Jiangnan Gaiden - Kapitel 74
If I refuse, what will you do?
Then I'll go be with him right now!
In life, we'll be together; in death, we'll be together!
The warm July wind felt like a knife cutting my face. My black clothes and black horse were almost one with the wind. The black horse carried me at full speed through the wind, leaving the three thousand elite soldiers sent to me by Prince Ning further and further behind. I sent someone to Guiyun Manor to inform them of Yun Yiyang's whereabouts, while leading my troops at breakneck speed towards the cliff where Shang Shaochang was. Fortunately, the black horse was very intelligent and eager to save its master, running back the way we came. My long black hair and dark clothes fluttered wildly in the wind, and the long mane brushed against my face like a cold whip. I was oblivious to the excruciating pain and chill on my body and face, my hands gripping the reins tightly, ignoring the trickle of blood flowing from between my fingers. I spurred the horse on, wanting it to run faster, faster!
Young Master Shang, you bastard Young Master Shang!
You must wait for me!
(This chapter is complete. Please wait for the next chapter: This Love Can Wait)
Because I've been busy working on my dissertation, the progress of "The Legend of the White-Clad Swordsman" hasn't been as slow as before, but there are only about three more chapters left before it comes to an end. Thank you all for your continued support of "The Legend of the White-Clad Swordsman." I'll try to write some side stories when I have time. Since I'll be taking my doctoral entrance exam next March, which is 2006, I need to study hard. I've said before that "The Legend of the White-Clad Swordsman" will definitely not become an unfinished project, and that will definitely be achieved. However, after finishing "The Legend of the White-Clad Swordsman," I might not be able to write anything for a while. Please understand!
My email address is atimeforus.student@. This email address has a lot of storage space, so please feel free to send me your suggestions for the biography of the White-Clad Scholar!
Chapter Thirty-Five: This Love Can Wait
The warm July wind felt like a knife cutting my face. My black clothes and black horse were almost one with the wind. The black horse carried me at full speed through the wind, leaving the three thousand elite soldiers sent to me by Prince Ning further and further behind. I sent someone to Guiyun Manor to inform them of Yun Yiyang's whereabouts, while leading my troops at breakneck speed towards the cliff where Shang Shaochang was. Fortunately, the black horse was very intelligent and eager to save its master, running back the way we came. My long black hair and dark clothes fluttered wildly in the wind, and the long mane brushed against my face like a cold whip. I was oblivious to the excruciating pain and chill on my body and face, my hands gripping the reins tightly, ignoring the trickle of blood flowing from between my fingers. I spurred the horse on, wanting it to run faster, faster!
Young Master Shang, you bastard Young Master Shang!
You must wait for me!
Behind Qian Dakuan, a gray-clad figure slowly appeared. Qian Dakuan was already tall and fat, and the figure had been standing behind him without anyone noticing, as if he were just a shadow. The figure was entirely gray, even his eyes were gray and lifeless.
Zhan Shang sheathed his sword, his gray eyes fixed on Shang Shaochang, two small flames seemingly burning within them. His hand trembled slightly, and his voice also trembled a little as he said, "You've finally come." There was an inexplicable excitement in his voice, and his pale cheeks slowly flushed as he said, "I've been called Zhan Shang for half a year now... I've never called a name for so long before..."
Shang Shaochang laughed and said, "That's right, but after today, you won't have to call yourself by this name anymore..." Shang Shaochang's eyes slowly swept over the crowd outside the arena, and he slowly said, "Everyone present today will not have to call themselves by their own names from now on..." Shang Shaochang's left hand brushed across the blade and he laughed, "It doesn't matter what the dead are called."
Every word he uttered, even every single syllable, was accompanied by a relaxed and carefree smile.
But to those around them, it sounded like a bucket of ice water had been poured over them from head to toe.
The world's number one assassin, though there is no distinction of age or seniority, has already begun to kill!
He didn't want anyone present to leave!
Zhan Shang's hands trembled more and more violently, and his cheeks grew redder and redder. Suddenly he cried out, "You're wrong! I'm going to erase your name! Only without you will the leader—only then will he—" He gasped for breath, his gray eyes staring intently at Shang Shaochang, as if he wanted to swallow him whole!
"Is that so?..." The smile on Shang Shaochang's face slowly faded, replaced by a solemn expression. He said, "Perhaps, it's a pity, a pity, young man, you may not be able to see it..." Shang Shaochang slowly raised his sword and said softly, "Or perhaps, I won't be able to see it..."
