Un rêve de transmigration

Chapitre 65

“I know you like this stuff.” Qiu Yeyijian raised his eyes to look at her and sneered without holding back: “You’re not good at chess but you’re still attached to it. When you left the Ye residence with a righteous air, you even took a few of my chess manuals with you.”

Leng Shuangcheng remained calm and sat down dismissively: "Does the young master want to test my chess skills? Let me make it clear beforehand, I'm afraid it will greatly disappoint you."

"What can you possibly hide from me?" Qiu Yeyijian said coldly, her tone unchanged. "Just because I haven't asked you before doesn't mean I don't know. There are many people and many things that just haven't been exposed yet."

Leng Shuangcheng's heart stirred, and she was secretly alarmed. With a calm expression, she picked up a white piece, preparing to place it. Qiu Yeyijian stopped her wrist, looking directly into her eyes, and said, "This game can both relax you and help you understand the current situation, which is why I'm wasting my energy entertaining you." Leng Shuangcheng, well aware of his nature, flicked her wrist and replied calmly, "Young Master wouldn't be so kind..." Before she could finish, Qiu Yeyijian broke into a smile, eclipsing the beauty of the entire courtyard. His face was as radiant as snow-covered mountains reflected in white clouds: "You truly understand me... Since we're going to play, we should at least try to win something."

Leng Shuangcheng lowered her eyes, her mind clear. She knew he would bring it up directly sooner or later, so she didn't mince words and calmly replied, "Please speak, young master." Qiu Yeyi released her wrist and couldn't help but steal a touch on her cheek, saying, "If you lose, you have to marry me sooner."

Leng Shuangcheng suppressed her anger, her calm face fixed on the chessboard: "Judging from your words, it seems that Leng Shuangcheng will fall into your hands sooner or later." Qiu Yeyijian was clearly dissatisfied with her wording, and frowned: "What are you saying... I have already included your name in my marriage certificate and submitted it to the court. I am just waiting for His Majesty's approval to choose a date for the wedding."

This news struck Leng Shuangcheng more shockingly than any thunderbolt. She stared blankly ahead, the white chess piece in her hand clattering to the ground. Qiu Ye sat upright, his elegant and refined demeanor undiminished, a smile playing on his lips that extended into his dark eyes. Seeing her dazed and lost in thought, he added another powerful dose of remedy: "I know you love to scheme and plot. I'm absolutely certain of this. Whether you agree or not, I will announce it to the world. To facilitate this marriage, I will invite some special people to witness the ceremony, including, of course, your relatives and friends..."

Leng Shuangcheng snapped out of her daze and said coldly, "Why does Young Master disregard my wishes and insist on going his own way?"

Qiu Yeyi smiled, then composed herself and replied seriously, "It's all because you forced me to do this."

"When have I ever pressured you, young master?"

“That night in the plum grove at the Ye residence, you said you needed to calm down a bit. I’ve waited for you for so long, I’m sure you’ve calmed down enough.” Qiu Ye Yijian’s face was as solid as an ice sculpture as she said firmly, “It was precisely because you were hesitant that I used Wu Suan to urge you. Do you intend to go back on your word?”

A gentle morning breeze and bright sunshine bathed the courtyard, bringing life to everything. Bamboo basked in the morning light, and water seemed to hold a tender sentiment.

Leng Shuangcheng remained quiet and composed, making it impossible for Qiu Yeyijian to discern her thoughts.

The light, like a fine, woven net, quietly enveloped the two figures in a yellowish-white morning glow, transforming into ethereal white feathers that gently kissed their indifferent cheeks. From afar, Qiu Yeyi's exquisitely sculpted face shone with a pale, enchanting light, while Leng Shuangcheng's perfectly smooth profile was outlined with the colors of a pale ink landscape.

She looked down at the intricate chessboard and pondered for a long time.

Life is like a game of chess, the world is ever-changing. How wonderful it would be to live a carefree life, finding solace in nature! Like Xiaobai's smile, free of any guile, like Nan Jing's heart, bright and clear as a tranquil river, she was destined to encounter Qiu Ye Yi Jian, relentlessly pursuing her, willing to risk his life to entangle her in a life-or-death struggle. Previously, she had been a sacrifice, escaping the intricate game of chess, yet still unable to escape death. Now, treated like a precious gem, held and meticulously examined in his palm, she remained immobile and unable to leave.

