Безымянный убийца

Глава 14

The other three quickly hugged her tightly, and saw that the surrounding scenery had all turned into chaotic colors.

Teng!

They suddenly stopped.

The silver thread in the plum blossom's hand was tied to the tree, and the branches bent into an arch, pulling them back in time.

"Phew..." The group of people were all covered in cold sweat, staring in shock at the constantly bending branch.

Mei Hua was at the top, her arms and palms were all cut by the thread, and very fine bloodstains slowly flowed down her arms; tightly holding her shoulders was Che Shui, whose waist was held by Xuan Sheng in a very ambiguous position, Shuang Jing was sandwiched between the two of them, her eyes wide open, looking left and right, looking at the thread in Mei Hua's hand with some worry.

“Hey… this line of yours… had better be very sturdy…” Che Shui stared at the shimmering silver line, her face pale.

“Just...joking…” Plum Blossom said through gritted teeth, feeling as if her arms were about to be torn off. The weight of the three people kept pulling her down, but she still managed to force a smile: “This is...thread made of scales...just made from scales...ask...Shuangjing, how strong is this…?”

"This..." Shuangjing was about to answer when she heard...

Click!

Everyone was stunned.

Four pairs of eyes looked up at the same time...

...TAT!!

The branch broke.

"Aaaaaaahh ...

Even as she fell, Che Shui didn't forget to cast a resentful glance at Mei Hua.

"Why are you looking at me?! It's not the thread that's broken!!" Plum Blossom roared at him as well.

Xuan Sheng held Shuang Jing in his arms, watching the pine tree in front of him grow farther and farther away. He was thinking about how to protect the woman in his arms from harm when he saw a white cloth fall from the edge of the cliff, quickly wrapping around Mei Hua and Che Shui beside him and pulling them up sharply!

He hurriedly reached out and grabbed the edge of the white cloth, but in his moment of distraction, Shuang Jing, who was originally in his arms, immediately slipped out of his arms.

"Sect Master!!" Xuan Sheng was so shocked that he hurriedly reached out to grab him, but they were already quite a distance apart. Without even thinking, he immediately released the white cloth with his other hand and lunged towards Shuang Jing.

"Xuansheng, Xiaojing!!" Cheshui and Meihua, who had been watching them closely, shouted simultaneously, "Xuansheng! No—"

But the two figures had already fallen into the valley filled with mist and light smoke.

Shadow in the Clouds - Full Moon Over Empty Mountains and Flowers in the Sky 1

He had a dream.

The dream was filled with a riot of colors and images, as chaotic yet incredibly beautiful as flower petals fluttering in the air.

At that time, the tall buildings seemed to touch the scrolls of clouds, the flat forests were shrouded in mist like woven silk, and the lonely river was bathed in the bright moonlight.

He saw a clear song played under the full moon in the tower at midnight.

On the top floor of the towering building, Che Shui, dressed in snow-white robes, stood gazing into the distance. Behind him was a huge, bright full moon, reflecting his spirited profile and eyes. His faint smile was not as slightly sad as it was now, clearly that of a carefree and arrogant young swordsman.

He saw that Luoyang in March was ablaze with flowers.

On the banks of the emerald green river, a girl I had never seen before was slowly rowing her boat. Her smile was pure, her teeth white and her eyes bright. She was wearing a pink gauze dress and humming a soft song. She was passing the lotus pond in her colorful boat when she saw someone on the shore. She laughed and threw down her oars, startling a pair of sleeping mandarin ducks. They skimmed the water with their toes and happily darted towards him.

Finally, under the blazing sun, he saw Shuangjing, dressed in a crimson dress, so dazzling and blindingly bright as blood, rushing towards him with a look of utter terror on her face. For some reason, he wanted to raise his hand and tell her not to come any closer, but no sound came out. The fear in his heart was overwhelming him, but he could neither speak nor move. He could only stare at Shuangjing reaching out her hand to him and cry out:

"Xuansheng——?Xuansheng?!"

When I opened my eyes, I saw a pair of clear eyes filled with a hint of panic. I finally breathed a sigh of relief after seeing that he had opened his eyes.

"Ugh..." He propped himself up, feeling as if his head was about to split open, and waves of soreness came from his limbs. He tried to sit up straight but felt dizzy. Shuang Jing, who was next to him, immediately supported him.

"We...?" After a while, feeling a bit better, Xuan Sheng looked around and then, unable to contain himself any longer, said:

"Sect Master...why am I not wearing any clothes?"

"Ah...hehehehehe..." The woman in front of him laughed shyly, scratching her head and pretending to be stupid. She carefully draped the clothes over him and said with a smile, "Because I need to check your injuries...but don't worry, apart from some minor cuts, everything is fine."

