Just as Chu Tong was about to speak, Jiang Wansheng grabbed Ying Shuang and said, "Ying Shuang, step back." Then, her bright eyes fixed on Chu Tong, she said, "Miss Yao, I know more about the ins and outs of your relationship with Yun Lang, but Yun Lang and I truly love each other, yet we were separated due to various misunderstandings. Yun Lang has always been a man of great loyalty and righteousness. You saved his life, and he would never abandon you first. Therefore, I have come to see you today, and I have no choice but to shamelessly beg you, Miss Yao, to consider our past relationship and grant us your blessing. I, Jiang Wansheng, will repay you with my life's gratitude." After saying this, Jiang Wansheng gracefully bowed and knelt down.
Ying Shuang exclaimed in alarm, "This is unacceptable! Miss, please get up!" She grabbed Jiang Wansheng's arm, stamping her feet urgently, "Miss! Miss! Get up! You are of noble birth, how can you kneel before her!" She then raised her face and glared fiercely at Chu Tong, her eyes flashing with endless disgust and hatred, and said sharply, "Do you know my young lady's true identity? Besides, she once saved your life. Making her kneel before you, aren't you afraid of shortening your lifespan?"
Jiang Wansheng pushed Ying Shuang away and scolded, "Ying Shuang, Miss Yao saved Yun Lang, so she deserves my bow!" After saying that, she raised her pretty face and looked at Chu Tong, her eyes pleading, "Miss Yao, Wansheng is begging you!"
Chu Tong was stunned by this sudden turn of events and involuntarily took two steps back. Then, she knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to Jiang Wansheng as she said, "Miss Jiang is my savior. How can I let my benefactor kneel before me?" She kept her head down for a while, then straightened up and looked at Jiang Wansheng's face, saying firmly, "Miss Jiang, although you saved my life, I cannot agree to this."
Jiang Wansheng was stunned. Chu Tong sighed inwardly, "A beauty is a beauty indeed, even her surprised expression is so beautiful." She sighed and said, "Miss Jiang, Yun Yinghuai is not an object, how can you return him? He is a person, he will naturally be with whichever woman he likes." Jiang Wansheng's expression darkened, and she lowered her head, saying softly, "Yun Lang, Yun Lang must hate me to death now..."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "My young master is still hung up on her, clinging to her past. Now that I see this female benefactor has a good heart, perhaps I should try to persuade her instead." Thinking this, Chu Tong exclaimed, "Miss Jiang, you are a noblewoman of royal lineage, born into a prestigious family. You will enjoy endless wealth and luxury for the rest of your life. You are so beautiful, so rich, and so gentle. The young talents of the entire Southern Yan Kingdom who want to marry you could probably line up outside the capital. And there will be even better men in the future. I am a little orphan, unloved and neglected since childhood, forced to flee for my life, wandering the world, penniless..." "I don't know any martial arts. Yun Yinghuai might be the best husband I'll ever meet in my life. We'll live and die together, our hearts are intertwined. Besides, we were married years ago, it's fate. I... I don't want to leave him..." With that, Chu Tong bowed and kowtowed, saying, "Miss Jiang, you saved my life. Yao Chu Tong isn't ungrateful; I will definitely repay this debt. You saved my life, I will repay you with my own!" She then raised her face, staring intently into Jiang Wansheng's eyes, and said, word by word, "But Yun Yinghuai, no!"
Jiang Wansheng opened her beautiful eyes wide, looking at her with a hint of disbelief. After a moment of eye contact, Jiang Wansheng nodded and said, "I understand." She then stood up and turned her back. Chu Tong kowtowed again, saying, "If Miss Jiang wants to hate me or blame me, Chu Tong has nothing to say."
Just then, Chu Tong felt her arm tighten, and then she was pulled up. A deep voice said, "Why are you kneeling before her!" Chu Tong turned her head and saw Yun Yinghuai standing behind her, his handsome face ashen and his thick eyebrows furrowed. Chu Tong was overjoyed and grabbed Yun Yinghuai's arm, saying, "My little husband, you've come!"
Jiang Wansheng was stunned. The man before her wore a black robe embroidered with cloud and wild goose patterns, a jade dragon crown on his head, and had bright, captivating eyes. Who else could it be but Yun Yinghuai? She involuntarily took two steps forward, all the emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and deep longing—surging into her heart. Though she tried to maintain composure, her hands trembled uncontrollably. Yun Yinghuai stared expressionlessly at Jiang Wansheng's face. Chu Tong felt the grip on his arm tighten, and her breathing quickened. She thought, "This is bad, this is bad. Old lovers meeting again is bound to ignite passion. I must take my husband away immediately."
