Spring rain is like wine, willows are like smoke

(I) Peach Blossom Chaos

1

When Cuiyi and I returned from the mountain, it was already late. The entire Liu family compound was filled with lanterns, and we could vaguely hear the steward, Uncle Xiang, calling out to the farmhands.

"Miss, the madam told me the other day, 'Cuiyi, if you come home late again, I'll break your legs.'" Cuiyi pitifully tugged at my sleeve. "How about we don't go out tomorrow?"

I flicked her forehead and teased her, "You silly girl, everyone in the Liu family knows how much my mother dotes on you, yet you've been acting all cute and obedient in front of my mother since you've married me."

"But Miss..."

I smiled and interrupted her: "How could I not know your feelings? I must go up the mountain tomorrow. Master is probably in big trouble this time. How can I abandon him?"

Cuiyi stomped her foot angrily: "Miss, if anything happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to Madam?"

"I, Liu Ruyan, am blessed with good fortune and a long life; even the King of Hell fears me." I pulled Cuiyi to the backyard. The courtyard wall was three zhang high, and before Cuiyi could even scream, I had already pressed her Yingxiang acupoint and leaped up. To avoid my mother's nagging, the only way was to climb over the wall.

Before I could even feel smug, a hoarse voice suddenly coughed in the darkness.

I lowered my head helplessly: "Uncle Xiang."

"Third Miss, Master and Madam are already waiting for you in the flower hall for your meal. I told Madam that Third Miss has been back for quite some time and is studying in the study."

I clapped my hands with delight: "Uncle Xiang is still the best to treat Ruyan."

My parents and second sister were all in the flower hall. The food was still warm. When they saw me arrive, my mother scolded me, "Ruyan, you are no longer a child and you are still so stubborn. You even conspired with Uncle Xiang to talk about studying. Let's see how you will bring shame to my Liu family after you marry into the Dugu family."

"Mother, why not let my second sister marry Dugu Leng, and I can wander the world and find some peace and quiet?"

"You ignorant child, it's an unchangeable fact that Ru Bi is already engaged and Shen Ruosu, known in the martial arts world as the One-Armed Young Master, has already given betrothal gifts. Just give up on that idea."

I lost my temper. My eldest sister, Liu Rushui, was strong-willed and married a proud and wealthy merchant, while my second sister, Liu Rubi, was well-educated, gentle, and virtuous, yet she married a man who walked on the edge of a dangerous world. As for me, Liu Ruyan, I am to marry into an official family and be bound by etiquette for the rest of my life.

"Mother, aren't you afraid that you've chosen such an outrageous son-in-law for us sisters to marry the wrong man?"

The second sister lowered her head, covered her mouth with her fan, and chuckled softly: "Ruyan, don't blame our parents for their arrangements. The eldest sister is strong and impulsive. She married Cui Li and not only will she have no worries about food and clothing, but she will also not suffer any grievances. As for me, I am powerless. If I were to marry into an official family, I would inevitably be bullied. You are different. You are both learned and skilled in martial arts. Even the ghosts of those big families would avoid you."

Father stroked his beard and smiled: "Ruyan, do you understand now?"

I stuck out my tongue: "Yes, yes, you're right. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making this possible."

2

The next day, it was still early, and the farmhands and maids were just beginning to busy themselves with the day's tasks. I secretly left a note in the study and slipped out the back door when no one was looking.

My master was waiting for me at the foot of the mountain. He had specially put on a kasaya, sat cross-legged, and devoutly twirled his prayer beads.

"Master, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

“Ruyan, it’s because Master’s mind is in turmoil and he can’t sleep, so he came down the mountain early.” Master sighed and stood up: “We need to get to the Dragon and Phoenix Inn before dark.”

The sun was already high in the sky. The road was rugged at first, winding through vast fields, and before us stretched an endless forest. My heart was filled with curiosity. Yesterday, my master only told me that if things didn't have a satisfactory answer, the martial arts world would likely face a catastrophe. But my master has always been very indulgent towards me; why was he taking me this time?

