Schatzkammer von Jianghu

Kapitel 3

"First day of the month!" Zhuge Dongge stood with his hands behind his back as he walked to the door and spoke steadily.

"exist."

The door opened silently, revealing Chu Yi's calm, pale face.

"Tomorrow morning, Steward Wu from the East Courtyard will be requesting your presence."

Although the gentleman spoke politely, how could Chu Yi not understand the consequences of going? But he said nothing, only calmly replying, "Yes."

Looking at the calm young man, Zhuge Dongge felt an overwhelming pain, his usual smile and composure gone. "Chu Yi, do you know why I deliberately tried to stop you before? It was because I felt I knew you, but you still broke into Bixie Manor. I tried my best to change the outcome of your death, but now it's too late, and I can't change it."

Dongge sighed deeply, "Once you enter the Bixie sect, you're doomed to eternal damnation..."

Chu Yi smiled and said, "Sir, there's no need to worry. Life and death are unpredictable. I will accept my fate."

Hearing this, Zhuge felt even more sorrowful. He suddenly turned around and said in a controlled and calm voice, "Tomorrow, a group of outstanding young men selected by your chief stewards will be sent out to sea. You will not know who the other is or what appointment he has. If you succeed, you will surely seek wealth and honor in the future. However, this journey is bound to be more dangerous than safe."

Chu Yi listened quietly, her expression unreadable. Then another afternoon breeze blew by, and Chu Yi's face gradually became blurred as it was hidden by her flying hair.

4. Travel

A faint blue figure could be discerned in the thick morning mist.

On the chilly morning, Chu Yi walked through the deserted corridors, a few lonely morning stars still hanging overhead, and calmly arrived at the east courtyard. Months ago, Chu Yi had already figured out that the hidden traps and mechanisms within this manor were being operated by someone; otherwise, how could he have wandered around like a lost soul all day without incident? Yet, with such indifference to life and death, he walked back and forth nonchalantly.

For some reason, the cold fog this morning was like a white veil, obscuring everything. Chu Yi stood still in a corner.

Gradually, the sky brightened, and a nascent chill filled the air.

When the fortune teller Wu Suan entered the courtyard, he saw this scene: a few silent figures stood scattered in the thick fog, like willows in the breeze, not only full of vitality but also straight. He couldn't help but show his admiration.

"Young heroes," Wu Suanzi's voice was soft but calm, "the journey to the Northern Wilderness is extremely perilous. You are all the best in your respective academies, and your composure and decisiveness need no further explanation. You are a group of fifteen, all strangers to each other. Whatever your reasons for coming to Wufang Bixie Manor, if you succeed as I have promised, you will not only gain new freedom but also enjoy endless glory. However—" Wu Suanzi's sharp gaze swept across the faces of the youths, his tone turning icy: "Before setting out, you must take this pill. This mission concerns the fate of the nation and its people; it can only succeed, failure is not an option!"

Chu Yi was shocked when he heard this. He lowered his head and pondered, "I originally thought it was a mission related to some kind of vendetta or treasure hunt in the martial arts world, but I didn't expect that an unnamed island far away on the coast of the East China Sea would also be connected with the imperial court. It seems that the more inconspicuous the corner, the more hidden the danger." Thinking of this, he couldn't help but subtly observe the people around him.

Despite the thick, damp air, Chu Yi could sense an undercurrent of tension in the surrounding atmosphere. The faces of these young men were indistinct; they seemed to be trying their best to suppress their brilliance, yet they couldn't hide their eager bodies. In contrast, Chu Yi couldn't help but smile bitterly at his own indifference. Everything seemed to be a twist of fate. He had longed for peace, yet he was helplessly drawn into trouble; he wanted to secretly escape this mysterious and quiet island, but he was chosen to be sent to the frontier to face his fate. Was this destiny?

