Звезда желаний всех небес и бесчисленных царств

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(I) Peach Blossom Chaos

1

When Cuiyi and I returned from the mountain, it was already late. The entire Liu family compound was filled with lanterns, and we could vaguely hear the steward, Uncle Xiang, calling out to the farmhands.

"Miss, the madam told me the other day, 'Cuiyi, if you come home late again, I'll break your legs.'" Cuiyi pitifully tugged at my sleeve. "How about we don't go out tomorrow?"

I flicked her forehead and teased her, "You silly girl, everyone in the Liu family knows how much my mother dotes on you, yet you've been acting all cute and obedient in front of my mother since you've married me."

"But Miss..."

I smiled and interrupted her: "How could I not know your feelings? I must go up the mountain tomorrow. Master is probably in big trouble this time. How can I abandon him?"

Cuiyi stomped her foot angrily: "Miss, if anything happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to Madam?"

"I, Liu Ruyan, am blessed with good fortune and a long life; even the King of Hell fears me." I pulled Cuiyi to the backyard. The courtyard wall was three zhang high, and before Cuiyi could even scream, I had already pressed her Yingxiang acupoint and leaped up. To avoid my mother's nagging, the only way was to climb over the wall.

Before I could even feel smug, a hoarse voice suddenly coughed in the darkness.

I lowered my head helplessly: "Uncle Xiang."

"Third Miss, Master and Madam are already waiting for you in the flower hall for your meal. I told Madam that Third Miss has been back for quite some time and is studying in the study."

I clapped my hands with delight: "Uncle Xiang is still the best to treat Ruyan."

My parents and second sister were all in the flower hall. The food was still warm. When they saw me arrive, my mother scolded me, "Ruyan, you are no longer a child and you are still so stubborn. You even conspired with Uncle Xiang to talk about studying. Let's see how you will bring shame to my Liu family after you marry into the Dugu family."

"Mother, why not let my second sister marry Dugu Leng, and I can wander the world and find some peace and quiet?"

"You ignorant child, it's an unchangeable fact that Ru Bi is already engaged and Shen Ruosu, known in the martial arts world as the One-Armed Young Master, has already given betrothal gifts. Just give up on that idea."

I lost my temper. My eldest sister, Liu Rushui, was strong-willed and married a proud and wealthy merchant, while my second sister, Liu Rubi, was well-educated, gentle, and virtuous, yet she married a man who walked on the edge of a dangerous world. As for me, Liu Ruyan, I am to marry into an official family and be bound by etiquette for the rest of my life.

"Mother, aren't you afraid that you've chosen such an outrageous son-in-law for us sisters to marry the wrong man?"

The second sister lowered her head, covered her mouth with her fan, and chuckled softly: "Ruyan, don't blame our parents for their arrangements. The eldest sister is strong and impulsive. She married Cui Li and not only will she have no worries about food and clothing, but she will also not suffer any grievances. As for me, I am powerless. If I were to marry into an official family, I would inevitably be bullied. You are different. You are both learned and skilled in martial arts. Even the ghosts of those big families would avoid you."

Father stroked his beard and smiled: "Ruyan, do you understand now?"

I stuck out my tongue: "Yes, yes, you're right. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making this possible."

2

The next day, it was still early, and the farmhands and maids were just beginning to busy themselves with the day's tasks. I secretly left a note in the study and slipped out the back door when no one was looking.

My master was waiting for me at the foot of the mountain. He had specially put on a kasaya, sat cross-legged, and devoutly twirled his prayer beads.

"Master, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

“Ruyan, it’s because Master’s mind is in turmoil and he can’t sleep, so he came down the mountain early.” Master sighed and stood up: “We need to get to the Dragon and Phoenix Inn before dark.”

The sun was already high in the sky. The road was rugged at first, winding through vast fields, and before us stretched an endless forest. My heart was filled with curiosity. Yesterday, my master only told me that if things didn't have a satisfactory answer, the martial arts world would likely face a catastrophe. But my master has always been very indulgent towards me; why was he taking me this time?

Master probably sensed that I was hesitant to speak, and said, "Ruyan, please speak freely."

Why won't Master tell Ruyan what happened?

The master sighed: "It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just that I don't know how to bring it up. This happened more than 30 years ago. Back then, I was young and impetuous, and I caused quite a bit of trouble."

"Trouble? Didn't Master become a monk at a young age?"

"No, it was a regrettable incident thirty years ago that made Master see through the vanity of the world. In the blink of an eye, he has been out of the martial world for more than thirty years. Everything has changed. The old story should have a satisfactory answer."

"Master, please tell me quickly, Ruyan is getting impatient."

Master chuckled: "Don't rush, let me explain slowly..."

Thirty years ago, the Persian Kingdom in the Western Regions presented a peerless ancient zither as tribute to the imperial court. Legend has it that the zither's owner was a reclusive master who, by chance, discovered this zither, which had been buried for a thousand years, in a mountain cave. The zither was named "Chaos," and a musical score was found in the cave, noting that the discovery of this zither would inevitably lead to great chaos in the world; hence the name "Chaos." The master felt that apart from the superior wood, craftsmanship, and pitch, the zither possessed no other remarkable qualities.

