Hong Gu Zi said slowly, "Young lady, you are too self-deprecating. Your maternal grandfather is Mr. Guo Yu Sheng. Even if he doesn't acknowledge your mother, it doesn't mean he doesn't acknowledge you. Lian Fang Cheng may not care about his own family, but he has never allowed outsiders to humiliate his own family. He doesn't know you are his granddaughter now, but once he does, I guarantee he will not stand idly by."
Her thinking is too naive and idealistic... Xiaoman, anyway, will never believe it.
Hong Gu Zi paced around the small space a few times before suddenly sitting down cross-legged. Facing Xiao Man, she said, "Actually, I quite like you, little girl. You're cute, and your personality suits my taste. This isn't difficult; you don't need to worry about anything. Just boldly and loudly tell us what happened. We'll take care of the rest."
Xiao Man looked down at her hands, seemingly deep in thought, but in reality, she dared not look at Hong Gu Zi's terrifying face.
"They'll say we're in cahoots, that I'm a spy you sent. My words alone have no power. Most importantly, Cangya City is biased towards No Return Mountain. If it weren't for them, I..."
Hong Gu Zi blinked: "Your plight is indeed pitiful, but one is often caught up in the ways of the world. You're already here, so you have no choice but to deal with it. Let me tell you, Cangya City wasn't destroyed by Tian Sha Shi Fang at all. Although Tian Sha Shi Fang is powerful, he doesn't have the ability or skill to destroy Cangya City. Besides, only a few of us are interested in these things."
"It wasn't Tian Sha Shi Fang who did it?!" Xiao Man suddenly looked up: "When I went to Mount Bu Gui, I performed a ritual. Images appeared on the water, the scene of your clan's extermination. How can you say it wasn't you who did it?"
"It must have been the work of the Mountain of No Return. There is a drug in the world called Datura, which can cause hallucinations. If used properly, it can make the other person have the hallucinations that you want them to see. You were probably drugged with that drug without your knowledge."
Xiaoman tried hard to recall what had happened. She hadn't eaten anything when she arrived at No Return Mountain; she was immediately taken to bathe and then to the sacrificial ceremony. Bathing—that strangely colored bathwater! Xiaoman shuddered, instantly realizing what had happened. They must have drugged the bathwater!
Hong Gu Zi continued, “Although Tian Sha Shi Fang has committed many evil deeds, it is not up to others to pin the blame on us for things we did not do ourselves. The fact that Bu Gui Shan forced you to find allies to take revenge is too obvious; their intention is to eliminate us so that they can dominate the martial world. The matter of Cangya City is a huge misunderstanding. It is inevitable that we outsiders cannot believe all of this. In the end, the real master will have to tell the truth himself.”
"Misunderstanding?" Xiaoman looked puzzled. "Cangya City isn't any better. Are you sure the young master will speak up for you?"
Hong Gu Zi laughed and said, "She doesn't need to speak up for us. She just needs to tell the truth. Cangya City wasn't wiped out by external forces; they destroyed themselves."
Xiao Man almost jumped up.
"The people of Cangya City are very mysterious. They possess power that ordinary people cannot control, and they can summon divine dragons. However, they have to pay a price for obtaining this power. Every three hundred years, the people of Cangya City will contract a strange disease and die out. Only a few people, including you, can escape and continue to reproduce and restore Cangya City. After another three hundred years, they will die out again. Very few people in the martial arts world know this secret, and most of them are already dead. We only understood this after searching for more than a year."
"Is it a strange disease? Then... wasn't it someone else who wiped out their entire clan?" Xiao Man found it unbelievable that such unpredictable things could exist in the world.
Hong Gu Zi nodded slowly and deliberately: "So, this secret is too illogical. If we tell it, others will only think it's absurd. It needs to be told by the real young mistress herself. Our trip to Mount Bugui this time is not only to get you to tell the truth, but also to get the young mistress to tell the truth. Mount Bugui has already sent out invitations to all the sects in the world, wanting to invite the real young mistress out. I guess they must have used some means to control the young mistress and make her obey them. We can't let them succeed. Fortunately, Young Master Tianquan holds an important position in Mount Bugui, otherwise this matter would really be difficult to handle."
