Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 32

"Hmph! I'll fight you to the death today!" With that threat, the fierce man charged forward.

The man easily sidestepped the blade and swung his own knife. The arrogant man was thus easily wounded.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. It was a fluid, flowing movement, so beautiful it was breathtaking.

When the man regained his footing, Xiao Xiao finally saw his face.

Her breath almost stopped instantly, and her blood seemed to boil. Trembling, she cried out, "Master?!"

Three ways to identify the person

"Master?!"

Hearing the call, the man turned and glanced at Xiao Xiao.

His cold, indifferent gaze swept over Xiaoxiao, and then he left without a trace of lingering affection.

Her small heart almost stopped, but then she smiled helplessly. She was really stupid. She had burned the coffin for her master herself... The seventh day after death was just a saying, how could she really see him? Besides, the man in front of her was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, how could he possibly be her master?

She lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes involuntarily. To truly accept life and death—how easy is that…?

She was trapped in the past, unable to extricate herself, while those around her only paused briefly before engaging in a battle.

Amidst the commotion, the passengers on board had all woken up. Upon reaching the deck and witnessing the scene, they were all utterly astonished.

Xiao Xiao seemed to have completely forgotten the fighting around her. She stood there blankly, her expression one of utter bewilderment.

Those menacing-looking fellows, though arrogant and domineering, were actually quite weak when it came to real fighting skills. Moreover, their leader was injured, which further diminished their fighting spirit. One of them was forced back by the man's sword strike and fell towards the bow of the boat.

He stood up, ready to attack again. But when he saw the stunned Xiao Xiao, he immediately had a wicked thought and swung his weapon straight at her.

Xiao Xiao finally came to her senses. She was terrified and was about to run away.

Suddenly, a cold light flashed, and the man knelt down abruptly.

A feathered arrow was tucked into the man's leg. The archer had clearly used all his strength; the arrow had pierced through the muscle, its three-edged, cold blade clearly visible.

Lian Zhao?

Xiao Xiao looked up and saw Lian Zhao holding a bow in his left hand, his right hand just leaving the bowstring. He sheathed the bow, leaped, and was in front of Xiao Xiao.

"Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.

Xiao Xiao shook her head.

Lian Zhao glanced at the man lying on the ground, his displeasure clearly visible. He frowned, then turned and rejoined the battle.

Xiao Xiao stood there, staring blankly. Her mind was in turmoil, and for a moment, she didn't know what to do.

This post ship was used for carrying passengers, and most of the boatmen on board were not skilled in martial arts. The group of people who had smuggled themselves onto the ship did so precisely because of this, intending to kill and rob the ship. But the current situation is quite different. Putting aside the unknown man in light-colored clothes, Lian Zhao's skills alone are more than enough to subdue these people.

This farce didn't last long before it came to an end.

The boatmen then came aboard and thanked them repeatedly.

Lian Zhao put away his bow and said, "It's my duty. Let's tie them up first and hand them over to the authorities for investigation."

As soon as Lian Zhao finished speaking, the man in light clothing smiled. He spun around and swung his sword. Those who had no power to resist died instantly.

Lian Zhao was stunned and speechless.

"I've come to clean house. This is a trivial matter; there's no need for the authorities to trouble themselves," the man in light clothing said, his tone slightly disdainful.

Xiao Xiao then realized how ridiculous it had been to mistake this person for her master. That kind of smile and expression had never appeared on her master's face. She remembered so clearly how her master's smile was like a gentle breeze and warm sunshine. Besides, her master, who would kneel before any enemy, would never resort to such ruthlessness.

There are many similar people in the world, so what's so surprising about that?

Xiao Xiao's emotions completely calmed down, but Lian Zhao's emotions were completely aroused.

"Clean house?! That's a matter of life and death!" Lian Zhao stepped forward, slightly angry, and said.

The man sheathed his sword and replied indifferently, "You must be the young master of the Lian family, the Divine Archer. It's best if you don't interfere in matters of the martial world."

"So what if it's the martial world? Does that mean people can treat human life like dirt?" Lian Zhao roared. "Where does such behavior stand in the face of the imperial laws?!"

The man's hand stopped on the hilt of his knife. "What do you wish to do?"

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but feel worried for Lian Zhao. This was completely like talking to a brick wall; what if they started arguing and actually fought? Xiao Xiao immediately took a few steps forward and grabbed Lian Zhao's arm.

"Lian Zhao, the martial world has its own rules, don't worry about it," Xiao Xiao advised.

Lian Zhao glanced at her, "But he..."

Her little eyes darted around, her body went limp, and she said weakly, "It hurts... the silver needles..."

Lian Zhao reached out to support her, asking with concern, "Acupuncture for pulse diagnosis?"

Xiao Xiao frowned and nodded.

"I'll help you back to your room." Lian Zhao immediately put aside the argument.

Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and obediently let him help her walk. When they were almost at the hatch, she couldn't help but turn around and glance at the man.

Hmm... the more you look at it, the less it seems similar...

...

Back in her room, Xiao Xiao continued to feign illness and lay down on the bed. Lian Zhao brought a cup of tea and walked to the bedside.

"Xiaoxiao, have some water." He sat on the edge of the bed and handed her the tea.

