Le ciel au-dessus des rivières et des lacs est dégagé

Chapitre 17

Xiaoman kicked her legs frantically, but she was no match for these people in strength. Yaoguang quickly took a purse from her bosom, closed her eyes, and pinched out a pearl the size of a longan—a very precious pink pearl. Tianji exclaimed in admiration, "Not bad! Quite a few good things! Let me see!"

He snatched the purse, ransacked it, and exclaimed, "Heavens! This is the pearl embedded in the wall of the guest room! This is the pearl on the bronze mirror! This is the eyeball on the faucet in the bathtub! You...you've plundered so much!"

Xiao Man quickly tried to snatch it, but Tian Ji nimbly dodged and laughed, "These are all things from our No Return Mountain. You little thief, how dare you take them for yourself! Now they all have to be returned to their rightful owners."

Tianquan pretended not to see anything and coughed softly. Xiaoman was both embarrassed and annoyed. She turned around and saw Lianyi staring blankly at her. She said anxiously, "What are you staring at! Is this how you act as a guard? The only person you're supposed to protect is me, okay!"

Tianji chuckled, "Calling her won't do any good. Look at her, she doesn't know any kung fu..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt his hand go empty. He was startled and saw that the purse he had been holding was now in Lianyi's hand. She respectfully handed the purse to Xiaoman, saying, "Master, this is yours!"

Xiaoman was very satisfied. She reluctantly stuffed the purse back into her pocket and patted Lianyi's head, saying, "Well done! I'll reward you later."

"How did you do that?!" Tianji exclaimed in disbelief. Her movements were incredibly fast!

Lianyi kindly explained, "Oh, is that so? I took the purse from your hand and then handed it to my master."

No, that's not what I meant... Tianji felt overwhelmed by a jumble of thoughts and had no choice but to give up talking to her. These two girls were both the same kind of weirdos. Oh well, at least I got the gift. I can settle these things later.

The Treasure Scroll, Chapter Four: White Poplar Village (Part One)

Updated: 2008-10-04 15:09:05 Word Count: 3222

I usually update twice every other day. Today I'm posting two chapters, this is the first one.

**************

Tianquan handed the congratulatory gift to the gatekeeper. After waiting for a while, he heard a man inside laugh and say, "A distinguished guest has arrived! Why didn't you inform this old man beforehand? I have been rude in not welcoming you from afar."

The voice was loud and clear, full of energy. Xiao Man looked closely and saw a group of people surrounding an elderly man with gray hair and a robust build. The old man's beard was indeed very long, almost reaching his belt. No wonder he was called Mr. Long... Xiao Man blinked and stood obediently behind Yao Guang, without saying a word.

Tianji stepped forward with a smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I was unaware that Elder Chang was celebrating a happy occasion at his estate. I was caught off guard and could not prepare a proper gift. Please forgive my inconvenience."

You wouldn't believe this kid, usually so impulsive like a monkey, can be quite the smooth talker. No wonder Tianquan said he needed him to handle weddings and funerals; for those kinds of situations, an icy demeanor is definitely not suitable. Tianji's pleasing and obedient nature is much better.

Old Man Chang smiled, his eyes crinkling, and looked Tianji up and down. He patted Tianji on the shoulder and laughed, "You are... Tianji! It's only been two or three years since I last saw you, and you've grown so much! You've become a real man!"

Tianji smiled sheepishly. As soon as Old Man Chang saw Tianquan, he hurried over to look him up and down, saying, "Young Master Tianquan is here too! Why didn't you have your disciples announce him sooner! Quick, come in! Hmm, this is Yaoguang! She really has changed a lot as she grows up... And these two are...?"

When Xiaoman saw him looking at her, she smiled slightly and sweetly greeted, "Greetings, Elder Chang."

He was taken aback, and Tianquan whispered, "Cangya City."

Mr. Chang suddenly realized something, stared intently at Xiao Man's face for a while, let out a soft "Eh," but said nothing more, only inviting everyone into the manor.

Since it was a wedding celebration, they certainly didn't have time to discuss any important martial arts matters. They were seated in a corner of the hall, drinking and eating by themselves. After a while, the bride was brought over, and after the wedding ceremony in the hall, she was led to the bridal chamber. The groom was then dragged over to toast everyone.

