A Wandering Youth

Chapter 90

Following the direction of the fair hand that the autumn leaves leaned against the sword, she turned her gaze to the stream. The rocks were rounded and smooth, emitting a faint, clear light, and the fragrant grasses stretched out in a continuous line, gurgling and swaying along the water.

With the sky as its canopy and the earth as its carpet, the heavens and earth are dark and yellow, and in the middle lies a finely crafted and beautiful chessboard.

Qiu Ye, seeing through the crisscrossing ravines hidden by the water plants, coldly asked, "How should we proceed?"

The two seemed indifferent to everything else, only wanting to play their game freely. Qiu Ye Yi Jian's cold and self-assured demeanor secretly alarmed Shu Xue. She composed herself, smiled with her eyebrows curving, and walked to the edge of the stream.

At this moment, a gentle breeze arose, causing the silk gauze of her snow-white palace dress to rustle. Suddenly, she flicked her sleeve, and a bolt of white gauze wrapped around her arm flew out, the thin silk ribbon curling up a white rock, which then swiftly plunged into the water.

The movements were swift and graceful; the pebble entered the water without causing a ripple, demonstrating the player's profound skill.

Shuxue turned her face and smiled slightly: "The one with more living pieces remaining within a quarter of an hour wins."

Qiu Ye remained silent, leaning on her sword. With a slight sway of her sleeves, she unleashed a wisp of wind, which shot out with concentrated force towards the black stone. As it reached the stone, the wind slowed down, carrying the stone as it spun and fell.

Shu Xue's eyes lit up, and she laughed, "What a skillful technique! It's even better than my method of using objects to leverage strength." With a charming laugh, her palace veil danced nimbly, moving like a snake as she swiftly placed one chess piece after another.

As the sun rose higher, the stream babbled gently, its tender flow flowing towards the corner of the pavilion. In the sunlight, Shuxue was as light and graceful as wisps of smoke; her movements were faster than Qiuye Yijian's, as if she didn't need to think at all.

Qiu Yeyi's eyes were dark and cold. He glanced at the chessboard and noticed that although the white pieces were a warm and light color, they were arranged neatly on the board in a square formation. Moreover, it was not the same pattern he had used in the game he played against Leng Shuangcheng.

Huang Yushu turned her gaze, her interest growing stronger. Bi Tou stood not far away by the forest edge, the summer breeze rustling through the leaves. Suddenly, she slumped softly into the grass, her flowing skirt fluttering in the wind.

With his back to the clear blue sky, Qiu Yeyi's face was ashen, his features still cold and indifferent.

Shuxue looked at his profile and smiled happily: "Young Master, what's wrong?"

Qiu Yeyijian remained noncommittal, coldly passing by Shu Xue and sitting down in the ancient pavilion with its upturned eaves: "I want to see Leng Shuangcheng." Her posture was unapproachable, subtly revealing a kingly dignity.

Shu Xue's eyes flickered slightly, and she covered her mouth with a veil and chuckled: "I forgot to tell you, young master, that I have long admired you. After today's game, I wish to take you back to Japan... As for your wife..." Her smile grew wider and more eerie, "Of course, she will be invited out to keep you in check."

She slowly bent down, her fingers deftly plucking a solitary purple flower, which she gently twirled: "In Japan, we have a flower arranging art that allows us to evaporate the moisture from flowers and press them into dried flowers for easy storage..." Her eyes flickered, landing on Qiu Yeyijian's face, and she smiled, "What a pity for you, young master, if you were made into a specimen..."

Hearing her chilling voice, Qiu Yeyijian remained motionless, but coldly interrupted, "All you've said is to stall for time and see if I'll fall for your tricks?"

His figure was as upright and sturdy as wood, showing no sign of relaxation. Although there was a lot of shadow in the pavilion, Shuxue could clearly see that his face was like the clouds and snow at dusk, carrying an innate cold and majestic aura.

The more aloof and composed Qiu Yeyijian became, the more hesitant Huang Yushuxue grew. She glanced quickly at Lao Jin. Lao Jin understood, pursed his lips, and let out a sharp, loud whistle that echoed into the distant sky.

In the distance, under the sunlight, a figure slowly approached, water dripping from his hair and shirt, walking with an expressionless face.