He took the zither down the mountain and learned to play the piece "Peach Blossom Chaos" from the sheet music.

Finally, during one of his piano performances, he became so engrossed in playing that he was shocked to discover that the murderous intent in his heart flowed into the ears of the listeners along with the music. Those who heard the music became disoriented and terrified. Some went insane, while others vomited blood and died. Their hearts and lungs were shattered, as if they had been shaken by a powerful internal force.

That ancient zither, known as "The Chaotic Era," became famous.

More and more people came to try out the instrument, all wanting to test its power or even possess it.

However, all those who had seen that master were already dead.

No one goes up the mountain to ask for a zither anymore.

Even when the master was very old, before he died, he carefully instructed his disciple that he must never play "Peach Blossom Chaos" on this zither when he had greed or murderous intent in his heart. After his master died, the disciple was extremely sad. He thought that his master had loved this zither and this piece so much when he was alive, so every year on the anniversary of his master's death, he would bring the zither to his master's grave and play "Peach Blossom Chaos".

It was a coincidence that the Emperor of Persia and his ministers went for a spring outing in the mountains. They happened to hear ethereal music, and were instantly overcome with sorrow, weeping uncontrollably. Following the music, the group arrived at the grave of a recluse and found a young man playing the zither, his face streaked with tears. Upon learning it was the Emperor, the young man quickly apologized. The Emperor, captivated by the zither, was generously gifted it to the young man, and thus began the story.

News of the imperial court obtaining the ancient zither quickly spread throughout the martial arts world. Countless people had the idea of stealing the zither, and the martial arts world was in an uproar. Among them, the most powerful group was: "Poisonless Young Master" Shen Tianqi, "Shadowless Venerable" Tian Canghai, "Miraculous Hand" Li Wuxin, "Ghost-Seeing Float" Wuwang, and "Moon-Running Fairy" Shangguan Qing'er.

These five men are all renowned figures in the martial arts world, and they came together because of their mutual admiration. Shen Tianqi comes from the Tang Clan and is skilled in using poison; the saying "no poison, no man" is actually "no poison, no hero." Tian Canghai's hidden weapon, the Shadowless Needle, is famous throughout the martial arts world, and Li Wuxin has superb thieving skills. Wuwang's swordsmanship is unique, and the Moon Goddess lives up to her name, possessing unparalleled lightness skills and an exquisite appearance, truly resembling the Moon Goddess Chang'e from the Moon Palace.

Their theft of the guqin from the palace proceeded extremely smoothly.

Because their plan was so meticulous, they left almost no trace. However, they forgot one thing: the question of the guqin's ownership. In a chaotic world, there can only be one owner. Moreover, the guqin's emergence from seclusion would inevitably plunge the world into chaos.

None of them had considered these things.

However, just days after stealing back the Ancient Qin of Chaos, the Moon Fairy jumped off a cliff and was never seen again; the Ancient Qin vanished without a trace; the four friends turned against each other, none of them knowing who had taken it. They suspected each other. After Shangguan Qing'er's death, Tian Canghai withdrew from the martial world, disappearing without a trace. No one knew he had become a monk. He had seen through the illusions of the world. Life is like smoke, and even the most beautiful woman fades into nothingness. His unrequited love for Shangguan Qing'er became a thing of the past, best left unmentioned.

However, thirty years have passed, and the ancient zither of that chaotic era seems to have truly disappeared.

However, Tian Canghai knew that this knot in his heart that had been there for thirty years would eventually be untied.

3

Dragon and Phoenix Inn.

The inn is very secluded, deep in a bamboo forest. After the lush greenery flashes by, there is a vast sea of pink peach blossoms, and the rich fragrance of the flowers makes one wonder if they have entered a paradise.

But behind this beautiful peach blossom lies a deadly danger.

The inn's signboard was quite old and looked quite worn. My master told me that they had stayed at this inn after stealing the ancient zither from the chaotic world. Seeing us emerge from the peach blossoms, the innkeeper hurried over with a smile, "Oh, gentlemen, please come in. Are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

I said, "I'd like to stay at an inn, two of the best rooms."

As I entered, I glanced around. The most striking figure was a handsome young man in white. Hearing footsteps, he turned and saw me, his eyes suddenly filled with the admiration usually reserved for women. I turned back; the shop was indeed quite deserted. A waiter brought over a pot of tea and, trying to be friendly, said, "This master looks very kind. Have you ever visited our inn before?"

Master smiled slightly as he recalled those days: "When I came to the inn to stay, the waiter wasn't even born yet."

"What a coincidence today! More than one person has said this to me. The guests in rooms 3 and 6 upstairs have also said the same thing. If you didn't know better, you would think you had arranged to revisit this place."

The waiter spoke without thinking, but the master shook his head after hearing it: "Ruyan, let's go back to our room. We'll trouble you to bring some vegetarian food to my room, brother."

As I went upstairs, the young man in white smiled at me, then turned back to continue drinking. What a frivolous oddball.

