Lave

Chapitre 58

“I believe that no one has been able to figure it out for over a hundred years, but I don’t believe that you haven’t figured it out either. Otherwise, how did Yun Wuyai get the sword wound on his shoulder that day?” Lan Qi walked over. She had just washed her face, and water droplets were still on her face, glistening. Her eyebrows and eyes were clear, and her jade-like face and red lips were like white flowers covered with morning dew.

Ming lowered his eyes, tossed half of the rabbit to Lan Qi, and smiled slightly, as if he wanted to laugh for no reason.

Lan Qi took the rabbit, opened his mouth and took a big bite, chewing loudly and enjoying it immensely. In contrast, the Second Young Master Ming was much more refined and elegant, eating silently and behaving appropriately.

"Fake, fake, fake!" Lan Qi said three times in a row, glancing at Ming Er as she ate.

The second young master of the Ming Dynasty believed that silence was golden.

Lan Qi looked Ming Er up and down with disdain. "Second Young Master, look at you. You're obviously hypocritical, insidious, cunning, and petty. You'd starve if no one fed you. You're utterly useless. Yet, in front of others, you act all benevolent, tolerant, humble, and gentle. You make everyone think you're intelligent, knowledgeable, and omnipotent. Aren't you tired of pretending like this?"

Ming Er finished eating the rabbit meat before speaking, "That day at Pear Blossom Tomb, I asked Ning Lang whether he believed in the inherent goodness or inherent evil of human nature."

"Oh?" Lan Qi spat out a bone. "I think the Second Young Master believes the same thing as me."

Ming Er looked at Lan Qi and smiled gently and kindly, "Human nature is inherently evil."

"Human nature is inherently ugly; only those who deceive themselves have the high-sounding claim that 'human nature is inherently good.'" Lan Qi spat out another bone with utter disdain.

"That settles it." Ming Er washed his hands with water from his water bag.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Lan Qi swallowed the last piece of rabbit meat and washed her hands.

Ming Er dried his hands, sat up straight, and looked at Lan Qi, who was staring at him. He couldn't help but smile. Since they weren't in a hurry to travel, a little chat wouldn't hurt. He then said, "If human nature is inherently evil, then how can there be saints, gentlemen, heroes, or virtuous people in this world? And who throughout history hasn't been hypocritical?"

Lan Qi raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"People always say that children are innocent and pure, but if that's really the case, then how come some parents are kind yet their children are wicked?" The mist in Ming Erkong's eyes slowly cleared. "After birth, people are mostly taught morality and etiquette, to cultivate themselves, be virtuous, abide by the law and observe etiquette, and be kind, compassionate, and righteous. But why do those young children still use deception and coaxing to achieve their goals? And why do the slightly older ones bully the weak, love to snatch beautiful and gorgeous things, and always discard the simple and ugly ones? People always say that children are ignorant and that's why they act this way, but that's human nature at its inception, a completely unmasked and exposed nature, so human nature is inherently evil. And those so-called morality, etiquette, benevolence, and righteousness are just things that incite people to be false and hypocritical."

Lan Qi looked at Ming Er with some surprise, but Ming Er's hazy eyes stared at the cave entrance, as if he was thinking or confused, but what he said was very clear.

“When children are raised by those moral codes and etiquette, they learn to hide their true nature, donning a cloak of benevolence and justice to conceal all ugliness and evil. They control their words and actions, going against their true desires, to become what everyone calls good people, kind people, and heroes, to do what is considered righteous, good, and heroic deeds, and to achieve great things. Then they gain food and clothing, fame, status, and glory. The more hypocritical and deceitful they are, the more they gain.” The light mist in Ming Er’s eyes cleared, revealing clear pupils that shone with a cold light. “Look at Ning Lang, he’s a universally acknowledged good person and gentleman, but he clearly loves you terribly, he clearly wants you, but he doesn’t dare. Why doesn’t he dare? Because of morality, because of etiquette, because of many, many reasons. So he doesn’t dare, so he hides his true feelings, acting as someone who is neither a friend nor a relative to you. And in the future, he may become a respected hero, and he may even marry the ‘Jade Demon,’ whom no one in the entire martial arts world dares to beg for.”

