Le voyage d'un mendiant à travers le monde

Chapitre 30

When Tang Yan first saw her, he couldn't help but frown slightly. The woman gracefully walked forward, a smile on her lips, glancing at him sideways.

"You are..." He gazed at her, his voice low and hesitant.

The woman covered her crimson lips with her green silk sleeve, raised her delicate eyebrows, and smiled, saying, "What, don't you recognize me?" She then moved to his side, looked him over, and sighed softly, "But it's no wonder, it's been ten years. Don't tell me you don't recognize me. Even I, if I hadn't seen your two severed arms, would almost not have recognized you."

Tang Yanchu's eyes turned cold upon hearing her voice, and his heart pounded. He turned to look into the distance and said, "It's you?"

The woman smiled, looked at him, and said, "So you finally remember who I am? Young Master Lian."

"Don't call me that!" He didn't look at her, his voice filled with suppressed pain. "What are you doing here? I don't want to see you."

"You think I want to see a monster like you without hands?" The woman strode up to him, suddenly grabbed his sleeve, and shook him in front of his eyes, mockingly saying, "Didn't they say you're doing well here? I heard you're quite amazing, huh? You've survived all this time without hands. I really want to see how you eat with your feet, dress with your feet... Haha, Tang Yanchu, hurry up and give me a performance, let me broaden my horizons!"

Tang Yanchu suppressed her emotions, forcefully pulled back her sleeve, took a step back, and said in a low voice, "Have you said enough? Please go back."

"What are you doing? Trying to kick me out?! You piece of trash, are you still afraid of me?!" The woman suddenly giggled. "And you're the daughter of that vixen Tang Yunlan! That slut wouldn't leave my father alone, she's got some nerve, how can you be such a coward!"

"Shut up!" Tang Yanchu's face changed. She glared at her fiercely and shouted angrily, "Try saying another word!"

The woman glared at him defiantly and said sharply, "I'm going to say it! Do you know that the reason you've become like this is divine retribution! Who told that bitch Tang Yunlan to seduce my father and kill my mother..."

"Stop talking about those things!" Tang Yanchu shouted angrily, her shoulders trembling.

The woman laughed triumphantly, waving her hands in front of him, and said, "Can't you listen anymore? Tang Yanchu, you have no hope! You're just a cripple without hands for the rest of your life. Even if you survive, what good will it do? Will you be happy? Will you have a home? At best, you'll be like a lost soul, hiding in this desolate mountain for the rest of your life, without hands, without relatives, without friends, and without women! Nothing! You can just eke out a living, living a miserable and lonely life! The longer you live, the happier I'll be! Because I know there's a cripple in this world who's living a miserable life! All because you're a bastard! A mongrel!"

"You're crazy!" Tang Yanchu finally lost his temper and kicked the woman in the shoulder.

As dusk fell, Yue Ruzheng retrieved the herbs from the woods and listlessly retraced her steps. In the past, after every argument with Tang Yanchu, she would feel guilty, because often it was her quick temper that caused the conflict. However, this time, she truly felt wronged. She was thinking of him, but in Tang Yanchu's eyes, it was always her fault that she caused the conflict. Yue Ruzheng couldn't help but wonder if, in Tang Yanchu's eyes, she was just a silly girl who only knew how to cause trouble?

Her mood was somewhat low. Just as she was about to reach the peach grove, she suddenly heard a sharp gust of wind ahead. Before she could react, a bright white light shot out from the forest, tracing a diagonal arc in the air. Yue Ruzheng was startled and was about to dodge when the light suddenly turned back and flew back into the forest. Yue Ruzheng suddenly remembered the time when Su Muchen brought his men to Yandang Mountain, and Lian Junqiu had come to her aid. The white light before her was remarkably similar to the light from Lian Junqiu's twin swords. A chill ran through her, and she put down her bamboo basket and flew towards the peach grove.

