Безымянный убийца

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"Um?"

"You've left Half-Moon City?"

Xuan Sheng chuckled: "Of course, how could I see you if I didn't leave the city?"

"Ah...that's true." Shao Hua paused, nodded blankly, and then smoothed her long hair. "I...slept for a long time?"

"It's alright. It's not short, but it's not long either." Xuan Sheng looked at her hair lying on the bed and couldn't help but think of the poem, "She didn't comb her hair before, and she stretched it out on her husband's lap." He was going to spend his life with this woman. He unconsciously scooped up a handful and casually asked with a smile, "When did your hair become so curly?"

"Huh?" Still a little dazed from sleep, Shao Hua looked at his downcast eyes, then at her own hair, and unconsciously scratched her cheek, saying blankly, "I've always had curly hair..."

These words struck Xuan Sheng like a heavy blow to the face. He stared blankly at the woman before him, the woman who would watch the years pass by with him, speechless.

"Second Brother?" Shao Hua looked at him in confusion, only to see the expression on the cold, handsome man's face shift from bewilderment to shock, from astonishment to sadness, and suddenly tinged with an indescribable bitterness and pain. Weariness and exhaustion instantly enveloped him. Looking at his slightly drooping eyelashes and eyes, Shao Hua felt, for some reason, that perhaps not waking up wouldn't be a bad thing. She wanted to touch Xuan Sheng, but her hands paused in mid-air. Because then, she saw the look in his eyes.

The look in his eyes was like witnessing the most broken and heartbroken person firsthand; it was calm yet full of restraint.

So she found out.

A chill ran through her heart. She clenched her fists, yet couldn't help but tremble with fear.

She had seen Xuan Sheng like that five years ago.

Before he forgot Ye Shuangjing.

Villages Outside the City: Once You've Seen the Ocean, Other Waters Are Hard to Compare (Part 4)

All the birds have flown away, leaving only a lone cloud drifting leisurely by.

The sky was ablaze with golden, deep purple, and wine-red hues, as drifting clouds slowly passed by, leaving trails of slow, distant colors. Two birds with outstretched wings flew across the sky, drawing an arched line, their long, melodious cries echoing among the clouds, breaking the silence and shattering the stillness.

Murong Jin found Xuan Sheng on the highest mountaintop in the village.

He sat quietly on a protruding rock that seemed poised to fall at any moment, gazing up at the sky. A glimmer of light flashed in his eyes when he saw a circling bird. Before Murong Jin could grasp the meaning of that light, it vanished without a trace. Thus, the Frost Condensation Sect Master knew that Xuan Sheng had heard his movements and had instantly absorbed all the genuine emotions and thoughts that had been faintly floating around him.

He didn't say anything, but silently walked to his side and stood with his hands behind his back.

From afar, the Longjiang River truly resembles an endless, boundless ocean, with countless fallen leaves rustling down and the mighty Yangtze River rolling on. The river, like an endless, shimmering ribbon, forcefully cleaves the majestic mountains in half. Thus, green lawns, willows, and peach blossoms adorn the banks, while stone-brick houses, scattered like stars across the valley, are casually nestled there. Above, the sky is azure and the sea of clouds; to the east, the waves shimmer; and to the west, towering mountains rise. It is no wonder that such beautiful mountains and waters nurtured a woman as delicate and charming as Shao Hua, like the maidens in poems rowing boats on lotus leaves, innocent and pure as a flower waiting to bloom in this village.

It truly is a place far removed from the martial arts world, a place seemingly from another era.

He glanced at Xuan Sheng, who remained silent.

Even though the man was always cold and indifferent, he could still tell that the man staring blankly at the void was the same person as Xuan Sheng, who had come to Ning Shuang Sect for medical treatment a few months ago.

There's an added sense of vicissitude, melancholy, and desolation, as if all persistence and goals have been emptied out, leaving one sitting here blankly and lost, unsure of where one is.

He suddenly remembered Xuan Sheng from five years ago.

For years, the second young master of Half Moon City had been completely forgotten by the martial arts world. The brilliance of Chongchonglou and Qishimen was too dazzling, and the decline and disappearance of Ziweitang was too regrettable and heartbreaking. Everyone just felt that the man from Half Moon City naturally came from somewhere and returned to somewhere else. He was just a passerby in this world. No one remembered that Xuan Sheng, who once carried the Night Sky Sword and calmly determined the decline of the martial arts world, was no less chivalrous and elegant than Che Shui, and his infatuation and persistence were even greater than Shuang Jing.

Even he himself could only vaguely recall how Xuan Sheng, when he first came to Ning Shuang Sect to seek medical treatment for the seriously ill Shuang Jing, faced with his difficult request, had so decisively and swiftly raised his sword to sever his arm, a moment that shocked and moved everyone present.

