The sky over the rivers and lakes is very clear - Chapter 37
Feng Xuese stepped onto the stairs, glanced at Zhu Huihui, then stopped and whispered a few words to Song Ziqian.
Song Ziqian seemed somewhat surprised, but still respectfully replied, "Yes, young master!"
Meanwhile, Zhu Huihui waited for the old man to speak while curiously peeking around.
He was a naive man, never having seen much of the world before, and this was his first time entering such a grand mansion. He didn't even know which courtyard he was in. Although the mansion was clean and tidy, with high walls and large houses, it wasn't luxurious at all. The houses had white walls and gray tiles—too plain. Even the houses of wealthy country folk had carved beams and painted rafters!
Moreover, despite the size of the house, it seemed to be sparsely populated; apart from the fat old man, there was no one else, and even the coachman was nowhere to be found.
Think back to this morning on the official road, the old man casually drew some symbol on a tree, and not long after, a carriage caught up behind him and very respectfully invited the old man to get in.
When I first saw this kind of communication method, I was quite excited and admired the old man's grand style. But it turns out I was taken to such a place! Looking at this house that is all show and no substance, you can tell that the fat old man Song Ziqian is a poor wretch.
Zhu Huihui's legs were a little numb from squatting for too long, so he stood up to stretch his legs and then leaned against a maple tree by the door. But with a "thud," he fell hard on his bottom! Caught off guard, he was hit hard and sat on the ground for a while before he finally stood up, groaning and clutching his buttocks.
"Huh?"
He rubbed his eyes hard. The tree had been right behind him just moments before, so how had it suddenly moved three feet away? Suspiciously, he reached out to touch the bark, and in a flash, the tree twisted its trunk, making way for his dirty hand.
Ah! Could it be... that the tree has become a spirit? With a large house and few people, it's inevitable that yin energy is dominant and yang energy is weak... Is this house haunted?
Just as I was thinking this, I suddenly heard a woman's voice behind me say, "Young master, please come with me!"
Zhu Huihui suddenly turned around and found two women appearing out of nowhere behind him. Both were about seventeen or eighteen years old, beautiful, and dressed as servants. He was immediately terrified—female ghosts! Two of them! This was too much; they actually came out in broad daylight!
The Sky Over the Martial World is Clear, Part Two: Chapter Twelve (3)
He jumped up suddenly: "Don't come any closer! Come any closer and I'll strangle you! My flesh is poisonous, one bite and I'll make you die again..."
"..."
The two female ghosts looked at each other, and after a moment, they acted at the same time. One of them grabbed Zhu Huihui's arm and dragged him away.
In the empty house, Zhu Huihui's loud cursing could be heard incessantly.
"Ziqian, investigate along the Hulan River and find out where the Luomei Nunnery is located. Report back as soon as possible!"
"Yes, young master!"
"Also, contact all branches and check if anyone has reported missing persons in the past month, especially large-scale disappearances..." Hearing the cursing coming from outside the courtyard, he frowned slightly. "What's going on?"
A voice from outside the door said, "Young master, it's the young man you brought. The two maids, Xihua and Xiyue, are helping him bathe..."
"If two aren't enough, add two more!" After thinking for a moment, Feng Xue Se added, "Choose strong maids!"
"Yes, young master!"
The doors and windows were tightly closed, and the room was filled with mist. Feng Xuese lay in the bathtub, her eyes half-closed, breathing slowly. The water was very hot, soothing her skin. After days of running around and working hard, being able to soak in a hot bath was a truly pleasant thing.
He refused Song Ziqian's offer to serve him. He always believed that a person in the martial world should be just an ordinary wanderer, braving wind and rain, roaming freely, experiencing joy and sorrow, and being content with whatever comes his way. Why bother with so many formalities!
The water gradually cooled down. He slowly got up, picked up a white towel from the side of the bucket, and wiped the water droplets from his hair and body. Then he took the clothes draped over the screen. His clothes, from the inside out, were all plain white, which was exactly his favorite color.
As he was getting dressed, he saw the bluish bruises on his chest, and the faint pain reminded him of that small bottle of wound medicine from Beikong Valley. It was a pity that Zhu Huihui had treasured it and kept it safe—maybe he would take it to the market and exchange it for two steamed buns.
