Night Song

Chapter 74

"yes."

The boy knelt down and kowtowed three times, but before he could even raise his head, she grabbed him and lifted him up.

"I'll be walking faster these next few days, and I'll try to hold back if I feel nauseous."

Like a gentle breeze brushing past the treetops, she vanished in an instant.

Qinglan rushed out and shouted.

"Hey... will you... come back?"

A slender, pale shadow flitted onto the wall, tilting its head slightly.

Her hair was as black as ink under the blue sky, her face as white as snow, pure and radiant. She didn't answer his question, but drifted down with the wind, as light as a white butterfly that had gracefully vanished.

After gazing for a long time, he felt a tightness in his chest, even more so than when his father had scolded him. He wondered what his third brother was feeling at that moment. After worrying for a long time, he turned around and froze.

There was a person standing silently behind them.

He immediately became so nervous that he started stammering, and sweat broke out on his brow.

"Father...when did you arrive?"

The middle-aged man with slightly graying hair and beard gazed in the direction where the figure had disappeared, his brows furrowed as if carved by a knife, and remained silent for a long time.

“That belongs to Third Brother… Miss Ye has already left, all alone. Third Brother is still at Xia Chu Yuan… She said she won’t come back…” Qing Lan stammered, fearing her father would order a manhunt.

The father, who had been furious, looked inscrutable and let out a faint sigh.

"Go and bring Yunshu back. Don't mention this matter again."

He felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately rushed out of the courtyard, somewhat surprised. Had his third brother's various misdeeds been so easily overlooked? This was truly unlike his father's usual style.

Lost in thought, I vaguely heard the whispers of the wind.

"She's a good girl, it's a pity about her background..."

The confrontational insistence disappeared, and the Xie family returned to its former tranquility.

The servants were relieved that the busy banquet was finally over and they could relax for a moment. The guests left one by one, and the farewell ceremonies were endless, keeping the host very busy.

Amidst the busyness, the only one missing was Xie Yunshu, the third son. People often asked about him, but the Xie family cleverly deflected the questions with lies. They all tacitly agreed not to disturb him, as he had been staying at home for several days without leaving.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, he was not alone in the study at this moment, nor did he appear depressed.

"There was no sign of the master in any of the inns, big or small, in the city."

There are no restaurants or pleasure boats.

"No one else has ever bought mules or horses."

"No one has seen the Lord leave the city."

The four wings reported back on the results of their exploration over the past few days, all of which came up empty-handed.

The room was deathly silent, everyone staring at the motionless figure by the window. The backlight cast a deep, dark shadow on his profile, and he remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"She has already left Yangzhou. Blue Owl went to gather information and find out where Fei Qin came from and which group of people were chasing her."

"Silver Swan, go to Southern Yue to inquire which small country was destroyed more than twenty years ago, and which used this script." Along with the order, a piece of plain silk was handed over, depicting the inscription on the Jia Ye sword. "Investigate as thoroughly as possible."

"Mo Yao, go and follow Yu Sui. Be careful to find out his true identity. This person's background is unpredictable, so be careful."

"Bi Jun will remain on standby. Do you have any further questions?"

The four men accepted the order in unison and then went about their respective arrangements.

The room returned to silence.

The green bamboo outside the window gleamed in the sunlight, as translucent as shattered jade. The sound of cicadas filled the air, and I could no longer find my former calm; I was easily agitated.

Where is she?

By the time she broke through the acupoints, it was too late. She took the child and vanished completely from Yangzhou.

The chances of finding her were extremely slim. His and Siyi's tracking skills were all taught by her, so their usual methods would be completely ineffective.

He had no choice but to return home. Perhaps there was still a sliver of hope if he could search with the help of his family; otherwise, it would be as hopeless as looking for a needle in a haystack. Since Jia Ye had already left, his father, whose anger had subsided, did not severely punish his transgression. Perhaps it was because he considered how difficult it was for him to return home that his usually resolute father showed unexpected leniency.

His family breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to look at those relieved or sympathetic eyes; he was focused on only one thing.

Months later, the rumors subsided and everything was forgotten, as if she had never existed.

He regained his father's trust, and the tokens that had been confiscated were returned to his hands.

Besides assisting his elder brother in managing family affairs, he patiently waited for news from the four wings.

Mo Yao reported that Yu Sui, who had bid farewell to the Xie family and returned north, disappeared after crossing the Yellow River. No clues could be found at all. The addresses and businesses mentioned on the way there were confirmed to be true, except that no such person existed. It was as mysterious and unfathomable as a mystery, which confirmed the initial suspicions.

