The sky over the rivers and lakes is very clear

Chapter 40

Zhu Huihui rubbed her neck and asked, puzzled, "What is propriety?"

"..."

Feng Xuese completely gave up on trying to educate this female rascal. She took a breath and changed the subject: "Zhu Huihui, think back carefully again. What did the people who were killed on the riverbank look like that day? Even just a little bit will do."

Zhu Huihui said with a bitter face, "Great hero, I've said this passage almost a thousand times. There's absolutely no hiding anything. You're interrogating me like this, forcing me to add some spice! Tell me, do you like it sweet or salty, or sour, bitter, or spicy? I'll definitely cater to your taste. I'll tell you whatever you want to hear!"

Feng Xuese was speechless. After looking at her for a long time, she sighed and said, "Let's go to Luomei Nunnery."

The Sky Over the Martial World is Clear - Part Three: Thirteen (2)

Xifeng Mountain is not very high, but it is quite famous for its hillsides covered with plum blossoms.

Ascending from the foot of the mountain, one finds a vast plum grove, its ancient trees displaying diverse shapes and varieties. Unfortunately, spring is already in full bloom; if the weather were still chilly, it would be a breathtakingly fragrant sea of snow.

Around noon, two people on two horses were slowly making their way along the mountain path, one in front of the other.

The person at the forefront was a refined and handsome young man, dressed in white, like snow in a silver bowl, untouched by any dust. He rode a white horse, its imposing presence like a dragon, spirited and majestic.

The one behind was a girl in black, with a pretty face and bright, lively black eyes. She was quite adorable, riding a small donkey that was entirely black except for its four white hooves, and trotting along behind the boy in white.

These two were Feng Xuese escorting the unfortunate child Zhu Huihui to Luomei Nunnery.

After traversing a mountain bend, Feng Xuese glanced at the three forks in the road and the deep plum grove ahead, reined in her horse, and turned back to say, "Zhu Huihui!"

"Yes, sir!" Zhu Huihui answered loudly, slapping the donkey's rump and taking a few steps forward.

Hearing a girl repeatedly refer to herself as "little" still made Feng Xuese feel awkward, even though he had corrected her hundreds of times—threatening to cut off her legs, holding a sword to her neck—but she just couldn't change! Sigh! This little brat, even though she was forced to change into clean clothes, hasn't changed a bit of her former street thug ways!

"Go and find out which road to take to Luomei Temple, and how far it is from here."

"You're calling me again!" Zhu Huihui was extremely unwilling, but she had no choice but to resign herself to her fate and say, "Yes, hero!"

Looking around, I noticed wisps of smoke rising from the west side of the plum grove, so I slowly climbed off the donkey and lazily walked over.

Watching Zhu Huihui's dawdling figure, Feng Xue's lips involuntarily curled up slightly.

He disliked Zhu Huihui most of the time, a girl who had almost no redeeming qualities except for her thick skin, but occasionally found her novel and interesting—especially when he saw her pretending to be happy even though she was clearly furious.

Back when they were at the Chenzhou branch, this cowardly fellow, upon hearing that she was to accompany him to Luomei Nunnery, turned as red as a boiled crab, practically ready to pounce and bite him. But he merely patted his sword lightly, and she immediately adopted a "I'm happy to serve you, great hero" expression, shamelessly fawning over him...

"Zhu Huihui!"

Zhu Huihui ran back: "I'm here!"

"Don't be lazy, run! Go and come back quickly!"

"I never slack off!" Zhu Huihui pouted unhappily, then turned and ran into the woods.

"return!"

"Isn't this old man deliberately trying to amuse himself?" Zhu Huihui trotted up to the horse and complained loudly, "Great hero, can't you just explain everything at once?"

Feng Xuese sat on horseback, looked at her flushed face, hesitated for a moment, swallowed the words she was about to say, and only said: "Be careful! If a dog bites you, use the method your mother and I taught you to run away."

"Go to hell!"

He made me run around all this time just for this one pointless sentence. Don't I know I should run when I see a dog? I've been chased by dogs over a hundred times, I've developed superhuman speed! Zhu Huihui couldn't help but curse, then, afraid of the old man's anger, she covered her mouth with both hands and ran away.

Feng Xuese dismounted and strolled into the plum grove. After walking about ten paces, he saw an octagonal pavilion for appreciating plum blossoms perched on a rock. He climbed onto the pavilion, casually looked around, and said with a laugh, "I've arrived. Won't you show yourself, sir?"

The plum grove was completely silent.

Feng Xuese smiled and said, "Since you refuse to show yourself, then I, Feng, will have to offend you!"

The long sword, still in its sheath, was raised diagonally, pointing towards an ancient plum tree three zhang away.

With this seemingly casual gesture, the plum trees in the forest suddenly rustled without any wind.

As the wind rustled the leaves, a dark shadow suddenly burst forth, swift as lightning yet without light or shadow; fast as thunder yet silent, carrying only an incomparably fierce killing intent, determined to strike with certainty.

The Sky Over the Martial World is Clear - Part Three: Chapter Thirteen (3)

A rotating black net appeared out of thin air between heaven and earth.

Feng Xuese drew her sword with a backhand motion, swirling up a dazzling snow-white aura, cold and profound, as she plunged into the black veil of hatred and murderous intent.

A chill filled the air.

With a "crack," the gnarled trunk of the century-old plum tree split open in the middle and fell to both sides.

Behind the plum tree, a gaunt man appeared, his face gloomy and somber, dressed in dark brown cloth, the color of dried blood. Below his right rib, bright red blood was seeping out.

The blood dripped onto the soil, like red plum blossoms unfolding, beautiful yet horrifying.

Feng Xuese said calmly, "What a pity for such a beautiful plum tree!"

The man ignored the wound under his ribs and just glared at him, asking in a hoarse, hissing voice, "How did you know I was here?"

"Because of the murderous intent."

Feng Xuese lowered his eyes to look at his sword, which had a line of blood on the blade. He said with some regret, "In the third month of spring, the plum blossoms have already faded, but their iron will and icy heart remain unchanged, still elegant and refreshing. It's a pity that your killing intent is too strong, even these thousands of acres of icy branches cannot cover it up!"

The man gripped his weapon tightly, but the strain caused him to cough violently, and blood quickly seeped from his ribs. He had to use one hand to hold it down.

Feng Xuese glanced at the weapon and asked, "Right Protector of the Blood-Seeing Pavilion, Manji Demon Thousand Lotus He Qiu?"

The man nodded in agreement.