A Wandering Youth

Chapter 59

"What made you answer so readily, sir?"

Wu Sanshou gazed into the distance and smiled faintly: "Wu You is but a scholar, and I am deeply grateful to my master for remembering me and always going through fire and water for me... I don't know where my master is now, and I have always wanted to do something thoughtful for her..."

Yuwen Xiaobai looked puzzled and stared at him with wide eyes. Wu Sanshou looked at his expression, smiled slightly, and said, "I remember a year ago when I was gambling with my master in Sihai, she was very generous. Later I realized that she was just a woman who wouldn't speak her mind unless absolutely necessary... When my master thought I was senile, she told me something. It turns out that long before she met me in Ruzhou, she went to a pawnshop to raise gambling funds and pawned her most beloved and precious crystal necklace. She still hasn't redeemed it. I think I can go and get it for her."

Yuwen Xiaobai sighed deeply after hearing this. The two of them had learned much about Leng Shuangcheng, but they were unaware of her romantic entanglements. Otherwise, if they had known the awkwardness of her agreeing to the Divine Calculator's request to not meet the Young Master of the Evil-Slaying Sect, she wouldn't have suffered such humiliation and deep self-reproach. —Many things in this world are unpredictable and unchangeable, just as Yuwen Xiaobai happened to find Wu Sanshou, and Wu Sanshou, because of Leng Shuangcheng, agreed to his request.

Yuwen Xiaobai admired the spring scenery along the willow-lined embankment as he walked side by side with Wu Sanshou.

"It's widely rumored in the martial arts world that the 'Sun and Moon Golden Wheel,' which killed everyone, is a secret weapon that was smuggled into our dynasty by a foreign vassal state. I privately listened to Shuangcheng's deductions, and she asserted that it was related to a woman named 'Ziying' from Japan. In the previous Seven Stars incident, Mu and He were unfortunately killed and used as targets for testing firepower..."

Wu Sanshou interrupted Yuwen Xiaobai and pressed, "How do you know that the two of them were used as targets?"

Yuwen Xiaobai smiled smugly: "Shuangcheng said that He Qingxi is a master of hidden weapons. If she were an enemy, she would definitely choose a close-combat expert to test her skills. I think that's true. Old Master Mu was in a worse state. It is said that he was killed while discussing matters with his nephew at night."

"Oh," Wu San replied slowly.

Yuwen Xiaobai, being simple-minded and unconcerned by Wu Sanshou's indifference, cheerfully asked, "Sir, do you still remember the innkeeper we met on our first day? The one known as Boss Jin of the First Inn in Bianjing?"

"That man is Old Jin, the richest man in Bianjing?" Wu Sanshou was genuinely surprised. "That dilapidated house and broken pottery, how can the person living there be a tycoon?"

"Haha." Yuwen Xiaobai laughed continuously, looking at Wu Sanshou's annoyed face: "Just as surprised as when I first met him. But didn't you see? He's very cunning, he doesn't flaunt his wealth, only a true expert can see through his disguise."

Wu San pursed his lips, staring calmly at Yuwen Xiaobai. Yuwen Xiaobai laughed for a long time before saying with a hint of relish, "It seems Shuangcheng really did a good job as your master. She saw through it all, even though you're well-read and didn't realize it... The couplet at that inn was written in a wild, flowing cursive script, said to be the work of the Sage of Calligraphy. And that piece of dark wood that people see is said to be a piece of ebony that only grows once every few hundred years in the dense forests of the far south. Haha, now you're convinced, aren't you?"

Wu San clasped his hands together and pondered carefully, then suddenly smiled and said, "I'm impressed, I'm impressed by you guys."

Yuwen Xiaobai suddenly stopped smiling and said seriously, "This matter is related to Lao Jin. I came all the way from Kaifeng to fulfill Lao Jin's wish."

"Why are you being so cautious?"

"Old Jin asked me to steal the 'Sun and Moon Golden Wheel' from Yangzhou Prefecture. I couldn't do it alone, so my partner and I discussed it first. I heard that you are a master craftsman, so I would like to ask you to help me make something to escape with—a kite."