Lan Qi felt a sudden unease when Ning Lang was mentioned.

"The truly honest people in this world are those great villains who follow their 'whims.' They never hide their ugliness and desires, and they use every means at their disposal to get what they want. Even someone like 'White Wind and Black Breath' has moments when he hides his true nature. They are regarded as gods and revered as saints by the world and the entire martial arts world, but can you say that they have never acted against their own will? Whether it is towards people or things, there are always many things they do against their will. If the person they like is also liked by their friends, they pretend to be generous and reluctantly give them up; if they like fame, high position, and power, but everyone says that they are fleeting, they suppress their desires and call it being indifferent to fame and fortune; if they like money, but everyone says that is greedy and vulgar, they spend all their money to gain a noble reputation; if they are clearly afraid of pain and death, but everyone says that is being a hero, then they kill and are killed... And then, many admirable gentlemen, noble scholars, elegant people, great knights, and heroes appear in this world."

Ming Er slowly broke into a smile, cold and desolate, like a barren desert.

"Look, don't all people live by hiding and suppressing their true nature? Even heroes and gentlemen do this, let alone me?" He shifted his gaze to Lan Qi. "That's why being a person is tiring."

After a moment of eye contact with those cold, emotionless, and unfeeling eyes, Lan Qi slowly smiled, her smile as icy and devoid of warmth as ever, the evil in her blue eyes vanished, leaving only cold indifference. "I'm probably the only one in the entire martial world who would agree with your words. But..." she said, glancing at Ming Er with amusement, "My opinion is understandable, but why would the second young master of the Ming family, whom they cherish so much, possess such a mindset? And what kind of place is the Ming family that raised such a false immortal like you?"

Ming Er's laughter slowly faded, and silence fell, with only the sound of burning firewood remaining in the cave.

Lan Qi waited quietly.

After a long while, the second young master uttered two words indifferently: "The theater."

"A theater?" Lan Qi raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, the theater.” Ming Er’s cold eyes became empty and distant again. “The theater is where plays are performed, and there are many plays performed there.”

“The theater,” Lan Qi repeated calmly.

"Sibling rivalry, father-son power struggles, wives and concubines vying for favor, servants humiliating their masters, incest and adultery, betrayal and abandonment, villains plotting for money, hiring assassins, poisoning and plotting, corpses sinking in ancient wells, filial sons crying out for justice, brutal revenge... and so on—everything you can imagine in the world, it has it all, endlessly evolving and innovating, so you can never finish watching it, never tire of it. It's truly an extremely interesting place." Ming Er even had a faint, ethereal smile on his face.

"turn out to be……"

Ming Er slowly turned his gaze to look at her.

Lan Qi's eyes were as clear as water, but she seemed to realize something. After a long silence, she softly uttered, "So that's how it is."

Ming Er's eyes flickered slightly, but he remained silent, quietly watching her. Though she had never spoken, the events since their encounter were clear in her mind, and what she had experienced was self-evident. After a moment, he spoke softly, almost with a sigh: "You and I are the same kind of people, we don't believe in benevolence or chivalry." His empty eyes gathered into a thick fog, revealing no trace of truth. "We only believe in ourselves." That's why we can speak the truth to each other, because perhaps only we can truly see each other in this world, and therefore, we need not be hypocritical at this moment.

“Yes.” Lan Qi’s lips curled into a mocking smile, yet it concealed a deep sigh. “We are all alone, all of us are alone.” We are all cold-blooded and ruthless. But… that child believed. He believed in kindness, he believed in chivalry, he believed that good would triumph over evil, he believed in everyone and everything. In this hypocritical and ugly world, Ning Lang, how long can the kindness and righteousness in your heart last?

The cave suddenly became unusually quiet. The two of them stopped talking for a moment, temporarily setting aside their scheming, because of the reality and...closeness of this moment.

After a long pause, Ming Er stood up. "Whether it's the theater or hell, it's now in our hands. As for Dongming Island..."

“It should also be trodden underfoot,” Lan Qi replied leisurely as he stood up.

