Roi céleste

Chapitre 29

The entire street fell silent instantly. Everyone, including Qu Qingqing and Lu Wen, looked at Li Yiyao, who was stunningly beautiful but even more terrifying. I, who was prepared, took a few steps back and pretended to be an innocent passerby. I held my forehead and leaned against the wall, feeling extremely weak.

...

Note: This is from "Nineteen Ancient Poems, No. 3".

Green cypresses on the hill, rugged stones in the stream. Life between heaven and earth is but a fleeting journey. Let us enjoy wine and conversation, for it is better to be generous than stingy. Let us drive our chariots, urging our weary horses, and roam freely between Wan and Luo. How prosperous Luo is! Officials vie for power. Long avenues and alleys are lined with mansions of princes and nobles. The two palaces stand facing each other, their twin towers over a hundred feet high. Let us feast to our hearts' content; what sorrow could possibly weigh us down?

Thirty-nine cups of Yao wine

Yao Wine: Dewdrops float on Yao wine, a gentle breeze stirs the dance and song. The fragrance reaches passersby, and even those leaning on railings are intoxicated. If you ask where it can be found? Along the Jiangnan region, wine flags abound.

...

The once bustling street seemed to freeze in place, with ordinary people and sedan chairs all turning towards Li Yiyao.

Even Li Yiyao was a bit bewildered in this situation and instinctively wanted to turn back and ask me for help. However, I never underestimated Aunt Li's abilities.

Sure enough, the next moment, she rushed towards a pair of innocent passersby.

A wealthy, pot-bellied man with eight gemstone rings on his fingers and a beautiful, alluring young woman were seen arm in arm with the rich middle-aged man.

Before the two could react, and the middle-aged man was even more stunned by Li Yiyao's beauty, Li Yiyao, her eyes reddening, spoke in a voice as if crying blood: "I knew you would come out behind my mother's back to fool around with other vixens!" She was clearly certain that the young woman was not the legal wife, but at most a concubine, or a temporary plaything.

The portly man was taken aback, then subconsciously realized: "...You, who are you!?"

"I am Chunxiang's daughter!" Li Yiyao's eyes reddened as she got quite into character, and she pointed at the man's nose, choking back tears: "Didn't you keep saying you would divorce your shrew and marry my mother? But now you're with this vixen of unknown origin! How can you face my mother!"

After a brief silence, the young woman next to the middle-aged man erupted: "Master Han, I begged for death but couldn't get you to divorce your old hag and marry me! I thought you had your reasons, but now—humph!" She flung her long sleeves and left.

The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, then glared fiercely at Li Yiyao, uttered "You just wait," and hurriedly chased after her.

Li Yiyao, the warrior who had inadvertently caused this farce and tragedy, didn't care at all. He waved his hand at the passersby who were watching with great interest and said, "The show is over. Stop watching and go home!" He then pulled me along and turned around to walk towards Lu Wen and Qu Qingqing, who were watching in a daze, and greeted them very warmly and naturally.

Lu Wen said blankly, "You just now..."

"It was just a chivalrous act, no need to ask about such a trivial matter." Li Yiyao then looked at Qu Qingqing, who was about to speak, "We, the Thousand Years Sect, have come all this way to visit you, shouldn't the young master give us a proper welcome?"

So we were led into Qinghong Manor by Qu Qingqing, who looked annoyed but was still quite sensible.

The name "Thousand Years Sect" is quite effective; even Granny Qu Chunran personally came out to greet us. We made up a story that we were going down the mountain for training and were passing through Yangzhou, so we decided to stay for a while to strengthen our sect ties. Qu Chunran smiled mysteriously, didn't ask any further questions, arranged a clean courtyard for us, chatted about some anecdotes from the martial arts world, and then left.

I stood in yet another unfamiliar courtyard, and suddenly felt an overwhelming longing for Luowu Mountain. I just wanted to go back and never come out again. After a long while, I suddenly hugged Li Yiyao, who came out of the house.

The withered yellow leaves fell in large clumps, each of them standing upright on the branches, now finally able to nestle together and rest in peace beneath the tree.

It was probably because of the cold weather that I stayed curled up in the courtyard, too lazy to go out. I only practiced my sword in the front yard. Li Yiyao, on the other hand, was unusually diligent in going out, seemingly with the awareness of exercising and protecting the sect. Of course, I could guess with my own eyes that she was going to see Lu Wen. Watching Li Yiyao come home with a different face every day, I thought it was quite entertaining to watch her change expressions like a theatrical performance. However, she mostly wore a dejected yet forcedly cheerful expression. Of course, no matter what, she would go out again the next day. Perhaps because I knew the reason, I don't know why I wasn't very interested in the love-hate entanglement between the beautiful Li Yiyao and the dull-witted Lu Wen. Indeed, people are selfish. When you can't have someone you love, you don't care about others.

