( ) Tang Clan. Chongyao Terrace. Qinghui Pavilion.
Xue Tong stared at Tang Huan's handsome face, which was now contorted with rage and shame. His small, beady eyes were practically crossed, and he taunted Tang Huan with amusement, "If you're so reluctant to let her go, why did you let her go in the first place? You're quite the drugger, aren't you? You were the one who gave Miss Mu the muscle-relaxing powder. You're such a blockhead; if you'd given her another dose, she wouldn't have escaped your clutches. What was the point of giving her the Jade Pearl, you idiot? Now look what you've done! You've lost everything, truly a double loss." He then stroked his long white beard with a mocking air, continuing his scathing remarks.
Seeing Xue Tong's disrespectful and gloating despicable appearance, Tang Huan said with shame and anger, "Given the circumstances that day, poisoning was a last resort. I regret it now, and this action has already made a grave mistake. She is already very cautious, and if she offends her in the slightest, no amount of goodwill later can make up for it."
The Tang Clan's unique Tendon-Softening Powder is far more potent than any other version produced elsewhere. If not eradicated within three months, it will cause the user to lose all martial arts skills, a lifelong consequence. He administered the powder to Xi'er the instant he threw her towards Mo Xi. This medicine has no effect on those without martial arts skills; even if they learn martial arts later, it will be harmless. Therefore, Xi'er was unharmed.
Xue Tong nodded vigorously, saying sympathetically, "Although you can't compare to me, you're still a fairly good doctor, and you have some discernment. The other day you told me that Miss Mu might have a special constitution, and asked me to come and confirm it. I thought you were going to great lengths to gain her trust, tricking me into coming here. Who knew it was true? You're quite sensible!" He paused, then slapped his wrinkled forehead, shaking his head as if suddenly enlightened, and sighed, "Oh dear, things are really bad now. Miss Mu has obtained the Jade Pearl and opened her Ren and Du meridians. Your martial arts are already inferior to hers, and now even medicine doesn't work. Plus, you're infatuated with her, so you're at a disadvantage in every way. Truly pitiful and lamentable." After sighing, he chuckled again.
Tang Huan waited until Xue Tong finished laughing and left before finally finding a moment of peace. She took out the lotus-patterned stationery Mo Xi had written on while lighting the lantern, and couldn't help but recall the day she picked maple leaves for her. She picked up her brush and wrote: "One mountain, two mountains, mountains far, sky high, mist and water cold." She paused, pondering: she wondered if she was alright, alone in Jinling. Thinking this, she didn't continue writing. She waited for the ink to dry, then carefully folded the paper and hid it in the purse where she had previously kept the jade pearl. She sighed inwardly: her ancestor Tang Chong had unintentionally given away the jade pearl, never to return, a trap he had created for himself. She herself had initially only been curious, wanting to keep it, but the jade pearl had become her bond, and with each passing day, she had become hopelessly enamored. She realized she was just like her ancestor Tang Chong and her father—unable to defy fate. Once love took hold, one was controlled in every way, unable to control one's own body or mind…
Feng Lingyebo
( ) Sichuan is divided into north and south by the Min River. The Tang Clan is in the south. Mount Shu is in the north. There are many different opinions in the martial arts world about how these two families became enemies, but the idea that the north and south cannot coexist seems to have existed since ancient times.
Fenglingdu. Night mooring.
Fenglingdu is located at the bend where the Minjiang River turns eastward. It is a transportation hub connecting three provinces, spanning three borders, and is also the largest ferry crossing on the Minjiang River. For centuries, Fenglingdu has been a vital passage on the Minjiang River, and countless people who wished to travel to Shushan to learn martial arts have passed through here to enter Shushan.
Night Mooring is the name of an inn, and it truly lives up to its name. Whenever there is wind or snow and the ferry cannot cross the river, many stranded guests will stay at Night Mooring.
Even with He Qun's sect leader seal, the journey to Mount Shu to retrieve He Qun's former sword requires utmost caution. Therefore, Mo Xi has spent the last three months diligently practicing martial arts in Jinling. After opening his Ren and Du meridians, his progress has indeed been remarkably rapid, yielding twice the results with half the effort.
