A Wandering Youth

Chapter 82

Shu Xue's smile was as light as the wind, fading away at the corners of her lips and eyes. Old Jin watched this serene smile and remained silent.

The young master knew a lot about Qiu Ye Yijian's movements, yet he was fearless; looking at her innocent and beautiful face, who could have imagined her cunning and vicious thoughts?

The smelting site, designed and drawn up by the young master herself, is located deep within the foothills of White Stone Mountain. Apart from the winding pipes at her feet that transport iron sand, the entire interior of the mountain ridge had been sealed with iron when she withdrew. The thick iron layer resembled the arched roof of a tent, completely waterproof. Even if someone were to burn or blast the mountain, sparks could not penetrate to the bottom. If they wanted to create a breach, they would have to mobilize labor to carve through the mountain, which would take a month. By then, the weapons would have been made, and the Song people's strength would be too far to reach it.

The young master left only three months' worth of rations and promised that once the weapons were made, they would be transported out through pipelines, after which she would open the mountain to release the people. But Old Jin knew that the overseer was her confidant, and after the weapons were sent out, she would probably abandon them and leave the hundred or so people to fend for themselves.

Summer flowers, graceful and delicate, are scattered among the green grass, pink, white, and dark green, small and elegant. A woman, her skirt flowing and hem gathered, treads lightly on the grass, petals falling like rain. Old Jin was silent for a moment, then asked, "Should we send the invitations to the headquarters now?"

Shuxue picked up a small flower at her feet, looked at it, discarded the leaves, and said, "Wait a little longer."

"Forgive my ignorance, young master, could you please specify the time?"

Shuxue raised her head and smiled sweetly: "What's wrong with you, Left Envoy? Why have you forgotten such an important person as your brother?"

Old Jin stammered, "Right Envoy Lin Qingluan?"

The flowers trembled in the wind, their petals swaying, and the branches twirled like snowflakes. The flower said leisurely, “Today is the seven-day window for my brother’s poison to take effect. The poison was made from a special concoction of Heavenly Candle Seeds. The antidote requires specially prepared Guanyin Water. Besides the two bottles we took earlier, the remaining ingredients are far away on Flower Island in the East. So, after midnight today, my brother will become a poisoned person. He won’t be able to go far in the next four days. Just call out with your whistle in the towns near Qingzhou when the moon rises, and he will return sooner or later.”

Her voice was sweet and seductive, flowing gently like a spring through Old Jin's heart, sending a chill down his spine.

Old Jin stood there speechless. Shu Xue glanced at him and smiled, "Left Envoy, don't worry. My brother was punished for disobeying my orders. When he returns, he will always listen to me."

"What does the master need the Right Envoy to do?"

"To deal with Leng Shuangcheng." Shu Xue smiled and said, "Seven days ago, my brother was reluctant to make a move at the gambling den, which clearly shows that he has feelings for her. Leng Shuangcheng risked everything to rescue him, which shows that my brother is no ordinary person in her eyes."

Old Jin wiped his sweat and said awkwardly, "Is everything proceeding according to plan, young master?"

Shu Xue nodded and smiled: "Yelü Bao volunteered to fight before the Liao general, vowing to avenge the humiliation of the Battle of Gujing. There are two people he fears in his life: Qiu Yeyijian and Zhao Yingcheng. He doesn't care about the other Song people. He agreed to my request this time because he wants me to use my military force to create chaos in Song territory to restrain the two men, so that he can take the opportunity to march south and subdue Yan and Yun."

"Once the tide rises, the plan will be implemented. If the Japanese samurai want to enter Song territory, they must first open the entrance to Wufang. Before that, if we severely injure Young Master Qiuye, Zhao Yingcheng will inevitably be implicated, causing him to stay in the Central Plains to oversee the command. This will achieve Yelü Bao's goal."

Old Jin suddenly realized and responded, then seemed to remember something and said, "Why didn't you devise a plan to capture the two princes that day at Xianju?"

Shu Xue glanced at him coldly and said, "Firstly, Yelü Bao did not agree to my conditions, and secondly, Young Master came prepared. I will not act rashly unless I am absolutely certain of success." After saying that, she smiled and continued, "I will not believe that Young Master is so capable unless I check it out myself."

