Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 67

He put down his wine glass, went outside, and stood under the swirling snowflakes.

Seeing him come out, she took her daughter's hand, walked to his side, and held an umbrella for him.

"It's cold outside, shall I get you some clothes?" she asked gently.

He didn't answer, his lowered gaze sweeping over the little girl whose cheeks were red from the cold. The child looked at him with bright, watery eyes, filled with unfamiliarity and fear, and after a long while, smiled sweetly.

In that instant, however, he averted his gaze. He frowned, looking towards the valley entrance. In the wind and snow, a figure gradually became clear: a man wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, carrying a little girl of about four years old, walked slowly towards them.

The Qi family members inside the valley all stopped what they were doing and stood ready for battle.

The man adjusted his straw hat and said humbly, "I apologize, I meant no offense, I was being chased and had no choice but to intrude. Please grant me your request..."

Upon hearing that voice, Qi Han laughed. He leaped up and landed in front of the person.

"How could I possibly refuse the esteemed presence of Master Han?" he said loudly with a smile.

The man was slightly startled and looked up at him. Then, a look of helplessness crossed his brows. "Qi Han..."

"Since you're here, let's settle the score from five years ago!" Qi Han said, kicking Han Qing in the chest.

Han Qing took several steps back to avoid his attack and said, "Wait... I..."

Qi Han ignored him completely, took the bladed whip from his waist, and lashed out fiercely. Instantly, the snow on the ground trembled and blurred the vision.

Han Qing frowned, holding the little girl in one arm, and freed his right hand to gather his energy and unleash a palm strike. The powerful palm strike pierced through the snow and also deflected the whip blade.

There was a brief pause between the two, but their murderous intent only intensified, and they were on the verge of exploding.

"Little one is hungry..." A small voice, filled with fearless innocence, rang out in the silent standoff.

Han Qing's brows twitched, his murderous aura vanished without a trace, and his guard lowered by a third. He smiled gently at the little girl in his arms and coaxed, "Good girl."

Qi Han glanced at the thin little girl in Han Qing's arms, whose cheeks were also red from the cold, and whose eyes held a hint of unfamiliarity and fear. He suddenly laughed, flicked his right hand, and sheathed the bladed whip.

"A guest from afar is a guest..." Qi Han patted the snow off his clothes and laughed, "I don't want people to laugh at the Qi family for lacking hospitality." He turned around and waved lightly, "Come in and have a drink..."

Han Qing watched his retreating figure, a smile appearing on her face, and followed after him.

After dinner, the two children played together. Qi Han and Han Qing sat inside, the wine warming on the stove, quietly emitting steam.

Qi Han poured a glass of wine and handed it to Han Qing.

Han Qing took it and took a small sip.

Qi Han smiled and said, "I heard that you left the Shenxiao Sect... Could it be that you were being chased by the Shenxiao Sect today?"

Han Qing smiled and said, "I only blame myself for not listening to you back then. The Nine Emperor Artifacts are extremely dangerous objects, not something that mortals can touch..."

Qi Han chuckled dismissively, “Nonsense. If it weren’t for that, my Qi family would have already ruled the world. Why would we need to live in seclusion in this remote valley? People are shallow; they can’t even understand such a simple truth…” He looked up at Han Qing, “It seems you have figured it out.”

Han Qing nodded and drank the wine in his cup.

"Thank you for the wine, farewell," Han Qing said, putting down his wine glass.

Qi Han took a sip of wine and said, "...To Lin'an?"

Han Qing was slightly surprised, but quickly regained his composure. "Yes," he replied, concisely and clearly.

"It seems you betrayed the Divine Firmament Sect, but not Marshal Yue..." Qi Han said. "However, it is the current emperor who wants to kill Marshal Yue. What can you do alone?"

"I can't do anything..." Han Qing said with a smile, "I'm just going to see them off."

"Seeing someone off?" Qi Han frowned.

“If he doesn’t want to return to court, who in the world can force him to do so?” Han Qing smiled, took out a piece of paper from his pocket, and handed it to Qi Han.

Qi Han was slightly puzzled. He unfolded the paper, glanced at it, and his expression instantly changed. He looked at Han Qing in surprise, speechless.

"With the appearance of the Nine Emperors, the world is unified..." Han Qing's smile was tinged with helplessness. "This thing originally belonged to the Qi family, so it's like returning it to its rightful owner."

Qi Han looked at the paper and remained silent for a long while. Then, he placed it in the stove. Qi Han sighed and picked up the wine pot. "Would you like another cup?"

A smile instantly appeared in Han Qing's eyes. He was about to answer when suddenly his leg was grabbed. He swayed, and his expression immediately turned from laughing to crying.

Han Qing bent down, picked up the little girl, and smiled, "Xiaoxiao, didn't I tell you not to do this?"

The girl laughed happily, reaching out her little hand to wrap around his neck.

That scene left Qi Han somewhat lost in thought.

"Your daughter?" Qi Han asked.

Han Qing smiled and shook his head, "I suppose you could call me a disciple."

“Disciple…” Qi Han silently repeated, then fell silent. The ghost master before him was completely different from the man he had met five years ago. He had never known that someone so full of malevolence could have such a clear and bright smile.

At this moment, Han Qing's helpless voice rang out, "Xiao Xiao, where did you get this book from? Didn't your master tell you... the Qi Family's Famous Soldiers' Manual? Xiao Xiao, return it now..."

The little girl pouted, unhappy, "Xiaoxiao wants to see pictures..."

