schlanke Taille

Kapitel 16

On the artificial hill behind them, there seemed to be a dark figure that trembled slightly, looking somewhat agitated.

Ye Changsheng leisurely returned to her room. Opening the door, she saw a small white clay pot on the table. Lifting the lid, a fragrant aroma of braised pork with vermicelli wafted out. She slowly sat down, picked up some chopsticks, took a small bite, and found it quite delicious. By the time she finished the pot of vermicelli, it was already getting dark. She clapped her hands, went to the basin to wash up, took off her shoes, and went to bed.

The chirping of insects filled the air, and the night was still and quiet.

At this moment, a dark figure quietly floated down from the beam, a dagger gleaming in its hand. Step by step, it approached the bed, its eyes sharpening, and with a swift motion, it stabbed down.

With a "whoosh," Helan Ronghua burst through the door, and the man in black felt a tingling sensation in his right waist and could no longer move.

Ye Changsheng, lying on the bed, threw off the covers, got up, and looked at him with a smile, saying, "Mr. Ke, what brings you here so late at night?"

The man in black remained silent, only a fleeting look of surprise and fear crossed his eyes. After putting on his shoes, Ye Changsheng slowly walked to the table, poured a glass of water, and smiled gently at Helan Ronghua, who stood silently at the door, and Bai Yuan, whose face was filled with horror: "Miss Bai Yuan, could you do me a favor?"

Bai Yuan swallowed hard, feeling somewhat at a loss. Looking into those soft, glassy eyes, she nodded unconsciously.

The night wind rustled, and Changsheng gazed at the fleeting starlight outside the window, letting out a soft sigh.

The Mysteries of Language

Ye Changsheng sat properly at the small round table, drinking water, while Helan Ronghua stood expressionless beside him. A man in black stood motionless with his back to him before the bed. Li Jixian habitually stroked his goatee and said ominously, "May I ask you two, can you give me an explanation?"

Just now, Bai Yuan rushed to his room saying that Miss Ye had been murdered in her room and asked him to come and take a look. But when he rushed over, he saw this scene.

Before Changsheng could answer, the door was kicked open with a bang. Five or six men who looked like constables barged in, led by a burly man who was none other than Guo Dagong, the patrol officer of Changqiao Town. After looking around, Guo Dagong cleared his throat and roared like thunder: "Ahem, speak quickly! Who reported the case?"

Faced with the sudden arrival of the uninvited guest, Li Jixian was obviously taken aback. Upon hearing this, he frowned, put his hands behind his back, and said, "This official must be mistaken. This prefecture has always been peaceful. How could there be any report of a crime here?"

"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you report a false case!" Guo Dagong roared in anger, kicking hard the small round table that Ye Changsheng was leaning against—but the table didn't budge at all, not even the tabletop shook.

Ye Changsheng jumped up with a "whoosh," patting his chest and exclaiming, "That was close! That was close... Why are you throwing a tantrum, sir?"

Guo Dagong was a trained martial artist. He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was terrified. The person closest to the table was this inconspicuous little girl, who had unknowingly neutralized the force of his kick. Even the water in the cup on the table didn't ripple. How profound must her internal strength be?

His palms were sweating, but his face remained solemn and cold as he asked, "Who reported this?"

Ye Changsheng moved closer to Helan, tugged at his sleeve, and carefully raised his hand: "Ah...it's me."

Helan Ronghua seemed slightly taken aback, lowered his eyes, his expression still indifferent, but the slight upturn of his lips added a touch of gentleness. He raised his head and looked at Guo Dagong calmly, saying, "Please look at the man in black by the bed, Your Excellency. He is the murderer who attempted to assassinate Sheng'er tonight."

Guo Dagong, who considered himself a town constable, was somewhat embarrassed to have been intimidated by a young girl. He shook his official boots, strode up behind the man in black, made a gesture, and two or three constables rushed forward and ripped off the man's mask.

Upon seeing the true face of the man in black, everyone was momentarily stunned, and the entire side hall fell silent.

"This, this... isn't this Mr. Ke?" Bai Yuan stammered, voicing everyone's thoughts.

Guo Dagong snapped out of his daze, lifted the hem of his shirt, and slumped into a chair, waving his hand and saying, "A life for a life! This constable doesn't care who you are! Guards! Take the prisoner back to the yamen jail—"

"Ah—" Ye Changsheng stretched out his hand again and said gently, "My lord, um... I'm not dead yet..."