Tianquan? A sudden bad feeling rose in Xiaoman's heart. She shook her head, as if trying to shake something off. After a while, she said, "You mean, Tianquan is from Tiansha Shifang? He's been working as a... spy in Bugui Mountain?"
Hong Gu Zi chuckled, gently touching her smooth face, and said softly, "Yes, he's always been a member of Tian Sha Shi Fang. He's very capable; his position is even higher than mine. Otherwise, how could you have escaped so easily in Dezhou?"
Xiaoman felt herself sinking, and in an instant, everything became clear: why the Boss Tu had died, why he had saved her and taken such good care of her. He had an ulterior motive! He had saved her only for today's events!
Seeing the woman's ever-changing expression, Hong Gu Zi gently smoothed her hair and said softly, "He's a good man. I always thought he was an ice block, that nothing could move him. I never imagined he would rather our plan fail than not protect you. If I hadn't found an excuse to trick him away this time, how could I have picked you up?"
Xiao Man felt her heart pounding wildly. This strange woman was too close, and a sweet fragrance wafted from her collar, making her weak in the knees. She involuntarily tried to push her away, but the woman gently grabbed her wrist. Xiao Man's heart trembled, and she felt the woman pinching her ear and gently kneading it, her warm breath blowing on her face.
"What...what are you doing?" She suddenly realized something was wrong. Was this person really going to skin her alive?! We agreed not to!
Hong Gu Zi kissed her on the cheek and said softly, "What do you think I should do? Who wouldn't like a cute little girl like you?"
Xiao Man was first confused, then horrified, and finally screamed, raising her hand to push her away forcefully, desperately trying to dodge backward. In the struggle, she pressed her hand against Xiao Man's chest—hmm? This feel? She involuntarily squeezed it, it felt like a steamed bun or a dumpling! Hong Gu Zi pinched her chin and chuckled softly, "Where are you touching? You little rascal."
"You are...you are not a woman!" Xiaoman was so frightened that her hair went limp.
The Killing of Crows, Chapter Eight: Unending (Part Two)
Updated: 2008-10-15 0:14:45 Word Count: 4432
Such a diligent fourteenth child deserves a reward!
Second update.
Hong Gu Zi laughed and said, "Did I ever say that I was a woman?"
Xiaoman desperately wanted to faint, but her nerves seemed to have become quite rough recently, and she couldn't faint no matter what she did.
Hong Gu Zi touched her face, wanting to tease her a little more, when suddenly he heard three knocks on the outside of the carriage. He immediately released Xiao Man, got up and opened the carriage door. A man in black stood outside, cupping his hands and saying, "Mr. Yelü has sent a message by carrier pigeon and is waiting thirty miles ahead."
Hong Gu Zi responded and turned to Xiao Man with a slight smile: "He's quick on his feet. Your companions are all here. You'll see them in a little while. Aren't you happy?"
Xiaoman was speechless, only wishing the man would disappear. But he wouldn't leave; he closed the door, sat back down, and started eating the half-eaten pancake she had left, then gulped down water from the water bottle she had used. Xiaoman shrank to one side, terrified, barely daring to breathe.
With her mouth full of biscuits, Hong Gu Zi mumbled, "Oh, don't worry, I'm actually not interested in a young girl like you at all. Only old men like Ze Xiu and Tian Quan would like young girls. Don't worry, I won't touch you."
The carriage was very small, and as he ate and talked, crumbs nearly sprayed onto Xiaoman's face. She covered her face with her sleeve, unable to hold back any longer, and whispered, "Don't talk while you're eating..."
Hong Gu Zi paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded, and indeed said no more.
The carriage traveled for a while longer before suddenly stopping. Hong Gu Zi got up and pushed open the door, letting in a burst of light that made Xiao Man a little uncomfortable. She shielded her head with her sleeve and managed to peer out. She could vaguely make out several figures, one of whom was exceptionally tall and walked toward the carriage, peering into it to look at her.
"We meet again, Xiaoman." The person seemed to be smiling, but their voice was icy cold.
Xiao Man looked closely and saw that the person who came was Yelü Wenjue. She immediately remembered his perverted actions and her whole body went stiff. But then she thought that they would not do anything if they wanted her help now, and she felt relieved.
