Siete noches de nieve

Capítulo 11

"Her?" Madam Ji paused, then her eyes flashed as if she had realized something. "Now that you mention it, it is indeed true..."

"I really hope she can give me a pleasant surprise." Zhong Zhan's smile deepened, a small dimple appearing at the corner of his mouth, giving him a slightly mischievous air. He touched the corner of his mouth with one hand and said, "Besides, she still owes me something..."

"What?"

"It's nothing." He smiled, reaching out to remove the white jade hairpin that held his hair in place. His long, black hair cascaded down his shoulders like a waterfall, and in the flickering candlelight, he looked like a celestial being. A slender, beautiful hand was extended in front of Madam Ji, and she said, "Mo Lian, what hairstyle did you just create for her? Teach me again."

"what you up to?"

"Do you think she would bother to remember such intricate details?" Zhong Zhan smiled helplessly. "If you're going to do it, then do it to the end. Giving up halfway is not a good thing."

Lady Ji gazed at his handsome and refined profile and couldn't help but sigh. As she used a comb to brush a strand of hair from his temple, she chuckled and scolded, "You really are a troublemaker..."

three

Su Xianhua walked out of the second mountain gate, startling Duan Ruhua, who was dozing off against the wall.

Duan Ruhua quickly stood up straight and said, "You've finally come out..." She only got halfway through her sentence before the other half caught in her throat. Her eyes were fixed on Su Xianhua. She looked her up and down, left and right, a dozen times before finally letting out a long breath, "So this is what you look like..."

Su Xianhua was immediately embarrassed and tugged at her collar: "It's weird, isn't it? I knew it was weird... I think I'd better change back."

"No, don't!" Duan Ruhua hurriedly grabbed her, her eyes gradually brightening. "Since this is Madam's wish, you'd better not go against her. It's getting late, let me see you out of the valley."

"No need, I can go back by myself. You go ahead and do your work."

"I'm not busy. I've already asked my wife for leave. I'm going home on the way..."

Su Xianhua stopped in her tracks, her expression a mixture of disbelief and inexplicable joy: "Ruhua, are you going home?"

"Hmm." Duan Ruhua took a few steps forward with her hands behind her back, her cheeks flushed slightly, and chuckled softly, "Father forbids me from learning martial arts, so I had a big fight with him and secretly ran away to Feihua Xiaozhu. That day, Senior Sword Saint came to visit Madam—you know? Madam once received a sword technique from Senior Sword Saint, and the two have been friends ever since. I was particularly sad the day Senior Sword Saint came, and I felt that Father had gone too far, so I hid under the cliff and cried by myself, and he happened to see me."

Su Xianhua blinked: "What kind of person is the Sword Saint?" It's practically impossible not to be curious about a master-level senior. (B eBook sharing website)

At midnight, the sound of a flute playing under the stars and moon can be heard (10)

“He is…” Duan Ruhua thought for a moment, then smiled wistfully, “…a very gentle person.”

Su Xianhua was stunned. She clearly hadn't expected her to describe a martial arts senior in such a way. Duan Ruhua continued, "When the Sword Saint saw me crying, he asked me what was wrong. I had originally planned not to tell anyone, but for some reason, I couldn't help but tell him everything. After I finished, he didn't comfort me and left Feihua Xiaozhu the next day. At the time, I didn't think much of it. I thought that it was already an honor for a respected figure to condescend to listen to a young girl like me cry. So when he came to me again and asked for my help, I agreed without hesitation. You know, so many people in the world never even see him in their entire lives. Not only did I see him, but I could also help him. I was so happy."

"But after hearing what you just said, I suddenly thought of many questions I hadn't considered before... Sister Su, you're right. Who was the senior trying to impress by having those people go to such lengths to find me? Of all the disciples at Feihua Xiaozhu, why did he specifically look for me? Of all the stingy people in the world, why my father? Sister Su, I think I understand now. The answer to this question isn't to tell the world, but to tell me..."

Su Xianhua touched her nose, feeling quite uncomfortable with the other person's eager and admiring gaze: "Ruhua, um, actually I don't know what Senior Sword Saint meant, I was just guessing."

