Orden des Roten Lotus

Kapitel 11

Qiu Changtian suddenly realized and slapped his forehead, saying, "Look at me... Qiu Zang, quickly go and invite Miss here."

"yes."

Upon hearing that they would be able to meet Qiu Hengbo, one of the two great beauties of the martial arts world, the young people present couldn't help but show their delight. "Qiu Hengbo is incredibly charming," they wondered, "just how beautiful could she be?"

"The garden arrangement for the daytime gathering is ingenious and thoughtful. I heard it was done by Miss Qiu. It seems that Miss Qiu is not only exceptionally beautiful, but also has a kind and intelligent heart," Lan Qi said with a smile, waving her jade fan.

"Seventh Young Master, you flatter me." Qiu Changtian smiled broadly. "My daughter just enjoys reading a few miscellaneous books. The layout of Changtian Manor is mostly based on books, which is really clumsy. Please forgive her."

"Although I haven't yet explored all of Changtian Manor, the few places I've visited during the day are all elegant and refined, which shows that Miss Qiu is truly a woman of noble character. Senior Qiu, why be so modest? I've heard that Miss Qiu is still unmarried, but I wonder who will be fortunate enough to marry her in the future." Lan Qi said, glancing at Ming Er with a meaningful look in his eyes.

"Haha..." Qiu Changtian laughed, "Hengbo is always opinionated, so as her father, I respect her wishes regarding this important life event. As long as it's what she likes, I have no objections." As he spoke, he also glanced at Ming Er.

Just then, a light footstep was heard, followed by a faint fragrance. Then, a slender figure in light blue stepped into the room. At that moment, the bright glass lamp in the pavilion was suddenly covered with a layer of water vapor, becoming hazy. The lamplight swayed like gentle ripples on water, and the slender figure in light blue stepped on the water ripples and came quietly.

"Hengbo, come here quickly," Qiu Changtian called out.

“Father, Uncle Nan.” Qiu Hengbo moved gracefully.

"Hengbo, let me introduce you to some young heroes. This is Ming Huayan, the second young master of the Ming family; this is Lan Canyin, the seventh young master of the Lan family; this is Hua Qinghe, the eldest young master of the Hua family; this is Mei Hongming of the Taoluo Sect; this is Yuwen Luo of the Yuwen family; and this is Ning Lang of the Ning family." Qiu Changtian introduced them one by one.

Qiu Hengbo raised her eyes to look at everyone at the table. She met six pairs of eyes that were different in appearance but the same in their amazement. Without being shy or hiding, she was poised and graceful. She bowed and said, "Hengbo greets all my fellow disciples."

The group stood up to return the greeting.

Qiu Hengbo's gaze slowly swept over the people at the table. They were indeed "young heroes" as her father had said. What was rare was their refined and outstanding demeanor, unlike the mediocre. The most outstanding among them were the Second Young Master Ming and the Seventh Young Master Lan. However... for no reason, when her gaze met Lan Qi's green eyes, her heart suddenly trembled, and she felt a chill. Yet, she could clearly sense that this person, known as "Green Demon," had no ill intentions towards her. In those captivating green eyes, there was an appreciation for her, as well as a puzzled smile.

"Hengbo, the 'Heavenly Silk Robe' that you wove by hand was not delivered today." Qiu Changtian looked at his daughter with a meaningful gaze. "Firstly, the theft of 'Lan Yin Bi Yue' interrupted the process, and secondly, the contest between Nephew Huayan and Seventh Young Master was still undecided."

One was addressed as "nephew," the other as "Seventh Young Master"—the difference in their relationship was clear. Yuwen Luo smiled inwardly, turning to look at Ning Lang, only to find his eyes fixed on Lan Qi. He couldn't help but find it amusing yet also somewhat pitying. His gaze shifted to Lan Qi, scrutinizing him carefully from top to bottom and then bottom to top: This appearance was indeed too… well, alas, one shouldn't use that word to describe a man, but he truly didn't know which word to use! His gaze then lingered on Lan Qi's neck, but it was obscured by his collar. Even so, his brows, demeanor, and every action exuded the heroic spirit of a man, without a trace of femininity; he couldn't possibly be a woman in disguise.

