Consultor de vida de la dinastía Song del Sur

Capítulo 49

Qiu Yeyi quickly released her grip after her successful strike, spun around and walked toward the main stage, saying with a hint of disdain, "You're only at 60% of your strength now, I almost failed to catch you... You'll need to switch to the Great Grappling Hand in the future."

Leng Shuangcheng was shocked, forgetting to lower her raised hand, and asked hesitantly, "Young Master, you haven't been poisoned?"

"Tang Qi, give me the antidote."

Although Leng Shuangcheng didn't understand how Tang Qi had fed him the antidote, she recalled the torment he had endured before and after the detoxification, and her expression changed from shock and anger to utter astonishment: "Since you knew that Tang Wu's poisoning was unavoidable, why did you go to the banquet alone..."

Qiu Yeyi turned to look at her, her long, deep phoenix eyes trembling slightly. She said, "What a fool." Her voice was no longer as cold as snow, but rather filled with a sense of helplessness.

Leng Shuangcheng pondered for a moment and suddenly grasped the key point, then stood there dumbfounded.

Qiu Ye stood on the flower platform with her sword, glanced around, then slightly raised her left wrist and flicked her finger. The wind from her finger pierced through a large and beautiful crabapple blossom, opening a doorway on the colorful glazed pillar facing Leng Shuangcheng.

"Indeed," he said coldly.

Leng Shuangcheng snapped out of her reverie and took a closer look at the intricate sea of flowers around her. She realized that recognizing the crabapple blossom amidst the profusion of blossoms was almost magical. But she pursed her lips and refrained from asking.

Qiu Yeyi turned her face, looked at her expression, and said calmly, "I know you have many doubts in your heart, and you are probably still wondering why I am not in a hurry to rescue Cheng Xiang, but I can assure you that they are absolutely safe down there."

Leng Shuangcheng was secretly alarmed, but her expression remained calm.

“That begonia isn’t one of the Begonia species.” Qiu Yeyi pointed to her side with her right hand. “The taste is wrong too.” Without waiting for Leng Shuangcheng to understand, she continued, “This doorway is their last escape route. That’s why Ziying is so calm and persistent with me tonight. They let Shuiyin form a protective array outside so that they can disappear from this building smoothly.”

Leng Shuangcheng had a smattering of knowledge about the refined arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she did not quite understand some of it, but she was willing to use her brain to think: I don't recognize the flowers, but fortunately Qiu Yeyi has a keen sense of smell, and Zi Ying was not on guard and was seen through by him, so he must have been planning to abandon this hideout from the beginning.

Then she thought of the unknown and elusive master, and a sense of unease crept in: "Rumor has it that a master of all martial arts is lying in ambush here..."

"Yes." Qiu Yeyi said confidently before Leng Shuangcheng could finish speaking, "That person is called Xiao Qiao, Wang Yifei's uncle, and he is outside right now."

Leng Shuangcheng looked somewhat shocked, but she tried her best to withdraw her gaze from the window curtains and regain her composure: "Who is Mr. Xiao? Why is he holding back his troops?"

Qiu Yeyijian kept staring at Leng Shuangcheng with a fervent and far-reaching gaze, as natural as the rising sun over a mountain palace or the drifting clouds in the sky. However, this glimpse of the glacier was obscured by the worried Leng Shuangcheng, dimming the brilliant and dazzling light of the cold star.

After Leng Shuangcheng finished speaking, he remained deep in thought and did not pay attention to Qiu Yeyi's movements on the stage.

“Xiao Qiao is lying in ambush among the Water Drinkers,” Qiu Yeyijian said quietly, taking a few deep breaths to steady his voice. “At this moment, he is unaware of the changes that have occurred here. He is waiting for someone to arrive.”

Leng Shuangcheng was completely baffled and looked at Qiu Yeyijian with some surprise, but still remained calm and did not ask any questions.

Qiu Yeyi didn't look at her; her gaze swept across him, a faint glimmer of light flashing within. "I can't look at her anymore, otherwise I won't be able to make a decision." This almost sighing voice echoed in his heart, calming his chaotic mind considerably.

"There are some things I must tell you." Qiu Yeyijian said coldly, looking ahead: "Ziying once said that everything would be fine after tonight. Obviously, they planned to do something first. So Tang Wu and Ziying stayed in the hall all night waiting for the plan to be completed. However, some unexpected things happened - Ziying drugged Tang Wu without Yu Xue's help, and you scared Ziying unconscious without my help."