Leng Shuangcheng's heart surged with emotion. He looked up and scrutinized the white-clad Qiu Ye in front of him.

Qiu Yeyi's pale lips were pressed tightly together, and a solemn expression appeared on her face: "Leng Shuangcheng, you must give me an answer. Whether it works or not, I must be at peace before the Tantric sect's battle."

There was no threat or temptation in her voice, only a vast, distant echo that shattered the ripples on the surface of the pool, stirring up layers upon layers of waves. His dark, jade-like pupils were fixed on her, trembling slightly with tension. That deep, dark aura gathered little by little, just as it always had, and soon it would become a boundless ocean of pain.

Leng Shuangcheng's heart skipped a beat; that gaze suddenly gripped her very core, causing a piercing pain. Without further hesitation, she picked up the white piece and placed it steadily: "Qiuye, I am merely a pawn in your game. Whether you agree or not makes no difference."

The white piece landed firmly in the lower left area of Qiuye's arms with a crisp sound.

“It makes a big difference to me.” Qiu Yeyi’s expression remained unchanged, his deep gaze falling on the chessboard. “If I push you too hard, you will break free from my grasp, and—” He suddenly smiled strangely, as if a stunning flower had bloomed: “If you don’t marry me soon, I won’t be able to hold back anymore.”

Leng Shuangcheng smiled faintly, like a gentle breeze. Before the smile faded, he suddenly flicked his finger, sending a white piece flying towards the opponent's head. Qiu Ye was initially startled by the smile, but realizing something was wrong, she turned her head slightly and with a whoosh, a faint mark was sliced across her earlobe, right on the wound on her right ear.

“I can agree to your request, but you must treat people with courtesy,” Leng Shuangcheng said calmly.

A thin trickle of blood flowed down his handsome, gaunt face. Qiu Ye, leaning on his sword, steadied himself and listened to the rustling of the bamboo, like the tinkling of jade pendants. After a long silence, he could no longer restrain himself and lunged fiercely at those cold lips.

The classics of chess say: It is better to lose a piece than to lose the initiative.

Leng Shuangcheng guessed that Qiu Yeyi's chess skills were superb, as she had twice made her moves ahead of time, gaining the initiative. Because she loved Go so much, she was fully focused during the game and quickly became engrossed in the battle.

In contrast, Leng Shuangcheng's brows were furrowed, while Qiu Yeyijian appeared extremely relaxed. He placed his pieces swiftly, the black pieces darting left and right like a turbid river, roaring and meandering along the seam. "My lower left corner is like Wufang, possibly the first stop for the Japanese esoteric sect's landing. Along the way, there's Qinglong Town, Qixing Manor, and upon reaching Jiangning, the paths split into two, repeating this until reaching the upper right corner, Jingxiang." Before placing his piece, he had reminded Leng Shuangcheng to pay attention to the development of the situation.

Upon hearing this, Leng Shuangcheng suddenly understood, realizing he was using the chess layout to test an offensive and defensive strategy. She secretly memorized each of his moves. As she gradually became immersed in the game, she suddenly noticed that the black pieces seemed to transform into a vast army, locked in a fierce battle within a small space. Qiu Ye's black pieces were on the offensive, while Leng Shuangcheng's were on the defensive. Her black pieces moved like dragons, pursued and attacked from the sides by white pieces, striving to prevent them from rising.

Qiu Ye Yijian remained seated, his expression indifferent. He glanced at Leng Shuangcheng's head, which was straining to keep her face up, and something seemed to pique her interest, causing her to lower her head further. He waited a long time, then tapped the edge of the chessboard with two fingers: "Do you concede?"

Leng Shuangcheng raised his head and asked blankly, "What?" He had actually become completely engrossed in the game, his face blank.

Qiu Yeyi stared at her slightly swollen lips, pursed her lips, and said coldly and calmly, "Once you've settled on a move, it'll be enough for me to do a lot of things..." As she spoke, she reached out and secretly touched her cheek again.

Leng Shuangcheng was caught off guard and let him succeed. She hesitated for a moment before placing a piece. Qiu Yeyi responded with a piece, but seeing that he had no chance, he raised the back of his hand and tapped Leng Shuangcheng on the head: "Leng Shuangcheng, why don't you move at all when you sleep?"

