Guía sobre viento y humo

Capítulo 5

—Brocade, when will you finally smile at me?

Upon hearing this, Queyue's expression turned blank.

She did remember that Adi had said that when he saved her, he wanted to see that lifeless woman genuinely smile. He devoted himself to her treatment, took meticulous care of her, and was always concerned about her feelings, hoping to help her emerge from the shadows of the past and show her a smile.

...She should have forgotten the past. She had forgotten it, abandoned it, yet she still couldn't bring herself to even smile at him.

Adi placed one hand on her cold fingers, "Zhijin, have you always... been unhappy?"

Queyue seemed somewhat puzzled, gently shaking her head. "No. There's nothing I'm unhappy about... I'm just doing my job. Every day, there's a lot of training, a lot of tasks... I just do them one by one. There's no happiness or unhappiness." She spoke casually, but Adi couldn't believe it.

"But you stopped laughing around that time."

Her stoicism didn't begin after that devastating blow. No matter the setbacks or traumas one suffers, no matter the pain or despair, as long as one is alive and there is hope, one day one can forget the past and rise again. He always believed this, hoping for the day she could "regain her smile." But he gradually discovered that wasn't the case.

She doesn't not smile, she just doesn't know how to smile. A person who can't smile doesn't become like that overnight; it takes a long time for them to gradually forget and erase themselves... What exactly was her past like? How can he possibly make her happy?

Queyue looked into his sincere yet worried eyes. His gaze seemed to have a magical power, making people unconsciously lower their guard and want to get closer.

She had never seriously considered how she had lived her past; she was indifferent and quiet. Everyone in the Cangming Water Pavilion was trying to adapt to life there in their own way. She remembered Xinyue saying that everyone in Cangming was crazy. With that big madman, Xiao Wuqing, around, everyone's growth was distorted. Although she couldn't fully understand this, she thought Xinyue might be right... There were only two kinds of children in the Water Pavilion: those who abandoned their emotions, like Han Shuiyue, like herself. And those who refused to abandon them, their emotions gradually became distorted, like Feng Canyue. The rest... could only be eliminated.

She had long been used to it, so she didn't realize that it had become her shackles.

In such an environment, in front of such people, she had nothing left to hide.

“A friend of mine once said… if you can’t be a good child when you’re young, you can’t be a good adult when you grow up. My childhood ended very early. Every day was spent practicing martial arts and learning skills. Every day was planned out and fully scheduled. Perhaps from that time on, I was already shackled. Humanity and individuality ceased to exist under those shackles. Only by adapting and obeying could one live under those shackles. I had long been used to that kind of life. That day, if you hadn’t found me, I wouldn’t have survived at all. But from the moment you saved me, my past self died, and the shackles that had bound me for more than ten years were broken. But suddenly being freed, I felt lost… I didn’t know where to go or what to do. These were things I had never thought about before. I didn’t know that freedom… was so bewildering… Maybe you’ll find this incomprehensible…”

“No. I understand.” Adi’s gaze was gentle, yet firm. “I understand everything.”

He always thought of her as a good girl, always knowing when to advance and when to retreat, never making a mistake. She was grateful for his kindness and accepted it without being pretentious. Yet, she remained detached; even if he abandoned her one day, she would take it for granted and wouldn't harbor any resentment. It turned out that such a woman could be so good that it broke one's heart.

He understood everything she said. That day, as he strolled leisurely yet aimlessly through the mountains, he didn't care where he was going, because he didn't know where he should go. Until he met her.

“Weaving Brocade, let’s start thinking about it slowly from now on. Let’s think together about what interesting things we can do together, and what fun places we can visit together. The world is so big, we have plenty of time to find the things we want to do.”

Listening to his earnest words and seeing his warm and confident smile, what more could she say with someone like him around?

But, Ah Di, having abandoned our past, can we truly live peacefully forever? Eagle Master, Rao Ran, there are too many uncertainties in this world. If one day you find out my true identity… can we still get along so calmly?

Perhaps all that remains of their dreams is the scene of boating on the lake on this one day.

A single oar in the spring breeze, a lone boat; a single thread of silk, a light hook. Flowers fill the islet, wine fills the cup; freedom is found amidst the vast expanse of water…

This is all just a beautiful dream.

As evening fell, he drove Queyue slowly back home. Adi might not have fully understood why Queyue had suddenly become so quiet, or perhaps he vaguely understood. So he didn't say much. Queyue was usually quiet and didn't talk much, but today was different from usual.

Adi wanted to tell her that he didn't care about her past identity or what she had done. He had only taken in that woman who was dying in the forest that day, knowing she was going to die but showing no fear. At that moment, he should have known that this woman was no ordinary person.

