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

Chapitre 59

A young girl in plain clothes stood in front of them, her long hair flowing freely and billowing in the wind. She stood motionless, like a statue.

Tianquan slowly walked over, and something was blown by the wind to his feet. He bent down to pick it up, unfolded it, and saw it was an embroidery. The girl on the embroidery was smiling, holding a flower, her eyes lively and lifelike. Beside the embroidery was a line of text: "Ivory bed, jade hands, producing wonders. A thousand flowers and ten thousand grasses, their light gleaming green. A tailor dresses, spring songs and dances, butterflies fluttering, orioles singing."

He gently shook the sand off the handkerchief, walked up to her, and handed it to her: "Yours."

She didn't move, as if she hadn't heard him or seen him.

She stared blankly into the distance at some unknown place, her eyes burning as if fire were burning within them. Perhaps it was his imagination, that desperate radiance merely the setting sun reflecting in her eyes.

There was a wad of white silk lying at her feet. Tianquan bent down and picked it up again. This time, it was embroidered with Zexiu as a boy.

"Don't you want it anymore?" he asked in a low voice.

Xiao Man finally moved slightly, looking down at the two white silks in his hand. Her dry lips moved slightly, and she whispered, "Burn them, we don't need them anymore."

Tianquan folded the two handkerchiefs neatly and put them in his pocket, saying, "Then consider them a gift to me."

Xiao Man didn't speak, remaining stunned, neither crying nor making a fuss; her quietness was frightening.

Tianquan asked in a low voice, "Where are you going?"

Xiao Man blinked. She said calmly, "It's not far from Wutong Town, I'll go home."

Tianquan nodded, then suddenly reached out and picked her up, placing her on the horse's back before leaping onto it himself: "I'll take you back."

Xiaoman nestled in his arms, gazing silently at the boundless desert under the night sky. There was no light, no sound; it felt like a world of death. Strangely, the last time she'd been here, she'd found the desert beautiful and magnificent, but now she didn't want to look at it at all.

So she closed her eyes.

Tianquan spread out his cloak and gently wrapped it around her, like a thick night covering her. Everything fell into a deathly silence.

It's not far to Wutong Town from here; we can get there before dawn. Yumen Pass remains the same, a faint crescent moon hanging above it, almost invisible. It's dark and silent, like a sleeping monster. Wutong Town is also the same, with low houses and narrow streets. Even the busiest main street can only accommodate four people walking side-by-side, and the stone slabs on the ground are old and worn.

The horse stopped in front of a small two-story building. It was a newly built building with two slightly worn red lanterns hanging in front of the door; it was a restaurant.

"We're here," he said softly, patting her gently as if she were asleep.

Xiao Man agreed and jumped off the horse. She looked up at the shop that was both familiar and unfamiliar. That's right, this should be her family's restaurant. Her father and stepmother took a thousand taels of silver and rebuilt it. It was very different from the small and dilapidated place before. However, the two of them were used to being frugal and couldn't bear to replace the lanterns. They kept the old place and continued to use it.

She lifted her foot to go inside, but when she turned around and saw Tianquan riding on horseback looking at her, she said, "Thank you for bringing me back. You can go now. If my family sees this, they'll definitely have a lot of complaints."

Tianquan nodded: "Then... take care, farewell."

He pulled on the reins, and the crisp sound of hooves echoed on the stone path, quickly disappearing into the distance.

Xiaoman stood at the door for a long time, raising her hand to knock each time, but then putting it down again.

Is she really going back? Is she just going to pretend that nothing happened in the past year? Is she still the same greedy Xiaoman she used to be? Living an incredibly boring life, trying to please everyone and making sure no one offends her, and everyone likes her?

She realized with horror that she didn't know how to face these people. It wasn't that they had abandoned her, but that she had abandoned herself. If she went back like this, what about Lianyi? What about Yelü? What about Tianji and Yaoguang? Was she just going to watch them die?

