Linfengchun

Chapter 7

"If it weren't for your intervention, my humble servant would have... taken her own life here today." The woman bowed gracefully. Although she was dressed in coarse cloth, her speech was refined, like the daughter of a once-wealthy family that had fallen on hard times.

The boy scratched his head and chuckled dryly, "It's nothing, just a small favor."

The woman curtsied again: "I don't know your esteemed name, benefactor. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will certainly repay you."

The young man straightened up, cleared his throat in a pretentious manner, and said, "Ahem, I am He Jing of the Wudang Sect, also known as, also known as the Jade-Faced Swordsman."

Xu Lianning simply watched, seemingly unreachable from across the crowd.

She smiled slightly, then turned around.

The flowers bloom similarly year after year.

As late spring draws to a close, the roses on the courtyard flower trellis, unlike their usual lush green state with only leaves and no flowers, are now blooming in vibrant profusion.

Xu Lianning had been meditating, but eventually succumbed to drowsiness and fell asleep. When the moon was high in the sky, he suddenly heard some noises outside. He got up and saw that it was Mr. Xiao practicing his swordplay.

He wore a long robe with wide sleeves, and used a tree branch as a sword. Every move he made was graceful and refined, like that of a celestial being.

Peeping at someone practicing martial arts is a major taboo, and Xu Lianning was about to close the window when she suddenly heard him softly recite: "In ten years, how many heroes have turned white-haired, their martial arts ambitions all for naught..." His tone was slightly desolate. The Mr. Xiao she knew was arrogant and disdainful of sentimentality, always doing things his own way; he would never speak in such a tone. After finishing one set of sword techniques, he repeated the first move three times before switching to a new set. Xu Lianning guessed he was practicing for her, so she stood at the window and watched quietly. It wasn't until after dawn that Xiao Liang returned to the east wing to rest.

Three or four days passed in this manner. Xiao Liang practiced his sword at night, deliberately slowing down the most exquisite parts and occasionally chanting sword incantations, but never mentioning it during the day. Even if he stumbled upon Xu Lianning practicing his sword, he would pretend not to see it. Xu Lianning had also been pondering the origins of this Mr. Xiao for the past few days, but he never asked any questions. He couldn't figure it out, so he kept it a secret. This was a habit he had developed over the past ten years at Lingxuan Palace.

In the blink of an eye, late spring passed, and the city of Suizhou began to feel the slight heat of summer.

Xu Lianning calculated the days; the martial arts tournament was fast approaching. She had waited for so long, especially since the Wudang Sect was the host this time, yet she had backed down at the last minute.

"I wonder if there is something you really want to do, but have been putting off and putting off without any end in sight?" Xu Lianning sat at the lower end of the table, lowering his eyes and said, "Suddenly one day, I felt that it was impossible to do, but it also seemed to be a little possible. I just don't know if I can take a chance."

Xiao Liang glanced at her, his expression calm and composed: "If you think it's worth it, then bet everything. There's no need to leave yourself a way out." Xu Lianning looked up at him. He said casually, "Always giving yourself room to maneuver is actually a sign of being timid and hesitant."

"What if in the end there's nothing left? Then there's no room to retreat."

Xiao Liang smiled slightly, his originally cold and hard face softening: "Just remember, once you miss your chance, there's no turning back. Do what you need to do by any means necessary. Even if you regret some things in the future, you must understand that what you gain and what you lose cannot be compared. After all, people's hearts are never satisfied."

Xu Lianning said sincerely, "What you say is true, sir."

“These past few days have been quite an ordeal, and it’s time for me to head back. You’ve done very well, but it’s a pity…” He stood up, paused for a moment, and said, “Once we leave this place, we’ll pretend we never met. You’re not my disciple; we’ve only been traveling together for a while.”

"...Yes." For some reason, I felt a little sentimental, perhaps because I hadn't felt this way in a long time.

Xiao Liang looked at her and smiled again: "Fate is like fleeting clouds. You and I are just ordinary people, so there's no need to take it too seriously." Then, with a flick of his sleeves, he walked straight towards the door. When he reached the door, he paused: "In the future, if there is an opportunity, you can become my disciple. I'm afraid..." He trailed off.