Leng Shuangcheng's mind was elsewhere, and he answered casually, "My master trained me when I was a child. He would tie me to an ice cellar, and if I rolled even slightly, I would be stabbed."

Qiu Yeyi had heard rumors about such things in the martial arts world, but he never expected it to happen to Leng Shuangcheng.

Leng Shuangcheng's master was Mei Luoying, a teacher she deeply respected. To train Leng Shuangcheng's adaptability, he forced her to sleep lying flat so she could make agile moves. He could guess all of this, and he could even imagine the little girl with icy eyes struggling to hold on. A bitter feeling welled up in his heart, and Qiu Yeyijian suppressed it for a long time before finally uttering, "It's a good thing she's not in this world."

Qiu Yeyi placed his hands together on the stone table, his face indifferent, but his dark pupils gleamed. Leng Shuangcheng looked up in surprise and glanced at him, his eyes catching sight of Qiu Yeyi's tightly clenched fingers with white knuckles. He then lowered his head expressionlessly and placed a piece on the table.

"You lost," she said indifferently.

Leng Shuangcheng grabbed the black piece, pinning it firmly against his pocket.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at him indifferently, a slight line appearing at the corner of her mouth, her voice laced with sarcasm: "Leng Shuangcheng, don't you know I also have a skill?"

"What?" She slowly straightened up and stared at him as she asked.

“There should be 68 white pieces and 41 black pieces on the chessboard. How come there’s one black piece missing?” He stared intently into her calm eyes and suddenly reached out to grab her chest. “One wrong move and the whole game is lost. Your cheating skills can only fool Wu Sanshou.”

Leng Shuangcheng was already on guard. She turned around and leaped down like an elegant purple kite into the green bamboo, exclaiming, "You have to accept the consequences of your bet, young master."

Qiu Ye Yi Jian sneered, casually picked up a chess piece, and flicked it towards Cui Zhu: "Who would believe it if I told them? The Grand Tutor of the Palace is the best chess player in the world. He often holds simultaneous chess games in the Zi Chen Palace. Even the three Dukes combined are no match for me. How could a little girl like you beat me?"

Leng Shuangcheng focused intently on dodging, but unexpectedly, the chess piece flew out in an arc, bounced off the emerald green bamboo with a tinkling sound, and caused dewdrops to roll down from the bamboo tips, spraying Leng Shuangcheng all over. Leng Shuangcheng stood calmly beside the bamboo, smiled slightly with his hands behind his back, and said nothing more.

Qiu Yeyi looked at her smile and suddenly asked, "Leng Shuangcheng, do you still remember what you owe me?"

"What mischief is the young master up to now?"

Qiu Ye stood tall, leaning against the sword, and slowly walked over. "I want you to tell me what caused you to change your attitude towards me." His eyes, bathed in the morning sun, shone brightly, and his dark pupils were exactly the same size as round chess pieces. Leng Shuangcheng glanced at his solemn and handsome face, curled her lips in a mocking smile, and left the slightly surprised man behind her with a cold flick of her sleeve.

This change puzzled Qiu Yeyijian greatly. He watched the departing figure, walked over, picked up the warm chess piece, and clenched it tightly in his palm.

That chess piece was exactly the first white piece that Leng Shuangcheng placed.

Leng Shuangcheng walked a hundred steps, her expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. Faced with Qiu Yeyijian's doubts, she couldn't voice them. Instead, she struck him with her palm from a corner where he couldn't hear her, angrily saying, "What can I do when I encounter a scoundrel like you?"

Yes, what can a well-mannered girl do when she encounters an rude jerk?

6. Chain

Under the bright sunshine and warm morning breeze, the snow-white Hualong, like a drifting cloud, sped along the official road. Rows of houses and vermilion buildings lined the road, and a wide, open cobblestone street could be seen in the distance.

Qiu Ye sat upright in the carriage, sword in hand. The wind blew through the transparent yellow curtains, gently brushing against his ink-black hair. Long satin ribbons flowed like waves, and his skin was as cold as ice, both contrasting with the cold indifference on his face. In the soft light, he turned his head to look at Leng Shuangcheng, who was fast asleep.

From the very first day of the journey, no matter how bumpy the road was, Leng Shuangcheng remained firmly pressed against the corner of the carriage, as if he had been nailed to the wall as a decoration, holding his breath and resting with his eyes closed.