A wicked voice whispered in her heart: Go back, go back. The simple life in Wutong Town is perfect for you. Everyone around you is a fool; you can easily manipulate them. Lianyi? Who is that? She never treated you as her master. She deceived you; she approached you for a purpose. Yelü? What is that? Just a lecherous and incompetent scoundrel, not worth your attention. Tianji Yaoguang? Those heroes of the martial world who were bewitched? They're all just passersby. What do they care if they live or die? Just go back, go back… In the end, all you'll have left is this place. The martial world isn't your territory. Nobody wants you. The person you desperately crave won't even turn back; they don't care about you at all. Tianquan's care was just to use you. See, he left so easily after he was done using you? Nobody in this world wants you, and you don't need to want them. From beginning to end, alone—how wonderful!

Xiao Man clenched her fists, biting her lip deeply, and tasted a hint of blood.

She turned around abruptly and slowly left her family's restaurant.

The night was so quiet, there wasn't a soul on the road. Occasionally, a stray dog would pass by dejectedly, just like her, like a wandering soul with nowhere to go.

She drifted aimlessly, not knowing where she was, when suddenly she heard people laughing and talking. Looking up, she saw it was the martial arts school run by Qian Zilai. The school gate was tightly closed, and two people were leaning against the outer wall, whispering and laughing. Without even guessing, she knew they were a couple having an affair.

Xiao Man walked over with her head down, when she suddenly heard someone inside softly ask, "Who is it?"

She didn't speak. The next moment, a dark figure emerged from behind the wall and rushed in front of her. This person was tall and muscular. He looked down at her for a moment, then suddenly jumped up in fright!

"Xiaoman?! Xiaoman! It's you?! Why are you all alone..."

It was a shovel; only he could have such an exaggerated tone. Xiao Man glanced calmly at his oily, pimple-covered face. She whispered, "I..."

Before she could finish speaking, he grabbed her arm: "It's so cold. Why are you wandering around outside all alone?! Come on! I'll take you home! And tell me all about what you've been through these past few days!"

Xiao Man stumbled a few steps as he pulled her along, when suddenly someone timidly called out from behind, "Shovel Bro..."

It was the voice of the Chen family girl. So she and Shovel had gotten so close that they were whispering secrets against the wall in the middle of the night.

The shovel paused for a moment, then awkwardly released Xiaoman's hand. He scratched his head and chuckled, "Xiaoman, I have something to do. Wait here for me, be sure to wait! I'll be right back!"

He turned around and ran back. Xiaoman stood there for a while, then turned around and left quietly.

When they came out with the shovel to search again, only the cold wind was howling on the dark street, and there wasn't a soul in sight.

Xiao Man left Wutong Town. She didn't know where she was going, but she didn't want to go home. She didn't have the energy to put on another show and be seen as a good child by everyone. She was tired and wanted to find a place to get some sleep.

Footsteps suddenly sounded behind her. Lightly, yet deliberately made louder so she could hear. Xiaoman turned slightly, and there stood a figure in white. Her eyes met his deep, dark gaze. He looked at her silently, without saying a word.

She whispered, "You didn't leave?"

Tianquan shook his head. She chuckled softly, turned and took two steps toward him. Suddenly, everything went black, and she went limp, knowing nothing more.

She can finally get some sleep.

This sleep lasted through rolling yellow sands, vast expanses of ice and snow, and towering mountains.

She seemed to have many dreams, some filled with tears, some with laughter, some with joy, and some with sorrow, but in the end, they all fell into a deep, deep silence.

Then, Xiaoman told herself: You should wake up now.

Then she opened her eyes.

The first thing that catches the eye is a white silk curtain in ink wash style, hanging on a jade hook. The sky is just beginning to lighten, making it impossible to tell whether it is dusk or dawn. On the table beside the bed, wisps of smoke rise from a small gilded incense burner, carrying the sweet and mellow scent of wood.

She was very familiar with this room; it belonged to Tianquan. It turned out she had been sleeping there for so long that she didn't even know when he had brought her back to his own courtyard.

The room was quiet, without a sound; Tianquan wasn't there. She pushed back the covers, looked around, and then tapped the bed frame with her other hand. Sure enough, it was hollow, and there was a hidden compartment underneath.

Last time, she hid in the interlayer and someone found her. That night, she was like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, an unforgettable experience.

She opened the hidden compartment, hugged the blanket, and shrank inside.