"The plan you mentioned, young master, is..."

"Leng Shuangcheng, what do you think of the construction of this Red Sleeve Pavilion?" Qiu Yeyi asked instead of answering.

Leng Shuangcheng recalled the crystal pavilion and luxurious underwater city he had seen, and his eyes showed a hint of understanding. He looked up and said, "Even just seeing this place, one can deduce that the Red Sleeve Tower is like an underground palace."

"Ziying's Red Sleeve Pavilion is extravagant and cannot be sustained by its own operations alone. In fact, they have a powerful backer. Without this backer, in this place where official prostitutes thrive, ordinary brothels would find it difficult to dominate Xijing..." At this point, Qiu Yeyijian paused and glanced at Leng Shuangcheng. Leng Shuangcheng was extremely astute. Seeing his pointed gaze, he quickly said, "Please enlighten me, young master."

"It's Wei Wuyi."

Leng Shuangcheng could bear all the speculations and endure all the consequences, but she had never thought of Wei Wuyi. This name was a strange yet familiar hidden pain to her, like a scar on her body; you would never feel its presence unless you touched it. But now that Qiu Yeyi had said it, she knew that this result was absolutely true. Suddenly, her voice seemed to gradually fade away. She swayed slightly as if she had been splashed by waves in a vast ocean, then got up and walked blankly to a chair to sit down.

“I noticed you glanced at Wei Wuyi a couple of times during the celebration, so I knew you recognized him,” Qiu Yeyi said coldly as she walked toward Leng Shuangcheng, whose eyes widened in disbelief. “Ziying coveted the position of the Imperial Guard Commander and secretly befriended Wei Wuyi, luring him into becoming her guest. Ziying did all this simply to get her hands on that Western Xia envoy.”

Leng Shuangcheng's thoughts retreated into a vast and boundless expanse of water. As Qiu Yeyijian's calm and unhurried voice rose and fell, Wei Chong's upright and resolute face remained before her eyes. This was the person she had tried her best to save, the person she had promised to take care of, but unfortunately, he had lost his life in the changing world, leaving her with a deep wound. She did not want to repeat the pain of witnessing Ruan Si's death...

As Leng Shuangcheng gradually came to her senses, she understood the whole story Qiu Yeyijian had told her. The reasoning was actually quite simple, revolving around the concepts of "emotion" and "profit."

Leng Shuangcheng, who had never met Xiao Qiao, was a martial arts fanatic, a lonely master at the pinnacle of skill in Xixia and Jingxiang, yet he couldn't escape worldly affairs. He fell in love with Zi Ying, who feigned affection for him, and tolerated all her misdeeds. Tomorrow was the deadline for the Xixia envoy to return to the capital. They were waiting for Wei Wuyi's actions in the Forbidden City. Wei Wuyi usually remained calm, partly because he was implicated in the envoy's murder within his authority, and partly because he wasn't entirely blinded by lust, still possessing a degree of kindness and integrity.

The disappearance or loss of life of any one of the three individuals—the envoy, Qiu Yeyijian, and Zhao Yingcheng—on Song Dynasty soil could provoke a conflict between the two countries.

Qiu Ye called out to Leng Shuangcheng twice, and realizing that the person in front of her was daydreaming, she coldly flicked Leng Shuangcheng's forehead with two fingers. "That pillar gate, if Ziying goes in, it's an escape route; if Wei Wuyi comes out, it's a crime of deceiving the emperor..."

This was exactly what Leng Shuangcheng was worried about. After listening to Qiu Yeyijian's words, she must have guessed that no matter whether Wei Wuyi succeeded or not, she would definitely try to reunite with Ziying—and she had no right to stop all of this from going on.

"Judging from your expression, I know what you're thinking. You have too much prejudice against me to ask for anything easily... You're such a fool." Qiu Yeyijian said coldly and calmly. Seeing that she still had a silent face with her eyes lowered, he couldn't help but say again, "The more you carry, the greater the responsibility."

Leng Shuangcheng remained silent.

Qiu Yeyi lowered her head to look at Leng Shuangcheng. Her eyes were cold and deep, like the clear water of a cold pool, and gradually a bright light appeared in them, like a beam of starlight. There may have been confusion and pain in those eyes, but after a moment of silence, they always returned to a combination of strength and gentleness, wisdom and unwavering intelligence, as if they had seen the vicissitudes of life.

