Schatzkammer von Jianghu

Kapitel 94

Yuwen Xiaobai smiled slightly, her smile as fresh and elegant as a new bud after a rain: "It's alright to talk to me about it, as long as you can be more at ease..."

Lonely Triumph lowered his dark eyes, bowed sharply, and said with a faint smile, "I frightened Little White just now, so I'll apologize to him now... Don't worry, I'm perfectly clear-headed. The situation is complicated right now, and the most important thing is to defend Qinglong Town, not to talk about personal feelings..."

Perhaps having come to some realization, the lingering pain of his lonely triumph dissipated like wisps of smoke, quickly vanishing in the wind. He stopped coughing, stood facing the sea, gazing intently into the distance. Under the vast, dark sky, he stood silently in his blue robes, his solitary figure blending into the boundless seascape, much like the Chaotian Stone on the shores of the East China Sea.

Where the sea meets the sky, and the waves roll, Lonely Triumph watches as the giant blue hand tears through the snow-white waves, and suddenly remembers the first year of junior high that Zhao Yong mentioned.

Back then, she would stare at the sea in a daze every day. After that, she left home and wandered all the way, like a bluebird spreading its wings on the shore. She was never defeated by the wind and waves and always flew bravely and fearlessly into the sky.

His fingers clenched tightly as he silently endured the unbearable heartache. The roaring waves swept over him, sending a shiver of unspeakable fear through his heart.

On your first day of junior high, I hope you can overcome everything, because survival is the only thing that matters.

Alone and triumphant, he faced the sky and silently prayed.

On the 18th day of the sixth month of the fourth year of the Jianlong era, at the hour of You (5-7 PM), there was no port on the west side of Wufang.

As dusk settled in late summer, dark clouds gathered, thick as mountains, obscuring everything in the twilight. Waves crashed against the rocks with a drumming sound, the angry tide swallowing and spitting out the shore, and seven high-rise ships rocked wildly in the raging wind.

The ships roared against the wind and waves, their cries like the whistling of owls with broken wings. Zhao Yong, carrying a broadsword in one hand and supporting a staggering islander as he stumbled aboard the deck, shouted incessantly, "Hurry! Hurry! The Japanese will be here in no time!"

Like a thin stream, the crowd split into seven streams along the edge of the woods, continuously flowing into the boat. Most of them were skilled in martial arts, but after having families, they were more concerned about their wives, children, and elderly parents. Compared to Zhao Yong's shouts and the roar of the tide, they all seemed silent and docile.

Silver-clad guards in snow-white armor weaved through the crowd, surging into the island from the opposite direction. Dense clusters of black and dazzling white converged at the harbor, two orderly ranks advancing in their respective directions.

Leng Shuangcheng was the last to disembark from the deck. Turning back to Yin Guang, he said, "I'm afraid the evacuation time is too short. Compared to Qinglong Town, Dongying is a bit farther from Wufang, but they'll be rushing in within an hour..."

The crowd surged forward, their faces as solemn as sumo wrestlers locked in a life-or-death struggle. A figure in blue was jostled and stumbled towards Leng Shuangcheng. Leng Shuangcheng reacted swiftly, his hand brushing against the stumbler before he could finish speaking: "Be careful, boss."

The man looked up and saw Leng Shuangcheng's eyes and hair as white as snow. He was stunned for a moment and was pushed out of the line by the people behind him.

Leng Shuangcheng smiled slightly, the ice and snow slowly dissipating from her brows and eyes, and a warmth like a spring breeze melting snow overflowed from her eyes: "Boss, stop staring at me, or you won't be able to leave once the ship sets sail."

"I think I've seen you before." The man in blue muttered as he walked forward, glancing back every now and then. Gradually, he walked further and further away, finally blending into the crowd and never looking back again.

Yin Guang first instructed the boats to return quickly, then carefully pushed through the crowd, shielding Leng Shuangcheng to the side. Leng Shuangcheng watched the fleeing crowd, somewhat unable to bear the chaos before her, and turned to look at the green cypress trees. She walked silently for a long time, the green shadows enveloping her, blocking the dark clouds overhead and giving her a sense of openness and tranquility. Leng Shuangcheng touched the tree trunk and sighed, "Yin Guang, I never thought I'd be back."