She didn't want to see any light; that hopeful glow made her feel ashamed at the moment. Just a little darkness, enough to let her lie quietly for a while longer, would allow her to open her eyes and see herself clearly.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps were heard inside the room. The person who entered did not hesitate at all, walked to the bedside, and quickly lifted the cover. Sure enough, there was Xiaoman curled up inside. She looked like a sick kitten, hugging the blanket, staring at him blankly.

Tianquan smiled slightly: "Are we playing hide-and-seek?"

He reached out and lifted her out, blanket and all, and placed her on the bed. He added, "When I was little, I was disobedient and afraid my father would beat me, so I often hid here."

Xiao Man didn't say anything. He turned around, picked up a bowl of porridge, scooped some into her mouth with a spoon, and said softly, "Eat something."

She obediently opened her mouth and bit the spoon. Tianquan tried to pull it out twice but couldn't, and he was helpless.

"Don't be too hard on your body," he whispered.

Xiao Man, biting her spoon, looked up at him and mumbled, "No... but it's too hot, I dare not eat it." Tian Quan pulled out the spoon, feeling a little embarrassed. This kind of noble young master had never served anyone before. The porridge was freshly made and must have been scalding hot, but he didn't even blow on it before feeding it directly to her.

Xiao Man took the bowl from his hand and started eating.

Tianquan sat behind her and took the opportunity to comb her hair, loosely tying it into a bun: "When you feel a little better and feel stuffy, I'll take you to a warm place. Do you prefer Jiangnan or Yunnan?"

She shook her head: "I don't know, I've never been there."

"Let's go to Jiangnan first, then Yunnan. You can stay wherever you like for a while."

Xiaoman put down her bowl and said softly, "You're...very good to me."

Tianquan took the bowl from her and placed it on the table. He then took out his own handkerchief to wipe her mouth, but Xiaoman turned her head away and said, "No, I know you have mysophobia."

Tianquan smiled and said, "I don't care."

Xiao Man stared at him intently, her clear black and white eyes looking a little lazy and a bit dazed from just waking up, as if asking him: Why?

He just smiled, didn't say anything, and walked away with the bowl.

The Killing of Crows, Chapter Fifteen: The Killing of Crows (Part Three)

Updated: 2008-10-15 0:14:48 Word Count: 3430

The weekend is a good day; I saved up some manuscripts on the 14th.

Two updates today.

First update.

Snow began to fall heavily outside the window again, and the sky darkened.

Xiao Man, with her hair styled in a pretty bun, wearing a fox fur jacket and white mink shoes, sat quietly on the bed, looking like a delicate doll.

She was very quiet; she didn't cry or say a word, remaining as calm as if nothing had happened.

When asked to eat, she would eat obediently, just like before, and would tell a few jokes. When asked to sleep, she would obediently cover herself with the blanket and close her eyes, without asking why she had to stay there, or when he would let her go.

Tianquan placed two incense cakes in the gilded incense burner, and after a while, the faint scent of agarwood filled the air.

Xiao Man said softly, "It smells so good, there's so much fragrance here."

Tianquan smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it."

Xiao Man hummed in agreement, and after a while, she suddenly said, "Tianquan, talk to me, otherwise it's really uncomfortable to be so quiet."

He paused for a moment: "Okay, what should I say?"

What should I say? Xiaoman thought for a moment and said, "Tell me about the Wuyue Kingdom, what its customs were, and what fun things were."

Tian Quan said calmly, "Sorry, I don't remember. The Wuyue Kingdom had already ceased to exist by the time I could remember."

"Then... since you are the Heavenly Fiend of the Ten Directions, why did you go to Mount No Return to become the Prince of Tianquan?"

He clearly didn't want to answer the question at all. He turned around, took the guqin down from the wall, and said softly, "Don't say such meaningless things. I'll play the guqin for you."

Xiaoman immediately nodded: "Great! You're amazing, you can play the shakuhachi and the piano."

Tianquan placed the zither on the table, his fingers lightly caressing the strings, playing a piece by Liezi, "Riding the Wind." The music was serene and peaceful, calming the mind and spirit. It felt as if one were ascending to immortality. When the piece ended, he turned to look at her. Xiaoman smiled slightly and softly asked, "Why aren't you playing?"

Tianquan lowered his eyelashes: "Didn't you hear the sound of the zither?" His fingers plucked a string, producing a trembling and mournful sound.