A Wandering Youth

Chapter 27

A sudden flash of inspiration struck Chu Yi, and his eyes widened in surprise. His voice held a hint of delight: "Senior, are you the Medicine King? If so, Miss Yang certainly has a chance." Then, remembering that the old man before him must have discovered his secret long ago, he lowered his head again and said, "It's not that I intentionally concealed my identity..."

The old man looked at Chu Yi with kindness, his eyes as clear as before: "Young master, you must have some unspeakable reason for concealing your identity. I am the Medicine King. I have been living in seclusion in Jingxiang for the sake of this child, and have disappeared from the martial arts world for eighteen years."

Chu Yi looked at the Medicine King with some hesitation, but ultimately did not speak.

The Medicine King smiled slightly: "Does the young master have many questions?"

"Please forgive my ignorance."

"It's alright."

"It is said in the martial arts world that the Medicine King is compassionate and only took Mr. Dongge and the Lord of Lonely Town as his disciples. I have never heard of Miss Yang."

“Yang Wan’s identity is rather special. I have a deep connection with the Yang family, so I have put a lot of effort into this woman.”

"If Miss Yang takes the cold poison and miraculously regains consciousness, will she once again lose all will to live and seek death? Furthermore, once the poison takes effect, it is difficult for ordinary people to withstand. Does the senior have any medicine to control it?"

The Medicine King's gaze lingered on Yang Wan's body for a long time. Faced with Chu Yi's question, he asked in return without answering: "Does the young master know that after Yang Wan was placed, this old man has been following behind him?"

Chu Yi was somewhat surprised, but shook his head calmly.

"I was born in the early Tang Dynasty and have lived for a hundred years. I have witnessed the vicissitudes of the world. It took me eighty years to understand a certain principle."

"This junior will heed your teachings..."

"I have witnessed the fall of the Tang Dynasty, the chaos of the Ten Kingdoms, and the establishment of the early Song Dynasty. Through three dynasties and three generations of division and reunification, only the sun and moon remain unchanged throughout the ages. In the midst of war and natural disasters, even heroes as brilliant as Qiu Ye Gongzi and as powerful as Zhao Shizi will eventually fall before the passage of time. Therefore, I take a detached view of the world's vicissitudes and do not interfere, going with the tide. All living beings live according to their own destinies in the world, which cannot be reversed. Even if I were to act in a pretentious manner, Yang Wan still has to face his own destiny."

Chu Yi lowered his head and pondered these words carefully. He felt that the words of the Medicine King were all precious. After Master Kumu's enlightenment, the fog in his heart had cleared up a lot.

"Senior, you have lived in seclusion in Jing and Xiang. I would like to ask you about some speculations that I have been holding in my heart for a long time."

"please."

Was Jingxiang a vassal state of the Former Tang Dynasty?

"yes."

"It is said that it was erected by Jingyuan Gong many years ago?"

"yes."

After the words were spoken, Chu Yi turned ashen-faced, her body trembling uncontrollably. The last glimmer of hope in her heart had been shattered by her own actions, vanishing into thin air without a trace. How could the turmoil in her heart be calmed? Like a thousand armies sweeping across the land, it hurled Chu Yi into the abyss with a "bang," leaving her utterly cold and bottomless.

The Medicine King looked at Chu Yi with loving eyes that seemed to see through everything, but said nothing.

"I am Leng Shuangcheng, from another dynasty. My body was preserved by a cold poison, allowing me to travel through a hundred years and live on in this world again. I am often confused, facing the same fate in a different world, and I have always resisted it. But meeting you today, senior, has enlightened me."

On the first day of the lunar month, Chu Yi silently rose and respectfully bowed to the Medicine King. Once he stood up, his body was as straight and elegant as a poplar tree, as if he had become a different person, radiating a faint, bright aura.

The Medicine King remained smiling and silent, yet he accepted the young man's deep bow.

"My father named me 'Shuangcheng' in the hope that I would grow up smoothly and become a successful adult. Today, as I kneel to bid farewell to my elders, I secretly resolve to be myself from now on, to forge ahead bravely, and to face the trials of heaven with equanimity. I thank my elders once again for their guidance."

The Medicine King sat upright in the room, his ethereal figure as steady as a pine tree, his voice as gentle and profound as spring rain.

