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

Chapitre 26

The medicinal soup wasn't as bitter as I'd imagined; instead, it had a sweet, honey-like aroma. It seems Youhua added quite a bit of honey. Although Young Master Shang only said he was a third-rate practitioner, the tightness in my chest has indeed lessened considerably these past few days, and I've rarely coughed up blood.

"Then let's set off immediately to find Xia Yanliang, what are we waiting for?"

"No, we need to find someone before leaving Guiyun Manor."

"who?"

"Old Man Huo!"

"Yun Yiyang's injuries can't be delayed any longer, and your illness needs to be treated as soon as possible. We must find someone who can protect Guiyun Manor," Shang Shaochang said. "Because now, any third-rate assassin could raze Guiyun Manor to the ground!"

I frowned and said, "But... who is willing to take the lead for Guiyun Manor now?"

“Old Man Huo… he’s living such a leisurely life now, almost like an ordinary old man.” Young Master Shang leaned back in his chair and said lazily, “With him sending people to protect us, Guiyun Manor should be safe.” He looked up at me and smiled leisurely, “Yiyi, would you like to come with me?”

I looked at him and said, "It seems I don't have the chance to say 'no'."

Watching Shang Shaochang's relaxed smile, seemingly able to handle anything with ease, yet his meticulousness and tact were unparalleled in my experience! He analyzed and arranged the current priorities clearly with just a few words, yet appeared casual and relaxed, as if nothing bothered him. Who would have thought that this gentle and harmless young man, on the day of Meng Qing's assassination attempt, ruthlessly slaughtered five assassins with his Autumn Water Blade! Later, Youhua told me, "Luckily I fainted that day, otherwise the scene of blood splattered everywhere would have made me faint again!"

Seeing that I was deep in thought and silent, Shang Shaozhang said, "Although your body is weak now, it should still be alright for you to go see that old man." He stood up, took my hand, and said with a smile, "Let's go now."

I was so startled that I let him lead me out of the room before I came to my senses. I quickly pulled my hand away and said, "I can walk by myself, don't touch me!"

Shang Shaochang smiled, about to speak, when he saw Su San and his brother walking into the room. Upon seeing them, all four of them froze! Su San was usually a man of few words and taciturn, but seeing the long sword at Shang Shaochang's waist, which was always half-open and half-closed, a sharp glint suddenly shot out in his listless eyes: "You are... the ruthless killer?"

A ruthless killer?! I looked at Shang Shaozhang in confusion. Everyone in the world knows that Shang Shaozhang is the most famous killer, so why would Su San ask such a question?

But then Shang Shaochang smiled leisurely and said slowly, "A master of embroidery and painting... I've heard so much about you."

The three brothers wore no smiles whatsoever. Su Da's voice boomed like a bronze bell: "We have a long-standing friendship with Miss Bai! Seeing her in trouble, we brothers naturally cannot stand idly by!"

Shang Shaochang turned around and looked at my blank expression, and said gently, "Me too, aren't I the same?" Then he turned to Su Dadao and said, "I will be taking them to the Rejuvenating Master for treatment in a few days. The old and young of Guiyun Manor will need the help of the three of you."

Su Er replied, "Brother Shang, you worry too much. Your swordsmanship is enough to roam the world. I believe that with Brother Shang's protection, Miss Bai and Brother Yun will be safe! However..."

Young Master Shang laughed heartily, his laughter echoing continuously: "Although I am an assassin, I at least keep my word! Do the Su brothers still not believe me with my name on their part?"

Su San glanced at me, who was still completely bewildered, and then at Shang Shaochang. He rarely spoke, and even less so smiled, but suddenly smiled. "It seems we brothers have been worrying too much. If you have some free time, please give our regards to Sister Shengshou!" After saying this, the three of them bowed slightly and went inside.

I was completely bewildered and asked, "What are you talking about? This hand and that hand? I don't understand anything."

Seeing my bewildered expression, Shang Shaozhang reached out and patted my hair, laughing, "What's the point of a child knowing so much? It's more important to get to Old Man Huo's place quickly." With that, he walked out. I stood there stunned for a long while before realizing he'd taken advantage of me again.

"Hey!! Who's the kid? And who gave you permission to touch my hair?!"

“Ju…Yuan…” I asked doubtfully, “Old Man Huo actually lives here?” Before me lay a grand mansion, with pavilions, ponds, and courtyards stretching out in all directions, clearly the home of a wealthy and extravagant man. Shang Shaochang chuckled slyly and whispered in my ear, “That old man lives behind Ju Yuan, and his good-for-nothing children and grandchildren live in the front.”

"Then... how are we going to get in? Hey! You... stay away from me!" Seeing Shang Shaochang grinning and turning his head away from my ear, I was instantly furious. Shang Shaochang crossed his arms and smugly laughed, "We came in a hurry, and... we can't let too many people know about this, so... how about we jump over the wall?"