Just then, Yun Yinghuai said, "Xing'er, let's go." Chu Tong was overjoyed and immediately nodded hurriedly, saying, "Great, great, let's go now!" She then took Yun Yinghuai's hand and turned to leave. Suddenly, a voice came from behind: "Stop!" Jiang Wansheng rushed over, leaving a trail of fragrance, and grabbed Yun Yinghuai's arm, saying, "Yun Lang, don't blame me. Last month I sent someone to leave you a message, wanting to see you again, but I waited for you for many days and you didn't come. I had no choice but to resort to this tactic to lure you here..."
Yun Yinghuai said expressionlessly, "I don't blame you, but let's not see each other again." With that, he pulled Chu Tong away. Jiang Wansheng clung tightly to Yun Yinghuai's arm and said, "Don't go yet, I have something to tell you."
Yun Yinghuai coldly replied, "There's nothing to say."
Jiang Wansheng said, "It will only take a little while."
Yun Yinghuai said, "The princess is already married, it is improper for her to be so intimate with a commoner like this." After saying that, he broke free from Jiang Wansheng's hand and strode forward.
Jiang Wansheng quickly caught up and grabbed Yun Yinghuai's wrist. Her beautiful eyes were brimming with tears, but her gaze was as firm as iron. She said, word by word, "Let's go, just for a little while." Their eyes met, and Yun Yinghuai's heart skipped a beat, her gaze slowly softening. Jiang Wansheng said, "Let's go," and pulled Yun Yinghuai away.
Yun Yinghuai hadn't taken two steps when Chu Tong grabbed his hand. When Yun Yinghuai turned around, he saw Chu Tong looking up at him and shouting, "You're not allowed to go!" Yun Yinghuai was immediately taken aback.
Jiang Wansheng stared at Chu Tong and said sternly, "Let him go." Her imposing and noble demeanor immediately emanated from her. Chu Tong looked into Jiang Wansheng's eyes and said firmly, "I won't!"
Jiang Wansheng's gaze was icy as she said, "Let go!"
Chu Tong gritted her teeth and said, "I won't let go!" Then she looked up at Yun Yinghuai and said, "Yun Yinghuai, you are my husband. You promised to treat me well and take good care of me for the rest of your life. So, you are not allowed to pay attention to her. Come with me now. I owe her, and I will repay her myself!" Yun Yinghuai stared at Chu Tong's face. He saw her starry eyes flickering, and her expression was indescribably solemn.
Jiang Wansheng opened her beautiful eyes wide and said to Yun Yinghuai, "Please, just for a moment, just let me finish what I have to say."
Chu Tong said firmly, "No! Not any longer!" She then exchanged a sharp look with Jiang Wansheng, neither willing to back down. Afterward, Chu Tong said, "Let's go."
Jiang Wansheng grasped Yun Yinghuai's hand and said, "Don't go." Yun Yinghuai paused, and Chu Tong stared intently into his eyes, saying sharply, "You're not allowed to go! If you go, I'll hide at the ends of the earth, and you'll never find me again!"
Jiang Wansheng tightened her grip and whispered, "Please!" Her eyes remained resolute, but a hint of sorrow was already showing. At this moment, Ying Shuang rushed over, hugged Jiang Wansheng's arm, and cried, "Princess, Princess, he is already a heartless and unfaithful man, why do you have to do this? When have you ever wronged yourself like this? Just let them go."
Jiang Wansheng's heart skipped a beat, and her grip on his hand loosened slightly. At that moment, Chu Tong said, "Young husband, let's go." She then dragged Yun Yinghuai forward. Yun Yinghuai took a few steps, then couldn't help but look back. He saw Jiang Wansheng standing frozen in place, her eyes filled with endless sorrow and despair. Yun Yinghuai's heart trembled, and he immediately turned away, averting his gaze.
Yun Yinghuai's horse was parked near a large tree not far from the room. Chu Tong jumped onto the horse first, and Yun Yinghuai sat behind her, spurring the horse forward with a shout of "Giddy up!" Chu Tong thought to herself, "Now is the time to make my move. It would be proper to marry my young husband as soon as possible. That Jiang Wansheng is beautiful and talented, and my young husband is probably..." Thinking of this, she turned her head and looked at Yun Yinghuai worriedly, only to see that Yun Yinghuai's brows were tightly furrowed, and he seemed quite preoccupied.