Speechless. Xuan Sheng rubbed his forehead, not having time to worry about his innocence. He looked up and saw that they had landed on a protruding hillside. The ground was covered with moss and grass, and white wildflowers grew everywhere. The sound of flowing water could be heard in the distance. Looking up, he saw a thin spring cascading down the cliff. On the cliff next to him, several ancient pines were stubbornly rooted in the cracks of the mountain wall, their needles and branches lush and green. It was dusk, and the sunset glow in the sky reflected a warm golden light on the misty mountain peaks, creating a colorful and mottled display of gold.

He felt slightly relieved, but when he casually touched his hand, he found that of the two swords he never parted with, only the white Heavenly Sword remained. His pupils constricted involuntarily, and he immediately tried to stand up, but he aggravated his wound and winced in pain.

“Xuansheng…” Shuangjing tugged at his sleeve, pointing to a spot not far away: “Your sword is over there… I can’t draw it…”

Upon hearing this, he turned his head and saw that Night Sword was stuck in the moss-covered mountain wall. He then remembered that when they fell, he had caught Shuang Jing in time, then pulled out his sword and stabbed it into the rock wall, which slowed down their fall. Finally, they rolled on the protruding hillside and fell to this spot.

Relieved, Xuan Sheng sat down again and turned his gaze to Shuang Jing.

She sat quietly beside him, hugging her knees. Sometimes she would turn her bright eyes and look around. There were a few smudges on her face, and green leaves and weeds were stuck haphazardly in her long hair. Her clothes were also torn in places, but she didn't seem to be in any serious condition because he had caught her in time and held her in his arms.

It's alright. It's alright.

“Well… Xuan Sheng…” At this moment, Shuang Jing looked at the ground with his eyes, as if he was deep in thought, and then looked around.

"Hmm?" For some reason, he suddenly reached out and brushed away the twigs and leaves stuck in her hair, looking at her slightly naive and carefree face, and felt a surge of tenderness in his heart. The woman in front of him had mud on her cheeks and hands; it seemed she hadn't even had time to clean herself up before standing by his side to check his injuries. Although her clothes had been stripped off, he still couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.

So he even helped her wipe the stains off her face, not realizing that his gaze had softened as he looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Um... there's no one else here... how about you take your pants off too and let me check?"

"..."

Xuan Sheng's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. He didn't know why he felt such pity and tenderness. Right now, he really wanted to knock Shuang Jing unconscious, who was winking at him and wagging its tail.

"I'll take responsibility for you!" the Seven Stones Sect Master said enticingly.

Who asked you to take responsibility?!

Xuan Sheng opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he was too lazy to argue with her. He rubbed his forehead speechlessly and sat down next to her with a stiff expression, slowly circulating his energy to recover his strength.

Seeing that he refused to take off his clothes, Shuangjing touched her nose and chuckled, then obediently sat down next to him, looking up at the scenery around her.

White mist swirled around, revealing layers of rocky peaks within the sea of clouds. A few rays of sunlight cast golden light, making the stone peaks appear and disappear like light, ethereal boats. All around, only the sounds of flowing springs, the wind rustling through leaves, and the soft chirping of birds and insects drifted in from afar.

Shuangjing looked up at all of this and suddenly felt dazed.

Is it possible that while they are in this deep valley, a blink of an eye is equivalent to ten thousand years in the outside world? Once they leave, everything will have changed, and the two of them will grow old in an instant, having grown old together before their relationship even began?

If such an ending were to occur, she would be willing.

I couldn't help but want to get closer to the people next to me who were so quiet you could barely hear them breathing.

Only then could she tell herself that it was all real. There really was such a young man sitting beside her, just like many years ago, accompanying her as she watched the cicadas chirping in the deep mountains, where all spirits were still, and birdsong echoed through the thousand springs.

"Sect Master..." Xuan Sheng suddenly spoke, raising his eyebrows slightly. "If you come any closer, I'm going to fall off." He pointed to the cliff not far from him and said expressionlessly.

"..." Shuang Jing was speechless.

"Okay, okay," she said, biting her finger with a hint of grievance and resentment. She reluctantly moved to the side and looked at him with a wistful gaze.

Seeing her like an abandoned puppy was truly amusing, and all this was actually because she had fallen into the deep valley while helping him gather the Youying Grass. As Xuan Sheng watched, he couldn't help but feel apologetic. Even though she had insisted on going with him, he still felt sorry for her and was incredibly grateful. So he sighed, shook his head, took off the outer garment he had draped over his chest to block out the light, and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Does the sect leader think we should stay here and wait?" Before she could say anything that would make him want to bang his head against the wall, Xuan Sheng asked first.

"Hmm." Shuangjing nodded. "The paths on this mountain are like a maze. We'd better stay here, otherwise the two groups will just keep searching. That would be troublesome."

“But…” Xuan Sheng couldn’t help but look up at the towering mountain walls on both sides, frowning, “This place is very far from where we fell down… Master and Plum Blossom Girl…”

"A-Che will definitely find me." With a very firm answer, Shuang Jing yawned, completely unconcerned and unconcerned, and then began to rub against him again. But then, remembering something, she sat up straight:

"But you have a point. We can give them some instructions."