"Jump over the wall?" I looked up at the towering wall and blurted out, "Okay..." But then I turned around and saw Young Master Shang staring at me with his arms outstretched, looking on with a smirk. I couldn't help but yell, "You... Waaah! What are you doing?!"

Young Master Shang looked at me innocently: "I'll take you to jump over the wall, Miss. You don't have any kind of lightness and leaping technique to fly over this high wall, do you?"

"You...you..." My face flushed red and then turned pale, not from the cold or illness, but from being so angry at this scoundrel that I couldn't speak. "If you lay a hand on me again, I'll make you pay!"

Shang Shaozhang looked at me with a cold glint in his eyes and said helplessly, "I won't carry you up, but at least I need to touch your waist so you can get over the wall, is that alright?"

After thinking for a long time, I finally managed to nod my head a few times. Young Master Shang smiled and said, "That's a good boy!" He walked over to me, put his arm around my waist, and before I could throw a tantrum, he whispered, "Lift—" I felt my body lighten, and in an instant my feet were several feet off the ground. This wall, which was at least two people high, was actually leaped over by Young Master Shang in one go!

In a small courtyard, a short old man was sweeping the remaining snow on the ground.

After Shang Shaozhang led me past a large area of tall buildings and sparse ponds, we stopped in front of this small thatched cottage. I was quite surprised to find such a quiet and simple cottage behind such an outrageously large garden, which seemed to wash away the hustle and bustle and was filled with peace and tranquility.

The short old man seemed completely unaware that we were standing outside the yard, continuing to sweep the snow silently, as if the people and things around him were completely unrelated. His weathered, withered hands gripped the broom, slowly sweeping the snow to the plum tree in the yard.

The old man's steps were slow, yet possessed a strange rhythm. With each step he took in the courtyard, his broom swung slightly. The old man, the courtyard, the plum blossoms, the lingering snow… all combined to create a strange yet harmonious scene. Shang Shaochang and I watched silently, neither of us uttering a word. Finally, the old man finished sweeping the courtyard and slowly turned around—

The old man was at least eighty years old, with sparse, almost entirely white hair, and deep, wrinkled lines on his face. Despite his frail and aged appearance, his eyes strangely retained a youthful vitality. This vitality imbued his wrinkled body with a strength beyond his years! When he faced me, I suddenly had the feeling that I was not facing a short, elderly man, but a lion poised to pounce!

Although the lion is old, its intimidating presence remains!

The old man slowly raised his head and said, "You... are you in white?" His voice was old, but his words were clear, and he exuded an irresistible aura.

Without changing my expression, I declared loudly, "I am Bai Yi."

As I uttered the last word, it suddenly felt as if the air in the entire courtyard had become terrifyingly suffocating, and the old man seemed to emanate an extremely oppressive aura. This silent suppression erupted in an instant, and I felt as if the entire sky was suddenly pressing down on my head. This small courtyard suddenly felt like a bottomless ocean, and that aura, like ocean waves, swept over me. My mind had no time to consider why the old man was emitting such a terrifying aura; my body was only instinctively struggling to hold on, trying its best not to retreat or show fear—I felt like a leaf in the ocean, not knowing when I would be swept into the sea by this wave-like force.

Suddenly, I felt an unusual chill down my spine!

A chill unlike that of the coldest days of winter.

Like cool autumn water, like a tranquil autumn breeze.

Autumn Water Blade.

The youngest was a merchant.

I gritted my teeth and struggled to hold on. The old man before me didn't move an inch, yet he forced me almost to the ground. I finally tasted a faint metallic tang of blood in my throat, a salty, metallic substance rising there. I steeled myself and forced it down. I could definitely feel the chilling aura of a blade behind me, but I had no strength left, no way to defend myself—was the one truly going to kill me Shang Shaochang? He had never walked in front of me, always lurking behind me, and now was the perfect opportunity! I felt the chill behind me growing stronger, as if my entire body was sealed shut by this coldness, with nowhere to retreat, nowhere to escape…

Suddenly, the old man's attack vanished without a trace, like a sudden rain shower that quickly cleared the sky. I felt the pressure on my body disappear instantly, as if all my strength had been drained, leaving me like an empty bag. I heard the old man slowly say in my ear, "...Well done, Young Master Shang, well done, Autumn Water Blade!"

Shang Shao was behind me, so I couldn't see his face, but his voice was clear: "What a fine old man Huo, actually attacking a woman who has no martial arts skills."

A sly smile flashed in the old man's eyes: "In my eyes, she is not a woman, but a person." This statement sounded incredibly contradictory, yet strangely natural. "I want to help the strong. Although she is a woman, she can face this old man like me without backing down an inch, which shows that she is strong." He smiled again: "This old man likes to communicate with the strong."

Old Man Huo turned to look at me, and a hint of kindness, typical of his age, flashed in his eyes: "Child, come with me."

He walked up to Shang Shaochang, looked at Shang Shaochang's smiling face, and said something inexplicable: "If I don't stop, will you draw your Autumn Water Blade?"