All the words can be summed up in this one sentence: The evergreen cypress remains strong and untouched by wind and frost, standing silently through the years, witnessing the vicissitudes of life.

With a dark blue sky hanging overhead, Leng Shuangcheng remained calm and composed, unaffected by the force that threatened to tear the city apart. He said, "Later, arrange the three thousand Imperial Guards into five rows, forming a semi-circle outside the east gate. We must hold off the enemy's first wave of attacks, so that we can buy more time for the islanders behind us."

Yin Guang nodded and followed, recalling what had just happened, and asked, "Who was that person just now?"

“The coffin shop owner.” Leng Shuangcheng walked against the wind, the sea breeze making her moon-white shirt flutter. “He didn’t recognize me when my hair turned white. I remember the first day I arrived on the island, he saw me looking disheveled and kindly pointed me in the right direction, telling me that if I wanted to find a place to stay, I had to go to Bixie Manor…” She smiled gently and said softly, “Now that I think about it, I realize he was talking nonsense. Because if I went to Bixie and met Qiuye, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger’s den. Where could I find a place to stay?”

Yin Guang was anxious. He looked closely at Leng Shuangcheng's face and saw that her eyes were still curved with a gentle expression. He realized that it was a joke. He couldn't help but sigh: "At a time when people are in a state of panic, the lady is still smiling calmly."

“Yinguang, actually, the reason I mentioned the young master to you is to ask you something.” Leng Shuangcheng turned around and looked him in the eye. “Qiuye’s troop deployment was ineffective, so he must have already made arrangements in secret. So, what exactly did he instruct you to do regarding the situation in the first battle?”

Yin Guang sighed inwardly. The young master had indeed given him detailed instructions on many matters in the council chamber, and had also anticipated that the madam would definitely try to find a loophole in him to probe. He had foreseen this and told him, "When Leng Shuangcheng asks, just mix the truth with the lies. That way you can dispel her suspicions. If she is expressionless, it means that she is unwilling to speak, but she has already tacitly approved of your idea."

Leng Shuangcheng stood silently beneath the tree, patiently observing Yin Guang's ever-changing expression. Behind her stretched a verdant evergreen forest, the sea breeze swirling and scattering fallen leaves, draping the upright, forest-like trees. The dark green barrier resembled a city wall, and her silver hair shone like snow frost. Only when Yin Guang looked at her did he realize how strikingly white her hair was.

"The young master said that if the Japanese attack is ineffective, they will definitely use poisoned people to supervise the battle. No matter who they are, they should be shot dead without hesitation. After luring the enemy into Bixie Manor, cut the Panlong Chain and try to annihilate the entire invading army."

Before Yin Guang's words had even finished, Leng Shuangcheng couldn't help but raise her head to look ahead.

The soaring eaves of the manor are hidden in the thick clouds, yet amidst the chilling wind, they exude an air of royal majesty and nobility. The grandeur of the manor is like a mirage, yet clearly visible.

But in the near future, this place, like the ancient well platform, will be completely submerged, overturning hundreds of years of history.

She sighed, vaguely guessing what was going on, but said nothing, and walked along the bluestone street with her head down.

At the hour of Dingyou, on the easternmost side of Bixie Mountain Villa, outside the gate.

A biting wind howled, waves surged, spray flew wildly, and a chaotic mist of rain rose up, while streaks of lightning roared across the sky. Suddenly, massive waves surged from the dark sea, as if the seabed were boiling oil, with water crackling and exploding, and a continuous roar echoing through the air.

The seawater first roared and surged up, and after the tide receded, circles of black cloth appeared along the edge of the beach.

Japanese Esoteric Buddhism.

With a deafening roar, the black dragon tore through the dark sky, a flash of fire illuminating pairs of sharp, bloodthirsty eyes beneath the crest of the wave. Thousands upon thousands of black-clad warriors, their bodies lashed by wave after wave, walked straight ashore from the seabed!