Xiao Xiao took it and lowered her head to sip it.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked in a soft voice.

Xiao Xiao held the teacup and nodded.

Lian Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Why did you go to the bow of the boat at this hour?"

Xiao Xiao froze, blinked, and said, "Ah, I couldn't sleep, so I went to the bow of the boat for some fresh air. The boatman said that this waterway was the one Cao Cao used when he attacked Red Cliffs, and I wanted to see it..."

After listening, Lian Zhao lowered his eyes. "I see..."

"Uh, I'm telling the truth. I just went out to take a look, that's all," Xiao Xiao explained.

Lian Zhao looked up. "I didn't say I didn't believe you." He smiled and added, "...Xiao Xiao, you don't need to worry about the silver needles, okay?"

Xiao Xiao was stunned. She thought he would suspect something, but it turned out he thought she couldn't sleep because of the "Snow-Refined Silver Light". She couldn't help but laugh.

Lian Zhao asked with some concern, "What are you laughing at?"

She shook her head slightly, "It's nothing, Young Master Lian..."

"..." Lian Zhao also laughed, "Didn't I say that just calling me by my name is fine?"

"Ah, how can that be?" Xiao Xiao shook her head vigorously.

"Didn't you just call out?" Lian Zhao raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Xiao Xiao then realized that in her haste to pull him, she had indeed blurted out: "Lian Zhao." ...Uh, how dare she be so audacious?! She opened her innocent eyes and swallowed hard.

Lian Zhao raised his hand, touched his earlobe, and smiled, "Actually, I'm not used to you calling me 'Young Master'... I always feel like you're not too willing."

Xiao Xiao looked at him, a warmth spreading through her heart. His actions were completely natural, without a trace of affectation. How could someone like that possibly resort to scheming?

It should be okay, just call him by his name...

"Lian Zhao..." she mustered her courage and said, "I'm alright, thank you."

Lian Zhao smiled and nodded, "You're welcome. It's getting late, you should rest. I'm going back to my room."

"Okay," Xiao Xiao replied. "You should go to sleep early too."

Lian Zhao nodded, got up and left.

Xiao Xiao watched his retreating figure and smiled quietly. Could there really be such a person in the world? His purity made her feel, once again, that she would be struck by lightning…

Just then, she remembered her real purpose for leaving her room in the middle of the night.

It's almost midnight now, and she hasn't prepared a single dish yet. Is her master's seventh day memorial service really going to be this desolate?

Xiao Xiao put down her teacup, clasped her hands together, and looked up at the cabin ceiling. "Master, it's not Xiao Xiao's fault. Blame those bandits!" she quickly tried to distance herself. "...By the way, Master, if you have a spirit in heaven, please protect Xiao Xiao and don't let lightning strike me." She murmured these words with a sincere heart.

Suddenly, the man's face appeared in my mind.

Wow, I called him "Master" for nothing, and got taken advantage of. Sigh...

Xiao Xiao felt helpless for a while, but finally couldn't resist the drowsiness and fell asleep.

...

The next morning, Xiaoxiao got up very early. She took a few jujube cakes and ran to the bow of the boat. She stacked the jujube cakes one by one, knelt down, and bowed.

"Master, please don't forget what I said last night." After saying this, Xiaoxiao got up, picked up a jujube cake, took a bite, and sat on the gunwale.

Although she said she wanted to see the Red Cliff last night to appease Lian Zhao, it wasn't entirely a lie. She tilted her head, watching the surging river flow eastward. She remembered the Red Cliff her master had told her about before.

At that time, Cao Cao led his army eastward. On his warship, he poured wine by the river, held his spear, and composed poetry. What heroic spirit, what elegance! My master once said that, regardless of whether Cao Cao was loyal or treacherous, his very demeanor was unparalleled in the world, unmatched by anyone.

That's right, unparalleled in the world, unmatched by anyone. But to achieve all that, you still have to be a bad guy first!

She looked up at the sky, a half-eaten date cake in her mouth. Why was being a bad person so difficult? Maybe she should just become a good person instead?

She swallowed the date cake and was about to take another one when she heard footsteps approaching.

She turned her head and saw the man from last night.

Only then did they realize that he was wearing a moon-white robe, which made his appearance exceptionally refined. His expression was serene as he slowly walked towards the bow of the ship.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Xiao widened her eyes and looked closely. Hmm, although their appearances were similar, upon closer inspection, there were still many differences. His chin was slightly pointed, and compared to his master, he had a more effeminate look. His body was also thinner, not as upright as his master's. Hmm… what is this? They don't look alike at all! Last night, it was entirely due to the moonlight that I was mistaken!

Xiao Xiao nodded as she chewed on a date cake. Before she knew it, the man had walked up to her.

"Young lady," the man said, his voice still deep and pleasant.

Xiao Xiao never expected that this man had come to see her. She choked on the date cake and started coughing.

"Great...Great hero, what is it?" She managed to suppress her cough and asked timidly.

The man remained calm. "Young lady, if I remember correctly, you called me 'Master' last night..."

Xiao Xiao paused for a moment, then replied innocently, "Master? Great hero, you must have misheard. I don't know you. Last night, I called for the 'water carrier' behind you, hehe..."

“I couldn’t possibly have misheard…” the man replied without the slightest hesitation.