Schatzkammer von Jianghu

Kapitel 18

This Young Master Zhao is most likely an imposter, because Qiu Yeyijian never considered his safety from beginning to end.

Qiu Ye Yijian is somewhat unfriendly to outsiders. She keeps quiet whenever possible and relies on Young Master Yin Guang to speak on her behalf.

Xie Yinguang is probably the son of Xie, the Minister of War of Youzhou, and is well-versed in the intricacies of officialdom;

Seeing that both of these young masters bowed down to Qiu Ye Yijian, Qiu Ye Yijian must have an even more powerful background.

At first thought, a chill ran down his spine. He had noticed that Qiu Yeyijian seemed to casually walk to where he had stopped, not even glancing behind him, yet his feet never left his spot, as if he were suspicious. He had concealed it well, leaving Qiu Yeyijian uncertain. He remembered a line Nie Wuyou had once said:

—The young master of Bixie is extremely arrogant and has unparalleled swordsmanship. He can never tolerate miscalculations or failures.

Sure enough, the evil-repelling young master in front of Chu Yi began to move.

Facing the open space on the side of the first-year students, he slowly plucked a good bamboo leaf with his left hand, held it in his hand expressionlessly, and with a "whoosh," flew it towards the elm tree where the first-year students were hiding.

Chu Yi had already figured this out in his heart, but he still didn't dare to move, accepting this great gift without flinching. The bamboo leaf flew straight at him, but Chu Yi neither dodged nor avoided it, remaining silent as the leaf settled on the back of his right hand, silent and still.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, try to spread your palms out as wide as possible to close the wound and prevent blood from flowing out.

Qiu Yeyi's gaze remained as cold and aloof as the snow on the mountain peak.

His left hand caressed the bamboo stalk with a few remaining green leaves, stroking it gently. After a while, he took two more bamboo leaves and held them between his fingers.

My heart was in my throat.

Qiu Yeyi flicked the leaves stacked in her palm out with her sword, this time in two directions. The bamboo leaves entered the tree silently, only shaking off some elm leaves in clusters.

Qiu Yeyi, facing the direction where Chu Yi was hiding, suddenly gave a cold smile.

When I saw that thunderous and fiery smile on the first day of the Lunar New Year, I felt a chill run through my body and almost fell off the tree.

He looked at the wound on his hand. The leaf had cut half an inch into his skin, drawing a thin red line. He felt quite awe. At the same time, he remembered something: Young Master Qiuye was very arrogant. He used pearls as a redemption weapon, which he flicked out with his finger. It was commonly known as "A Glimpse of Beauty".

19. Dead Land

Before Qiu Yeyijian's smile had faded, with her back to the crowd, she said in an icy tone, "The first one."

Upon receiving the order, the three hermits of Cangshan immediately took action. Among them, Songbai raised his palm and pounced on the tree, while Lanjun and Zhulao leaped out of the annex and stood at the left and right corners respectively.

When Chu Yi heard Qiu Ye Yi Jian's voice, he was startled. He saw a blue figure rushing towards him with the sound of wind and clouds. He had nowhere to hide and stood on a tree to meet the palm strike head-on.

After the palm strike, the tall pine and cypress trees, like the elm trees, trembled twice before suddenly standing still.

Qiu Yeyi's eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashed, and his hands gathered in mid-air. With a "whoosh," he slashed the palm wind towards the big tree. This attack actually used all of his strength.

Chu Yi saw it clearly from the tree, and felt as if thunder had struck his heart. He quickly dodged and landed on the open ground.

There was a creaking sound behind me, followed by the crashing sound of a large tree falling to the ground.

As the elm tree was cut down and fell to the ground, Qiu Yeyi's body, like a falling leaf, gently swept towards Chu Yi.

Chu Yi didn't dare to turn around at all. He just stood straight in the middle of the street, his eyes sharp, staring at the young master of Bixie in front of him.

Qiu Yeyi coldly stared at the young man in blue before her. His eyes were bright and piercing, his gaze brave and resolute. His eyes, as deep as an ancient well, were the most prominent expression on his face. A slight ripple appeared on her face, like a petal falling on the water, disappearing in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, Qiu Yeyi's second palm strike was as fast as lightning.

The immense true energy caused Chu Yi's clothes to flutter wildly. After dodging the palm strike, his body descended backward like a kite. He touched his waist with his right hand, and the eerie moonlight reappeared.

With a "rip," the binding clothes tore apart, fluttering like butterflies in the air, revealing the blue and white clothes underneath. Dark true energy circulated, and the blue and white collar danced in the wind.

"First year of junior high?" Qiu Yeyi coldly uttered two words.

Chu Yi looked directly at Qiu Ye Yijian's face and said in a deep voice, "That's right."