Suddenly, Yun Yinghuai pulled on the reins, stopped, and said to Chu Tong, "Wait for me here, I'll be right back." Chu Tong's heart sank. She was about to say something, but Yun Yinghuai had already dismounted and used his lightness skill to gallop away the way he had come, no longer able to hear Chu Tong calling him. Yun Yinghuai's figure grew farther and farther away, and Chu Tong gritted her teeth, grabbed the reins, and chased after him.
Chu Tong spurred her horse onward, and by now she could see Yun Yinghuai and Jiang Wansheng in the distance. Her heart pounded with anxiety. Just as she was about to urge her horse onward, a figure suddenly leaped out from the side, arms outstretched, blocking her path and shouting, "Don't go!" Chu Tong was startled and yanked the reins hard. The horse reared up and neighed, and Chu Tong nearly fell to the ground. Still shaken, she cursed, "You son of a bitch, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
The man screamed, "Even if I die, I won't let you pass!" Chu Tong looked closely and saw Ying Shuang blocking the middle of the road, her eyes wide open, and she said crisply, "Young Master Yun went back to find the Princess just now, and I knew you would follow. You ungrateful wretch, I will definitely not let you pass today!"
Chu Tong thought to herself, "You think you can stop me?" She snorted and jumped off her horse. Just as she was about to use her Lotus Steps technique, Ying Shuang stepped forward and grabbed her waist, saying, "You're not going anywhere!"
Chu Tong was furious, thinking to herself, "This little girl is such a nuisance!" Yun Yinghuai had abandoned her, leaving her already extremely frustrated; now, her anger flared even more. She wanted to smash Ying Shuang to pieces with one blow, but she quickly restrained herself: "No, no! This little girl and her mistress are my saviors! How can they repay kindness with enmity?" She immediately suppressed her anger and was about to pry Ying Shuang's hand away when she heard Ying Shuang say, "My princess had her reasons for leaving Young Master Yun. Her mother forced her to marry a wealthy young man, and she had no choice but to marry him. However, she couldn't bear to leave Young Master Yun, who was already trapped and unable to help her at all. She could only struggle alone in the manor, exhausting herself in the process..." She had schemed to escape her arranged marriage, allowing her younger sister to marry in her place. The princess had run away after breaking ties with her parents and had spent over a year searching for Young Master Yun. Whenever she heard of his whereabouts, she would travel day and night. A while ago, rumors circulated in the martial world that Young Master Yun was dead, leaving the princess heartbroken and weeping day and night. Later, news spread that Young Master Yun had quelled the rebellion of the Yun Ding Sect, filling the princess with joy. But then she heard that Young Master Yun already had a beautiful woman by his side… Yao Chutong, the princess has always been serene and noble, but this time she knelt down and begged you, humiliating herself to this extent… She… she cannot live without Young Master Yun…”
Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat. She thought to herself, "So Jiang Wansheng isn't married! This is really bad." She lowered her head and pondered for a long time before saying in a hoarse voice, "Since that's the case, let's see who Yun Yinghuai is willing to be with. If, if he chooses your princess, I'll leave..." After saying that, she snorted and said, "This is only because your princess saved my life. If she were an ordinary woman, I would have already killed her with one stroke and seen if she would still be clinging to someone else's husband!" Ying Shuang curled her lips in disdain and said, "Stop talking big and bragging. I don't believe you have the guts!" Little did she know that Chu Tong had already killed the prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty and was on the run for assassination. She was like a leech, not afraid of being bitten. Why would she care about killing another princess?
At this moment, Yun Yinghuai had already turned and was walking towards the two of them. Ying Shuang grabbed Chu Tong's arm and pulled her into the bushes by the roadside. Jiang Wansheng, who had been chasing after them, grabbed Yun Yinghuai's arm and said, "Yun Lang, I don't want my parents, I don't want wealth, I don't want fame. I've traveled through endless mountains and rivers for over a year, searching for you everywhere. You, you can't be so heartless to me..." Her voice gradually became low and hoarse, choked with sobs.
Yun Yinghuai stopped and lowered her eyes, saying, "I have said everything I wanted to say, Princess. Please leave."
Jiang Wansheng smiled bitterly, her beautiful eyes filled with unspeakable pain, and said softly, "You, are you going back to find that Yao Chutong?"
Yun Yinghuai gazed at Jiang Wansheng for a long time before looking away and sighing deeply, "Princess, you are of noble birth, and you have given up wealth, honor, and reputation for me. I am deeply grateful, but I feel unworthy of such treatment..."
Jiang Wansheng covered her ears and shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face: "I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it! I went through so much trouble to come to you, and this isn't the result I wanted!"
