Roi céleste

Chapitre 12

"...Thank you." He was probably thanking me for saving him.

I was about to wave, but then I realized we wouldn't be able to see each other anyway, so I said, "Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda." Then, thinking about his lower body being crushed by the boulder, I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Your leg... is it in excruciating pain, or... is it numb?"

A faint voice came from the darkness: "...Unconscious."

I froze for a moment, then slowly groped my way back to him. "...I'll carry you." I took his arms and put them on my shoulders, then carried him toward the exit.

I regret not bringing a wooden stick with me to use as a walking stick. Now I have no choice but to move slowly while holding onto the mountain wall, which is very strenuous.

In the darkness, no one spoke again. To distract myself, my mind began to wander, and I recalled the first time I saw Qingjiu in the teahouse. He was dressed in purple, his elegance unparalleled, his smile serene and composed, as if everything was under his control. At that time, I, wearing a mask and dressed in gray, huddled in the fearful crowd, looking at him with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, thinking that I would never see him again, and even if I did, I wouldn't be a helpless weakling.

Now, I've saved his life; he even needs me to carry him from endless darkness into the light.

Alas, the world is like a tide, and people are like water; gatherings and separations are like floating duckweed, never something we can control. Life is full of events, but how many events are there?

Just as I was expressing my poetic sentiments, I tragically stepped on a pebble... slipped, and then someone else fell on top of me, causing me to fall forward. I managed to keep from collapsing to the ground by bracing myself with my hands.

However, in that instant, I felt a finger brush against my neck, an extremely cold touch that seemed to chill me to the bone.

As expected of Qingjiu.

If I hadn't tripped and fallen, I would be in grave danger right now. Rather than saying I had terrible luck today, it would be more accurate to say I had excellent luck; I just couldn't die no matter what.

While I was thinking, I flicked my sleeve, and the hidden dagger slid into my hand. I bit the sheath, drew the dagger, and immediately pressed it against the neck of the person on my back.

I released my grip, and the scabbard fell to the ground with a loud thud, almost drowning out my calm voice: "You want to kill me..."

There was no response.

I said coldly, "If you put your hand on my neck or any pressure point again, I will kill you immediately."

After thinking for a moment, he threw Qingjiu heavily to the ground again. "...Fine, I don't trust you anymore." He pressed a pressure point to knock him unconscious, completely ignoring the tooth-grinding sound of bones hitting the ground.

Leaning against the stone wall, I bit my lip hard, my nails digging into my flesh with my clenched fist, but I felt no pain.

I guess I'm still a useless kid... While I was lost in my own thoughts, they were already considering how to deal with me. Yeah, rather than entrusting my life to someone I don't know well and can't trust, I might as well kill her and crawl out bit by bit. After all, she said there's an exit, right?

How could someone who aspires to the pinnacle of the martial arts world entrust their most precious asset—their life—to someone else? A true master of the martial world should have everything under their control, especially when they are severely injured and at their most vulnerable. It would be such a pity if someone who should be able to command the winds and rains everywhere were to die in an unnamed mountain due to a dragon-walking incident or a mountain collapse.

I suddenly kicked the person lying on the ground hard, and then, feeling that wasn't enough to vent my anger, I stomped on him a few more times before finally collapsing to the ground, panting.

After resting on the ground for a while, I checked Qingjiu and found he was still breathing. I didn't care whether he had really passed out or not, so I grabbed his collar and started dragging him forward.

The flesh hissed as it rubbed against the rough, uneven ground. I frowned, snorted, and continued dragging him forward.

We continued like this, stopping and starting, until the next morning when I finally dragged the Grand Palace Master out of the cave.

The saying "after the storm comes the rainbow" is truly true. After experiencing a nightmarish natural disaster and endless darkness, we have now escaped to a paradise-like place.

...

This is a small hillside nestled among thousands of mountains and valleys. The interplay of mountain light and tree shadows creates a secluded paradise. The calls of cuckoos come and go, like mending stitches. Wildflowers, bathed in the morning glow, carpet the slope, and a stream overflows from its depths.

My throat was burning, so I immediately went to the stream bank and drank several mouthfuls of the cool, clear water, then washed my face. I hadn't planned to care about Qingjiu, but then I thought it wouldn't hurt to let him drink some of the water my savior had used to wash his face, so I scooped up a handful of water, pinched his chin, and poured it down his throat.