Five years is too short a time, yet it erases so much of the past in the blink of an eye.

Love lingers, hate lingers; once it's over, there's no going back.

He sighed and spoke first: "Miss Shaohua's condition has stabilized. The Youying Grass truly lives up to its reputation as a century-old elixir; she has almost fully recovered. We will set off back early tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Sheng's eyelashes twitched slightly, but he did not turn around. He remained silent for a moment before asking, "Why not stay a few more days? Because Shao Hua's condition is urgent, the doctors under my tutelage have not been able to rest properly, and we have not been able to properly entertain you to repay your great kindness."

“If it were for the kindness of Half Moon City, I wouldn’t have come. Don’t worry, if there’s anything we can do to help you in the future, Frost Condensation Sect won’t be polite. Besides…” Murong Jin gazed at the horizon and smiled faintly, “I also have patients waiting for me when I get back.” As he said this, he observed Xuan Sheng’s every move and saw his shoulder tremble slightly. Then he gave a signature foxy smile.

A moment of silence.

The wind whistled through the valley, and the setting sun gradually sank, casting shimmering light on the Longjiang River—red, purple, and gold—radiating a gentle halo and rippling waves. The air was filled with the fresh scent of night dew.

For some reason, Xuan Sheng suddenly remembered the night he and Shuang Jing fell off the cliff in Ligu. At that time, the silver moon was like a hook, the night was cool as water, and the weak and sick girl was lying on his back, clearly breaking the tranquility of the night and saying, "You are my Jianghu."

"Xuansheng," Murong Jin spoke up, "why exactly did you return to Half-Moon City?"

He turned his head and saw that the man had shed his usual shrewdness, prestige, and profundity, and was looking at him with a very transparent and serious expression: "Don't say it's for Shao Hua's high-sounding reason. Since leaving Che Shui Shuang Jing and Mei Hua has caused you so much pain, then there must be at least a more powerful reason, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Sheng moved his lips slightly but said nothing, simply turning his head to continue gazing at the scenery ahead. He offered no reply.

Actually, I was shaken. Although I had felt somewhat uneasy and unsettled these past few days, no one had been so direct and incisive as to say, "So you're in so much pain."

After a moment, he said calmly, "Because... there, I didn't know who I was. So, I ran away."

Murong Jin was slightly taken aback, and unconsciously took a deep look at the person next to her.

He never imagined that the word "escape" would come out of Xuan Sheng's mouth so easily, directly, and simply.

"I don't know who to love or hate, who to save or kill. Therefore, I can't do any of the things everyone expects of me," Xuan Sheng said nonchalantly, as if it weren't happening to him. "For example, protecting Shuang Jing, helping Che Shui, guiding Mei Hua—I don't know where to begin with these things." He turned his head, his calm eyes looking directly into Murong Jin. "Those who have expectations of me, those who dislike me, those who... risk their lives for me—I cannot repay them."

Looking at him, Murong Jin suddenly understood.

What kind of place is the martial arts world?

It is a place where people cannot live according to worldly rules and constraints.

There, they lived and died by virtue of justice or evil.

There, they shed tears and blood because of their beliefs and faith.

There, they can live a life of great renown or die a life of earth-shattering devastation, as long as it is for the purpose they firmly believe in.

But if you don't know what you want or what you want to do, or what you love or hate, you can't establish yourself.

Even with unparalleled martial arts skills, it would be of no use.

Having lost his memory, Xuan Sheng is like an eagle with broken wings. For him, the martial world is no longer the martial world, only because the reason is gone and confusion has increased.

but……

Just when Xuan Sheng thought Murong Jin had nothing to refute, he saw him shake his head dismissively.

"But so what?" He regained his usual calm and dignified demeanor, glanced at him, and walked to the edge of the cliff: "You are a friend admired and respected by the Lord of Chongchonglou, a legend of the past and a mystery of today in the eyes of the Lord of Plum Blossom Hall, and a person whom the Lord of Seven Stones Sect would never regret even if he spent his whole life shedding tears. Aren't these identities enough for you to think deeply and plan for the future?"

Seeing Xuan Sheng's startled expression, he couldn't help but smile slightly: "Do you know why so many people look up to the legends of the past and embark on this perilous path of the martial world, fraught with danger?" Seeing his blank expression, he chuckled softly.

Xuan Sheng, oh Xuan Sheng, despite your intelligence, you've lost on such a simple question. Fine, I won't mind offering guidance this time, but from here on out, no one can say it won't be a thorny path.