Xiao Man saw that the groom was a young man around thirty years old, and he was quite handsome. However, today was his big day, but he didn't have a trace of joy on his face. When a group of people toasted him, he didn't say anything, but just tilted his head back and drank it down, drinking with great gusto.

"Strange, Mr. Chang's son is not young anymore, why is he only getting married now?" Yao Guang found it very strange.

Tianji whispered, "It's a big day for him, so let's keep this quiet. It wouldn't be good if someone overheard. This is his third marriage. His first two wives both died within three years of marriage. They said they died of illness, but there's more to it than meets the eye, and there are a lot of rumors going around."

"What rumors?" Xiao Man was particularly interested in these gossips, and her eyes lit up immediately.

Tianquan suddenly frowned and said, "Don't gossip about other people's private affairs. There's too much misinformation going around."

Xiao Man wouldn't listen to him, grabbing Tianji's sleeve and shaking it vigorously: "Ignore him! Things are meant to be talked about, so tell us!"

Tianji, being a restless person, immediately said, "There are many versions of this story. The most common one is that Master Chang's son practiced a kind of kung fu and used his wife to test it, resulting in her being killed. Another version is that he... well... he couldn't do it, so his wife went out to have an affair, and when he found out, he killed her."

"Oh, oh!" Xiao Man's gossipy nature was fully unleashed. "Murder to silence him! That newlywed wife is in for a lot of trouble."

Tianji was even more gossipy than her, winking and whispering, "That's right, people have said before that it's no use no matter how many wives he marries. No one within a hundred miles who knows about this is willing to marry their daughters here. I wonder how much silver Old Master Chang spent to buy such a daughter-in-law. Let's do the math, in less than three years, this bride will definitely die."

Tianquan coldly called out, "Tianji."

He quickly shut his mouth and muttered, "I heard it from someone else, but it can't be entirely baseless."

Yao Guang, the muddle-headed one, quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Hey, hey! Look, there are quite a few people attending the wedding banquet! Isn't that Mr. Zhou, the Golden and Silver Knife?"

Tianquan said, "Old Master Chang is very famous in the martial arts world, so it's not uncommon for some famous martial arts heroes to attend his wedding banquet. However, this place is a mixed bag, Tianji, watch your mouth, talk less and observe more, don't tarnish the reputation of Mount Bugui, and don't forget the purpose of our visit."

Although he spoke to Tianji, his eyes were fixed on Xiaoman, filled with a warning.

Xiao Man turned her head away: What's it to me? I'm just here to observe the world.

However, even being a bystander is an art. How to do it well, how to do it brilliantly, and how to do it without being noticed—this requires constant practice to find the truth. Xiaoman deeply understands that nothing in this world is easy.

Finally, when the night was deep and quiet, the guests dispersed one by one, and the groom returned to his bridal chamber to spend a precious night with his bride. Only then did Mr. Chang invite the rest of them into his study to discuss the matter in detail.

"So, the young master of Cangya City was found by the combined efforts of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth?"

Old Mr. Chang's expression was unexpectedly serious. From the moment Xiao Man entered the room, his eyes had never left her face. It was more like he was asking Xiao Man a question than asking Tian Quan. She felt uneasy under his gaze and had no idea why, so she could only force a smile.

Tianquan nodded and briefly recounted how Lao Sha found her in Wutong Town, and how someone tried to kidnap her.

Mr. Chang said calmly, "Oh, young lady, is that really the case?"

Xiao Man rolled her eyes and said carefully, "Well, what Young Master Tianquan said... is basically correct."

That's basically right. These four words are quite intriguing; you could say you agree with everything, or you could say you disagree with some parts. It all depends on how the other person responds.

Unexpectedly, the old man suddenly changed the subject: "In the past, I was fortunate enough to be invited to visit Cangya City. The previous young master was very warm and generous, and moreover, he was very knowledgeable. He knew everything from astronomy to geography. I, who am very talented, had no choice but to admire him."

Hmm? Something about those words just doesn't feel right. Xiaoman's thoughts raced. Was he subtly implying that she was uneducated, ignorant, and not worthy of being the young mistress of Cangya City?

"One night, the previous generation's young master observed the stars and lamented that a great calamity would surely befall Cangya City, and no one in the entire clan would be spared. I felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing this and asked if there was any way to avert the disaster. The previous generation's young master said that there was a secret technique in Cangya that could shift stars and change constellations, which could only protect one person. Now it seems that the one who has been protected is none other than the current generation's young master."

