Sept nuits de neige

Chapitre 89

It signifies hatred associated with bloodshed and slaughter.

"Nineteen... Tianxiu hopes you can live well." He realized that he kept saying the same thing over and over again, and he couldn't find a second sentence to comfort him.

Tang Shijiu bit her lip and said sadly, "But he's dead, and Tianxiu is dead... He can no longer control what I do."

Shen Yuntan placed Tianxiu's cenotaph behind the village, where there was a lush peach orchard. It was autumn now, and the peaches on the trees were large and round.

In spring, this place will be vibrant and beautiful, a dazzling display of color.

Tianxiu will be very satisfied.

Nineteen and Yun Tan stood under the tree and bowed three times. The air was filled with the fruity scent of ripe peaches, tinged with a hint of wine. Shen Yun Tan mustered her courage and gently took her hand: "Nineteen, from now on, let me protect you."

Tang Shijiu instinctively tried to pull away, but couldn't. His hand was large and dry, holding her tightly but not painfully.

Shen Yuntan repeated, "Nineteen, from now on, let me protect you, okay?"

She wanted to say something to refuse, but her hand, unable to be pulled away, involuntarily gripped his.

As they traveled eastward, the person beside Tang Shijiu changed from Tianxiu to Shen Yuntan, but Tang Shijiu did not feel happy.

She still suffers from insomnia every night, often lying awake, watching the first light of dawn from the pitch-black night.

Shen Yuntan took care of her constantly; he understood her preferences better than Tianxiu and was more considerate. Nineteen couldn't deny that being with Shen Yuntan felt more intimate than with Tianxiu. However, she didn't want to take it any further. Tianxiu seemed to be an insurmountable wall, firmly standing between them.

Even though he often tried to probe her carefully and treated her with tenderness, she felt tired and just wanted to return to Xiaoyao Manor as soon as possible, hide in the training room, and never come out again.

The martial arts world is exhausting and not fun at all.

If she hadn't met Shen Yuntan, if she hadn't met Tianxiu, perhaps she wouldn't be so tired. Tang Shijiu felt her shoulders were very heavy, as if something was pressing down on them, something she couldn't shake off.

In fact, growing up is a tiring process in itself, and it has nothing to do with the martial arts world, Shen Yuntan, or Tianxiu. Even without Tianshu and Tianxiu, without Shen Yuntan, people who have experienced things as adults are not as carefree as they were in their youth.

After a long and arduous journey, we finally arrived at the town at the foot of Xiaoyao Mountain. From there, it would take another day to climb the mountain.

Tang Shijiu leaned out of the carriage and looked at Xiaoyao Mountain in the distance, feeling a sense of peace in his heart.

I'm going home...that's great!

I wonder if Master is holding a small teapot in one hand and flipping through a book with the other at this moment. I also wonder if Tian Man has grown taller.

While he was pondering, Shen Yun stopped the carriage, his face grave: "How many people in town know you?"

"I usually wander around the market at the foot of the mountain and rarely go into town, so I guess... not often."

"Once we enter the town, keep a low profile and, most importantly, don't reveal that you're from Xiaoyao Manor," he said solemnly, giving a wink to those around him. "The martial world is buzzing with rumors that the Tuanfu Heart Sutra is at Xiaoyao Manor. Some are even spreading the word that Ge Yang is the manor's master. Right now, there are countless people who want the Heart Sutra, seek revenge, or want to take this opportunity to suppress others. Everyone has their own ulterior motives and sinister intentions. You absolutely mustn't let a word slip, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

He had barely finished speaking when someone stopped the carriage. The two men were both dressed in Taoist robes, and their expressions were quite respectful: "Sir, please wait."

Shen Yun returned a polite smile: "So you are a fellow Daoist from Lingsu Mountain. May I ask what brings you here?"

The slightly taller man bowed and said, "Sir, you have a good eye. I wonder if you have come to Xiaoyao Mountain to participate in the extermination of Yang?"

Upon hearing the words "Destroy Yang Conference," Tang Shijiu, inside the carriage, gasped.

