Night Song - Chapter 40
“He’s been kept at Old Master Bai’s residence as an honored guest. I’ll take you there now.” Song Yushang was an impatient man and couldn’t wait to act.
"No..." He dodged his friend's pull, "How can I face the Bai family now?"
“Then let’s talk somewhere else. I’ll call him out for you.” Song Yushang paused for a moment. “The person with you…where is he…?”
Turning around abruptly, the slender figure standing under the tree had vanished without a trace.
Only the slender willows sway in the wind, and the faint sound of a song lingers.
Family
"Are you leaving?"
It seemed to confirm some premonition.
The person inside the room stroked the jade altar, a thoughtful expression on their pale face. Everything was neatly arranged; a simple bundle was all that was needed before setting off.
"You came back quickly, that's good, consider it a farewell." She showed no lingering attachment or regret, her tone as if she were recounting an easy trip.
"Why."
Jia Ye gave a strange smile. "Don't you think it's inconvenient for a young master from the prestigious Xie family to associate with members of the Demonic Sect?"
After a long silence, the man's expression was complicated.
"When did you find out my surname is Xie?"
"That time during the campaign against Kucha, you fought fiercely against the cavalry on the way back, and you used your left-handed sword." She generously provided the answer. "I then discovered that your true strength is far beyond what you usually show, and your swordsmanship is quite unique. After returning, I looked through the secret records about the martial arts world in the Central Plains, and it seems to be the Xie family's unique Returning Wind and Dancing Willow Sword."
"No wonder you dared to stand out back then. Even though you were in the Western Regions, I know the Xie family is extremely strict and produces many talented people. They don't allow anyone to set foot in the martial world until they reach a certain level. You were able to go out at the age of fifteen, so your cultivation level is self-evident." His handsome eyes were deep and dark, and Jia Ye seemed not to see them. "I heard you were captured after being poisoned. I suppose Xiu She didn't even notice. He must have been very surprised when he died by your sword."
She smiled and continued with a hint of mockery, "Now that you are free, you should cherish your reputation and it's best to avoid this situation as soon as possible."
"You... know everything."
"That's not entirely true. Because of my position, I have easier access to some information than you do." Avoiding his gaze, she wrapped the jade jar with a soft cloth and lifted it up. "The people of the Central Plains are mostly hostile to the Demonic Sect. Hiding for these seven years will be more advantageous for you. I suppose we won't see each other again. Take care of yourself."
"What if I said I didn't want you to leave?" He took a small step, blocking your way.
"Aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation?" She raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I don't see any reason for you to take that risk."
His deep eyes were unfathomable.
"And you? Why are you so concerned for me, yet so eager to leave?"
Hearing this, Jia Ye paused for a moment, then laughed again, her tone suddenly turning sarcastic. "Young Master Xie must have misunderstood. I was just thinking that since you come from a prestigious family and associate with chivalrous people from all walks of life, it would be inconvenient to reveal your whereabouts."
His cold tone was laced with sarcasm. "In terms of strength, I am naturally no match for the Xie family. It's better to avoid this awkward situation for everyone in the future."
"Are you afraid that I'll treat you like a good person?" He approached and looked down at her face.
She walked away indifferently, saying, "Don't use such disgusting words to describe me."
"Then don't leave." He smiled, a hint of pleasure in his expression. "Anyway, you don't care about my situation."
"What reason do I have to associate with you righteous people?" she retorted incredulously.
“There are many reasons,” he said slowly, his eyes shining as he stared at her without blinking. “For example, you could discover the secrets of the martial arts world in the Central Plains… or someone could take care of things, so you can enjoy yourself without worrying about anything else… no one will discover your identity, and you can still enjoy yourself easily and happily. I will introduce you to the best scenery in each place.”
"What good will this do you?"
"This..." He pondered for a moment. "Perhaps I could find an opportunity for revenge? After all, you've enslaved me for so many years." His handsome smile held a hint of mockery. "Are you afraid?"
"A good provocation, but unfortunately you picked the wrong person." She remained unmoved and turned away indifferently.