Yun Yinghuai wanted to raise his hand to wipe away her tears, but his raised hand stopped in mid-air, and finally he clenched it into a fist and put it down, turning his face away and remaining silent.
Jiang Wansheng's eyes dimmed, and she said with tears in her eyes, "You, you really fell in love with Miss Yao?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Tong immediately tensed up and looked at Yun Yinghuai's expression. Yun Yinghuai lowered his head for a long time before slowly saying, "I promised her that I would be her husband and take good care of her for the rest of my life."
Jiang Wansheng grabbed Yun Yinghuai's arm, sobbing uncontrollably, "The person you love most in your heart has always been me, hasn't she? I know you keep your word, and if I were to listen to you, I would kneel before Miss Yao and beg for her forgiveness and to grant us our happiness..."
A hint of reluctance and pain crossed Yun Yinghuai's face as he softly said, "You, why are you doing this..." Jiang Wansheng grabbed Yun Yinghuai's sleeve and burst into tears, which streamed down her face, soaking her clothes. Yun Yinghuai's body trembled slightly, as if he could no longer control himself. He took Jiang Wansheng's hand in return and whispered, "Wanmei..." This sentence was filled with endless affection. Chu Tong stared blankly at Yun Yinghuai's face, her heart sinking instantly.
Jiang Wansheng was stunned. She raised her stunning face, and the two gazed at each other for a moment. Then she threw herself into Yun Yinghuai's arms and began to sob. After a long while, Yun Yinghuai pushed Jiang Wansheng away, lowered his head, and said in a hoarse voice, "Princess, let's forget about the past. I have already promised Miss Yao, so whether you are angry with me or hate me, I owe you. I have wronged you in this life!" After saying that, he turned and left. Jiang Wansheng was stunned for a moment, her legs went weak and she fell to the ground, then bent over and cried bitterly.
Just then, a figure flashed from the bushes, and a woman in apricot red jumped out, shouting, "Fine, fine, I won't be the one to break up this loving couple. I'll grant you two your wish...you two golden couple!" Yun Yinghuai was stunned. He saw Chu Tong standing in front of him, pointing at him and saying, "Yun Yinghuai, you love that Jiang girl more. Go ahead and let her be. No matter how shameless I, Yao Chu Tong, am, I can't let my two saviors cry and wail because of me. You two love each other like characters in 'The West Chamber'..." "In the story of Yingying and Zhang Sheng, I acted as their matchmaker, helping them get together." At this point, she was truly heartbroken, sighed, and said sadly, "This is my fate, damn it, I accept it!" With that, she immediately turned around, tears welling in her eyes. She took a deep breath, strode quickly, jumped onto her horse, spurred it on, shouted "Giddy up!", and galloped away. Yun Yinghuai was about to give chase when Chu Tong shouted, "Don't come after me!" She rode off in a cloud of dust, and soon Chu Tong's figure disappeared into the bushes.
Chu Tong spurred her horse forward at full gallop. After running for a while, she could no longer control herself. She hugged the horse's neck and burst into tears, cursing herself between sobs: "Yao Chu Tong, you idiot! What kind of hero are you pretending to be? My little husband has already chosen you, why did you give him away? Now you deserve to be heartbroken!" After wailing for a while, the horse gradually slowed down. Chu Tong wiped away her tears and sobbed, muttering: "But, but even if I can't be a hero, I can't be an ungrateful wretch. Besides, Confucius said, 'A gentleman should help others achieve their goals...'" Thinking of this, she felt that she was indeed a remarkable gentleman and hero. But when she thought that Yun Yinghuai would be someone else's husband from now on, she couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in her heart and cried bitterly.
Chu Tong cried until her throat was dry and sore before she finally managed to stop. Looking around, she saw that the horse had already led her into the deep mountains and forests. A clear stream flowed gently through the woods. She dismounted, cupped some water, drank a few mouthfuls, and then hastily wiped her face. Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps in the distance. Chu Tong jumped to her feet, craning her neck to look into the distance, her heart filled with joy. "Could it be my little husband coming to find me?"
The footsteps grew closer, and a dozen burly men dressed in tight-fitting clothes came galloping towards them. Each was imposing, carrying weapons, and moving with great speed. Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "This is bad! Could it be the men who killed me who have caught up with me?" She wanted to mount her horse and escape immediately, but in the blink of an eye, the men were already in front of her. Chu Tong held her breath, her hands and feet turning ice-cold. But the men didn't even glance at her and continued galloping forward. One of them stopped when he saw her and asked, "Young lady, have you seen a tall, thin middle-aged man in an indigo robe?"