As for jobs, she only took on two or three low-level ones, like eliminating bandits and highwaymen, as a way of doing good for the people. Because the jobs she took on were of a much lower standard, Mo Xi's ranking had fallen out of the top fifty, and she was quite satisfied with this situation.
After three days of heavy snow, the ferry crossing was naturally closed again. Night Mooring was doing exceptionally well tonight, and since it was dinnertime, there were only two empty tables left in the main hall.
The main hall was interestingly decorated; the center resembled a stage, yet it was nowhere near as high as those in Jiangnan. There were only a few steps leading up to it, upon which sat a narrow table.
Mo Xi found an empty table furthest from the door and ordered a bowl of braised beef noodles with two braised eggs, a plate of roasted peanuts with white sesame seeds, and a pot of sweet glutinous rice wine. The noodles were served quickly; the waiter was quite skilled, carrying the steaming bowl of noodles steadily and nimbly without a tray.
Mo Xi was already starving from the journey, and seeing the thick soup garnished with bright green scallions and cilantro, and smelling the aroma of beef, she was immediately tempted. She took a bite, and the beef was tender and flavorful.
Just as he took his first bite, a commotion arose on the stage. A middle-aged man in a long robe, with a slender build, stood before the table. He first took a sip of tea, then pulled out a white folding fan with inscriptions. Mo Xi recognized the red phoenix mark on the fan—Mu Yanzhai's exclusive mark. Mo Xi thought to himself that he was lucky to have stumbled upon a live performance of Mu Yanzhai's latest flagship product—One Hundred Lectures on the Romantic Figures of the Martial World. The man swiftly opened the fan, striking a pose that exuded a certain Taoist and otherworldly air. However, given the freezing weather, fanning himself seemed rather out of place, quite incongruous. He quickly closed the fan again and slammed it against the table a few times, like a gavel. Clearing his throat, he began his lecture. He was recounting the deeds of Qu Yao, the current leader of the Shu Mountain Sect.
"Master Qu's Thirty-Six Styles of Shu Mountain Returning Wind and Dancing Snow Sword are incredibly skillful. When he wiped out the eighteen strongholds of Hengshan, every move severely injured his opponents. However, Master Qu was benevolent and could not bear to kill them all. Therefore, he only forced the eighteen leaders to agree to disband their subordinates and return to being law-abiding citizens, and then he would not pursue the matter further..." The storyteller then went on to recount Qu Yao's deeds, whether he was fighting alone or with the righteous people of the martial arts world, to punish evil and uphold justice.
Mo Xi, however, felt that this Master Qu was dishonest. He was supposed to be suppressing bandits, but instead of eradicating them completely, he left them to their wits' end. These people had become bandits out of necessity, and by destroying the businesses they had painstakingly built over many years, he was letting them go. He was only letting them return, even more ruthless, after he had his fill of heroism and left. Qu Yao had gained a reputation for chivalry, but the unfortunate ones were the local people who had been exploited.
Clearly, on such a snowy night, having shelter was a rare treat. Moreover, while the wine at the inn wasn't the best, it was warmed to the perfect temperature; the dishes weren't the most fragrant, but the portions were generous; the lodging wasn't cheap, but the waiter was exceptionally efficient and attentive. As a result, people kept checking in, each arrival bringing a gust of wind and snow that chilled the atmosphere, even the lively storytelling. Regardless of their accents, the first thing these people did upon entering was uniformly to brush the snow off their clothes. Mo Xi was once again thankful that she was sitting far from the door; otherwise, her bowl of noodles would probably have gone cold in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
A young man who entered at that moment was quite different. He came from the wind and snow, yet he was completely unhurried, his expression as leisurely and joyful as if he were admiring the scenery and flowers in the warm spring sunshine. His whole being seemed to radiate warmth, and there wasn't a single speck of snow on him. He glanced around and, perhaps noticing that the other tables were mostly occupied, disregarded the fact that Mo Xi was a single young woman, and walked straight to her side, asking with a smile, "Miss, may I sit with you at the same table?" He didn't acknowledge his abruptness or anything like that, but asked as if it were perfectly natural, his voice filled with a cheerful warmth.
