The sky over the rivers and lakes is very clear

Chapter 94

Zhu Huihui was stunned: "You're tracking those men in black?"

Liu Yue nodded gently: "Of course, in the valley of Xifeng Mountain, I went to track down Mo Xinxue, but when I arrived, Mo Xinxue had already been killed. When I returned to the valley to look for you and Brother Xuese, I found that you were nowhere to be found. So I started my investigation on my own."

Zhu Huihui stared at him blankly and said, "A few days ago, I heard you playing a tune with a black-robed hero in a place in Dongting Lake. I originally wanted to wait until you finished playing before I went to say hello, but I fell asleep. When I woke up, I was taken away by Mr. and Mrs. Beikong Valley. They said I was seriously injured and have been helping me treat my injuries."

Liu Yue looked slightly apologetic: "I'm sorry! This was all my fault! That day, I got some clues about the man in black, so I rushed to Yueyang. I learned that you were on Xuan Yue Water Island, and I wanted to go see you, but I ran into an old acquaintance. Because of some unresolved personal grudges, the two of us agreed to have a duel in a secluded spot on Dongting Lake. I didn't expect you to be there, which led to your injury. After I found out you were injured, I carried you to seek medical help. We happened to meet the divine physician Madam Wan, who was moored on the shore, so I begged her to treat your injury."

"Are you very familiar with Madam Wan?"

Liu Yue smiled slightly: "I met her once when I was very young. Over the years, her appearance has not changed much, but she doesn't recognize me."

Zhu Huihui smiled in response: "Madam Wan said that a young man in an apricot-colored robe entrusted me to them, and I guessed it was you!"

Liu Yue sighed: "You are seriously injured. I should have stayed with you, but I accidentally discovered the traces of those men in black. After weighing the two options, I had no choice but to temporarily entrust you to Madam Wan and hurriedly chase after them. That's how I ended up here."

He touched her forehead: "But why are you here all of a sudden?" This child is really elusive. Every time I run into her, it's in a dangerous place. Is it fate or bad luck?

To this, Zhu Huihui replied, "What bad luck! After being kicked out by Mr. Chen and Mrs. Wan, I wandered around aimlessly, and who knew I'd end up here. Huh? Where is this?"

She looked around and found herself in a simple little hut. Spiderwebs hung in the corner, and a table with a missing leg and a cracked top sat by the window, upon which sat an oil lamp. She was lying on a worn-out, hard wooden bed, with half a tattered curtain hanging at the foot of the bed. Her beloved pet, Hua Hua, was fast asleep in the corner—seeing it sleeping so soundly, her heart finally settled. Ah, it's better to be a pig! No matter what happens, you can sleep soundly, truly carefree…

Liu Yue looked at her with a smile: It's been so long, and you only just thought to ask where it is. This child is so careless!

"This place is actually not far from where we were just now."

"Where is 'not far'?"

A gust of wind blew in through the window, dimmed the oil lamp, shook it a few times, burst out a spark, and then the flame became brighter.

Zhu Huihui suddenly jumped up: "This is the small house next to the graveyard."

"Don't be afraid, it's just the gravedigger's house."

"I'm not scared, I'm... I have something urgent!" She hurriedly tried to get out of bed.

Liu Yue smiled and pressed her down: "Although your head injury is not serious, it is not advisable to get too emotional right now."

"Oh dear! You don't understand, I'm so excited about this!" Zhu Huihui exclaimed urgently. "I have to go!"

Her head injury from the sword energy hadn't healed yet, and in her anxiety, she immediately felt dizzy, her vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground.

Liu Yue quickly took her arm and let her lean against her, while gently stroking her forehead with her other hand.

"What's so important?"

Zhu Huihui composed herself: "General Yu and General Qi's relatives have been captured by Japanese pirates and are to be taken to Japan. I must tell the hero right away!"

Liu Yue's expression changed slightly: "This news is of great importance. Where did you get it from?"

"It was the Snake Envoy among the Twelve Zodiac Envoys who told me!" Zhu Huihui recounted what had happened to Liu Yue.

Liu Yue's expression was solemn as she murmured, "No wonder I saw the corpses of men in black and several of the Twelve Zodiac Envoys in the forest. So that's why..."

“Brother Liu Yue, I was almost killed by the Twelve Zodiac Envoys before, so I’ve always hated them. But today, they’d rather die than not do what they believe is right. This is what the great hero meant by ‘Where righteousness lies, one will risk life and death,’ right?”

Liu Yue patted her head: "That's right! They are amazing! Anyone who is willing to sacrifice their life for the country is commendable!"

"So, no matter what, I must keep my promise to the Serpent Envoy, right?"

Liu Yue nodded: "Yes!"

She looked at him expectantly: "Then, could you take me to see the great hero?"

She insisted that Liu Yue take her because she had a hidden agenda: those men in black were incredibly terrifying, and they could appear at any moment to kill her. With Liu Yue's martial arts skills—even great heroes praised them—and the fact that she had personally witnessed him kill that man in black, she believed that if he was willing to protect her, she would certainly be safe…

Liu Yue knew, of course, who the great hero Zhu Huihui was talking about was. He stared at her, his face unreadable, and simply asked, "I'm right here beside you, yet you're going to find Feng Xuese?"

Zhu Huihui was taken aback: "Huh?"

Suddenly it dawned on him, oh dear, how utterly clueless he was about social etiquette! These people of the martial world are all very proud; by saying such things, he was clearly showing no respect for Brother Liu Yue. No wonder he was angry!

She looked at him apologetically, took his hand, and shook it gently.

Liu Yue remained silent for a while before finally breaking into a smile, though it was obscured by the misty water.

"Alright, I'll take you to see Brother Xuese!"

As dusk fell, a light drizzle began to fall, and a thin mist hung over Dongting Lake. The green hills and dark waters appeared and disappeared in the mist, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.

A dragon boat sailed from the Yangtze River into Dongting Lake, slowly traveling along the waterway.

Inside the luxurious and comfortable cabin, Liu Yue, dressed in an apricot-colored robe, leaned against the vermilion railing of the porthole, gazing at the lake with a touch of melancholy on his handsome face. The orange light streaming from the palace lanterns at the bow cast beautiful arcs of light on him, making him appear ethereal yet mysteriously lonely.

Zhu Huihui lay on a vermilion sandalwood table, her hands supporting her cheeks, looking at him from behind, feeling that he was very, very far away.

Yes, she was very, very far away from him.

She recalled that day at the cemetery; in fact, she had felt that way back then…

"Alright, I promise I'll go see Feng Xuese!" Liu Yue said slowly that day, "but—"

"only?"

He walked to the window and looked out through the open pane. A faint glimmer of white had appeared on the eastern horizon, making the silent graveyard appear desolate and bleak.

“But you can rest for a while now. We’ll set off after dawn,” he said coldly. “It’s almost dawn.”