"What do you think Yun Wuyai thinks is the thing you and I most want to do right now?" Ming Er turned to look at her.

Lan Qi's emerald eyes curved into a smile, both sweet and wicked, "Him... poor thing, he doesn't understand you and me at all."

"So let's do something he thinks, and something he hopes you and I will do." The Second Young Master Ming smiled with an ethereal grace.

"Let's go then." Lan Qi was the first to leave the cave.

24. Living and Dying Together (Part 1)

After leaving the desolate mountains, the two carefully concealed their whereabouts and enjoyed two or three days of peace. Along the way, they also discovered that Dongming Island was indeed a small maritime country far away from the imperial dynasty.

Above them is the king, in them are the officials, and below them are the people.

Towns and villages were well-ordered, and the government and laws were in perfect order. Soldiers, merchants, farmers, and laborers all fulfilled their responsibilities. Moreover, the islanders' customs and lifestyles were not much different from those of the imperial dynasty, even in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

The king who rules this small maritime kingdom is revered as the "Northern King," while the "Young Master" does not refer to the Northern King's son, but rather to the highest-ranking official below the king, a title passed down through generations of the Yun family. The current Young Master is Yun Wuyai. According to the people, both the Northern King and the Young Master seem to be wise and capable individuals, and are greatly loved and respected.

"Even if no one set foot on Dongming Island before you and me, it is certain that people from Dongming Island frequently traveled to the Imperial Dynasty." In front of the South City Gate, Lan Qi looked up at the tall city gate and said.

“Indeed.” Ming Er nodded in agreement. Dongming Island is so far away from the Imperial Dynasty, how could its people, customs, and language be so similar if they did not interact frequently? “Let’s go, let’s take a good look at this mysterious Dongming Island.”

The two entered the southern city again. Although they tried their best to conceal their whereabouts, they were still discovered half a day later. Poisoning, ambushes, and surprise attacks came one after another, and the two could only keep dodging, fighting back, and fleeing.

So, the usually peaceful Dongming Island suddenly became lively overnight. People often saw a man and a woman, or two men, running through the streets, alleys, or country lanes, followed closely by men in black at night and large numbers of soldiers chasing after them during the day. The people of Dongming Island knew that they were being caught as criminals, so they either helped to catch them or shouted for the soldiers. For a time, Ming and Lan became like rats in the street, surrounded by everyone. Compared to their former glory in the martial arts world of the imperial dynasty, it was a far cry from their former glory, and they were quite pitiful and lamentable.

This game of cat and mouse, of hiding and catching, unfolded in full swing on Dongming Island. Ming Er and Lan Qi flew from one hilltop to another, hid in one village to another, and fled from one city to another, repeating this cycle repeatedly. In just ten days, they had covered almost half of the four cities and twenty-six towns on Dongming Island. Of course, they were never able to shake off their pursuers, and similarly, the people of Dongming Island were never able to catch them.

However, almost everyone on Dongming Island knew about this: there were two heinous criminals that the young master was determined to capture, so the officials and people of the entire island united to do everything in their power to arrest the villains!

You find yourself in an inn where the food and water are poisoned, and in the middle of the night, you're attacked by swords and knives. As you walk on the road, you're suddenly attacked by a barrage of hidden weapons. You find a hiding place, and moments later, someone leads a group of soldiers in pursuit...

During those days, Lan Qi wished he could eat Yun Wuyai's flesh and drink Yun Wuyai's blood. Every day, he gritted his teeth and said: "Yun Wuyai, if you dare to set foot in the martial arts world of the dynasty in the future, I will make you cry for your parents and hate being born as a human being!"

The Second Young Master Ming was much more refined. He could still smile as usual at those who were chasing him. His calm and elegant demeanor was not damaged in the slightest even when the disgusting old man splashed a basin of dirty water on his face. He did not curse or swear. At most, when he was too tired and hungry, he would curse the ancestors of the Yun family in his stomach.

However, even if Ming Er, Lan Qi, and the others are driven to the brink of despair, they will still find a way.

For example, eating.

I paid money to have you poison my food, and you expect me to? But you people of Dongming Island still need to eat, right? So…

One day, uninvited guests would suddenly appear in the homes of some people on Dongming Island during their meals.