"Does the young master have a plan yet?"

Shu Xue glanced at Lao Jin again and said coldly, "I know what you're thinking. I've been waiting for this long to prepare for the final blow. Zhao Yingcheng has been holding back, obviously waiting for Young Master Qiuye to return and preside over the meeting. They will definitely make some arrangements after the meeting. Taking action now to capture the young master will have a better effect on demoralizing the army."

Old Jin was sweating profusely, but his white hair was combed back into a smile. He gripped the flower stem with his fingers, flicked it sharply, and swiftly cut into the lacquered red pavilion pillar: "These are all his tricks. He endured until the very end, then set fire to the ancient well platform. Success makes him king, failure makes him a bandit."

Old Jin stammered, "Why didn't the young master tamper with things at the gathering?"

“I’m not that stupid,” Shu Xue sneered. “The headquarters is heavily guarded; it’s not easy to break in. Rather than a small skirmish, we should lure Qiu Ye out. Once he comes, he’ll either die or be seriously injured.”

Shuxue looked around and pointed her slender fingers at the stream and rocks: "These black and white chess pieces are the key."

Old Jin looked in that direction.

The gentle murmur of water flows through a natural spring, about half an acre in size, with nineteen crisscrossing gullies on the bottom, barely noticeable under the cover of aquatic plants. Scattered on both banks are round, two-colored rocks, black like crows and white like solidified fat, which are like chess pieces on a chessboard of water.

Shuxue walked slowly and smiled, "This is the chessboard where I invited you to play against me. He is cautious by nature and has a keen sense of smell. There is no way to subdue him without a special method. The chess pieces are coated with colorless and odorless Tianzhuzi potion. Once they fall into the water and are exposed to the sun, the potion will be released and will numb a person's mind. At that time, I will make my move, and no matter how great his skills are, he will not be able to escape."

Old Jin was startled, but remembering what his young master had said about the two of them having already taken the antidote, he felt somewhat relieved. Recalling the past, he suddenly realized, "No wonder the young master has been paying close attention to the progress of the medicine man; it turns out he was testing the effects of the Heavenly Candle Seed."

Shuxue chuckled and said, "I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time."

Clouds drifted and rolled across the sky, and the sun shone brightly.

The Yang family of Jiangning Prefecture was originally a magnificent and secluded mansion. However, after the imperial court confiscated their property two years ago, it collapsed like an ancient tree, and even under the bright sunshine, its dilapidated state could not be concealed.

Wild grasses grew thick and withered vines coiled around the ground, and small animals foraging underground dug at clods of earth, making a rustling sound. Sunlight shone through the bronze and red-green glazed tiles, dappling the crumbling vermilion walls.

Leng Shuangcheng stood outside the low wall, quietly observing the scene inside the courtyard. After a moment, a pang of sadness welled up in her heart. She then darted over the wall and silently walked toward the backyard.

Pushing open the dilapidated Eight Immortals Gate, the hall was dimly lit, and a pungent, acrid smell of dust hit her. She walked all the way to the end, where a solitary white courtyard with its doors locked came into view. The iron lock on the moon gate was rusty, and weeds grew wildly in the corners, their branches reaching straight to the sky.

Leng Shuangcheng thought for a moment, but instead of stepping onto the grass, she used her inner energy to float into the courtyard, because she had no intention of destroying the illusion that no one lived outside the courtyard.

Inside the pavilion with a missing corner of its eaves, Yuwen Xiaobai leaned against a mottled red pillar, basking in the sun with a smile.

"Who?" he shouted warily.

After a simple makeover to avoid being chased, Leng Shuangcheng realized that Yuwen Xiaobai didn't recognize her and laughed, "Xiaobai, it's me. I just did a quick smear of makeup, and you don't recognize me?"

"Shuangcheng, you're here!" Upon hearing the familiar voice, Yuwen Xiaobai turned around and exclaimed with delight, rushing over.

Yuwen Xiaobai's smile was warmer than the sun, and his eyes were clear and innocent, like those of a baby.

Leng Shuangcheng quickly caught him and asked with a smile, "Xiao Bai, how have you been?"

