Vender ropa y traer vino para beber contigo

Capítulo 8

“Helan…” Ye Junshan came back to his senses, sighed, waved his hand, and the white-clad man following behind presented a slender wooden box.

"Knowing that Master Huang is a lover of calligraphy and painting, I specially gifted him a copy of Mi Fu's 'Poems of Tiaoxi'."

Those in the audience who knew anything about the craft exclaimed in astonishment, "How could Ye Junshan have obtained the long-lost 'Tiaoxi Poetry Collection'?"

"Haha... Alliance Leader, you know exactly what I like. Please take a seat." Huang Ting pulled out a chair, and everyone's interest was piqued again.

"I apologize for my presumption, but I have known Brother Huang for many years and have never heard that you have a daughter," Ye Junshan said with a smile.

"Chang Sheng is my adopted daughter, and this is her first time back, hahaha..." Huang Ting downed another cup of wine, in high spirits, laughing heartily, his beard trembling. He raised his wine cup, toasting everyone, and said loudly, "Eat and drink well, everyone!"

Just then, a green figure stumbled in, it was Chen Li, the head maid of Madam Huang's room. She knelt down with a thud, crying with tears streaming down her face: "Master, something terrible has happened! Senior Brother... he... he's been murdered!"

The wine glass shattered on the ground with a thud. Huang Ting was stunned for a moment: "You, you, what did you say?"

Ye Junshan was also startled and looked directly at the woman in green kneeling on the ground.

Chen Li could only cry, lying paralyzed on the mountain, unable to speak.

"Quick, take me there!" Huang Ting suddenly stood up, his steps unsteady, and Ye Changsheng quickly stepped forward to support him.

Huang Ting seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, while Ye Junshan beside him frowned, deep in thought. Huang Ting instructed his disciples to properly entertain the guests outside. The group hurried towards the east courtyard.

The dust and color remain unresolved; night goes and day comes.

Jia Ling was seated at the inner table of the Five Peaks Hall, two or three seats away from Ye Changsheng. There were about eight or nine people at the table, all of whom were well-known heroes and heroines in the martial arts world. The people of the martial arts world were generous and open-minded, and since they were all of similar age, they quickly became acquainted after introducing themselves.

Jia Ling, dressed in a pale yellow satin brocade with a long tasseled sash adorned with gold threads, looked even more refined and handsome, clearly the son of a wealthy family, making him seem completely out of place at the table.

As soon as he sat down, he picked up a Drunken Immortal Chicken Leg, a spoonful of honey-glazed green beans, and a plate of braised seafood and eight-treasure broccoli. He then picked up the plate and began to eat by himself.

To his right sat a beautiful woman in a light pink dress, charming and graceful. There was nothing wrong with her, except that she was frail and boneless, and could not sit still and was about to fall over. She could only lean on the shoulder of the young master Jia next to her, and could only reach over him to pick up food. Her wide sleeves would occasionally brush against his ear, carrying a strong scent of perfume.

Jia Ling frowned, cursing inwardly, finally succumbing to her extreme annoyance and impatience. Then, his dark eyes darted around, and he suddenly grinned, taking the plate of eight-treasure chicken gizzards. He said very obediently to the woman in pink, "Look at this young lady, she must be at least thirty, right?"

The woman in pink was none other than Dai San Niang, the mistress of Bai Tang Palace, known in the martial arts world as "Three Thousand Hands of Delicate Beauty." She considered herself graceful and stunningly beautiful, and her greatest pleasure in associating with young gentlemen was to abhor having her age mentioned. At this moment, her face turned deathly pale. She had initially felt a surge of affection for Jia Ling because of his handsome appearance, but his rude words had infuriated her: "You..."

“But if you look closely at the girl’s face…” Jia Ling leaned closer to Dai San Niang, nodding repeatedly and praising, “She’s at most twenty-eight or twenty-nine…”

Dai San Niang snorted coldly, her eyebrows furrowed, her previous gentle charm completely gone. Just as she was about to lash out, a woman in green stumbled in, crying with tears streaming down her face. She said that Wu Ren, the eldest disciple of Renyi Manor, had been killed.