The oriole's beak pecks at the red blossoms, the swallow's tail dips into the green ripples of the water. At this time, birdsong fills the air, flowers bloom, and willows are shrouded in mist; the scenery along Yangzhou's Green Mist Embankment is breathtaking. Yuwen Xiaobai stands beside the weeping willows, carefully explaining everything to Wu Sanshou:

—Yangzhou Prefecture is heavily guarded. You can sneak into the prefecture and steal weapons while the guards are changing shifts. However, the residence of Prince Qiuye Yijian is right next to the street. If you alert him and he makes a move, no one will be able to resist his swordsmanship. So you must hurry and escape as fast as you can.

—According to intelligence, the entire city of Yangzhou is celebrating the Crown Prince's birthday tonight. Most officials and guards will be going to the ancient city to enjoy the fireworks. The relaxed state government will provide the best opportunity to strike.

—Yuwen Xiaobai's assistant is Nan Jingqi. They met through Xiaobai's grandfather and immediately felt an instant connection, as both were remarkably cheerful and straightforward. Xiaobai's nighttime theft of the Golden Wheel also required the assistance of Nan Jingqi's men. He commanded a trained shadow legion with incredible strength, skilled at flying kites high in the sky, carrying people over mountains and rivers. If Wu San could simply make a kite the size of two people, they could escape using the wind.

"Why would Lao Jin steal the Sun and Moon Golden Wheel? That's a case the imperial court has been investigating for a long time." Wu Sanshou asked one last question, still a little uneasy.

Yuwen Xiaobai chuckled: "Because the world is terrified of the Golden Wheel, Old Jin wants to unravel its secrets. He says he wants to do a great good for the entire martial arts world. But this weapon can only be displayed in the state armory, and only high-ranking officials and nobles can see it. They've been studying it for ages but haven't figured it out yet, so our Boss Jin couldn't resist coming out of seclusion, and also to boost his reputation."

On the first day of the third lunar month, at exactly 11:00 AM, a wind rose. The ancient city of Yangzhou was ablaze with lights, a night that never ended.

Fireworks burst into the sky precisely on time, and the streets of Yangzhou were bustling with activity, the city practically deserted. The colorful fireworks illuminated the shimmering night sky, the ground carpeted in white, like frost. From afar, they appeared ethereal and light as mist, crystal clear and translucent as water.

Leng Shuangcheng was so engrossed in looking up at the sky that she didn't even flinch when Ziying appeared in front of her.

Her black hair was tied into a bunch of uneven wrinkles, and her fair and heroic face, visible beneath the stray strands, seemed as deep and far-reaching as the sky. Her eyes were clear and cold, exuding a calm and profound air of a great lady. Her black and white pupils were like a pair of new leaves washed in spring rain, fresh, bright, and sparkling with the brilliance of new life, sprouting with vitality.

Zi Ying sized up Leng Shuangcheng. This was the first time she had seen Leng Shuangcheng dressed as a woman. She looked closely at her eyes, which were bright and sparkling, but without any sadness. Leng Shuangcheng wore a light green and white collared ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), a simple and elegant style. She was not wearing the jade sash that was usually used to weigh down the flowing skirt, which Zi Ying guessed was for the sake of agility and ease of movement.

"Still as a virgin, swift as a rabbit," Ziying said suddenly after observing for a while.

Leng Shuangcheng smiled gently: "Is Madam ready? Shall we set off?"

Leng Shuangcheng helped the graceful Ziying onto the horse, took the reins, and slowly rode along the side road of Yangzhou. The two silently passed through the crowds and arrived at the central gate of the ancient city of Yangzhou. Once they passed through this gate, they could leave the beautiful city of Yangzhou.

"Aren't you going to look up?" Zi Ying's booming voice rang out as she stared at Leng Shuangcheng's composed figure.

Leng Shuangcheng didn't turn around, but carefully blocked the surging crowd in front of him, and calmly said, "Madam, remember to take good care of yourself. You promised me."