Unaware that the group of youths had all come with ulterior motives, Wu Suanzi treated them all with the same bureaucratic tone. Five years before Chu Yi arrived on Wufang Island, Wu Suanzi had selected a group of promising talents from among the wandering knights who had fled there, personally overseeing their training in preparation for today's battle. The more ruthless and merciless the training, the more it stimulated the potential of these disciples. On the day of the selection competition, Wu Suanzi, known as the "Poisonous Eye Judge," promised that anyone who could withstand Leng Qi's ten sword strikes and enter the manor to serve the young master would be unhindered when they ventured out into the martial world, and would enjoy numerous opportunities and a life of wealth and honor.

When the news spread throughout the martial arts world, in that chaotic and impoverished era, no one could help but believe the words of the Divine Calculator. This was related to his management of the Evil-Repelling Manor, and the young master he served was not only accomplished at a young age, but was also a man as famous as Qiu Ye, the son of Zhao Pu, the Prime Minister of the Northern Prefecture.

As a result, people from other islands flocked to the islands, and many seafarers and adventurers built ships and rushed to Wufang. Countless people disappeared at sea and drowned because they could not find the entrance. However, under the lure of high rewards, batches of heroes came one after another. In the end, only the clever and cunning survived and arrived at Wufang safely. This was one of the tests.

Shadow Sword Leng Qi was only fourteen years old at the time. He hurriedly returned from beyond the pass to Bixie to rest with his young master. He followed his young master's arrangements and competed with the heroes. Those who could not last ten moves all died under the Wandering Soul Sword. This was the second test.

Once inside the manor, any boy who wasn't alert and cautious enough, and who showed any unusual expression, would mysteriously disappear the next day. They would also have to become servants under the watchful eye of the Poisonous Judge, cleaning everything as usual during the day and undergoing brutal training in the underground tunnels at night. As a result, the huge Evil-Repelling Manor often made Chu Yi feel like no one was there, probably because all the actions were underground. This was the third test.

An army is raised for a thousand days, but used for only one.

No wonder these young people who had been hiding their talents for so long were eager to try; Wu Suan had accurately predicted the psychology of this group of carefully selected talents.

The fortune teller's gaze swept across the faces of the young men, and he could see their thoughts clearly. Only Chu Yi stood there, motionless like a wooden statue. Wu Suanzi often sighed, thinking that if he had killed Chu Yi that day, the subsequent events would not have been so irreversible.

"Cold Guard".

A fleeting shadow appeared in the morning mist; it was still that bright and cautious young man.

Dressed in black, Leng Qi held up a small tray in her right hand, on which were several round, dark pills.

The fortune teller's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Disciples, step forward."

Soon, the boys who had been hidden in the fog quietly emerged from various places. Chu Yi glanced around and noticed that most of them were men around twenty years old, with lowered eyes and respectful demeanor towards Steward Wu and Guard Leng.

"From the first to the fifteenth of the month, everyone should come forward and take the pills." The fortune teller's relaxed tone made it sound like he was talking about the nice weather, but his sharp gaze swept over everyone.

All the boys silently took the pills without fail, except for the first-year student; they immediately retreated with unwavering respect.

Chu Yi emerged from the fog and stood before Leng Qi. Without looking at Wu Suanzi, he stared into Leng Qi's indifferent eyes, smiled slightly, picked up the pill, and swallowed it without pausing for a moment.

"This kid..." Leng Qi's expression remained unchanged. Just as he was about to teach Chu Yi a lesson, he saw him turn around and leave, seemingly unconcerned about the poisons. Thinking of this, Leng Qi became even angrier.

"Guard Leng." The fortune teller's cold voice rang out.

Leng Qi turned slightly to the side and nodded to Wu Suanzi: "As you command."

"I will escort you out to sea." Wu Suan's voice was calm and indifferent. After saying this, he took two steps forward towards the person in the mist: "Disciples, heed my command—"

The boys all stood with their heads bowed in solemn silence.

"You must obey Guard Leng's orders. If you disobey, the pills inside your bodies will be forced to rupture, infecting your internal organs and causing you to die in an instant. After the matter is completed, you will all go with Guard Leng to pay respects to the young master and promise to fulfill your promises..." Wu Suanzi's last few sentences were clear and convincing, and at first glance, they were very enticing.