At this moment, Leng Shuangcheng remained silent, the morning sun casting its glow on her heroic and aloof face, yet she exuded a peaceful and sweet sleepiness.

Qiu Yeyijian clenched his fist. He suddenly felt an itch in his hand and desperately wanted to slap her against the wall and kill her.

Hua Long Xi Yu Yu reared up and came to a steady stop outside the largest and most magnificent mansion in Qingzhou, the Qingzhou Headquarters. This was the place where Zhao Ying Cheng had invited them to meet, not far from Qinglong Town to the east, and further ahead was the Bixie Manor on the coast of the East China Sea.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Leng Shuangcheng immediately opened her eyes, her gaze bright and clear, sharp and alert, with no trace of the dullness and drowsiness of sleep. Qiu Yeyi smiled coldly and reached out to grab her collar: "Let's see how long you can keep up this act."

Leng Shuangcheng moved with the speed of a shuttle, leaping out of the carriage curtain in a flash. A purple shadow landed in front of the carriage shaft, and he called out in a deep voice, "Young master, please." His movements were as agile and nimble as a leopard. His move, "Swift Returning to the Forest," was clean and neat, causing the people outside the carriage to squint.

Officials and servants prostrated themselves before the gilded vermilion gate to greet the emperor, scattered in twos and threes like scattered flowers. Zhao Yingcheng stood to the side with his three elders, all raising their hands in a salute: "Young Master."

Qiu Yeyi gripped Leng Shuangcheng's wrist tightly, secretly exerting force as he gracefully descended. Leng Shuangcheng frowned, then followed him and the others inside. His gaze swept over Zhao Yingcheng's back, and after considering the current situation, he decided to remain still.

The group filed into the council hall and took their seats. Zhao Yingcheng first dismissed the extra people and then spoke: "Over the past ten days, invitations to heroes from all directions have been sent out. I expect that the experts from all directions will arrive in Qingzhou in the next two days to discuss countermeasures."

Qiu Ye remained seated behind the sword, but then uttered a single word: "Night."

A man in black emerged from behind a tree outside the door and silently entered. His face was shrouded in white smoke, as if veiled in mist, making it impossible to see clearly. An Ye stopped, bowed, and said, "I have been waiting for you, young master, for a long time."

"Repeat the message again," Qiu Yeyi coldly ordered.

The man in black bowed slightly and spoke with his back to the crowd: "It has been confirmed that the Divine Calculator dispatched the Whistle Feather (the Evil-Repelling Intelligence Gathering Organization) overnight. The Lin family has three sons: the eldest sister Lin Qingya, the second son Lin Qingluan, and the third sister Lin Qingyu (the Azure Feather Whip in Chapter 5). Five years ago, the Lin family announced that Lin Qingluan, who had been in seclusion, would emerge from seclusion, and only then did she begin to roam the martial world."

Qiu Yeyi moved her sleeve slightly and waved her sword, while An Ye bowed and retreated.

“Lin Qingluan is not that simple.” Qiu Yeyi glanced coldly at Leng Shuangcheng standing beside her, and said, “Zi Ying saw Lin Qingluan on the day she died and realized that he was the right protector under the young master of the Tantric sect.”

Zhao Yingcheng was deeply shocked and blurted out, "I've heard of the head of the Tantric sect, but how come Lin Qingluan is involved out of nowhere?"

Qiu Yeyi's cold gaze swept over the astonished faces of the crowd as she continued, "The Tantric sect has various tricks. Lin Qingluan has mastered one called 'Human Face Peach Blossom,' which can bewitch the mind of an enemy with a single smile. Presumably, he used his methods to bewitch Tang Wu and kill him. This shows that this person has profound inner strength and is quite cunning..."

Leng Shuangcheng was taken aback, finally realizing that Lin Qingluan's smile that day had actually contained sinister intentions. Fortunately, her inner strength was also considerable, and having grown accustomed to Qiu Yeyijian's seductive smile, she had gradually hardened her resolve. For a moment, she felt a mixture of amusement and disbelief. Thinking back to how she had slapped Lin Qingluan several times on the boat without touching a single strand of his clothing, she couldn't help but agree with Qiu Yeyijian's words. For some reason, even after hearing Lin Qingluan's true identity, she couldn't bring herself to hate him; she only found his self-proclaimed charming manner slightly amusing.