Upon hearing this, Jia Ling was shocked. He had been at the manor for many days and was already familiar with the people there. He had also had some dealings with Wu Ren, who stood out among the manor's disciples. He was handsome, gentle, and highly skilled in martial arts. How could he have been killed on such a lively day at the manor? Suddenly, it dawned on him that although today was Huang Ting's birthday, Wu Ren, as the eldest disciple, had not appeared. He had neither accepted invitations at the gate nor greeted anyone inside the manor. What he was most curious about now was who could have silently murdered Wu Ren, one of the Seven Talents of Tongling, at the Renyi Manor, where all the guests were gathered.

Jia Ling got up and followed the others to Wu Ren's room. But no matter how many times Jia Ling had guessed in his heart, he was still shocked when he saw Wu Ren. Ye Changsheng was also really startled - not because of his gruesome death, but because the room seemed to have been the site of a fierce battle. Tables and chairs were overturned, broken porcelain and bottles were scattered all over the floor, and even the curtains had been torn down.

Wu Ren lay on his side about five steps from the door, his head facing inward. A sword had pierced through his chest from behind, and dark red blood soaked through his clothes, winding its way out.

Dai San Niang stretched out her sleeve to cover her mouth and nose, and scolded Ye Changsheng standing in front of her, "The whole room smells of blood. It's such a pity that such a handsome man is dead." Ye Changsheng nodded repeatedly, his face full of mourning.

Huang Ting, his eyes blazing with fury, hissed, "Who harmed my disciple?"

Ye Junshan sighed and patted Huang Ting on the shoulder: "Brother Huang, please accept my condolences. I will definitely find out the real culprit and seek justice for Renyi Manor. The deceased is gone, so let's move the body away now."

Huang Ting waved his hand wearily, and some people came in from outside the door to move the body away.

"Um..." Ye Changsheng smiled slightly and cautiously squeezed through the crowd, "Wait a moment."

She crouched down, lifted Wu Ren's sleeve, and slowly lowered it. She then carefully examined the blade that had pierced Wu Ren's chest, flicking it with two fingers. A "ding" sound rang out—everyone was puzzled.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ye Changsheng smiled with satisfaction, then sat up, pointed to a spot on the ground, and looked at Huang Ting, asking, "Alliance Leader Ye, Manor Lord, there are words here, and his sword seems to be... gone."

On his birthday, Huang Ting lost his beloved disciple. Overwhelmed by joy and sorrow, his vigilance dropped significantly. Only after Chang Sheng reminded him did he realize that there were no other swords around the body.

Ye Changsheng squatted down again, lifted Wu Ren's sleeve, and gestured for everyone to come and look.

"Li Huangyin!" Everyone gasped. If it was him, then it wouldn't be hard to understand why he would sneak into the heavily guarded Renyi Manor, which was full of guests, and kill the highly skilled Wu Ren.

"Tai'a must have been taken by that Li Huangyin." A sinister voice interrupted, and a face flashed through the doorway—it was the skinny, beady-eyed Ma Dan. Jia Ling remembered that when they first met, Ye Changsheng had earnestly asked him if his surname used to be Ji. She muttered to herself, "Only chickens lay eggs, not horses."

Ye Junshan frowned and pondered for a moment: "It seems Li Huangyin came to seize the sword." Dai Sanniang flicked her sleeves and feigned a sigh, but there was a slight smile at the corner of her eye: "Seizing the sword doesn't necessarily require killing people. This Lord of Luoyang Tower is truly ruthless." Everyone was grinding their teeth, wishing they could immediately join the heroes in leveling Luoyang Tower and killing Li Huangyin.

“Um…” Changsheng said gently, “The murderer may not necessarily be Li Huangyin.”

"What?"

How do you know that?

"What big talk is this from a little girl?"

People in the martial arts world are known for their outspokenness. Hearing that Ye Changsheng had defended Li Huangyin, they were already spitting at her. Huang Ting continued to watch her, waiting for her to continue. Ye Junshan, on the other hand, kept a close eye on Ye Changsheng's every move.

