Idle flowers and shadows

Chapter 7

Every winter, when the Turtle River freezes over, it's time for Feihua Xiaozhu to light its fire. Sixteen caves in the valley are ablaze with blazing flames, and the rising smoke can be seen as far away as Wancheng and Luoyu Town, a hundred miles away.

Sword forging, at first glance, seems quite incongruous with the elegant name "Flying Flower Cottage," but when something becomes too deeply ingrained in people's minds, anything that seems unreasonable will become reasonable.

Su Xianhua knew about Feihua Xiaozhu and Madam Ji because of Bai Nianchen, who also wielded a sword, and Mei Xiasheng, the sixteen-year-old sixth leader of Black Wind Village. Bai Nianchen was the only son of Yulin Manor and had practiced swordsmanship since childhood, always holding Madam Ji in high esteem. As for Mei Xiaosheng, although he was skilled with hidden weapons, he preferred to carry a sword and act like a heroic young man. At the beginning of last year, he went to great lengths to obtain a Feihua sword, forged three years prior, from Bai Nianchen, and he was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling for three days.

As for Su Xianhua herself, she wasn't particularly interested in this mysterious neighbor, because she used a knife. Since Madam Ji didn't forge other weapons, her fame only held value among swordsmen. In the vast martial world, only one or two out of ten people wielded swords, which destined Madam Ji to never become a highly sought-after figure.

The towering, steep Red Rock Mountain of the Tortoise Shell Valley was now in sight. Ten miles wasn't a long distance, and Su Xianhua, who was aimlessly wandering, unknowingly found herself near the Flying Flower Cottage.

Why did that strange old fisherman ask her to meet him here?

She stood on the edge of the cliff and looked into the valley. It was springtime, and the Tortoiseshell River was just beginning to thaw. A stretch of winding, clear water flowed quietly through the valley floor. The riverbanks were shaded by green trees, and wild cherry blossoms were in full bloom, creating a scene of ethereal beauty.

The scenery was indeed beautiful, but what surprised her even more was that there were actually many people standing in twos and threes in the usually quiet valley. Although it wasn't crowded, there were still about a hundred people. These people were sitting or standing by the river, chatting and enjoying the scenery. They didn't seem to have come to ask Lady Ji for the sword, but rather seemed to be on a picnic.

She became suspicious and decided to go down and see for herself. (txt ebook sharing platform, S)

Once you enter the world of martial arts, troubles begin (12)

To avoid attracting attention, she chose a slightly longer mountain path, winding around to the back of the Feihua Xiaozhu's hanging building, and then slowly walked past from the side. After walking for a while, she felt hot and thought of scooping up water from the Daimao River to wash her face. However, after only a few steps, a familiar voice pierced her ears like a needle.

With a cool yet gentle voice, she said, "The scenery here is absolutely stunning. Shall we rest for a while?"

Her heart jolted violently, almost stopping.

“Okay, there are too many people outside, it’s much quieter here.” Another sweet voice replied, the voice carrying the coolness of a zither, yet with a hint of coquettishness, making it incredibly pleasant to listen to.

"If you feel better, taking a nap is fine. I'm here..."

The woman chuckled softly, interrupting him with a gentle, nasal tone: "It's precisely because you're here that I don't want to... but if... if it's like last time..."

Her cool voice suddenly lowered and became husky, carrying a hint of ambiguous intimacy that made one's ears burn: "What happened last time? Diyin, did you not want to..."

A soft rustling sound followed by a woman's light laugh, and then silence.

Su Xianhua, hidden in the bushes, finally felt her own heart pounding. The sound grew faster and faster, almost bursting out of her chest. It was him…it was him! She had heard that voice for over ten years; she couldn't be mistaken!

Why is he here? And with whom? Whispering quietly by the clear stream. This is a scene she's longed for for so many years, a scene she's never been able to experience…

She forced herself to calm down, quietly hid behind a large tree, and slowly peeked out.

Beneath the wild cherry blossoms on the opposite bank of the river, a man and a woman embraced tightly. Their white dresses were as white as snow, and their pink dresses as pink as flowers. Colorful petals swirled and scattered, landing on their clothes and hair. Their lips, pressed together, swallowed the tiny petals and rubbed them into their mouths...

She knew she shouldn't look, shouldn't look, couldn't bear to look... yet she was as if bewitched, staring intently at the figures embracing on the opposite bank, taking in every single detail.

Nianchen, Nianchen, is it because of her that you don't want me anymore?

It felt like a knife had been plunged into my chest; I felt no pain, only a chilling coldness as if all the blood had drained away. This sudden and brutal test was truly devastating!

