¡Qué ganas de sentir la brisa primaveral!

Capítulo 27

I was speechless. "You...you're insane?"

Her expression changed, and she was about to raise her hand again when someone grabbed her in mid-air. It was Wen Su, who said coldly.

"What are you doing?"

"I..." Xiao Wei only managed to utter one word before her body flew out, about to fall into the water. Fortunately, she was skilled in martial arts; in mid-air, she used her ribbon to tie the stern of the boat, leaping back to her feet. Just as she regained her footing, Wen Su struck her face with another palm strike. After the sound, blood slowly trickled from the corner of Xiao Wei's mouth. Her pale face and bright red blood were a horrifying sight.

Even in my utterly distraught state, I was stunned by the scene before me.

“I already said her body is still useful, are you deaf? Get out and don’t come back in.”

Xiao Wei clenched her fists, her eyes seemingly spitting fire, but she wasn't looking at Wen Su; she was staring at me. I felt a chill run down my spine from her gaze, but she didn't utter a word. Her chest heaved, and finally, she slowly lowered her head, gritted her teeth, and said, "Yes." Then she turned and lifted the curtain, walking out.

Wen Su stood still. I lowered my eyes and continued to stare blankly, not wanting to see any of them.

Xiao Wei's voice suddenly came from the stern, "Left Envoy! Falcon is here!"

Wen Su withdrew his gaze from me, lifted the curtain and stepped out. I saw a bluish-black bird, swooping down like an eagle, landing directly on Wen Su's raised hand. He untied the small bamboo tube bound to the bird's claws, pulled out a thin roll of paper from it, and stared at it intently, his gaze shifting uncertainly.

The curtain fluttered, obstructing my view from time to time. Even from this distance, I couldn't see what was written on the paper. But Xiao Wei stood to the side, not daring to approach, but her gaze was fixed on the paper, her eyes filled with undisguised focused anticipation.

A sudden glimmer of hope ignited in my heart: could there be news of Mo Li on that piece of paper?

Even if I can't see him, at least let me know that he is still safe and sound.

"Hey, what does it say on there?" I asked.

The two completely ignored me, so I tried again.

"Does it take that long to look at? Are you illiterate? I can help you."

...

After I finished speaking, there was a moment of silence inside and outside the cabin. Even the oarsman's hand stopped for a moment. Xiao Wei's expression was distorted. Wen Su didn't even turn her head, but her back was stiff, as if she was having a hard time holding back.

My request naturally went unanswered. Wen Su turned around, her face expressionless, and spoke without looking at me, saying only, "Chang Ling, travel through the night."

The oarsman at the bow responded with a "Yes," and with a splash of water, the light boat, propelled by the wind, cut through the waves and sped forward, the lush green banks flashing by, its speed on the blue water astonishing.

I stared intently at the piece of paper in Wen Su's hand. He bent down, lifted the curtain, and entered the cabin. Looking at my expression, he suddenly smiled.

Wen Su has beautiful features, and although her smile is not as charming as the first bloom of a hundred flowers in red, it is still very elegant. However, I was still traumatized by his ruthless actions earlier, and I was not worthy of his attention. His smile made me feel a chill run down my spine.

I lowered my eyes. He was holding the piece of paper in his hand, only a corner of its white color showing.

"Want to know what's written on it?" he asked politely.

I wanted to nod, but the chills were still there, and I couldn't react for a moment.

Wen Su stretched out her hand, clasped her five fingers together in front of me, and the white paper instantly turned into powder.

He was still smiling. "How about this?"

I stared blankly as the fine powder drifted and fell to the ground. If it were three years ago, I would have thought Wen Su was incredibly skilled. If I were still the carefree girl raised in the deep palace, I might have laughed and clapped my hands, thinking it was a wonderful illusion.

But now, I just silently watch the powder fall and disappear, my vision blank, and I can no longer smile at such a scene.

I just regret that when I desperately hoped it was all an illusion, it turned out to be the very real reality.