"Although Hengbo wasn't present today, I heard from the people in the village that the match between the Second Young Master and the Seventh Young Master, though only a few moves, had already shocked the entire audience." Qiu Hengbo approached the table, personally filled the cups of Ming Er and Lan Qi with wine, poured one for himself, and then raised his cup. "No matter how high one's martial arts skills are, if there is no one to face, one is just a lonely master. Hengbo congratulates the two of you on having such opponents."

This statement was completely unexpected. Lan Qi and Ming Er's eyes lit up with surprise. They looked at Qiu Hengbo for a moment, then stood up, raised their cups high, and drank them down in one gulp.

Ming Er put down his cup, stared at Qiu Hengbo, and said, "It seems that the saying 'Qiu Hengbo is incredibly charming' was wrong."

Upon hearing this, everyone at the table was surprised. How could they have said something wrong? In their opinion, this was far from enough to describe its beauty.

“It should be ‘Autumn waters flow horizontally, the sky is colorless; wise eyes and orchid-like heart seize the celestial jewel,’” Ming Er murmured.

Qiu Hengbo's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes, which had been avoiding eye contact, finally turned to Ming Er. When she met those eyes that seemed to be shrouded in mist, time seemed to flow by in an instant, as if a hundred lifetimes had passed in a flash. Day after day, year after year, she had been waiting for those eyes, but across mountains and rivers, amidst the vast world, she could only gaze at them from afar.

"Hmm, well said, Hengbo deserves this praise." Nan Wofeng stroked his beard and praised, looking at Ming Er and then at Qiu Hengbo, truly a pair of perfect lovers.

"Indeed." Several people at the table nodded in agreement.

Qiu Hengbo smiled slightly, her bright eyes rippling with gentle waves, exuding a thousand kinds of beauty and ten thousand kinds of charm. Everyone who saw her secretly praised her, saying that "Qiu Hengbo is absolutely charming" was indeed well-deserved!

"I've long heard that you, Second Young Master, are skilled in calligraphy. May I ask if I could have a piece of your work?" Qiu Hengbo asked, her bright eyes fixed on Ming Er.

Several people at the table were slightly taken aback when they heard Qiu Hengbo's words. Only Lan Qi smiled and understood. She turned her head casually and met Ning Lang's gaze. Her green eyes blinked and her smile deepened. Ning Lang's face immediately turned red.

Qiu Changtian looked at his daughter, suddenly realized what was going on, exchanged a glance with Nan Wofeng, and the two smiled with satisfaction.

“If Miss doesn’t mind, I have no objection,” Ming Er replied with a smile.

"Qiu Zang, quickly prepare paper and ink," Qiu Changtian immediately ordered.

Before long, a desk was brought in, paper was laid out, and ink was ground.

Ming Er rose from his seat and walked to the table, picked up a brush and dipped it in ink, and asked, "What words does Miss wish to write?"

"As the Second Young Master wishes." Qiu Hengbo moved the paperweight to press down the white paper.

Ming Er's gaze shifted from the paper to Qiu Hengbo. He saw that she was beautiful and had a bright and intelligent look in her eyes. What more could one ask for in a person with such talent and character?

As the pen fell, the dragon and snake instantly flew away.

Everyone left their seats, holding wine cups and gathering around the table. Lan Qi looked at the paper and casually read aloud: "In the West there is a beautiful woman, radiant as the white sun. She wears a delicate silk robe, with twin jade pendants on her left and right..."

Ning Lang sat in the chair, lost in thought, with Yuwen Luo beside him.

"Stop looking. Even if you keep looking, he's still a man." Yuwen Luo sighed as he saw Ning Lang's gaze constantly following Lan Qi.