As they approached, emerald shadows danced in the woods, and the white light from before suddenly returned to the hand of the woman in green. With a flick of her arms, two gleaming sword beams split into two, swirling like dragons, shooting upwards at an angle. Only then did Yue Ruzheng realize that Tang Yanchu was standing atop a peach tree. The swords had barely left the woman's hand when he leaped down from mid-air, his left foot touching a branch, his body spinning rapidly as he fell, his right leg striking the woman's wrist.

The woman evaded his attack with a swift movement of her right arm, then leaped into the air, lunging straight at the twin swords that were deeply embedded in the tree trunk. Tang Yanchu gave chase, and the woman drew her swords, preparing to strike back, when Yue Ruzheng flew in front of Tang Yanchu, glaring at her angrily, and said, "What do you think you're doing?"

The woman in green abruptly sheathed her twin swords, glaring at her with a sharp look before sneering at Tang Yanchu, "Tang Yanchu, it seems I underestimated you. Even in your state, you still manage to find a woman?"

Yue Ruzheng's face flushed with anger, and she snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting?! Who exactly are you?!"

"You don't even know me? Are you even a member of the martial world? Let me tell you, I'm Lian Junxin from Seven Star Island!" The woman in green said, then looked at her mockingly, adding, "You don't seem like a fool. How come you like this cripple who's lost his hand? Or are you just blinded by his handsome face? No wonder, like mother, like son. Tang Yunlan used her seductive charm to lure people, and this bastard is just like her!"

Tang Yanchu's breathing quickened, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Lian Junxin, I've been away from Seven Star Island for ten years! Why are you still pressuring me like this?!"

Lian Junxin glanced at him disdainfully, raising an eyebrow. "I told you long ago, I'd never let you go in this lifetime. But I really didn't expect you to be hiding a woman in these deep mountains..."

"Shut up!" Yue Ruzheng said sternly to Lian Junxin, "Xiao Tang and I are not as filthy as you make us out to be! I don't know what grudge you two have, but I'm warning you, if you continue to spout nonsense here, don't blame me for drawing my sword!"

Lian Junxin's face paled, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she snapped, "Do you think I wanted to come to this desolate wilderness to spout nonsense?" She then angrily pointed at Tang Yanchu, saying, "You used to say you'd never go back to Seven Star Island, and I thought you finally had some self-awareness and could get out of my sight. But why did you agree to go back for Father's birthday banquet?! Can't you survive here? Do you want to go back to Seven Star Island and have someone serve you, you piece of trash?!"

Yue Ruzheng was startled and turned to look at Tang Yanchu. She saw that his eyes were full of pain, his lips were tightly pursed, and he did not say a word.

Seeing that he remained silent, Lian Junxin assumed he was guilty and speechless. She stepped forward to examine him, then said with a charming smile, "Why don't you dare to deny it? Oh, by the way, do you remember what happened ten years ago at Father's birthday banquet? Do you want to relive that experience and feel the scene again?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Ruzheng didn't understand, but she felt Tang Yanchu behind her trembling all over. When she turned around, she saw that his face was pale and his eyes had changed.

"Little Tang, Little Tang!" Yue Ruzheng exclaimed in surprise, quickly grabbing his waist and pushing him away forcefully. But he seemed to have left his body, staring intently at Lian Junxin with eyes full of resentment, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Lian Junxin scoffed, turning around gracefully, her long skirt billowing like a clear spring, and walked towards the edge of the woods. Reaching the crossroads, she suddenly turned back with a smile and said, "You brat, if you think you can get anything out of following him, you're sorely mistaken. I advise you to leave now, lest you waste your youth!"

Having said that, without waiting for Yue Ruzheng's reply, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and flew off towards the mountain path.

Chapter Twenty-One: The Night Rain Sighs, Recalling the Past

Yue Ruzheng breathed a sigh of relief only after watching Lian Junxin's figure disappear. Turning around, she saw Tang Yanchu still pale-faced and speechless, her eyes lifeless, as if she had completely lost her vitality.