I actually envy Li Yiyao. She's always so brave. She rushes forward without considering the consequences of what she wants, and she doesn't care whether her passion will get her what she wants. She never gives herself a chance to regret it. My passionate and carefree Li Yiyao!

Staying at Qinghong Manor, I finally realized that I, like Qingjiu, am a petty and cowardly person, and I have no right to blame him.

A slender figure seemed to flash through my mind, dressed in lotus-green robes, accompanied by the delicate fragrance of peach blossoms bathed in the glow of the sunset.

I drew my sword and pushed open the door.

...

After staying for nearly ten days, I knew that if we stayed any longer, it would be against the rules. Just as I was thinking of a reason to drag Li Yiyao, who was almost hanging to death on the gnarled elm tree, a shocking piece of news came from Qinghong Manor.

Using the pretext that Qinghong Manor had insulted and killed three of its disciples, revealing its great wicked intentions, Youlongtian Palace, led by Palace Master Yin Xuan and Young Palace Master Yin Liuchuan, along with most of the elders and nearly 60% of the disciples, to attack Qinghong Manor. They successfully concealed the news, and by the time the intelligence reached Qinghong Manor, there were only about three days left before the arrival of Youlongtian Palace's forces.

After years of calm, the martial arts world has finally stirred up a long-dormant storm.

The first thing Qu Chunran did wasn't to discuss how to deal with the enemy, but to effectively imprison Li Yiyao and me. The reason was simple: our appearance was too coincidental, and she suspected we were spies for the Youlong Heavenly Palace.

Damn it, old woman Qu, have you ever seen such a dashing, powerful, and expensive man? No wonder you could never surpass Yin Xuan in your entire life.

The people of Qinghong Manor underestimated me, this tough woman, and I managed to escape. The day after my escape, I was arguing with Li Yiyao in a teahouse in a small county town near Yangzhou about whether to go to Tian Shu Palace or Luo Wu Mountain. Although the martial world was in chaos and I should immediately return to my sect, I had still received money from Tian Shu Palace, which still belonged to them. Then, even more shocking news arrived.

Tian Shu Palace issued a series of high-sounding announcements to all the heroes of the world, but in reality, it was all about helping Qing Hong Manor. They even sent reinforcements, despite everyone's initial belief that Tian Shu Palace was on good terms with You Long Tian Palace.

Anyone with common sense can see that without assistance, Qinghong Manor would be no match for Youlong Tiangong. If Youlong Tiangong were to swallow Qinghong Manor, it would undoubtedly become the strongest gang in the martial world, without exception. This would not benefit Tianshu Palace in the slightest. On the other hand, rescuing Qinghong Manor would not only maintain the balance of power in the martial world but also make Qinghong Manor owe a huge favor.

With the addition of Tian Shu Palace, You Long Tian Palace will soon be at a disadvantage, and I know what my sect will do.

I leaned against the window and overheard the tall, chivalrous man at the next table talking at length about this matter. Then I tilted my head back and drank the whole cup of bitter tea. The scalding hot tea leaves rolled directly down my throat, but I didn't feel any pain, only my voice became a little hoarse.

"Yi Yao, let's go back to Luowu Mountain."

The cold wind of late autumn is like a pale cloth, choking everyone who is barely clinging to life in this world, cutting straight to the bone with a deep chill.

At that moment, I knew I no longer needed to wonder why Qingjiu was worried about killing me, nor did I need to hesitate about whether to say the foolish thing about how the future of my Thousand Years Sect could help him. It was all to dispel my concerns, and simply to be with him.

In the near future, when we face each other with swords drawn, I will surely laugh at my past self.

I laughed, ruffled Li Yiyao's hair as he stood up, gave the waiter an extra tael of silver as a tip, and as I stepped out of the teahouse, the warm sunlight poured down, its warmth, devoid of any sentimentality, gently caressing my cold skin, bathing it in golden light. I lowered my head with a smile on my face.

So, I don't need to cry for no reason.

...

On my way to Luowu Mountain, I finally mastered the fourth move of the Duijun Sword Technique. Half a month after returning to Luowu Mountain, my scouts brought news that two elders of Youlong Tiangong had been killed by Qingjiu, severely weakening the palace. After a night of silence, Old Man Yu ordered 50% of his disciples to go down the mountain to assist Youlong Tiangong.

The first snow has just fallen in the mountains. The setting sun shines on the sparse bamboo, and the remaining snow is scattered among the mountains. Staying on the mountain, I feel a sense of coldness and tranquility, as if I am not in the human world.