“I know.” Ning Lang lowered his head in frustration.

"What's going on in your family? How did you end up getting engaged to a man?" Yuwen Luo asked.

“I don’t know.” Ning Lang looked up, his round eyes filled with distress and confusion. “I’ve always lived on Qianbi Mountain. I only came down the mountain to return home this year. Less than a month after I returned home, my mother told me that she had arranged a marriage for me when I was a child. It was with Lan Canyin from the Lan family in Yunzhou. She told me to go to the Lan family and bring my wife home.”

Pfft! Yuwen Luo couldn't help but laugh, staring at Ning Lang's still childish face, "Get a wife? Haha... You think you can get a wife looking like that?"

Yuwen Luo's smile only added to Ning Lang's already dejected mood, and he exclaimed, "That's exactly what Mother told me."

"So what are you going to do now?" Yuwen Luo pointed at Lan Qi. "That's a man."

"I don't know," Ning Lang said, troubled. "What would my older brother do if it were him?"

"Me?" Yuwen Luo pointed to himself, then waved his hand dismissively, "Of course, I'll dissolve the engagement!"

“But during the day…” Ning Lang hesitated, recalling Lan Qi’s sorrowful appearance during the day.

"You idiot!" Yuwen Luo flicked Ning Lang's head with his finger. "He was just playing with you, and you actually believed him." Chapter 14, Part 5: Autumn Waters Rippling, Sky Colorless (Part 2)

Updated: [2008-11-28 14:06:48.0]

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"You're playing me for a fool?" Ning Lang's face paled, then instantly turned bright red. "He...he...he actually played with this!"

"Who told you to be so stupid!" Yuwen Luo rolled his eyes. "Of course, a man can't marry another man. How could he not know that? Besides, his romantic escapades are all over the martial arts world. He's definitely not into homosexuality. He's already achieved his goal during the day. It's only a matter of time before the engagement is dissolved."

"Hmph!" Ning Lang stood up abruptly. "I'll go talk to him right now."

"Wait a minute." Yuwen Luo quickly grabbed him. "Don't you know what kind of occasion this is? In my opinion, this matter cannot be handled rashly. You need to find a suitable time to have a proper talk with him and ask him what exactly happened back then when you got engaged. Although I don't know much about the Lan family, such a prestigious family would naturally have many children. Perhaps you really are engaged to a young lady of the Lan family, but you just got the name wrong. If that's the case, he would be your brother-in-law, and you can't afford to offend him. Also, you should write home and ask your parents what happened. Then you can make a decision. After all, marrying into the Lan family..." Yuwen Luo looked at the sinister-looking man, his eyes showing caution. "Look at the Lan family's current influence in the martial arts world, and look at this most powerful Lan family head in history. That's something that everyone in the martial arts world desires but can't have. So you must act with caution."

Yuwen Luo spoke at length, but all he got in return was a puzzled look from Ning Lang. He scratched his head and said, "What you said is too complicated, it's making my head spin. But I'll listen to you, I won't talk to you now, I'll talk to you alone later. Mother said that the person I'm betrothed to is Lan Canyin, so of course it's him. So we can just break off the engagement, and the rest has nothing to do with me."

Yuwen Luo stared at him in disbelief, and after a long while, he uttered, "It's true that being simple-minded is a blessing."

"Beautiful calligraphy!"

Ning Lang resolved his problem, while Ming Er finished writing.

"Beautiful calligraphy and excellent poetry!"

After reading Ming Er's calligraphy, Qiu Changtian and the others praised it.

"Please accept this, Miss." Ming Er handed the letter to Qiu Hengbo.

Qiu Hengbo took the paper; several lines of cursive script on the snow-white silk were neither wildly unrestrained nor unconventionally free-spirited. Yet, amidst the flowing strokes, there was a refined transcendence, a ethereal quality that left no trace, and an intangible sense of freehand expression—truly, the calligraphy reflected the person. And this poem:

There is a beautiful woman in the West, as radiant as the white sunlight.

