A Wandering Youth

Chapter 24

In an instant, the Snow Shadow Camp descended from the sky like a light white feather, suddenly inserting itself into the Iron Lion's battle formation.

After rushing to the front, Wei Chong saw thick smoke billowing behind the Liao army through the yellow sand that blotted out the sky. A cavalry unit dressed in silver suddenly appeared. Overjoyed, he raised his arm and shouted, "The reinforcements, Xueying, have arrived! Let's fight!"

Chu Yi stood alone on the stone wall, the cold mountain wind whipping at the corners of his clothes, making his thin body appear utterly desolate. He pursed his lips, gazing at the valley floor, and for the first time realized that even with his martial arts skills, he had no place to use them. On the desolate battlefield, he was as insignificant as a speck of dust, utterly useless.

Chu Yi neither avoided nor stared, silently surveying the earth and its inhabitants. He saw the snow shadows falling straight down, the Iron Lion Army fighting fiercely, Ma Liancheng in his bright purple robes, and countless burning bodies that perished in the Three Ape Gorge. He also felt a numbness in his heart and arms.

Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs. The sun and moon are merciless, turning through countless ages without changing.

Wuzhou Ancient Well Platform is known as the "Number One Platform in China". Not to mention its ancient and magnificent appearance and its history of standing in the world for five hundred years, just counting the moon falling from the eaves, the stars filling the sky, and the Milky Way flying, one feels wisdom and grandeur. How can the word "ancient" alone describe it?

The ancient well platform is stacked in three layers, forming three fortified cities, with the outer layer of wood and brick, the middle layer of stone walls, and the inner layer of solid, immovable blue rock, interlocking and as solid as a rock.

Qiu Yeyijian did not come to Gujing City in person, but he knew every plant and tree there like the back of his hand.

Three years ago, when he was rebuilding the Yunhu Inn, he devised a plan and hired someone at a high price to draw out all the large and small maps of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, which were made into a scroll and carried with him.

At this moment, Qiu Yeyijian held a scroll in her hand, turned around, and stared at the pale man in front of her: "Mr. Wu, how have you been?"

His appearance was still as handsome as ever, and his voice was still as cold and chilling as ever. However, Wu Sanshou felt that Qiu Yeyijian was even more unpredictable and difficult to understand than he had been three years ago.

—The young master of Bixie clearly knew that Chu Yi and I had some connection. Even if he didn't know that I had become his disciple, given his vengeful nature, he should have killed me with a single blow when he was captured.

—His pupils were clearly cold and deep, reflecting images, yet I felt I couldn't discern any emotion in them. There was a slight tremor in his bones, cold and devoid of any warmth.

Wu Sanshou thought of the first year of junior high school and couldn't help but close his eyes as well.

Qiu Yeyi's eyes were fixed on Wu San's hands. "Mr. Wu must be aware of his situation?"

Wu San gritted his teeth, his face resolute: "Speak, what does the young master want me to do?"

Qiu Yeyijian remained focused on the person in front of her, her voice seemingly piercing the wind outside the window, startling a few lone crows on the cold branches.

"Come with me to a place tomorrow."

Wu Sanshou desperately wanted to laugh out loud, to laugh at the vicissitudes and fickle nature of the world. But he restrained himself, clenching his fists tightly, not daring to act rashly.

"A dragon's den or a tiger's lair? A bottomless abyss? Young master, are you suggesting I go to the gates of hell?"

Qiu Yeyijian stared intently at Wu Sanshou's face, her gaze carrying the storm of ice and snow, sweeping directly at him with a "bang".

"Are you wondering why I didn't mention the first year of junior high? Or the Dragon Pattern Sword?"

Wu Sanshou was taken aback. He had indeed thought so earlier, but this terrifying young man had seen through him after all. He smiled arrogantly and said loudly, "That's right!"

Suddenly, Qiu Yeyi raised her right hand, her fingers outstretched like a hard iron claw, and pulled a scroll from the table. A fierce gust of wind rushed towards him, like a vast expanse of yellow sand, stinging Wu Sanshou's face and forcing him to open his eyes.

With a "whoosh," one end of the scroll was held by a piece of brocade-patterned sleeve with gold trim, while the other end unfurled without wind. A detailed map of the palace city appeared before Wu Sanshou's eyes.

"Did you see it clearly?" came the cold voice from behind the scroll.

Wu San glanced at it, then pulled his sleeves together and remained silent.