The days flew by, and before we knew it, it was the Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon boats, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and mugwort leaves are essential for the festival. Suizhou City happens to be located by the river, so the festival is especially lively on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

It was midday, and the air was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and colorful flags fluttered in the breeze. The people of Suizhou City gathered busily along the riverbank, eagerly awaiting the exciting dragon boat races. Undeterred by the wind and sun, the young men and women of the riverbank, braving the blazing sun, sat on their boats, oars in hand.

The sound of drums rang out, and fragments of cannon fire rose into the air before slowly drifting back down onto the river. A dozen small boats shot forward like arrows, the lead boat carrying a woman in purple. Unlike the other fisherwomen who wore fitted water armor, she wore a long, flowing dress with her sleeves tied up, which at least made her movements easier. She appeared gentle and delicate, yet with a single stroke of her oar, she quickly left the other men behind, reaching the shore in no time.

Most of the people from Suizhou who were watching along the river recognized her, and they cheered her on sincerely when they saw her win.

Before the boat had even come to a complete stop, the woman in purple lightly stepped onto the shore, grabbed someone's sleeve, and said, "Senior brother, did you see that? I won again this time." Her tone was full of joy, and her beautiful face brightened slightly with that joy.

"Knowing a little kung fu makes a difference. If I were to carry a boat on the river, they wouldn't be able to figure it out no matter how hard they try." The tall woman, her face veiled, walked gracefully towards them.

Xu Lianning, who was watching from the shore, turned around when she heard the familiar voice, a faint smile on her lips: "Then, Senior Sister Qingxuan, would you be so kind as to show off your amazing skill of walking on water?"

Ruan Qingxuan's eyes curved slightly, then he suddenly said seriously, "I guess you came to Suizhou first. You don't remember a single word of Master's instructions, which made me busy making up lies for you all the way here."

"It wasn't that I didn't want to meet up with my master. It's just that I met a Mr. Xiao on the way, and he gave me some pointers, which made it impossible for me to leave."

"What, Mr. Xiao, is so incredibly powerful?" Ruan Qingxuan seemed to be intrigued as well.

"His martial arts skills are beyond question, but his temperament is somewhat unpredictable, yet he treats me very well." Xu Lianning turned his head slightly and briefly recounted how the two met and how they competed in lightness skills along the way.

Ruan Qingxuan chuckled and said, "So you're a senior expert. I was expecting some handsome young man."

Xu Lianning chuckled for a moment: "About twenty or thirty years ago, he could be considered a handsome young man."

Ruan Qingxuan seemed to suddenly remember something and was about to speak when she was interrupted by a loud voice: "Senior Sister Li, you've been winning for years because of your martial arts skills, can't you let another man win just once?"

They turned around simultaneously and saw the crowd dispersing, and a sturdy young man dodging a vicious slap from the woman in purple who had won the dragon boat race. He had only taken two steps back when she swept in with another palm strike. He frantically dodged, yelling in his loud voice, "To be honest, why are you being so fierce? Senior brother, stop her, or I'm dead!"

"Junior Brother He, I will definitely remember to burn incense morning and night and burn some paper money during festivals, so you can rest in peace." His words were leisurely, and at the end, he raised his head slightly, revealing a hint of a smile.

Although the words were as vicious as ever, they sounded different. Xu Lianning looked at the man in his elegant blue robe and silver hairpin, his demeanor refined and noble. A thought floated through her mind: Zhang Weiyi, that scoundrel, really has friends everywhere and is comfortable in every situation.

"I knew you two were secretly having an affair!" The boy's loud voice drew everyone's attention. The woman in purple blushed and slapped him again, sending him sprawling. "If you dare spout any more nonsense!"

“That person taught three disciples,” Xu Lianning said, looking intently and smiling. “Zhang Weiyi, He Jing, and Li Qingyun. I’ve met them all now.”

"What do you intend to do?" Ruan Qingxuan asked calmly.

"I don't need anything, it's just that the sun is too strong, and I want to go back and rest." Xu Lianning smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Ruan Qingxuan said with a smile, "I came before Master, and I'm also a little tired." She turned her head and looked at Xu Lianning's profile, which was calm and indifferent. Suddenly, she remembered the still naive Xu Lianning five years ago, and the emotions that had settled in the corners of her eyes were no longer visible.