Qi Han laughed, "Hehe, it's just a diagram. If she likes it, she can take it."

"This..." Han Qing was about to say something when suddenly, his leg was hugged again. He was stunned for a moment, then looked down helplessly and saw a little girl of about five years old, imitating his small figure, hugging his leg.

Han Qing squatted down. "You want a hug too?"

The little girl let go, looked at him, and her eyes showed a hint of fear.

At this moment, Yanji walked over, squatted down, pulled the little girl over, and said with a smile, "The child is just a child and doesn't know any better, please don't mind."

"It's alright." Han Qing smiled and turned to Qi Han, "This is your daughter, right? What's her name?"

Qi Han was silent for a moment before answering, "Not up."

Han Qing's smile froze as he looked at Yan Ji.

Yanji smiled gently as before, "The child is still young, no rush." She picked up the girl and then said to the little one in Han Qing's arms, "You've been fussing for so long, would you like some snacks?"

Xiao Xiao immediately struggled to jump out of Han Qing's arms, grabbed Yan Ji's skirt, and nodded vigorously.

Yan Ji smiled gently and led the two children out.

Seeing them walk away, Han Qing said, "I've heard some of the rumors circulating in the martial arts world. Although it's your family matter, the child is innocent..."

Qi Han sipped the wine in his cup and said, "They enjoy wealth and luxury. I have not mistreated them."

Han Qing looked at him and said in a low voice, "There are some things in this world that cannot be exchanged."

Qi Han did not answer, but silently drank his wine.

...

Beauty is Like a Knife [Part 2]

Extra——

The next day, Han Qing took Xiao Xiao and left the valley.

Qi Han stood at the valley entrance, watching them disappear into the wind and snow.

“Master, if he reveals the location of the valley, then…” someone nearby said.

Qi Han smiled and shook her head.

"I need to leave the valley," he said.

"Master, you haven't forged the knife yet, why?"

Qi Han turned around and smiled, "It's time for me to take on a disciple..."

“Master, the Qi family’s unique skills are passed down only to men, not women, and only to family members. If you want to take on disciples, you should choose from among your existing disciples,” the disciple said.

"These disciples are mediocre and unlikely to amount to much." Qi Han raised his eyes, glanced at Yan Ji and her daughter in the plum grove, and said calmly, "As for the distinction between insiders and outsiders... there are many ways to turn outsiders into our own..."

...

At the end of the eleventh year of the Shaoxing era, Qi Han left his secluded valley to travel the world in search of a successor worthy to inherit his skills. However, he never expected that this departure would lead to a lifetime of regret.

A year later, when he returned to the valley with his apprentice, the valley seemed unchanged. The constant clanging of blacksmiths, the children's laughter, the chirping of sparrows... everything was exactly the same as when he left. However, some things had indeed changed.

When his disciples told him that Yan Ji and her daughter had disappeared, he was unsure of what he had heard for a long time.

When he returned to the attic, everything was familiar. On her dressing table, there were still rouge, powder, and hairpins. If it weren't for the layer of dust, he would never have believed that she was gone.

He reached out and brushed away the dust on the table, his fingertips touching something. The warm, white jade, even after the dust was removed, still radiated a crystal-clear brilliance.

He remembered so clearly how she had shed her glitz and glamour, abandoning everything except a white jade hairpin. She said she loved it and couldn't bear to discard it. But after he frowned, she threw the hairpin away without hesitation, then smiled and said, "Everything I own belongs to you. What you don't like, I naturally can't keep."

“Our mistress…it was our oversight. She was supposed to be out of the valley with everyone to buy supplies, but then…” The disciple stood beside him, speaking apologetically, but his tone was indifferent. “This place has always been peaceful, with few bandits or thieves. We’ve sent people to search for her several times, but…”

He interrupted his disciple, asking in a completely emotionless voice, "Rarely do mountain bandits and outlaws?...Are you telling me she left on her own?"

The disciple was silent for a moment, then said, "Uh... if that's not the case, then perhaps we encountered a ferocious beast..."

Qi Han remained silent, her hand holding the jade hairpin.

“Master, no matter what, it’s been so long, and to find it… I’m afraid…” the disciple said.

Qi Han looked at the jade hairpin and laughed. He had once told her to leave. But she had cried and begged him, "Please don't send me away, I beg you..."

She once told him in the most sincere tone, "...I have only ever loved you in this life..."

Her life ended far too soon...

"Master..." The disciple looked at him with some worry when he smiled.

"No need to look anymore..." Qi Han put down the jade hairpin in her hand, "Let her go."

The disciple was not surprised by this, and after saying a few innocuous words, he took his leave.

Qi Han stood in the room, still smiling. Of course, how could he go to her? She was just a woman he had obtained with a knife, just a courtesan from a brothel, just an ordinary woman who craved vanity, just… just a smile that slightly stirred his heart… Yes, he didn't care…

He clearly didn't care, yet for some reason, a huge emptiness filled his heart, a dull ache lingering within him… He took a deep breath and walked out of the room. Standing outside was his carefully chosen successor.

He looked at the stubborn boy and said, "From now on, you will learn from me. Forget your original name and identity. You are my disciple, Qi Han, and no longer the second young master of Hero's Fortress."

The boy looked at him and nodded.

“I will call you Mo Yun, just as your mother called you,” he said calmly, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. “I will pass on all the skills of the Qi family to you… No one in the world will be able to harm you again…”

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment, then muttered to himself, "Absolutely no one..."

...