Duan Ruhua seemed not to hear, her voice tinged with tension and unease as she wrung her hands. "I've thought about it," she said, "I need to go back and talk to my father. I've always felt he doesn't understand me, but I haven't really understood him either. He thinks learning martial arts is all about fighting and killing, and he thinks Brother Tian only approached me for our family's money… I only ever get angry with him, without thinking about how to solve the problem. Perhaps if he meets Madam and Brother Tian, his thinking will change. He must be frantic with worry about me being missing for so long…" As she spoke, the two reached the mountain gate. Duan Ruhua bolted the gate while smiling, "However, if he still doesn't agree, I'll have to find another way to escape. I've learned a few tricks from Sister Pearl these past three days…"

Duan Ruhua's voice suddenly stopped because Su Xianhua beside her abruptly stopped in her tracks. Not far ahead on the riverbank, a person was leaning against a wild cherry tree, holding a long sword, dressed in white, amidst the falling pink cherry blossoms, his graceful figure as beautiful as a painting.

Hearing the door open, he slowly straightened up, his eyes slightly narrowed, and that look in his eyes… Su Xianhua didn't know how to describe it. Surprise? Mockery? And something deeper that she couldn't understand. In short, she knew he was looking at her, and with a malicious gaze.

She said softly, "Ruhua, you should go back first. I have something to do."

Duan Ruhua looked at her, then at Bai Nianchen, somewhat bewildered: "Sister Su, I was going to invite you to my house for dinner, but I'll wait for you."

“No need, you can eat anytime, but if you don’t leave now, I’m afraid I might accidentally hurt you later.” Su Xianhua said this with a murderous aura. She gripped the knife tightly in one hand—ever since she put on that dress, Madam Ji had forbade her from carrying the broadsword on her back, saying it would ruin the overall beauty of the dress. She couldn’t persuade her otherwise, so she had no choice but to hold the knife in her hand.

Bai Nianchen, standing under the tree, had already walked over step by step.

Duan Ruhua swallowed hard. She could see an invisible storm brewing between the two of them, and she couldn't tell if it was hatred, murderous intent, or something else. In any case, there was no room for her to intervene. If she didn't leave soon, she would probably be in real trouble.

As soon as Duan Ruhua left, Bai Nianchen spoke up, a cold smile in his clear eyes: "I didn't expect you to become a different person after entering Feihua Xiaozhu."

Su Xianhua was inwardly furious. She knew this outfit didn't suit her; it was one thing for others to laugh at her, but the worst part was that he saw it. Back at Manyue Residence, her attire hadn't been this elaborate. She hadn't forgotten the disgust in his eyes that time. Now, although his gaze was deep and strange, seemingly devoid of any disgust, she couldn't guarantee he wasn't secretly despising her from head to toe.

At midnight, the sound of a flute playing under the stars and moon gradually fills the air (11)

Even though she knew he had ill intentions, she couldn't change clothes here. Su Xianhua took a deep breath and stared intently at him: "Bai Nianchen, we've severed all ties."

Bai Nianchen paused for a moment, then calmly raised his eyebrows and said, "I know."

"Then is there anything else you want to say?"

"You ask me what I want to say?" A flash of anger suddenly appeared in his usually indifferent eyes. "Su Xianhua, I never expected you to be this kind of person. When did you become interested in other weapons? When did you start liking to show your face and get involved in the conflicts of the martial world? If you want to take revenge on me, why use such methods?"

Su Xianhua was stunned and said incredulously, "Bai Nianchen, do you think I deliberately participated in the Sword Saint's game to block your way?"

He sneered: "Isn't that right?"

Su Xianhua felt a pang of unease, as if someone had struck her weak spot, causing her both pain and soreness, and even her voice trembled: "Who told you these absurd things? Bai Nianchen, is this the first time you've met me? Don't you know what kind of person I am?"

"..."

"Next, are you going to question me about why I saved Duan Ruhua? Why I solved the first problem? Maybe you'll even ask me what the poem meant!"

Bai Nianchen's expression changed slightly. He stared at her honey-colored face and frowned, "Can you say you knew absolutely nothing about it?" No one would believe that the only guest of Feihua Xiaozhu could be completely unaware.

