Bergbanditen sind unterwegs

Kapitel 9

Over the years, Honglu and Moxibei have lived seemingly peaceful lives together. However, only they know how many undercurrents and turmoil exist beneath the surface of managing such a large business. Honglu has long since developed a habit of quickly finding a windowless wall in the room just before the candle goes out. Then, as soon as the candle goes out, he quickly and quietly slips into the corner and carefully hides.

A moment later, a scream came from another room in the courtyard. It was the voice of Rongrong, one of Miss Murong's maids. Then, there was the sound of weapons clashing. It seemed that many people in the courtyard were quickly fighting.

"Young Master Mo, aren't you going out to take a look?" Honglu waited for a while, and as her eyes gradually adjusted in the darkness, she saw that Mo Xibei had already sat down at the table and showed no intention of going out.

"There are so many heroes and chivalrous men out there, why bother joining in this commotion?" Mo Xibei said softly.

Hong and Lü then fell silent. They didn't belong to the Jianghu (江湖, a term referring to the martial arts world), so why should they wade into its murky waters?

However, to her surprise, a moment later, Mo Xibei rushed out like the wind, simply because of Murong Lianyun's sudden shout.

When Honglu sensed something was wrong and rushed to the door, she only saw Mo Xibei grab Murong Lianyun with one hand and quickly retreat from the battle. In his other hand, there was a long sword, its cold light flashing, with dark red blood dripping from time to time.

The assassins came quickly and left just as quickly.

Murong Lianyun clung to Mo Xibei like a koala, trembling uncontrollably.

"That was really dangerous just now. Luckily, Northwest came out in time." Chu Junfeng had already changed his form of address and was now standing next to the two of them. He gently persuaded Murong Lianyun, "It's all alright now, Miss Murong. Northwest was injured."

"You're injured? Where are you injured?" Hearing this, Murong Lianyun finally moved, her face flushed as she withdrew from Mo Xibei's embrace. When she saw the few dark liquids on the ground, her eyes reddened.

"It was just a scratch." Mo Xibei glanced at Chu Junfeng with some surprise. When she rushed out, Murong Lianyun had already been taken hostage by a masked man. They exchanged blows a couple of times. Because she was in such a hurry to save him, she couldn't dodge properly, and her arm was scratched by the man's knife. Of course, she also cut off the man's arm, so she actually gained the upper hand. However, everything happened in the blink of an eye. Mo Xibei had worn a dark-colored dress before going to bed, so even Murong Lianyun, who was standing to the side, hadn't noticed, let alone Chu Junfeng, who was surrounded. But this surprise was only momentary. When she looked away from Chu Junfeng's face and looked at Murong Lianyun again, Mo Xibei's expression was normal, clear and calm, as if she hadn't been injured at all. She only said gently, "I'm fine. You're the one who was frightened. Go back to sleep early."

After everyone returned to their respective places at Mo Xibei's insistence, Honglu tore open Mo Xibei's sleeve. Underneath the black robe, Mo Xibei's skin was as white as jade, but at this moment, a bloody wound stretched across it, making it look particularly ferocious.

"Young Master Mo, you're definitely going to gain weight this time," Honglu complained after receiving a glare from Mo Xibei. "Haven't you heard of 'going back on your word and getting fat'? You were just saying you wouldn't get involved in trouble, but what happened? Before you even finished speaking, you rushed over faster than everyone else and even got injured. If I didn't know you weren't a man, I would have really thought you fell in love with that Murong Lianyun. You're crazy! When have I ever seen you risk your life to save someone? I'm so confused about what you're thinking."

“Sister Honglu, you know what I’m thinking, it’s just too late, and you’re confused.” This time, Mo Xibei didn’t say anything to Honglu’s long complaint, only kindly commenting on Honglu’s behavior at the end. Her voice was a little stiff, because at this moment her face was contorted with pain, while Honglu, still gritting her teeth as she pulled at the bandage, showed no sign of letting up.

"I said, Sister Honglv, my wound has stopped bleeding, why are you using so much force to stop the bleeding?" Mo Xibei finally couldn't help but ask.

"I'll teach you a lesson. Don't go into dangerous situations like this again. Have you forgotten what you taught me?" Honglu tightened the bandage again, and only after hearing Mo Xibei's snort did she tie a knot with satisfaction and let go.

“Alright, aside from Murong Lianyun’s matter, from now on, I’ll count on you to hold up the sky if it falls, how about it?” Mo Xibei replied quickly, with a very business-like demeanor.