Tianquan chimed in, “Old Master Chang is right. Cangya City was destroyed by Tiansha Shifang, with only the young mistress surviving. Such a blood feud cannot go unavenged, but even if we exhaust all the resources and manpower of Bugui Mountain, we may not be able to restore even half of Cangya City. The young mistress braved the snow and ice, traveling a long distance with her frail body, sincerely seeking help from knowledgeable people in the martial world. Old Master Chang is highly respected in the martial world and has always been on good terms with Cangya City. Bugui Mountain has also benefited from Old Master Chang's kindness. Our journey here is precisely to ask Old Master Chang for help in restoring the reputation of the martial world, punishing evil and eliminating wickedness, and restoring Cangya City.”

Mr. Chang smiled and said in a very easygoing manner: "It is my duty to help with the affairs of Cangya City. However, you, Bugui Mountain, are being too modest. With your background, why do you need to seek help from us old folks?"

Tianji quickly laughed and said, "As the saying goes, one hand cannot clap. Besides, the destruction of Cangya City is, in a sense, a matter of his clan and has nothing to do with others. However, the ancients also understood the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' Tiansha Shifang has committed many evils. If they can attack Cangya City today, they will attack Bugui Mountain tomorrow. Rather than everyone in the martial world being in danger, it is better to unite. Elder Chang, I am not old and my knowledge is shallow. Please don't laugh at me."

Old Master Chang chuckled, stroked his long beard, and said lightly, "You have excellent eloquence. How is it shallow? Mount Bugui is quite adept at accumulating talent. In just a few years, a mere lad has become eloquent. I admire you greatly."

He kept saying he admired her, but his tone was sarcastic and unpleasant. This old man was really unpleasant. Xiao Man listlessly twirled her teacup, suppressing the urge to yawn. Ugh, so boring. I just want this to end quickly so she can go to sleep.

"Young lady, if I may be so bold as to ask, what exactly is the method of shifting stars and changing constellations that the previous young master mentioned? This question has troubled me for many years, and I humbly request your guidance today."

Xiao Man suddenly froze, twirling the cup in her hand. After thinking for a while, she hesitated before saying, "There are many secret techniques in Cangya City. I don't know what the old man is asking about..."

Mr. Chang said gently, "For example, unusual celestial phenomena such as Mars guarding the heart often foreshadow great calamity. But I wonder what kind of star-gazing technique Cangya City has, or if it has other names."

Good heavens, why did I have to discuss such nonsense with her? She's completely clueless. She looked up at Tianquan, who was pretending to be mute; then at Tianji, who was frowning, lost in thought; Yaoguang smiled as always; and Lianyi remained in a daze. She couldn't rely on anyone; she'd better rely on herself.

"It's probably something like 'Mars guarding the heart' (a concept in Chinese astrology). My mother mentioned it, something like 'Mars guarding the heart' (another concept in Chinese astrology), but it's been too long and I can't remember it."

Relying on herself would be just a perfunctory response, a casual remark to get by. No matter how talented she is, she can't articulate it.

Old Master Chang released his hand and suddenly sneered: "You people from Bugui Mountain, how dare you! Using a fake master to swindle and deceive people everywhere, what kind of logic is that!"

The Treasure Scroll, Chapter Five: White Poplar Village (Part Two)

Updated: 2008-10-04 15:09:06 Word Count: 3805

I usually update twice every other day. Today I'm updating twice, this is the second update.

*************************

Everyone was taken aback, and Yao Guang asked urgently, "Old Master Chang! What do you mean by that!"

Old Master Chang coldly replied: "Firstly, the 'Mars guarding the heart' refers specifically to royal family disputes and has nothing to do with you commoners; secondly, the astrological techniques of Cangya City are a unique system, not well understood by ordinary astrological techniques, and there is no such thing as 'Mars guarding the heart'; thirdly, I visited Cangya City once again four years ago and had a brief encounter with the young master. Although she was young, she was already graceful and elegant, with a beautiful mind and eloquent speech, and her appearance was quite different from this one."

Oh no, oh no, this is terrible! Xiaoman seemed to hear the footsteps of the silver and jewels leaving her purse. What a disastrous start! Why didn't anyone tell her this person had seen the real mistress? This was a huge embarrassment! Tomorrow, everyone in the martial world would know she was an imposter. She'd be ganged up on, dragged out and beaten, then roasted over a fire!