Their bodies were like steel, their eyes gleamed with cold light, their faces were icy, and their limbs were hard and ruthless. This was no ragtag group; they were clearly a group of suicide squads ready to fight to the death!

Their footsteps pounded through the pale waves, parting the water and leaving deep footprints.

Three thousand Silver-Clad Guards fought against tens of thousands of Tantric practitioners. Snow waves rolled on Wufang Island, and the sea surface boiled!

2. Courage

This place was originally where people sat and watched the sea, a vast and boundless expanse, but now it has been turned into a bloody battlefield!

The densely packed black-clad warriors surged ashore like ants gnawing at bones. The firelight could not conceal the chilling killing intent in their eyes; even before they made a move, they gave the impression of leopards pouncing on their prey.

A leopard that has been confined in a cage for a long time and is starving.

Leng Shuangcheng slowly drew back the Eclipse Sun, and a burst of red light instantly illuminated the murderous sky. She stood alone before them, her eyes sharp and unwavering, piercing the raging rainstorm. Behind her stood a straight line of silver-clad guards, as upright as snow pines, their five ranks surrounding the open space outside the gate, forming the first solid barrier for the islanders of Wufang.

The darkness drew ever closer, and the murderous aura grew ever stronger.

Leng Shuangcheng turned around and shouted against the wind, "Listen to my command, advance and retreat together! Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!"

His voice was rapid and urgent, like raindrops, loud and clear, reaching straight to the hearts of everyone present. Some of the guards at the rear of the formation, who had been anxious, immediately froze upon hearing the order. Seeing that the morale of the troops was stable, Leng Shuangcheng focused his gaze on the front.

A line of men in black, cold and hard, marched forward. After ten rows of them emerged from the seabed, their multicolored clothing finally came into view. A square-faced man with thick eyebrows held a golden wheel that shimmered with blue light, and he kept whistling. His eyes were cold and serpentine, flickering uncertainly. When he saw the heavily armed silver-clad fortress ready for battle, he stopped, but ordered the medicine-wielding men behind him to step forward.

The two men, their gray robes soaked and stiff, held iron rods that gleamed black. The two gentlemen, Zhu and Lan, stood with rigid, lifeless faces, stepping blankly into the footprints of those who had stepped in before them. Having been damaged and transformed into medicine figures, their faces had aged considerably, leaving only the shadows of their former selves.

Leng Shuangcheng could see clearly that Wei Wuyi was leading the charge with these "four elders." She gazed ahead and coldly ordered, "Yinguang, it's up to you now. As long as Wei Wuyi lives, the medicine man won't die."

Yin Guang understood, his hand resting on the Xuanwu Bow, its bow fully drawn, the gleaming arrow aimed directly at Wei Wuyi's head. With a "whoosh," the repeating crossbow focused its light and flew forth, the arrow whistling through the air. In a flash of gold and silver, two men in black were pinned down, the remaining men trampling over the bleeding corpses, their formation completely undamaged!

As the arrows tore through the dark clouds like meteors, the Japanese samurai did not dodge at all, relying entirely on his body to absorb the arrows in order to ensure the progress of the troops behind him!

Dark clouds loomed overhead, thunder roared, and the silver-clad guards exchanged a single glance at the eerie and ruthless scene before them—their fearless ferocity was awe-inspiring! Leng Shuangcheng turned to look at the crowd, his eyes narrowing with a chilling intensity, and urgently said to Yin Guang, "The Japanese are arranged in a 4-4-2 fish-scale formation for easy naval assault. They'd rather risk their lives than change their formation; it seems they've undergone formal training. When the fighting begins, don't worry about my safety. Remember to fight and retreat, luring the enemy into the manor. Do you understand?"

Yin Guang was taken aback by Leng Shuangcheng's instructions, which were completely different from his young master's expectations. He exclaimed in shock, "Madam, what are you going to do?"

Leng Shuangcheng gave a cold laugh: "The Japanese are numerous and they will fight to the death even when faced with a barrage of arrows. How can I not try to dampen Shuxue's spirit? Remember to hold the flanks of the manor and try to prevent the enemy from infiltrating, so as to ensure the safe evacuation of the islanders!"

