A Wandering Youth

Chapter 96

With two loud thuds, the leopard's paws stepped onto the collapsed courtyard wall, causing it to tilt and sway slightly. Silver Light shouted urgently, "Get up! Use the wall for leverage!" The two pulled hard from both sides, and the nine-ringed leopard soared into the air. This time, the force was even stronger than before. After flying in the air for a long time, it crashed down with a thud, landing right on one of the collapsed walls that resembled a bridge.

The man in black had not expected that the Bixie Manor would collapse in an instant, and could only watch helplessly as the two rode away on their beasts.

Yin Guang was extremely familiar with the layout of Bixie Manor, and he knew the terrain by heart. He knew exactly where the walls and trees were. Before launching the attack, he listened to Leng Shuangcheng's advice and took the risky gamble of a desperate strike.

Right now, the two are working in perfect harmony, manipulating the leopard to leap repeatedly. The main beast is huge and has strong legs. Often, with a single leap, its body is already five or six zhang away. Moreover, once the high wall collapses and the cage breaks, it is like a dragon rising from the abyss, with the nine-ringed leopard soaring straight into the sky!

Wufang Island, in front of the ruins of Bixie Manor.

The ground sank deep, stretching out in a twisted, ribbon-like pattern. The once magnificent Bixie Manor was gone, leaving only a deep pit in the ground, like a giant with its mouth agape, hooting like an owl in the bleak twilight, mocking the world with a sinister glint.

Leng Shuangcheng was weak and powerless, and slumped back against the ruins, her eyes wide open, facing the smoke and rain falling from the sky.

Yin Guang turned to look at the enormous creature in the night, then at Leng Shuangcheng, whose face was pale, and said with emotion, "That was really dangerous. It was only thanks to listening to Madam's suggestion that we escaped alive."

Leng Shuangcheng gave a weak smile, and after only a short rest, she struggled to stand up again: "This feeling is really unpleasant... I feel like my strength is gradually disappearing like quicksand."

Yin Guang smiled, his face filled with a soft glow, and suddenly said, "Please don't blame Yin Guang, Madam."

Leng Shuangcheng raised the Eclipse Sun sword, cleaving through the desolate night, its roar echoing like a dragon's roar. She weighed the sword in her hand and calmly replied, "I know what you did. You must have relaxed when you saw that I had escaped the calamity, so you added something to the tea you gave me."

The sword tip plunged into the earth, transforming into a sharp tree trunk that stood tall in the night. Leaning on the hilt, she swayed, struggling to stay conscious: "I'll only ask you one question: why did you bewitch me at this moment?"

Yin Guang reached out and supported her, his voice filled with panic: "Young Master guessed that after the Battle of Wu Fang, Madam would definitely rush to assist Qinglong and Qixing. Young Master cherishes Madam's health and asked me to safely escort Madam off the island, forbidding Madam from running around and working hard any longer."

Leng Shuangcheng smiled silently and pressed on, "If you take me down, will you be able to see Qiuye?"

Yin Guang shook his head and said, "Young Master didn't say anything, but he's seriously ill and bedridden right now, so he probably can't take care of Madam, right?"

A wave of dizziness washed over her. Leng Shuangcheng leaned over the hilt of her sword, quietly slipped her hand down, and made a bloody cut: "I'm still worried. Tell me, are you planning to take the remaining guards to assist Young Master Gudu?"

“Of course,” Silver Light replied loudly. “Please rest assured, Madam.”

As weariness washed over his eyes, Leng Shuangcheng glanced longingly at the ruins of Bixie, and before collapsing to the ground, he sighed with endless emotion: "Boss Chai is truly ingenious; the mechanisms he created are absolutely ingenious."

A fierce wind howled, and the earth fell silent. The sage-slaying beast had vanished without a trace.

Even the most magnificent palaces will eventually turn to dust in the flames of war.

4. If Yu Xue

Qinglong Town is located on the coast of the East China Sea. It runs east-west, with houses and high-rise buildings on the north and south sides. Only the main avenue in the middle, which is like a wide ribbon, stretches across the ancient town. If you follow the road from the port to the west exit, it is a straight line that runs all the way to the end. Only at the end is it split into two official roads by hills. The road goes up towards Qixing Villa and Baishi Mountain, while the road goes down into the heart of the Central Plains.

As dusk fell, torches and lanterns were lit along the main road of the ancient town, and the air was filled with the smell of pine resin. A flurry of footsteps rushed by as people dressed in brown robes moved stealthily toward the west, leaving a desolate scene on the street. The western sky was a bright, blood-red color, and shouts of battle echoed across the land.