“You won’t look, but I’m going to… Oh, Prince Qiuye is really standing on the city wall, receiving the people’s worship and celebration. Beside him is a dignified and beautiful woman, who must be the rumored Princess Linghui. That princess looks like a celestial being, and wait, why do I think her demeanor is somewhat similar to yours…”

Zi Ying kept talking, her tone filled with surprise and doubt. She kept glancing at Qiu Yeyi's figure standing by the sword, and then at Leng Shuangcheng's reaction.

She noticed that Leng Shuangcheng seemed not to have heard anything, his handsome figure remaining impassive, not glancing at anyone from beginning to end, only cautiously paving the way ahead. Zi Ying sighed softly, "No one is as determined as you."

Leng Shuangcheng steadied his hands and said calmly, "Madam, you flatter me... I am but a commoner, and I know the principle of accepting one's fate."

Ziying couldn't help but turn around and take another look.

Beneath a multicolored sky, Qiu Yeyi, clad in a purple brocade robe draped with delicate cloud-like threads, resembled a banished immortal returning on the wind, his beauty beyond words. A night scene of celestial maidens scattering flowers hung silently above his aloof figure, clusters of golden chrysanthemums shimmering, their petals swaying like snowflakes of fire. He seemed like the most dazzling cold star embedded in the magnificent sky, radiating a light that drew everyone's attention.

Ziying couldn't see his eyes clearly, but he looked so aloof and unapproachable, like a god standing on the clouds, receiving the admiration of thousands. The beautiful Linghui standing beside him looked like an accessory decorating a shrine.

Qiu Ye stood motionless atop the city wall, leaning against the sword.

Zi Ying noticed that Leng Shuangcheng remained calm throughout and did not turn around even once.

“What a heartless person…” Ziying murmured with a sigh.

After leaving the city gate and walking along the dark official road for a while, the two arrived at the small hill that lined both sides of the road.

"How is Madam's health?" Leng Shuangcheng asked, leading the horse. "Were you not jostled by those people just now?"

Ziying giggled: "If I weren't Xiao Qiao's lover, people would think that you're so concerned about me because you're the mother of the baby in my belly."

Leng Shuangcheng frowned and said, "Even if Madam doesn't like Mr. Xiao, there's no need for her to belittle herself like this."

"Oh? Leng Shuangcheng, you really have a kind heart!" Zi Ying sat leisurely on her horse and said with a cold smile, "You know perfectly well that I used Xiao Qiao to assassinate Prince Qiu Ye, and you know perfectly well that I am a woman with a heart of a snake, yet you still agreed to the request of a dead man and escorted me to Xiao Qiao's ancestral home without hesitation."

“Madam, I never look down on anyone. In my eyes, everyone is the same.” Leng Shuangcheng said loudly, “Since you claim to have a heart as venomous as a snake, you must not have lost the last shred of conscience.”

Zi Ying snorted coldly and said, "I'm not afraid to tell you, Wei Wuyi accepted my instigation and is causing trouble everywhere in the martial arts world with the Sun and Moon Golden Wheel. The Seven Stars are also his targets. My plan to support the young master has failed, and the Eastern Japanese Secret Sect has mobilized all its assassins. Your journey to escort me back to Jingxiang is fraught with difficulties. I'm afraid you have the will but not the guts!"

Leng Shuangcheng turned around and smiled slightly, a smile more dazzling than a sky full of sparks: "I remember my apprentice once said to me, 'You're incredibly audacious.'"

Ziying looked dejected and gave another cold snort.

Suddenly, a deafening sound erupted in the night sky behind them, and the beam of light was unlike any other bullet. It lingered in the sky with flower-like clouds behind it. Leng Shuangcheng turned around and looked back, somewhat surprised.

A huge white kite glided past her eyes, drifting and flying towards the sky above Yangzhou.

Leng Shuangcheng's eyes darkened, and she exclaimed, "Isn't that the kite we saw in front of Hongxiu Tower last time...? It was this kind of kite that took Nan Jingqi away last time."