"Let's go!" the fortune teller shouted, and the boys quickly pulled up their face masks to cover their mouths and noses, and walked briskly out of the courtyard.

After Chu Yi passed in front of Leng Qi and silently followed the group of teenagers, Wu Suanzi slightly hindered Leng Qi's steps forward.

"Beware of this person," the fortune teller said in a deep voice.

"Of course."

"Under no circumstances should any survivors be left."

Leng Qi listened without any reaction, his mind only concerned about why the young master had not yet summoned him to accompany him. He respectfully bowed to the fortune teller: "Does the steward know when the young master will return?"

The fortune teller looked at Leng Qi indifferently: "Guard Leng, are you unaware that the young master is personally overseeing this matter? Once you arrive in Youzhou, you can meet up with the young master."

"Did the young master order me to take charge of this matter?"

"Exactly."

"Farewell." When Leng Qi heard that the young master had instructed him to be in charge of this operation, his joy was immediately written on his face. He bowed firmly to the Divine Calculator and strode off to follow the group of Evil-Repelling Disciples.

As the fortune teller gazed at Leng Qi's tall and proud figure, a soft, almost imperceptible sigh escaped his lips. What was he sighing about?

"The steward must have foreseen the outcome of this trip, right?" Zhuge Dongge, who had been hidden in the mist, calmly stepped out.

The fortune teller seemed to know that someone was behind him. He didn't turn around, but stood silently with his hands behind his back, looking intently in the direction the group had left.

The two figures stood silently in the mist for a long time before Wu Suanzi finally spoke, his voice heavy with emotion: "This group of youths has consumed several years of my energy. You and I have been stranded on the island because of this matter, and have not followed the young master for a very long time, nor have we shown our faces in the martial world. Now it seems that all of this was worthwhile." When he spoke the last few words, Wu Suanzi spoke with such force that each word was almost a piercing and awe-inspiring.

"Is the young master really going to let Leng Qi leave it to fate?" Zhuge Dongge's words seemed to leave people puzzled.

Wu Suanzi turned slightly toward the teacher, his eyes fixed on Dong Ge's face: "Teacher, please be careful with your words."

Zhuge Dongge felt a chill in his heart, as if something was slowly dripping down a funnel inside him. He lowered his head and remained silent. Faced with any decision made by their young master, they, as his right-hand men since childhood, had no right to interfere, and could only do their best to fulfill his wishes.

“First year of junior high…” Zhuge Dongge uttered the boy’s name in a muffled voice.

"Young Master is unaware of such a person's existence." Faced with Dongge's questioning, Wu Suanzi still smiled coldly: "It was my decision."

Zhuge Dongge swayed slightly, then quickly regained his upright and refined posture. Even someone as unassuming as him could feel the coldness in these two men's bones. He stared at the steward without saying a word, trying his best to control the chill that surged within him like a thousand horses galloping. After thinking for a long time, he said heavily, "I want to leave the island."

Chu Yi and the other group of boys were divided into two groups. Leng Qi led him straight to the ferry crossing by the sea. Chu Yi only noticed the decrease in the number of people, but did not know where the other group of boys had been assigned.

A huge wooden boat with white sails is quietly moored at the ferry crossing. The distinct ripples and cracks on the side of the boat suggest that it has weathered many storms.

Everyone filed onto the large ship and rested in the cabin as instructed.

Chu Yi sat down in his cabin, leaning against the ship's railing. The sound of rushing water filled his ears, and his eyes were blank. A chill ran down his cheek. He looked to his right and saw a huge crack through which he could see the situation outside. His cabin was several meters below the main deck. His eyes were fixed on the misty seawater outside, and he still had no destination in mind.

After staring blankly for a long time, Chu Yi suddenly became aware of something: the ship was sailing smoothly, the sea was full of white mist, and the further out into the sea it was, the more violently it rocked. His eyes could not see through the fog, and he could only feel cold.

Chu Yi focused his mind and strained to open his eyes wide.