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "No." But in her heart she thought, "This person speaks fluent Mandarin of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and his demeanor and bearing do not resemble those of an ordinary江湖草莽 (jianghu cao, a term referring to outlaws or江湖江湖草莽, a term referring to people from the martial arts world)."
The man nodded slightly and continued galloping forward. Chu Tong breathed a sigh of relief, muttering, "Thank goodness, they're not here to capture me." She looked around and saw towering mountains all around. She had been galloping wildly, clinging to the horse's neck, and had no idea where she was. She muttered, "Oh no, oh no, I don't know where I am. If I get lost in these mountains and forests and encounter wild beasts, it will be terrible." Then she thought that she had even given away her husband, and had no relatives left in the world. Even if she encountered danger, no one would come to find her. Her heart sank, and she thought, "When Lü Qiao died, at least I had her to collect her body. Now I'm all alone. Sooner or later I'll encounter villains chasing me. I'm afraid I won't even be as good as her then."
Chu Tong's nose tingled, and tears almost fell. She took a deep breath, mounted her horse, and felt that the world was vast but she had nowhere to belong. She thought to herself, "Why don't I just follow those big men and see what's going on? I'll just follow them from a distance. If I accidentally end up getting out of this forest with them, that would be good." She immediately urged her horse on and followed the group of men, heading northwest.
After walking for a while, passing through a dense forest, a vast open field suddenly appeared before them. Then, the faint sound of a flute drifted to their ears. Not far away, dozens of burly men were gathered, surrounding a large stone platform, weapons in hand, but none daring to approach. Sitting on the platform was a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, swollen features, and a sickly appearance. He was thin, wearing an indigo-blue robe with lotus patterns, a sapphire-blue jade belt around his waist, and a dark red embroidered pouch. A wine jug lay beside him. He seemed to disregard the group, leisurely playing his flute, exuding an air of carefree detachment.
Chu Tong scoffed, "What's with this sickly fellow acting so high and mighty? Playing the flute, what kind of profound act is he putting on?" But seeing the sickly man remain unfazed despite being surrounded by enemies, she couldn't help but feel a little admiration. Upon closer inspection, she realized the sickly man wasn't even carrying a weapon. Seeing the menacing gazes below the stone platform, Chu Tong shook her head and muttered, "Poor thing, poor thing, this sickly fellow is destined to die here."
After saying that, she turned her horse around and rode away. Suddenly, she saw the sick man staring at her with eyes like lightning. Then the flute music stopped abruptly, and she heard him shout, "Little girl in red, don't go. Come and have a drink with me, how about it?" Although the man looked sickly, his voice was clear and resonant. Chu Tong was stunned, and everyone else was also surprised and looked at Chu Tong.
Chu Tong inwardly groaned, "This is bad, this is bad. Could it be that sickly man wants to drag me down with him?" Thinking this, she turned her head and saw that the sick man had bright eyes and a smile on his lips. He raised the wine pot beside him with his left hand and waved it at her. Then, seeing her hesitate, he laughed loudly, "Little girl, seeing your heroic figure, I figured you wouldn't be a fussy person. Come and have a drink with me, and then I'll have a good fight with these bastards."
Normally, Chu Tong would have made a hasty retreat in the face of such a situation, but today her heart ached as if being cut by a knife, and she was dejected and despondent, almost to the point of despair. But now, spurred on by the sick man, she was suddenly filled with heroic spirit and thought to herself, "It's just going over for a drink, am I going to lose my life?" So she said loudly, "Then I won't be polite!"
He then strode forward, climbed onto the stone platform, took the wine jug from the sick man's hand, and gulped down a mouthful. The wine was extremely strong, and Chu Tong immediately felt her internal organs heat up. The sick man praised, "What courage! What a refreshing drink!" He then took out another wine jug from behind his back and smiled at Chu Tong, "Cheers!" Chu Tong did not refuse and tilted her head back to drink another mouthful.
At this moment, someone below shouted loudly, "Little girl, if you've had your drink, get out of the way! You're getting in the way. Swords have no eyes, and I'm afraid Grandpa might hurt you later!"
The sickly man laughed and said, "This young girl is drinking with me, and I will protect her. If you want to make a move, then do it. Why bother with all this fuss?"