She bit her lip, her teeth digging deep into her flesh, determined not to make a sound! What would she be considered if she were discovered here? What would she be considered like this…?

Suddenly, a pair of warm hands covered her wide-open eyes, and a gentle, refined voice softly said behind her, "Don't look at what you shouldn't see, Miss Su."

Startled, she quickly turned around, saw the person's face clearly, opened her mouth, and almost cried out, "Zhong...Zhong..."

The words caught in her throat as his hand covered her mouth as he withdrew it. Zhong Zhan held one hand over her mouth, while the other made a shushing gesture, his gaze drifting slightly to the Tortoiseshell River behind her.

She understood immediately. In fact, she had already figured it out without him reminding her. Just across the river, two people were intimately entwined. Although the woman was a stranger, with Bai Nianchen's skill, he could hear the slightest sound at such close range.

She wasn't mentally prepared to see him again. Although she didn't want to see Zhong Zhan either, encountering him was actually better than meeting Bai Nianchen. He rolled his eyes, indicating he understood.

A soft cough came from not far away. Bai Nianchen heard the slight noise from the bushes and was suddenly awakened from his dazed thoughts. But it was the woman who spoke first: "Nianchen, there seems to be someone nearby?"

"Hmm, the sound sounds like it's from the other side of the river."

Su Xianhua's heart leaped into her throat. She hadn't expected the woman in purple to have such excellent hearing. If they waded through the water to find her spying on her with a strange man, what would happen? Given Bai Nianchen's arrogant and conceited personality, he would probably never speak to her again...

Even now, she was still worrying about whether he would even acknowledge her. Had her wish become so humble? Su Xianhua silently grinned, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes. Zhong Zhan noticed this subtle change in emotion. He leaned closer to her, lowered his head as if to say something, but said nothing. He simply studied her features carefully, then smiled gently and turned back to observe the scene on the opposite bank of the river.

Once you enter the world of martial arts, troubles begin (13)

A moment of silence fell over the surroundings. Su Xianhua's back was pressed against the tree, with Zhong Zhan shielding her in front, forming a rather narrow enclosure. He carried a faint, sweet scent of osmanthus, instantly pulling her from the embarrassment and panic caused by Bai Nianchen, only to plunge her into another kind of awkwardness and panic, involuntarily recalling that wicked night—

Even more tragically, she can recall more details, and more clearly, now than she could on the morning she woke up.

The same sweet osmanthus scent stirred up cherished memories deep within her mind. She remembered every tender moment their lips met... Why didn't he push her away then...? (covering her face)

But she couldn't cover her face now, as Zhong Zhan was covering it. Only the increasingly burning heat on her cheeks conveyed her thoughts. Her eyes darted around, staring at Zhong Zhan was wrong, and listening to Bai Nianchen and the woman in purple's sweet talk was also wrong. She was torn and suffering.

The whispers from not far away continued to drift in intermittently.

"We can't hear anything anymore. It must have been some kind of pheasant or forest bird. Even if it were a person, they would probably avoid it. The Tortoiseshell Valley is known for its tranquility, but these past two days, because of that incident, quite a few people have come here, which has disrupted the peace..."

"Since you knew there would be people here, why... why..." The reproachful voice still carried a slight pant and a soft, coquettish tone, sounding extremely...

"Diyin." He called her name, reached out and pulled her into his arms. He didn't say anything, but simply ran his fingers slowly through her long, black, and shiny hair.

After a long pause, the woman sighed softly, "Judging from this, there won't be any news today. Does Madam Ji really want everyone to wait three whole days before she speaks? Since someone has already solved the first problem, they should have passed the test... It's just a pity we don't know who that person is..."

Bai Nianchen was slightly taken aback, then replied, "The mystery will be revealed naturally after three days."

"Didn't you want to know sooner?"

"If even Master Situ couldn't find out, how could I possibly find out?"

The woman snorted in dissatisfaction: "Why can't you find out what my father can't? You're saying you can't do it before you've even tried. If this is all you're capable of, how will you stay on the list of celebrities next year?"

These words were quite stern, but Bai Nianchen wasn't angry. He simply said calmly, "I will naturally put my heart into solving the problem and finding the person. If it were just me who couldn't do it, that would be one thing, but now..." He didn't finish his sentence, paused, and then said softly, "You know Diyin... even if I find them, I will definitely tell Master Situ first. The reputation of the Fourth Manor is above that of the Fifth Young Master. How can my actions surpass those of your father?"

These words, though clearly flattering, were spoken calmly and gently, without a trace of obsequiousness, as if they were perfectly natural. The young lady, Situ Diyin, naturally giggled incessantly, while Su Xianhua was dumbfounded—was this Bai Nianchen? Was this the Bai Nianchen she had known for over a decade, the noble and arrogant one?