The large ship rocked violently, swaying from side to side. Chu Yi gripped the gunwale tightly, using all his strength to steady himself. The ship began to be sucked in by a strong airflow, circling like an eagle and emitting a heavy creaking sound.

"Tide!" Even though he had never seen a storm before, he suddenly understood what had happened. The huge eddy formed during the high tide tightly gripped the seemingly unbreakable wooden boat, swirling and swallowing it up in the depths of the waves.

Chu Yi's hands and feet were restrained, and the burning dryness in his chest felt like it was about to burst his body, but he had no time to worry about anything else. The most important thing at the moment was to hold on to the boat and save his life.

Besides the suffocating pain, there was only pain. Large beads of cold sweat slid down Chu Yi's face. His knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white. Unable to suppress the surging breath in his chest, he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood, gradually losing consciousness.

"One, two, three... We've lost one, Guard Leng!"

There seemed to be someone making noise in my ears, a buzzing sound overhead.

This is a small, unnamed courtyard, neat and square, so ordinary and small that one would pass by without a second thought. In this ordinary farmhouse courtyard, several black corpses lay scattered about.

“Yes.” A stern-faced young man nodded and said calmly, “Wake them up.”

"Splash—" Buckets of icy seawater were poured over the corpses lying on the ground. The chill of the early morning air mixed with the icy seawater as it poured over them, the discomfort unimaginable. The seawater trickled down their clothes, splashing onto the messy, damp ground, raising clumps of dark, sticky mud. Soon, the cold bodies on the ground began to shiver, some gradually groaning, filling the courtyard with a chilling, chaotic atmosphere.

The young man coldly surveyed the crowd. He saw the disciples leap to their feet quickly, then stand still with their hands at their sides upon seeing his face. Finally, the black-clad youth lying in the corner opened his eyes, his gaze gleaming with a cold and sharp light. He didn't get up, but merely sat up, looking around. His gaze was indifferent, yet not blank.

“First day of the month!” Leng Qi said coldly.

The black-clad youths were none other than Guard Leng and Chu Yi. After receiving their orders, the two groups all covered their faces with black masks and changed into black robes, except for Chu Yi, who did not wear a mask. The robes of the leaders were embroidered with exquisite ink bamboo, making them easy to distinguish.

Chu Yi stood up as if no one else was there, then calmly retreated behind the crowd. Once he was standing still, he noticed that there were many people in the courtyard whom he had never seen before.

5. Qinglong Town

A man dressed in white was smiling at him, and Chu Yi was certain that this was the first time he had seen this person.

The young man in white was gentle and refined, like the bright moon, morning dew, and gentle breeze in a mountain stream, with that ever-present warm and gentle smile on his face. Looking at that smile, Chu Yi felt a pang of pain in her heart.

Standing in front of the man in white was the imposing Leng Qi. To his right stood a servant boy whose eyes were constantly darting around, and several other servants carrying water buckets were passing through the courtyard gate and leaving.

Leng Qi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping coldly over everyone. He took a steady step forward and spoke calmly: "You have all left the sect and survived the waves, which is already extremely dangerous. I hope you will remember my instructions and do your best to complete the mission in the future."

His tone of voice was exactly the same as Wu Suanzi's.

He paused, then continued, "We have arrived at Qinglong Town, the eastern sea crossing of Kyushu. One person has died in the waves. The remaining seven are Chu Yi, Chu Er, Xiao Si, A Jiu, Shi Yi, Shi Er, and Shi Si. You will stay with me and blend into the merchant caravan. This Lord of Qinglong Town, Young Master Lonely, will properly arrange our identities and whereabouts. Remember, you must not act on your own, or your lives will be in danger."

Leng Qi's tone remained completely flat, but none of the disciples dared to raise their heads, and Chu Yi also lowered his head slightly.

That night, as Chu Yi was resting in the side room of the courtyard, a very faint and low call came from outside: "Chu Yi!" It was Leng Qi's voice.

During the first day of the Lunar New Year, I hadn't even taken off my coat when I heard the call and went straight out.