Le voyage d'un mendiant à travers le monde

Chapitre 40

Yue Ruzheng shook her head desperately and slowly backed away. He stubbornly continued to approach her, his eyes seemingly returning to the cold indifference of their first encounter, yet also concealing pain.

"Why do you insist on returning even this to me?!" Yue Ruzheng couldn't hold back her heartache, tears streaming down her face. Seeing him stubbornly still trying to step forward, she subconsciously reached out and pushed him. Tang Yanchu was pushed back a step by her, stood stunned in the rain for a moment, the glimmer of light in his eyes extinguished, and then turned and walked quickly towards the mountain path.

"Little Tang! Little Tang!" Yue Ruzheng called out in a mournful voice, holding up her paper umbrella, but he showed no intention of turning back and soon disappeared into the vast forest.

Yue Ruzheng stood dejectedly in the rain for a long time, soaked to the bone, when she suddenly heard footsteps approaching rapidly behind her. Without turning around, she knew who it was. Sure enough, Yu Hezhi strode forward, his face contorted with rage, and demanded, "Ruzheng, where is Tang Yanchu?!"

Yue Ruzheng gazed indifferently at the distant verdant mountains and the desolate rain, and said, "Let's go."

"You! Are you deliberately going against me?" Yu Hezhi, his usual gentle demeanor gone, was furious and raised his hand to strike Yue Ruzheng, but then Jiang Shuying's voice came from the doorway: "Senior brother, why are you doing this?"

Yu Hezhi angrily withdrew his palm strike and said to Jiang Shuying, "Junior Sister, don't you think she's truly hateful? Time and again, she's outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, ruining my important plans!"

Jiang Shuying slowly walked out of the gate and stood at the end of the stone steps, with Shao Yang following behind her, holding an umbrella for her.

"That's just her nature. Even if you take drastic measures, you can't change her mind," Jiang Shuying sighed. "Let's go back and discuss this further..."

"No need!" Yu Hezhi said indignantly. "Junior Sister, I've tried everything, all for you and for Yinxi Xiaozhu. Now that your beloved disciple can't bear to deceive your enemy's son, I'm afraid we'll not only fail to retrieve the Face-Fixing Pearl, but we'll also be implicated by her in the future. I've said all I need to say. You should think carefully about what to do next!" With that, he sighed, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Jiang Shuying, and returned to Yinxi Xiaozhu on his own.

Jiang Shuying looked at Yue Ruzheng, who was still standing in the rain, feeling both resentment and pity. She said, "Ruzheng, I truly regret sending you to Yandang Mountain that day!"

"Master!" Yue Ruzheng choked up and couldn't continue. Jiang Shuying turned away quietly, leaving her alone outside the door.

That night, Yue Ruzheng sat alone in the unlit small building. Although she had changed out of her wet clothes, she still couldn't stop feeling cold. Outside the window, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the wind whistled; it didn't feel like April, but more like a cold and desolate autumn night.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Luzhou City, beside an abandoned ancient city wall, Tang Yanchu sat alone under the cold night sky. He leaned against the moss-covered ruins, looking up at the dark sky. Tonight, the clouds were so thick that even the moonlight was almost completely obscured. Only when the clouds slowly moved away would a crescent moon peek out, illuminating the ancient and quiet city.

This was the place where Yue Ruzheng had lived for ten years, bearing her footprints, her laughter, and every little detail of her life. In fact, before going to Yinxi Xiaozhu, Tang Yanchu had walked quietly along the moat for a long time. He didn't go to the crowded streets and alleys, but chose the secluded riverside, gazing at the surging water, and thinking about many, many things.

That chance encounter on a rainy early spring night left her like a kite with a broken string, falling down the mountain, struggling to her feet despite the pain; that time, when they argued because he was down, she bowed her head, tears falling to the ground; that time, clutching the brocade box, she stood in the rain at the door, waving and laughing at him; that time, under the moonlight, unwilling to return to her room, she leaned against him and slowly fell asleep, still clutching the bedsheet tightly in her hand…

She left behind so many joys and sorrows, like vivid paintings etched in his heart, impossible to erase.

He thought he could accept her leaving again, just like the first time, continuing to walk the quiet mountain path, continuing to eat hardened dry rations, continuing to live a boring life... But for the first time in his nineteen years of life, he had the thought of trying to hold on to something, and this strange thought was unbearable for his originally calm and even desolate heart.