At that moment, the man speaking softly on the other side of the river seemed so unfamiliar. She became confused, unable to recognize which version of him was the real him.

As for that woman... she already knows who it is!

One saint, two sages, three beauties, four manors—one of the three beauties on the "Dragon Tooth List," Situ Diyin, the eldest daughter of Situ Manor!

"Jiangdong Situ, Zhuyun from Beyond the Sky." Zhuyun Manor of the Situ family is also one of the "Four Manors" on the list of famous people. The manor lord, Situ Wen, is famous in the martial arts world for his sharp "Zhuyun Blade". His eldest daughter, Situ Diyin, is also famous far and wide. It is said that when she was sixteen years old and rode alone on the Jiangling Road, young men from all over the martial arts world came to see her, blocking a road several meters wide.

Such a family, such a woman, is something Su Xianhua can never compare to!

She took a deep breath, completely unaware that Zhong Zhan had already released his hand from her mouth. She was simply immersed in waves of shock, helplessness, and heartache, and unconsciously turned her head to listen intently to the conversation on the other side of the river.

Once you enter the world of martial arts, troubles begin (14)

Situ Diyin wholeheartedly agreed with Bai Nianchen's statement that "we cannot overstep your father's authority," and thus ceased dwelling on the previous argument. After a moment of silence, she continued, "This opportunity is truly once in a century; almost all the young talents of the martial world have mobilized. Besides the newly promoted Fifth Young Master, I've also heard..."

She deliberately remained silent, and Bai Nianchen chuckled softly: "Who else can be on par with the Fifth Young Master? Among the younger generation, there are only a few like him."

Situ Diyin's voice carried a hint of sly laughter: "I heard... that 'Crimson Robe' from Black Wind Stronghold is about to return from the Western Regions."

Bai Nianchen's voice faltered, and he slowly said with a nasal tone, "Qin Shao?"

Her tone remained slightly teasing, with a mischievous undertone that wasn't off-putting: "Young Master Bai, do you think he came back for the same reason as you, or for your childhood sweetheart?"

Bai Nianchen was silent for a moment, then smiled softly: "What does it have to do with me?"

"Really, it has nothing to do with you?" Situ Diyin's playful expression vanished, and she pondered, "It would be best if it had nothing to do with me. You know my father's identity; he doesn't want to have anything to do with local forces like Black Wind Stronghold. If he finds out that you have a friend who is a bandit leader in the underworld, things will get complicated between us..."

A slight noise came as Bai Nianchen hugged her tightly and whispered, "Don't overthink it. Su Xianhua and I are just childhood friends, it's not what you think."

"But I heard..."

“Diyin, how do you want me to prove it?” Bai Nianchen’s tone was somewhat helpless. He held her shoulders, looked solemnly into her eyes, and said, word by word, “The truth is, she does have feelings for me, but I don’t feel anything for her. Not only is there no romantic love, but even friendship is extremely weak. I’m an only child, and I grew up alone. She was the only one I could play with. She’s from Black Wind Village, and in my eyes, she’s never been a woman. Many of the things she does just make me laugh. To me, she’s nothing more than a toy to pass the time during my lonely childhood. Once childhood is over, she has no value—Diyin, do you understand what I’m saying?”

His explanation finally made Situ Diyin burst out laughing, saying in a coquettish voice, "What you said is too much! To call the dignified Black Wind Stronghold Chief your toy! If she knew, she'd probably vomit blood. Sigh, you're really... you're so mean! Now I can't help but laugh whenever I think of 'Green Butterfly'..."

With their inner turmoil resolved, the other side naturally felt a renewed surge of affection. But Su Xianhua, on the other side of the river, trembled violently upon hearing these words, her eyes bloodshot—not from sadness, but rather, her greatest desire was to grab a large knife, rush out, and tear Bai Nianchen to pieces!

So, all the friendship she'd shared for over a decade was worth in his eyes? What about all her long-standing subservience? As if the temple in her heart had collapsed with a deafening roar, amidst the rising dust and shattering sounds, her panic, confusion, pain, grievance, and self-harm all transformed into a raging inferno in an instant, which she unleashed upon the culprit!

At this moment, what Su Xianhua wanted to do most was to use the Hundred-Refined Dragon Scale Blade to kill people.

She wanted to kill many people, but the person she most wanted to kill was Bai Nianchen, her childhood sweetheart, who was currently on the other side of the river, enjoying the tenderness of a beautiful woman in his arms.

She didn't know, nor did she want to know, how others would react when something she cherished was ruthlessly trampled underfoot. At this moment, she only wanted to vent her uncontrollable anger in her own way.