The crowd behind him dispersed, and a corner of a green robe flashed by. He Jing's loud voice called out from behind, "Senior brother, come and save me—hey, why are you walking away?" Then, with a thud, he seemed to have fallen face-first into the mud again.

As Xu Lianning walked into the alley after returning to the city, she suddenly spoke up: "The Haitian Pavilion's secret outposts in Nanjing Prefecture have been razed. I received a message while I was in the capital, but I was still half-believing it. I also told them not to get involved with me unless it was important, so that Senior Sister He wouldn't find out that her people had secretly defected to this side."

"So when you went to Nanjing Prefecture later, did you find anything?" Ruan Qingxuan asked casually.

"The person who secretly attacked me didn't seem to know I was coming. It shouldn't be someone inside who betrayed me." The girl's surprised expression when she saw me was fleeting, but it was still clear. "Now they know that I secretly undermined Senior Sister He's power, but I can't figure out who they are."

"Actually, it's not hard to guess. Among you, me, He Wan, and Yin Han, it seems that Junior Sister Yin is the most likely candidate right now."

“I originally wanted her too, but the person she encountered… I’m afraid Junior Sister Yin couldn’t subdue him.” Xu Lianning said thoughtfully, “He looks like a child, but kills with a laugh. Although Junior Sister Yin’s martial arts are good, her mind is still no match for this cunning person.”

"If someone like Shui Tiangu is considered a demon, then what are you and me?" Ruan Qingxuan couldn't explain it either, so she changed the subject, "Aren't we even older than an old monster like her?"

Xu Lianning smiled slightly: "We are considered enchantresses, and we have worked diligently every day, so our cultivation has become quite profound."

Ruan Qingxuan put his arm around her shoulder, laughing so hard his body trembled slightly: "If you were born in Wudang, I'm afraid the sect leader would be so angry his hair would turn white." He straightened his expression slightly: "Actually, it's not that bad now..."

The one in trouble right now is He Jing. He had just acted as a hero on the street the other day, but today he fell flat on his face twice in front of everyone. His reputation as a chivalrous hero has been utterly crushed and left lying on the ground.

Tell me, what man in the world could stand being knocked to the ground by a woman?

He stood up with a grumbling, looking his senior brother up and down: "What did you see just now? It looked like you were about to chase after it?"

Zhang Weiyi lowered her eyes, her expression calm: "It was just a momentary illusion."

He Jing was extremely puzzled: "Senior brother, you usually don't even have a minor illness or pain, and you never miss such a boring sermon early in the morning, how could you have blurred vision?!"

Zhang Weiyi frowned slightly. He had seen people who didn't know their place, but he had never seen anyone so clueless: "I thought I was seeing an old friend, but then I realized I was mistaken."

He Jing smiled maliciously: "Is your old friend a beautiful girl?"

Zhang Weiyi gave a half-smile: "So what if it is?"

“If that happens, Senior Sister Li will be heartbroken, won’t she?” He Jing turned to Li Qingyun and said.

Li Qingyun blushed and scolded, "If you want to go back looking like nobody, then keep talking nonsense."

Zhang Weiyi turned around, feeling a strange sense of relief. In her youth, she could care about someone because of a piece of music, and even project her own personality traits onto that person, but it was all just an illusion. Years later, though she still cherished the memory, it wasn't as profound as it once was.

Afterwards, he sincerely thanked He Jing, which terrified the simpleton, who remained on edge for several days.

Wudang Mountain, Sword Washing Pool.

Before they knew it, it was the day before the martial arts tournament. Some sects had arrived early and were paying their respects today. The Wudang disciples were busy receiving guests and entertaining them, wishing they had eight hands so they could fly.

Wudang has a long-standing rule that weapons must be removed before entering the Sword Washing Pool. While the martial arts tournament could normally make an exception, martial artists, out of respect, still removed their weapons and handed them over to the Wudang welcoming disciples. Li Qingyun spent the entire morning just recording this, without a moment's rest.

But there were some troublemakers who openly carried swords over. One of them, a tall woman with a veil, even spoke rudely: "Divine weapons are not something everyone can touch. Wudang's rule is arrogant."