He stopped Qingying and changed the subject. "If there's someone you're looking for, perhaps I can help."
She stopped in her tracks, her expression suddenly blank.
What do you mean?
"How old were you when you left Jiangnan? You must have had other relatives. Aren't you curious about how they are doing?" He probed her reaction with a soft, gentle voice.
His words fell like a drop of dew into deep, stagnant water, leaving no ripples.
"Being too clever for your own good is never a good thing." She tugged at the corners of her lips, but there was no smile in her eyes.
“If I had thought about these things, I wouldn’t be alive today. My only relative died more than ten years ago, and my current wish is to find a place to bury her remains. That’s all.”
Beneath that indifferent face lie hidden emotions, like a frozen pool beneath ice. Every attempt to explore them is met with a firm, insurmountable barrier.
“You and I are two different kinds of people.” Xue raised her chin slightly and looked directly into his eyes. “For you, memories are the strength that keeps you going, but for me, they are the past that I abandoned at the beginning. Don’t make assumptions based on your own imagination.”
The cold, harsh words, like shattered ice beads, instantly created a chasm.
A silence fell over the air, followed by a very low sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it..."
"What would it take for you to stay a little longer... even if it's just for the scenery..."
“I know you don’t like this change… even though you’ve never treated me like a slave.”
"I will not go against your will, nor will I ask any more questions. You are free to do as you please."
He raised his hand and grasped her slender wrist; her fair skin was delicate and smooth. His tone was gentle yet slightly pleading.
"Or, may I do my part as a host?"
"Even if it's just... to repay you for saving me."
She neither nodded nor shook her head; her drooping eyelashes obscured her vision, and she fell silent.
"You've been with the Demonic Sect all these years?" Xie Quheng, the eldest brother of the Xie family, was speechless for a long time after hearing about his experiences in recent years. The man, who was nearly thirty years old, naturally had a calm and steady temperament and a reputation for integrity and fortitude. He often took on the external affairs that the Xie family needed to handle.
"Um."
"And in the end, he even killed the Pope?" Never having imagined that his close friend would turn so drastically over the years, Song Yu was speechless.
"It was the Four Envoys who killed me; I was merely a Shadow Slave."
“No wonder you disappeared so completely; we searched the entire Central Plains but couldn’t find you.” Xie Quheng sighed deeply. “Since you arrived in Jiangnan a few days ago, why didn’t you return home sooner?”
“I…” He hesitated for a moment. “I want to go back and take a look. I don’t plan to stay in the Xie family.”
"Why?" Song Yushang blurted out in surprise. "You know how much your family misses you."
"Guess how many people I've killed over the years?" Junyan asked with a hint of bitterness. Intrigues lurked beneath the surface, and the life of killing was fraught with danger; the innocence of his youth was gone. "I can't even count them all. It would have been better if I hadn't gone back; otherwise, I might have ended up ruining my family's reputation."
"If you don't tell me, who will know?" Song Yushang said dismissively.
“Third brother.” The eldest son of the Xie family spoke, his voice tinged with concern and a hint of reproach. “Father misses you terribly, and so does Mother. She has cried countless times in secret since you disappeared.”
"Back then, you were kidnapped to the Western Regions by the Demonic Sect Leader. You had no choice in the matter. Now that your enemy is dead, it can be said that Heaven has eyes. All those years of enduring humiliation and hardship have not been in vain. Why think too much about it? Even if someone were to expose this matter, wouldn't the Xie family be able to protect their own son? What do we care about rumors and gossip? As a son, the most important thing is not to cause your parents too much worry."
"Brother is right," he replied briefly, his voice slightly choked.
"Don't say such foolish things again. Your father has always valued you highly, saying that you have the best potential and the strongest character among your brothers. He was overjoyed to hear that you are alright."
He was speechless at the protection and comfort from his closest relatives, and could only agree.
"The day after tomorrow is Miss Bai's wedding. You should come with me and apologize to Old Master Bai. Although it was fate, we still delayed them."
"I'm afraid it would be awkward for me to go."