She was dressed in a fine silk robe, with double jade pendants on either side.

A beautiful face, enhanced by adornment, shines with the gentle breeze.

I climb to a high place and gaze upon what I long for, raising my sleeves to greet the rising sun.

I entrust my face to the clouds, and with a wave of my sleeve, I soar through the void.

In a daze, she glanced at me.

Joy and happiness had not yet been shared, yet our conversation was filled with sorrow.

The poem praises her beauty and also expresses admiration. A sweet feeling rises in her heart, a rosy glow spreads across her face, and she looks up at the person before her, tall and slender, like a solitary pine tree on a jade mountain.

"Having received the calligraphy from the Second Young Master, I have nothing to repay you with, so I offer this 'Heavenly Silk Robe' as a token of my gratitude. I hope you will not find it offensive," Qiu Hengbo said, looking at Ming Er with a smile.

Then a pretty maid came in carrying a 'silk garment', looking at Ming Er with curious and delighted eyes.

Ming Er glanced at Qiu Changtian, then at Qiu Hengbo, pondered for a moment, and smiled while clasping his hands in a fist salute: "It would be impolite of me to refuse."

The other young people, however, looked on with envy.

This is far more than just a simple matter of giving a piece of calligraphy in exchange for clothing.

"A talented man and a beautiful woman, a talented man and a beautiful woman."

While several people were thinking this, someone bluntly said it out loud.

Lan Qi waved his jade fan, his gaze shifting between Ming Er and Qiu Hengbo, a half-smile on his face. "With such talent as Second Young Master, I originally intended to make plans for Ninth Sister, but who knew... Alas, Miss Qiu possesses unparalleled beauty and a kind heart, which Ninth Sister is truly inferior to." His words sounded both true and false.

"Haha... Seventh Young Master is joking." Qiu Changtian laughed. "Today is a rare opportunity. Come, come, let's have a few more drinks. Qiu Zang, go and bring that jar of 'Qingye Lansheng'. Tonight, I want to get drunk with my nephews."

The drinking session lasted until the end of the 7 PM hour, the wine was strong and the mood was high, and both host and guests were happy.

After the banquet, Ning Lang helped the slightly drunk Yuwen Luo back to the courtyard where they shared a room.

"This is so interesting!" Yuwen Luo exclaimed as soon as he entered the room. Although his steps were a little unsteady, his eyes were bright and clear.

"What's interesting?" Ning Lang poured him a cup of tea.

“These people…” Yuwen Luo sat down on the stool by the table, holding the tea Ning Lang handed him, watching the ripples in the cup. “Although Qiu Changtian claims to be indifferent to fame and fortune, he wants to be the son-in-law of the ‘Lan Yin Ling Master’. Nan Wofeng is also an extremely aloof person, but after decades of close friendship with Qiu Changtian, he naturally helps him. Hua Qinghe has remained reserved and shrewd from beginning to end. Mei Hongming doesn’t concern himself with external affairs, but it’s clear he’s a person of unwavering resolve. As for Ming Er and Lan Qi… hehe, they are the most formidable. They fought twice at Changtian Manor, and neither side gained the upper hand.”

"No, they only fought once." Ning Lang took a sip of tea, finding it light and pleasant, and then took another sip with satisfaction. Wine really isn't as good as tea.

"There was another time when it was invisible." Yuwen Luo's eyes shone as he looked into the void, as if someone was sparring there. "Many people want the position of Qiu family son-in-law, but even someone as outstanding as Lan Qi only has a 30-40% chance, because there are other young masters from other families, and there is also Ming Er. Compared to Lan Qi, who is known as the 'Azure Demon,' I think Qiu Changtian and Qiu Hengbo would prefer the 'Immortal' Ming Er, who is respected by everyone. Between the unpredictable and wicked, the latter is more suitable and reliable. So when you went up to ask him during the day, Lan Qi immediately admitted to the marriage with you. Everyone may have thought it was a farce, but behind this farce lies a fact: the relationship between the Lan family and the Ning family, two of the six great families, is exceptionally deep. After all, being able to reach the point of discussing marriage means that the friendship is very deep. Moreover, who in the martial arts world doesn't know that the Ning family and Qianbi Mountain are closely related? A deep relationship with the Ning family naturally means a deep relationship with Qianbi Mountain."