On a crisp early winter morning, I slowly wiped the sword in my hand clean with a cloth dampened with pure snow, then sheathed it. I tied my hair up with a cloth strip, bid farewell to Zhou Xuande who remained in the mountains, gave a few more instructions to Li Yiyao who stayed behind, breathed a sigh of relief, and followed the crowd down the mountain.

Looking back, Luowu Mountain appears cold and desolate, like a heart that has bled to death, standing alone in the sky.

Forty cups of yellow-sealed wine

Yellow-sealed wine - Yellow-sealed wine has been bestowed for the New Year, and the old and the new still share the blush fish tail.

...

The four major gangs of the martial arts world began to fight each other, and the martial arts world was no longer peaceful. Other gangs either severely reprimanded them or chose to protect themselves, but many more joined the conflict for various reasons, quickly expanding what was a competition between the four sects into a storm in the entire martial arts world.

I had only been down the mountain for four days when I encountered a group of scumbag gang members supporting Qinghong Manor. I didn't intend to kill them, but everyone wanted to kill me. Being buried in a sea of swords and blood every day, only to emerge drenched in blood, was ultimately not a pleasant experience. Even six months later, I still suffer from insomnia. There's no denying that real combat is indeed the fastest and best way to hone martial arts skills. My internal martial arts techniques may not have improved, but my swordsmanship has made a tremendous leap through countless bloody battles. Yet, I feel no joy, just as I felt no joy when I left the mountain for the sake of so-called balance in the martial world; all I felt was exhaustion and weariness.

Originally, the combined strength of the Thousand-Year Sect and the Wandering Dragon Palace was definitely superior to that of the Heavenly Pivot Palace and the Light Red Manor. However, due to Old Man Yu's constant hesitation, the Wandering Dragon Palace suffered considerable losses in the pincer attack. Therefore, we were evenly matched, and after half a year of chaotic fighting, each side suffered losses but could not determine a winner. In fact, I think that apart from the Wandering Dragon Palace, which clearly wanted to wipe out the Light Red Manor, the other three sects had no clear objective. They just wanted to stall and prevent the Wandering Dragon Palace from succeeding. Of course, they would say it was all about the noble balance and peace of the martial world, which was utterly ridiculous. The direct consequence of this unclear objective was that we had the advantage. The Heavenly Pivot Palace and the Light Red Manor were somewhat passive, following the Wandering Dragon Palace's lead. As for the Thousand-Year Sect, they were like candles lit on one side, illuminating a drama among the three sects.

Having survived six months of gang warfare, I seemed to have made a name for myself. In any case, the ambushes we encountered came more and more frequently and faster. Basically, everyone rushed at me as soon as they saw me. So, in the chaos, I still managed to kill people. Then, like a valve being opened, I killed more and more people. I became more and more indifferent and callous. Disciples of prestigious sects had all become demons.

I encountered Qingjiu at the foot of Qishan Mountain. This sacred place in the martial arts world, where martial arts masters gathered to compete and exchange skills, was a scene of chaos in the martial arts world, as well as life-and-death battles that were many times more exciting than the actual competitions.

At that time, I killed almost half of the people who were besieging me and forced the other half to retreat. Later, no one dared to approach me. I was the only one standing there, with severed limbs and remains all around me. My clothes were no longer recognizable as original colors, and were covered in blood and stuck to my body.

It was sunset, and the orange-yellow glow of the setting sun bathed the barren valley, illuminating the figures of those shouting or groaning in pain, their silhouettes clear, some standing, some fallen. I saw a figure approaching from afar, its robes fluttering like a swan draped in the sunset. I saw the opposing disciples suddenly begin to shout, their voices filled with intense emotion.

I stared intently at the figure whose outline was gradually becoming clearer. After a while, I blinked, wiped the blood from my face, swung my sword and cut off a section of my sleeve, and began to wipe the sword and my hand. Then, I gripped the sword tightly and raised my head.

Even under the warm sunset in early winter, the person opposite me was like a stroke of a painting; with just one simple stroke, all my words were cut short.

Qing Jiu. When I called him Palace Master Qing, he insisted that I call him Qing Jiu, but now...

“…Palace Mistress Qing.” I slowly, little by little, raised the corners of my mouth, seemingly without any real sadness.

The sun was setting, not quite setting, like a long, choked sob. There was no sound all around, or perhaps I could no longer hear or see anything else.

The young man not far in front of me looked down at me with his head slightly lowered. His narrow phoenix eyes were deep and dark, appearing almost icy in the shadows. I couldn't see his expression. "Now, will you go back to Luowu Mountain?" he asked, his voice clear and cold, like sparse snow.