Huang Yushu Xue scrutinized Qiu Ye Yi Jian's face closely, not missing a single tremor.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at the distance for only once before resolutely turning his face away, his brows and jawline forming a sharp, piercing line as he forcefully suppressed his trembling. He struggled to maintain his balance for a moment, his right hand gripping the edge of the stone table, his knuckles protruding, his pale skin gleaming bluish in the light.

Despite being somewhat prepared, he still painfully avoided looking at Leng Shuangcheng when he saw her in person.

His thin lips were pressed tightly together, with streaks of blood seeping from them. His body trembled as if pierced by a needle.

He was in so much pain he couldn't bear it.

In Qiu Ye Yijian's memory, Leng Shuangcheng always wore a blue robe, gentle yet aloof, like a scholar in a blue robe by West Lake. When he stood by the water, the blue waves would instantly lose their color, and the water and sky would become cold and clear. Later, he deliberately dressed her up and held her hand tightly, keeping her by his side. Even with her purple robe fluttering, she could still be dignified and beautiful, like the swaying purple bamboo, instead of the way she is now.

He suddenly remembered Wu Sanshou, whose face, after being poisoned by Gu, was dull and lifeless, like a wooden board. In the past, his hands were stained with the blood of many people, and he had seen many resentful and twisted faces, but he never thought that Heaven would punish him today, making him witness the most tragic scene and making him suffer excruciating pain.

Leng Shuangcheng walked step by step from the light, her large, empty eyes staring straight ahead without a trace of emotion. Her face was wooden, without a trace of pain or feeling, she walked in without any desire or ambition, her clothes and hair dripping wet.

She was like an elm tree, unbreakable by any wind or frost, and undefeated by any pain. The three-foot-long sword in her hand was even warmer than she was in the sunlight.

His purple robe, stained with blood and disheveled, was soaked in water and clung to his body in wrinkles. His black hair cascaded down his forehead, the scattered white specks particularly glaring in the light. A breeze swept across his snow-white face, causing a few strands of white hair at his temples to flutter coldly.

One night apart, her black hair turned white.

Shu Xue looked at her white hair with slight surprise, but when her gaze returned to Qiu Ye Yi Jian's face, her expression had returned to normal. "I don't need to lift a finger; your wife will surely be able to serve me."

She smiled slightly, patted lightly with her delicate hand, and slowly moved aside, intending to observe the human tragedy.

A beam of light condensed at the tip of Leng Shuangcheng's sword, slicing through the lush green grass and rustling as it cut countless stems and leaves. She gripped the sword tightly, walking stiffly and resolutely into the pavilion.

Qiu Ye leaned low to the sword, as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his throat, causing him unbearable pain and making it difficult for him to breathe.

When Leng Shuangcheng walked over, he had no way to avoid her.

39. True or False

Under the blazing sun and a warm breeze, the grass in the stream remained lush and green. The chess piece, carrying the medicine, sank into the stream, and once exposed to the sun, it quickly took effect.

Qiu Yeyi's body grew increasingly stiff, her fingers gripping the edge of the table, seemingly maintaining a certain posture. Huang Yushuxue was filled with doubt and suspicion, which was why she dared not step forward to check herself, but instead released the medicine manipulator Leng Shuangcheng.

At this moment, Leng Shuangcheng walked closer step by step against the wind, expressionless. The tip of his sword seemed to be gathering a tremendous force, and under the blazing sun, it was chilling and shimmering with a blue light, illuminating his pair of dull eyes.

Shuxue was waiting for this powerful strike.

Qiu Yeyi struggled to lift his head, looking at Leng Shuangcheng amidst the misty grass. As the newcomer drew closer, blocking Shu Xue's view, he suddenly uttered four short sentences:

— Delay as much time as possible

—The game contains the principles of the I Ching

—Slaying the Soft Red

—What happened to your hair?

His dark eyes trembled slightly, his face contorted with genuine pain, the depths of his gaze suffocating. Leng Shuangcheng stared unblinkingly at his lips, then suddenly turned and drew her sword. The sword flashed like a shooting star, then surged like a cascading river, gathering its power to thrust straight behind him.