Volume One: Ten Years of Wandering the Jianghu, Chapter Eighteen

"Why is Murong Lianyun's matter excluded, but you..." Honglu was shocked, took two steps back and looked Mo Xibei up and down. After a long while, her fingertips trembled slightly, "You really like women?"

Mo Xibei was startled by Hong Lü's reaction. At this moment, Fang Xiao said, "You know I like beautiful women."

“But you’re a woman too. Women with women… Young Master Mo, have you ever thought about whether the Martial Arts Alliance Leader would agree to this? He’d probably chop you up.” Honglu stamped her feet, cold sweat pouring down her face.

"Ha..." The only response she received was Mo Xibei's loud laughter. She pressed her injured spot and laughed so hard she bent over. After a long while, she said, "What are you thinking? There are different kinds of liking. I like Lianyun, just like I like my own sister. I also like you, Sister Honglu, just like I like my older sister."

Honglu then realized she had misunderstood, and couldn't help feeling a little resentful. "We've known each other for three years, and I've never seen you risk your life for me like this. You've only known Murong Lianyun for a few days, and you've already risked your life to save her twice."

"Getting angry over this again? I'm really fed up with you. Fine, if your life were in such a serious threat, I'd save you too." Mo Xibei shook his head, then stopped talking and lay down on the bed.

"No need, it's better if you don't save me." Honglu stuck out her tongue, knowing Mo Xibei's tendency to fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, packed her medicine box, turned around, opened the door, and left.

However, Mo Xibei couldn't fall asleep this time. Murong Lianyun's figure kept swaying before her eyes until it overlapped with a distant figure in her memory. That figure smiled at Mo Xibei from the distant water and sky, calling her, "Sister, sister..."

Tears suddenly welled up from her tightly closed eyes. Distant memories from another life resurfaced before her eyes—Nan Li's smiling, resolute smile, her youthful, hazy love, like a moth drawn to a flame. Across the vast distance of time and space, these memories surged into her heart. Mo Xibei pressed her head, and then, Nan Li's image overlapped with Murong Lianyun before her. Her beloved younger sister, Nan Li, whom she had ultimately failed to stop and protect back then—this time, she was determined to protect her.

The next morning, everyone packed their belongings. Some rode horses, others walked, all eager to enter Luoyang in one fell swoop. Most of them had been to Luoyang more than once, but in terms of the arduous journey and lurking dangers, this was absolutely unprecedented. They had been on tenterhooks the whole way, and only now did they realize how exhausted they were, both physically and mentally.

Mo Xibei remained reclining in the carriage as usual, with Murong Lianyun sitting close beside him. Murong Lianyun did not speak, but looked down at the white cloth wrapped around Mo Xibei's arm. His eyes were red, and tears, as bright and clear as pearls, were welling up in his eyes, as if they would fall at any moment.

"Beauty Lianyun, my injury is very minor, please don't look at me so sadly, okay?" Half an hour later, Mo Xibei finally couldn't bear it anymore and sat up.

"I didn't mean to." Murong Lianyun was startled by her sudden movement, and tears streamed down her face. She panicked and hurriedly wiped her eyes with her hands.

"We're about to enter Henan Prefecture, right? This is my first time here, I should take a good look at the scenery." Mo Xibei frowned, then darted out of the carriage. Outside, the horse that Murong Lianyun had bought for her hadn't actually been taken to change the bedding; it was currently tied to the side of the carriage and walking alongside. Mo Xibei quickly jumped on and pulled on the reins.

"Brother Mo, is your injury alright?" The people outside were not surprised to see Mo Xibei come out on horseback. There is a difference between men and women, and it is still inappropriate for them to be squeezed into the same carriage like this, even though they are not alone. However, since others did not say anything, they did not feel comfortable asking. Now that they saw him come out, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Only Chu Junfeng stopped his horse in front and waited for Mo Xibei to catch up before asking this question.

"It's just a minor injury. They were too nervous. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Brother Chu." Mo Xibei also changed to a form of address that he felt comfortable with, shrugged, spurred his horse forward, and after a while, Luoyang was already in sight.

"If you want to know about the rise and fall of dynasties, please look at Luoyang City." Chu Junfeng pointed with his riding whip and said with great admiration, "This former capital of the dynasty is indeed magnificent."