Before leaving Yandang, he didn't forget to take the sachet she had left behind. He had also anxiously considered that the sachet's ultimate fate was likely one of two things. Although he knew clearly that perhaps the most likely outcome was that they would go their separate ways, never to meet again. Tang Yanchu had foreseen this outcome on his way there. When she suddenly announced her departure, he had a premonition that perhaps she wouldn't return. But he still embarked on his journey to Luzhou…

The wind rustled through the withered grass. Tang Yanchu lowered his head; the sachet was still in his bosom, carried all the way, always close to his heart. He gazed at the haggard crescent moon and silently told himself that after returning to Yandang, he would bury it at the place where he had met Yue Ruzheng, and never walk that path again.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Seeing Off the Guest, Another Turbulent Encounter

The day after Tang Yanchu left Luzhou, Yu Hezhi also set off early in the morning on his way back to Yueqing. Jiang Shuying and Shao Yang went to see him off, but did not invite Yue Ruzheng. By the time Yue Ruzheng heard about this from Qian'er, they had already departed. Yue Ruzheng hesitated for a moment, then leaped onto her horse and hurried after them.

When they arrived at the exit from the city, Yu Hezhi was about to leave. He was somewhat surprised to see Yue Ruzheng arrive. Jiang Shuying was also slightly taken aback. Yue Ruzheng dismounted and walked up to Yu Hezhi, saying, "Uncle-Master, I know you still blame me, but I can assure you in front of Master and Senior Brother that I have absolutely no ulterior motives towards Yinxi Xiaozhu."

Yu Hezhi sighed and said, "I am well aware of your affection for Yinxi Xiaozhu, but you are being far too stubborn and inflexible."

"If there is another way, I will do it without hesitation," Yue Ruzheng said resolutely.

Jiang Shuying sighed softly and stepped forward, saying, "Senior brother, if I can come up with a foolproof plan, I will contact you again. Your comings and goings have truly been arduous."

Looking at her still radiant face, Yu Hezhi shook his head and said, "I am still a disciple of Yinxi Xiaozhu, these journeys are nothing..." He paused, then turned to Yue Ruzheng and Shao Yang, "You must still be careful. If anyone comes to cause trouble, do not be reckless or underestimate them."

The two nodded silently. Yu Hezhi glanced at Jiang Shuying again, said nothing more, turned around, mounted his horse, and left.

After He Zhiyuan left, Jiang Shuying returned to the carriage and said to Yue Ruzheng, "The reason I didn't ask you to come and see my master off was because I was afraid you would argue with him again."

Yue Ruzheng said in a low voice, "I understand what Master and Senior Uncle are thinking."

Jiang Shuying glanced at Shao Yang, who had been silent lately, and said, "Shao Yang, don't always think about avenging your past humiliations. Know that haste makes waste. With your current swordsmanship, you're no match for Lian Haichao."

Shao Yang said sullenly, "I know, disciple."

Jiang Shuying felt a vague sense of worry, knowing that Shao Yang still couldn't accept the cause of his father's death. She lowered the beaded curtain in front of the carriage and instructed Shao Yang to set off back to Yinxi Xiaozhu, while Yue Ruzheng followed on horseback.

After passing through Luzhou City, the group soon approached Mount Dashu. They only needed to cross the vast, silent forest to reach the main gate of Yinxi Xiaozhu. The carriage traveled along a stream, dappled shadows cast by plum trees on either side, reflecting on Yue Ruzheng and Shao Yang.

Although the journey was quiet, Yue Ruzheng felt a slight sense of relief, knowing that the arguments of the past few days were finally coming to an end. She could already see the stone tablet at the entrance of Yinxi Xiaozhu ahead, and was about to urge her horse on when she suddenly heard a rustling sound from the trees above, and something fell sharply from above. She quickly pulled on the reins, simultaneously gripping her sword hilt to prepare to strike. Shao Yang also hurriedly stopped the carriage, and upon closer inspection, saw that a baby bird had inexplicably fallen to the ground.

Yue Ruzheng frowned and said, "I thought it was something serious; I almost drew my sword."

At that moment, the carriage curtain lifted, and Jiang Shuying gazed intently at the ground. The fledgling seemed not yet dead, but its wings flapped weakly, and its two slender legs twitched incessantly. Yue Ruzheng couldn't bear it, dismounted, and was about to bend down to pick it up. But just as her hands were about to touch the bird's wings, Jiang Shuying suddenly stiffened and cried out, "Stop!"