Not long after I entered the room, I heard a commotion downstairs. I peeked out the window and saw a pretty young woman yelling at the waiter: "Hey, my mother has to stay in the top-class room! Do you think I'm new to this business? How could such a quiet and secluded inn be full? Are you afraid we can't afford it?"

The woman beside her, around fifty years old, occasionally revealed a hint of her youthful beauty in her wrinkled and graying face. She smiled and scolded her unruly daughter, "Qing'er, don't be rude. Your father told you before you came that everyone here today is an elder, so you should tone down your temper."

Qing'er obediently said, "Yes, Mother, then we'll stay in room B."

The waiter wiped the sweat from his brow and was about to make arrangements when he heard a loud voice coming from room number 6: "If we let the ladies stay in room number 6, what will become of my reputation, Shen Tianqi? Let Madam Li stay in Ruosu's room."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than another aged voice came from room number 3: "You old poisoner, you're so old and still so concerned about saving face. I should have just killed you with one sword back then, so I could have some peace and quiet. Why don't you give up my apprentice's room, so that old scoundrel won't be cursing me at home for not taking care of his wife and daughters?"

Madam Li smiled and said, "Thank you both for your kindness. I thank you on behalf of my husband. However, it has been many years since then. My husband became paralyzed and bedridden a few years ago, and he no longer cares about matters of the martial world. I will fulfill your request in the secret letter."

A hearty laugh came from room number 3: "That old scoundrel actually married such a capable and virtuous wife."

Li Qing'er was displeased: "Uncle, since you and my father are old friends, why did you call him an old scoundrel?"

"That old scoundrel is a real scoundrel. How much of his 'Hidden Hand' skill have you learned, kid?"

Just as Li Qing'er was about to lose her temper, Madam Li stopped her, saying, "It's getting late. I'll go and rest with Qing'er first. We can talk about it tomorrow."

4

Only then did I realize that my brother-in-law, Shen Ruosu, whom I had never met, was the father of the "Poison-Free Gentleman" Shen Tianqi from back then. This was something I had never expected.

As night fell, my master instructed me to rest early, and then said, "Ruyan, be alert at night and don't wander around. If any of them wants to kill you, although it won't be something that can be done in a single move, it won't be difficult either. Besides, one of the three of them definitely has that ancient zither from the Chaotic Era. That zither hasn't appeared in the martial world for thirty years; who knows what kind of calamity it will bring if it does."

It's not that I don't take my master's words to heart, but I have many questions in my heart that I can't answer. Besides, sleeping soundly could put me at risk of being ambushed, so I might as well go out and investigate.

Shen Ruosu's room is number 2, building B downstairs.

I tiptoed out the door, and to avoid waking anyone, I did a handstand and flipped down from the second floor. Shen Ruosu's room was dark, and I listened carefully but couldn't hear any breathing. Could it be that he wasn't in his room?

Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared before my eyes, and a knife was already at my neck.

"Who are you? What are you up to, sneaking around so late?"

I looked back and it should be Shen Ruosu. He was not much different from the description my second sister had given him. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and was majestic and upright. Most importantly, he had a heroic air about him and did not seem like a bloodthirsty person.

Shen Ruosu was stunned for a moment upon seeing my face. I secretly felt smug. Although my second sister's gentle beauty and my otherworldly beauty had different temperaments, upon closer inspection, our features were exactly the same. I smiled slightly, and Shen Ruosu suddenly lowered the knife and asked, "Tell me, what is your relationship with Shangguan Qing'er?"

Shangguan Qing'er? I only heard my master say she was an extremely beautiful woman, but I really knew nothing else about her. Since Shen Ruosu didn't recognize me, I decided to tease her a little.

"Can't you see it?"

"Ah? Could it be that you really are her daughter? The Moon Fairy didn't die when she jumped off the cliff? So you are her and Tian Canghai's daughter? And the Chaotic Era Ancient Zither was also stolen by you in collusion?"

He lowered his knife further, and a shallow cut appeared on my neck. The blood tasted sweet, and I suddenly realized what my master had said. This was indeed a very dangerous thing; even a joke could lead to death without me even realizing it. But judging from his tone, there seemed to be more to the story. "Are you really her daughter?" This meant that someone had given him a preconceived notion that I was Shangguan Qing'er's daughter.

Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, I swiftly kicked him in the stomach. As he bent over in pain, I leaped onto his shoulder. Back in my room, I tended to my wound in front of the bronze mirror. The faint red line was shocking to behold. I sighed in frustration; I knew I was in for a scolding from my master tomorrow.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither drifted from somewhere.

The zither music was dull, dry, and expressionless, yet it made my heart race. Was this the piece "Peach Blossom Chaos" from that ancient zither from a chaotic era?

5

The next day, when my master saw the wound on my neck, he didn't say much, but just sighed: "The chaotic world has been hidden for thirty years, and it is finally going to be exposed to the world."

"Did Master hear the music from last night?"

“That’s right. The person playing the zither must not have any murderous intent in their mind, otherwise, we probably wouldn’t be able to stand here and talk properly.”

"Master, after you left the martial world, did you keep in touch with anyone else?"

"They've all turned against each other."

"Who sent that secret letter?"