Wen Su spoke again, still with that malicious smile, "Unfortunately, Miss Ping An, you are neither a member of my sect nor a guest we invited, so naturally you cannot see our secret letter. But rest assured, in time you will understand everything, as long as you don't die." He slowly finished speaking, smiled sweetly, and sat cross-legged in front of me, as if he wanted to face me like this forever.

...

Narrator: She posted it wrong last time, this time she changed it here.

Chapter 69

Wen Su and Xiao Wei's disgust for me was extremely obvious, so I remained silent for the rest of the time, treating them as if they were invisible. Fortunately, Wen Su still understood that I was the important vessel containing the sacred object, and apart from letting me wrap the ribbons around her, she didn't touch me with a single finger. Xiao Wei had learned her lesson and didn't step into the cabin again until dark, leaving a lonely white shadow at the stern.

I recalled her previous expression and suddenly felt that she was also a pitiful person.

But what this woman said was something I couldn't understand no matter how hard I tried. She kept saying that she kidnapped me for Mo Li's sake, and that Mo Li had a high status and no one in the sect dared to harm him. But listening to her words carefully, it was clear that she was doing everything she could to prevent Mo Li from returning to the sect.

What exactly happened three years ago that made Mo Li lead these people away from the Holy Fire Cult? And what happened three years later that made him insist on bringing me back to the cult?

I couldn't understand any of this, so I decided to stop thinking about it. The boat was simple, with only a small table in the cabin. Wen Su didn't seem to care about lighting the lamps and sat cross-legged opposite me.

The small boat glided lightly across the water, passing thousands of mountains and valleys, heading west. As the saying goes, "Departing from Baidi City amidst colorful clouds at dawn, returning to Jiangling a thousand miles away in a single day," the oarsman seemed to have inexhaustible energy, traveling through the night.

The moonlight was bright outside the boat, but I couldn't sleep. The loud noise from Tianshuiping was still ringing in my ears. I dared not close my eyes, afraid that I would have wild thoughts. All I could see was Wen Su sitting cross-legged in silence. When I turned my head, I saw that lonely white figure at the stern of the boat.

After receiving the message from the hawk, Wen Su smiled at me, albeit maliciously. Although he later tore up the note in front of me with even greater malice, could I infer from his reaction that Mo Li must be safe and sound since he had the mind to tease me like that?

I repeated it to myself over and over until I convinced myself that it was true, but I still couldn't close my eyes. The water rippled, the cries of monkeys could be faintly heard on both banks, and the moonlight shone down, desolate as water.

I watched the moonlight through the gaps in the ship's curtains, which opened and closed intermittently, all night long. The night was so long that I eventually hallucinated. In my hallucination, a tall, thin boy came with a gun, smiling at me in the moonlight, his eyes as gentle as a spring breeze.

I looked at him and silently called his name, "Ji Feng." I wanted to speak, but I didn't dare, afraid of disturbing him and never seeing him again.

I stared at him with my eyes open for a long time until the stinging pain in my eyes forced me to close them. When I opened them again, he had vanished without a trace.

Wen Su was still sitting cross-legged in front of me, while Xiao Wei, dressed in white, floated silently in the wind. I lowered my head, filled with endless regret, regretting that I had actually closed my eyes.

See? Even if it was an illusion, I still couldn't keep him.

As the morning light slowly spreads through the thin mist on the river, the waterways gradually come alive with activity as boats that have been traveling all night begin to move. Houses are built along the water, and boats shuttle back and forth. Finally, the boats dock at the shore and moor at a bustling town wharf.

Wen Su pressed my pressure points again and then covered my head with a cloak, rendering me unable to move. When I got off the boat, Chang Ling carried me.

Chang Ling was tall and strong, with arms as thick as a boat oar, and he held me like a child.

With the brim of his cloak hanging low, all I could see was Chang Ling's iron-black face. The dock was bustling, and I was thinking about how to find a way to escape from these people when he suddenly spoke, his voice deep and resonant, as if right next to my ear.

"Chang Xian and Chang Bao were both killed by the Right Envoy, weren't they?"

I was suddenly startled, remembering the two men who died in the rain. Looking at the person in front of me, although he didn't resemble them at all, since we shared the same surname, we might be related.