Blue Owl reported back that the people who were chasing Fei Qin were indeed the Fang family of Shu, a powerful clan from the Central Plains. The Fang family was renowned and a prominent local family, yet they were so unscrupulous in secret. He instructed that someone be left to keep a close watch on them and find a way to infiltrate their ranks to monitor them and see when Jia Ye would make his move.

There was still no news of the Silver Swan, which had gone the furthest. He didn't place too much hope on it. After decades, there was no certainty that he could find it. Besides, Jia Ye was born in Jiangnan and had no memory of his homeland, so he might not go there. Knowing that the hope was slim, he was still unwilling to let go of any possibility.

Even if I search the entire Central Plains, return to the Western Regions, and delve into every corner of the world...

Xijing Chapter

South Vietnam

Silver Swan spent more than a month wandering around this rugged and damp place, seeing all sorts of terrifying reptiles and snakes. The lush green leaves seemed to be dripping water forever, and every now and then a sudden rain would fall from the sky. The sultry sweat clung to its body, sticky and uncomfortable, and gave off the smell of over-pickled vegetable leaves.

He cursed under his breath as he searched for his way, grumbling about his bad luck. He had left the poetic Jiangnan region and come to this place where mosquitoes outnumbered sand, and he might even encounter poisonous miasma. If he hadn't been quick to escape, he probably would have already collapsed in this desolate and treacherous place where one could look up into the secluded forest or down into the muddy swamp.

He couldn't believe that the person he was looking for came from this godforsaken place.

I couldn't understand the language of the residents I encountered along the way; it was more like bird language than human speech. After being deaf and gesturing for dozens of days, I finally learned to speak with rolled tongues and was able to communicate with difficulty.

Even if you understand, it's useless. This place is filled with small kingdoms and countless villages. Years of war have created chaos among the nations, with constant destruction and rebuilding, and countless mergers and reunifications. Many residents don't even know who their current ruler is, let alone the small kingdoms that were unknown decades ago.

Unwilling to give up after all his efforts, knowing he would be met with three gloating faces waiting to mock him, he stubbornly continued for another ten days, clinging to his last bit of spirit. Seeing no hope left, he began to desperately plan his return journey.

After eating the game they had hunted that day, they went to the river to wash their hands. The trees were sparse, and the sunlight slanted down through the branches and leaves, making the river water look like transparent crystal, and the moss-covered riverbed was clearly visible.

The unusual color of the stone caught his attention. It was a grayish-white stone slab, lying quietly at the bottom of the river, not yet completely hidden by mud, sand, snails, and fish. Its white light flickered intermittently, stretching into the distance, resembling an ancient road.

Bored, he decided to follow the river on a whim. The stone slabs gradually extended to the bank and disappeared into the depths of the dense forest. He continued along the path, where thick, vine-covered trees grew increasingly robust, and the darkness became so profound that sunlight was almost invisible. Besides the stone path, he discovered a winding stone canal; the broken stone slabs revealed it to be the bottom of a long canal. At the end of the canal was a crumbling wall. Climbing over the ruins, he came upon a palace-like building. Much of the white stone had collapsed, and the remaining parts were covered by a green carpet of vegetation, yet one could still sense its former exquisite beauty.

At the east end is a crescent-shaped stone pool, and at the west end is a flat stone bridge and layers of flower-covered steps. The winding corridor is dilapidated, the green pool is dry, and thick layers of fallen leaves remain, completely devoid of human presence.

After passing through the abandoned palace gardens, we gradually ascended to the main hall at the highest point. The various architectural decorations were quite unique, including many lotus reliefs, most of which were broken and incomplete. Occasionally, a brightly colored venomous snake would be startled by our footsteps, its tongue flicking as it slithered across the stone path, leaving a shiny trail of venom.

After passing through the last gate, he finally stepped onto the palace platform. The sight before him left him speechless with astonishment. Deep within the dense forests of the southern border, overgrown with grass and snakes, lay a place that seemed like a paradise.

Below the hall are layers of stone steps leading to a beautiful and expansive lake. The lake water is crystal clear, like a huge piece of jade shimmering in the sunlight. The green grass by the lake is as lush as a carpet, with large white flowers in bloom. The shadows of the trees sway in the wind, as if breathing with life.

The mountain breeze swept away the sweltering heat of the past few months, bringing a refreshing coolness to his body. The unexpectedly beautiful scenery captivated him, and he didn't hesitate to plunge into the lake for a swim, experiencing a blissful feeling he hadn't felt in months. He casually scooped up a few plump, unidentified fish, their bodies covered in fine, snow-white scales, with long whiskers on their gills—strange in appearance. But once grilled, they were incredibly delicious, their aroma wafting far and wide.