She finally couldn't hold back any longer. She drew her broadsword and slashed down, shouting angrily, "That's right, I want revenge on you. You ruined eighteen of my best years. I wish I could kill you with one blow! But I never stoop to those indirect methods. Bai Nianchen, you underestimate me!"

He quickly took a step back to dodge, no longer calm, and almost growled, "What's wrong with you? Can't you talk things out? What kind of nonsense is this, fighting and killing?"

Su Xianhua smiled through gritted teeth, but the smile was quite tragic: "Bai Nianchen, take this knife from me, and we'll be strangers from now on. If we meet again, just pretend we never met, and don't say you know me!"

Bai Nianchen's sword-like eyebrows furrowed even deeper. He moved nimbly beneath Su Xianhua's blade, his movements light and agile, yet he refused to draw his sword.

"Coward, make your move!" Su Xianhua wasn't used to bullying people who didn't fight back, so she struggled to slash.

He gave a faint smile: "I'm not going to go crazy with you."

"Hurry and make your move!"

"Could you two please hear me out first?" Amidst the stormy standoff between the two, a clear and melodious voice suddenly broke through. The voice was soft and gentle, quite pleasant to listen to.

"Zhong Zhan?" Su Xianhua cried out in surprise as she watched her sword slash at the figure that had just appeared.

The figure in light-colored clothes swayed slightly, and with a gentle lift of his hand, he grasped her wrist. Without any visible exertion of force, the powerful wind from the blade vanished without a trace.

Zhong Zhan grasped her wrist and pulled it slightly backward, causing the heavy, hundred-scaled dragon blade to rotate and be accurately sheathed by him. His hand slid down smoothly, hooking her fingers in his grasp; the movement was fluid and natural.

Zhong Zhan's smile was as warm as the spring sun: "Hua Hua, stop fighting. Getting angry all the time is bad for your health."

Su Xianhua was stunned. She stared at her hand, which he was holding with just the right amount of tightness: "Zhong Zhan, what are you up to?"

Zhong Zhan didn't answer her, but simply reached out and brushed her slightly disheveled hair, saying, "Hua Hua, fighting at the gate of a senior is very impolite. Young Master Bai understands this better than you do; you should learn from him." With that, he bowed to Bai Nianchen, then pulled Su Xianhua closer, whispering in her ear with a smile, "I'm late; I must have missed a lot of exciting things. Tell me later if anyone got angry or embarrassed because they couldn't answer the Sword Saint's question."

Just as Su Xianhua was about to say no, a cold snort came from behind her. She turned around and saw Bai Nianchen brushing the wrinkles off his clothes with a displeased expression. After straightening his clothes, he didn't even glance at her, nor did he say goodbye, before turning and leaving without looking back. ()

At midnight, the sound of a flute playing under the stars and moon can be heard (12)

"You rude brat," Su Xianhua scoffed. Wasn't Bai Nianchen supposed to be a refined young nobleman from a distinguished family, with impeccable upbringing? How could he not even ask a stranger's most basic question, "What is your honorable name?"

Bai Nianchen seemed to have heard the whisper. He turned around, his face ashen, completely unlike the refined and well-mannered young nobleman he was supposed to be. His tone was icy: "Su Xianhua, who are you talking about?"

"I..." Before she could say anything, Zhong Zhan pulled her away in the opposite direction, whispering, "Huahua, Miaomiao hasn't eaten all day. Let's go find him."

She was startled: "Why isn't Young Master Miao eating?"

He replied with something else: "Huahua, you look beautiful today."

"..."

Four

When the thirty-fifth person turned to look at her, Su Xianhua finally couldn't hold back anymore and secretly tugged at Zhong Zhan's sleeve: "Where is a tailor shop? I'll go change my clothes."

Zhong Zhan glanced at her, smiled and shook his head: "No need to change, it's fine as it is."

"But people look at me strangely."

"That's because you're very beautiful." He squinted slightly, his expression very kind. "They must envy me."

If anyone else had said those words, Su Xianhua would have scoffed and labeled them as lecherous playboys. But Zhong Zhan was different. His expression, his tone, even the way he spoke, were all very pleasant, so whatever he said would never seem impolite.