Shu Xue was startled, but reacted immediately. Her sleeves fluttered in the wind, and with a light touch of her toes on the green grass, she retreated swiftly like a butterfly in white. Leng Shuangcheng, having cultivated his lotus for so long, would not let her escape so easily. He lunged forward two zhang, and the tip of his sword pierced the air, suddenly thrusting towards Shu Xue's heart.

A flash of silver light caught the eye, the wind and clouds gathered, and a cold gleam of a sword slashed through the dark green grass with a whoosh, leaving behind a dazzling sword shadow.

Shu Xuege laughed, her feet lightly tapping the ground as she swept backward like a wisp of smoke: "Seeing your sallow hair, I thought the medicine man had made a mistake, but it turns out Leng Shuangcheng played another trick..." Before she finished speaking, she twisted her slender waist, her sword tip flashing like a water snake, and the palace gauze ribbon struck Leng Shuangcheng's chest.

A sharp sound pierced the air, but Leng Shuangcheng did not dodge. He became one with his sword and charged forward with a clang.

As soon as Leng Shuangcheng suddenly launched his attack, Lao Jin leaped forward, slashing at Leng Shuangcheng's back with both palms, forming a pincer attack with Shu Xue.

Shu Xue was surprised that Leng Shuangcheng was attacked from all sides and remained indifferent. Her expression froze and her movements slowed down. Just as she was surprised, a long sword arrived and the blade sliced through Shu Xue's black hair, cutting it off in a flash.

Shu Xue dodged, but her long hair made her difficult to dodge, like striking a snake at its vital point. Her face turned green: "Leng Shuangcheng! You bitch!"

Screams continued unabated. After Old Jin's palm strike landed on Leng Shuangcheng's back, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "The young master is still just a child. He gets so angry over losing his hair..."

Leng Shuangcheng took the blow head-on, swayed slightly to regain her balance, and coldly stared at the two people in front of her.

Shuxue tugged at her sleeves, screaming as she lunged forward again. Old Jin, quick as a flash, pulled his young master back, whispering, "Young Master, calm down... the angrier you get, the more you fall into her trap. They're already in your hands, no rush to deal with them..."

Shu Xue glanced at the strands of hair falling in the wind, her face filled with heartache: "I swear I will not be a human being if I do not kill this bitch."

Leng Shuangcheng gave a cold laugh and said, "Come on."

The sunlight cast a long shadow on the grass, and her reflection on the ground remained as still as a mountain.

"Come here!" Qiu Yeyijian, who had been sitting quietly for a long time, spoke up at this moment, her voice somewhat indifferent, "If you stand there any longer, you might get bitten."

Shu Xue's face turned pale, and she sneered repeatedly: "Young master, there's no need to be so eloquent. I know you can't escape my grasp."

"Is that so?" Qiu Ye sat motionless, her eyes filled with mockery. Sunlight streamed down the eaves of the pavilion, her indifferent face as cold and aloof as the glazed tiles.

Leng Shuangcheng remained calm and turned to walk towards Qiu Yeyijian. His steps were steady and his aura was overwhelming, completely disregarding the wide-open space behind him.

Both men had cold expressions; one remained calm in the face of danger, while the other showed no fear, making it difficult for onlookers to discern their true intentions.

"I originally wanted to kill you with one blow." Qiu Yeyijian waited for Leng Shuangcheng to approach, gently took her wrist, and subtly used the momentum to stand up. "Now that I see you in such a state, I can't bring myself to do it."

Shu Xuejian Qiuye Yijian easily got up, her face showing surprise and doubt, and slowly paced back and forth.

Leng Shuangcheng didn't break free from Qiu Yeyi's support, but leaned closer to his chest and suddenly said, "They think we're not injured and don't dare to come over. What do we do now?"

Qiu Yeyi glanced coldly at the two men a few feet away and said, "It won't be long before they try to come up and test us..."

"That's terrible," Leng Shuangcheng interrupted, forcing a bitter smile. "I'm actually in a lot of pain all over. If they attack together, I won't be able to resist at all. Look, I'm so tired that I can't even hold my sword properly." As she spoke, she shook the sword in her hand twice, making a buzzing sound.

Qiu Yeyi suddenly laughed, his handsome face breaking through the ice and bathed in the warm, gentle light of the morning sun: "Leng Shuangcheng, you are truly interesting... How can I let you go?"