He was happily munching on the fish when suddenly there was a soft rustling in the woods ahead. The sound of a bamboo pole parting the grass grew closer and closer, and a hunched figure emerged.

His clothes were clearly those of an ordinary villager. He carried a bamboo basket for collecting herbs on his back. He was dressed in coarse clothes and barefoot. His dark and aged face was full of wrinkles, and he stared at him as if he had seen a ghost.

After wandering around for several days without seeing many people, he was feeling extremely bored. He tried his best to be friendly, using the broken language he had just learned to express that he meant no harm, and even used gestures to invite the other person to share a campfire dinner with him.

The other person hesitated for a while before coming over, putting down the basket on his back, sitting cross-legged by the fire, and refusing the grilled fish that was offered to him.

"I never expected there to be anyone here. I thought I'd encountered a ghost." The old man's tongue was stiff, but he was clearly speaking Mandarin. Hearing this, he almost jumped up.

"Are you Han Chinese?" After being forced to speak a half-understood Southern Yue language for many days, he was almost spitting blood from the frustration. To encounter someone who could speak was a joy beyond what others could imagine.

The old man laughed hoarsely, his weathered eyes cloudy and worldly-wise, making it easy to guess why he had overreacted.

"I've been here for fifty years, and this is the first time I've met someone who speaks Mandarin. I've almost forgotten everything."

He was utterly impressed by the fact that he had lived in this godforsaken place for fifty years. "How did you end up here?"

The old man tilted his head back in thought, every wrinkle etched with memories. "A once-in-a-century drought killed most of the villagers. The rest became refugees, wandering here. Later, they settled down, got used to it, and never left."

"You can adapt to...?" He found it unbelievable and casually swatted a frighteningly large mosquito to death.

The old man chuckled softly, took a blade of grass from his bamboo basket, and tossed it into the fire. Wisps of smoke drifted away, and the buzzing sound that had been lingering in his ears quickly disappeared. "The weather is hot and humid, which makes it easy for mosquitoes and ants to breed. People from other places can't stand it. Locals have some unorthodox methods to keep snakes and insects away from the smell of this grass."

He shook his head in amazement. In any case, he could finally get a good night's sleep. He was very satisfied with his luck today and continued to gnaw on the fat fish to fill his stomach.

The old man glanced at him and also took out some dry food from his pocket to fill his stomach.

He glanced at the other man's rough rice cake, then generously offered him another fragrant grilled fish, but the old man kept waving his hand and backing away.

"Thank you, but people here don't eat this kind of fish."

"Why?" He blinked, puzzled. Such delicious food, yet no one ate it. Suddenly, a possibility occurred to him. "Poisonous?"

Having seen all sorts of strange creatures, many of which appear normal but are highly poisonous, could this one also be...? His face suddenly turned green.

The fear was so obvious that the old man forced a smile and comforted the person.

“There’s no poison, but people have died in the lake, and we feel it’s an ominous sign.”

He immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt unconvinced.

Which lake hasn't seen people die in it? To give up readily available food for such a reason is probably only the most ignorant of barbarians.

Seeing his disdain, the old man didn't argue with the young man from out of town; he was peaceful and kind.

“Don’t you find it strange that we would rather be crammed at the bottom of the mountain, getting rained on and hot, than move up here to such a good place?”

This was indeed a question, and he immediately sought advice.

"This place is haunted."

Just then, a gust of cold wind blew by, chilling the air as if it were being immersed in icy water. In the flickering light of the fire, the shadows on the old man's face were extremely deep, and the solemn words he spoke almost made his hair stand on end.

"Old man, you're joking. How could there be ghosts in this world?" He chuckled dryly, trying to calm his unease.

"Listen."

He listened intently, and the sound of the wind blowing across the ruins, which gleamed white under the cold moon, was like a sobbing, mournful wail. It was especially terrifying in the dense forest. He recalled the strange rumors he had heard along the way about witchcraft and supernatural beings using poison and curses, and his skin instantly broke out in a layer of granules.

"It's just the sound of stones, it's not that scary." He felt uneasy, but he still stubbornly insisted.

"So many people have died here..." The old man gazed at the calm lake under the moonlight, filled with emotion. "Countless, women from an entire nation died here, the lake is full of corpses... I've been afraid all my life, I would never have come here if it weren't for gathering herbs."

Hearing the hoarse and desolate words, his scalp tingled, yet he refused to believe it.