He had seen that unwavering gaze before, and he was obsessed with that memory etched into his very bones. A shimmering lake seemed to gently ripple within him, the waves spreading into countless patterns. Qiu Ye leaned down, embracing Leng Shuangcheng tightly.

"What am I supposed to do with someone like you?" A faint sense of pity spread down his long, dark eyebrows, straight nose, and elegantly curved jaw, instantly covering his entire body. His tight arms embraced Leng Shuangcheng's upper body, his body slightly bent into a crescent moon: "Before I left, I actually wanted to stay with you a little longer, but the longer I stayed, the less I could control my resolve."

Leng Shuangcheng slowly straightened up, not even struggling in this gentlemanly embrace. After Qiu Yeyijian's calm and indifferent voice, his slight touch brought Leng Shuangcheng back to her senses, and she silently pondered: Qiu Yeyijian was usually shrewd and calculating, but tonight, in order to rescue Cheng Xiang and her, he rashly attended the banquet and suffered greatly. Judging from his words, it seemed that his current outpouring of emotion revealed a hint of vulnerability. This cold and strong man was actually afraid that if he had feelings in his heart, his sword would become dull and heavy…

Qiu Yeyi noticed Leng Shuangcheng's subtle change, kissed her hair deeply, and turned to walk towards the door.

"Young Master." Leng Shuangcheng hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.

Qiu Yeyi had her back to her, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Young Master is currently suffering from Gu poison, and he didn't hesitate to take several blows, resulting in severe damage to his internal energy. Is there any chance of victory if he goes out like this?"

"So you know so much." Qiu Yeyi stood sternly, then said calmly, "It's not easy for you to ask such a question. If you want to know the answer, pick up Ziying and follow me."

Leng Shuangcheng watched the figure walk out with steady steps, and felt slightly relieved. She quickly helped Ziying put on her coat and then lifted her up in her arms. As they passed the shimmering glass pillars, she paused for a moment, and a voice echoed in her heart: Wei Wuyi, don't walk out of this door, or Qiu Yeyijian will not let you go again.

On the west side of Kaifeng, Jinliangqiao Street still features colorful pavilions facing each other, embroidered banners beckoning, and the starlight obscuring the view. If one disregards the crowds of people from both sides lining the street, this place could almost be described as a sacred land of "flowers playing with shadows, moonlight flowing, crystal palaces and jade clouds flying."

As Qiu Yeyijian emerged from the pavilion, bathed in moonlight and exuding an indifferent aura, everyone couldn't help but squint. The silvery moonlight veil did not diminish his naturally chilling presence; instead, it accentuated his hazy, ethereal features. He burst forth from the moonlight, his icy eyes sweeping over the crowd as he coldly stated, "Xiao Qiao, now that I have appeared, you understand what that means."

Zhao Yingcheng stood beside the weeping willow, with three elders guarding him closely, while Yu Xue, dressed in pristine white, stood a step behind. The five of them had icy expressions, their bodies as if nailed to the ground, their eyes fixed firmly ahead.

A figure emerged from the silver water bottles arranged in a "回" shape. He was tall and thin with piercing eyes. His footsteps were silent, and his face was obscured below his eyes by a white mask. However, everyone who looked at his hands and eyes knew that this person must be Xiao Qiao without a doubt—because no one else had such dry and strong hands, and no one else had such penetrating eyes.

Xiao Qiao stood still from the moment she appeared on stage, without trembling at all.

"The person you're waiting for won't come, but I can give you a gift." Qiu Yeyi stared into Xiao Qiao's eyes, his voice still icy. Behind him, the tall and slender Leng Shuangcheng silently stepped out, bowed slightly, and calmly put Zi Ying down.

Leng Shuangcheng stepped aside with his hands down, glanced around the room without making a sound, and then stared at Zhao Yingcheng expressionlessly.

Zhao Yingcheng looked at the black-haired, white-robed youth in front of him, pondered for a moment, and deduced that he was the "fifth person" mentioned by Qiu Yeyijian. Just as he was wondering about this, he heard Qiu Yeyijian say coldly, "Young Master, Tang Wu is in the main hall, and Cheng Xiang is underwater."

Zhao Yingcheng understood and cupped his hands in greeting to Yu Xue. Yu Xue, with a cold expression, drew a slender longsword from her left sleeve and pointed it menacingly at the ground.

Qiu Yeyi stretched out her right hand, revealing long, steady fingers from her purple silk sleeve, and uttered a single word: "Sword."