Guo Dagong, his face full of impatience, slammed his hand on the table: "That's filing a false report and disrupting official business! Guards! Lock them all up in jail!"

After a long silence, Li Jixian slowly sat down and said with a smile, "These two are guests of my Immortal Palace. They offended you earlier, sir. I hope you will forgive them. I will personally offer them generous gifts to express my gratitude later."

Guo Dagong was furious: "Are you trying to bribe this constable? Guards, take this old man to the jail as well!"

Ye Changsheng found it somewhat comical, but knew that he absolutely could not mock the wise, brave, and incorruptible Constable Guo Dagong at this moment. He leaned forward and murmured to Guo Dagong, who was sitting on the seat, "Actually, he might have killed someone. I'm not dead, but someone else is."

Based on his past experience in handling cases, Guo Dagong sensed that Ye Changsheng's words had a hidden meaning. Could it be that this outsider had discovered some secret after staying at the Li residence for a few days? He nodded, signaling her to continue.

Ye Changsheng smiled and continued, "Six days ago, a murder occurred on Ruyang Bridge. Master Li's apprentice, Cheng Errong, was found with his internal organs ripped out, his death gruesome. Three days ago, Guo Fengying, the former manager of Fengping Ticket Shop, was also murdered. The townspeople have no explanation for their deaths, only saying they were killed by 'ghosts.' But in fact—I saw Guo Fengying the night before, right outside my bedroom window. So I'm even more suspicious of this already highly suspicious matter. In addition, Bai Yuan told me that Cheng Errong had also appeared at the 'Immortal Palace' the night before his murder, so no matter what, this place is extremely suspicious."

Guo Dagong exclaimed, "So you mean those two were killed by people inside this 'Fairy Palace'?"

Ye Changsheng slowly walked up to Li Jixian, smiling gently: "This 'Immortal Palace' truly lives up to its name. Master Li is a master of our time, as can be seen from the layout of this palace. Everywhere is arranged according to Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Or, one could say that Master Li is deeply fascinated by Feng Shui and the Five Elements, and is extremely proficient in these Yin-Yang arts. I once overheard you and Bai Yuan talking about how Cheng Errong is a very studious person who often borrows books from his master and is highly regarded by his master. So, I went to his room. The furnishings inside were very simple, but I accidentally found something very important."

Ye Changsheng pulled something out of his pocket—the very book he had found in Cheng Errong's room, "Luban's Explanation of Explanations." Li Jixian narrowed his eyes, flicked his sleeve, and said sternly, "What can a tattered book explain?"

“In fact, this tattered book can explain a lot of things…” Ye Changsheng looked at Li Jixian apologetically. “This book records many incantations and talismans, such as the method of setting up a frame, the method of building a talisman, the method of determining the location, the taboos of building in the nine auspicious months, and the auspiciousness and inauspiciousness of building in the following months. One of the pages was folded in half by Cheng Errong or someone else. It is about the construction of bridges and is called – “Building a live stake”.

Ye Changsheng glanced at the pale-faced Li Jixian and the bewildered crowd, then shook his head: "I believe Master Li is quite familiar with the basics—'driving live stakes,' as the name suggests, involves using living people as stakes during bridge construction. According to the books, building temples and houses always requires disturbing the earth. Disturbing the earth disrupts the land's feng shui, thus angering many wronged spirits. Therefore, during major construction projects, these spirits seek replacements. Thus, Lu Ban wrote in his book that before construction begins, one or two children should be captured and buried alive on that land, then covered with mud before construction, and then the bridge can be built upon, preventing any accidents. When building a bridge, a boy and a girl are captured, the boy at one end and the girl at the other, and their hearts are pierced with wooden stakes… After their deaths, they become the guardians of the bridge…"

Guo Dagong felt a chill run down his neck and shivered. His voice was a little unsteady: "How could there be such a vicious method?"