Ye Changsheng's brow twitched, and he turned to the group of burly men, saying, "I would trouble you all to turn him over."

Although the big man looked confused, seeing Ye Changsheng's extremely apologetic expression, he still did as he was told.

The body was turned over and lay face down on the ground. Ye Changsheng casually grabbed a piece of cloth, wrapped it around the hilt of the sword, and then pulled it out with a forceful pull. It was an ordinary sword, with a few words imprinted on the blade, stained with blood, the blood dripping onto the ground in a pattering sound.

Ye Changsheng carefully held the sword, pointing it with his index finger from a distance: "Look at the blade of this sword, it's incredibly sharp and flawless. And this room clearly showed signs of a fierce fight. Since it wasn't a single fatal blow, the deceased must have fought with the murderer before death. But as everyone knows, even the sharpest weapon will have serrated edges after being used in combat. So... all of this could be an illusion. Including this room, this sword, and... this name."

A silence fell over the room as everyone pondered their own thoughts. Looking at Ye Changsheng's gentle face, they naturally thought of the proud, handsome, and arrogant genius boy from over a decade ago. But now, eight years have passed; his remains are likely long gone.

Huang Qiuyi could no longer contain himself and asked anxiously, "Then, maybe, maybe Li Huangyin took advantage of Senior Brother's unpreparedness to kill him, and then, seeing that Senior Brother didn't have a sword on him, she searched the whole house for it?"

Ye Changsheng shook his head: "I once accidentally bumped into Wu Ren, and I could tell he was extremely protective of his sword. Moreover, according to the people of the manor, he even keeps his sword by his pillow when he sleeps. Besides... Li Huangyin loves Qi Yuan very much, and he is indeed more suitable for her than Tai'ana..."

Huang Qiuyi was somewhat stunned: "Then, what happened?"

Ye Changsheng looked helpless, shrugged, and said very honestly, "I don't know... Dead people aren't necessarily killed by others; they might also kill themselves..."

"Oh? According to you, young lady, Wu Ren committed suicide? If it was suicide, how could he have been stabbed through the chest from behind? Moreover, as far as I know, Wu Ren was the worldly disciple of the master of Renyi Manor and had inherited the Tai'a Sword. He was supposed to have a bright future, so there seems to be no reason for him to commit suicide." Ye Junshan looked at Ye Changsheng probingly. "Do you... have any evidence?"

Ye Changsheng smiled slightly and said, "No..."

Huang Ting wouldn't listen to anything. He waved his hand wearily and said, "Leave this to Yi'er. Everyone, please return to your seats. I am ashamed of what happened today."

Once everyone had left, Ye Changsheng closed the doors and windows, picked up a relatively intact armchair, dusted himself off, and sat down. Standing to the side were Jia Ling and Huang Qiuyi, who insisted on staying to "seek the truth."

Jia Ling waved her folding fan, sat on the table, and swung her legs: "In my opinion, Wu Ren probably lost the Tai'a sword himself and couldn't explain himself, so he simply committed suicide." Ye Changsheng smiled and said: "Since it was suicide, why make it so complicated and misleading? And why write 'Li Huangyin'?"

Huang Qiuyi hurriedly said, "Senior Brother is a responsible person. He would never commit suicide just because he lost his sword."

Jia Ling sneered: "That's why I think he was quite responsible for leaving behind the name Li Huangyin before he died, and for the martial arts tournament on the ninth of next month."

Ye Changsheng nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Jia Ling's point. However, she was very curious as to why there were so many broken pieces of tables and chairs on the ground if there had been no fight. She picked out the largest piece of chair seat, which had a long hole in it, about three inches long and one inch wide, and was stained with a lot of blood.

He gestured with his hand, picked up the sword at his feet, and found it just the right size to fit the hilt—Ye Changsheng suddenly realized, kicked away the debris on the ground, bent down, and felt it inch by inch, muttering to himself, "So that's how it is... But... what's the reason..."

Welcome guests to the villa.

The flickering candlelight cast shadows on Ye Junshan's face, making his deep features appear even more unpredictable. He whispered to a snow-white figure behind him, "Tell me... who exactly is she?"