Her hands trembled, yet she didn't hesitate to lift the cloth covering the scabbard and fumble for the hilt of the knife—

The next moment, her hand was pressed down, the force from his fingers reminding her that there was someone else beside her. Turning her head, she saw a face with flushed cheeks reflected in Zhong Zhan's dark pupils—it was her own face.

Her eyes were bright, with an unnaturally fierce glint, clearly warning the man who was holding her captive: let go as soon as possible, or face the consequences.

Zhong Zhan simply shook his head at her, his grip tightening slightly as he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "There's no need to rush to punish him."

Once you enter the world of martial arts, troubles begin (15)

Before she could even struggle, he reached out his other hand and pulled her close to his chest. He tightened his grip on her wrist, and his gentle yet powerful inner force surged into her wrist, rendering her right hand completely immobile.

Although the position was quite intimate, Su Xianhua didn't care about that at the moment. She was like an angry little lion, baring her teeth and claws, wanting nothing more than to break free and tear him apart. Unable to move her hands, she used her feet, raising her leg to strike his knee. Zhong Zhan moved his foot, seemingly stepping into some unknown spot, and before she could even kick him, he had already seized the initiative, striking an acupoint on her ankle. If she tried to move again, she probably wouldn't even have the strength to stand.

This brought them even closer than before. Su Xianhua was tightly sandwiched between the tree trunk and him, their breaths almost touching, indistinguishable. But she just stared wide-eyed, completely oblivious to his gradually darkening gaze and slightly burning palms. The anger in her heart still burned fiercely, and the more she looked at his gentle, jade-like smiling face, the more she hated him.

After staring at him for a while, she suddenly opened her mouth and bit down on his arm.

Zhong Zhan didn't dodge, or perhaps he was distracted and didn't have time to dodge. By the time Su Xianhua's teeth pierced his flesh through his clothes, he only had time to wince in pain and tighten his grip on her without making a sound.

He showed no intention of letting her go. With a slight bend of his elbow, he placed it on the back of her neck, using his fingers to deftly pull her away from his arm as if lifting a kitten. Su Xianhua, consumed by anger and anxiety, was unable to calmly assess her opponent's actions. Despite possessing considerable martial arts skills, she was completely unable to use them and could only obediently submit.

But her eyes said it all: Let me go!

Zhong Zhan shook his head and whispered in her ear, "Calm down, calm down, let's listen to what's going on." As he spoke, he gently stroked the back of her neck with his fingertips, his touch just right—neither too soft nor too gentle to be suggestive. Under this soothing touch, Su Xianhua strangely calmed down little by little. With her mind at peace, her senses sharpened, and she could hear the conversations from across the river again.

Before anyone knew it, a third person had joined the conversation on the other side.

She nestled in Zhong Zhan's arms for a while, finally recognizing the third person as Li Guangzuo, one of the deputy stewards of Yulin Manor. Li Guangzuo was about the same age as Bai Nianchen, had grown up together, and was also an old acquaintance of Su Xianhua. At that moment, he was discussing something with the young master of the Bai family—the second young lady of the Situ family's Zhuyun Manor had arrived, accompanied by a large group of guards, and was currently waiting outside the woods. Li Guangzuo had originally been ordered by Bai Nianchen to guard outside the woods, but seeing the second young lady of the Situ family's imposing manner, he dared not offend her and had no choice but to come in and disturb the young master and his beauty's rendezvous.

Bai Nianchen and Situ Diyin discussed it for half a day and finally decided that Situ Diyin should go to greet the little sister alone. According to Situ Diyin, the second young lady, Wuyu, was a young lady with a "not-so-good temper." She had been waiting outside the forest for so long this time, and she probably wouldn't give Bai Nianchen a good look when they met.

Upon hearing this, Su Xianhua's mind cleared completely. Although her anger had not subsided, she forced herself to suppress it. Her fingers unconsciously gripped Zhong Zhan's sleeve, and even her knuckles turned white.

Thankfully... thankfully she didn't actually rush out with a knife!

Not to mention that she only managed a draw when sparring with Bai Nianchen, now with the addition of a young lady from the Situ family of Jiangdong, unless she fights to the death, she'll only be humiliating herself. Even if she could actually injure Bai Nianchen, so what? Li Guangzuo is nearby, and even the second young lady of Zhuyun Manor has come, accompanied by a large group of guards. Which one of them doesn't have eyes? Her reckless behavior will only make her a laughingstock in their eyes—the leader of a major bandit stronghold, a chief who can command hundreds of people, has gone mad for a man!

If word gets out, what will become of Su Xianhua's reputation? What will become of Black Wind Village's reputation?

Once you enter the world of martial arts, troubles begin (16)