"Mr. Yelü, hello there." Xiaoman forced a smile and offered a greeting.
Yelü Wenjue's arm was severed, the empty sleeve tucked into his belt. He sneered, clearly harboring murderous intent towards her, and slowly asked, "How's the embroidery on the fan?"
Xiao Man's expression suddenly darkened. She turned her head away.
She thought of Zexiu. He had taken the embroidered fan. At the time, she had been struck by Yelü Wenjue's palm strike. She thought she would die in two months, and then he made a bet with her, saying that wouldn't happen. Later, the palm strike indeed didn't take effect, and he still managed to steal the fan.
The bet was that if she lost, she would embroider a portrait of an unparalleled beauty for him to admire every day. But he didn't want any unparalleled beauty; the portrait he took was actually... of herself.
Xiaoman took a deep breath and whispered, "I gave the fan away because you didn't pay me. If you want me to embroider it again, you'll need a hundred taels of gold."
Yelü Wenjue was furious, wishing he could kill her on the spot. After enduring it for a long time, he could only grit his teeth and turn away. (1 Mobile Site)
Xiao Man slowly got off the carriage and saw that two people, bound hand and foot, were also pushed out of Yelü Wenjue's carriage across the street. It was Lianyi and Yelü, whom she hadn't seen for a long time. She was shocked and hurriedly ran over to hug Lianyi, exclaiming, "How come it's you?! Did he... did that old man torture you?"
Lianyi's eyes were filled with tears, and her lips trembled slightly. She had a lot to say to her, but when she actually saw her, she couldn't say anything. After a long while, she finally called out softly, "Master."
Yelü exclaimed, "Good girl! It's you! Where is my good brother in white?"
Before Xiaoman could speak, Hong Gu Zi laughed and said, "Young Master Tianquan will be gone in a few days. Let's go to Mount Bugui first."
Upon seeing his appearance, Yelü gasped and quickly lowered his head, unable to bear the sight. Xiaoman, noticing his hands were bruised and purple, turned back and exclaimed, "Do you know what this person does? How can you tie him up like this? Untie them quickly!"
Hong Gu Zi said softly, "No, your beautiful little bodyguard is quite skilled in martial arts. It would be troublesome if she caused trouble."
Xiao Man angrily said, "Untie him! He's a prince of the Liao Dynasty! No matter how powerful a person in the martial arts world is, they can't go against the government, can they?! If his subordinates happen to see this, I won't have a peaceful life either!"
"Your Highness?!" Hong Gu Zi and Yelü Wen Jue were both stunned.
Yelü Wenjue walked over and carefully examined Yelü from head to toe. Although the man was handsome and noble, his clothes were tattered. He had a jade pendant around his neck, and upon closer inspection, it was indeed imprinted with royal patterns.
"Are you really a prince?" Yelü Wenjue still couldn't believe it.
Yelü Dan said, "I am Prince Shou'an, Yelü Shulü. Judging from your appearance, you look like a Khitan. Can't you even recognize your own prince?"
Yelü Wenjue was shocked: "You are Yelü! You killed Yelü Cha, the man who ceded land!"
Yelü was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Oh, Tuixian has already killed Yelü Cha! He's quick!"
Before he could finish speaking, Yelü Wenjue had already swiftly untied his ropes, and the group of people knelt down in unison, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Yelü was overjoyed and laughed heartily: "Get up, get up! No need for so much formality, I'm not some emperor..."
Yelü Wenjue said in a low voice, "General Yelü Tuixian, in the name of His Majesty, raised troops and killed Yelü Chage, who was causing a rebellion, and announced to the world that a new emperor had been established. His Majesty is now the new emperor of our Great Liao. We, your subjects, deserve to die for our crimes and have offended His Majesty's body."
Yelü was annoyed by these words and flung his sleeves, saying, "Shut up. I'm not the emperor, so don't say these things again! Quickly, untie the ropes binding Xiao Lian's clothes!"
Immediately, a man in black came up and quickly untied the ropes binding her clothes. She held Xiaoman's hand and was still crying.
Yelü Wenjue continued, "General Tuixian is searching everywhere for... Your Highness, how come you are here..."