Lan Jun stepped forward and respectfully placed a long sword with a gleaming white scabbard in his hand.

Leng Shuangcheng glanced at it, noticing the sword's long, ancient shape, held in Qiu Yeyi's right hand. The dark, cold scabbard reflected a white light under the moonlight, its aloofness carrying an air of disdain for all living beings. Man and sword were perfectly integrated, exuding a noble and unyielding spirit, easily bringing to mind the phrase: "The sword reflects the man."

Xiao Qiao glanced at Qiu Yeyi's right hand and suddenly spoke:

"Shiyang, an ancient divine weapon, is the finest sword forged by Wei Zifu. It is three feet nine-tenths feet long and one and a half inches wide. Its entire body is crimson like blood, and its blade is thick and snow-white. It is said that since the battle at the ancient well, the young master has never used this sword, because if the sword leaves its sheath, it will surely thirst for blood before it is sheathed."

22. Literary Contest

As for an opponent as formidable as Gao Shan Yang Zhi, Xiao Qiao was always well aware of Qiu Ye Yi Jian's entire situation:

Qiu Ye Yijian, male, 22 years old, began practicing swordsmanship at the age of two, and his mastery of swordsmanship is unparalleled. He can wield a sword with either hand, but his left-hand sword is one second faster than his right-hand sword. It is said that to this day, no one has ever seen him use his left hand.

At this moment, "Erosion of the Sun" was held in his pale, slender right hand, while his left hand was hidden in his sleeve, ready to strike.

Qiu Ye Yi Jian was flawless from head to toe, his aura as cold as ice. Standing under the moon, his clothes fluttered in the wind, he was as aloof and unapproachable as a solitary god.

Xiao Qiao stared intently at him, her gaze unwavering. Leng Shuangcheng noticed that ever since she took Ziying out, Xiao Qiao hadn't glanced at the ground once.

While the two were locked in a stalemate of true energy, the three elders made their move. Their thoughts were as one; they swooped down like vultures, tearing through the Water Drinking Formation. Figures shifted, the wind surged, and Yu Xue, dressed in white, coldly stepped into the formation, sword in hand. All around him, like fallen petals, his clothes remained unstained by a single drop of blood. Leng Shuangcheng watched his swordplay, secretly astonished: Young Master Xue's swordsmanship was like a thousand-year-old snow-capped peak, vast and boundless, radiating a lonely light that was unmatched by any. She had been fortunate enough to witness Yu Xue's sword, Chu Xuan's voice, and the silver arrows, but she had never encountered the Azure Phoenix, who rode the wind.

Only after Zhao Yingcheng and Yu Xue entered the Red Sleeve Pavilion did Leng Shuangcheng turn her gaze away with relief. As clever as she was, she knew that her every move would cause subtle changes in the scene, so she chose to lower her eyes and hold her breath, concealing all her presence, and stood calmly in the shadows.

The two men, standing motionless on the field, seemed to be in a secluded paradise. The whistling of swords and blades around them could not shake them in the slightest; they remained unmoved. In the silence, Xiao Qiao spoke solemnly: "I have always been devoted to martial arts, but I have made an unforgivable mistake. Tonight's plan has failed. I, Xiao Qiao, do not blame fate or others, but only ask for a fair fight with you, young master."

Leng Shuangcheng was slightly moved. She hadn't expected that Xiao Qiao, despite being caught in the middle between the two countries and ending up in an awkward position, was a natural martial artist. After learning about Qiu Yeyi's injuries, he didn't kick her while she was down, but instead asked for a fair and just sparring match.

"Mr. Xiao has good taste." Qiu Yeyijian raised her deep, focused eyes and said coldly.

Xiao Qiao slowly pulled down his veil, and when his gaze fell on Zi Ying, he looked as if he had aged ten years. His expression was extremely lonely and desolate. The surrounding red candles illuminated a beautiful scene, and in contrast, his face made the world seem grim and the coldness of the sky seem to permeate the scene.

“Young master, there is plenty of time in the future, and you will never know my loneliness… Young master is injured, and it would be dishonorable for me to fight again. Moreover, I have not gained any psychological advantage, so I request to fight another day.”

Leng Shuangcheng looked over and saw that the imposing and peerless swordsman Xiao Qiao before her, now only a weary and desolate old man, had lost his former glory. She sighed inwardly and remained silent.