Back at the inn, he figured Queyue might need some time alone, so he didn't go into her room. But as he left, Queyue asked softly from inside the door, "Are you going to the banquet tomorrow?"

He paused for a moment before realizing she was referring to Rao Ran.

"No. I'm a little sorry, but..." He wasn't quite sure how to explain, but luckily Queyue nodded slightly at the right moment, so he didn't continue. He knew she would understand.

"You've been running around all day, get some rest. I'll come over for dinner and help you change your dressing."

Just as he was about to leave, a commotion broke out on the street outside the inn. Amidst the panic and commotion, someone shouted, "Blood Asura!!"

Queyue and Adi both paused, looking towards the direction outside the inn—

Blood Asura.

No one in the martial arts world is unaware of Blood Asura, nor is anyone in the world unfamiliar with him. He is the most mysterious assassin in the martial arts world, but no one knows whether he is a person or an organization, whether it is a hereditary succession or a sect. The name Blood Asura has been passed down for nearly a century. No one knows for whom he kills, and likewise, no one knows how to get him to kill for them.

People only know him as the Blood Demon, only know that he committed one bloody crime after another. His methods and style all prove that he is an assassin. But for whom does he work? Why were those people killed?

Even though there are always those who cause harm and those who seek revenge, it is sometimes not difficult to find the enemy of the murdered person. However, even if that person is found, he cannot explain how he contacted Blood Asura, what kind of person Blood Asura is, or what kind of organization it is.

There are many different reasons why something can be "unable to be spoken of".

Just because the world doesn't know doesn't mean there aren't people who do. Sometimes, Queyue felt that her "former master," Xiao Wuqing of Cangming Water Pavilion, knew something. But that unfathomable and elusive person always just smiled wickedly, listening to the rumors of the martial world with a faint expression of mockery.

So, even Queyue was slightly moved at this moment. Just when she was abandoning everything in the past and wanted to live a peaceful life, Xue Xiuluo appeared so close by.

Chapter 10

When Adi heard the words "Blood Asura," a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared, and he seemed to have lost all curiosity. What did everything in the martial world have to do with him, or with them?

So he simply turned back to Queyue and said, "Let's go back to our room."

Queyue understood what he meant—it's best to mind your own business.

Seeing that Queyue had closed the door, he hesitated for a moment, thinking that he should still inquire about it in order to avoid accidentally running into something.

He walked to the inn's entrance and asked the innkeeper. The innkeeper sighed and said, "It's terrible. A wealthy family in the city—you know, the one in the big courtyard on the next street—they must have offended someone. The entire family of over twenty people was slaughtered, not a single one left alive. The government officials just went there. I heard it was that ruthless killer, Blood Asura, who did it!" He didn't listen carefully to what the innkeeper said after that. He had already obtained the information he needed. As long as he acted cautiously, even if it happened nearby, it wouldn't be related to him.

He thanked the shopkeeper, hesitated for a moment at the shop entrance, and decided it was best to stay home as much as possible. He simply borrowed the kitchen from the shopkeeper and went to brew medicine for Queyue.

After dinner, he changed Queyue's dressings and examined her. Each time he saw Queyue improve day by day, he felt incredibly fortunate to possess such medical skills, his grin almost wide open. He had treated people before, but why had he never felt such joy, such a sense of accomplishment? Perhaps this was his first true act of saving someone, without any ulterior motives, without any ulterior motives, wholeheartedly focused solely on curing her.

He had never even imagined this feeling before.

By the time he finished doing all this, it was already dark. He walked out of Queyue's room and saw Xiao Er waiting in front of his door.

"Young master, someone has delivered a letter to you, and I am here to give it to you."

Adi's expression hardened slightly. "A letter? From where?"

"It's a young maid from Shui Mei Ju."

Ah Di finally relaxed and understood the letter, or rather, the invitation.

He was puzzled as to why the original appointment for tomorrow had been moved to tonight. It seemed like just an invitation to a small gathering of old friends, yet the letter was filled with urgency and panic. Could it be that Rao Ran had encountered some trouble recently and needed his help?

He didn't know whether he should go or not, and even if he did go, what could he do for her?

However, the past friendship remained. If Rao Ran were somewhere else at this moment, and he only heard that she was in trouble, perhaps he wouldn't rush to her aid. But now that Rao Ran was standing before him, seeking his help, he should at least go and see her.

It turns out that after breaking free of my shackles, I can barely be considered a nice person.

He left the inn and headed towards Shui Mei Ju.

At night, the Water Charm Residence was a dazzling display of lights. A rich fragrance permeated the air, detectable even from a distance. While also a place of pleasure and entertainment, this place was different. It wasn't a brothel, but rather a "refined place." And the meaning of "refined place" was open to interpretation. Holding Rao Ran's letter, A Di, guided by a young maid, smoothly arrived at Rao Ran's room.