But Shen Yun said, "No, no, I was just passing through. My wife has fallen ill and we need to take a shortcut home quickly. Otherwise, knowing that there is an important gathering here, I would never dare to pass by rashly and disturb everyone."

The Taoist priest seemed relieved: "Sir, you are already married?"

Shen Yun said, "Yes, my wife is inside the carriage."

The Taoist priest, through the gauze curtain, could vaguely see that the person inside the carriage was slender and graceful, indeed a woman. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I apologize for disturbing you, but I still have something to say. This place is not suitable for lingering. Please leave as soon as possible tomorrow morning."

Shen Yun asked knowingly, "Why are you so nervous, Daoist Master?"

The Taoist priest said, “There is a villain on Mount Xiaoyao named Ge Yang. We have gathered here to rid the martial world of this scourge. His eldest disciple is named Tang Shijiu, a beautiful but ruthless woman who uses her charm to harm people. We have also heard that Ge Yang and Shenyin are on good terms, so everyone is on guard against their sudden appearance. Shenyin is arrogant and rarely associates with others, so we pay special attention to young, single men. We also hope that you will be careful, sir, and not be careless when you encounter a beautiful woman in red.”

Shen Yuntan suppressed a smile, thanked him repeatedly, and then left.

That night, Shen Yuntan brought back news from Xiaoyao Manor. Not only Lingsu Martial Arts Academy, but also several other renowned martial arts sects, including Tang Clan and Foshi Immortal Realm, led numerous skilled fighters to gather at the foot of Xiaoyao Mountain. However, for some unknown reason, they only managed to advance a small portion of the way before being unable to break through. Ge Yang did not appear, and the disciples of Xiaoyao Manor did not descend the mountain again.

Tang Shijiu breathed a sigh of relief: "People in the martial world just act recklessly. Master hasn't left the mountain for over ten years, how could he have become a great demon? The disciples of Xiaoyao Manor are all pure and simple, how could they have become a scourge of the martial world?"

"Many people in the martial arts world are driven by passion; they'll rush off at the slightest provocation," Shen Yun said. "You're only partially right when you say they act recklessly. Most of them do act recklessly, but there are always one or two with ulterior motives who stir up trouble and profit from it."

He smiled, a sly glint in his eyes: "At least, you know very well what the Tang Clan is after."

Tang Shijiu couldn't help but blurt out, "And you, what do you want this time?"

As soon as she spoke, she regretted it and wanted to add an explanation, but she didn't know where to begin. Sure enough, Shen Yuntan's eyes darkened, and he stopped talking. Instead, he suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.

His arms were wrapped tightly around her, as if he were afraid of losing some precious treasure.

Their foreheads touched gently, and Shen Yuntan's dark eyes clearly reflected her image.

She heard him whisper, "My goal this time is to have you."

Chapter Fifty-Six Mountain Path

Although the situation is at a stalemate, Xiaoyao Manor has not suffered any losses yet, but Nineteen is still worried, so the two decided to go up the mountain overnight.

The mountain path was fraught with hidden obstacles, but Shen Yuntan, with his keen senses, didn't suffer any losses. He had obtained the cultivation method, which seemed to have little effect on correcting his internal energy, but he gained many insights and understandings, which were of great benefit to Tang Shijiu. Tang Shijiu possessed exceptional comprehension; in just a few days, she had impressed Shen Yuntan, seemingly making new progress in her martial arts every day. This time, infiltrating the mountain, Tang Shijiu was like a cunning and cunning fox, moving silently yet swiftly, showing considerable improvement since their first meeting.

As the moon rose high in the sky, the two had already reached the mountain pass. This path was a necessary route for merchants traveling across the mountain, and no matter how domineering the martial arts world was, they wouldn't be able to block the passage. The autumn wind rustled through the leaves, and Shen Yuntan recognized that this was the place where the two had first met.

A few months ago, when the summer insects were chirping, a female ghost with a painted face and dressed in bright red clothes snatched a man from this mountain road and took him home to be her husband.

That night, she was valiant and decisive, fearless, unlike a newcomer to the martial arts world. Her small face was covered in tears, making her look like a female ghost, yet her eyes were as bright as the morning star and as clear as a spring.