"We part today, but we will meet again if fate allows. I will certainly repay your kindness."

28. Goodbye

Leng Shuangcheng stepped out of the cave, the first rays of morning sunlight illuminating his face. He strode swiftly down the mountain, his steps unwavering.

At the foot of the mountain, the road splits into two: one leads to the military camp on the left, where Nan Jingqi is stationed; the other leads to the ancient well platform on the right, where Wu Sanshou was captured.

Leng Shuangcheng, who had been lying in ambush within Wei Chong's army, had already ascertained all the necessary information: Nan Jingqi had accepted the Liao army's terms for peace talks, and the Jingxiang army, as reinforcements, would jointly turn against the Song Dynasty. Having followed the Liao army all the way, they were now stationed twenty miles from Fengming Mountain.

Even earlier, Leng Shuangcheng dared not leave Wu Sanshou's side for even a moment, and would always guard outside the tent even at night. He never expected that he would be sent away by Wei Chong's men and captured by the young master of Bixie. In fact, Leng Shuangcheng, who was only a first-year junior high school student at the time, already knew all of this: what is meant to happen will happen.

At this moment, Leng Shuangcheng strode confidently, feeling a carefree joy, because he was determined to find Wu Sanshou after meeting Nan Jingqi, whether he lived or died, they would be together.

The winter sun was not warm, and thick snow still covered the rolling mountains. The snow glistened, and a cold wind blew, causing snowflakes to flutter down. Leng Shuangcheng mustered his strength and ran wildly, leaping towards the direction he had chosen. He remembered something Li Tianxiao had said to him during a time when the mountains were blocked by heavy snow in winter.

—As long as you are there, no matter where you are, I will rush to you.

Tong Tu, carrying hay, rubbed his eyes and muttered as he walked toward the stable.

The night eagle snorted softly and stood impatiently in front of the manger, pawing at its hooves. When Tong Tu saw it, he rushed up and hugged its neck as if it were a brother, saying with a grin, "The night eagle may lie in its stall, but its ambition is to travel a thousand miles."

Tong Tu affectionately stroked the night eagle's mane, awkwardly stuffing hay into its hand. After watching it for a long time, he softly said, "Horse, I'm entrusting my young master to you today. You must bring him back alive..."

The night eagle suddenly pricked up its bamboo-like ears and froze. Tongtu, oblivious, continued muttering to himself.

Leng Shuangcheng walked quietly toward Tong Tu, his long, thin shadow stretching as a line beside the stable. Before Tong Tu could even look up and exclaim in surprise, Leng Shuangcheng struck Tong Tu's waist.

"Don't panic. I'll ask you a few questions. Just nod or stay still."

Tong Tu looked at Leng Shuangcheng in surprise, unable to utter a sound, and could only nod his head frantically.

Is your young master General Nan?

Tong Tu nodded.

"Is there a major battle today?"

He continued nodding.

"Could you please introduce me to Young Master Nan?"

Tong Tu stared wide-eyed at Leng Shuangcheng, as if he had something to say.

Leng Shuangcheng smiled slightly and gently released the pressure points. Tong Tu swayed a few times, and Leng Shuangcheng gently supported him again.

Tong Tu gasped for breath: "I've seen you before."

Leng Shuangcheng remained silent, watching him quietly.

“You saved my young master. I saw you once in his arms; you were almost dead then.”

Leng Shuangcheng understood what he was talking about, but still didn't reply, waiting for him to finish speaking.

"But you are, after all, a Han Chinese. What do you want to see my young master for?"

Leng Shuangcheng silently closed her eyes. Wu Sanshou had actually said the same thing, only he had put it more subtly:

Master, if the Song people and the Jing and Xiang people were to fight, who would you hope would win?

"Master, if you wish to see General Nan, I will accompany you."

Back then, the first-year junior high student couldn't answer this question, and now Leng Shuangcheng still can't. Facing Tong Tu's innocent eyes, Leng Shuangcheng couldn't speak, unable to explain anything.

After a long pause, he calmly said, "Since I saved your young master, I certainly wouldn't harm him. I have important matters to report to him."

"Could you be a traitor to the Han people?" Tong Tu tilted his head, his eyes shining as he looked at Leng Shuangcheng.

Leng Shuangcheng felt bitter inside, but said calmly, "I'm not that wicked. Take me there, I will never hurt him."