Ye Changsheng nodded repeatedly in agreement: "I heard Cheng Errong's mother mention that thirty years ago, a family in town lost a son and a daughter. Remembering that both Ruyang Bridge and the Bridge God Temple were renovated thirty years ago, I couldn't help but suspect a connection between these seemingly unrelated events spanning such a large span of years—and only today have I confirmed my suspicions… I went to the Bridge God Temple and, unintentionally, went around to the back hall. I saw what appeared to be writing behind the statue, one of which was 'Year of Ji Si, Month of Ding Mao, Day of Wu Yin, Hour of Ding Si.' If I'm not mistaken, that's the child's birth date. Year of Ji Si… that's about thirty-eight or thirty-nine years ago. If you're still unsure, just ask that family." As for why Cheng Errong died, he was a studious man, but also an unlucky one. I suspect he most likely discovered this secret while borrowing a book, and then happened to see what I saw at the Bridge God Temple. As a result, he was silenced by Mr. Ke, who had close ties to the 'Immortal Palace,' just like Mr. Ke is trying to kill me today. But out of consideration for the laws of the Song Dynasty, he pretended to be killed by a ghost. As for Manager Guo, he's probably like the village head, someone who knew about that secret from thirty years ago… The only difference is that he was driven mad by fear and is now unable to keep his mouth shut, so he's very likely to reveal your secret from thirty years ago. Am I right, Master Li?

Li Jixian was terrified and his legs were trembling, but he still tried to remain calm: "The Ru River is dry in winter and flooded in summer, and the current is rapid. Every year when the flood comes, it will sweep away the bridge. If it weren't for this method, you would still be worrying about this! What I did was to benefit the common people. On what grounds do you convict me?"

Chang Sheng was extremely disappointed, as Master Li, with his beard trembling wildly, was completely devoid of his former "ethereal and otherworldly demeanor".

Guo Dagong sneered and said, "You've turned killing people into a blessing for the people. Go cry out in jail if you have a grievance. Men—take this old man away."

Several constables rushed forward with shackles and chains, ready to arrest Li Jixian. Unexpectedly, the man in black, who had been standing aside and almost ignored, suddenly leaped up, threw a blue-glowing dart, grabbed Li Jixian by the shoulder, and was about to throw him out the window.

Ye Changsheng was standing between the man in black and Li Jixian, and he could see clearly that the dart was aimed at Helan. It seemed that Mr. Ke had experienced Helan's methods before and was wary of him. Helan Ronghua caught the poisoned dart with two fingers, swung it around, and shot it back. Mr. Ke in front of the window screamed "Ah!" and then collapsed to the ground, clutching his waist wound. Dark red blood oozed from his fingertips. He stared fiercely at Ye Changsheng, as if she was the cause of everything.

Ye Changsheng sighed and said gently, "You think you've done the right thing, but one day you'll find out you're wrong. To cover up the truth about two deaths, you've caused two more deaths... Is this a cycle of saving lives or harming people?"

Li Jixian, who had fallen from the windowsill, had a vacant look in his eyes and disheveled clothes. The sight of a grandmaster reduced to this state made everyone sigh. They suddenly remembered the two corpses under the Ruyang Bridge that they used to pass by every day, and a chill ran down their spines.

The Buddha said: As you sow, so shall you reap; all things are created by the mind. The causes you plant, no matter how much time has passed, will eventually return to you…

Turning around, Ye Changsheng looked at the man before him, who was as gentle as a breeze and as bright as the moon. He slowly walked over, smiled slightly, and said softly, "Master, let's go."

Helan looked at her with his dark eyes, his slender fingers stroking her shoulder, and he smiled gently: "Okay."

The dark valley seems to be filled with wind and rain, the shady cliffs seem to be haunted by ghosts and spirits.

Below the towering cliffs of Luoyang Tower lies a vast expanse of blue sky and clouds, with peaks stretching as far as the eye can see and the sea of azure seemingly endless. As the sun begins to set, the afterglow reflects on the snow-capped peaks, like a crimson veil draped over the sky. The rugged cliffs are shrouded in mist, and the blue sea and green peaks are layered with color, while majestic palaces stand tall and imposing.

A brisk, cold wind blew, causing the gauze curtains to flutter. For a moment, it felt as if I were in the sky, looking down upon the vast expanse.

The attic was quiet when a little white rabbit suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It looked a bit weak, with drooping ears and its head sticking out, motionless.

Li Huangyin crouched down, gently stroked its head, and smiled slightly: "Are you sick too? It's too cold here, isn't it?"

He turned his head and gazed into the distance, as if muttering to himself, "Let's leave this place."

After leaving Changqiao Town and crossing the Ying River, you can reach Yingchang in less than half a day.