Just as the whole family was sitting around the table, about to begin their meal, they would suddenly be paralyzed. Then, a breathtakingly beautiful and alluringly wicked woman would openly fly in through the window, sit down with an air of grandeur, and brazenly devour their food right in front of them. After wiping her mouth, she would give them a radiant smile and then fly away through the window again, leaving the entire family dumbfounded and as if in a dream.

The one who would eat for free and do so so openly is none other than "Bi Yao" Lan Canyin.

In some homes, during mealtimes, someone might suddenly become completely paralyzed. Then, a strikingly handsome, exceptionally elegant young man would gracefully enter from the doorway, his gentle smile instantly endearing him to all. The young man would first offer a leisurely bow, saying, "I have fallen on hard times in Dongming and have come to beg for a meal from your esteemed master. I hope you will grant me this favor." He would then carefully place the dishes from the table into a food box he had brought, and finally offer another fist-and-palm salute, his demeanor exquisite, without a trace of shame or embarrassment, before drifting away.

The one who could be so gentle and refined even when forcibly taking something in broad daylight is none other than the "banished immortal" Ming Huayan.

Moreover, the two were not picky eaters. Whether they lived in a wealthy or impoverished household, when they were hungry, vegetables, radishes, chicken, duck, fish, and meat were readily available. They would run around in all directions, making it impossible for Dongming Island to take precautions or make preparations in advance.

In this way, their meals were sorted out. As for accommodation, Lan Qi could sleep soundly whether in the wilderness or under warm blankets, though it was a pity for Young Master Ming. Fortunately, he was skilled enough to get used to sleeping in caves and tree trunks a few times. Everything was still within tolerable limits.

Every day, someone reported the lively game on Dongming Island to Yun Wuyai in Beique Palace.

That evening, as Yun Wuyai listened to his subordinates' reports, Qu Huailiu and Wan Ai were beside him.

After his subordinates left, Yun Wuyai asked the two men, "Did you fight those two that day?"

Qu and Wan exchanged a glance. Yun Wuyai had instructed them to only "invite" and not to lay a hand on anyone, but they…

Seeing the two of them, Yun Wuyai stood up from his seat and said, "You two don't need to hide it from me. It would be strange if you could resist making a move when you saw such a master."

"Please punish us, young master!" The two bowed and begged for forgiveness.

Yun Wuyai waved his hand and walked out of the main hall, with the two following behind.

The Beique Palace is built atop a high peak. Stepping outside the palace, one is greeted by a vast panorama: above, the azure sky and sea of clouds; below, the entire nation unfolds before one's eyes; nearby, the peaks come into view, and in the distance, the boundless blue sea stretches to the horizon. As the sun sets, the evening glow, like a crimson ribbon, stretches across the sky, painting the blue sea and green peaks in vibrant hues—a magnificent sight. Layer upon layer of palaces stand tall, with all living beings of the Eastern Sea at one's feet. A brisk winter wind blows, causing one's clothes to flutter. For a moment, it feels as if one is in the heavens, looking down upon the vast expanse.

"After your encounter with him, did you learn anything?" Yun Wuyai stood with his hands behind his back in front of the carved railing.

Qu Huailiu and Wan Ai exchanged another glance, then bowed and replied, "Their martial arts skills are unfathomable."

"Hmm." Yun Wuyai responded calmly, neither angry nor pleased. After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "And what about this person?"

Qu Huailiu and Wan Ai carefully recalled Ming Er and Lan Qi, who were disguised as old men. After thinking for a while, their minds were still blank. They could not tell what kind of people they were. They could only know that the two were not only skilled in martial arts, but also had sharp tongues.

Yun Wuyai didn't hear their reply and didn't urge them. He just quietly gazed at the boundless sea, his back tall and solitary.

Wan Ai had no good feelings towards those two, so he said, "Young Master, those two have been forced to flee everywhere by us. When they are hungry, they even steal from the homes of ordinary people, disturbing their peace. Where is the spirit of a martial arts master, where is the chivalrous demeanor of a knight? It is a pity that the imperial martial arts world still ranks them among the Three Young Masters."

