Vallée Sauvage de Green Mountain (Transmigrée à la dynastie Song)

Chapitre 11

I patted his shoulder and said with a light laugh, "Alright, alright, this might just be someone's prank. You're an adult now, why are you afraid of this? Don't forget, we're going to talk business with a major silk merchant in Yizhou the day after tomorrow. It's not good for you to worry unnecessarily like this." With that, I casually tore the gold-flecked note into pieces.

Seeing my relaxed and smiling expression, Yun Yiyang cautiously asked, "Sister Bai, is it really... a prank?"

I put on a stern face and said, "What? You're not even listening to me anymore? Hurry up and go back to prepare it for me, or you'll be sorry if you mess it up!" Yun Yiyang quickly said, "Sister Bai, don't be angry, I'll go." He kept looking back at my figure as he walked back to his residence.

As I watched his figure gradually disappear into the distance, my smile also gradually faded.

How could this gold-flecked note be fake?

Today is the third day. Although I said I was joking about what I wrote on that little note, the whole village is on high alert. The over-seventy-year-old steward, Uncle Yang, is even standing at the village entrance every day with an iron rake. Not to mention the servants and laborers; they've brought every usable tool for plowing and tilling, just waiting for Young Master Shang to come. I can't help but feel both amused and moved. In modern times, there certainly wouldn't be so many kind-hearted people willing to risk their lives for me against this top expert.

However, I still earnestly told everyone: "You must protect yourselves first, and protect the elderly, women and children. As for me, I will always find a way."

A young servant named A Niu shouted, "We were all taken in by Young Master Bai and Young Master Yun. If it weren't for Guiyun Manor, we would still be begging for food outside. We have all made up our minds that Young Master Bai's kindness is as high as a mountain. We will risk our lives to protect Young Master Bai."

My heart warmed, and tears almost welled up in my eyes. I slowly said, "This is the third day already. I think this is most likely a joke. You all go about your business; there's no need to crowd around me." At this moment, Yun Yiyang walked over and said, "Baiyi, Meng Qing from Yizhou is already waiting in the living room. We should go over there." I nodded, bowed deeply to everyone, and said, "Baiyi thanks you all." I turned and followed Yun Yiyang into the living room.

Uncle Yang sat on a small wooden stool with an iron rake in his hand, basking in the sun with his eyes half-closed.

He was already very old, and with Guiyun Manor as his place to live, compared to most elderly people like him, he could truly be said to be enjoying a life of luxury. Guiyun Manor provided food and drink, and the owner was kind; what more could an old man of his age ask for?

Just then, a smiling young man walked over, bent down, and politely asked, "Old man, is this Guiyun Manor?"

Uncle Yang squinted and carefully examined the young man who had asked the question. He was dressed in a clean blue robe and was both refined and amiable.

It's rare to see young people these days who are so polite and respectful of elders.

Uncle Yang then replied with a smile, "Young man, this is Guiyun Manor. Are you here to see Young Master Yun or Young Master Bai?"

The young man in the blue robe laughed and said, "Of course, I'm looking for Young Master Bai."

Yang Bo stood up shakily, dusted himself off, and said, "Please wait a moment, young master. May I ask what business you have with Young Master Bai? I will go and inform him."

The young man said, "My surname is Shang. If you tell Young Master Bai, he will know who I am."

Uncle Yang cried out, "Ah—!" His old body almost fell to the ground. His withered finger pointed at the young man's smiling face, trembling uncontrollably. He stammered, "You...you...you are Young Master Shang!"

With a smile, Shang Shaochang gently supported Yang Bo's swaying body and helped him sit down on a small stool, saying, "I really didn't expect that you would know my name."

"In that case, we are grateful for Brother Meng's kindness in taking care of Guiyun Manor. Guiyun Manor has certainly benefited greatly from today's meeting." I smiled slightly and bowed to a middle-aged businessman in his forties opposite me.

Meng Qing also cupped his hands in reply, "Not at all. I have long admired the reputation of Guiyun Manor. It is my good fortune to have recently acquired three bolts of silk. I will certainly need Guiyun Manor's continued support in the future." The two were exchanging pleasantries when suddenly the door was pushed open, and A Niu rushed in, panting, shouting, "Young Master Bai, hurry...hurry..." After saying "hurry" dozens of times, he stamped his foot in frustration and yelled, "Run! Young Master Shang is here!"