As he was fixing his hair in front of the mirror, he faintly heard a sound from the rooftop, as if a cat had run by. He paused, a faint smile appearing on his lips, before continuing to fix himself as if nothing had happened.
On the surface, this Song residence is the mansion of a wealthy merchant in Chenzhou City, but in reality, it is a branch of Fengxue City in Chenzhou. The chubby Ziqian is not the owner of a cloth shop or restaurant, but one of the thirty-six hall masters of Fengxue City, known in the martial arts world as "Iron Rooster" Song Biao Song Ziqian!
Just from his nickname, you can tell that Song Ziqian is a master of "only getting in and not getting out"! This man is meticulous in his thinking and skilled in planning. Over the years, he has managed Fengxue City's businesses in Chenzhou in an orderly manner. This Song residence looks simple, but it is actually full of traps and ambushes. If anyone can come and go as they please, then Fengxue City should give up on making a name for itself in the martial arts world.
"Whoosh!" The sound of an arrow piercing the air came from outside.
Feng Xuese smiled slightly, slowly put on her boots, fastened her belt, then opened the door, walked up the stone steps, and looked around with her hands behind her back.
From afar, nine white-clad guards on the rooftop were relentlessly pursuing a red cloud. Their swords flashed, forming a woven net. The red cloud dodged and weaved through the sword net, seemingly in grave danger, yet each time it slipped away at a crucial moment.
Under the eaves, dozens of white-clad guards held bows and arrows, their bows drawn to the fullest extent, and black arrows nocked on the strings. They were ready to rain down arrows as soon as their companions on the roof showed the slightest sign of weakness.
The crimson cloud drifted across the rooftops, making a "moon" appear even brighter and rounder, but it was actually a bald-headed monk!
The head monk, with his sharp eyes, spotted the elegant young man standing under the eaves watching the commotion and laughed loudly, "Xue Se, is this how you greet your good friends?"
Feng Xue smiled and said, "Who told you to turn from being a distinguished guest into a thief!" He raised his hand and clapped twice lightly.
The white-clad guards suddenly ceased their attack and standoff, sheathed their weapons, bowed to the red-clad monk, then bowed to Feng Xuese, and quietly retreated as if they had never existed.
The crimson-robed monk stood on the rooftop and laughed, "Snowy, how about exchanging my Blazing Flame Soldiers for your Maple Snow Guards?"
The Sky Over the Martial World is Clear, Part Two: Chapter Twelve (4)
Feng Xuese's face hardened: "Not good!" She leaped up from the ground and onto the roof, plucked a sprig of hibiscus from beside the steps, and gently pointed the trembling flower at the monk's waist.
The monk in scarlet robes chuckled, his body suddenly leaping into the air. He gently pinched a bamboo strip with two fingers on a bunch of Xiangfei bamboo, then turned and stabbed it back.
The maple-colored flower branches turned slightly, blocking the trembling branches of the Xiangfei bamboo, and shook out a cluster of fiery flower shadows.
The monk in scarlet robes retreated swiftly, taking the opportunity to launch a counterattack. A green arrow shot into the flower shadows, causing the fire to falter. Instead of receding, the flower shadows expanded, and petals suddenly detached from the branches, fluttering in the air. Though silent, it carried a gentle yet sharp energy.
The bamboo branches shook and shook, and the green bamboo leaves on the branches flew up, like bamboo knives cutting into the rain-like petals.
In mid-air, two figures, one in red and one in white, passed each other and landed on the ground at the same time. Looking at the petals and bamboo leaves on the ground, they couldn't help but laugh and threw down the broken branches in their hands.
The monk in crimson robes looked at the petals clinging to the corner of his robes. The same red petals were not particularly eye-catching against his crimson attire. After a moment, he smiled and said, "Snow Color, let's arrange a time another day and have a real match to see who is a little stronger!"
Feng Xuese opened her palm, looked at the bamboo leaf in her hand, and smiled, "Master Kongkong must be a cut above the rest!"
The monk in scarlet robes glanced at him sideways: "Don't call me Kongkong. In a while, when the monk Kongkong's term of monastic life ends, he will return to secular life!"