A Wandering Youth

Chapter 60

The fortune teller's eyes turned gloomy and sharp as he said, "What about what you promised me?"

Leng Shuangcheng paused for a moment, then said loudly, "I implore you, sir, to be merciful and order the guards to release my friend. I will leave immediately on the first day of the lunar month."

The fortune teller coldly snorted and said, "Everything is related to you." After glancing at Leng Shuangcheng's silent face, he coldly continued, "I can let you go, but I can't make decisions about the person inside who stole the weapon. Besides, I just hope you leave as quickly as possible."

With a wave of his hand, the shrewd fortune teller sent the dark-skinned guards splitting into two groups. Leng Shuangcheng took Nan Jingqi's wrist, said "thank you," and led him up the wall, not even glancing at the street below.

Wu Suan's face was cold and sinister. He walked briskly along the base of the wall with his hands behind his back. After taking only two or three steps, a gentle voice called out to him from behind: "Steward Wu."

Two beautiful figures stood against the soft night sky. Linghui, dressed in her finest attire, stepped forward and smiled, saying, "Steward Wu, what happened? Why did the young master leave the city wall after only a moment of sightseeing?"

Wu Suanzi hurriedly turned around and bowed, saying, "Greetings to the two princesses."

Linghui told Wu Suan to rise, but Cheng Xiang only smiled faintly.

After considering the situation, Wu Suanzi spoke again: "There were some thieves causing trouble tonight. In order not to harm the princess's health, I will escort the princess back to her residence. I will report the details of what happened after we return to the residence."

Cheng Xiang suddenly asked, "Logically speaking, there was no need for Prince Qiuye to personally arrest him, so why did he take action later?"

"I've heard that the newcomer is wielding a sharp blade and is invincible. That's why you said you wanted to meet him, young master."

Cheng Xiang gave a curt "oh," and Wu Suan, concerned for Ling Hui's safety, didn't hesitate and gestured for the two to leave.

Cheng Xiangge laughed and said, "Steward Wu, you have no idea how worried my sister is. You should take her back first to calm her down. I'll check on her and come right away."

The Crown Prince's residence, like a majestic palace, stood firmly on East Street in Yangzhou. Due to its grandeur, the streets surrounding the residence appeared long and far. Nan Jingqi and Leng Shuangcheng flew along the walls without touching the ground, leaving East Street behind in a short while.

The wind picked up, the kite soared, and after two attempts to break free, there was still no one on the kite.

Nan Jingqi glanced at the kite behind him and said with a somewhat grim expression, "Xiaobai hasn't come out yet."

Leng Shuangcheng's face was pale. She sighed and said, "I knew Xiaobai would be involved in this... I knew he couldn't escape this fate... You don't need to look at me so surprised. Time is of the essence, I'll explain in detail later..."

Nan Jingqi looked surprised, and then heard Leng Shuangcheng ask, "Where is the Dragon Pattern Sword?"

"Xiao Bai took it. He said that if he encounters Young Master Bixie, he can fight him with his sword."

Leng Shuangcheng sighed heavily: "Nan Jing, how could you let Xiao Bai act so recklessly... He hasn't run away yet, so he must have really encountered Young Master Bixie."

Nan Jingqi smiled slightly and said, "Xiaobai looks at me like a child, I can't refuse his request." After saying that, he leaped into the heart of Desire Street. Leng Shuangcheng, of course, knew their personalities well and quickly pulled him back, saying calmly, "I'll go, you go control the kite, let me use its momentum to launch an ambush."

At the time, Nan Jingqi did not know what Leng Shuangcheng meant by "ambush sword". It was only later, when Xiaobai recounted it with great enthusiasm, that he learned the whole story: Leng Shuangcheng had fought against the young master of Bixie at Changshan in the past and knew about his twelve swords that swept away the autumn leaves. In order to deal with his final sword strike, he had no choice but to take the risk of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao", which meant swooping down from the kite to attack his unsuspecting back.

Although Leng Shuangcheng responded cleverly and with bold strategies, Qiu Yeyijian had already noticed the strangeness coming from the night sky when she swooped down like a bluebird.

The longsword had just been drawn when he silently turned around, his cold pupils meeting a pair of sharp, leopard-like eyes that lunged at him. The newcomer's blue robes billowed in the wind, his black hair and face mask flying backward, his longsword as cold as frost. Plunging down from such a high point in the night, one could imagine the force and momentum, like a rainbow piercing the sun, his sword energy undoubtedly earth-shattering.