His question was clearly ill-intentioned, and I didn't want to say anything more, so I just kept quiet.

He didn't ask any further questions, and silently carried me forward. The dock was muddy and bustling with people selling fresh fish, loading and unloading goods, and picking up and dropping off relatives and friends. The air was filled with a mixture of strong smells. We walked past a group of porters carrying heavy loads, their loud shouts rising and falling.

Wen Su was in front, and Xiao Wei was behind. We were separated by those people for a while, and I suddenly heard Chang Ling's voice again, "Chang Xian was my own brother. He went in my place that day."

His chest heaved, and his voice sounded as if it were being squeezed out. I looked at him again, and he stared straight ahead, his dark face still taut.

I suddenly felt a pang of pity for this man. Thinking about it, Chang Xian's death was indeed unjust, but the fact that he asked me this question put me in such a difficult position.

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." That was all I could manage to say. Someone came up with a horse in front of us. Wen Su and Xiao Wei mounted their horses. Chang Ling took a few more steps and helped me into the accompanying carriage. When he put me down, his gaze lingered on my face for a while, but he didn't say anything. He was extremely silent.

I felt sad under his gaze. I opened my mouth, but hesitated to speak. Then I heard Wen Su's voice from outside the car, calling his name in a low voice.

"Common order".

He immediately straightened up, closed the door, and left.

With the car windows closed, I felt completely paralyzed. The doors shut shut, blocking out all light, and I felt suffocated inside, as if I were in a black box.

...

There was no internet yesterday, but there's more today, :)

Chapter 70

The ground was uneven, and the wheels churned. Gradually, the road became smoother, and the bumps lessened. I was unable to move, and there was no light in the carriage. I was in a daze the whole way. I don't know how much time had passed when suddenly the carriage stopped, and the door was opened from the outside. Bright light shone in instantly, which was extremely dazzling.

I had been in the dark for too long and couldn't adjust to the light. My vision blurred, and someone walked up to the car and looked at me with their back to the light.

"Young lady, you've finally arrived. You must be tired from your journey." The man spoke to me. I blinked, and my vision gradually cleared. I finally saw him clearly. He was an old man with white hair and beard, a golden pipe tucked into his waistband. He stroked his beard and smiled at me. His cheeks were rosy. He truly had the appearance of a child despite his white hair.

Behind him was an elegant manor, with white walls and gray tiles, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with a stream flowing around the gate and green willows. At the gate, there were pretty young maids and boys. Coupled with the old man's smile, if I hadn't been immobilized by pressure points, I would have really thought that I had been warmly invited here as a guest.

Wen Su and Xiao Wei jumped off their horses and walked straight behind the old man. Wen Su bowed in front, and Xiao Wei knelt on one knee behind, and they said together, "Elder Huang."

"The Left Envoy is being so polite with me." Elder Huang chuckled, turned around and took his hand, then looked down at Xiao Wei, who was still kneeling on the ground. "You did a good job on this mission. Here's a reward. Have some melon seeds." As he spoke, he actually took out a handful of melon seeds and put them in her hand.

"Thank you, Elder Huang." Xiao Wei accepted it with both hands, holding it so tightly that she didn't dare to put it down even after standing up.

I was dumbfounded. A reward of just a handful of melon seeds? This elder is being far too stingy!

"What are you doing standing here talking? Come on in, those old men are waiting." Elder Huang took the first step, but then turned back to speak to me.

"Come on, young lady." He said, spreading his five fingers.

I heard a few hissing sounds, as if some foreign object was flying through the air. My body relaxed, and all my acupoints were released. Looking down, I saw a few small sunflower seed shells. They fell to the ground as soon as I moved, and one of them stuck to my front, which I couldn't shake off.

I was so disgusted that my face turned pale. I was about to say, "What are you doing?" when I suddenly remembered that I had just arrived on their territory and the situation was unclear. It was better to be patient. Just as I was thinking this, my vision blurred and I was grabbed by Elder Huang and dragged to the ground like an eagle grabbing a chick.

