Urbaner Blumentraum - Kapitel 161
At the entrance of Beauty Lane, a sloping stone bridge connects the north and south banks. At this moment, a man and a horse are crossing the bridge.
He was a handsome young man, dressed in a white spring robe, with a sword hanging at his waist. His clothes fluttered in the wind, and he rode a white horse with a silver saddle, his aura as powerful as a dragon, and his spirit extraordinary.
The man and his horse exuded composure, walking through the bustling city with an air of arrogance, as if they were walking alone on a cloud.
A young man in white robes and a fine sword, riding a white horse, is naturally favored by beauties.
A beautiful courtesan in a green dress was leaning against the railing, gazing idly. When she saw a handsome young man passing by below, her heart skipped a beat, and her delicate hand loosened, causing the handkerchief she was holding to fall to the ground.
The street was crowded with pedestrians, and the young man reined in his horse and rode slowly, afraid of bumping into passersby. As he was riding, he suddenly felt a fragrant breeze on his head. Without looking up, he simply patted the horse's neck, and the white horse galloped a few steps to avoid him.
A courtesan in a green dress feigned embarrassment and stamped her foot, eliciting teasing and giggling from a group of beautiful women. Then, a woman in a pink dress with bare arms "accidentally" dropped a peach blossom from her hand; another, with a golden hairpin in her hair, tossed aside a lily; and a woman with plump, pearly hair dropped a bag of fruit…
The young man remained composed. Despite being provoked by the women's rudeness, he showed neither delight nor anger. He simply lowered his head and urged his horse forward at a leisurely pace. None of the items the women threw down landed on him.
As you walk further and further away, at the end of the flower-lined streets and alleys, at the foot of the bluestone steps on the east bank of the Liuhua River, there is a painted boat. It is magnificent with its golden pavilions and vermilion railings, and thin gauze hanging down. The vermilion flag hanging at the bow of the boat has the three characters "Cherry Blossom" written with a strong and unique style, which is obviously the work of a famous calligrapher.
At this moment, two servants in blue robes rushed ashore from the painted boat, bowing their heads and asking, "Young Master Feng, our master has been waiting for you for a long time!"
The young man in white grunted in acknowledgment, leaped off his horse, and the servant on his left immediately took the reins with utmost respect, while the servant on his right bowed and invited the young man onto the boat.
The boy descended the steps and went straight to the bow of the boat.
The cabin door opened slightly, and a beautiful woman stood by the door, smiling gently as she lifted the curtain: "Please, young master!" Her watery eyes darted around, captivatingly alluring.
The boy nodded slightly and stepped into the cabin.
Behind the beaded curtain, a beautiful woman dressed only in a light crimson veil held a pipa, playing the strings while singing softly with her cherry lips. Beside her were two other beautiful young women; the one sitting down was striking the clappers, while the one lying down had her head resting on a man's lap. The man stroked her smooth, fair face, his slender fingers gently tapping her cheek.
The man had a refined appearance. He sat casually on the thick Persian carpet, leaning against the cushions. His phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, and his brows were relaxed. He seemed to be in a state of perfect tranquility. However, he alone possessed all the allure of the room. The several women, some beautiful and some alluring, paled in comparison to him, like stars surrounding the moon.
When the young man entered, the women quickly straightened their clothes and bowed.
The man merely gave a languid bow, his smooth, soft blue silk robe rippling like water.
He beckoned, "Please sit!" With a light clap of his hands, several courtesans obediently served him tea, snacks, and fruit.
The young man in white smiled slightly, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and sat down to one side.
The man personally poured the tea into the jade-colored bowl. The tea liquor was clear and light blue, with a delicate and fragrant aroma. He smiled and said, "This is freshly arrived pre-rain Longjing tea from yesterday. Please try it, my dear brother."
"The Sky Over the Martial World is Clear" Part One "The Sky Over the Martial World is Clear" Part Two (3)
The young man picked up the teacup, brought it to his lips, took a sip, and then said, "Good tea!"
With a slight movement of her wrist, her snow-white sleeves rippled like waves, and a few gentle breezes caressed the pressure points of the courtesans. Before they could even understand what was happening, their bodies had already slumped to the ground.
The man in the blue shirt remained expressionless as he slowly sipped his tea.