A deep gloom rose in Qiu Ye Yijian's eyes, and his whole body was shrouded in surging murderous intent, like a sky covered with dark clouds, ready to unleash lightning and thunder at any moment.

Faced with such domineering and fierce killing intent, Chu Yi steadied himself, his eyes unwavering. He only heard Qiu Yeyi say coldly, "Just in time."

Chu Yi lowered his eyes and stared at the ground, his whole body silent and indifferent, like a distant mountain peak behind white clouds.

Qiu Ye slightly raised her right hand, her robe sleeves billowing in the wind, lifting the dragon-patterned sword beside her with a silver light. With a clang, the longsword rose like a dragon ascending from the abyss, piercing the air.

A shimmering blue sword aura flew towards Chu Yi, while a white figure gracefully passed behind him.

Chu Yi was startled and thought to himself, "This is bad." He spun around extremely fast, his sleeves billowing, and his sword was infused with true energy. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a ghostly white figure turning around behind him, and a chilling aura shot straight to his brow.

With a "whoosh," the dragon-patterned sword collided with the moonlight, flashing with tiny, cold stars that illuminated the gradually sinking twilight.

After the first move, the two switched positions and stood still, concentrating their attention.

Facing Qiu Yeyi's cold and sinister gaze, Chu Yi didn't think much. With a flick of her right wrist, the moonlight rippled forward, and she spun forward like a butterfly flitting through flowers.

With a sweep of her longsword, Qiu Yeyi unleashed a simple "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" move, cutting through the countless sword shadows that rained down from Chu Yi.

After two moves, everyone on the field understood: Young Master Qiuye launched a killing move with his first move, but Chu Yi showed no fear and retaliated with his second move, only attacking and not defending.

The two figures were locked in combat. The strong wind made the secluded alleyway rumble and echo. The three old men struggled to keep their footing in the wind, their faces showing the same excited and bloodthirsty expressions.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged ten blows.

Qiu Yeyi's gaze grew colder and colder, his sword aura showing no signs of diminishing, only increasing. His sword moved so fast it was almost invisible; after each strike, the surrounding stone walls were left unscathed, covered with sword marks of uniform depth, like knife cuts or axe strokes.

Chu Yi pursed her lips, her face as still as water. The moonlight in her hand rippled like a clear, cold glow, lonely and serene, possessing a calm and strong quality like the moon rising over the Tianshan Mountains. But above, below, to the left, right, front, and back, were those cold, ghostly figures. In the impenetrable sword energy, Chu Yi gradually had several sword marks of varying sizes slashed across her body.

Just as Chu Yi was locked in combat with the young master of Bixie, the Silver Light Prince turned around and instructed the guards: "Escort Young Master Zhao back to his residence. Please summon Guard Leng."

Young Master Zhao smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned about the fighting outside the mansion. He pulled his cloak together and strode away.

With a light leap, the silver light landed atop the mansion wall.

The three hermits of Cangshan were eager to try their luck outside the formation, but when they suddenly saw the Silver Light Prince shake his head slightly, they all helplessly put down their weapons and stood with their hands at their sides.

In the distance, a black figure swept in, his dark hair disheveled in the rushing wind. He moved faster and faster, stopping in front of Elder Zhu.

Chu Yi was focused on fighting his enemy when Lingling saw the black figure and was greatly surprised.

Qiu Ye remained unmoved by external things, sweeping the sword horizontally across Chu Yi's chest. The sword energy, like a vibrant, surging red sun, struck Chu Yi squarely in the chest.

Chu Yi let out a low, miserable cry as his body was thrown more than three zhang away, leaving behind drops of bright red blood.

Her hair, which had been flying in the wind, gradually fell down, and Qiu Yeyi's face was as cold as frost, her breath almost imperceptible.

He coldly paused with his dragon-patterned sword, the tip pointing downwards: "Twelve moves..." His figure remained motionless, the blood dripping from the sword's blade, his domineering posture resembling a demon emerging from the darkness at dawn.

Leng Qi stood behind the young master of Bixie, her face showing some worry. With a nervous heart, she first bowed, then hesitantly said, "Young Master..."

"Kill him." Qiu Yeyi's cold voice carried on the wind.

The first-year student, who was lying on the ground, used all his strength to slap the ground with his left hand, leap up, and flip backward.

A short, drawn-out melody drifted slowly through the air, long but without a distinct tune.

For the first time, a look of panic and vulnerability appeared on Chu Yi's face. He suddenly leaped up, seemingly struggling against the invisible net in front of him, clenching his teeth, and soared into the sky.

Just as the music ended, Chu Yi's body slammed heavily to the ground with a "bang," lying face down with his left hand clenched into a fist, covered in cold sweat, as if he was enduring immense pain.

Qiu Yeyi stood coldly a few feet away from Chu Yi, her gaze sharp and cruel as she carefully observed every expression on Chu Yi's face.