She turned around, the sea breeze scattering strands of her silver-white hair, which danced wildly against her moon-white dress. Shi Yang pointed a chilling finger at the ground, her wrist flicking as she assumed her signature Moonlight stance: "First rank of archers, listen to my command! Concentrate your fire on the middle section of the formation, and make sure to tear a gap!"

The sea breeze made their voices sound muffled, but it couldn't erase the unwavering certainty in their tone. The fish-like formation closed in like an iron barrel. Leng Shuangcheng estimated the arrows' range, then mustered his strength and shouted, "Release!"

Arrows rained down, covering the dark, inky clouds from sky to earth, obscuring the heavens with a suffocating darkness. The first rank of six hundred arrows pierced the air, causing the Tantric ironclad formation to tremble slightly, a muffled groan echoing through the heavens. Those struck fell instantly, blood gushing forth, staining the yellow sand a reddish-brown. The black-clad figures in front didn't even flinch, using their own bodies as targets—a tactic akin to fighting with corpses—while the ranks behind didn't hesitate, trampling over the still-warm corpses of their fellow disciples, charging forward like wolves!

The crowd, densely packed with people dressed in black, numbered as many as hairs on a cow, and surged in waves, engulfing the area outside the gate.

The silver-clad archers quickly crouched down, and a second rank of soldiers slipped through the gap, arms outstretched, bows drawn, ready to fire. Leng Shuangcheng seized the opportunity during the exchange, took a deep breath, and leaped forward with all her might, her movements as light as a feather and as swift as a hawk!

At this moment, the first volley of arrows had just been fired, and under the force of the thrusting arrows, a crack was forcibly torn open in the front of the Tantric Fish Scale Formation.

The timing was perfect.

With piercing eyes and a fierce, sun-piercing gaze, Leng Shuangchang rose to his feet, his fan-shaped flames striking the narrow crevice with a sudden burst of sword energy. The sword energy surged like a tidal wave, and shimmering frost clung to the blood-red blade, like a snowy sun descending overhead—a domineering and chilling display of power unleashed by the activation of the cold poison!

This move, "Flowers Falling Everywhere," is incredibly powerful and fast, even faster than the sword strike that killed Zhao Yingcheng years ago. It cleaves through the air with no way to avoid it!

Yin Guang stared intently at Leng Shuangcheng's dazzling figure, a surge of hot blood coursing through his chest, as if a long-dormant dragon had awakened and roared as it rose into the abyss!

Leng Shuangcheng charged in alone, determined to capture the key figure in the enemy formation—Wei Wuyi. She trusted him so much, entrusting her entire life to him; how could he possibly betray her kindness?

Though dark clouds loomed before him, he felt a sense of vastness and boundless energy, and couldn't help but send a surge of fervor to the heavens: "Soldiers, fire five crossbow bolts in quick succession, aim at the enemy behind the lady! Fire!"

As the wind and clouds surged and sword energy filled the sky, Wei Wuyi was startled to see a streak of light flash by. His expression changed drastically, and he grabbed a man in black with his left hand to block the sword head-on.

The cold, double-edged sword struck with unstoppable force, still possessing the power to split a mountain. The sword energy burst forth like a monstrous wave, flowing straight down and crashing down, instantly slaying several people in front of Wei Wuyi. Amidst the flying blood and flesh, Tang Kun was cleaved in two, but the obstructed sword energy did not harm Wei Wuyi in the slightest.

Just as she fell like fireworks, the silver-light commanded the guards' arrows to arrive in perfect unison. The whistling wind continued, and the gap was stretched wider and wider. The black-clad warriors fell to the ground one after another, scattering in an inverted cone shape. The medicine man did not give any command, but continued to walk forward without any awareness.

Leng Shuangcheng had precisely calculated this point.

There were many men in black, and once they got into close combat, they would definitely launch a fierce attack. However, after the cold poison was triggered, her power was different from what she had used before. Her sword energy was several times stronger, like Pangu splitting the world. With a straight axe strike, she unleashed the full force of her body!