Lonely Triumph tightened his blue robe, coughed lightly twice, turned and entered a tall building in a dark alley. He went straight up to the fourth floor, where a room was faintly lit. He pushed open the door, walked to the glass lampshade with a lit candle, and sat down.

A detailed topographical map of Qinglong Town lay quietly on an antique table.

The building is tall and quiet, and the wind sways the swaying shadows of the trees, which are reflected in the windowpanes.

He needed a quiet environment; a series of events were happening one after another, some of which were beyond his expectations, and he needed to calmly think about and manage them.

Today, June 18th, at the hour of Dingyou, a sudden storm arose at sea. Japanese samurai set off from their headquarters and seized Wufang Island. At the same time, four hundred silver-clad water spirits (who were the last survivors killed by Qiuye Yijian) emerged from the town's canal, startling the residents of Qinglong Town.

The Water Drinking Ninjas were extremely fierce once they formed their formation, and it took the full force of Qinglong Town to hold them off on the west side. Moreover, their purpose was clear: to lead the way for the later arrivals and probe their strength.

In order to take control of the Central Plains, Huang Yushuxue has gathered all the martial forces and focused on attacking the prominent sects in the martial arts world. Bixie Manor is the first stop, and Qinglong Town and Qixing Manor will surely be the next battles. Zhao Yingcheng had told him these inside stories at the gathering.

After the gathering, the Qingcheng and Hengshan factions arrived at Qinglong Town in groups, where he deployed them to guard the lower western side. This was a feint he deliberately arranged to coordinate with Leng Shuangcheng's plan. The people of Qinglong Town and his trusted followers remained on the upper side, forming a barrier to draw the Japanese offensive. A key aspect of his plan was ensuring the enemy took the side road; there could be no deviation.

The sea roared like a dragon, the clouds were thick as lead, and the ships carrying refugees from the islands were waved away by him. The last group to arrive were silver-clad guards with arrows flying everywhere and the drunken Leng Shuangcheng.

Yin Guang explained to him that before the young master's accident, he had instructed him to lead the remaining troops to assist in the battle of Qinglong Town, and to be deployed according to military intelligence until the end of the battle.

Upon hearing this, he was slightly shocked. He hadn't expected that the young master of Bixie would set aside his prejudices and lend him a hand in the face of a great battle.

Despite Leng Shuangcheng's later plans, Qinglong Town's status as a target remained unchanged.

Thinking of Leng Shuangcheng, Gu Dukaixuan was filled with sorrow.

Her clothes were stained with blood, a shocking sight. Her face was pale and deeply sunken, clearly showing signs of exhaustion. As Yin Guang carried the unconscious Leng Shuangcheng away, he took the opportunity to check her pulse, his expression becoming even more worried.

Her aura was as hot as the sun, flowing through her blood vessels throughout her body. The cold poison had already caused her hair to turn silver-white, a clear sign of the backlash from her frenzied power.

According to Yin Guang, on the morning of the day he went to meet Huang Yu, the young master sought out the famous swordswoman Yu Xue and claimed that if anything happened to him after the meeting, Yu Xue would have to protect Leng Shuangcheng's safety in the future.

Presumably, at this moment, in the most secluded secret chamber of Qinglong Town, Yu Xue is protecting the unconscious Leng Shuangcheng.

"Young Master Bixie is truly thorough in every aspect," Gu Dukaixuan mused, shielding his eyes from the wind with his hand.

"Reporting to the town lord."

The doors of the pavilion swung open, and a figure in brown robes, covered in blood, rushed in, his voice trembling: "A group of black-clad warriors, numbering over three thousand, have landed at the eastern port from the direction of Bixie..."

"Calm down." Lonely Triumph coughed lightly, glancing down at the diagram on the table. "Don't worry, those are Japanese who fled from nowhere after the first battle. They crossed the sea twice in one night, and they're a bit exhausted. There's no need to be so nervous..."

Before the words were finished, a figure in blood-stained clothes darted in, crying out in alarm, "Young master, the inland canal is churning with huge waves, and more people are emerging from the water..."

"Hmm." Lonely Triumph smiled faintly, "Qinglong Town has no exits except for the east and west sides, so they did indeed come from the waterway to attack from both sides."

The two messengers, upon seeing the young man in the green robe with a faint smile, were stunned and speechless.

Lonely Triumph glanced at them and asked, "Who is this person? Do you recognize them?"

"It is said to be the esoteric Buddhist protector Lao Jin, along with the medicine practitioners Chai Jincai and Lin Qingluan," one person replied.