"Oh." Ning Lang rubbed his eyes, feeling a little sleepy.

"Lan Qi is quick-witted and decisive; he's exceptionally capable," Yuwen Luo said, twirling his teacup. "As for that Second Young Master Ming, he subdues his enemy without leaving a trace."

Ning Lang yawned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Yuwen Luo took a sip of tea before saying, "During the meal, he mentioned that Young Master Hua saved Miss Ming, ostensibly to express the Ming family's gratitude, but subtly revealing that Miss Ming had feelings for Hua Qinghe. Ming's parents were also quite fond of her. You can imagine what kind of person Qiu Changtian is; how could he not understand? Since it was someone the Ming family had their eye on, he certainly wouldn't try to take her away. Moreover, judging from Hua Qinghe's concern for Miss Ming, he might also have feelings for her, so naturally he wouldn't give his daughter to him. As for Mei Hongming's words, while they revealed his innocent nature, they also showed his complete lack of social skills. He might achieve great martial arts prowess in the future, but he's definitely not the kind of person who can lead the heroes of the martial world. Qiu Changtian is known as the 'Confucian Knight-Errant,' with exceptional talent, friends all over the world, and is the leader of the Huazhou martial arts community. A person with his temperament would naturally like Ming Er, who is similar to him."

"Oh." Ning Lang responded again, wanting nothing more than to climb into bed, but seeing that Yuwen Luoyi was full of energy and seemed ready to talk all night, he couldn't help but yawn repeatedly, hoping that he would finish quickly.

"Later, Qiu Hengbo arrived. What man wouldn't be moved by such beauty? That's why we had that inscription and that garment. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone present understood that they were tokens of engagement." Yuwen Luo's eyes grew brighter as he spoke. "Although Lan Qi lost his chance, he still wouldn't let them off easy. Lan Family Ninth Sister planted a thorn in Qiu Hengbo's heart: 'Every daughter would like a man like the Second Young Master Ming. Besides, it's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines...' Hehe... He can kill enemies with a smile... Hehe..." He laughed as he spoke. "It's really interesting. There are so many outstanding and interesting people. And with the disappearance of 'Lan Yin Bi Yue,' the martial world is in turmoil again. Heaven has indeed given me a great purpose, to witness this turbulent time!" As he spoke, his face was full of pride and excitement, truly as if a great mission had been bestowed upon him.

Ning Lang ignored Yuwen Luo's excitement, feeling really sleepy, and got up to walk to the bedside. "Brother, it's late, go to sleep, we'll talk tomorrow."

"Hey, did you even hear what I said?" Yuwen Luo stood up and asked.

"Hmm, I heard it. Doesn't it just mean that the Second Young Master and Lan Qi Shao are evenly matched opponents? Miss Qiu already said that." Ning Lang waved his hand and climbed into bed.

“Hey, it’s not that simple.” Yuwen Luo tugged at him. “I can’t see through Ming Er and Lan Qi. One is otherworldly yet does worldly things, and the other is evil yet comes from a prestigious family. You have to be careful in the future, especially that Lan Qi.”

"Mmm." Ning Lang squinted and responded, then turned over and soon his even breathing could be heard; he had fallen asleep.

"Hey!" Yuwen Luo nudged him, but received no response. "Sigh, never mind, let's go to sleep." With that, he pushed Ning Lang inside, lay down, pulled the blanket over himself, and soon fell asleep.

The next day, both of them woke up late, and the sun was already shining brightly outside.