Ziying paused her horse to observe for a moment, and exclaimed in surprise, "I've never seen such a big kite before. What's it doing flying over Yangzhou Prefecture?"

The hill where the two of them stood had an excellent vantage point, offering a panoramic view of the star-studded nightscape of Yangzhou. Ziying's unintentional remark jolted Leng Shuangcheng awake. After careful consideration, even though she didn't understand why she could see the kite at this time, she could deduce that it was related to Nan Jingqi's nighttime infiltration of the prefectural capital.

Leng Shuangcheng's face was as cold as ice. She raised her hand and snapped the willow tree beside her. The willow's clusters of blossoms trembled, startling Ziying. "Nonsense! Qiu Yeyi is now ruthless and heartless. Who can withstand his merciless sword? To launch a night raid on the prefectural capital during the celebration today is like pulling the tiger's fur!"

By the moonlight, Zi Ying saw Leng Shuangcheng's ashen face and gritted teeth, and was momentarily stunned into silence.

33. Left-handed sword

In the martial arts world, every era has its legends. The men in these legends are always ethereal and mysterious, noble and handsome, the dream men of young women. Qiu Ye Yijian, with his dual identity, is one such legend.

Legend has it that Qiu Ye Yijian is handsome yet ruthless, his swordsmanship as dazzling as a shooting star in the sky. Often, one is blinded by the fleeting beauty before falling to his blade. But these are not the important points. The important point is that no one can rival the sword in his left hand. If he wields the Erosion Sun in his left hand, no one dares to tremble in his presence.

When Yuwen Xiaobai was far away in Jingxiang, he had heard rumors of the godlike young swordsman's unparalleled swordsmanship. Although he didn't quite believe it, he couldn't suppress his eagerness to try it out. He had heard that Qiu Yeyi's swordsmanship was divine, reaching the pinnacle of immortality, ethereal as mist and unfathomable, and fierce as ice and unstoppable.

At this moment, as a purple figure slowly walked along the wide street of the Prince's residence in Yangzhou, Yuwen Xiaobai was unaware of any deadly lurking danger. He stood calmly in the middle of the street, gripping his dragon-patterned longsword, carrying the bundle containing the Sun and Moon Golden Wheel on his back.

When the man walked so slowly and steadily, Yuwen Xiaobai knew that his worst fears had come true; he had indeed alerted Qiu Yeyijian at the celebration. He kept his eyes on the road ahead, suppressing the urge to turn back and check on Nan Jingqi at the end of the street.

It wasn't that Yuwen Xiaobai didn't want to escape, but that he couldn't. The main street was blocked by the Imperial Guards, leaving only the exit at the street corner. However, a strong killing intent emanating from that direction forced him to stop.

Under the noisy night sky, a handsome man walked in with an indifferent expression. This was the first time Yuwen Xiaobai had seen Qiu Yeyijian since losing her memory. What impressed Yuwen Xiaobai most was the man's pair of ruthless and sinister eyes.

Those eyes, reflected in the colorful night sky, were shimmering yet devoid of emotion, clearly illuminating human figures. As his cold body pierced through the darkness, Yuwen Xiaobai noticed that he held a long sword in his right hand, its chilling aura no less than its owner's.

The red light was as intense as the sun, and the blade was as white as snow.

Yuwen Xiaobai recognized the sword; it was said to be the Shiyang, a sword that was never drawn from its sheath.

Qiu Yeyi kept her eyes fixed on Yuwen Xiaobai's face as she walked step by step, every seven inches or so, neither too fast nor too slow.

"Name?" He glanced at Yuwen Xiaobai's sword and coldly uttered two words.

Yuwen Xiaobai steadied his sword, grasped the sword incantation, and prepared to strike.

"The souls beneath the Sun-Eroding Sword must have their names recorded," Qiu Ye said coldly, leaning against the sword.

"Yuwen Xiaobai." Yuwen Xiaobai focused his gaze on those cold eyes. His face was as calm as water, but his eyes could not stay focused on the unfathomable face of the person in front of him for long.

"I've remembered." Before Qiu Ye could finish speaking, a red light suddenly appeared.

