Разные пути ведут к одной и той же цели (жениться на человеке равного социального положения)

Глава 7

I was five years old that year.

Standing frozen amidst the corpses strewn across the field, I was taken in by my future master, Yu Buzhou. I was his second disciple; my senior brother had died ten years earlier in a sword duel. His detached wife later became the head of Yanzhi Pavilion. Since his beloved disciple's death, the old man Yu, whose martial arts ranked among the top three in the martial arts world, had been unwilling to take on any more disciples, and initially had no intention of accepting me, who had inherited my father's talent for martial arts, as his apprentice.

It is said that my mental state was very dangerous when I first started learning, and I begged the elders every day to teach me the art of killing. Of course, my situation improved a lot after I met Li Yiyao. Old Man Yu and Zhou Bapi told me with great disdain that even if I practiced for ten years, I shouldn't expect to wipe out a whole band of bandits by myself.

After forcing me to practice light kung fu for two years, Old Man Yu tossed me a paper packet and told me to sprinkle the poison powder inside into the well in the bandit's den. He said the poison would take effect in three days and kill the bandits instantly. Because the poison would take effect in three days, it wouldn't alert the bandits, allowing us to wipe them all out in one fell swoop. It was convenient, quick, and efficient.

I immediately tucked the paper package into my pocket, then looked up and asked seriously, "Master, we are a reputable sect, aren't we?"

"..."

I vaguely saw my master's lips twitch twice.

I left Luowu Mountain that night.

...

Ten days later, I returned to Luowu Mountain exhausted. Old Man Yu said with great satisfaction, "You traveled for three days and struggled for seven days to become an assassin. Compared to the average child, you are much more resolute and understand that in the martial world, it's either kill or be killed." He never thought that a little girl would dare to stay any longer until the poison took effect.

"Actually, once I arrived there and investigated the situation, I found that there were no innocent prisoners and that there was only one well in the village, so I took action."

"Then how come it took you ten days?" Yu Buzhou asked, slightly surprised.

"After they were poisoned and it was confirmed that no one had escaped, I stared at the corpses for a day, and then spent three days burying them and even erecting a grave."

"Aren't they your mortal enemies, and a bunch of heinous bandits?" I felt this old man, with his ethereal and unfathomable air, was looking at me, this little girl, seriously for the first time: "Why are you building graves for them?"

“My father taught me that every life living in this world has the dignity and right to live, which should not be easily taken away. Although bandits commit many evils, most of them are forced into banditry by the need to make a living. They live a life where their heads are tied to their waists every day, making a living on the edge of a knife. They also have their own untold hardships. This is their choice. As for me, I bear a blood feud that I must avenge, otherwise I will be ashamed before heaven and earth and my deceased relatives. This is my choice. Everyone’s choice is neither right nor wrong. They are all trying to make their lives less difficult. But the people in this world are bound together by grudges and hatred. It is impossible for everyone to get what they want. I used external forces, so I am stronger than them. Therefore, I won. It has nothing to do with who is right or wrong. All people are equal. I have the obligation to erect a monument for them. Then, I will continue to live with dignity.” As I spoke, I lowered my head and rubbed my eyes hard. I tried to steady my voice and continued, “Although I know that what I did was right, I still feel very bad about it.”

Old Yu was stunned for a moment, then hesitated before pulling me into his arms. I cried for two hours straight until I could no longer make a sound and slumped listlessly in his arms.

The old man then slowly began to speak.

It was then that he said, "My eyes are extremely cold, but my heart is warm. I will definitely have a place in the martial arts world in ten years. However, I will also have a very hard time in the martial arts world."

He accepted me as his disciple, saying I was his last disciple.

I was seven years old that year. Because of the saying "Ten years from now, I will definitely have a place in the martial arts world," I was full of expectations for the future and never thought about the second half of my master's words.

...

Let's go back a year to when I was six years old and I stumbled upon a monkey's fate.

It was just the summer solstice; deer antlers were falling off, cicadas were beginning to sing, and pinellia tubers were sprouting. I was doing the training exercises for strength and speed that the sect practiced, which, to put it bluntly, involved carrying two large buckets down the mountain to fetch water.

I was carrying two wooden buckets, each bigger than me, on either side. To keep warm, I had tied my bangs up in a high ponytail, rolled up my trousers, and was wearing waterproof straw sandals. I even had a blade of grass between my teeth and was humming a little tune. So, well, I was exactly the kind of hardworking, enthusiastic, and naturally simple country bumpkin, a man whose charm even surpasses that of a village girl.