Upon closer inspection, one can see a small path worn by people faintly visible in the woods on the slope of the stream. Looking up, it seems there are actually houses on the hillside.

I naturally intend to visit the reclusive master.

Since it was uphill, I was afraid that if I dragged him any longer, the famous Palace Master of Tian Shu would be split in two, so I had no choice but to carry him on my back and walk uphill along the path.

Pushing aside the dense, overgrown branches, a stone path came into view. Following it, we arrived at a flat area on the slope, where several thatched houses and a front yard simply enclosed by a fence appeared.

I coughed twice and asked loudly, "Is anyone here?"

Nobody paid any attention to me. Did a reclusive sage leave behind his residence and ascend to immortality on a crane?

I had no choice but to carry the broken-down sword and break into a private residence.

Pushing open the door and entering the house, I found it to be clean. Touching the tabletop, I found no dust, indicating that someone was living there.

Being a morally upright and strong woman, I immediately left the house and closed the door. After looking around, I finally threw Qingjiu on the haystack in the front yard. Looking at his pitiful legs, I immediately looked away and turned to the back of the house.

I stared, stunned, at the back of the house.

The so-called backyard... turned out to be a medicinal herb garden on the hillside. I am not knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine, but I do recognize a few medicinal plants, none of which are here. Judging from the way those plants grow so freely and magically... this medicinal herb garden is clearly quite high-end.

Now I finally understand what it means to be a chosen one of heaven. A chosen one of heaven is someone who, no matter if you have a crippled leg, will have a hermit master who knows medicine sent to you. Of course, there is no shortage of hard-working laborers like me.

I felt an itch in my legs and wanted to kick that unconscious little prince lying in the front yard again.

Before I could even finish clenching my teeth, I suddenly turned around with lightning speed.

An old woman, dressed in a plain-colored jacket, had appeared on the thatched roof. She was slightly hunched over, her hands clasped behind her back, and she was looking at me with a surprised expression, clearly not expecting my senses to be so sharp.

She looked me up and down, covered in wounds, then chuckled and said, "You're not a simple girl, are you..."

I felt a little uneasy, but I bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, senior."

The old woman appeared before me in a flash, her wrinkled face magnified before my eyes. "Young lady, did you escape from the other side of the mountain? It takes quite a bit of skill to survive with someone at the foot of Zoujiaota Mountain."

"You flatter me, senior. But I would like to ask you to take a look... at the leg of that person in the front yard, is there any hope of saving it?"

“Oh, I just took a look,” the mysterious old woman in front of me said, rolling her eyes. “The injury isn’t serious. It should be healed in about six months under my care.”

Even though you can see the broken bones, they still say the injury isn't serious... Sure enough, according to the plot of the novel, those who appear at this time are all reclusive masters, and cannot be judged by ordinary standards.

"Then we humbly request that you, senior, show some kindness and offer your assistance—"

Before he could finish speaking, he was impatiently interrupted by the somewhat gloomy-looking old woman: "Who said I was going to save that boy?"

Huh? I didn't see this scene in the historical novel. Oh well, it can be considered a plot point, so I immediately replied, "How would you, senior, be willing to save the person?"

The old woman chuckled again: "That's fair enough. You break your own legs right now, and I'll heal your little lover immediately."

"How could that be?" I answered without hesitation. At the same time, I understood why the story naturally included encounters with reclusive masters, not with a demonic Rakshasa...

"Huh?" This time it was the old woman's turn to be surprised. "Isn't he your sweetheart? He's just crippled, and you're unwilling to save him?"

I might be willing to save him if it costs me a single hair on my leg...

"What little lover? Senior, you're overthinking it. Is there any other way? If not, I'll be leaving. You can cook and eat that person or bury him in the herb field as compost." I left these heartfelt words, waved my sleeves, and prepared to leave gracefully.

Fifteen Cups of Pine Needle Wine

Pine Needle Wine - Inviting an old man from the foot of the mountain, we drank together under the moon in the woods. Completely drunk, we forgot words; who could speak the truth?

...

The old woman, who resembled a demonic Rakshasa, glanced at me twice before slowly saying, "There is another way..." She turned and called out, "Old man, come here..."

An elderly man in a blue robe appeared, his face weathered and ancient, with white hair and a flushed complexion, exuding a kind and gentle aura. This was the epitome of a reclusive sage, yet he was paired with the Rakshasa... The mindset and taste of reclusive figures truly defy conventional judgment.