Chu felt as if an iron hook was scraping his flesh from his abdomen, the pain unbearable, making him want to rip his intestines out and throw them away. His right hand involuntarily released the moonlight, firmly rooted to the ground, the tendons bulging, tearing several holes in the cobblestone pavement. Although his face was gradually contorting, his gaze, carrying the thunder of a thousand mountains and the domineering power of a vast ocean, coldly pierced the person before him.

That intense, chilling aura swept over everything, seemingly trying to devour Qiu Yeyijian.

Qiu Yeyi's face was as transparent and indifferent as ice crystals, reflecting a faint, drifting light.

He stared coldly into Chu Yi's eyes, never looking away, watching the convulsing body on the ground gradually subside, and listening to Chu Yi's unbearable "whimpering" sounds, like a small beast caught in a net, furious but unable to break free.

The sound was painful and suppressed, gradually fading away in the wind.

Qiu Yeyi's pupils were like the vast, dark, and cold night sky, devoid of any warmth. But he didn't know that those eyes, those piercing, direct eyes, would miraculously be imprinted on his heart.

The three hermits of Cangshan exchanged a glance, and a chill ran down their spines.

Leng Qi remained silent for a long while, his thoughts unreadable. He took a step forward, his voice still hesitant: "First day of the lunar month..."

"Light." Qiu Yeyi coldly interrupted Leng Qi.

Young Master Yin Guang sighed inwardly, slowly walked forward, squatted down and placed his hand on Chu Yi's carotid artery, gently probing it. He then stood up, raised his hand and bowed: "Young Master, you are at least a swordsman, please leave your body intact."

Qiu Ye stared intently at Yin Guang's face, unblinking: "Not within our jurisdiction, this is a one-time exception." She turned and left, the hem of her robes stirring up a cold breeze.

Leng Qi stared coldly at Chu Yi's figure for a long time, her eyes deep and unfathomable, looking at him as if in disbelief.

Yin Guang picked up the moonlight, slightly raised his left hand, and silently stroked the blade of the longsword. A layer of misty cold air came from between his fingers. He sighed, lifted Chu Yi's waist, and leaped towards the end of the street.

After passing through several dark alleys and leaping over a riverbank dotted with crows, a desolate, rocky graveyard came into view, appearing bleak in the dark twilight.

Yin Guang laid Chu Yi flat on a secluded pile of rocks. After thinking for a moment, she placed Yue Guang beside him and bowed twice: "I have no chance to know your real name, but I feel that you are the bravest and most resolute person I have ever met. I respect you as a person, so I return Yue Guang to you. I hope you can rest peacefully under this moonlight."

The wind howled fiercely from beyond the Great Wall, and in the blink of an eye, dark clouds gathered, shrouding the sky in gloom, so heavy it seemed to crush the entire heaven and earth. Soon after, snowflakes began to fall in a flurry.

The snowflakes, as large as goose feathers, swirled with the angry north wind, filling the dark night sky where one could not see one's own hand. The snow on the ground piled up thicker and thicker, and an hour later, the Ruzhou Imperial Camp was adorned with a luster like silver liquid.

"This snow is timely." Qiu Yeyi coldly withdrew his gaze, standing tall and elegant in front of the carved window. He looked at the people in front of him with a deep gaze, and after a long while, he said again, "With snow, we can't use fire."

Young Master Yinguang nodded knowingly. The military headquarters and the prefectural government were interdependent, and those who attacked at night would most likely consider setting fire to separate the two places, preventing the guards from launching a coordinated attack. However, with his exceptional martial arts skills, who could restrain him tonight?

Yin Guang couldn't help but frown slightly.

Qiu Yeyi's gaze shifted, as if she could foresee what Yin Guang was thinking: "Whoever comes, as long as they can hold me off, that's fine."

"In your opinion, young master, who could it be?" Yin Guang couldn't help but ask.

Qiu Yeyi's cold eyes were fixed on the sky as she calmly said, "Chu Yi is dead. Who else can withstand more than ten of my moves?"

"Besides Young Master Yu Xue, it's hard to think of anyone else." Lan Jun, standing by the table, spoke cautiously, as if he were carefully considering the matter. He also understood that the young master's question did not include their side.

Qiu Yeyi's gaze was fixed on the dragon-patterned sword on the table, and she said coldly, "No."

"Please enlighten me, young master."

“Yang Wan, from Jiangning Prefecture, which is adjacent to Yangzhou.”

The three elders of Cangshan looked at each other, probably because they had been arrogant and unruly in the martial arts world for decades, and apart from the young master and Chu Yi who had defeated them, they did not take the rising stars of the martial arts world seriously at all.

"As far as I know, Yang Wan has always been under the command of the Lonely Town Lord..." Yin Guang said calmly after hearing this.

"It might not be her who comes looking for me."