She anxiously pressed his shoulders, saying, "Xiao Tang, she's gone!"

Tang Yanchu slowly lowered his eyes, looking at her, then suddenly forcefully broke free of her hands and stumbled towards the courtyard. Yue Ruzheng had never seen him so dejected, and hurriedly called his name, chasing after him. But he didn't stop for a moment, as if he hadn't heard her at all. Yue Ruzheng could only follow closely behind him, watching him stagger into the courtyard, only to trip over the threshold as he stepped into the house. Without the support of his arms, he crashed heavily to the ground with a dull thud.

Yue Ruzheng was terrified and rushed over to kneel down, trying to help him up. But he clenched his teeth, saying nothing, and frantically dodged away, refusing to let her touch him. However, he had just fallen hard, and his body was still trembling slightly. Yue Ruzheng could only watch with tears in her eyes as he struggled on the ground, gritting his teeth, and moved himself to the wall with his legs before finally managing to sit up against it.

"Xiao Tang! Xiao Tang! What's wrong?" She knelt down and sat in front of him, asking sadly.

Tang Yanchu breathed heavily, refusing to look up. His shoulders were drooping, his face hidden in shadow, making it impossible for her to see his expression. But she could sense the deep despair and endless sorrow emanating from his figure.

As dusk deepened, the room remained unlit, shrouded in a hazy mist. A wind began to blow outside, causing the paper windows to rustle and tremble as if they were shaking. The two sat silently facing each other. She wanted to say something to comfort him, but remembering his dejected appearance just moments before, she didn't know what to say.

After an unknown amount of time, Tang Yanchu finally bent her knees and whispered, "Ruzheng, you don't need to stay here and watch over me anymore."

Hearing him speak, Yue Ruzheng finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. She leaned down, close to his face, looked into his eyes, and whispered, "Would you like to get up and go back to your room?"

Tang Yanchu shook her head, then turned her face away, burying herself in the deep darkness.

Yue Ruzheng sighed, sat for a while, then, remembering she hadn't eaten dinner yet, got up and hurriedly went to the kitchen to make something to eat. When she returned to the room, it was already dark. She lit a candle before carrying the bowl to Tang Yanchu. By the candlelight, she saw a spot of blood seeping from Tang Yanchu's face; his eyes were closed, and he sat weakly against the wall.

"Xiao Tang, have something to eat." She picked up her bowl and gently nudged his shoulder.

He opened his eyes, and his already dark pupils seemed even more profound and cold.

"I don't want to eat," he said softly, looking down at his shadow.

She frowned, scooped up a spoonful of food, and said, "Are you saying my cooking is bad?"

Tang Yanchu looked at her helplessly, then she brought the spoon to his lips. He forced a few bites before stopping. Yue Ruzheng saw that he was in a very bad mood and didn't want to force him. After quickly finishing her own meal, she went back inside to get a towel, dipped it in warm water, and came back to his side.

Tang Yanchu's thin face appeared even paler in the candlelight. He sat blankly in the corner, his eyes fixed ahead, yet his gaze was dim, as if he had completely shut himself off. Yue Ruzheng knelt down and gently touched the wound on his cheek with a warm handkerchief. He turned his face slightly to the side, but still remained silent. Yue Ruzheng held the corner of the handkerchief and carefully wiped away the bloodstains, then quietly sat down beside him on the floor.

A night breeze blew in through the cracks in the window, causing the already faint candlelight to flicker and scatter the shadows of the two figures. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew the slightly ajar window open, and with a soft cry from Yue Ruzheng, the candlelight went out instantly. Panic gripped her, and she instinctively moved closer to Tang Yanchu. In the darkness, his breath brushed against her face. Yue Ruzheng suddenly felt an urge to embrace him, but he silently pulled away slightly. Still stunned, she heard him whisper, "Go back to your room and rest."