Yingchang, under the jurisdiction of Yingchang Prefecture, was the seat of the Commandant of Jiangguan and the Commandant of the Capital Region since the Han Dynasty. It bordered Kaifeng Prefecture to the east, and was only a three-day journey from Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Eastern Capital. Naturally, it was a prosperous and thriving city, where the people lived in peace and contentment. Because of its proximity to Bianliang, people eagerly imitated the city's appearance and atmosphere. Every autumn, the city was filled with the refreshing autumn breeze, the fragrance of chrysanthemums, and a magnificent display of flowers. "Flowers enhance the scenery, and scenery enhances the beauty of flowers." Being amidst the chrysanthemums was an intoxicating experience; it was truly a scene of "a sea of flowers in October, people mingling, the fragrant breeze carrying ten miles through the chrysanthemum city"—a veritable miniature Bianliang.

Unfortunately, it wasn't autumn. Ye Changsheng walked down the street with a smile, looking around and nodding. He hadn't been here for many years, and the street hadn't changed much. The signs of the old shops were still fluttering in the wind, and the pedestrians in light gauze and thin clothes, along with the beauties looking around, were quite dazzling.

People coming and going would always turn around and steal a glance at them, amidst the hushed whispers. Changsheng looked up and stole a look at Helan Ronghua beside him, who was as gentle as a breeze and as warm as the bright moon.

Perhaps sensing Changsheng's gaze, Helan smiled slightly, nodded, and reached out her hand. Her palm was warm and soft, hidden under her long sleeves, as she led her through the crowded streets.

Ye Changsheng coughed a few times, feeling somewhat awkward, and then, with an air of importance, he observed each passing stranger. He smiled and sighed, "The women of Yingchang are truly beautiful, with faces as delicate as flowers."

Helan's eyes were somewhat dim, her black hair was loosely tied up, and her elegance was tinged with a hint of weariness. She nodded gently.

"Giddy up..." Accompanied by a series of loud shouts, the clatter of hooves came from afar, and the crowd in front dispersed to both sides like flowing water. The vendors hurriedly pulled their stalls closer, muttering, "Are they trying to kill us? Miss Ling has gone out of the manor again."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a young woman in fiery red robes, with beautiful eyes and full lips, galloped off on her horse, whipping it wildly. A young man in blue robes gave chase, and the two raced back and forth until, finally, in front of Ye Changsheng, the young man grabbed the reins of the red-clad woman's chestnut horse, forcefully bringing it to a halt. The horse neighed, reared up, snorted a few times, and then came to a stop. The red-clad woman's face was contorted with anger, while the young man beside her remained impassive. The passersby on the street, however, seemed unfazed by the spectacle and went their separate ways.

Ye Changsheng, intrigued, pulled Helan aside and watched.

The young man clasped his hands and bowed his head, his face displaying a maturity and caution beyond his years. He said in a deep voice, "Master is seriously ill. Miss, please return to the manor."

Without a word, the girl in red raised her riding crop and lashed out at him, saying with a stern look, "When did it become your business to meddle in my affairs?"

The boy remained standing with his hands clasped in front of him, motionless. The whip's tail brushed against his face, leaving a red mark, but he didn't even flinch. He repeated, "Miss, please return to your residence."

As if she were already choked with anger, the girl in red tightened her grip on the whip, laughing instead of being angry: "Instead of going to see a doctor, you have the leisure to chase after me. I will not marry that blockhead Han Dang, because... I want to marry him!"

Ye Changsheng was clearly startled, because the red-clad girl's black whip was pointed directly at him—

The girl in red continued leisurely, "I want to marry him!"

The boy seemed a little anxious, glancing in their direction and saying, "Miss, what's wrong...?"

The young woman dismounted, her red dress fluttering, and walked straight over—pushing Ye Changsheng aside, she raised her whip at Helan Ronghua behind her: "Yes, I want to marry you."

Ye Changsheng suddenly realized that the lady in red had taken a liking to Helan Ronghua. No wonder, it was quite a coincidence that this girl had run away from her arranged marriage and had foreseen that she would meet her future husband at this time and place.

So she quite consciously broke free from Helan's grasp, and with a swift movement, darted to the side, watching with great interest.

The young man sat on his horse, glanced up slightly in this direction, spurred his horse a few steps, gripped the reins tightly, looked steadily at Helan, and said in a deep voice, "In that case, I hope that you will return to the manor with me, sir."

Helan Ronghua glanced indifferently at Ye Changsheng, who had jumped three steps away and was smiling, and then looked at the woman in red and said slowly, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss. I am a doctor. You may come to my residence for a consultation."