In the dead of winter, most people here were dressed in fur coats, and even the poorer ones wore thick cotton-padded jackets. He, however, was still wearing a thin, dark autumn coat and deerskin boots, without a trace of snow or water on them. Individually, his features weren't particularly handsome, but together they possessed a unique charm, and his smile was as vibrant as spring blossoms. Mo Xi had always felt that while there were many beautiful people in the world, both men and women, most were beautiful in a similar way, while a few were unforgettable. This handsome man before her clearly belonged to the latter.
Mo Xi nodded indifferently. He then sat down without any hesitation.
This person actually took the rice wine in front of Mo Xi, poured himself a cup, drank it, put down the small cup, and said with a smile, "This glutinous rice wine brewed by the shopkeeper is quite fragrant and sweet."
Mo Xi didn't mind his overly familiar behavior and nodded in agreement. The few sips of rice wine he had just drunk were very refreshing and invigorating.
The friendly and handsome man poured a second cup and said, "Actually, the lees left over from brewing this wine are also useful. When mixed with salt, it's called 'zaoma'. It can be stored and used for long-term soup making. If you cook it with fresh fish, that's when it's truly delicious."
Mo Xi had never heard the term "zaoma" before, but since the topic of Master Qu's opening of the Charity Hall was being discussed on stage, she paused and didn't respond. The imperial court had mobilized 100,000 troops to attack the Chiyan rebels beyond the Great Wall again. Because Sichuan was not far from the border, countless able-bodied men were conscripted. This led to a peculiar situation: the families of these new recruits were left unattended, especially during the resource-scarce winter, making it even more difficult for orphans and widows to support their families. Some even had pregnant wives with no one to care for them. The Charity Hall was specifically opened to take in these people. Mo Xi thought to herself, "Master Qu has finally done something good."
The outgoing and handsome man seemed quite dissatisfied with the lingering effects of conscription. While listening to this story, his striking eyebrows never relaxed for a moment. Only when the storyteller finished did he regain his composure, as if admiring flowers in the imperial garden, and chuckle, "Hearing this reminded me of a joke, which I'll tell you to thank you for the drinks, young lady." Without waiting for Mo Xi's response, he began, "There was a woman who gave birth to a child after seven months of pregnancy. Her husband, fearing the child wouldn't survive, asked everyone he met. One day, he discussed this with a friend. The friend said, 'That's alright; my ancestor was also born after seven months.' The man asked in astonishment, 'If that's the case, did your ancestor eventually grow up?'"
Looking at the handsome man right in front of her, who was still smiling brightly after telling a lame joke, Mo Xi thought to herself: Can I buy you another pot of wine, just please shut up?
Hero saves the beauty
Suddenly, the shop door swung open, and the wind and snow outside rushed in. Everyone in the lobby glared angrily at the doorway because of the sudden chill. Even the storyteller stopped and looked up.
Several burly men dressed as soldiers rushed in. The leader, a hulking figure with fierce eyes and a two-inch-long scar on his left cheek, was quite menacing. The scarred man glanced around, then suddenly slammed his long knife onto the nearest table. He possessed considerable strength, and the cups and plates on the table were instantly smashed to pieces. The leftover food and water splashed onto two men who looked like merchants, leaving them disheveled. However, the two men were clearly angry but dared not speak out, and instead stepped aside without arguing.
But Scarface wouldn't let them go, saying, "I'm in a good mood today and wanted to have a drink with you two, but you two are being so disrespectful." As he spoke, his body blocked their way like a wall.
These two men understood perfectly well. One of them, short and stocky, wiped his wet face with his sleeve, about to lash out, when the other, tall and thin, quickly grabbed his hand, meekly saying, "Gentlemen, my brother and I will cover the cost of today's drinks. Please enjoy yourselves. We'll take our leave." Scarface was about to say something more, but the others who had come with him seemed to have some reservations and offered a few words of advice. After the tall, thin man called over a waiter and gave them the money, the soldiers didn't give the two men any further trouble. The waiter quickly cleared the table. Only then did the impatient men sit down.