Yue Ruzheng was startled and turned around, asking, "Master, what's wrong?"

Jiang Shuying had already alighted from the carriage. She quickly stepped forward and pulled her away, while saying to Shao Yang, "You two quickly calm yourselves and concentrate. Do not make any noise, and do not touch anything around you."

Shao Yang's heart skipped a beat, and he whispered, "Master, is there something strange about this place?"

Jiang Shuying gazed calmly at Yinxi Cottage ahead and said, "The bird's claws are faintly showing blue, clearly it's been poisoned. It seems the people from Bliss Valley may have already arrived here."

Shocked, Yue Ruzheng quickly sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and circulated her internal energy, but she felt nothing unusual. She didn't even smell the faint, fishy stench she'd experienced when fighting Su Mucheng before. Slightly surprised, she opened her eyes and, seeing that Shao Yang also seemed unaffected, asked Jiang Shuying, "Master, why can't I sense anything?"

Jiang Shuying returned to the carriage, gently lowered the curtain, and said, "The more things are like this, the more careful we need to be. Let's pretend we don't know anything and return to Yinxi Xiaozhu by the same route."

"Yes." Shao Yang responded and then whipped the carriage to move forward slowly.

Having left Merlin and about to enter the area of Yinxi Cottage, the surroundings remained as peaceful and quiet as ever. Yue Ruzheng glanced at Shao Yang, then calmly dismounted and walked towards the gate. But the moment she stepped onto the stone steps, she felt a sudden chill creep up from her feet. Already on guard, Yue Ruzheng leaped backward, and as her feet landed, a thin layer of frost, as fine as a cicada's wing, appeared on the stone steps. At the same time, Shao Yang, who was driving the carriage, also felt a sudden chill in the air. He quickly drew his sword and tightly guarded the carriage.

The chilling aura grew heavier and heavier, and the once warm spring sunshine seemed to be shrouded in gloom, gradually retreating behind the clouds. Yue Ruzheng retreated to the side of the carriage, watching the stone steps. At this moment, the layer of white frost gradually thickened and rose higher. Suddenly, a bamboo whistle rang out, and the white frost that had been clinging to the stone steps began to flutter and rush straight towards the carriage carrying Jiang Shuying.

Yue Ruzheng and Shao Yang moved in a blur, their longswords flashing as they swept across the oncoming white frost from mid-air. Unexpectedly, the moment they touched it, a bone-chilling coldness shot upwards from the sword tip, instantly seeping into their wrists. Shao Yang, enduring the pain, swung his palm, forcefully pushing the carriage backwards. The white frost struck by the twin swords shattered into powder, swirling and dancing in the wind. Yue Ruzheng covered her face with her sleeve, retreating rapidly, when suddenly she felt a gust of wind behind her. She immediately swung her sword back, unleashing several beams of light that enveloped the attacker's head and face. The attacker's face was sallow, his appearance sinister; it was none other than Su Muchen, the protector of Bliss Valley, whom she had already met twice.

Seeing his sneak attack fail, Su Muchen suddenly flipped his hand, grabbing Yue Ruzheng's shoulder, and swept his foot, intending to block her retreat. Yue Ruzheng leaped up, dodging his leg, her Lonely Fragrance Sword dancing swiftly in the wind, leaving star-like streaks, completely enveloping his wrist, preventing him from getting close. Su Muchen pulled his right hand behind his back, and when he extended it again, he held a curved blade, fiercely slashing down at her head. On the other side, Shao Yang, who had been protecting the carriage, saw this and rushed over, deflecting Su Muchen's curved blade with his longsword, effectively stopping his attack.

But at that moment, the sound of a bamboo whistle suddenly rang out again from Mount Dashu, and the white frost that had already fallen to the ground slowly began to move, making a rustling sound as it surged toward the carriage.

Just as Shao Yang and Yue Ruzheng were about to retreat, Su Muchen roared, and suddenly a large number of Bliss Valley subordinates dressed in dark yellow robes rushed out from the surrounding forest, attacking the two of them. Their progress was halted by the crowd, and they saw Bai Shuang quickly climb onto the carriage, covering it with a thick layer in the blink of an eye. At that moment, a black shadow flew from the mountainside of Great Shu Mountain. The figure moved swiftly, leaping high above the fighting crowd in a single bound, landing steadily on the carriage shaft.