"Oh?" Yun Wuyai didn't turn around, only asking again indifferently, "What does Huai Liu think?"

Qu Huailiu pondered for a moment before saying, "I feel that given their reputation and martial arts skills, their current disheveled state is somewhat suspicious."

"Hmm." Yun Wuyai nodded slightly this time. "If I'm not mistaken, their high-profile running around Dongming Island is just to attract attention. They probably want to find out where those people are, since they lost three thousand experts inexplicably."

"I think so too," Qu Huailiu said.

"Even if they find it, so what? The entire martial arts world of the dynasty is now in our hands," Wan Ai said dismissively.

"What are your plans, young master?" Qu Huailiu asked, watching Yun Wuyai's retreating figure. Perhaps Ming Huayan and Lan Canyin were truly the cream of the crop in the imperial martial arts world, but their Dongming also possessed an exceptionally talented young master whom they trusted and followed.

Yun Wuyai remained silent and did not answer. Wan Ai and Qu Huailiu simply stood quietly behind him. The three of them stood by the railing on the long corridor, with a bottomless abyss below them.

After a long while, Yun Wuyai finally spoke: "I thought I had the entire martial arts world under my control, but now it seems that this is not the case."

"Huh?" Upon hearing his words, Wan Ai and Qu Huailiu were both startled and turned to look at him.

"Almost all the top-tier martial arts masters of the Imperial Dynasty have come from the Eastern Sea. I thought they were just empty shells, and we should be able to capture them easily." Yun Wuyai's gaze fell into the distance, his words tinged with regret, but his expression remained extremely calm. "But suddenly Sui Qinghan jumped out in front of the Shouling Palace. Although Qianbi Mountain lost its sect leader and disciple, it still has a sect leader and a commandant. The strength of the Fengwu Sect is like that misty mountain, shrouded in fog all year round, and no one can see it clearly. Although the Hua family, Yuwen family, Qiu family, and Taoluo Sect have lost their backbone, they have lost more than a hundred of our best men. The Ning family came up empty-handed, and the Sui Sect's attack was elusive and untraceable. But the strangest thing is the Ming family and the Lan family. We succeeded in one strike, but it seems like we hit a pile of rotten cotton. We put in a lot of effort but only ended up cleaning up some waste for others."

Qu Huailiu and Wan Ai listened in silence. After a while, Wan Ai couldn't help but speak up: "Young Master, those three thousand people are almost all the leaders, family heads and elites of the Imperial Dynasty's martial arts world. With them, it's only a matter of time before the Imperial Dynasty's martial arts world submits."

Upon hearing this, Yun Wuyai turned to look at Wan Ai, then smiled gently, a smile that made Wan Ai inexplicably feel guilty.

“True masters are not so easily subdued,” Qu Huailiu said. Recalling the scene on South Peak, he couldn't help but frown.

“Wan’ai should learn from Huai Liu’s composure. You were so impatient. I guess you hurt your arm because you attacked them first.” Yun Wuyai’s gaze returned to the distance.

Wan Ai, standing behind him, blushed instantly, feeling both ashamed and embarrassed. He was filled with remorse, yet also with immense respect for his young master's judgment. He hadn't noticed it during his fight with Ming Huayan that day, but upon returning, he discovered that his right arm, which had been gripping the sword, had injured its tendons, rendering it immobile for half a month. How infuriating!

Qu Huailiu glanced at his companion, shook his head, and then asked, "Young Master, what are Ming Huayan and Lan Canyin's plans? Are they just going to let things go like this?" He paused for a moment and continued, "If this goes on for too long, it will be disadvantageous for us."

"Capture them alive if you can, injure them if you can, and put them to death if you can," Yun Wuyai replied calmly.

“Our men have done their best, but they can’t even scratch a hair on their heads.” Wan’ai looked at Yun Wuyai. “Young Master, please send me to take charge. I will definitely capture Ming Huayan and Lan Canyin alive and bring them before you.” This will also avenge the previous humiliation.

"No." Yun Wuyai shook his head, his voice suddenly turning cold. "I have already summoned Yun You to see me."