"Ye Changsheng's appearance does indeed resemble the young master's by seven or eight points, but their temperaments are vastly different. Compared to the young master's sharp and heroic bearing, she is much gentler. Moreover, upon closer inspection, Ye Changsheng's face appears haggard, suggesting she is frail, while the young master possesses profound inner strength. Furthermore, if the young master were alive today, he would be twenty-five, while Ye Changsheng is likely only in her early twenties." The person behind him bowed respectfully, his voice as gentle as a breeze.

Ye Junshan slowly walked to the window, gazing at the endless stars under the dark sky. He recalled the past, which was darker and deeper than the night, and his eyes were cold: "I vowed to eradicate Luoyang Tower with my whole life. For this, I have paid so much... Sheng'er, if you were alive, you would not hate me."

The person behind him lowered their head, their face hidden in the candlelight shadows, making their expression impossible to discern.

Under the starry night, the streets are lined with lanterns, and the sycamore trees sway in the green waves.

The night wind was silent. A man in red stood atop the eaves, his robes fluttering, his long hair flowing freely, a broad smile on his face as he looked down at the towering buildings below. A moment later, a flash of crimson light, and he was gone.

Ye Changsheng was slowly walking back to his room, patting his shoulder. Whether Wu Ren was killed or committed suicide, he was still dead after all. Thinking that the senior brother that Chen Li kept talking about had died, it must be a heartbreaking thing. He had just chatted with her for half the night and suddenly felt that this senior brother was really a pitiful person.

Ten years ago, Huang Ting happened to be on his way to a grand banquet at the Ye family in Jiangling when he rescued a little boy who was almost run over by a carriage. This boy was none other than Wu Ren from ten years ago. After being saved, Wu Ren knelt on the ground and refused to get up, saying that he was an orphan with nowhere to go and wished to serve his master. Huang Ting took pity on him and kept him. Wu Ren diligently practiced martial arts and was gentle in nature, living up to Huang Ting's expectations. But who would have thought that he would die so mysteriously now?

Ye Changsheng couldn't help but sigh at the unpredictability of the world and how important it was to stay alive.

Pushing open the door, she entered a pitch-black room. Ye Changsheng cautiously groped her way to the candlestick, then reached for a tinderbox… In the instant she turned, she felt a gentle breeze brush past her ear, and a cold hand slipped past her shoulder, locking her neck from behind. Changsheng quickly retreated, only then realizing that another finger was already on her lower back, near the Jueyinshu and Shenshu acupoints. With nowhere to escape, she simply closed her eyes.

A bewitching voice whispered in my ear: "Long time no see... Ye Sheng..."

Birds startled, wondering as dawn approached.

The candlestick slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a thud, making a dull sound in the quiet night.

The voice was alluring, sinister, and seemed to carry a hint of laughter. The chilling aura emanating from the person behind them sent shivers down one's spine.

Ye Changsheng smiled and said, "You must have mistaken me for someone else. I do indeed look somewhat like the Sect Master Ye of the Yinshan Sect. Ah, Sect Master Ye's father is in the other courtyard, just a few turns away. Why don't you come over, brother?"

"Oh?" The man's smile deepened as he whispered in Ye Changsheng's ear, "You want me to kill Ye Junshan? Don't forget, I'm the one who told you about your background..."

Ye Changsheng smiled and said, "Today is Huang Ting's birthday. People from all walks of life have gathered at Renyi Manor. Top masters such as Liao Wu of Shaolin, Qing Xu of Wudang, and Ye Junshan are resting in the villa. Just because you have restrained me now does not mean that I cannot escape. I am sure you would not want to make a scene."

The hand gripping Ye Changsheng's neck tightened suddenly. Ye Changsheng trembled slightly, but didn't utter a sound: "Do you think I would take those people seriously? Or... have you forgotten how I pierced your chest with a sword back then?"