The room was filled with the rich aroma of incense, fine wine, and snacks; everything seemed to be waiting for a good friend to visit and share a drink. However, Rao Ran's expression clearly indicated otherwise. He knew Rao Ran; they had been musical companions for many years. He knew this woman's intelligence and poise... so he could only smile as he watched Rao Ran try to appear calm, rising to greet him, but he couldn't hide the anxiety in his eyes.

What exactly happened? They just saw each other this morning, and in less than half a day, what could have changed?

"Young Master Xiao!" Rao Ran walked a few steps to his side, suppressing her emotions, and waved away the maids and servants. Only when the two of them were left in the room did she finally reveal her fear.

"Rao Ran, what happened?"

"Young Master Xiao, please save me!"

"Don't rush, tell me slowly, what happened?"

Rao Ran cautiously glanced outside the door to make sure no one was there before saying to A Di, "I don't know the details either, but I overheard my elder sister talking to a mysterious person. The young prince will be coming here soon, and his enemies have hired assassins to make their move at his welcome banquet—"

Almost instantly, Adi guessed the situation: "They want you to go to the welcoming banquet?"

"Yes, my elder sister wants me to perform a dance at the banquet and then drink with the young prince—but..."

But that wasn't a banquet; it was a dead end. Who were they after—the young prince! Whether they succeeded or failed, she was going to die! As the hostess closest to the young prince, did she even have a chance to survive?!

"...When is the banquet?"

"Three days later!"

Adi frowned slightly; this matter was beyond his control.

What should he do? What can he do? Should he just give up and ignore it? If he should, how can he help? Right now, he's all alone, with no backing and no desire to reveal his whereabouts. How can he possibly help?

"Rao Ran... Let me think about it. I will definitely come to see you tomorrow."

He made a promise to Rao Ran, comforted her for a while, and then prepared to return to the inn. However, just as he stepped out of Rao Ran's room, a charming woman gracefully approached, "Young Master Yu Xiao."

Adi turned around, his mind on high alert.

"Young Master Jade Flute." That was indeed the title bestowed upon him by outsiders when he occasionally appeared in the martial world, due to his superb flute playing. Rao Ran knew this title, but she always called herself "Young Master Flute," and besides, she didn't think she would casually tell others about him.

So how did this woman know this?

"Who are you?"

“I’m the eldest sister here, but that’s not important… What’s important is that someone wants to see Young Master Xiao and has been waiting for a long time.”

Adi's face remained calm, but his mind had already pieced everything together... the young prince, the assassination attempt, his elder sister, the banquet... who was going to see him? Was it hard to guess? He knew he should stay away from Raoran, but in the end... his whereabouts were still discovered.

The older woman led him into a room deep in the corridor and then left. The person inside was dressed in black and twirling a wine glass in his hand. When he saw Ah Di arrive, he slowly stood up.

"It's been a long time."

"I'd rather never see you again." Adi's tone wasn't exactly friendly, but he wasn't angry either; he just felt powerless. The other person seemed too lazy to waste time on pleasantries, simply saying, "Master is still waiting for you to return."

"I think you no longer need me, so why keep chasing after me?"

"This is not up to you to decide. I will naturally carry out my master's orders, but do you really think you can disregard them?"

"No matter what, I won't go back. I just want to live my peaceful life."

"A peaceful life?" The man in black sneered. "You, with your hands stained with blood, want a peaceful life? Don't make me laugh! Do you really think you can lay down your butcher's knife and become a Buddha? To be honest, my master knew you wouldn't go back. He told me not to force you, but... there's one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"You are responsible for assassinating the young prince."

Chapter Eleven

"You are responsible for assassinating the young prince."

Could Adi just tell him "[Dream on]"? It's really smooth to send people to do things, but he's already left and doesn't plan to go back, so why should he still do things for them?

“Sect Master Tie, why don’t you let your Blood Asura handle this? I think he did a pretty good job with today’s massacre of the entire family. I’m sure assassination wouldn’t be a problem for him either.”

“I know you won’t be willing, but whether you are willing or not is none of my business. Since the master wants you to go, you have no choice but to go. You may not care about your own life, but I heard... you have a beautiful woman by your side. Don’t you even care about her? The Dark Pavilion has plenty of ways to deal with a woman and make her suffer unbearably.”

Adi frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Enough!"

That's definitely the style of the Dark Pavilion; whether he goes or not, he has no choice!

"Fine, I'll go. But I've already left the Dark Pavilion, so there's no reason for me to kill for you for nothing!"

"So you mean..."