Having realized the ferocity of the newcomer's swordsmanship, Qiu Ye's pupils narrowed like needles as she coldly asked, "Who goes there?"

Leng Shuangcheng landed beside Yuwen Xiaobai, his aura calm and indifferent, and whispered, "Xiaobai, be careful!"

Yuwen Xiaobai felt a relief as the heavy sword energy around him dissipated. He glanced at Leng Shuangcheng and let out a long breath: "It's good that you came." Because Yuwen Xiaobai had a pleasant conversation with Leng Shuangcheng in private, he actually recognized her at such a critical moment by her familiar tone.

Qiu Yeyi stared coldly at the two of them, her right hand fingers slowly gathering, a sign that she was about to make a move.

Leng Shuangcheng revealed her pair of icy eyes from the shadows, coldly staring at Qiu Yeyi's face without answering. She turned her wrist, the tip of the Moonlight Sword pointing downwards, menacingly pointing to the ground.

This person was not the familiar Young Master Qiuye, but the young master of Bixie whom she had faced before. She was absolutely certain that this murderous aura was genuine.

Qiu Yeyi suddenly said coldly, "The Changyou and Yueguang swords have appeared simultaneously, it seems the rumors are true. No matter who you are, you will not leave today. You will leave your people and your swords behind." As soon as she finished speaking, Shi Yang flew in front of the two of them, its red light shining brightly, so intense that it was blinding.

Leng Shuangcheng and Yuwen Xiaobai were both shocked and leaped away to dodge the sword move.

Qiu Ye's eyes sharpened, her sword paused, and then, like a startled swan in a snowy field, she thrust towards the two. Her longsword was elusive, its aura powerful and domineering, unleashing a second version of the Autumn Wind's Three Twists. This time, the sword aura was far stronger than the first, and Qiu Ye, relying on the Devouring Sun, forced the two into disarray after twelve moves, their clothes scattered, petals and tattered fabric falling and flying across the street.

Leng Shuangcheng rushed forward under the moonlight, trying her best to mitigate the sword energy falling on Xiaobai. In her shock and anger, she transmitted her voice to him: "Xiaobai, only by defeating him can we have a chance to live! This is a life-or-death battle, we cannot be careless!"

Yuwen Xiaobai had just experienced Qiu Yeyi's domineering and strange swordsmanship. Now, after hearing Leng Shuangcheng's secret message, he was greatly encouraged. With his dragon-patterned sword, he and Leng Shuangcheng pounced on each other in perfect unison.

Seeing that the two were still safe after the second sword technique, Qiu Yeyi's eyes grew colder as she slowly switched the Erosion Sun sword to her left hand.

Tonight, Qiu Yeyi relentlessly pressed forward with each step, her moves aimed at killing, until finally she was about to use her left-handed sword, a left-handed sword that had never been seen before!

The autumn wind has twisted three times, and there is only one last move left, the thirteenth move.

Upon seeing his actions, Leng Shuangcheng suddenly recalled Xiao Qiao, who had aged desolately in the night, and the long sigh that Xiao Qiao uttered before fulfilling his long-cherished wish.

Leng Shuangcheng's heart pounded like a drum, cold sweat trickled down her back, and her eyes widened like a leopard's, gleaming with a sinister, bloodthirsty light. She coldly brushed aside the last remaining coverings on her face, then reached out her left hand to pull off her outer garment, now scattered in pieces, revealing her intact white undergarment—underneath, thanks to the water-repellent garment protecting her groin, she wasn't in the same sorry state as Xiaobai, who had been slashed by sword energy.

Amidst the heavy killing intent, Leng Shuangcheng's eyes focused on Qiu Yeyi's sword gaze, and she said coldly, "I've always heard that Young Master Qiu Ye never uses his left hand, but I never expected that we would have such an honor today!"

Qiu Yeyi glanced at her face, and her body swayed slightly.

Yuwen Xiaobai saw that the handsome young master of Bixie had remained unchanged, his sharp phoenix eyes fixed on Leng Shuangcheng's pupils, but he coldly said to her a chilling sentence: "I think I've seen you before."

"I feel like I've seen you before," Qiu Yeyijian didn't know that these words were more lethal than his sword.

Leng Shuangcheng closed her eyes tightly, and when she opened them, they were as clear and pure as pale ink, cold and unfathomable. She said coldly, "Young master, please forgive me!"

