Intelligence Ultime

Chapitre 23

Hua Hua and I are really unlucky this time. Not only did we see things we shouldn't have seen, but we also ran into people we shouldn't have met, and we were both bullied. Unfortunately, the enemy is too strong, and we can't retaliate. We're just stuck suffering in silence!

He stood up, stretched comfortably, turned around, and handed the rice bowl back to the waiter.

The waiter took the bowl of rice, looked at his face, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Zhu Huihui looked back at him, puzzled, and scratched her head: "Huh?" Did the waiter realize that she didn't have money to pay the bill?

"Oh... I was just wondering, would you like another bowl, sir?"

Zhu Huihui patted her stomach and said, "No more, I'm full!"

Turning his head, he saw that Fengxuese was still eating slowly and methodically, so he patiently sat down again against the door frame, waiting for his instructions.

He was already prone to sleepiness after a meal, and the boredom of sitting idly made him yawn repeatedly, his hand covering his mouth. To pass the time, his eyes idly wandered around.

At the far east end sat a plump, white man and a burly man carrying a bow and a knife. The two were eating and chatting, and from their conversation, they seemed to be a merchant who collected mountain goods and a hunter from the mountains, haggling over a leopard skin.

The guest sitting on the west side was dressed in a blue scholar's robe. He was about forty years old and had three strands of black beard under his chin. He looked very learned. However, there was a crane-beak medicine hoe standing on the corner of the table, so he was not a teacher in the school, but should be a doctor.

At a table in the corner sat a young couple. Judging from their clothes, they came from a middle-class family. The man was handsome, and the woman was voluptuous and quite attractive. However, their behavior was too cheesy. Their heads were close together, and they would feed each other a bite of food and steal a kiss. Were they afraid that others would not know that they had eloped?

Next to him, a skinny man who looked like a peddler was sleazy and stingy. He only ordered a small pot of wine and a plate of roasted tofu on the table. He sipped it slowly, smacking his lips. It was obvious that he had never eaten anything good before. He was so happy with a plate of tofu!

On the far right is a woman in her thirties, leading a boy of about twelve or thirteen. They must be mother and son, right? Look how much the mother loves her child, putting all the good meat and vegetables onto her son's plate!

In contrast, my mother only asks me to cook for her, and if the food doesn't suit her taste, she scolds me... Sigh, poor and unfortunate Zhu Huihui!

Just as I was wallowing in self-pity, a thunderclap boomed in the sky, followed by rolling thunder, and the rain that had been brewing all day finally began to fall.

A mountain breeze blew, and raindrops pattered down. Zhu Huihui quickly jumped up and reached for the bamboo curtain to close the door.

A large, grayish-white moth was blown by the wind and crashed headfirst into Zhu Huihui's face. It flew crookedly half a circle before falling to the ground with a "thud," instantly turning charred.

Huh? My skin is so thick that I even knocked the moth unconscious?

All eyes turned to her. Zhu Huihui felt a little ashamed and secretly pressed her face. No, her cheeks were quite soft!

Just as I was wondering what was going on, with a "pop," all the lights in the shop suddenly went out.

Zhu Huihui was taken aback. How could seven candles, positioned in different locations, go out at the same time? Besides, the doors and windows were closed, and the mountain wind couldn't get in—ah, it's a ghost! Ghosts usually appear in this way!

Just as his mind raced and he began to suspect that a vengeful ghost had broken in, he heard a "clang" sound. It was the familiar sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath—the sound of the grumpy old man's volatile sword. This long, snow-white sword had been held against his neck more than once before.

The Sky Over the Martial World is Clear, Part Two: Chapter Seven (3)

Zhu Huihui was terrified upon hearing the sound. She instinctively dropped to the ground, rolled to the right, and hid behind the door, covering her head.

Just as I was wondering what I had done to anger the old man, I heard a "thump-thump" sound coming from where I had just been standing, like the sound of tiny needles being driven into the wooden floor.

Then, various noises arose in the inner hall: the sound of tables breaking, plates and bowls shattering, the whooshing sound of palms striking each other, and the continuous clash of weapons.

Zhu Huihui's heart pounded wildly. Oh no, a fight has broken out!

Judging from the commotion, it must be some kind of江湖 (jianghu, martial arts world) feud, and they all seem to be experts... Damn it, I must be cursed lately, why do I keep running into these kinds of things!

He was just a street urchin. Although he longed for the world of martial arts, after wandering for many days, he hadn't even gotten close to the real world. What he saw in his daily life was mostly thugs fighting, gang warfare, and scoundrels causing trouble. He once thought that was the world of martial arts. Relying on his cleverness and experience in the streets, he usually got the better of others and rarely suffered a loss.

It wasn't until he witnessed the massacre firsthand, then experienced the killing of the "brothers who refused to eat or drink," and was then tortured by the "temperamental old man," that he realized the hellish place of the martial world was not one he could afford to play in!

Especially those people in the martial arts world, who can easily chop off someone's head, he can't afford to offend any of them!

While groaning incessantly, Zhu Huihui tried her best to remain calm, not daring to move an inch, lest she make the slightest sound and be attacked with knives and swords.

Suddenly, the room fell silent again. All that could be heard was the sound of wind and rain; there wasn't even a human breathing.

Just as the silence fell, a long, rosy laugh rang out: "Could it be the Twelve Zodiac Envoys of the Blood-Seeing Pavilion?"

"Clap clap clap clap!"

In the darkness, someone clapped softly, and a female voice laughed, "Young Master Snow-Colored, you truly live up to your reputation!" The voice was very high-pitched.

Feng Xuese laughed heartily, "The monkey chestnut shames the fragrant fruit, and the chicken chopping board leads to a clear cup. The chicken claw sickle used by the chicken has truly broadened my horizons!"

With a "snap," someone struck a flint and lit a tallow torch.

By the light of the fire, Zhu Huihui secretly peeked out through the crack in the door.

The inner hall was in complete disarray, but Feng Xuese stood gracefully in the center, the sword in his hand reflecting the firelight, his white robes still spotless.

Twelve people were scattered around, surrounding Feng Xuese in the center. The flickering flames cast shadows on their faces, making them appear strangely unpredictable.

These twelve people included men and women, old men and children, dressed differently, but they were all familiar faces—the same diners, waiters, and shopkeeper who had been going about their business just moments before. Among them was a tall, stout man who was unfamiliar with the group. He was carrying a huge hinged door knife and had an oil-stained apron around his waist. He seemed to be the cook who had been hiding in the kitchen.

While Zhu Huihui was peeking, the twelve or thirteen-year-old boy suddenly turned around, his eyes gleaming, his gaze like two swords, and stared at her face.

Zhu Huihui suddenly shrank back, her heart skipped a beat, and she secretly wiped her sweat. This child looked several years younger than her, but his eyes were terrifying.

The waiter who had served him rice looked over and asked in surprise, "How come you're still alive?"

Zhu Huihui gave a dry laugh: "Um, sorry!"

The waiter turned around: "Sister She, did you give me the wrong medicine?"

The woman who had eloped cursed, "Bullshit! I've used my Golden Jade Soul Scroll hundreds of times, how could I give it to the wrong person! Didn't you see that the moth that touched his face died instantly from the poison?"

The waiter was speechless.

The woman who eloped also found it very strange.