...
I rode my black horse at breakneck speed. A little over a quarter of an hour had passed since I escaped the encirclement of Qian Dakuan and the gray-clad assassin. The sun was gradually setting, and my heart was in my throat. My lips were unconsciously bitten until they bled, but I felt no pain. Seeing the black horse gallop up the hillside, I pulled on the reins, slowing its pace. The air was thick with the stench of blood. Blood was splattered everywhere—on the sand, in the trees, on the rocks—spotting the summer landscape with patches of ochre. The ground was littered with the corpses of men in gray clothes. I was horrified and immediately jumped off my horse, running towards the bodies—
Shang Shaozhang was also wearing gray clothes!
"No...this isn't it either..." I trembled as I turned over a corpse. After recognizing his face, my legs finally gave way, and I collapsed to the ground, ignoring the blood that covered my hands and body. "Thank goodness...he's not among these people..." I struggled to my feet and stumbled forward. The forest ahead was lush and dense, the mountain path winding upwards, ending at what seemed to be a cliff. I could faintly hear the sounds of clashing weapons. I don't know how, but I mustered a burst of strength from my feet and used my "Snow-Treading" light-foot technique to dash towards the mountain path. Big Black, ears perked up, followed me.
Zhan Shang watched as a drop of blood dripped from the tip of his gray blade and said, "I have already slashed you four times."
Shang Shaozhang nodded and said, "That's right, I only managed to hit you once."
Zhan Shang said, "But you killed twenty-seven more people than I did."
Shang Shaochang laughed and said, "I said that no one can leave here today."
Zhan Shang looked at him, a strange light flashing in his gray eyes, and said, "You did this for that woman?"
Shang Shaozhang said, "Yes, you did it for a woman, and so did I. I want her to have a peaceful life from now on, free from your pursuit." Shang Shaozhang raised his knife, blood dripping from the tip. He said coldly:
"I'd rather go to hell!"
"Young Master Shang—Young Master Shang—" I ran desperately through the wind, almost coughing up blood. In the distance, on the cliff edge, two gray-clad figures clashed with twin swords, blood splattering intermittently. My anxiety intensified; I felt my internal energy circulating more than twice as fast as usual! In my desperation, I accelerated, running at full speed, almost keeping pace with Da Hei. The cliff drew ever closer; I could almost see that Young Master Shang's clothes were soaked in blood, his Autumn Water Blade wielded slower and slower as he retreated step by step towards the edge—
I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Running at full speed had already exceeded my limits, and my heart and lungs were severely damaged. Even so, I was still twenty feet away from Young Master Shang! My mind was in turmoil, and I hissed, "Young Master Shang—!" I bit my tongue and leaped into the air, the snow-white jade in my sleeve shooting like a white ribbon towards Zhan Shang!
I would rather risk my own life than let Shang Shaochang get hurt!
Don't want him—
While I was in the air, I suddenly felt time slow down.
The two people in front of me suddenly slowed down, so slow that I could see almost every single movement clearly.
I watched helplessly as the sword that had cleaved the merchant pierced the young master's right chest, causing the Autumn Water Blade to fly out of his hand. Suddenly, his blood-soaked left hand gripped the blade tightly, while a silver chain flew out from his right sleeve and wrapped around the young master's neck.
Zhan Shang's eyes suddenly bulged out.
He never dreamed that Shang Shaozhang, whom he thought was destined to die by his blade, would actually have the strength to fight back.
Suddenly, Zhan Shang grabbed the silver chain with both hands and jumped straight off the cliff.
I was in mid-air, and with all my might I shouted, "Let go!!--"
Shang Shaozhang must have seen my figure from behind Zhan Shang. A warm smile suddenly appeared on his face, a smile full of doting and affection, just like the reassuring smile that appeared on his face when he and I were tightly embracing in the cave.
But he didn't let go.
He and Zhan Shang fell like birds with broken wings or kites with broken strings.
"Shang..." My hands reached out unconsciously, but all I grasped was cold air.
You...you just disappeared like that?
You're lying to me, aren't you? Are you trying to scare me? Do you think I'm a burden to you again, and just disappear from my sight like this once more?
When I touched my cheek, I felt it was wet. Large, salty drops of liquid flowed down my cheek and into my mouth, dripping down my clothes. I tasted a bitter and astringent flavor.