Roi céleste

Chapitre 31

I saw a white umbrella emerge from the dense branches, with a few casually blooming peach blossoms painted on the corners of the umbrella, which looked as if they were blooming in mid-air in the rain. The hand under the umbrella was extremely beautiful, with knuckles that looked like they were carved from warm jade, and it was covered by a wide, light blue sleeve.

I looked into his eyes, and at that moment, his gaze was like the moonlight glowing on a small flame, exquisitely beautiful, yet you felt neither warmth nor coldness, just like him.

I looked up and smiled at the person, and said softly, "...Greetings, Palace Master Qing."

Forty-Three Cups of Chang'an Wine [Minor Revision]

Chang'an Wine - A Song of Chang'an Wine, for the loyal graves must not be swallowed. I urge you to buy more Chang'an wine, and seize the spring in the southern streets and eastern city.

...

He remained as dignified as ever, standing casually like a lone crane standing idly in the rain, detached from the dust of the world.

The man looked at me and smiled faintly, a glint in his eyes. "...Gu Yi." Suddenly, he tightened his grip on the umbrella handle, his knuckles protruding, betraying his unease.

He actually felt uneasy.

And I knew what he was thinking again.

A misty rain, like the blurring of time, the past events in the water vapor and thin fog have been washed away many times but have never faded, only witnessed by the merciless and selfless wind and rain.

I smiled at Qingjiu, my tone calm, "I know you didn't intend to kill me four years ago. You thought I could dodge that sword, and you even bandaged my wounds afterwards. I should thank you, otherwise I would have been a skeleton long ago."

Qing Jiu paused for a moment, her eyelashes trembled slightly, she closed her eyes slightly, and said in a low voice, "In the end, it was I who hurt you."

Just as I was about to speak, Qingjiu added another sentence, leaving even the most hardened woman speechless.

"……sorry."

My body went limp, and I almost dropped the umbrella. My voice trembled as I cautiously asked, "Palace Master Qing...you didn't suffer a qi deviation from practicing some unparalleled martial arts, did you?"

...

A little frog hopped onto the back of my foot and croaked a few times at me...

I also realized that responding to the Palace Master of Tian Shu Palace's invaluable apology in this way was really too inhumane. I scratched my head and immediately changed my words, "We're all old acquaintances, what's there to apologize for? It's all in the past—" I paused, blinked twice quickly, and kicked the little frog aside, "...It's all in the past."

There was no response from the other side. I stared at my toes for a while, and finally couldn't resist looking up.

The man not far away was pale, his lips and fingertips as white as snow that wouldn't melt. He stared at me with wide eyes, his phoenix eyes, as if painted with fine brushstrokes, fixed on me. I don't know how long he stared, but I couldn't see his gaze through the thin rain. I didn't want to see it clearly either, because of the sudden pang of heartache.

Qingjiu moved her lips as if she was about to speak, but I spoke first: "After my injuries healed, I secluded myself in the back mountain of Luowu for three years. Looking back now, it still seems unbelievable."

"I know—"

“Of course, this is also thanks to you,” I interrupted him again, slowly calming down, and finally I was able to smile calmly at Qingjiu.

"I will prove my worth as a survivor."

A feeling of heat slowly rose in my chest. I held up my umbrella and looked at Qing Jiu. "Palace Mistress Qing, see you on the sixth day of the sixth month."

Then I turned around, leaving him with my straight back.

...

In early June, the group from the Thousand Years Sect finally arrived. Li Yiyao pinned me to the ground right there in the street, sat on me, and berated me for abandoning her and going down the mountain to have fun by myself. She said I was unkind and that this lasted for more than half an hour, attracting countless onlookers. It made me even consider disfiguring myself and becoming a nun.

Later, while wandering the streets with Li Yiyao, they encountered Lu Wen. The guy blushed and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, leaving Li Yiyao stunned. The boy's eyes blinked and he didn't dare to look at people directly. After a long pause, he finally managed to stammer out, "You, hello... I am Lu Wen from Qinghong Manor."

Li Yiyao and I both collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

Afterwards, I very loyally and kindly returned to the inn alone. An afternoon later, I received two delicate spring blossoms on the cheeks of the returning Li Meiren, exuding a unique fragrance in the summer.

...

On June 6th, in Qishan, a martial arts tournament was held. The sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly.

It was the same location, the same stone platform, but everything had changed. The sect flags flying high on the platform had changed slightly, with new banners appearing, and some sect names would never appear again.

In the world of martial arts, some laugh and soar on the blue waves, while others are swallowed up and obliterated. The laughter and tears of the world are nothing more than a small ripple in the vast ocean of martial arts.

This event was even more grand in scale than four years ago, with crowds thronging the streets. Those from established sects at least had a seat, while many wandering martial artists who came to watch the spectacle could only stand at a distance.