Before the words were finished, he suddenly sprang up, like a sudden downpour of flowers. The moonlight in the night sky was like water, and the moonlight in Leng Shuangcheng's hands was like frost.

Qiu Ye Yi Jian moved swiftly, her left hand, the Erosion Sun, piercing through the "Nine Heavens of the Milky Way" move. — Leng Shuang Cheng's swordsmanship was superb; even now, he hadn't used his usual killing moves. When he attacked alone, he only engaged in a level exchange, presumably still harboring some old feelings. However, Qiu Ye Yi Jian was unaware of this.

After his initial strike, he spun around and flew several feet away, still coldly demanding, "What's your name?"

Leng Shuangcheng pursed her lips, remaining silent, the coldness in her eyes deepening. A thin stream of blood meandered down her left arm, each drop a shocking sight, spreading outwards, turning the glossy black jade bricks crimson like flowers.

"Leng Shuangcheng!"

Standing at the edge, Yuwen Xiaobai looked at her injuries and felt a sense of panic. He anxiously called out to Leng Shuangcheng.

“Leng Shuangcheng.” Qiu Yeyi murmured the name.

Leng Shuangcheng.

The name seemed like a spell, instantly making the night thinner and Qiu Yeyi's sword less stable.

He slowly raised his eyes, revealing a pair of icy, unyielding pupils. Suddenly, as if infused with the first rays of sunlight, they grew brighter and brighter, flashing with a look of surprise and doubt, like the rising sun on the sea, gradually becoming brand new.

“I must have seen you before,” Qiu Yeyijian said with certainty, as Shi Yang landed sideways.

Leng Shuangcheng stared coldly at Qiu Yeyijian's face, his voice indifferent, each word clear and distinct:

"What's wrong with having seen him before? Ever since Leng Shuangcheng was saved by you, sir, he has always hoped to compete with the young master, who possesses the highest swordsmanship in the world. This was also a wish of my old friend. Today, we have fulfilled our long-cherished wish and proven that no one can stop your left-handed sword."

Qiu Yeyi stared intently at the silent person in front of her, her eyes filled with cold skepticism.

Under the cool moonlight, Leng Shuangcheng, still dressed in white, stood tall and elegant like a willow tree. The pale moonlight cast a soft glow upon her inner garment, a glow not from the moonlight itself, but from the chilling aura emanating from her longsword. "It seems that unless we defeat your left-handed sword, Young Master, Xiaobai and I will not be able to escape. Therefore, I will use my Parting Sword Technique to challenge your unparalleled sword skills."

Yuwen Xiaobai stood silently behind Leng Shuangcheng, slowly raising his clear, dragon-patterned sword.

"Leng Shuangcheng, what are you doing! Are you out of your mind?!" Suddenly, a gap was torn in the Imperial Guards' formation at the far corner of the street, and a figure in bright red rushed straight out, shouting, "Qiu Ye Yijian, don't do it!"

Qiu Yeyi saw the figure, and his cold expression changed slightly. He saw Cheng Xiang's terrified face, which had never shown such panic. A thought struck him, and his left hand, Shi Yang, did not draw its sword, but merely parried.

Leng Shuangcheng recognized Cheng Xiang's panicked voice and sighed. His voice was indescribably desolate, like an old man who had traversed a thousand years of time, standing alone on a lonely riverbank, searching for some lost treasure.

"I'm just fulfilling the long-cherished wishes of two people! One is Mr. Xiao, who never had the chance to say it, and the other is myself." Leng Shuangcheng spoke desolately, as lonely as Xiao Qiao was back then. As she spoke, she poured out moonlight from her hand like a bolt of silk, forcing the bewildered Qiu Yeyi to take a few steps back.

It was Qiu Yeyi's hesitation that gave Leng Shuangcheng an opportunity to escape from the street.

If we don't leave now, when will we?

"Go!" Leng Shuangcheng shouted, grabbed Yuwen Xiaobai, and swiftly disappeared into the night.

Cheng Xiang's red figure flickered, intercepting Qiu Yeyi's sword attack, and she said coldly, "You really don't remember her?"

Qiu Yeyi turned her cold eyes to the sword and replied indifferently, "I only remember the name Leng Shuangcheng."

Cheng Xiang was taken aback. Qiu Yeyijian stared at her coldly, then drifted away into the night sky like a purple cloud.