Another woman had an exquisitely detailed cinnabar mark between her eyebrows: "It is said that the founder of the Wudang school was treated with great respect by Emperor Chengzu, who spared no expense in building a great complex, one of which was the Yuzhen Palace. Today, Shaolin is not as prosperous as Wudang in terms of talent."

Hearing these words, Li Qingyun felt relieved. She paused for a moment, then continued, "They are just taking advantage of the royal favor, like fish in water. There are no outstanding talents among them. They are just deceiving the world and stealing fame."

Li Qingyun handed the booklet to her junior brother who was greeting guests, frowned, and stepped forward, saying, "This humble woman is Li Qingyun from the Wudang Sect. May I ask which sect you are from? May I take a look at your invitation?"

A tall woman with a veil stepped forward, took out an invitation, and said, "We are disciples of Lingxuan Palace. Our master is still on his way, so we are here to make arrangements in advance."

Li Qingyun accepted the invitation, but inadvertently caught a glimpse of the crisscrossing scars beneath the woman's veil. His heart skipped a beat. He quickly glanced at the invitation and said, "Please, both of you, remove your weapons for now. We will return them to you once you have settled into the other courtyard."

"You mean... I should leave my personal sword behind?" The veil shifted, revealing a slight chuckle. "I've never heard of such a rule in Wudang Palace."

“Since the founding of our sect, we have always had the rule of unraveling swords in the Sword Washing Pool. Please understand.” Li Qingyun retorted in a neither soft nor hard way, “Since we are in Wudang, we should follow the rules of Wudang.”

"Rules are made by people, and naturally they can be changed. Whether or not Wudang can uphold the rules of our ancestors depends on its ability." Her gentle and calm tone strangely blended with a hint of aloofness. Li Qingyun looked at the speaker, a strange sense of familiarity flashing through her mind: this person seemed somewhat familiar… yet the vermilion mark between her brows was too peculiar, elegant yet sinister, blended so naturally and perfectly. She remembered never having seen anyone like this before.

"Junior Sister Lian Ning, do you wish to make a move? Since Master is not here, I am happy for you to do so." The woman smiled, seemingly possessing a unique charm, and the scars on her face did not look so terrible anymore. The elegant and slender woman standing beside her simply spoke softly and slowly: "Thank you for your permission, Senior Sister Qing Xuan."

They were blatantly disregarding Wudang. Li Qingyun was furious, but he held back his anger: "Are you two here to test your martial arts skills?" Instead, the welcoming disciple couldn't help but draw his longsword: "You two are going too far."

Xu Lianning stepped forward, her indifferent face revealing no emotion, and said calmly, "I apologize for any offense." Her skin was as white as jade, her eyes clear and unfathomable, and she appeared somewhat frail standing against the wind. The moment the other man moved his longsword, his wrist suddenly went numb, and the sword was somehow in Xu Lianning's hand. Li Qingyun knew something was wrong and drew his sword to thrust at her. This strike subtly revealed a sword's edge; for a woman, this level of skill was quite impressive. Xu Lianning spun and dodged, her clothes fluttering gracefully, along with her ink-black hair, but her swordplay remained slightly clumsy.

Li Qingyun took two steps back and asked in surprise, "How do you know the basic sword techniques of Wudang?"

She didn't answer, her longsword trembling as she unleashed her second move—a technique from the Soft Cloud Swordplay practiced by female disciples of Wudang. Li Qingyun, already well-versed in it, parried without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over twenty blows, less like a martial arts duel and more like sparring between fellow disciples. Li Qingyun could tell that while her opponent used Wudang swordplay, it was fragmented, the force and angles off, as if cobbled together from various sources. Her superior lightness skill was merely allowing her to hold on for the moment. She steadied herself and pressed forward relentlessly.

Xu Lianning's previously disciplined swordsmanship suddenly shifted, becoming light and unpredictable. Li Qingyun suddenly felt a chill wash over him. The woman's eyes remained clear and shallow, yet unfathomable. Normally, such unpredictable swordsmanship was a major taboo in swordsmanship, inevitably revealing numerous flaws. Yet, Li Qingyun saw only distant light and shadow, finding no weakness whatsoever, completely unaware that he was slowly retreating towards the cliff edge. Xu Lianning smiled, not in a hurry to win, but instead slowed her swordplay, closing in step by step.