No one knew what Leng Shuangcheng was thinking. They listened quietly to Qiu Yeyijian's conclusion: "After practicing the secret technique for a long time, it will gradually change the practitioner's appearance, but people of the Tantric sect can still sense it at a glance. That's why Ziying was able to determine Lin Qingluan's origin. There's another very important point—" Qiu Yeyijian turned her expression and coldly continued: "Lin Qingluan previously spared no effort in searching for Ziying for Leng Shuangcheng, and later killed Tang Wu. It can be concluded that someone instructed him to do this. The only person who could make him abandon his reputation for loyalty and chivalry is the leader of the Tantric sect."

Everyone was stunned. Zhao Yingcheng quickly realized what was going on and asked, "Young Master, are you saying that the Tantric Sect Master was also at Guiyun Lake that day?"

“The leader is not here. If he were, Ziying would have sensed it. But we can be sure that this person has infiltrated the Central Plains.”

"What is the background of that sect leader?"

"According to Ziying, this person is neither male nor female, mysterious and unpredictable, and has mastered a variety of strange arts. He is proficient in poetry, astronomy, geography, music, and all kinds of martial arts..." Qiuye Yijian's voice was cold and indifferent as he listed the items one by one. He was neither arrogant nor impatient, and no one could tell his true emotions.

Leng Shuangcheng smiled slightly, but Lan Jun blurted out, "Wouldn't that make him a perfect person?"

"There's only one thing: the leader is quite young, no more than sixteen. Ziying originally wanted to take Tongtu to Japan to restore the monarchy, but she didn't expect that the child was already on guard and sent all his assassins to the Central Plains to hunt him down."

Of all the people in the hall, Zhao Yingcheng held the highest status, so he was the one questioning Qiu Yeyijian the whole time. Zhu Lao, Songbai, and Leng Shuangcheng met in pairs, each remaining silent. When Songbai looked at Leng Shuangcheng, he initially had a hint of provocation in his eyes, but after glancing at the young master's cold gaze, he gave a wry smile and made no further move.

"If the news is true, where exactly is this huge number of weapons lying in ambush?" Zhao Yingcheng frowned worriedly, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. "I have ordered the inspection of passing ships, escort agencies, and merchant caravans, but there has been no response so far. In addition, this young master of unknown origin has stirred up a storm in our dynasty, causing great anxiety..."

"No rush." Qiu Yeyi sneered coldly. "I have already sent people to secretly follow Lin Qingluan and dispatched Dark Night to search for any movement of the Secret Sect. Since they have laid such a long line, they will definitely be eager to close the net. Once they make a move, their whereabouts will be exposed."

Zhao Yingcheng took out a panoramic map and spread it on the table. Qiu Yeyijian slowly walked over, and the group gathered around the map to discuss the matter. Leng Shuangcheng glanced at it, not wanting to participate too much in the private conversation, and quietly moved away. The moment she moved, Qiu Yeyijian noticed and coldly asked, "Where are you going?"

"Go out for a moment. Didn't the young master ask me to go find Wu You?"

"Wu You is in Qingzhou?"

"Since Young Master Zhao has spread the word, it's possible that he will come here as well."

Qiu Yeyi lowered her head, no longer looking at her, and said coldly, "You must come back in an hour. If you don't, I will turn the entire Qingzhou upside down."

Leng Shuangcheng gave a slight bow, then turned and left without saying a word.

After looking up at her distant figure, Qiu Yeyi suddenly turned to Lan Jun and said, "Go and bring Du Bing here."

Du Bing was one of the most skilled thieves in the martial arts world, known as one of the "Three Golden Hands" along with Tang Qi and Wu You. Legend had it that this woman was as light as a swallow and cunning as a fox, and few had ever seen her. Lan Jun knew all this, and he was surprised that the young master had specifically instructed him to capture her. "I remember that two years ago, after the young master ordered her to steal the Dragon Pattern Sword, she disappeared without a trace..." he muttered to himself.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at him and said coldly, "The little girl in the yellow dress at the door when I got out of the car just now is her."

Lan Jun suddenly realized what was happening, jumped out of the door, and returned a moment later, saying, "Reporting to the young master, the little girl is nowhere to be seen."