The girl glared at Helan, clearly mocking his lack of respect, then turned and glared fiercely at the young man on horseback before flicking her whip, mounting her horse, and galloping away on her chestnut steed.

The young man dismounted and bowed to Helan Ronghua, saying, "I am very sorry, sir. My young lady is being willful and unreasonable. I hope you will not take it to heart." He then took the reins of his horse and gestured, "Please follow me, sir."

Helan Ronghua shook her head and smiled, then turned around to look at Ye Changsheng, who was a few steps away, smiling calmly as if he were an outsider: "Have you left?"

Ye Changsheng patted her sleeves, nodded with a smile, and followed him leisurely. The young man in the blue robe frowned imperceptibly, seemingly puzzled by Ye Changsheng's sudden appearance. He frequently turned back to look at her. Helan subtly moved to the left, blocking the young man's view. The young man paused for a moment, then continued walking ahead.

As the three walked further and further away, a black shadow flashed past in a private room called "Zuijunlou" behind them.

Speaking of Yingchang Prefecture, people naturally think of the Ling family of Yingchang, one of the seven great martial arts families. This girl in red is named Ling Yueling, a renowned figure in Yingchang Prefecture, not because of her beauty or her illustrious family background. It is precisely because this young lady Ling is spoiled, arrogant, and capable of anything. Like a chestnut steed, she leaves chaos and devastation in her wake.

Ling Yueling is the daughter of Ling Qishan, a member of a collateral branch of the Ling family five generations ago. Although Ling Qishan was born into a martial arts family, he was far removed from the affairs of the martial world. In his youth, he made his fortune by trading medicinal herbs. Now, in his fifties, he only has a son and a daughter, whom he dotes on. As for Ling Yueling, she spent her childhood playing with Ling Baiyu and others, and developed a decent set of martial arts skills, though not outstanding. The boy in the green robe was Ling Heng, who was adopted by Ling Qishan in his childhood and later became a disciple of the family head, Ling Zeqiu.

Ye Changsheng was settled into a guest room. With nothing to do, he wandered around the room a few times. He opened the window, and a cool breeze blew in. Outside the window, there were artificial hills and towering paulownia trees. Although they were not as grand and magnificent as the "Fairy Palace," they had their own unique charm. He touched the windowsill, feeling the dry and solid texture on his fingertips. Ye Changsheng couldn't help but sigh that he had changed his accommodation again in just a few days.

Only then did I realize that the young lady in red was none other than Ling Yueling, the daughter of this mansion. In the blink of an eye, she was nowhere to be seen again. The young man in green had led me here and then hurriedly mounted his horse and rode off again, probably to find the girl again.

Now that his food and lodging were settled, Ye Changsheng straightened his clothes in front of the mirror. The woman in the mirror was dressed in white, her face somewhat pale, but her eyes were bright and clear like glass. Nodding in satisfaction, Ye Changsheng felt that he could be considered quite charming and beautiful.

After closing the doors and windows, Ye Changsheng stepped out of the side room and onto a bustling little street in the west courtyard. He walked along the street for about half an hour before stopping in front of a pharmacy called "Liaoshengtang." He smiled slightly and went inside.

There was only one young shop assistant at the counter, diligently pounding medicine. When he saw someone come in, he clapped his hands, stood up, and asked, "Miss, are you buying medicine?"

Changsheng shrugged and smiled kindly: "Is the shopkeeper here?"

The waiter nodded, then shook his head. Ye Changsheng was very puzzled. The waiter continued, "Master is not receiving guests today."

Ye Changsheng nodded and asked, "Could you please pass on a message, young man?"

The man looked puzzled, paused for a moment, and then nodded.

Chang Sheng smiled slightly and said softly, "Elder Zhong, Bo Xian..."

The shop assistant looked slightly surprised, said "Miss, please wait a moment," put down the pestle, and ran into the inner room in a flash.

After an incense stick had burned for a while, the waiter came out again, bowed and said, "Master invites you, young lady, please come with me."

Ye Changsheng followed the young shop assistant into the back hall. Baskets and winnowing trays of various sizes lined both sides of the passageway, displaying dried herbs. At the front courtyard, an elderly man in a grey robe sat leisurely brewing tea at a stone table under a purple clay teapot. Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around and said in a deep voice, "Is this Changsheng?"