Wei Wuyi gave a sinister smile, and his right hand swiftly rose, the blue weapon aimed directly at Leng Shuangcheng's chest.

Leng Shuangcheng was prepared. After killing someone with a single sword strike, he dodged to the side and slashed open a gap beside him. His body was as flexible as silk as he darted into the crowd, and then he gathered his strength and unleashed a fierce sword strike.

The sword strike was almost within reach, its shadow vast and intricate, its true energy coalescing into a powerful, swirling aura like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon. The black-clad men retreated in disarray, their blades colliding with the cold blade, flying from their hands and breaking into chains.

Wei Wuyi, caught off guard by Leng Shuangcheng's fierce attack, cried out in alarm, urging everyone to advance and block the arrows while directing the medicine men to attack. Silver arrows flew continuously, and Leng Shuangcheng's sword energy exploded like the sun, opening a sliver of light in the chaotic world, his eyes lowered with red light as he gazed upon the ants and mortals below.

A bloody battle ensued among the people.

Amidst relentless storms and fierce battles, Wufang Island was engulfed in bloodshed, experiencing its greatest calamity in hundreds of years.

Wu Suan, dressed in a green robe, gazed at the surging sea, a dagger tightly gripping his hand.

Although this place was facing the Crystal Pavilion where the young master had practiced swordsmanship since childhood, the sounds of fighting in the backyard of the manor soared to the heavens, clearly drowning out the roar of the waves and reaching his ears.

An hour ago, Leng Shuangcheng intercepted him and had a detailed talk with him.

“Steward Wu, did the young master not consider the safety of the people in the manor when he asked you to cut the Panlong Rope?” Leng Shuangcheng stared at his face without blinking as his eyes were clear. “Although Yin Guang did not explain in detail, I can guess that Qiu Ye will not care about the safety of everyone and only wants to annihilate the enemy.”

Wu Suan's eyes flickered, and he continued, "Young Master has never been meticulous in his work. If you try to cover everything in this battle, it will be difficult to concentrate your firepower, which will hinder our attacks."

Leng Shuangcheng smiled slightly: "Just like Yin Guang, the steward obeys Qiu Ye's orders wherever he goes, without wavering. Now, you must tell me truthfully, how do you plan to cut the Panlong Rope?"

"Go down from the Young Master's Sword Training Pavilion, there is a passage leading to the bottom of the manor. You can swim in. Use the Young Master's specially made dagger to cut all four ropes at once, and no one can escape alive."

Leng Shuangcheng gave a cold laugh after hearing this and said, "The manor has been destroyed, so how did the steward escape from the seabed?"

“Seawater has surface tension. Even if the manor collapses, it won’t drown me,” Wu Suan said confidently. He saw Leng Shuangcheng pondering and remained silent for a while, then he also fell silent. After a moment, that unquestionable voice came again: “In any case, wait for me for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and I will personally cover the retreat.”

Wu Suan glanced at the crimson sky, then, braving the wind and waves, descended the steps one by one. The Crystal Pavilion lay directly on the seabed, its steps marked with footprint-shaped pits of uniform depth. As he stepped onto the steps, he silently recalled the scene of the young master practicing swordsmanship at the bottom of the sea.

The white-clad figure, elegant and upright, disappeared little by little from his sight. The sea breeze always lifted a corner of the garment, fluttering in the desolate air.

The young master was only two or three years old at that time, still a tiny child.

Now, walking through this crystal pavilion himself, he suddenly understood the young master.

The pavilion was bright and clear, the crystal panels reflecting the deep blue seawater, the dazzling light flowing and shimmering. The water rippled and the light moved with the shadows, so radiant and colorful that not a single wrinkle or shadow could be left!

It was so bright that there were no shadows of people!

Standing in the snow-white pavilion, the seawater crashes silently against the walls. The waves surge and recede again and again, their movements spanning thousands of years. Each advance and retreat gives one a strong sense of oppression, as if the sun, moon, and the universe no longer exist here, and only a lonely swordsman remains.

A world without wind, without sound, without shadow, without rest.

Wu Suan took a deep breath, picked up the dagger, silently recited the young master's name, and submerged himself underwater.