I laughed again, raised my sword-wielding arm, and simply said, "You won't be going back to Tian Shu Peak."

How could proud people like us back down for the other side?

Suddenly, a flash of sword light appeared before my eyes, and our swords swiftly intertwined. I was already prepared not to return to Luowu Mountain alive.

Even at such a critical moment, I still shamelessly thought of the first time I saw Qingjiu draw his sword. In a teahouse in a small town, he lightly and quickly cleaved his opponent in two with a single sword strike, and I, hiding innocently in the corner, was instantly terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

He sat upright at the table then, a faint smile on his face, his whole being as gentle and refined as jade, like a god untouched by worldly affairs, let alone seeing me cowering in the crowd. And this proud son of heaven, whom I could only look up to, I was able to talk to him, play chess with him, practice martial arts with him, and even kiss him in a moment of dizziness. Even if he used me, hurt me, and gave up on me, really, that's enough.

Perhaps as I was thinking like this, my heart suddenly became calmer than ever before, like the surface of water after a storm, clear and bright, revealing my true nature, and I saw the figure hidden deep in my heart at a glance.

I saw a patch of crimson stain on my clothes, which I assumed was my blood, but it didn't seem to hurt at all. I smoothly executed the Sword Technique from the first move to the fourth move. All I could see were the shadows of each other's swords, filling the world. It looked like an illusion, a fleeting glimpse of light and shadow. The lotus-green sleeves and hem of my robes were like a dream.

Using four moves of the Sword Technique in succession was too much for me. Before I could even finish the fourth move, I choked on blood due to exhaustion. My movements faltered, and I saw a thin, bright light, like lightning, pierce straight through my right chest. At that moment, I saw Qingjiu's face filled with astonishment, but his sword was already unstoppable.

Emerging from a section of the sword on his chest, the previously chaotic world slowly began to brighten. The sword light was like a sun illuminating everything before him, and the light was so dazzling that it almost blinded him.

I knelt on the ground, gripped the sword piercing my chest with my other hand, and suddenly closed my eyes, stubbornly refusing to let tears seep out.

I am Qing Guyi, Qing Guyi of Luowu Mountain, Qing Guyi of Qiansui Gate, the tough woman Qing Guyi who would rather die than bow her head. Even in death, I should not shed useless tears.

Until a cold fingertip touched my cheek, the coldness caused a burning sensation, and in that instant, all my instincts returned to my body. My eyes and nose stung so badly they almost twitched, and I stubbornly refused to open them.

Even with my eyes closed, I couldn't escape the blinding light. Was it a hallucination before death? The world after my eyes closed was still bright. Then, the tiny specks of light slowly pieced together, and outlines began to appear in the shimmering, luminous field of vision.

Close your eyes, who do you see? Even if he is right next to you, do you still feel sad?

Human hearts are as fickle as water, easily stirred into waves on calm ground.

...

Note: The seventh poem in "Nine Bamboo Branch Poems" by Liu Yuxi

The Qutang Gorge roars with its twelve rapids; people say the road there has always been difficult. It's a pity that human hearts are not like water, easily stirred into waves on calm ground.

Forty-one cups of Zhongshan wine [Minor repair]

Zhongshan Wine: Hearing the name of Zhongshan Wine, one cup brings a thousand days of dizziness.

...

In the depths of winter, the mountains were all white in the north wind. I was panting heavily after completing my routine lap around Luowu Mountain with the hand warmer in hand. The hot air I exhaled dissipated like mist. I gritted my teeth and returned to Qiuchang Mountain. As soon as I entered the house, I rushed to the brazier, wishing I could stick my whole body to the charcoal fire.

Occasionally, the sound of branches snapping under the weight of snow could be heard outside the window, like the low cough of all things.

When I woke up, my master, Old Man Yu, said that I had been lying in bed unconscious for two months, and the doctor said that I might never wake up again.

Before I could even process what was happening, I heard my master say that I didn't know who had left me at the main camp of the Thousand-Year Sect. The sword in my chest had been removed, the bleeding had stopped, and they had even bandaged my wound and draped a robe over me to keep me warm. My master said that if someone hadn't saved me in time, I would never have opened my eyes again.

I didn't hear a single word they said at the time; I just sat there blankly, dazed. Because during my two-month coma, I had a brief dream.

In my dream, it was still that peach blossom forest, as beautiful as a dream, with every blossom in full bloom, dazzling in its splendor. I had never dreamed of this before. The peach blossoms were blooming so intensely, almost as if they were weeping blood. Just looking at them gave me a strange sense of empathy.

I sat under one of the trees, seemingly waiting for someone, yet not quite. If I was waiting, I didn't know who. In the distance, the mist was thick, like three thousand feet of human sorrow.