Everyone present stood up at once! This simple name sounded more terrifying than a demon from hell.

I said slowly, "Yiyang, protect Brother Meng." Then I walked towards the door. Yun Yiyang was shocked and hurriedly reached out to grab my sleeve, but he grabbed nothing.

"So you're Young Master Shang?" I stood against the wind and coldly asked the man in the blue robe standing in front of me. He stood there smiling, looking at me with a leisurely expression.

Shang Shaozhang nodded slightly and smiled, "You're the one in white?" He slowly walked towards me and said leisurely, "Why aren't you running away?"

"Why should I run?" I countered, walking up to Uncle Yang who had come jogging over. I helped him sit down in a chair and said slowly, "I'm dressed in white, upright and honorable. Why should I run?"

Yun Yiyang ran out at this moment, stood in front of me with his arms outstretched, and said, word by word, "Although our Guiyun Manor is mostly populated by the elderly, women and children, you are not allowed to enter Guiyun Manor and kill people!"

"This is the true disciple of Guiyun Manor! He truly deserves to be my son!" Madam Yun appeared out of nowhere and stood beside me, saying resolutely, "There are no cowards in Guiyun Manor, only heroes! If you try to lay a finger on a hair on Bai Yi's head, the entire Guiyun Manor will fight you to the death!"

I slowly got up, walked out from behind the crowd, and stood in front of Shang Shaozhang, saying, "I, Baiyi, never dodge. If you want to borrow something from me, just borrow from me alone."

Behind the veil of black gauze, I could only hear Shang Shaochang's voice, tinged with laughter: "What a fine white-robed prime minister!"

As a cool, gentle autumn breeze blew by, a bright and clear glint of light appeared before my eyes!

As the blade flashed, it was as if all the sounds around fell silent, and the dark world behind the black veil suddenly became clear.

A blue sky, a vast, empty wind. A faint fragrance, like grass mixed with fallen leaves, seems to waft through the air.

The sunset glow follows the lone wild goose in flight, and the autumn waters blend seamlessly with the vast sky.

It's a refreshing, cool feeling of late autumn.

Looking straight ahead, without the veil obscuring my vision, I could clearly see Shang Shaochang.

He had somehow acquired a dark, unassuming longsword.

The world-renowned Autumn Water Blade!

Such an ordinary, dark blade can actually produce such a bright, water-like light when wielded.

What a swift cut!

Shang Shaozhang's blade cleaved through my black veil and hat, and even broke my hairpin, but it didn't harm me in the slightest.

I stood in the autumn wind, my waist-length hair dancing in the air, subtly exuding an aura of mystery and extraordinary grace. I gazed at the man in the blue robe before me, my eyes shooting forth a sharp, arrow-like light.

"So...it was a young girl..." Young Master Shang chuckled, rubbing his chin with interest as he held a knife in one hand. "Not bad, not bad...it seems this was a...not bad haul..."

Immediately afterwards, he did something that surprised everyone present.

Suddenly, Shang Shaozhang leaped up, his body as light as a wisp of smoke, and instantly floated over the heads of the people blocking my way, standing in front of me in the blink of an eye.

I felt his hand gently brush against my body, like the gentlest spring breeze, but my body seemed to lose all its strength and slowly collapsed. With a swift movement, Shang Shao scooped me up horizontally, and with a kick of his legs, he shot out like an arrow!

In the distance, a lone wild goose cried out as it flew into the sky.

Amidst Shang Shaochang's leisurely laughter and the angry curses of the crowd, Shang Shaochang abducted me in full view of everyone. His figure, dressed in a blue robe, rose and fell a few times, disappearing from everyone's sight like a hawk.

Chapter Eight: The Big Fool

The howling cold wind scraped my face like a knife. Shang Shaozhang carried me and we instantly flew several miles away like a wisp of smoke. We were as fast as lightning, and our feet barely touched the ground. Occasionally, we would lightly touch the branches of a tree and then leap several feet into the air.