Chu Tong waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "I've finished my wine, so I shouldn't disturb you any longer... Hmm? I think that big tree over there is quite nice. You all go ahead and have your match, I'll just watch the fun from under that tree." After saying that, she glanced at the sick man and felt that her words just now were a bit unfair, so she put on a smiling face and said to everyone, "However, fighting and killing is too unpleasant. Why don't we all sit down and talk? If this uncle has offended you, just make him pay some money. Why make him suffer by fighting until blood is flying?"
Someone sneered, "Don't waste your breath on them! I recognize this little girl; she's on a wanted list in the martial world, her head worth a hundred taels of gold! Let's take her head and claim the reward!" As soon as he finished speaking, two men wielding sharp blades rushed forward. Chu Tong was startled and quickly hid behind the sick man. The sick man remained calm, picked up his flute, and flicked it forcefully. Several silver needles shot out from the flute tube, and the two men who had rushed forward cried out and collapsed to the ground, struggling a few times before falling dead. Everyone was stunned; they hadn't expected the poison on the silver needles to be so potent, killing two people in an instant.
Several more men rushed forward, and in an instant, swords flashed and shadows fell from all directions. The sickly man leaped up, transforming his flute into a weapon. While fighting off the attackers, he grabbed Chu Tong with one hand and leaped over the wall of men, heading straight for the horse on the side of the stone platform. One of them chased after him quickly, wielding a goose-feather saber and aiming straight for the sickly man's neck. The sickly man didn't turn around, but suddenly lashed out, his bamboo flute, propelled by his inner strength, instantly transforming into a deadly weapon. With a "crack," the flute snapped the man's wrist. Immediately afterward, the man's right foot sprang up, kicking the man in the chest. The man cried out, immediately spitting out blood, and collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.
At this moment, the sickly man said with a faint smile, "Little girl, do you still want to go under the shade of the tree to drink and watch the fun?"
Chu Tong clutched her head, terrified. She thought to herself, "I've already lost my husband, I can't afford to lose my life too." So she shouted, "No! No! I just drank the hero's fine wine, so I'm his good brother. Of course, I'll fight alongside him, sharing life and death!"
Upon hearing Chu Tong's words, the sick man burst into laughter. At this moment, the crowd surrounded him from both sides. The sick man took a deep breath and leaped forward again, lightly touching the ground with his feet, using his lightness skill to run forward. He mocked, "You all practice hard martial arts, but I'm afraid your lightness skill is still a few levels inferior."
Just then, someone shouted from behind, "Chase him! Wear down his internal energy! He's injured and carrying a little girl; he won't last long!"
The sickly man smiled slightly, then suddenly pushed off the ground with his left foot, propelling himself forward like a shooting star. He leaped onto his horse, and the crowd cried out, "Don't let him get away!" In the blink of an eye, a knife flew through the air, piercing the horse's neck. The horse neighed mournfully and collapsed into a pool of blood. The sickly man cursed under his breath, but his movements were incredibly agile. He scooped up Chu Tong and ran towards the mountain.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "This sickly man is skilled, but they outnumber us, and I don't know martial arts. We'll be caught sooner or later, and that will be disastrous!" Thinking this, she turned to look behind her with worry. She saw several people getting closer and closer. Chu Tong felt a chill run down her spine. Just then, the sickly man led her to a cliff edge. Chu Tong cried out in her heart, "Alas! My life is over!"
In that critical moment, the sick man suddenly turned around and rushed forward. His pursuers were startled, but it was too late to stop. The sick man kicked the two men at the front of the charge straight off the cliff. Then he turned and ran down a gentler slope, with the remaining eight or nine strong men in hot pursuit.
Chu Tong, still shaken, watched as the sickly man leaped and bounded along the rugged mountain path. Soon they reached a narrow plank road, barely wide enough for one person, with a deep ravine beside it—a treacherous and chilling terrain. Chu Tong heard his breathing grow heavier and heavier, knowing he wouldn't last much longer. Just then, the sickly man reached a bend in the road. Holding Chu Tong, he crouched low against the cliff face. The first person caught up, and the sickly man struck out with his palm, sending the man tumbling down with a cry. Immediately after, the sickly man tripped the second person with his right leg, then kicked him down as well. He quickly turned back, still holding Chu Tong, and continued running.
After running a few steps, the sick man suddenly leaped into the deep valley. Chu Tong was terrified. She grabbed the sick man's clothes and cried out in a shrill voice, "Hero! Great hero! It's better to live than to die. At worst, we can fight them to the death. You must not take your own life!"