Ye Changsheng slowly reached out and touched the cold, long hand on his neck, pulled it down a little, and said in a hoarse voice, "Please put it down gently, or I'll be wronged if I accidentally strangle you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she kicked up the candlestick on the ground and lunged backward. The man struck her right shoulder with a palm strike, then flipped and leaped into the air. Ye Changsheng sidestepped and ran towards the door at top speed. He pushed the door open with a "whoosh," but as soon as he took a step, he felt a numbness in his waist and couldn't move.

It still wasn't in time.

Ye Changsheng was instantly lifted and carried into the house. A cool, sweet fragrance surrounded her nose. The person said nonchalantly, "Eight years have passed, and Sect Leader Ye's skills are far from what they used to be." Ye Changsheng gradually clenched her fists, her voice trembling slightly as she growled, "I am not Ye Sheng!"

"Oh? Is that so?" The man's voice carried a hint of amusement.

Suddenly, he threw Ye Changsheng violently onto the bed and ripped off her clothes. His cold hands traced the skin of her back inch by inch. He could even feel Ye Changsheng's desperate attempt to suppress her trembling.

Suddenly, he chuckled, his hand pausing at a spot. He said softly, "There's a one-inch scar here, a scar belonging to Qi Yuan… Aren't you still Ye Sheng?"

Ye Changsheng lay on the bed, his eyes half-closed, and sighed, his voice barely audible: "Li Huangyin, what are you going to do?"

"I'm very curious... Back then, you were poisoned by Bai Qiuling with the deadliest poison in the world, and you and Liang Ning were both seriously injured. In the end, I pierced your chest with my sword and you fell into a hundred-foot abyss..." Li Huangyin's lips curled up, "Why... are you still alive?"

"Haha..." Ye Changsheng almost burst out laughing: "...Ye Sheng died a long time ago, from the moment he drank the poison, from the moment he killed his own father, from the moment he fell off a cliff with an arrow through his heart, his whole body was broken and his heart and lungs were damaged, cough cough...everyone wanted him dead, so he died. Now the one who is alive is just a doctor who travels around the world."

Li Huangyin narrowed his eyes, his voice seductive: "Don't you want to... kill me? Don't you want to kill him? Take back everything you have... You are my true opponent, Ye Sheng. See how boring the martial world is? Since you're not dead, we'll keep playing." He chuckled and continued, "If Ye Junshan knew that Ye Sheng survived at Luoyang Cliff and knew everything, do you think he would still let you live? So, will you choose to help the martial world rid it of this scourge, or will you help me kill Ye Junshan?"

"So... what if I choose neither?"

Before he could finish speaking, Ye Changsheng suddenly pulled out the dagger from beside his pillow, leaped off the bed, and slashed at Li Huangyin's neck with the speed of a gust of wind. In a flash, he retreated, leaving only a strand of hair floating to the ground.

Ye Changsheng had already pulled his clothes up, clutching his chest and breathing heavily. Li Huangyin's acupressure was incredibly powerful; he had struggled greatly to break free. If Li Huangyin hadn't underestimated him, it wouldn't have been easy for her to succeed. The dagger gleamed coldly against the starry night outside the window. A dull pain shot through his chest, and a metallic taste filled his mouth. Ye Changsheng knew he only had one chance to live.

She closed her eyes, sensing another person's presence in the darkness. Almost simultaneously, the two figures tumbled and their weapons clashed. In an instant, she felt as if a rainbow was piercing through the clouds, and the air currents were churning, but she could no longer discern the figures.

With a "whoosh," a crimson figure burst out of the window, leaped onto the roof in a few strides, and was followed by a white figure standing ten paces away.

Li Huangyin moved and disappeared in an instant. The shadows of the trees swayed, and a clear, melodious voice, imbued with his inner strength, came from a hundred feet away: "What you are looking for may be with Ye Junshan."

Only when the sound faded away and the surroundings returned to silence did Ye Changsheng slowly walk into the room. The scene before her eyes became increasingly blurry, and the shadows of the palace lanterns on the corridor seemed to overlap. She shook her head, leaned against the corridor pillar, and wiped the blood that had spilled from the corner of her mouth. A feeling of suffocation came over her chest. Before she collapsed, Ye Changsheng faintly smelled a faint fragrance of lotus flowers and a blurry hem of a moon-white robe.