As he spoke, he lifted his snow-white sleeve to wipe the dirt from her face, his tone as nonchalant as possible: "How did that woman torment you?"

Leng Shuangcheng sighed: "Even in this critical moment, you still don't forget to care about these trivial matters."

Qiu Yeyi tugged at her hair and said indifferently, "This is a matter of utmost importance... As for your mistakes, I will settle them with you in detail when we get back."

Hearing this, Leng Shuangcheng became anxious and hurriedly said, "Physical pain is nothing. When I was practicing martial arts, my master hit me much harder than this..."

Qiu Yeyi's expression changed, and she said coldly, "So you've been feigning death to lure the enemy time and time again? Don't you consider my feelings?"

Leng Shuangcheng gave a wry smile: "Since you've come so close, of course I can't avoid it." He paused, then asked in surprise, "How do you know I'm not being controlled?"

Qiu Yeyi stared coldly at her face and said, "Didn't you make it very clear when you were talking to Gu Dukaixuan in private? The main ingredient of the medicine man is poison. Since you are immune to all poisons, it is natural that it cannot control you."

Leng Shuangcheng chuckled and tightened her grip on his hand: "Don't be angry... I'm sorry to have worried you..."

The two chatted back and forth, and Old Jin looked at the pavilion, then back at his young master, his eyes wide with amazement.

Shu Xue watched silently for a moment, and finally understood the gist of it. She sneered, "These two are really out of their minds. They treat us like we're invisible. They're acting all lovey-dovey in broad daylight, so comfortable..." She turned her head and coldly shouted, "Whether they're real or not, Lao Jin, get some gunpowder bullets and give them a piece of your mind."

Upon hearing this, Old Jin took out several dark-colored bullets from his chest, held them between his fingers, and walked forward with focused concentration.

Leng Shuangcheng looked at his hand, feeling uneasy, but her expression remained calm as always.

Old Jin's martial arts skills are not low. He is famous for his hidden weapons. His right hand moves as fast as a dragon. This is common knowledge. What worries her the most are the bullets in his palm. They are similar to thunderbolts. In fact, they are gunpowder from the Sun and Moon Golden Wheel.

— Qiu Yeyi leaned against her, his breathing slow and deep, which was indeed a feigned effort to maintain his strength after being poisoned. He clearly did not want the enemy to notice anything amiss. Now, facing two powerful enemies and assassins lying in ambush in the distance, how should she resolve this crisis?

Qiu Yeyi glanced at Leng Shuangcheng's profile and said, "No need to worry, the silver light should be arriving soon..."

Upon hearing this, Lao Jin became even more anxious. Before he could even reach the two men, he suddenly flung his hand, scattering the gunpowder everywhere.

Several round beads flew in from all directions, accompanied by a whistling sound that was sharp and piercing.

The wind itself seemed to be torn open, which shows how powerful the bullets were, like a roaring tidal wave sweeping across the land, making the heavens and earth tremble.

The power of the Sun and Moon Golden Wheel should never be underestimated, nor should Old Jin's hidden weapon skills be taken lightly. Leng Shuangcheng clearly understood this principle. She gritted her teeth and stood in front of Qiu Yeyi's sword, closing her eyes in despair.

This attack was a fatal blow, destined to be unavoidable. Faced with the oncoming darts, only one of the two could survive.

Qiu Yeyijian, who had been weak and powerless, suddenly moved.

His right palm, pale as snow, held all his strength as he desperately grabbed Leng Shuangcheng's hair, pulling her to the side. As soon as Leng Shuangcheng's body was pulled away from his chest, gunpowder exploded on his white clothes with a few popping sounds, splattering blood.

Blood gushed out immediately, soaking the spotless clothes, a shocking sight of vibrant colors. In just a moment, Qiu Yeyi made his choice; a cold smile still lingered on his lips, but his body slumped to the ground.

Leng Shuangcheng was thrown aside. Hearing the noise, he cried out and rushed forward: "Qiuye! Qiuye!" He moved like the wind and pressed a major acupoint to stop the bleeding.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at her with difficulty, then slowly closed her eyes and remained motionless, as if reliving the tragic scene of the Iron Tower duel.