"Gujingtai, the number one city under heaven." Qiu Yeyi held a scroll in each hand, her voice unchanged, "Compared to Chu Yi and the entire world, which side would you rather stand on, sir?"

To someone new to this place, these words sound incredibly seductive and undeniably profound. But when spoken in such a cold tone and by such a ruthless person, Wu Sanshou understood that the young master of Bixie's choice was merely a temporary measure—he was only concerned with the overall situation for now, holding onto the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. After the pacification, he and his master would probably be facing their own deaths soon!

Wu Sanshou gave Qiu Yeyijian a cold look and kept his lips tightly closed.

Qiu Yeyi's figure moved like lightning, flashing close to Wu Sanshou without missing a beat. Handsome and deep features suddenly appeared in his eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips, causing Wu Sanshou to forget to bite his tongue.

"So this is your answer."

Qiu Yeyi's eyes were dark and deep, drawing people in irresistibly. Wu Sanshou was completely numb and powerless, yet a single thought lingered in his mind: "Ink as black as lacquer, perhaps that's all there is to it?"

"Wu Sanshou, you can't die yet, we haven't reached the underground city."

25. Promise

"Young Master!" A voice rang out from the long-silent room.

Qiu Yeyi flicked her sleeve with her sword, lifting Wu Sanshou up and throwing him into a nearby armchair.

Young Master Yin Guang pushed open the door and entered, his handsome face rippling with emotion, quite unlike his usual appearance. His gaze was fixed on Qiu Ye Yi Jian's face, and his voice carried the tremor of thunder from the horizon: "Battle report from Three Ape Gorge."

Qiu Yeyi stared coldly into the silver eyes, her face expressionless, standing with her hands behind her back in the hall, her white robes fluttering.

"Light." The voice carried a slightly cold tone, a kind of rebuke.

Yin Guang seemed to suddenly wake up, his face solemn: "Yin Guang lost his composure and spoke inappropriately before, Yin Guang knows his sins."

Qiu Ye Yijian didn't even glance at the two people in front of him, uttering only one word: "Speak."

"This battle is a victory." Knowing the young master's temperament well, Yin Guang selected the key point and blurted it out.

"Heavy losses?"

Yin Guang lowered his gaze and spoke solemnly: "Snow Shadow has only a hundred men left. Wei Camp has been annihilated, its entire force wiped out. Lord Ma..."

"Where?"

“Outside…” Yin Guang’s voice was heavy with sorrow as he closed his eyes.

Qiu Yeyi stood silently by the sword, staring intently at the silver-faced figure for a moment before slowly and coldly leaving. The silver-faced figure's gaze followed him, so calm that it couldn't stir the wind after the snow melted; in the quiet, cold winter afternoon, the shadows stretched into a pool of pale white.

The young master knew what had happened and what would happen after he left, but he remained oblivious to his surroundings, his calmness cruel.

Ma Liancheng lay on his back on the cold ground, feeling as if he had detached from his body, like a lost soul drifting aimlessly in the wind. Yet his eyes were wide open, staring intently at the sky, as if a celestial realm hung above, filled with boundless longing and tranquility.

Ma Liancheng's tall and robust body was placed on a straw mat, his legs severed at the waist and below. His bright purple robe was tinged with a disheveled and desolate crimson, like the setting sun falling into a mountain stream, leaving the earth and all living beings in utter silence.

A dazzling white light came into view, and Ma Liancheng could see nothing but that cold, mountain-like, handsome face.

"Please grant my request, young master... that the pastures beyond the Great Wall... be exempt from taxes for generations... and that we must not resort to arms..."

Ma Liancheng was too weak to breathe, nor dared he breathe. His yearning gaze gradually scattered in the wind, vanishing without a trace. It seemed like a long time had passed when he heard only a calm voice, a clear word, and finally closed his eyes in satisfaction.

"allow."

Qiu Yeyijian stared silently at Ma Liancheng's dark purple lips. The surroundings were still and windless. He stood there for a moment in the cold snow before uttering a name: "Leng Qi".

A slender figure walked silently under the eaves.

Leng Qi, dressed in black with jet-black hair, appeared before everyone. The striking black enveloped his thin body, making him appear even more slender and handsome.

"Young Master..."

Qiu Yeyi's figure seems to stand eternally, profound and unforgettable in the face of the vicissitudes of time. "Snow Shadow Camp, Ma Liancheng, you shall personally oversee the proper burial."