Yuwen Xiaobai tugged at Leng Shuangcheng's cheek and said with a bitter face, "I'm so bored. Nan Jing won't let me go out. All I do every day is play chess. I can't even fly a kite."

Leng Shuangcheng sighed inwardly, took an apple from her sleeve and handed it to him, smiling as she said, "Here you go. This is a wild fruit I ate when I was a child. I picked it and hid it for two days to bring it to you."

Yuwen Xiaobai was overjoyed and took the food. Leng Shuangcheng waited until he finished eating before taking his hand and leading him into the pavilion: "Xiaobai, I have a few questions to ask you."

The light was bright, and a June snow plant stood tall in the wind, its beauty enhanced by the passing dust, bathed in the radiant summer sun. Leng Shuangcheng stared blankly at the layers of lush grass, lost in thought. The pain in his heart seemed as insignificant as grains of sand under the sunlight.

The Medicine King was nowhere to be found with Yuwen Xiaobai. It was said that he had descended the mountain to become an immortal two months ago and his whereabouts remained unknown. Lin Qingluan had searched for Nan Jingqi and Yuwen Xiaobai, only to learn that they were the only two who had settled in Jiangning before quietly leaving late the night before last, without a trace.

Today is the final day of the seven-day poisoning period.

Nan Jingqi did not explain that this was Xiaobai's ancestral home. Yuwen Xiaobai thought it was the mansion of a fallen official surnamed Yang. He was like the plants in the courtyard, carefree enjoying the sunshine in his old home.

Nan Jingqi left secret marks along the way, and Leng Shuangcheng found her way here, never expecting to be greeted by such a scene.

Nan Jingqi, dressed in a black robe, was as handsome as bamboo. He stood quietly under the eaves, his dark eyes fixed on the two people in the pavilion. Yuwen Xiaobai chattered away with a smile, while Leng Shuangcheng remained silent. After a while, Leng Shuangcheng coaxed Yuwen Xiaobai and stood up to walk towards the eaves.

"Nan Jing, I have a favor to ask you." Her face was pale, her eyes were dull, and her body swayed like duckweed in a still pond.

Nan Jingqi quickly helped her up and sighed, "Tell me, although I don't know what happened, I'm sure that friend from the other day has worried you."

Leng Shuangcheng steadied herself, subtly avoiding Nan Jingqi's hand, and bowed deeply to him: "It's not about him, but another important matter, because now I can only rely on you."

Jiangning Prefecture and Qingzhou are on different routes. On her way back, Leng Shuangcheng had to go to great lengths to persuade Qiu Yeyijian to continue on his way while she took a shortcut to Jiangning. Originally, Leng Shuangcheng had planned to do this before Qiu Yeyijian arrived in Baishi Town, but Qiu Yeyijian's sudden appearance disrupted her plans and itinerary.

The next day, when Leng Shuangcheng returned to Qingzhou, the city was ablaze with lights. White magnolia lanterns and large red lanterns hung from the doors and windows of the streets, the red and white colors interspersed like beads strung together. Leng Shuangcheng walked straight ahead, feeling no difference between day and night; to her, it was all just that faint light.

As they approached a gate with gilded rings, two rows of guards with halberds shouted, "Who goes there? How dare you trespass on this important public property!"

Realizing what had happened, Leng Shuangcheng bowed slightly in apology and turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something, looked at his attire, touched his face, and returned to his original spot, saying, "My name is Leng Shuangcheng, from the residence of Prince Qiuye..."

As she was considering which of the household servants would be appropriate to address herself, the guards heard her voice and remembered that the young master had instructed his wife to return to the manor later, so they immediately invited her into the camp.

Leng Shuangcheng walked along the corridor to the side courtyard, washed up, and then went out. Bi Tou heard that Leng Shuangcheng had returned to the mansion but was nowhere to be seen, so she kept an eye on her and came looking for her. As soon as she stepped into the gate, a green robe flashed before her eyes, and a fragrance wafted towards her. It was Leng Shuangcheng, who had just finished bathing, coming out of the gate.

"Husband... Ah, Shuangcheng, wait!" Bitou called out anxiously.