"You guys go ahead, I've been waiting for them for a long time."

The two bowed and withdrew. Lonely Triumph glanced at the book for a moment, estimated the time, then stood up and walked outside.

The night breeze blew into his robes, like a cool hand caressing his body. He clenched his fist and pressed it to his lips, coughing lightly. As he was about to go downstairs, he turned to look behind him, his handsome features framed by the wind, his expression calm.

In the deep shadows, there was a place where Leng Shuangcheng was hiding.

The sky was dark and gloomy, as if it had just been created, murky and silent. Distant mountains stretched out in a jagged, jagged pattern, the wind whipping clods of earth and sand into the air. In the deep, rumbling hollows of the earth, rows of cold, gleaming bronze beasts, their claws outstretched, slowly sank...

The seawater roared in... the brightly lit Bixie Manor... blood gushed out...

Suddenly, a heavy snowfall began, the cool snowflakes brushing against my face. The refreshing chill seeped through my pores and reached my heart, possessing a soothing power.

Leng Shuangcheng twisted her wrists, her sleep extremely restless. A series of images flashed through her mind: arrows flying through the air, corpses strewn across the ground, cries of agony filling the air, the Nine-Ringed Leopard, the Evil-Repelling Creature of the East Sea, until finally, a heavy snow began to fall.

The snowflakes, gentle as a kiss, gradually enveloped my entire body, a cool sensation that felt familiar—the feeling of being kissed by Qiu Yeyijian in the past.

Subconsciously aware of this, Leng Shuangcheng tried desperately to open her eyes. Her eyelids felt heavy as mountains, pressing down on her pupils. She twisted and turned anxiously, screaming, but her throat was dry and parched, like a riverbed that had dried up. Her screams broke out as weak murmurs: "Autumn leaves... Autumn leaves..."

A pair of cool lips landed on her eyes, and she clearly felt it. A kind of fragrance, like ice and snow, swirled around her, sometimes gentle and tender, sometimes ethereal and windless, depending on the depth of the lips' sips.

Leng Shuangcheng moved her lips and softly called out once or twice. Those lips found her longing and fell softly, covering her lips. After a while, a cool mist passed over her lips, moistening her chapped lips. It was sweet and cool, with a delicate fragrance of protective floral dew.

The sweet feeling was indescribable, like a lotus flower blooming under the moon, its silvery light rippling gently like water. Moonlight spread through her heart, swaying like ripples. This softness grew stronger and stronger, and she finally became somewhat certain that the person who came looked a lot like Qiu Ye Yijian.

Her tightly closed eyes welled up with tears.

"Qiuye, I'm relieved that you're alright!" Leng Shuangcheng murmured to herself, her eyes too weak to open. The person who kissed her seemed to sense her feelings, taking her hand and gently stroking the scars on her palm. His fingers were nimble and strong, stroking deeply and gently, making her feel the supple and smooth texture of his fingertips.

"I really regret it. How could you be so stupid?" A deep male voice sounded in her ear. Leng Shuangcheng struggled violently, like a drowning child. Her pale face turned deathly white, and her long, beautiful eyelashes trembled uncontrollably.

It wasn't Qiu Yeyijian's voice. Even though they were so close, she could hear every breath he took in his throat. There was no affectation or suppression; it was just natural vocalization.

He was just as indifferent as Qiu Ye, but he didn't have the familiar, delicate fragrance she knew. Every night, that fragrance would gently seep into her heart and lungs, accompanying her into a peaceful dream.

"Who is this person?" her mind couldn't help but ask.

A hand slowly stroked her cheek and hair, finally stopping at the side of her neck, gently supporting the back of her head, and lowering her body.

That icy, snowy aura later completely disappeared.

Leng Shuangcheng was already exhausted and weak enough. Her subconscious told her that if she wanted to wake up, she had to break through this nightmare.

The inland river meanders out from underground, and going upstream, one can reach Qingzhou. In the night, the river water churns and roars, gurgling like lava, bursting and fiery.

Dark shadows kept emerging from the water, wave after wave, like ants foraging on the ground, countless in number.

Old Jin drove the caravan forward, across the arched bridge, and onto a straight street.

As dusk settled and the sea breeze picked up, it whipped up the shop signs and hanging lanterns along the street, making them creak and groan. The whole town seemed to have fallen asleep, except for the main street, which remained open, revealing its firelight and nighttime glow, presenting its most tranquil and enchanting side.