34. Revisit

The ancient city of Yangzhou, with its imposing and majestic terrain, stands silently in the night, like a steadfast general. Leng Shuangcheng and Yuwen Xiaobai leaped up side by side, their movements swift and agile.

But clearly there are others who are faster and more familiar with the terrain than they are.

On the first night of March, a wind rose in the northeast corner. Qiu Yeyi raised his head and glanced at the sword, then leaped onto the white kite with a whoosh. His purple clothes fluttered, and he seemed to be flying through the air, but his body was like a willow catkin, standing gently on the kite's back, never withering as it was gently brushed.

Leng Shuangcheng turned around and his expression changed drastically: "Xiao Bai, go to South Street to find Nan Jing, let's split up."

Yuwen Xiaobai was in high spirits tonight, and he found the chase very interesting. He nodded with a smile and said, "Okay."

Leng Shuangcheng had already stopped the bleeding by pressing acupoints on her left hand, and her face was now somewhat pale. Without uttering a word, she rushed towards the mountain forest outside Yangzhou City, using all her strength in an attempt to escape Qiu Yeyi's pursuit.

Qiu Yeyi stared intently at the white figure, then spread her arms and gently fell like a leaf, drifting towards the outside of the city.

The willows provide ample shade, and even the pale moonlight cannot obscure its graceful beauty. A breeze rustles through the trees, sending willow catkins fluttering and releasing a delicate fragrance. Qiu Yeyi, following closely behind, surveyed the surroundings and slowly said, "Come out... I won't hurt you again."

No one answered him; only the lonely moon hung overhead.

Qiu Ye reversed the Eclipse Sun sword, tucked it behind her left arm, and then called out with all her might, "I... I don't remember some things, but I remember your name... Come out so I can see you one more time, come out!"

The willow grove was silent, save for the repeated cries of "Come out! Come out!" echoing in the night air. A thin veil of mist drifted slowly above the treetops, and a cool evening breeze blew. The moonlight, like water, reflected the hazy willow hues, making everything indistinct and indistinct.

Deep in the forest, unknown to man, only the bright moon shines upon me.

Qiu Ye stood alone under the lonely moon, the moonlight filtering through the lush greenery around him, casting his purple-clad figure as a silhouette. He stood there for a long time, oblivious to all other sounds around him, before turning and walking step by step down the mountain.

Leng Shuangcheng lowered her eyes, her lips were pale, and she clung to a lush willow tree, not moving at all.

The wind and rain outside the window showed no signs of abating, and a curtain of shimmering white hung in the air. The canna lilies outside the corridor seemed rather unassuming, bowing their heads heavily under the torrential rain.

Qiu Ye stood by the carved vermilion window, his gaze piercing through the vast rain curtain. Water droplets splashing from the glazed tiles of distant rooftops fell like large pearls rolling into a jade plate, settling into the dust. Further away, the Misty Rain Pavilion seemed shrouded in a thin layer of mist, washed by the thick, dense rain.

The room was filled with the gentle fragrance of incense, which drifted slowly in the breeze.

Today is the first day of the fourth month of the fourth year of Jianlong, the day when, according to rumors circulating in the court, Prince Qiuye would formally present betrothal gifts and set a wedding date with Princess Linghui after the betrothal and name-asking ceremonies. Wu Suan, the chief steward of the palace, had already ordered people to bathe and fast three days ago, awaiting this day.

Yi Jian knows all about these autumn leaves.

A moment later, Qiu Ye withdrew her gaze from the sword, walked coldly to the desk, picked up the silver brush from the eight-treasure golden dragon stand, and began to write.

"Your Majesty, I, Qiu Ye, humbly report that the ceremony will be held on the first day of the new year." He knew the words on the document by heart. Chief Steward Wu had already prepared everything for him in the gift book. All he needed to do was confirm the date, sign and affix his seal.

Qiu Ye, wielding his sword, wrote the characters "初一" (first day of the month) on the gilded and dark red script. His expression remained indifferent as he began writing, as if he were merely writing a small seal script character. But as he finished and raised his wrist to the last horizontal stroke, he was stunned.

The wind rustled the paper, sending it fluttering through the air, the lingering scent of sandalwood filling the air. Drops of fragrant ink from the silver brush dripped onto the marble floor, the hall remaining pale and quiet. Only the white marble lion paperweight sat silently on the corner of the Xuan paper on the table, observing everything that happened, seemingly fully aware of the thoughts and feelings of its master, who had grown from childhood to adulthood.