Xie Quheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "Then we'll choose a date to visit after the auspicious day has passed."
“We need to find a plausible reason,” Song Yushang interjected, chuckling mischievously. “Otherwise, people will think Yunshu ran away from her marriage and that her return was too coincidental.”
Xie Quheng agreed with the same point.
“Besides family, this matter can only be known to Old Master Bai. As for outsiders…” He pondered for a long time. “Tell them that you were seriously ill a few years ago and were taken to the border to find a good doctor. It took several years of treatment for your condition to improve.”
"If it's such a serious illness, how come even the family didn't know?" Song Yushang shook his head, pointing out the absurdity.
"Just say it's an acute illness."
"That's not right either. They should at least send a message. How could they have completely cut off all communication?"
"I said... I suddenly went into a qi deviation while practicing my martial arts and couldn't move." After rubbing his forehead for a while, Xie Quheng tried his best to make his reason logical.
"Practicing family-inherited skills to the point of demonic possession? That's too much... I'm afraid Uncle Xie would be the first to disagree."
"What if you were chased by your enemies and jumped off a cliff and lost your memory?" Having abandoned his flawed excuse, the eldest son of the Xie family was quite incapable of lying.
"A master who could drive Yun Shu to the brink of despair must be a well-known figure in the martial arts world. Who could it be?" Song Yushang laughed, easily exposing the truth.
"You encountered a reclusive master and were taken to a secluded place to cultivate in asceticism?"
"Ordered to infiltrate a rival family in disguise and gather intelligence?"
"……"
Watching his upright and honest older brother rack his brains to find a suitable excuse, his face flushed as he argued with Song Yushang, a warm feeling lingered in his heart.
Home is so good.
Chatting and making friends with a group of young men from martial arts families, I felt a sense of nostalgia mixed with unfamiliarity. Everyone present was a spirited and dashing swordsman, who had come here to offer their congratulations on the Bai family's wedding. Three days ago, after visiting with his elder brother, Old Master Bai had tried his best to persuade them to stay, and even sent his eldest son to accompany them, hoping that the younger generation would get to know each other better.
After seven years of experience, he has become much more reserved and introspective, no longer displaying the impetuousness of his youth. Most of the time, he listens to the lively discussions among the guests, rarely interjecting. However, the eldest son of the Bai family is wholeheartedly committed to being a good host and is determined to make friends with them, which inadvertently makes him the center of attention, making it difficult for him to remain low-key.
However, compared to Jia Ye, it should be relatively easy.
Upon learning that he had companions, Old Master Bai was extremely enthusiastic and insisted on inviting the two into his residence. He was currently staying in the flower hall to entertain friends, while Jia Ye... was among a group of young ladies from prominent families in Jiangnan, leisurely enjoying herself in the elegant pavilion.
Most of these ladies from prestigious families came from martial arts backgrounds and possessed some skill in martial arts; some were even known as chivalrous heroines, their heroic bearing and fame spreading far and wide. Jia Ye, sitting among them, stood out like an innocent and delicate young girl.
"...I'm not very familiar with Young Master Xie......We traveled together from Dunhuang...and it was on the way..."
"...My family has passed away...I have a meager fortune, and I admire the scenery and culture of this place..."
"...I don't know much about his personality and preferences..."
"...Young Master Xie meant well...In a few days..."
"...Sisters are joking...I didn't think of anything else..."
Fragments of conversation drifted in through the long window, and she remained the center of attention. The women all seemed extremely interested in this charming guest accompanying Young Master Xie, constantly bombarding her with questions. From her background and experiences to her daily preferences, they were asked everything. For her, fabricating lies to appease these women was effortless.
Amidst a group of boisterous female warriors, her calm reply suggested a gentle and good-natured demeanor. However… he could vaguely sense a hidden impatience; her mind was far from engaged in the conversation.
No wonder she found it boring; dealing with a group of pampered and arrogant young ladies from noble families was truly tedious for her, and he felt the same way. At this moment, he could only secretly pray that Jia Ye had enough patience to not storm off.