She instinctively clutched her chest and tried to run away, but before she could even take a step, she felt her wrist being gripped tightly. She screamed in pain, "It's going to break! It's going to break!" Old Master Chang held her wrist and said sternly, "Who are you?! What is your purpose in impersonating the young mistress?! Confess immediately!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a sharp gust of wind from behind. He quickly dodged, and his grip loosened—the person had been snatched away. Lianyi tucked the sickle into her waistband, grabbed Xiaoman with both hands, and leaped onto the coffee table in the corner. Xiaoman's face turned green with pain as she clutched her wrist, stammering, "I'm going to die! I'm going to die! Is your hand broken?"

Lianyi gently rubbed her wrist and said, "Master, your hand isn't broken, it's alright."

Xiao Man held her tightly, saying repeatedly, "That old man is going to kill me, you have to block him!"

Lianyi gently placed her on the coffee table, drew her sickle, and with a light touch of her toes, landed gracefully on the ground. It was a pity that she wasn't holding a divine weapon, but a broken sickle. Xiaoman nervously pulled out the Crimson Cloud Blade that Mr. Mu had given her from her bosom and tossed it over: "Use this... as a reward!"

Lianyi was overjoyed, clutching the Crimson Glow sword and reluctant to look away. Suddenly, her eyes reddened, and she choked out, "Master...you treat me so well. Lianyi...I've never seen such a beautiful sword in my entire life."

Xiao Man said urgently, "We can talk about these things later! There are plenty of good things to be had! Quick! Don't let that old man come over!"

Lianyi drew her Crimson Cloud Sword, and everyone felt as if a stream of autumn water swept across their eyes. She moved with the agility of a dragon, deftly maneuvering it a few times before slowly withdrawing her stance. With the sword held horizontally to her chest, she declared, "No one is allowed to harm our master!"

Old Master Chang was initially holding Xiao Man captive, but was surprised when she was snatched away in an instant. He was already quite astonished, thinking that Tianquan and the others had made the move. Who would have thought that it was this delicate and beautiful young girl who had taken action? He also noticed that she had switched to a Crimson Cloud Blade and her movements were very graceful, clearly indicating that she was a highly skilled martial artist. However, even with his keen eyesight, he couldn't discern which school she had studied under, so he couldn't help but ask, "Who is your master?"

Lianyi replied seriously, "Master is Master. Your question is strange." She was now Xiaoman's lackey; whoever Xiaoman disliked, she disliked too. If the old man offended Xiaoman, she wouldn't be friendly to him either. If there were a contest for best lackey, Lianyi would definitely win first place.

"You..." Old Master Chang frowned, but Tianquan interrupted him, coldly saying, "Old Master Chang, you acted rashly without understanding the reason. What if you hurt the young master!"

Old Master Chang sneered, "Even now, you're still spouting nonsense! How could she be the young mistress of Cangya City! I thought you from No Return Mountain had been deceived as well, but now it seems you're all in cahoots, using the name of Cangya City to swindle and cheat. What are you up to?!"

Tianquan said calmly, "There is only one horn of a fledgling dragon and one seal of azure fire in the world. If she is not the young mistress, then there is no young mistress in the world. If you want to talk about strange things, aren't Elder Chang's words and actions even stranger? He hastily took action before even asking questions. Could it be that he is secretly colluding with Tiansha Shifang and trying to kill her to silence her?"

Who would have thought? This icy-faced man rarely speaks, but when he does, he can shut you up. Sure enough, the old man was so angry that his face turned ashen, and he kept saying, "Outrageous! Outrageous! This is too presumptuous!"

Tianji added fuel to the fire: "That's right! You just asked a couple of random questions and immediately accused the person of being fake. You think there's something fishy going on at Mount Bugui? I think you're the one with the conspiracy! Just now, I noticed that some of the people attending the wedding banquet had cross-shaped scimitar patterns embroidered on the back of their clothes. They might be from Tiansha Shifang. You're secretly associating with Tiansha Shifang. You're really ruining your reputation in your later years!"

In fact, he didn't see any cross-shaped pattern at all, but since Tianquan had started to make trouble, he had to follow suit. Like Lianyi, he was Tianquan's lackey.

Old Master Chang was furious and, no longer willing to argue with them, shouted sternly, "Guards! Guards!"