The sickly man laughed loudly, carrying Chu Tong as he quickly descended. Suddenly, Chu Tong felt her body pause. She saw the sickly man step onto a large, protruding rock on the cliff, and then jump down, landing on a pine branch growing horizontally on the cliff face. Only then did Chu Tong understand the sickly man's intention. She turned her head to look up again and saw the people on the plank road staring straight at them, their expressions filled with resentment yet helplessness.
After several leaps and falls, the sick man carried Chu Tong to the bottom of the valley. Once her feet touched the ground, Chu Tong regained her senses and saw the sick man silently sit on a rock by the river, beginning to meditate. Chu Tong wanted to leave, but having lost her mount and not knowing the way, she could only stay by the sick man's side with a pained expression. The ordeal had left her exhausted, so she rested her head on the rock and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Black-clad warriors on horseback, halberds billowing in the clouds.
She didn't know how long she had slept when Chu Tong was awakened by the cold mountain wind. Opening her eyes, she saw the setting sun like blood on the horizon, its rays a blend of crimson and purple. She and the sick man were hidden among the reeds taller than a person by the riverbank. She turned her head and saw that the sick man was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, like an old monk in deep meditation. Chu Tong made a face at him, then stood up, thinking to herself, "It's getting late. I should get out of these deep mountains as soon as possible before making any further plans." At this moment, she couldn't help but think of Yun Yinghuai, her heart filled with a mix of emotions, and a pang of pain shot through her.
Suddenly, the faint sound of horses' hooves mingled with the mountain wind, and someone called out, "Xing'er! Xing'er!" A deep voice, imbued with powerful inner strength, steadily reached Chu Tong's ears. Startled, Chu Tong immediately crouched down, quietly parted the reeds in front of her, and craned her neck to look. She saw a chestnut-red horse slowly moving across the riverbank, and the rider wore a long black robe with cloud and goose patterns. His profile was strong and upright—it was none other than Yun Yinghuai! Chu Tong was overjoyed, crying out in her heart, "My little husband has come to find me! My little husband has come to find me again!" She jumped up, about to shout loudly, when she was shocked to see a white horse appear beside Yun Yinghuai. Jiang Wansheng sat on the horse, wearing a light yellow satin cloak, her graceful figure and indescribable beauty captivating. Jiang Wansheng tugged at Yun Yinghuai's sleeve, and the two exchanged a few words before turning their horses and heading north.
Chu Tong stood there, frozen, watching the two figures disappear into the distance. She felt dizzy and chilled to the bone, standing there stiffly. After what seemed like an eternity, a voice came from behind her: "You're standing like a statue. Is that young man on horseback your sweetheart?"
Chu Tong remained silent, still in a daze. The sick man sighed, stood up, walked over, and patted Chu Tong on the shoulder, saying, "It's a pity we're not sailing on the river right now, so there's no strong liquor to drown your sorrows."
Chu Tong shuddered and turned to look. She saw the sickly man smiling broadly at her, his eyes like deep pools, gleaming brightly. Chu Tong was stunned. Suddenly, she pointed at the sick man and exclaimed, "Ah! You, you are…"
The sickly man chuckled softly and reached out to peel off the mask. As dusk deepened and the bright moon rose, its light illuminating his flawless face. Wang Lang smiled faintly and said, "Chu Tong, it's been a long time."
Chu Tong was taken aback and grabbed Wang Lang's arm, exclaiming with delight, "Young Master Wang! What are you doing here?" She looked at Wang Lang and suddenly felt a surge of sorrow, hugging his arm and bursting into tears.
Wang Lang was startled and quickly tried to comfort her gently. Seeing Wang Lang felt like seeing a family member; overwhelmed with grievances, Chu Tong clung tightly to his sleeve and wailed at the top of her lungs. Just as Chu Tong was crying her heart out, Wang Lang suddenly covered her mouth and whispered in her ear, "Wait a minute before you cry, someone's coming." Chu Tong immediately stopped crying, hurriedly wiping her tears with her sleeve. She and Wang Lang crouched down, parting the reeds to look around.
In the distance, torches flickered, suggesting a search along the river. Wang Lang glanced at them and said, "Those bastards are determined to hold on to their mountain stronghold; they've actually come down to search."
Chu Tong said worriedly, "Young Master Wang, have you offended some great villain? Let's run away quickly."
Wang Lang laughed, "Indeed, a great villain." Then, looking around, he tugged at Chu Tong's sleeve, and the two hid behind a rock at the foot of the mountain. Wang Lang said, "They don't have many men; they shouldn't be able to find this place." He paused, looking at Chu Tong with a half-smile, "The new leader of the Cloud Peak Sect, Yao Chu Tong, is a chivalrous woman of great righteousness and courage, a true hero, commanding three thousand followers, enjoying boundless glory. Your life is certainly thriving; your crying was so loud just now, it seems the poison in your body has been completely cured."