"Luoyang's soil is most suitable for flowers, and peonies are especially rare in the world. If you ask me, this trip is perfectly timed. In a few days, the peony season should be here. Just imagine, facing those varieties like Yao Huang, He Ling Hong, Dao Yun Tan Xin, and Yu Ban Bai, warming a pot of Du Kang wine, and having some Luoyang Yan Cai (a type of Chinese dish)... No, Luoyang Yan Cai isn't enough. We should have a water banquet! Enjoying the flowers and the delicious food, that would make the trip worthwhile," Mo Xibei said with a hint of drooling.

"Brother Mo is truly a refined person. Compared to you, I am truly a vulgar one." Chu Junfeng said with a slight smirk. He used poetry to express his ambitions, but Mo Xibei responded with famous flowers and delicacies, which showed that he disregarded his ideas.

Murong Lianyun's home was located in a famous small garden in Henan Prefecture. Mo Xibei vaguely remembered that when she was half asleep, Murong Lianyun seemed to say that in the previous dynasty, there were famous scholars who lived here and wrote books. However, now, there is no trace of the sages in the garden. But every plant and tree is praised by those who have been there for its spaciousness and grandeur, which has a different charm from the gardens in Jiangnan.

When the group arrived at the gate of the Murong residence, as soon as Murong Lianyun alighted from the carriage, her family members greeted her with smiles, took her horse, and bowed to their young lady. Meanwhile, someone went inside to announce her arrival. In a short while, the garden gate opened wide, and two rows of young people quickly stepped out, then stood respectfully with their heads bowed. A middle-aged man with jet-black hair and a radiant appearance strode out.

Impatient with the insincere pleasantries before entering, Mo Xibei had already quietly slipped into the crowd while Murong Lianyun and Chu Junfeng were explaining the origins of their courtyard again. Hearing the sounds from inside, he glanced around curiously and saw that the twenty-odd young people standing inside and outside the door were all spirited and walked with steady, silent steps, which made him nod in admiration. However, when he saw the middle-aged man who came out from the middle, wearing a gray cotton robe embroidered with pine and cranes and looking no more than thirty-five or thirty-six years old, he frowned slightly.

"Father, you've emerged from seclusion?" Strangely enough, the dozens of people who had been talking amongst themselves just moments before suddenly fell silent as if they had swallowed their tongues when the middle-aged man appeared. Only Murong Lianyun ran forward a few steps, grabbed the middle-aged man's arm, and shook him, calling out to him. Only then did Mo Xibei realize that the ordinary-looking man in front of him was actually the renowned Murong Alliance Leader, Murong Songtao.

"You little rascal, you're always causing trouble. If your father doesn't come out of seclusion soon, I'm afraid you'll turn Luoyang upside down." Murong Songtao patted his spoiled daughter beside him, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned. His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for the dozens of people present to hear clearly.

“No one else does, Father—” Murong Lianyun twisted his body, somewhat unwilling.

"You crazy girl, don't be so rude. So many heroes are watching you. Why don't you introduce them to your father?" Murong Songtao didn't seem to care. When he said "introduce them," his eyes darted around, and he had already sized up everyone in front of him.

Almost instinctively, Mo Xibei shrank back into the crowd. Murong Songtao's eyes were too shrewd and sharp. Mo Xibei felt as if a sharp knife was pressed against his heart when he was looked at like that. Although the blade did not move, the coldness in it instantly seeped into his blood, making him helpless and wanting to retreat.

"My daughter is mischievous and must have caused you heroes a lot of trouble along the way. I thank you for your help." Murong Songtao didn't wait for his daughter's hesitant introduction. He strode down the steps and bowed deeply to everyone. Mo Xibei thought, "Old foxes are indeed shrewd. In fact, Murong Lianyun's trip was more than just causing these people trouble. However, since her father, as the leader of the alliance, had already bowed deeply, it was an even greater courtesy, and the others felt embarrassed to speak up."

Sure enough, everyone returned the greeting with clasped hands, saying, "No, no," "It's alright, it's alright"...

Volume One: Ten Years of Wandering the Jianghu, Chapter Nineteen

Murong Songtao stopped mentioning these things and took two steps closer, saying to Chu Junfeng, "This must be Young Hero Chu. Although I haven't been active in the martial arts world much these past few years, I still have many friends in the martial arts world. They all say that among the younger generation, no one can surpass Young Hero Chu in terms of martial arts skills and chivalry. Seeing you today, it is indeed true to your reputation. If Young Hero Chu doesn't mind, we should stay for a few more days. Although I am a rough man, I did learn a few clumsy chess moves in my younger days. Let's have a friendly match."