Canción nocturna

Capítulo 23

However, she looked at me with suspicion, reached out and gently touched my cheek, then applied force and actually tore off my face.

I was startled and shuddered.

Ever since I entered Medicine King Valley three years ago, I have always presented myself as a man. And I am surrounded by men. Under the influence of this environment, I thought I was very good at pretending to be a man. Over the years, I have traveled all over the country, occasionally leaving the valley to buy groceries or listen to operas, and no one has ever seen through my disguise. But now that someone has so easily stripped me of my disguise, I feel a great sense of defeat.

I sincerely wanted to learn from her how she saw through my disguise so that I could refine my skills and reach new heights in the future.

“Master Mu,” I called to her.

Mu Yanxue stared blankly at the dough in her hand, the light in her pupils gradually dimming, her eyelashes trembling slightly. After a long moment of distraction, she finally asked coolly, "What is this?"

If this were a mask, and the mask of her former senior brother and lover at that, how horrifying and shocking that would be. I could only lower my head and say, "This is a mask, a masterpiece of my master's craftsmanship. Since Medicine King Valley does not accept female disciples, I use this to disguise myself."

Even the gods wouldn't believe this.

Mu Yanxue raised her head, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes, and shouted, "Speak, what exactly is this?"

She bit her lip, her fingers clenched tightly, her face deathly pale, her voice trembling slightly, "Lin Yi, is he dead?"

I grunted, "Mmm..."

Mu Yanxue paused, her eyes gradually reddening. Her dark hair made her face look bloodless, like a winter plum blossom swaying precariously on a branch at the edge of a cliff.

"Master Mu, I apologize for the intrusion at this late hour, but I wonder if my disciple Qi Xiang is here?" The master's gentle voice came from outside the hall.

Mu Yanxue suddenly stood up, strode forward and opened the palace door. A cold wind swept in, scattering her hair and disturbing her peace of mind.

She placed the dough in front of her master and demanded, "Dr. Xia, what is this?!"

Upon seeing my face, the master looked up and glanced at me over Mu Yanxue. Although his surprise was evident in his eyes, his gaze was as gentle as a warm breeze, making me feel at ease.

He frowned slightly and said calmly, "Master Mu, as you can see, it belongs to Young Master Lin."

"You killed him?" Mu Yanxue finally got the answer, unable to tell whether she was heartbroken, resentful, or had gotten what she wanted.

The master calmly glanced at her and said indifferently, "The person is already dead, why should the master bother with these causes and consequences?"

Mu Yanxue pondered deeply, then coldly questioned, "At that time, Lin Yi and I were both injured and poisoned. When I woke up, I was in Medicine King Valley. He disappeared along with the 'Mu Xue Sword Manual'. Doctor Xia, I ask you, did you tamper with anything?!"

The master stood silently without answering.

Mu Yanxue muttered softly, almost to herself, "I knew it all along, how could he possibly do such a thing..."

She shouted angrily, "Did you kill him?!" She took a step forward, suddenly drew her sword, and thrust it straight at her master.

The master stepped back, the soft sword just grazing his chest, tearing his white robe in the process.

The master said in a deep voice, "Master Mu, I have no grudge against Young Master Lin."

Mu Yanxue's eyes flashed with icy coldness. "If it weren't for that, how could you possibly have his face? Xia Jingnan, you hypocrite."

The master dodged or retreated from her sword, his eyes remaining calm. "Master Mu, Young Master Lin died of poisoning. He and you were both poisoned with the Heart-Piercing Elixir at the time, and he died from the poison."

Upon hearing this, Mu Yanxue hesitated for a moment, but after a brief silence, she said angrily, "What Doctor Xia said is utterly absurd! I was poisoned with the Heart-Cutting Scripture at that time, how could you have saved me? Lin Yi's internal strength is better than mine, yet he suffered from the poison?"

Watching Mu Yanxue battle her master, I was extremely anxious, almost tearing my hair out. I said urgently, "Master Mu, think it through. If my master intended to kill Lin Yi to steal your sword manual, why would he have saved you? He certainly wouldn't have spared this man's face, waiting for you to come seeking revenge! Besides, the Heart-Scraping Essence is a rare and deadly poison. Do you know how to cure it...?"

Before I could finish speaking, my master interrupted me. He said calmly, "Master Mu, I have no intention of interfering in the grudges within your manor. As for Young Master Lin's matter, I am powerless to help, which is truly regrettable."

Mu Yanxue paused, "In these four years, I've met with you several times, and you've never told me that Lin Yi was dead. What are your intentions?!"

The master replied, "Young Master Lin and Master Mu are fellow disciples with a deep bond. I think it's better if Master Mu doesn't know about this." Then he looked at me and said, "Xiao Xiang, it's getting late. We shouldn't disturb you any longer. Let's go."

My eyes were fixed intently on the face mask in Mu Yanxue's hand. I knew she wouldn't return it to me; it was such a fine piece of skin, what a pity. Just as I was about to leave with my master, Mu Yanxue stopped me with her sword, asking, "Qi Xiang, what do you mean by undoing the Heart-Cutting Veil?"

I had been at Muxue Manor for less than a day when she held a sword to my neck twice, which truly stirred my heart wave after wave.

I answered honestly, "When the Heart-Scraping Poison takes effect, it feels like a knife is cutting into your heart, and then your whole body rots. The poison is extremely potent, and the poison takes effect within three days of exposure. Only the Heart-Turning Lotus can cure this poison, but the Heart-Turning Lotus takes decades to bloom once, and this flower is extremely rare. Therefore, there is basically no cure for this poison."

Mu Yanxue's eyes narrowed. She turned to look at her master and said in a hoarse voice, "Tell me, why did Lin Yi die?"

The wind gradually subsided, and the snow abruptly stopped.

Looking up, there is a deep, gloomy, and boundless black night; looking down, there is a day pieced together by snowflakes.

The master sighed softly, "At that time, only one lotus flower bloomed."

I think she already guessed the answer, otherwise she wouldn't be so calm.

Mu Yanxue's hand fell limply to her side, and the Crimson Snow Sword landed on the snow, its sharp light seeming to pierce into people's hearts.

She let out a soft sigh, turning into a wisp of smoke in the air, a faint smile playing on her lips as she murmured, "So that's how it is..." Then, she lowered her eyes, tears streaming down her face, wetting her snow-white cheeks.

I think that a woman like Mu Yanxue is a perfect match for this snowy scene. Her love is as pure as the white snow. She loves Lin Yi, and regardless of grudges and affections, she waits for him day after day in this desperate place for four years.

From the snow-covered girl of that time to the renowned Master Mu of today.

The red plum blossoms bloom in the snow, then fade away, season after season.

She received nothing in the end.

Lin Yi must have understood her nature, which is why he didn't forget to put on a show before he died, pretending to steal the sword manual. He probably thought: even if she hates him, he doesn't want her to love someone who is already dead.

Such a person, who could still make such meticulous arrangements for his affairs on his deathbed, miscalculated one thing. Even if he really did steal the sword manual and disappear without a trace, she could not forget him.

My master called to me softly, "Xiao Xiang, let's go."

I watched Mu Yanxue from afar. She was like a blood plum blossom blooming in the icy snow, but I didn't know how long her blooming period would last.