"It's better to roam the world than to be trapped in the palace as emperor. Enough talk, where are we going? I'll come along. We have nothing else to do anyway."
Yelü Wenjue wanted to persuade him further, but he was told that the Prince of Shou'an had a strange temper, and a single word might provoke his wrath. That wouldn't be good, so he changed his mind. Seeing the prince's affectionate manner towards Lianyi, he was overjoyed and suddenly had an idea. He smiled ingratiatingly and said, "It is our honor that Your Highness is in such a good mood. The matter is like this..."
He gave a brief account of Xiaoman's situation. He added, "I'm afraid that we're just江湖草莽 (jianghu caoman, meaning outlaws of the martial world), and no one will believe us. This could even damage Xiaoman's reputation. If Your Highness were to act as a guarantor, it would carry much more weight..."
Yelü rummaged in his sleeve for a while before finally pulling out a tattered, flowery handkerchief. He wiped his mouth and laughed, "Alright, it's a good girl's matter. Of course I'll help. Lend me one of your men, and I'll write a letter and send it to Tuixian. Tell him to lead his troops to help me."
Everyone was overjoyed, and Hong Gu Zi hurriedly found paper and pen. Yelü wrote a few words roughly on it. Immediately, someone brought cinnabar, and he took off the jade pendant from his neck, dipped it in the cinnabar, and pressed a mark onto the paper.
"Take it."
Yelü Wenjue immediately ordered a man in black to deliver the message. When he turned back, he was already beaming with joy, eagerly inviting them to the carriage. He dared not show the slightest disrespect. Seeing that Lianyi was about to follow, he grabbed her and said in a deep voice, "You must hold on to this man tightly. He is about to become emperor. It is rare that he has taken a liking to you. Your future rise to prominence is just around the corner. You must not be lazy."
Lianyi pulled away from him, her face pale: "I followed him not because he was the emperor! Your rise to prominence has nothing to do with me!"
Yelü Wenjue wished he could kill her with a single blow, but Yelü kept calling out from inside the carriage, "Little Lianyi! Little Lianyi! Get in quickly!"
He shoved her: "Go now! If you don't obey, I'll chop you to death with one blow sooner or later!"
Lianyi slowly boarded the carriage, and Yelü immediately put his arm around her waist and laughed, "How about it, am I a lucky star? I've turned misfortune into blessing."
Lianyi forced a smile but didn't say anything.
Seeing the two of them being overly affectionate, Xiaoman didn't think much of it at first. Yelü had always been like this, and Lianyi was an easy-going person. So she said, "What are you doing hugging her? Let go! You're about to become the emperor, and you're still so disrespectful."
Yelü chuckled: "What kind of emperor am I? I'd rather be with my little Lianyi."
Xiao Man teased him a few times.
Her face gradually regained its radiance. She gently took his hand and whispered, "Are you serious?"
Yelü laughed and said, "Of course it's true. Doesn't Xiaolianyi believe me?"
Lianyi smiled and shook her head: "No, I believe whatever you say."
Yelü raised his hand and touched her hair, without saying a word.
Xiao Man finally realized something was wrong, jumped up suddenly, pointed at the two of them, and said in a trembling voice, "You... what are you doing..."
Lian Yi said softly, "Master, I am his woman now."
Xiaoman really wanted to faint, and this time she finally got her wish and actually fainted.
Three days after Tianquan left, Qifu caught up with him.
At that time, Tianquan was letting his horses graze by the roadside for a short rest when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Qifu. He was covered in blood, but fortunately it wasn't his own. He ran quickly to Tianquan and knelt down with a thud, panting heavily and unable to speak for a moment.
Tianquan was startled and suspicious. He quickly raised his hand and massaged the man's back for a while, then whispered, "What happened?"
Qi Fu gasped for breath and said haltingly, "Something terrible has happened! The night after the young master left... men in black attacked the manor and kidnapped Miss Xiao Man!"
A diversionary tactic?! Tianquan suddenly turned around and saw the man who had told Zhongjing that Zexiu's subordinate had turned away and was about to run away. A flash of silver light appeared in his sleeve, striking the man squarely in the back. The man screamed and immediately collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.