Master probably sensed that I was hesitant to speak, and said, "Ruyan, please speak freely."

Why won't Master tell Ruyan what happened?

The master sighed: "It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just that I don't know how to bring it up. This happened more than 30 years ago. Back then, I was young and impetuous, and I caused quite a bit of trouble."

"Trouble? Didn't Master become a monk at a young age?"

"No, it was a regrettable incident thirty years ago that made Master see through the vanity of the world. In the blink of an eye, he has been out of the martial world for more than thirty years. Everything has changed. The old story should have a satisfactory answer."

"Master, please tell me quickly, Ruyan is getting impatient."

Master chuckled: "Don't rush, let me explain slowly..."

Thirty years ago, the Persian Kingdom in the Western Regions presented a peerless ancient zither as tribute to the imperial court. Legend has it that the zither's owner was a reclusive master who, by chance, discovered this zither, which had been buried for a thousand years, in a mountain cave. The zither was named "Chaos," and a musical score was found in the cave, noting that the discovery of this zither would inevitably lead to great chaos in the world; hence the name "Chaos." The master felt that apart from the superior wood, craftsmanship, and pitch, the zither possessed no other remarkable qualities.

He took the zither down the mountain and learned to play the piece "Peach Blossom Chaos" from the sheet music.

Finally, during one of his piano performances, he became so engrossed in playing that he was shocked to discover that the murderous intent in his heart flowed into the ears of the listeners along with the music. Those who heard the music became disoriented and terrified. Some went insane, while others vomited blood and died. Their hearts and lungs were shattered, as if they had been shaken by a powerful internal force.

That ancient zither, known as "The Chaotic Era," became famous.

More and more people came to try out the instrument, all wanting to test its power or even possess it.

However, all those who had seen that master were already dead.

No one goes up the mountain to ask for a zither anymore.

Even when the master was very old, before he died, he carefully instructed his disciple that he must never play "Peach Blossom Chaos" on this zither when he had greed or murderous intent in his heart. After his master died, the disciple was extremely sad. He thought that his master had loved this zither and this piece so much when he was alive, so every year on the anniversary of his master's death, he would bring the zither to his master's grave and play "Peach Blossom Chaos".

It was a coincidence that the Emperor of Persia and his ministers went for a spring outing in the mountains. They happened to hear ethereal music, and were instantly overcome with sorrow, weeping uncontrollably. Following the music, the group arrived at the grave of a recluse and found a young man playing the zither, his face streaked with tears. Upon learning it was the Emperor, the young man quickly apologized. The Emperor, captivated by the zither, was generously gifted it to the young man, and thus began the story.

News of the imperial court obtaining the ancient zither quickly spread throughout the martial arts world. Countless people had the idea of stealing the zither, and the martial arts world was in an uproar. Among them, the most powerful group was: "Poisonless Young Master" Shen Tianqi, "Shadowless Venerable" Tian Canghai, "Miraculous Hand" Li Wuxin, "Ghost-Seeing Float" Wuwang, and "Moon-Running Fairy" Shangguan Qing'er.

These five men are all renowned figures in the martial arts world, and they came together because of their mutual admiration. Shen Tianqi comes from the Tang Clan and is skilled in using poison; the saying "no poison, no man" is actually "no poison, no hero." Tian Canghai's hidden weapon, the Shadowless Needle, is famous throughout the martial arts world, and Li Wuxin has superb thieving skills. Wuwang's swordsmanship is unique, and the Moon Goddess lives up to her name, possessing unparalleled lightness skills and an exquisite appearance, truly resembling the Moon Goddess Chang'e from the Moon Palace.

Their theft of the guqin from the palace proceeded extremely smoothly.

Because their plan was so meticulous, they left almost no trace. However, they forgot one thing: the question of the g

……