Suddenly, a brilliant silver light flashed, and the longsword Xu Lianning had snatched from the welcoming disciple snapped in two. She then felt the cold tip of the sword pressed against her throat. Following the clean blade, she saw Zhang Weiyi in a flowing blue robe, his clothes and hair fluttering in the cliff wind. His clear gaze lingered on his hand clasped with Li Qingyun's, and she suddenly felt a sense of vulnerability, as if she had nowhere to hide. Unbearable, the faint emotion in her heart transformed into an intense killing intent that she could no longer suppress.

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, concealing all her emotions. She casually tossed the broken sword aside and slowly revealed a faint smile: "Young Master Yujian truly lives up to his reputation. I concede defeat."

Li Qingyun's face lit up with joy, and he exclaimed happily, "Master!"

Xu Lianning's expression changed slightly. He almost bumped into Zhang Weiyi's sword, but instead, the other woman withdrew her sword and sheathed it. Then he saw the woman turn her back and slowly walk to the other side.

On the other side, an elder in a feathered crown and star-studded robe stood with his hands behind his back, exuding a calm and serene aura, like an enlightened immortal. His hair and beard were all white, but he appeared to be only in his fifties, with a lean and refined appearance and a radiant spirit.

Xu Lianning approached slowly, slightly raised her head, and smiled naturally: "Junior Xu Lianning greets the Master of Wudang." After a slight pause, she added: "Or, perhaps I could also address you as 'Senior Uncle'?"

Tonight I am lost in thought, what night is this? (Part 1)

A mountain breeze swept by, ruffling strands of hair and the corners of clothing.

Li Qingyun looked shocked and muttered, "What did she just call Master? Senior Uncle? Heavens, doesn't that mean..."

Xu Lianning lowered his head, but could see that the sleeves of his Taoist robe were trembling slightly. He smiled knowingly and said, "I always remember back then. Because of my weak nature, I always cried and made a fuss, which caused a lot of trouble for Wudang."

The Wudang Sect Leader, Master Tianyan, was in a state of excitement and didn't notice the barb in her words: "You look alright now. Which sect or faction have you been serving all these years? Why haven't you come back to visit?"

"I had wanted to come back for a while, but Lingxuan Palace is far from here, and my master was worried about me. Just now, I was sparring and playing around with Junior Sister Li, and I went a little too far. I just hope that Junior Sister won't hold it against me." The last few words she said were to Li Qingyun.

Li Qingyun naturally knew that it was not "playing around" as she had said. If Zhang Weiyi hadn't stopped her in time, she would have been forced off the cliff long ago. She could only say with a straight face, "Qingyun doesn't deserve such praise."

Master Tianyan looked at the woman before him with affection: "Looking closely at you, your eyebrows and eyes resemble Junior Brother Xuanze more. You must be tired from the journey, go and rest quickly, don't overexert yourself." Turning to the other side, he said: "Weiyi, take Lianning to the other courtyard."

Zhang Weiyi responded lightly and walked over, saying, "Please come with me, both of you." They walked along, listening to her master's warm concern and attentive care for Xu Lianning. After passing the Zixiao Palace, he gave her a few more instructions before leaving. Zhang Weiyi led them to the Chunyang Palace and said calmly, "Don't let me see what happened today a second time."

Xu Lianning looked at him and smiled faintly, "So you can feel sorry for someone."

Zhang Weiyi paused, then left. It wasn't that she hadn't considered the possibility that she was Xu Xuanze's daughter; now that she was certain, it felt like something was choking her, and she couldn't swallow it for a long time. Xu Xuanze was gentle and refined, calm and peaceful. Although he had been ill and rarely left his residence, he was highly respected by the younger disciples of Wudang. She didn't resemble her father in the slightest. It seemed like only four years ago, she had played "Peach Blossom" on the flute, so tender and poignant, so gentle and melodious. But all of that was just an illusion.

Ruan Qingxuan pushed open the door to the guest room and said to the Wudang disciple who came to inquire, "There's nothing I'm lacking right now." Then he waved to Xu Lianning and joked, "What's wrong, Young Master Zhang? Are you envious that you're so kind to others?"