuiwei's crimes do not warrant death. A glimmer of goodness amidst evil thoughts is more precious than anything else!"

Shengxiang smiled wryly, "Daoist Master, you are truly great." He rolled his eyes twice and sighed, "Da Yu is a very strange person, he won't ask you to save him."

Master Jindan sighed, "This is also what we are worried about."

"Come here for a moment," Shengxiang said mysteriously. "If one day you can't save your own life or Da Yu's, I'll tell you a good place to escape."

The next morning, Shengxiang changed into a new outfit and went straight to Baitaotang. He never refused a sweet soup, and even if it was a trap, he would still go with a smile.

On the third floor of Baitaotang, in the room where eyebrow styling is performed.

Shi Shimei's eyebrows were lightly drawn, and she wore a pale yellow dress with her long hair tied in a black bun without any adornment. Yu Xiu sat opposite her, on the table were a pot and two cups of Shaoxing wine, which they both only sipped lightly. Sheng Xiang, dressed in a green brocade robe with a new tassel hanging from her waist, pushed open the door and entered the room with a beaming smile, "Greetings, Mei Niang."

Shi Shi smiled and said to the girl behind her, "Bring up the bird's nest, lotus seed, and hibiscus soup."

Shengxiang glanced sideways at Yuxiu and quietly asked Shishimei, "Did this piece of wood accompany you on your wedding night?"

With an elegant gesture, Shi Shi raised her glass, her expression calm and smiling, and said, "No."

"Are you sure he knows how to have a wedding night?" Sheng Xiang's smile widened. "Maybe Yu Mutou is too abstinent and has read too many legal texts. He doesn't actually know what his wife is going to do..." He was halfway through his sentence when Shi Shimei raised her glass and laughed loudly. Yu Xiu said calmly, "Shut up!"

Shengxiang straightened her brand-new sleeves. "Where's Rongrong?"