People from all walks of life gathered here, talking and laughing loudly, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

As usual, I curled up in my seat eating sunflower seeds, watching the seniors like Old Man Yu on stage reminiscing about spring and autumn, lamenting the fleeting years and the passing of time, and shamelessly calling for peace in the martial arts world, completely unaware that they themselves were the ones who fueled that great storm.

As usual, the matches started off with minor skirmishes, which didn't really get to the point. However, after a few days, the skill level noticeably increased. Perhaps fueled by the grudges from the catastrophe three years prior, the battles on the stage were mostly intense, with almost no restraint, and several nearly resulting in fatalities. The spectators, seemingly oblivious to the danger, were clearly aroused by this unrestrained fighting, cheering incessantly. Even I, a usually unassuming tomboy, didn't resort to my usual "excuse me" technique, watching each match with half-closed eyes.

Since I'm a leisurely person and hardly pay attention to gossip in the martial arts world, I was simply watching the duel, and I didn't recognize almost any of the people on stage.

Lu Wen has made great progress. He can now use the Light Swallow Sword Technique up to the eleventh time. Although he was defeated by Yin Liuchuan as usual, he at least lasted sixty or seventy moves against Yin the Demon.

The Tian Shu Palace, which had always been low-key and disdainful of showing off in the martial arts tournament, sent Bai Ya to the stage after losing two of its protectors. This kid was extremely arrogant on the platform.

The swordsman from Ailao Mountain, whom I remembered from before, also shone brightly this year. After he left the arena, he had an intimate conversation with a woman holding a baby, and I realized that four years is enough time for a person to get married and have children.

At twenty-one, in an ordinary family, she would already have children around her knees, and for a martial arts heroine, she is by no means young. As I thought about it, suddenly, beside my master and fellow disciples, amidst a sea of spectators, I had a rather bad guess.

If I continue living like this, will I... end up alone?

The scorching summer sun beat down on me, yet the oppressive heat seemed to emanate from a great distance. I couldn't quite describe how I felt; my heart felt cool. I hadn't noticed it before, but in this beautiful season, under the blazing sun, my skin felt burning hot, while my inner self felt cold.

This inevitably reminded me of the dream I had when I came down from Tian Shu Peak, beside Li Yiyao. Traveling alone, living and dying alone. It was probably around that time that I felt an uncontrollable pessimism towards love and marriage, these words that should be quite romantic.

It was as if everything had ended before it even began.

Holding a flower bud that has fallen from the branch before it has even bloomed in your hand, I think that's probably what it feels like.

Suddenly, I reached out and snatched a flask of wine that my master, Yu Buzhou, had brought, tilting my head back and drinking it all in one gulp. The aroma of the wine filled my nostrils. I had smelled this spicy and pungent smell since the day I became an orphan, and now I didn't feel nauseous at all. I just felt that wine was such a cold thing; as I drank it, my body grew warmer and warmer, but my liver and intestines grew colder and colder.

I put down the wine jug, casually wiped my mouth with my sleeve, gripped the sword at my waist, and flew towards the empty battle platform.

...

Having gained some fame, the previously noisy arena suddenly fell silent, and countless eyes turned to the battle platform, where only I stood.

When I was a child, I did fantasize about standing on a high platform, fighting against all the heroes, being the center of attention, and leaving my name in the history of martial arts. Four years ago, I was so nervous that I had to drink to relieve the tension. Now I drink, but the effect of alcohol is different.

I can now calmly stand on this high battle platform and calmly look down at every martial arts master below.

Finally, I can draw my sword and prove myself.

My voice was calm, yet powerful, under the bright sunlight.

"The Lord of the Thousand-Year Gate, having purchased his robes, has come to seek guidance from the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pivot Palace."

Forty-four cups of Qingtian wine [Refined sayings]

Qingtian wine, a wine so delicious it makes you forget your worries; as the sun sets in the west, the traveler forgets to return home.

...

It was nearly dusk, and a few stray geese carried the setting sun on their backs, sending it down the mountain.

I gripped my sword and watched as the person sitting at the back of the Tian Shu Palace banner stood up, looked over, and then flew towards us, his lotus-colored robes fluttering in the air like flowers and leaves.

The person got closer and closer, but I still couldn't see them clearly.

Actually, four years ago, when I came down from the mountain and stayed at Qinghong Manor in Yangzhou, I didn't entirely regret my decision. Since ancient times, women have been expected to know shame and virtue, although those from the martial arts world don't seem to care as much—perhaps that's just an excuse. It was out of pride that I chose to avoid him, since he rejected me out of cowardice. Seeing Li Yiyao so bravely and persistently pursuing Lu Wen, those who didn't know her would call her shameless. When she complained to me, she just smiled foolishly, but I knew she must have been heartbroken, yet she never gave up, even though Lu Wen showed no interest whatsoever. As for me, knowing that Qing Jiu had at least shown some affection for me, he ran away, and I ran away too. Everything that hadn't even begun to blossom was left behind. We were both supposed to be the pride of heaven, yet we were both too cowardly.