"Around when?" Qiu Yeyi asked coldly, her expression darkening slightly.

"Fifteen days from now, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM), Xiao, the author of Xingyun Iron Tower, will be waiting for your arrival, young master."

After a moment's thought, Qiu Yeyi coldly uttered a single word: "Yes."

Xiao Qiao's lingering gaze fell on the ground again, and she said desolately, "This woman... I'm taking her away. Since Yi Fei died, I've had no family left." Qiu Yeyi's body remained upright as before, and a gentle night breeze swept by, but the eclipse of the sun within her purple sleeves grew even more solemn.

In the cool, watery air, Leng Shuangcheng suddenly emerged from the shadows, facing Xiao Qiao and bowing slowly once more to offer his respects. Xiao Qiao asked in surprise, "Why are you being so polite?" Leng Shuangcheng replied sincerely and respectfully, "Mr. Xiao is the first true martial artist I have encountered on my journey south, so it is only right that we exchange greetings."

Xiao Qiao smiled faintly, a smile tinged with self-mockery and loneliness. Qiu Yeyijian seemed oblivious to the elaborate formalities between the two, coldly stating, "This woman is truly not to be let off lightly, for half a month ago in the Zichen Palace, she ordered the injury of my husband..." She then glanced at Leng Shuangcheng's resolute and silent profile, paused, and continued, "Alright."

Xiao Qiao glanced at Leng Shuangcheng, then picked up Ziying and strode away as if he had regained a precious treasure. He walked on without looking back, leaving behind a cool, empty space.

Amidst the swirling figures, most of the water-drinking ninjas in silver robes and water suits were no match for the three elders' continuous attacks and scattered, fleeing into the water.

Leng Shuangcheng watched Xiao Qiao's figure disappear into the night, glanced at the battle that was gradually coming to an end, and turned to Qiu Yeyijian, saying slowly, "Thank you, young master."

"Why do you respect Xiao Qiao so much?" Qiu Yeyi's eyes were fixed ahead, not looking at Leng Shuangcheng.

“We should respect those who uphold martial spirit and righteousness,” Leng Shuangcheng said with regret in his deep voice.

"Is that so?" Qiu Yeyi's eyes suddenly shone brightly, but his voice held a hint of icy coldness. Suddenly, he extended his left palm.

Seeing the pale, slender fingers reaching out in front of him, Leng Shuangcheng was greatly alarmed and quickly retreated. In a half-arc motion from top to bottom, in just an instant, Qiu Yeyi's sword technique, "Azure Sky Embracing the Moon," caught Leng Shuangcheng in her arms on her left side.

Leng Shuangcheng struggled twice, but found that he was held firmly by iron and could not break free. He said coldly, "Young Master, this is improper."

The moon was bright, the wind was gentle, and the silver waves rippled. Autumn leaves clung to the sword, and his pupils, as black as jade, shone brighter than the Pleiades. He stared directly into the depths of Leng Shuangcheng's eyes: "My left-hand sword is unavoidable by the world." He couldn't help but kiss her angry eyes, and then said, "So you don't need to thank Xiao Qiao for my sake."

Seeing Qiu Yeyi's unusually cold and aloof demeanor, behaving so undignifiedly in front of everyone, Leng Shuangcheng was truly furious. That anger, like fireworks ignited, shot straight up, and when it reflected on her face, she was not embarrassed but instead gave a cold smile: "Young master, I don't want to hurt you. I hope you will forgive me."

Qiu Yeyi's eyes were filled with a deep, star-like light. He swiftly and unexpectedly kissed Leng Shuangcheng's cheek, then released her.

A cold, icy hand silently attacked, but Qiu Yeyi was already on guard. With a slight gust of wind, she gracefully moved two zhang away. Her purple sleeves billowed slightly, revealing a section of her snow-white, feather-like scabbard on her crossed, clasped hands.

Leng Shuangcheng was somewhat surprised. Her "Overwhelming Force" had used sixty percent of her current strength, yet it hadn't even touched a single strand of Qiu Yeyi's clothes. Even though the force of her single palm strike had been greatly diminished, she still couldn't have avoided it without getting wet!

Leng Shuangcheng thought for a moment, then lowered his eyes, channeling his inner energy throughout his body. His sleeves billowed out, fluttering in the wind. "Young Master, please forgive me!"

After she finished speaking, a white mist, like frost and dew, condensed in Leng Shuangcheng's palm. Her face was ashen as she reached out to grab it.