The sky above was a clear, bright blue, the forest pristine and fresh, the mountains guarded their entrance like sealed doors, and the wind carried wisps of grass in varying shades and branches of uniform color. In an exceptionally good mood, I turned a corner and spotted a small figure not far away.

The little person also noticed the commotion and quickly turned around.

This is probably the most beautiful child I've ever seen in my life, at the age of six. Her cheeks are like fresh lychees, her nose like goose fat, her little face is rosy, her eyes are so big they almost take up half her face, her long eyelashes are like two little brushes, and there's a small bluish mole at the corner of her left eye.

At that moment, he pursed his lips slightly, his cheeks puffed out, his brows furrowed, and he looked at me with an inscrutable expression.

The tung blossoms on the mountain are in full bloom, one mountain after another, clusters of white flowers like a flowing river. The mountain wind in May blows, swirling up countless petals, the sound of branches intertwining like the flowers' soft calls, the sky filled with a tide of flowers, the whole world covered in a snow-white floral shade.

Amidst the breathtaking scenery, delicate petals fall onto a child's brocade gown embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, making his rosy cheeks appear even more unreal under the clear, honey-like sunlight.

Could it be a celestial child descended to earth...?

That was the only thought that popped into my head when I was young and ignorant.

The other person looked at my appearance as a true countryman and a real mountain man with a scrutinizing gaze, and carefully asked, "...You, you wouldn't happen to be a disciple of Luowu Mountain, would you?" His voice was crisp and clear, and his deliberately mature tone couldn't hide the obvious childishness.

"Yes... who are you?" I answered blankly, still wondering if he was a disciple of the Bodhisattva.

The child's eyes immediately changed from suspicion to disdain. His thick little eyebrows furrowed, and his disdain in his childish voice was very obvious. "My God, the rumors in the martial arts world are indeed unreliable. This so-called fourth sect of the martial arts world is not even as good as a pigsty. I'll ask my dad to take me back later."

I immediately put on a blank expression, spat out the grass in my mouth, and coldly stared at the brat not far away.

The cicadas' chirping, which had been rising and falling in the mountains, seemed to have subsided for a moment, and the tung blossoms covering the mountains trembled in the breeze.

There's a saying in the martial arts world: "You can curse your sect a thousand times, but you won't allow anyone else to curse it even once." Driven by a strong sense of sect honor, I slapped down the wooden bucket twice, rolled up my sleeves, and slowly walked towards that bratty kid.

As I got closer, I realized this little brat seemed taller than me, probably a bit older. But that didn't stop me from dedicating myself to upholding the sect's honor. So I snorted twice, reached out my dirty paws, and hooked Tan Tong's pointed chin, speaking in a madam's tone: "Oh dear, this is a pigsty. Aren't you just a pig that's walked right into the trap?" Looking back, I think I probably just tarnished the sect's reputation even further…

The brat immediately blushed with embarrassment and anger, swatting my hand away. His once smooth face scrunched up in disgust as he said, "You're so young and you don't know any self-respect. How dare you touch me with your filthy hands?" Now he was even cursing me.

I laughed in fury, took a step closer, and smeared the tiny face in front of me. Five black marks immediately appeared on the fair skin. I laughed wildly, "Now you're just as dirty as me. What else is there to say? Oh ho ho ho..."

The brat wiped his face, saw the dust all over his hands, and flew into a rage, yelling "You damned woman!" before tackling me to the ground and, in a completely unmanly manner, raising his little fist at me, a frail girl—

"Aaaaaaahh ...

A piercing scream echoed through the mountains, startling the birds in the forest, which then shot up like arrows towards the sky.

I, the innocent and pitiful victim, struggled to sit up, gloating as I looked at the little devil curled up to the side, clutching his groin in pain. "Haha, now you've witnessed my sect's ultimate technique, the 'Child-Severing Kick,' haven't you? Serves you right for insulting us—"

Before I could finish speaking, the even angrier kid pounced on me, sitting on me and grabbing my neck with both hands! "I'll kill you, you wretched woman!"

I coughed and struggled desperately, but the brat grabbed my hands and feet again. I seized every opportunity to punch and kick him. In the chaos, we rolled around and became two little mud figures before finally tumbling into the bushes...

"You actually grabbed my breast! You lecherous scoundrel, you pervert!"

"I didn't—Aaaaaaah! You country bumpkin, I'll grab your breasts!"

"Fuck you, I'll grab it too!"

"—You, you, you're tearing my clothes! Stop it, you old woman!"