The painted boat sailed downstream along the Liuhua River.
The man in the blue shirt looked past the thin veil covering the window and gazed at the river. He sighed, "Lately, it's getting more and more boring."
The young man in white said calmly, "I'm not here to listen to your complaints."
The man in the blue shirt chuckled: "Brother, you should smile more. Otherwise, those who know you will say you're mature beyond your years, and those who don't will think you have facial paralysis..."
"I didn't come here to be lectured by you." The young man put down his teacup. "How is the person I sent?"
The man in the blue shirt frowned and sighed softly, "It's no use anymore!"
The boy's bright eyes darkened slightly: "What kind of poison is that?"
"Eighteen years ago, the third young master of the Tie family in Jiangnan suddenly swelled up all over his body overnight. When he died, not only was his body covered in wounds, but his internal organs were also bloated and rotten like pulp, a gruesome sight. Later, according to a peerless doctor who examined his bones, it was a secret poison from the southern border. Because the poisoned person's pores bled all over his body and his skin ulcerated, as if he was wearing a blood-stained shirt, this poison was called Blood-Threaded Robe."
"Is this peerless physician Lady Wan from the Valley of Sorrow?"
"This is the person."
Eighteen years ago, Madam Wan of Beikong Valley must have been under twenty years old, right? Possessing unparalleled medical skills and a compassionate heart, she traveled the world, saving countless lives, from the poor and the wealthy to high-ranking officials. Her benevolent heart earned her the title of "Great Compassionate Bodhisattva."
The boy was silent for a moment: "Blood-stained garment, is there an antidote?"
"The Blood-Threaded Robe is a vicious and ruthless poison, long lost in the Southern Frontier. Yet, unexpectedly, someone has managed to recreate it! Years ago, Madam Wan, in search of a cure for this poison, traveled to the Southern Frontier under the escort of the Central Plains' legendary swordsman Chen Mobai, but never returned. Several years later, someone spotted Madam Wan in the Valley of Sorrow. Later, a legend circulated that Madam Wan suffered a tragic fate in the Southern Frontier, and after returning to the Central Plains, she devoted herself to seclusion, never speaking of medicine again."
The boy asked, "Then, is there still no solution to the Bloodstained Robe?"
The man in blue slowly shook his head: "No one knows. But since the death of Young Master Tie San, the Blood-Stained Robe has never appeared in the martial world again, and over time, people have forgotten about it. Unexpectedly, after eighteen years, it has reappeared!"
"Was the poison in the child the blood-stained garment?"
"His death is very similar to the death of the Third Young Master Tie recorded in the Tian Shui Yu Collection, but it is still not entirely certain. I have ordered people to properly dispose of the body and send it to Bei Kong Valley by fast horse. I hope that Madam Wan can enlighten us." The man in blue sighed, "I just don't know if Madam Wan will take this matter seriously."
The boy pondered, "Who would use such poison on a child from a poor family?"
He looked up at the man in blue and asked, "Who was the one who poisoned Tie Sanshao back then?"
"According to the Tie family, it was a beautiful young woman who was poisoned simply because the Third Young Master Tie made a few teasing remarks." The man in blue paused. "You suspect this woman is related to the case you're dealing with? You're completely wrong!"
Why?
"Because she is already dead!" the man in blue said calmly.
"Fifteen years ago, Japanese samurai launched a massive invasion, provoking conflict. Heroes from seven gangs and sixteen sects of the martial arts world were ambushed on Giant Whale Island in the East China Sea, fighting a desperate battle with reinforcements failing to arrive. Just when all seemed lost, a woman sailed a boat and broke through the Japanese pirates' rear, storming the island alone and poisoning all the Japanese. The enemy leader launched a desperate counterattack, and the woman was severely wounded, struck and falling into the sea. According to survivors, the sea was filled with blood from days of fierce fighting, attracting countless sharks to devour the corpses. By the time the heroes, exhausted and exhausted, tried to rescue her, the woman... even her body had vanished!"
The boy murmured, "So, the one who poisoned Young Master Tie San with the 'Blood-Threaded Robe' was none other than the Little Demon of the Westward-Treading Fish!"
Eighteen years ago, Yu Xiaoyao was once a famous figure in the martial arts world.