The old man laughed and said, "Oh, it's been so many years, and we still have guests visiting."

The old woman chuckled again and said, "As long as you, young lady, beat this old man, I will save the young man without hesitation."

I glanced at the old man's effortless footsteps, then carefully sensed his presence again, confirming that although he was standing right beside me, I couldn't sense his aura at all. The conclusion was clear: I was obviously no match for this reclusive master.

"Excuse me, senior, if I can't beat you, will you kill me?" I asked the old man respectfully.

The old man smiled kindly, looked me over a few times, and said, "As long as you admit defeat, I will not make another move." He was indeed a very dignified martial arts master.

"Then please lend me a sword, senior," I said with a smile.

Covered in injuries, lacking strength, sleep-deprived, and having not eaten for a day, the odds of winning... are less than 10%.

Qingjiu, this is my last effort. After this, your life or death is no longer my concern. After all, my leg is far more important than that illusory eighteen-story pagoda.

I was silent for a moment, pursed my lips, and suddenly looked up at the old man who was walking towards the house, saying, "If you have... wine, please give me a pot."

...

An hour later, speechless, I returned with the smiling old man from a desolate valley.

The sinister old woman sneered, "Well, little girl, if you don't break your own legs, then take that young man and leave."

Before I could even speak, the old man interrupted, "What are you saying, old woman? I've lost."

"What?!" the old woman exclaimed, then shrieked, "You old man, you must have deliberately admitted defeat!"

The old man chuckled and then whispered, "This young girl is a disciple of the Thousand-Year-Old."

"A disciple of the Thousand-Year-Old Sect?" The old woman squinted at me, her expression shifting between light and shadow. "...This young girl is indeed extraordinary; she's been allowed to descend the mountain at such a young age." She seemed quite familiar with the rules of my sect.

It's more than just not simple. Hmph, the prodigy Qing Guyi descended from the mountain openly and honestly without any examination!

"Indeed," the old man chuckled and patted my shoulder, "that little girl can even use the second move of the Duijun Sword Technique."

The old woman looked at me warily: "Who exactly are you? Only the head of the Thousand-Year Sect can learn the Sovereign Sword Technique!"

They really know the Thousand Years Sect well. It seems these two have a good relationship with the older generation of the Thousand Years Sect, otherwise the old man wouldn't have readily admitted defeat after I used the Sword Technique of the Monarch.

"This junior is Qing Guyi, a disciple of Yu Buzhou, the head of the Thousand Years Sect."

"Hmph, as expected, that brat Yu Buzhou likes to act recklessly," the old woman sneered. "Alright, since you've fulfilled the second condition, I'll save that kid. Hmm, who is he? Is he also from the Thousand Years Sect?"

"He is my... friend." Let's not talk about his identity.

Seeing that I was unwilling to speak, the old woman sneered twice more, turned around and walked towards the front yard, saying, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and come help."

So I have to stay? No way...

Seeing my reluctance, the old man said, "Anyway, it's not safe outside right now. It's going to rain in a couple of days, and there might be another natural disaster. Just stay here for a while, and keep us two old folks company."

I was indeed frightened by yesterday's experience, and I instinctively flinched.

The old man patted my back reassuringly, "Besides, you need a place to take a good bath and then get some sleep, right? Come on, let's go eat some fruit to fill our stomachs."

I was stunned for a moment before I came to my senses and looked up at the old man with a sweet smile.

It was only while wolfing down the sweet melons and fruits that I learned the old man's name was Master Cen, and the old woman who had helped me tidy up because I had brushed off her clothes was named Danqiu Sheng. The two of them had been saved by Yu Buzhou's master, who was also my grandmaster, when they were young.

While I was eating, the kind-hearted Grandpa Cen prepared a bucket of hot water for me and added medicine to it, saying it would help my wound heal.

After a delightful medicinal bath, I changed into Danqiu Sheng's extra clothes and had a good night's sleep. When I woke up, it was already night.

I don't know if it's because of the medicine soak, but I feel exceptionally good.

After having a simple but satisfying dinner with an elderly couple, I was told that Qingjiu had woken up, but I didn't go to see him.

Then I began a leisurely life in these secluded mountains, washing clothes, mopping floors, picking herbs, and brewing medicinal soup in exchange for food and lodging.

If it weren't for that jinx, I'd be happy to keep living like this.