Yin Guang silently stepped forward, his gaze towards Leng Qi seemingly carrying a faint glimmer of light.

Qiu Yeyi turned around and looked at the silver-clad guards covered in blood around her. She looked directly at one of them and said in a calm voice, "Report the battle situation in detail."

The Snow Shadow Knight stepped forward and bowed respectfully. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke in a calm and collected voice: "We were waiting to attack from the cliff when we heard a long, steady shout urging Lord Ma to make a move. By the time we reached the bottom of the valley, the Snow Shadow Knights had already lost 30% of their forces. Yelü Xingtian had dispatched the Iron Lion Regiment. Only after they came down did they see that their commander's flag had been taken away, and several Liao soldiers had been impaled on it. They were firmly planted at the foot of the rock wall. He relentlessly urged his soldiers to besiege Lord Ma. During the battle, a man rushed out, wielding a large sword, and knocked Lord Ma and his horse to the ground."

Qiu Yeyi waved her hand indifferently, and all the guards bowed, lifted Ma Liancheng, and quietly and orderly withdrew from the ancient courtyard of the Wuzhou Imperial Camp.

"Cut it in half." Qiu Yeyi suddenly turned to Leng Qi and said this.

Leng Qi remained silent for a while before attempting to speak: "Who does the young master think it is?"

“It’s not Yelü Xingtian,” Qiu Yeyi said slowly, her eyes filled with determination.

Yin Guang nodded in agreement. It was common knowledge in the Song Dynasty that Yelü Xingtian, the commander of the Liao army, was famous for his use of spears and halberds.

"How many people can wield the power of the Wind-Crossing Slash to such a degree?"

Qiu Ye Yi Jian's question was not feigned. He could name many broadswords in the martial arts world, whether they were favored by outlaws or high-ranking military officers, but he might not be so familiar with the types of broadswords hidden in the military.

Leng Qi took a step forward, his voice filled with undisguised confidence and pride: "Guan Yin, Mu Shikai, and Yelü Xingtian's nephew—Yelü Bao."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yeyijian's eyes flashed with a cold light: "So it was him."

Leng Qi and Yin Guang both stared at the young master, not quite understanding why he had spoken.

"Leng Qi has eliminated one person."

"Please enlighten me, sir."

"Guan Yin's disciple, Han Yuanshan of Tongcheng."

"How can you be so sure, young master?"

“Yelü Bao is not like his uncle, who recklessly advances. He has no deep-seated hatred for King Ma, so why waste his energy cutting someone in half on the battlefield?”

Qiu Yeyi coldly stopped speaking, seemingly disdainful of wasting her energy on the matter. Leng Qi and Young Master Yin Guang also knew that Old Master Mu was far away in Seven Stars and would never dare to offend the young master. Only if Guan Yin was killed would his disciples likely hold a grudge and fight to the death.

"Han Yuanshan must be in Yelü Xingtian's army camp, and he actually became a Liao dog."

Hearing the young master's cold voice, Yin Guang raised his eyes, seemingly slightly surprised that the young master had used such language for the first time.

"We'll fight tomorrow; kill him first."

Qiu Yeyi's gaze fell on the silver-white face: "This move is crucial, you can't afford to fail."

Yin Guang understood and nodded slightly: "Yes, young master."

—The prince intends to kill the strategist in the army first when the army is pressing in, not only to cleanse the atmosphere in the Central Plains, but more importantly, to chill the morale of the Liao army.

Yin Guang looked up at Leng Qi, hesitated for a moment, and then cautiously asked, "Does the young master have someone in mind for those who are going to die in the city tomorrow?"

Qiu Ye paused, her gaze sweeping coldly over the two men. With her sleeves behind her back, she looked at the silver light and said, "The Imperial Guards are patrolling the mountain and have brought a great gift—Wu Sanshou."

Yin Guang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, while Leng Qi remained motionless, as if in deep meditation. Yin Guang felt a sense of ease, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his face. All of this was observed by Qiu Yeyijian, who remained unmoved.

"All you know is how to do it?" His voice was cold and calm.

"What does the young master mean..."

"Spread the word."

"yes."

"It must be done without leaving a trace."

Yin Guang looked up at the god-like figure before him: "Young Master..."

"When did Wei's camp produce such a person, who could predict Ma Liancheng's movements and send his cries to a cliff hundreds of feet high?"

Upon hearing this, Leng Qi pursed her lips tightly, her body trembled slightly, and her eyes gleamed with a hint of fire.