Chu Tong said, "Young Master Wang, please don't laugh at me. Don't you know my background? All that talk about being a female knight-errant and having martial arts skills is nonsense, a complete lie." After saying that, she looked up and asked, "Young Master Wang, how did you end up in Southern Yan? Who exactly is chasing you?"
Wang Lang said, "It's a long story. After we got separated that day, I didn't find the bandits' camp until the next morning. When I got there, I learned that you had run away with your wife that very night. Then I searched for you on the grassland for a month without any news. At that time, I thought, you...you..."
Chu Tong interjected, "Back then, you thought I would either die from the poison or perish on the grassland, becoming food for wild beasts, didn't you?"
Wang Lang smiled without answering, and after a long while sighed, "Fortunately, good people are always blessed. It's all the better that you were able to escape danger." Chu Tong felt a warmth in her heart, thinking to herself, "Now, in the whole world, I'm afraid only Young Master Wang cares about me. I must never forget his great kindness." Wang Lang continued, "After I left the grasslands, I didn't return to the capital. Instead, I wandered around for a while. After some time, you suddenly became famous in the martial arts world. I then learned that you had arrived in Nan Yan and even became the leader of the Yun Ding Sect..." Wang Lang wanted to say, "Everyone in the martial arts world says that you and the great hero Yun Yinghuai have a deep and unwavering relationship," but seeing Chu Tong's tearful scene, he already understood seven or eight parts of the story, so he paused and said, "When I was wandering around, I accidentally encountered Xie Linghui with about a hundred skilled guards. The group was disguised as a merchant caravan and headed straight south. I had nothing better to do, so I secretly followed them all the way. When we arrived in Nan Yan, I discovered that Xie Er had brought his mother to Nan Yan to seek medical treatment."
Chu Tong nodded, thinking to herself, "No wonder that vixen regained her senses and went to Prince Ping's mansion to seek revenge and cause a scene." Wang Lang said, "Last night, I overheard Xie Er's conversation. It turns out they have another important matter to attend to in Nan Yan, which is to disguise themselves and participate in the martial arts tournament..."
Chu Tong was taken aback and said, "Could it be that Xie Linghui knows I've become the sect leader of the Cloud Peak Sect and is coming to kill me?"
Wang Lang said, "That's impossible to know. It was that day when I was eavesdropping on the roof and Xie Linghui discovered me. He sent more than a dozen guards to hunt me down. I escaped to the mountains thinking I had shaken off those guys, but who would have thought they were like leeches."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Xie Linghui brought experts to the tournament. He and I are sworn enemies. How could I possibly survive if I saw him? Besides... besides, my young husband is definitely going to bring Jiang Wansheng to the tournament. If I see them being all lovey-dovey, wouldn't I just be asking for trouble?" Thinking of this, she said decisively, "Let's hide here for a while. Once those bastards are gone, we'll leave this place far away. We absolutely will not participate in any martial arts tournament."
Upon hearing the word "we," Wang Lang's lips curled into a smile. He glanced at Chu Tong and said, "How can you, the dignified sect leader of the Cloud Peak Sect, not attend the conference and just leave like that?"
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "What kind of bullshit sect leader is this? I don't care! I quit! I quit!" After saying "I quit," Chu Tong immediately felt a sense of relief.
Wang Lang laughed and said, "I have a brilliant idea."
Chu Tong said, "Tell me about it."
Wang Lang said, "This martial arts tournament has almost encompassed all the sects in the martial arts world. Not only Southern Yan, but also martial arts masters from Northern Liang and Great Zhou have gathered together. It's a once-in-a-century event. The scene is bound to be incredibly lively. It would be a real shame to miss it. Why don't you and I disguise ourselves and hide in the crowd to watch the excitement and see what Xie Er is up to..."
Chu Tong hurriedly waved her hand and said, "This is bad, this is bad. If we reveal any flaws and Xie Linghui discovers them, it will be terrible."
Wang Lang said, “Let me finish. This conference was initiated by a man who called himself ‘Yun Xuzi.’ The invitation claimed that he had obtained the sacred artifact, the White Jade Double Box, of the Cloud Peak Sect, and invited heroes from all over the world to gather in Nan Yan to explore the secrets of the treasures within the double boxes. As a result, the world was in an uproar, and everyone was curious about what was inside the boxes. Thus, heroes responded one after another and rushed to one place from all directions.”