After saying that, he looked down and searched for a long time before finally pulling up a clump of grass. He chose a relatively wide and long one, put it to his lips, tuned it a few times, and began to blow it in a melodious and clear tone.

Although the melody wasn't played on any elegant or noble instrument, Xuan Sheng could clearly hear the scenery contained within the somewhat uneven tone.

The sound was ethereal and melodious. Echoing in the deep valley, it made one feel that it was crisp and melodious, and made the breeze, the moon, the flowing water, the mist, and the winding stream all come alive.

The melody rises and falls, like flowing water gently passing through the air, gentle yet majestic, evoking the vast and boundless rivers and seas, the rolling clouds, and the willows swaying in the misty rain. The calm wind and flat sand, the vast clouds and the soaring sky, and the ambition and aspirations of the swans well up from the bottom of one's heart.

Xuan Sheng involuntarily closed his eyes, and suddenly heard another similar melody playing not far away.

“That’s Che Shui…” Shuang Jing smiled as she put down the grass blades. “They probably already know our location.”

“I recognize this tune…” Xuan Sheng listened carefully and said with a slight frown.

Che Shuiying's tune is more gentle and ethereal, not so bold and grand, but more ethereal and melodious, as if describing a secluded path in the deep mountains, ancient trees casting shadows, and birds singing; sometimes lively and vivid, sometimes tender and melodious. If the tune played by Shuang Jing describes the chivalrous spirit of the martial arts world, then this tune tells of the lingering love and hatred.

Xuan Sheng stood there listening, stunned, and after a long while said, "This tune sounds so familiar... I heard it when I was a child in Half Moon City."

Shuangjing glanced at him, but instead of her usual playful and coquettish manner, she replied calmly, "This piece of music is not only familiar to you, but to everyone in the martial arts world."

"?" Xuan Sheng looked at her in confusion, waiting for an explanation.

“Chongchonglou and Qishimen have a deep friendship. This piece was written by my ancestors and my two masters a long time ago. It is played on the qin and flute and consists of two parts: the flute’s ‘Moon Over the Empty Mountains’ and the qin’s ‘Flowers Fill the Sky’.” She said casually while pulling at the weeds on the ground.

"The moon is full over the empty mountains, and flowers fill the sky?" Xuan Sheng was slightly taken aback. He thought the name was quite fitting, but something felt off. Just as he was about to say something, Shuang Jing turned around and stared at him intently.

"Later..." Her eyes were clear as autumn water reflecting the moon, looking at him calmly and serenely, without a trace of emotion, as if she were telling an unrelated story:

“A few years ago, you and I played this piece together at the Jin City Talent Gathering. Since then, this piece has become famous throughout the world, and every wandering person can hum a few verses.” She turned her head again, looked calmly ahead, her eyes unfocused, and said indifferently, “Of course, you don’t remember.”

Xuan Sheng fell silent, suddenly unable to speak.

I've heard Ye Shuangqing angrily rebuke him about his affair with the Seven Stones Sect Master, I've heard Che Shui timidly cover it up, and I've heard Mei Hua mention it casually, but I've never heard a single word from the person involved.

Without a single complaint or lament, this woman simply teased him every day with giggles, pounced on him playfully, harassed him with her hands and feet, and... accompanied him to the ends of the earth.

Over the course of several months, he felt great pity for her. Watching her, with her failing health, accompany him on his arduous journeys, he was always filled with guilt and gratitude. He even had a desire to restore the rosy glow to her cheeks, but he felt no romantic feelings whatsoever.

He is the second young master of Half Moon City, who has retired to the deep mountains, and will never step out of the city again in his life.

She was the renowned leader of the Seven Stones Sect, and even though her glory has been shattered into ashes, she remains the most beautiful legend in the martial arts world.

Aside from this astonishing journey, there has been, and will never be, any other interaction between them.

If they are not destined to stay together, then it is best not to acknowledge each other. Since acknowledging each other is not something they can control, at least they can avoid getting to know each other.

But looking at her calm and composed face, Xuan Sheng suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, as if a needle were gently pricking him, and he felt unbearable pain with just a little breath.

Why?

He clearly knew nothing about her, clearly favored Shao Hua who was waiting at home, clearly, she was so unfamiliar and distant to him, yet she felt so familiar, as if an unknown force within him was making actions towards her that could not be analyzed rationally. For example, the moment he saw her slip out of his arms and fall into the deep valley, the blood in his entire body froze in an instant, and before he could react, he had already dropped the cloth in his hand and fallen off the cliff with her.

“Xuansheng…” Seeing the same bewildered, guilty, and suppressed sadness on his face again, Shuangjing couldn’t help but sigh: “Don’t think about it…” If you are forced to think about it, it’s meaningless.

Besides, what I want is not your memory.

“Shuangjing…” He suddenly leaned down and sat down in front of her, looking into her eyes very seriously and firmly, and asked, “I have a question for you, and you must think about it carefully before you answer it.”