Such regret vanished when we were forced to fight each other to protect the interests of our respective sects, which we considered vital to our very existence, and when I finally lost to him.

I understand that this is not a problem that I can solve by simply putting aside my pride.

I began to resolve to prove that I was not worthy of being abandoned, and that you, Qingjiu, should not have been so arrogant as to think that you could harm me in the future in order to protect the hereditary sect. If I am strong enough, then I will not be swayed by these worldly forces, let alone be harmed.

I do want him to regret it, but it's pointless. Even if we both regret it, I won't bow down to him, and I believe he won't bow down to me either. We both have that pathetic, laughable pride, and in the end, nothing will change.

Even if the outcome is already decided, I will not swallow this burning breath and admit that I am the one who needs to be protected and therefore abandoned. Even if I die on this stage, it will only mean that I have been defeated, but I will never be defeated.

I am proud, Qingguyi.

After Qingjiu stood still on the battle platform, a sharp and desolate sword shadow suddenly appeared before his eyes—

...

I took the bathtub out, dried myself off, changed into new clothes, and sniffed myself to make sure that the sweaty smell from practicing martial arts was gone. I was very satisfied. I tightened my belt, picked up a wooden comb and combed my hair a few times, then walked out with my hair down.

At this moment, the heat is intense on the plains, but on the mountain, a gentle breeze still blows, disturbing the trees and creating clusters of green clouds that rise above the soft chirping of birds, sometimes scattering and sometimes gathering.

In a good mood, I hummed a little tune as I walked around to the back of the house. Under a tree in the courtyard, there was a stone table, and beside it, a man sat on a stone chair. He was tall and slender, with a sword at his waist, dressed in snow-white robes covered in intricately tattooed dragons. Sitting there against the sun, he resembled a towering snow-capped peak bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Hearing the noise, he turned his head to look at me, the golden dragon tattooed at the corner of his eye gleaming.

"Young Master Yin, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." I said politely, but when I sat down, my posture was very casual. I hooked the porcelain plate on the table and started picking up fruit to eat.

"The Qishan martial arts competition has been going on for several days now, hasn't it?" Yin Liuchuan said, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at me, tapping the table lightly with one hand.

"Right...why aren't you there joining in the fun, but instead coming to see this idle person like me?"

“With that fellow surnamed Qing gone, Qishan has lost all interest in me. Besides, the beauty can beat me, and those old monsters are unwilling to fight me. After all, he is the young master of Youlong Heavenly Palace, I can’t just force myself to fight them.” Yin Liuchuan raised an eyebrow with a bored expression, then looked at me and smiled, his eyes sparkling like stars reflected in water. “Besides, it’s more important to come see the young lady.”

After listening to "Little Lady" for several years, I finally became numb to it and couldn't be bothered with it anymore. I just leisurely ate my fruit.

"And what about you, Gu Yi?" Yin Liuchuan's voice came slowly, "I even took you to see it, but you didn't go at all."

I smiled indifferently and simply said, "Because it's meaningless. Like you, there's nothing I want to do there anymore."

"...Defeat Qingjiu?"

I'm too lazy to answer.

The mountain breeze swept by, making Yin Liuchuan's robes flutter and occasionally carrying a few leaves and branches that swept between us.

The person opposite suddenly chuckled softly, "Gu Yi, do you know that the reason I want to see Qing Jiu is not to defeat him, but to... kill him."

The last three words sounded like the clash of weapons, full of murderous intent.

I looked up at Yin Liuchuan, who was tilting his head and speaking in a lazy tone that was anything but joking, and asked, "What, when did you become enemies?"

"Why would I, Yin Liuchuan, need to make enemies after killing someone?" Young Palace Master Yin said disdainfully, then stroked his jade-like chin before changing his words: "...If we're talking about enemies, it's not that there aren't any. It's just that two years ago when you challenged him to a duel, I really didn't like the way you looked at him."

Yin Liuchuan squinted at me lazily, his tone flippant yet brimming with murderous intent, "That serious look can only be directed at me. I will kill everyone else."

I was speechless for a moment.

But the young master Yin smiled brightly and tenderly the next moment, and then changed the subject completely, "Gu Yi, how old are you this year?"

"...Twenty-three."

I thought he would be sarcastic and say things like, "How did you become such an old maid?" But he just leaned forward, reached out his hand to me, and used his long, slender, white fingers to lift my chin. "Hey, how about... you marry me?"