Leng Shuangcheng stepped aside and calmly asked, "Miss Bitou, is there something you need?"

Bi Tou smiled and said, "Shuang Cheng, are you going to see the young master with your hair down?"

Leng Shuangcheng glanced at the graceful figure in the sheer green gauze dress, grinned, and said, "This is already quite good. May I ask where Young Master Yin Guang is?"

Bi Tou was slightly startled, then smiled and said, "Shuang Cheng, since Young Master returned to the manor yesterday, he has been staying in the council pavilion with Young Master Yin Guang. During that time, the servants brought him dinner and late-night snacks five times, but Young Master only tasted a few bites and then refused them. I don't know if it's not to Young Master's liking or for some other reason..."

Leng Shuangcheng suddenly smiled and asked, "Miss Bitou, when I fled a few days ago, did you suffer any punishment as a result?"

Bitou shook her head: "No."

Leng Shuangcheng smiled sincerely, "I have been worried about this matter." Seeing Bi Tou standing calmly, her eyes showed only surprise. After a slight pause, she raised her head and said, "Qiu Ye is kind-hearted. She must have something to ask you to do, but I don't know what it is."

Bi Tou was shocked and hesitated before saying, "Shuang Cheng is really..." Before she could finish, Leng Shuang Cheng was about to get up and leave when Bi Tou called out anxiously, "Shuang Cheng, you can't do this! Young Master will blame me!"

Leng Shuangcheng sighed and walked back: "Alright, after you help me get dressed, I'll go see Yin Guang."

Bi Tou invited her in and asked curiously, "Why is Shuangcheng in such a hurry to see Young Master Yin Guang?" Leng Shuangcheng smiled slightly but did not answer. Bi Tou picked up a flower comb and started to do her hair and makeup, and then brought her a set of cloud-patterned clothes to help her change.

28. Preparation

White lotuses bloom in the clear pond, clustering together like three thousand beauties in a Han Dynasty palace, each with its own fragrance and vibrant colors. Glistening buds are tinged with pale pink, their graceful forms delicate and refined. Pairs of flowers tug at the hem of a garment fluttering in the breeze, offering a self-deprecating smile.

The lotus leaves are a vibrant green, exuding a refreshing fragrance. A gentle evening breeze stirs them, causing the edges to curl gracefully, like a green robe fluttering in the wind.

She paused, stunned, as if Lin Qingluan, elegant in her green robe, had appeared before her.

Qiu Yeyi, dressed in white, stood quietly at the gate, waiting for Leng Shuangcheng to approach. As she passed the lotus pond, she glanced at the lotus leaves, all of which was observed by his calm and unwavering eyes.

Leng Shuangcheng snapped out of her daze and looked ahead. Noticing Qiu Yeyi's icy expression and his tall, imposing figure like a distant, pale winter mountain, she immediately straightened her posture, gathered her sleeves, and approached, inwardly cursing. Reaching him, she asked gently, "Are you hungry? Would you like some food?"

A purple ribbon fluttered in the wind, her long eyebrows arched gracefully. Autumn leaves, leaning against her sword, saw Leng Shuangcheng's gentle and refined appearance, her fingers obediently clutching her sleeves, and she slowly lowered her lips. Leng Shuangcheng quietly slipped away, her eyes scanning the room like the wind.

"Who are you looking for?" Qiu Ye asked coldly, his hands behind his back as he stood with his sword.

The room was cool and comfortable. Leng Shuangcheng nudged him and said, "Would you like to eat? I'm hungry."

As the light dimmed, the delicate aroma of the abundant dishes on the rosewood and sandalwood table instantly dispelled the cool, pale hues of the evening. Leng Shuangcheng, chopsticks in hand, served Qiu Yeyijian several servings of fresh vegetables, then ate in silence. The night was like scattered branches, the dimness dividing the hall, each wisp like a petal falling from a tree. As she silently savored the golden bamboo shoots, she found them rather unremarkable, almost tasteless. Suddenly, Qiu Yeyijian said coldly, "Still not awake?"