The night wind blew through the long street, the leaves rustled and fell, and the flowers and birds, awakened from their slumber, flew into the clouds in the western sky.

The little bird's delicate wings had barely fluttered twice when its body was cleaved in two by the sword energy, scattering into the long evening sky along with the fluttering petals. Yuwen Xiaobai pursed his lips, his white robes billowing in the wind, blooming gracefully like a lotus under the moonlight, except this white lotus was propelled to bloom by the autumn leaf sword energy.

Qiu Yeyi unleashed three sword strikes, and none of the surrounding birds, flowers, or trees escaped unscathed. Once they collided with his chilling sword aura, they fell silently to the ground. After ten sword strikes, Yuwen Xiaobai's body retreated six steps, his clothes somewhat disheveled.

No one could get close enough to squeeze into the sword net.

"The autumn wind blows three times!" Yuwen Xiaobai blurted out in surprise.

"Autumn Wind Triple Twists" is a renowned but unseen sword technique in the martial arts world, created by Qiu Ye Yi Jian himself. Legend has it that if this sword technique is used under the autumn sun, it can gather the strongest light of heaven and earth and absorb it into the Erosion Sun Sword, making it infinitely powerful. Although the name is "three folds," this sword technique actually consists of thirteen sword strikes, with the last strike being the strongest killing move.

Qiu Yeyi unleashed his final three sword strikes, each more ferocious than the last, like the surging waves of the Yangtze River. His moves only grew more powerful and intense with each strike, driven by his inner strength. Yuwen Xiaobai knew this, and focused intently on Qiu Yeyi's swordplay, spinning rapidly as he tried to find a weakness in his attack.

After twelve moves, Qiu Yeyi changed the direction of her sword strike, raising a beam of sword light from bottom to top, which was the third variation of the move, "Autumn Water and Long Sky".

Yuwen Xiaobai had never seen such a bizarre sword technique. He was able to guard against the first two moves, but he missed the last one. Shi Yang broke through the crimson sword energy and pierced towards his chest.

Leng Shuangcheng's eyes were fixed on the white paper kite as she took a deep breath and gave chase. The flickering night scenery around her, like flowers blooming on the sea, swept past her eyes as she ran far away. Wu Suanzi's words and cold face floated in her mind, and a cold glint suddenly appeared in her eyes, but her steps did not falter for a moment.

The kite flew out once, then twirled and drifted back. Leng Shuangcheng's heart sank; she knew Nan Jingqi had failed for the first time, because it was highly likely that a very powerful enemy had blocked his retreat. Thinking of this, she became even more anxious.

She strained her eyes to see the handsome figure of Nan Jingqi in black robes locked in combat with a green figure at the end of the street. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Wu Suanzi.

Under the moonlight, Nan Jingqi and Wu Suan engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat, their movements incredibly swift, separating rapidly once they joined forces. The heavily armed Imperial Guards surrounded them like a surging tide, their gleaming spears and halberds appearing as white as the sea under the moonlight.

Leng Shuangcheng was slightly surprised. After thinking for a moment, she tore off a corner of her clothes to cover her face. She did not dare to draw her sword. She leaped and pounced over the crowd and nimbly intercepted Wu Suan's palm strike.

Nan Jingqi's expression was somewhat surprised and suspicious when he first saw the person, but when he heard her say "Nan Jing, let's go together," he knew who it was. Back in Bianjing, only two friends had called him that affectionately: one was Yuwen Xiaobai, who rushed into the center of the street first, and the other was Leng Shuangcheng, who was deeply influenced by Xiaobai and followed suit.

Nan Jingqi exclaimed with delight, "What are you doing here?"

Leng Shuangcheng said in a low voice, "Let's run outside and talk about it."

The two of them moved in perfect unison, reaching out to grab the fortune teller's hand. Hearing Leng Shuangcheng's muffled, low voice and seeing a palm strike as sharp as his own, the fortune teller exclaimed in surprise, "Chu Yi?"

Leng Shuangcheng sighed: "It's me, Mr. Wu."