Tong Tu still looked at him with suspicion. Leng Shuangcheng glanced at the soldiers who were beginning to move around and stood calmly in the stable.

"Then let me ask you, how did you know you found my young master when you've never seen me before?"

Leng Shuangcheng turned to look at the night eagle grazing.

With its smooth coat, majestic body, long limbs, azure hooves, and bushy tail, the Night Eagle presented itself to the world as unyielding as its master. Even the most inept could see the horse's precious and extraordinary nature. It was precisely for this reason that Leng Shuangcheng knew how to find Nan Jingqi the moment he saw it, only he hadn't expected a child to arrive, and a troublesome one at that.

Leng Shuangcheng suddenly walked past him and headed towards the military tent.

Tong Tu hurriedly turned around and grabbed his sleeve: "Hey, where are you going?"

"Go see Young Master Nan."

"As long as I call out, you won't be able to take even half a step out of my house, let alone see my young master."

I won't take a single step.

"What?"

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just stand here and kill you first. Then everyone will come to see me.”

Tong Tu looked at Leng Shuangcheng with some surprise, immediately released his sleeve, his eyes darting around, but he didn't dare to look into Leng Shuangcheng's indifferent pupils.

Leng Shuangcheng lowered his head, bent down, and stared into Tong Tu's eyes. He raised his cool palm and placed it on Tong Tu's cheek: "My fingernails are coated with a deadly poison. If even a little bit touches your face, it will rot and leave several holes. Just a light scratch..."

Tong Tuwa exclaimed, "I'll take you there, you'll find him anyway..."

Tong Tu walked forward, head down and lips pursed, kicking pebbles along the way. Leng Shuangcheng walked behind him, watching the thin, pale shadow cast on the ground, swaying as if it had shattered shimmering ice, and couldn't help but sigh in silence.

After passing several tents, Tong Tu stopped outside a white tent and said loudly, "Young Master, we have a guest."

Leng Shuangcheng took a deep, light breath.

"please."

Leng Shuangcheng stood frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the chaotic snowfield, yet the words of that magnanimous spirit echoed in his ears: "Please." Time seemed to flow backward; many years ago, he too was a boy whose face he never saw, who never inquired about the identity of the person outside the door, yet uttered the word "please" with words as clear as a gentle breeze and a bright moon, his cheerful and straightforward manner as if he were the same person.

Leng Shuangcheng suddenly realized he couldn't breathe. He hid his hands in his sleeves, clasped his palms together, and pinched the web of his left hand hard, leaving a deep mark.

Tong Tu stood there for a moment, and seeing the boy in front of him with his head down, standing there like a wooden statue, he couldn't help but boldly push him and look at him curiously.

Leng Shuangcheng steadied herself, reached out and lifted the curtain, then lowered her eyes and walked inside.

After walking a few steps forward, Leng Shuangcheng saw only a slightly built-up table and stopped.

The tent was quiet, and Leng Shuangcheng didn't dare to lift her eyes. After a while, Nan Jingqi's voice came: "Is that Chu Yi?"

Nan Jingqi's voice was clear as the moon, carrying a pleasant and gentle tone that filled the room. This gentle hesitation severed the last bit of hope and expectation in Leng Shuangcheng's heart, like a drowning child letting go of the last straw in his hand.

"I met Young Master Nan on the first day of the lunar month."

Leng Shuangcheng bowed deeply and steadily, lowered her hands, and stood silently.

Nan Jingqi rushed towards Leng Shuangcheng like the wind, his voice filled with a hint of anxious fear: "There's no need for such formality on Chu Yi!"

Leng Shuangcheng subtly took a step back, widening the distance between the two, while still respectfully looking at the hem of Nan Jingqi's robe.

Nan Jingqi's outstretched hand to Leng Shuangcheng paused in mid-air. It seemed as if he heard a low sigh from him, and then a light voice escaped from his lips: "It's good that you're alright... I dare not thank you for saving my life, but I humbly request that Chu Yi not be so formal."

Leng Shuangcheng kept his eyes downcast and remained silent. However, a faint ripple stirred in his mind: in his memory, Li Tianxiao had never sighed at him.

"First Year of Junior High, how are you feeling?"

Leng Shuangcheng nodded.