I stumbled and nearly fell over. In my dizziness, I no longer cared whose territory I was. I looked up and glared at him angrily, "Let me go! You shameless old man!"

Suddenly, all around fell silent. Even the two willow trees with their thousands of drooping branches at the entrance of the manor seemed to freeze in an instant. I turned my head in surprise and found that everyone was looking at me as if I were a dead man.

In the dead silence, Elder Huang's loud laughter suddenly rang out, "This little girl is fun, very fun! Come on, I'll take you inside." With that, he grabbed me, my pulse was seized, and my feet were locked. I tried to struggle but couldn't break free, and he led me all the way into the manor.

Since I entered the martial world, apart from visiting the Dinghai Golden Tide Hall once with my master, I have been traveling to different territories of the Holy Fire Sect. Whether it is the Ten Best Pavilion or the Feili Manor, they are all full of ingenious traps and mechanisms. However, this manor is refreshing and spacious. Upon entering, there is a gentle path paved with white stones. Peach and plum trees are planted on both sides. There is also a shallow pond with clear water. Dozens of koi fish swim in it. When they see people walking by, they gather around. They must be used to being raised and begging for food.

I couldn't break free from Elder Huang's hand and was dragged inside. I had no mood to appreciate the scenery. At the end of the path was the main hall of the manor. The door was wide open, and several people were already sitting inside, talking to each other. Elder Huang made a lot of noise, and before he even stepped inside, everyone had already turned their heads. One of them even stood up and spoke in a deep voice.

"Fourth brother, what are you yelling about?"

"Brother, this little girl is really fun. Give her to me when you're done with her," Elder Huang chuckled.

I was so angry that I forgot where I was. I jerked my hand away and shouted, "How dare you!" Even after shouting, I was still out of breath. If I hadn't spent three years cultivating my mind and body on the top of Qingcheng Mountain, I would have almost blurted out my long-unused catchphrase, "Drag him away and kill him!"

The old man frowned. "Fourth brother, this woman is of great importance. If you're not enough, there are plenty of young women within a hundred miles. Don't joke about such important matters of the sect."

Elder Huang seemed somewhat wary of the old man. He didn't argue back after being reprimanded, but simply let go reluctantly, walked over and sat down. He picked up the teapot on the table and took two big gulps of tea, then took out a handful of melon seeds and started cracking them open right there in the hall.

I stood there, rubbing my hands, my hair standing on end. What did he mean by "if not enough"? What did he mean by "there are plenty of young women within a hundred miles"? I couldn't help but feel a surge of fear. Could it be that this old man's ruddy face was the result of yin-yang cultivation?

Two elderly men were sitting in the hall. Wen Su was the only one who had come in. Xiao Wei had stopped on the stone path and was waiting outside the hall at a distance. Wen Su first bowed to the elderly man who was talking to Elder Huang and called out, "Elder Lan." Then she turned to the left and right and bowed again, saying, "Elder Qing, Elder Bai, Wen Su greets you."

Elder Lan was a tall, thin old man with a serious appearance. He wore a simple blue robe and nodded slightly to Wen Su, exuding great authority. The other two were quite different. Elder Qing on the left had a refined appearance and dressed like an ordinary scholar. He held a black fan in his hand, which gleamed coldly as he waved it. It didn't look like a paper fan with poems for showing off, but rather like an iron weapon.

The man nodded to Wen Su and replied, "You're too polite, Left Envoy." He spoke in a very refined manner. The elder Bai sitting opposite him was a round, fat man with a prosperous appearance. He started smiling even before Wen Su turned to him. His whole face was all rolled up, and he always had a pure gold abacus in his hand. He looked like a businessman who made money by being amiable.

If these people were to meet alone on the street, they wouldn't stand out, but now, with such a diverse group of people gathered under one roof, plus Wen Su, who looks neither male nor female, it's extremely bizarre.

I clasped my hands together and silently observed them. My feet involuntarily moved back a little, and the urge to escape was overwhelming.

Suddenly a voice rang in her ears, "Now that you've entered our manor, there's no way you can leave."