Leng Shuangcheng almost dropped her chopsticks when she turned her head and saw that Qiu Yeyi's table was piled up with all sorts of fresh vegetables, and even some dried fish meat that he disliked, a colorful and chaotic mess. She quickly cleared away the food bowl, asked someone to bring another clean one, and after quickly finishing her dinner, she lowered her eyes and pondered her thoughts.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at him coldly, then calmly and unhurriedly ate his meal. The lotus soup was smooth and refreshing, and he carefully tasted a few spoonfuls. Seeing this, Leng Shuangcheng felt a burning desire in his heart, but his expression became even more gentle: "Eat more, eat more."

Qiu Ye Yijian sat motionless, coldly saying, "Nine Threads." Leng Shuangcheng glanced at the table, realized what was happening, and hurriedly got up to fetch him the silver needles and nine threads. Qiu Ye Yijian still didn't move. She thought for a moment and tried to feed them to him. Seeing that he ate them all, she couldn't help but mutter a curse inwardly.

The clinking of the cups and spoons was like the tinkling of pearls. Leng Shuangcheng served Qiu Yeyijian his dinner in the same way, patiently watching him drink a bowl of soup, and breathed a slight sigh of relief. Qiu Yeyijian looked up to ask something, but a faint breeze swept by, and Leng Shuangcheng had already disappeared in a flash.

The magnolia lampshade emitted a bright white light, illuminating the surrounding snow-covered walls as if it were daytime. The silver light held the lamp tightly, and his silver robes blended seamlessly with the glow, creating a soft, elegant, and pearly effect. He quietly approached the magnolia lamp, carefully observing Leng Shuangcheng's steps in refining gunpowder.

The square rosewood table was piled high with various minerals and materials: frost from the bitter cold, pale yellow sulfur like chrysanthemums, and jet-black charcoal, all ground into powder. Leng Shuangcheng mixed them together in a 7:2:1 ratio and poured them into Yunnan-Tibet black oil for repeated refining.

"Madam, will this work?" Yin Guang asked curiously after staring at it for a while.

"I told you not to call me Madam." Leng Shuangcheng was too busy to even look up, and replied, "Didn't your young master use this kind of oil when he blew up the ancient well? I tried it at Yixianju. The gunpowder can explode underwater, so it's definitely fine to apply it to arrows."

Yin Guang hesitated for a moment, then said, "The young master has ordered that anyone who disrespects the lady be executed on the spot."

Seeing that the problem persisted despite repeated attempts to stop him, Leng Shuangcheng sighed and asked, "Are Young Master Yin Guang's arrows iron-spined arrows or cone-shaped arrows?"

“It’s a gold and silver iron spine, slightly improved.” Yin Guang answered quickly and skillfully, then took a golden arrow and handed it to Leng Shuangcheng. Leng Shuangcheng lit the arrow and spun it, and a chilling light immediately appeared on the lampshade. She turned the arrowhead upside down to examine it closely; the tip was a triangular mountain shape with two wings on the side. Yin Guang explained, “The arrowhead pierces the enemy’s back, and the barbs on the two wings fit into the wound, making it difficult to pull out. The blood groove draws out the enemy’s blood as if it were watering it.”

Leng Shuangcheng glanced at him and said irritably, "I know, it was Qiu Yeyi who shot this arrow through my shoulder back then." Yin Guang secretly regretted it. Leng Shuangcheng soaked the arrow in gunpowder oil and took Yin Guang to a more spacious outdoor area.

The Xuanwu bow was silvery-white, its glow barely concealed by the lingering night, as gentle and elegant as a crescent moon. Leng Shuangcheng weighed the bow in his hand, thinking to himself that a bow is like a gentleman, and with a surge of energy, he drew back the silver bow.

The bow was slightly leaf-shaped. Leng Shuangcheng exerted all her strength, but it was still only half-drawn like a crescent moon. She couldn't help but sigh, "The Xuanwu Embryo Bow, the feathers fly like a torrent. Only strong arms can control this bow. Wei Zifu's divine weapon is truly worthy of its name."

Yin Guang smiled and, after spotting a figure, respectfully said, "Young Master."

Qiu Yeyi emerged from the clear, moonlit night, his cool allure as captivating as the swaying flowers and trees behind him. He silently approached Leng Shuangcheng, standing behind her and holding her fingers in his hands.