Scarface said, "I haven't had a single day of peace since I joined the army. It's been so frustrating!"
"His Highness Prince Rui is strict in disciplining his troops. Brother, you were originally a bandit, so you are not used to it at first."
"That's a bit too strict. Even if you control heaven and earth, you can't control me finding women!"
"His Highness's permission for us to go home and visit our families on the eve of the army's departure is already exceptionally considerate. The absence of camp prostitutes is also to prevent the soldiers from having wandering thoughts." The men took turns persuading him, their words filled with great respect for Prince Rui. Scarface, however, remained unmoved, focusing only on drinking. In a short while, he had downed several large bowls of the strongest liquor, and his speech gradually became slurred.
He said, "I heard that Commandant Luo has retired from the army."
"That's right. Don't let his fierce attitude fool you, he's a pitiful man. He finally rose to the rank of captain, but the injury to his right shoulder ruined all his martial arts skills. I heard he went home a few days ago, but his wife, who was pregnant before he enlisted, is nowhere to be found. Perhaps she couldn't bear the loneliness all these years and ran off with another man." After saying this, the men, their faces full of swagger, burst into laughter again.
The scarred man seemed to remember something, looked around, and suddenly shouted, "Young lady, come and have a drink with me." As he spoke, he stood up unsteadily and walked towards Mo Xi.
Mo Xi glanced around, and after confirming that she was, unfortunately, the only woman present, she immediately felt annoyed. What had she done to deserve this? With her looks, how could she possibly be the one being harassed? Even if someone were to harass her, it should be a refined gentleman, not this kind of scoundrel offering himself up. How utterly disappointing.
She was about to make a move when she heard a thud. The scarred man had already knelt down on both knees. Whether he was drunk or genuinely unafraid, he still defiantly said, "Who's got a death wish and dares to ambush me! I just wanted her to keep me company while I drink. With her looks, I didn't even intend to mess with her..."
Mo Xi, impatient with his foul language and incoherent shouting, silenced the man by striking his pressure point from a distance and quickly walked up to her room. The other soldiers, seeing the situation was turning against them, were about to rush forward to stop him. Before anyone could see who had made the move, these men, like the scarred man, fell to the ground in an instant. Whether stunned or too afraid to cry out, no one uttered a sound for a moment.
Mo Xi climbed out of the window and plunged into the snowstorm.
Before an incense stick could burn out, a gentle voice rang out amidst the swirling snowflakes: "With such skill as you, young lady, I was indeed meddlesome just now."
Mo Xi sighed inwardly. This guy was not only foul-mouthed and prone to violence, but also a busybody, and he really did come after her. On the surface, however, she nodded calmly and said, "Not bad." She could have easily subdued the scarred man by striking his pressure points without making a sound, and everyone would have just assumed he had suddenly passed out. But now, this busybody had taken them all down in an instant. Having caused such a commotion, now was the time to leave. The soldiers were different from others; they were all on the roster, and Mo Xi didn't want to get entangled with them. Otherwise, her actions wouldn't have just resulted in that man being unable to speak for six months.
The naturally outgoing and handsome man, taken aback by her straightforward answer without any appreciation, paused for a moment, then touched his nose and laughed. The laugh, however, was genuinely pleasant, showing no sign of embarrassment. Seeing Mo Xi about to leave again, he quickly said, "Miss, please wait. In this frigid weather, where do you wish to find shelter?"
Mo Xi's face showed helplessness. Originally, even with those few ruffians, it wouldn't have been difficult to deal with them quietly, and she could still spend the night peacefully at the inn. But now that he had interfered, she couldn't.
Perhaps sensing something amiss from her expression, he said in a familiar tone, "I have a friend who lives nearby. If you don't mind, you can come with me to visit him."
Mo Xi shook her head and politely declined, saying, "You preferred to stay at an inn rather than go to a friend's house, which shows there must be some inconvenience. If you were to bring me, an outsider, along, wouldn't that be even more inappropriate?" She thought to herself: This handsome guy is so impulsive. Even in modern times, kindergarten children know that they shouldn't go with strangers.