"Hehe, let me touch your tender little flesh~"

"I...I'm going to kill you, you vile woman!!!"

"Oh my god, you little pervert, you tore my bellyband! Help! Help! Waaah—"

"Shut up! Shut up! I'm so angry! I'll teach you to pretend! I'll teach you—why are you pulling my pants? Let go, you slut!!!"

"What? It's not even as big as one of my little fingers and it dares to act arrogantly in front of me? Watch me break it in half!"

"You, you, I'm going to kill you, you flat-chested woman—"

"What did you say!"

"Flat-chested woman! And yours is concave, oh my god—I'll make sure you can never be a woman again, oh my god—"

Nine Cups of Pine Wine

Songlao Wine - Songlao wine is fine, the pool is still, I leisurely stroll along the middle of the stream to visit you. A full cup of golden liquid, a foot of white jade dust in the courtyard. I wish to keep you here for the night, our poetic sentiments and wine will surely bring us closer.

...

That's it, that's how it is...

In a lush, vibrant patch of grass, a lone man and woman, disheveled, their bodies intertwined, their bodies radiant with desire... and then, we were caught in the act of adultery.

"What are you doing?" A cold male voice came from behind.

The kid and I were startled and quickly separated. As I straightened my clothes, I secretly glanced over—wow, what a handsome uncle! The man was tall and handsome, standing with his hands behind his back. His snow-white satin robe was covered with flying golden dragons. His face was tough, his eyes were long and deep, and there was a scar on his right cheekbone, revealing his ruthless nature.

The little kid next to me suddenly called out "Dad..." in an incredulous but weak voice.

I glanced at the arrogant kid with a fearful expression, and an idea came to me. I lowered my head and sneered. When I looked up again, my face was full of grievance, and my eyes were glistening with tears. I ran to the uncle, grabbed his clothes, hugged his legs, and cried, "Uncle, save me! He's a bad person! He bullied me!"

...So, some people's talent can be seen even in childhood...

The man who was being hugged hesitated for a moment, then knelt down and hugged me back, his voice surprisingly gentle, "What happened?"

"I ran into him on my way down the mountain. Who knew that he would start insulting our sect as soon as he opened his mouth? I couldn't stand it and argued back a couple of times. Suddenly he tackled me to the ground, tore my clothes, and pinched me..." He stretched out his forearm to show the bruises on it.

But my uncle didn't say anything more. I secretly looked up and saw that his face was ashen. He looked so scary that I couldn't help but shrink back. But he patted my back reassuringly and picked me up.

Before the uncle could speak, the brat's furious voice rang out: "Dad, don't listen to her nonsense! This witch attacked first!"

"Didn't you tackle me first? And you still say I have a flat chest!" I retorted.

"You—humph, your chest has always been flat!"

Hahaha, how stupid! This is tantamount to admitting it. Now he can't clear his name even if he jumps into the river!

Sure enough, the brat's father's face turned even colder, and he shouted, "Liu Jin, kneel down." So this brat's name was Liu Jin. Humph, what an awful name.

"father--"

Kneel down!

The brat glared at me fiercely, gritted his teeth, and knelt down.

"Kneel until this time tomorrow. You are not allowed to get up, sleep, eat, or drink during this time. If you break the rules, you will have to keep kneeling."

"But, Father—"

"Are you going to kneel for three days?"

The child opened his mouth but then closed it, staring at me with nothing but hatred.

Looking at the kid, I suddenly felt a little sorry for him. How could he, so young, kneel for a whole day and night? But then I remembered that he had called our sect a pigsty and deserved a beating. In the end, I just snorted and didn't say anything.

When the handsome uncle spoke to me, his voice softened again. "Come on, I'll carry you up the mountain. I've already punished this unfilial son. I also have some medicine for treating sprains and bruises, which I'll use on you later."

"Thank you, Uncle~" I replied sweetly, snuggling comfortably in the handsome uncle's arms.

The handsome uncle chuckled softly and asked again, "What's your name?"

"You sell your clothes~"

"Qingguyi...that's a good name."

"And, Uncle..."

"Um."

"What if I'm pregnant...?"

The handsome uncle fell silent.

After a while, I heard his voice: "...No."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Although I was quite fierce at the time, I was actually a little scared... I leaned on my uncle's shoulder and made a face at the little kid who was getting further and further away.

That brat actually gave me the middle finger. Humph, putting on airs like he's something special, but in the end he's just a little hooligan.

I sneered, pointed my little finger at the brat's lower body, then looked away and shrank back into the handsome uncle's clean and warm embrace.