Two rows of straight, orchid-like streetlights illuminated the overcast sky, making it clear and blue. The street was wide and clean, deserted, and quiet, like a secluded, elegant garden.

All of this was so serene and beautiful, so open and honest, like an empty city, the empty city where Zhuge Liang subdued Sima Yi.

Old Jin let out a shrill cry, and Chai Jincai and Lin Qingluan led the way, stiff and numb. Numerous dark figures followed silently behind them, arranged in orderly rows and columns.

A cough or two drifted through the rolling wind, indifferent and nonchalant, echoing clearly on the street in the twilight.

In the quiet, beautiful, and brightly lit empty city, a figure in flowing blue robes emerged. He had handsome features and a gentle smile on his face, like a wisp of smoke after a willow tree, ethereal and fleeting, yet with an indescribable sense of aloofness.

A gentle and refined young man, with a hint of melancholy between his brows, he is handsome and flawless, yet also enigmatic.

That smile can only belong to one person, a triumphant return in solitude.

Old Jin led the way, and the lone triumphant figure stood smiling in the light. When the two sides were about ten feet apart, he glanced at the ranks indifferently, then turned and walked towards the end of the street to the west.

His movements were neither hurried nor slow, leaving posterity with only a hazy silhouette.

He actually followed the example of Zhuge Liang, coming alone as a guide. The challenge had been issued, and it was up to the other party to see if they had the courage to accept it.

"Playing the empty city ploy?" Old Jin sneered, "A few thousand men are not afraid of your small, isolated city?"

A man in black stepped forward and whispered, "Left Envoy, please be careful. Our master only ordered us to kill Song people along the way and wipe out the major martial arts sects. This person came alone to lure us, so there must be a large ambush behind him."

Old Jin sneered, "The collapse of the Evil-Repelling Manor buried tens of thousands of our people. Our young master is already furious and has vowed to wash the Central Plains in blood. Now that someone is provoking us like this, we should accept the challenge..." After thinking for a moment, he continued, "But we've heard that the main force of the Central Plains has deployed defenses on the west side of this town. Let's see where they take us. If they take us to the place where the Water Drinkers are attacking, we'll just join them in the attack. If they take us to the place where the Qingcheng and Hengshan factions are stationed, that side is relatively weak. They obviously want us to chase after them. It seems like they've left such a gap, but there's definitely an ambush!"

The figure in the green robe moved straight ahead, his steps light as the wind, each step showing no sign of panic. Old Jin led his team in a desperate pursuit, yet they could not catch a glimpse of him. After walking for a long time, they saw the figure in green turn directly into the mountain path to the left, leaving the official road on the right side to stand open and sneer in the night.

The dark mountain path resembled the mouth of a python, winding and cold, exhaling gusts of cool wind, its true nature impossible to discern at a glance.

The mountain road to the lower left is as dark and deep as a pool, its bottom unseen; the official road to the upper right is desolate and shrouded in mist and rain, equally indistinct.

Moreover, the Water Drinking Sect had been unable to penetrate the upper right camp for a long time, and the Azure Dragon forces were all resisting there.

Old Jin waved his hand and chuckled coldly: "What a show of mystery! I, Old Jin, only follow the law. Wherever the main force is, that's where I'll charge and fight!"

The black-clad warriors, their voices surging, followed the sound and stretched across the upper right road. After walking for a quarter of an hour, the muffled, thunderous voices gradually became clearer. Although the surroundings were shrouded in the thick darkness of night, the passionate shouts of battle sounded incredibly exhilarating.

The densely packed procession sped forward, and after rounding a ridge, they finally saw a sea of people.

Lines of silver armor stood out against the darkness in the mountains and forests, their gleaming light particularly striking. As they slowly retreated, the sound of bowstrings being pulled piercing the air echoed through the forest.

These were the Imperial Guards retreating from Bixie Manor. Arrows rained down like locusts, pelting the crowd on the road. Those struck cried out and fell to the ground. Several hundred men, dressed as water spirits, weaved through the crowd like flowing water, their blades flashing like snowflakes. The remaining men in brown robes, wielding various weapons, surrounded the water spirits in their formation. The long, serpentine formation, weakened by the attacks from near and far, was constantly being replaced by new members filling the gaps.

Old Jin frantically waved his hands, signaling the warriors behind him to approach the foothills, and shouted, "No wonder they're all wearing brown clothes, they planned to kill the ones in the light!"

As the saying goes, enemies are especially hostile when they meet. As soon as the black-clad warriors saw the archers of Bixie Manor, they spontaneously rushed forward and surrounded them without waiting for Lao Jin to give any further instructions.