She looked around, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Are you sure it's not because my outfit is weird?"

He smiled and slowly suggested to her, "How about we find someone to ask?"

Su Xianhua hurriedly waved her hand: "Please don't, I won't do something so shameful."

"But you don't trust me, and you don't trust Lady Ji's judgment..."

"No, that's not what I meant!" Su Xianhua hurriedly shook her head. She was only doubting herself, but she hadn't thought of denying others. However, after he said it like that, it seemed like there really was something to it... She was completely confused. Come to think of it, all the trouble she was causing with being so fussy and suspicious was that damned Bai Nianchen!

So she gritted her teeth and vented her resentment: "It's all Bai Nianchen's fault. Next time, don't stop me, I'll definitely chop him up!"

Zhong Zhan's smile froze and faded at those words. He had a naturally gentle face that made him approachable, and even when he wasn't smiling, he still carried a hint of amusement. But at that moment, his eyes were quite cold, with a rare air of aloofness and arrogance. However, that expression only lasted for a moment. When Su Xianhua looked up again, he had already recovered and smiled, "Perhaps Young Master Bai also thinks that Huahua is very beautiful, but he just doesn't say it."

"Forget it, if he thought that way, every hen would crow." She snorted, but her voice was tinged with disappointment. "No matter how much I dress up, compared to Miss Situ, I'm just a sparrow compared to a phoenix, there's no comparison... um..." She yanked the hand off her mouth. "Why won't you let me speak?"

He blinked, his tone tinged with reproach: "How can Hua Hua look down on herself like that? What is poison to one may be honey to another."

Su Xianhua lowered her head as if deep in thought, then looked up after a while and said solemnly, "What you said is very profound. What exactly do you mean?"

"It's nothing. I just felt that your description of Huahua wasn't quite right. You're not like a sparrow, you're more like..."

Before he could say what it sounded like, his voice was drowned out by a commotion from the street corner. Su Xianhua craned her neck to look at the crowd that had packed together not far away and said, "It sounds like people are arguing up ahead."

Zhong Zhan turned his head and listened carefully for a few moments, then smiled slightly and said, "Let's go take a look."

What's so interesting about arguing?

“Ordinary arguments aren’t interesting, but this one is quite amusing.” With that, Zhong Zhan pulled her along without further ado, squeezing into the crowd.

At midnight, the sound of a flute playing under the stars and moon can be heard (13)

In the very center of the crowd, two people were locked in a stalemate. One of them, a tall, handsome young man with long hair casually tied up and hanging down to his chest, was none other than Miao Ruotan, whom the two were about to meet.

And the pretty girl opposite him, who was posing in the shape of a teapot, was actually Situ Wuyu, the second young lady of the Situ family!

Seeing the young lady's cherry-like lips opening and closing, Su Xianhua couldn't help but recall the resounding "shameless" she had uttered earlier that day. Situ Wuyu had been in a similar posture then, accompanied by a pet named "Silverfire." It was that rather unusual white monkey that had caused Su Xianhua to be so humiliated in front of everyone, especially Bai Nianchen.

Seeing her again now evoked very complicated feelings.

I have no idea what she and Young Master Miao were arguing about.

Su Xianhua slightly turned to hide behind Zhong Zhan, her ears filled with Situ Wuyu's crisp and spicy voice: "Where did you come from, you brat? How dare you call me an ugly monster! Don't you even know who I am? How dare you be so rude!"

Miao Ruotan, with her sleeves tucked in, spoke in a voice barely audible: "I am indeed an ignorant country bumpkin. Now tell me, who are you?"

This statement put Situ Wuyu in a dilemma. If she were to shout in the marketplace, "I am Situ Wuyu, the second young lady of the Situ family of Jiangdong," it would be extremely unladylike and lack any semblance of elegance. Furthermore, if these uncouth villagers who only knew how to sell vegetables and carry firewood were to ask, "Who is the Situ family of Jiangdong?" where would she, the second young lady of the Situ family, put her face? She could only purse her lips tightly, raise her delicate chin, and remain silent.