He patted the second young master of Half Moon City on the shoulder, and in the blink of an eye, his usual refined and elegant image as a divine physician vanished, replaced by a grand and majestic view of the land and sky:

"...Because the martial arts world is a place where you can meet all sorts of people, where strange things can happen, and where there are endless miracles. People who were once unknown may become heroes praised by everyone tomorrow, and even those who were once lost and couldn't find their way are the same."

He stretched and loosened his arms, then turned back with a lazy smile: "If I'm not going to be the former second city lord of Half Moon City who once dominated the martial world, then why not be Xuan Sheng, wandering the world searching for memories?"

After saying that, he leaped high into the air, and the speed and power he generated created a powerful phoenix-like burst of energy.

When Xuan Sheng opened his eyes again, shielded from the dust and sand, he had already leaped off the cliff and drifted away like an elegant wild goose towards the countryside. His robes, billowing in the wind, resembled a full sail, disappearing into the distance.

Xuan Sheng remained seated in the same position as when Murong Jin arrived, and only slowly rose after a long while.

Actually, there was another reason he returned that he didn't tell the sect leader of Ning Shuang Sect.

He is looking for someone.

One who might provide answers to both the past and the future.

The ends of the earth are far away; except for Wushan, there are no clouds.

As spring's verdant shade fades, drifting catkins swirl around the fragrant pavilion.

The courtyard of the Yin family mansion was bustling with activity. Ever since Shao Hua recovered, the noise of the young lady of the Yin family making a ruckus in her attic every day could be heard.

Shaohua was naturally lively, but she was not proficient in any of the traditional arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, let alone needlework. If she could sit still for more than half a cup of tea, Madam Yin would have to pray to Buddha and burn incense to thank the heavens. In addition, she was spoiled by her parents since childhood, and her brothers always tolerated and indulged her, which made her more and more naughty and mischievous. Over the years, she had driven away many lecturers. Seeing that her nature was hard to change, and that people in the martial arts world were not bound by so many etiquette rules, and that she was just a child with a strong playful heart and no evil intentions, Madam Yin let her be.

These past few days, Shao Hua has probably been trying to make up for the time she wasted while bedridden. From the moment she opens her eyes in the morning, she makes sure to exhaust all the servants and herself in the attic before she obediently goes to bed, planning what new adventures she will have to take place tomorrow.

When Mr. and Mrs. Yin saw that she had fully recovered from her serious illness, they were naturally overjoyed and let her do whatever she wanted. In addition, they had important guests at home and were too busy to care about the servants' complaints. As long as their precious daughter was happy, that was all that mattered.

These past few days, with the departure of the Ning Shuang Sect members, there have been endless banquets and parties, with revelry all night long. Murong Jin said that saving lives is a doctor's duty, but she didn't hesitate to take the gifts. The fox's smile was as bright as the sun, making Xuan Sheng's scalp tingle.

After ten days and half a month of commotion, the people of Ning Shuang Sect finally felt that they could no longer postpone the departure date. They thanked the Yin couple for their repeated attempts to persuade them to stay, and Murong Jin finally boarded the ship that had almost sunk due to the abundance of gifts. With a smile on her face, she clasped her hands and waved goodbye. Dressed in flowing white robes, she disappeared into the western end of Jinjiang like a guest from the clouds, leaving the village girls on the shore who had come to say goodbye heartbroken and crying out in despair.

After Murong Jin left, Madam Yin and Madam Ningfeng began preparing for the wedding of both families.

Although Half-Moon City lives in seclusion and doesn't concern itself with worldly affairs, the news of Ye Shuangjing, Du Cheshui, and Xuan Sheng's return to the martial world, the Flying Eagle Fortress's secret assassination attempt, and the Seven Stones Sect Master's angry rebuke of Madam Han and the imprisonment of three of her fingers has already spread like wildfire throughout the city. It's hard not to know about it. Madam Ningfeng and the Yin couple both feel that it's best to finalize the marriage as soon as possible. In addition, Shao Hua has just recovered from a serious illness, and getting married now would be a double blessing, and it would also help to ward off the recent bad luck.

So, the matchmaker meticulously sketched out a picture of mandarin ducks sleeping together, the winemaker brewed an intoxicatingly fine wine, and the maids smiled sweetly, gazing at the bride-to-be in the pavilion. There stood a graceful woman, her beauty radiant by the window. Her delicate makeup, slender hands, peach-like face, and intoxicating eyes outshone all the vibrant flowers in the courtyard.

In the blink of an eye, it is already late summer and early autumn. In the sky filled with the glow of sunset, you can already see the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, who are about to meet across the Milky Way.

Today, the wind is gentle and the clouds are warm, autumn is halfway through, and the sunlight flows like a waterfall between the valleys. The countryside lies at the foot of the mountains, embraced by soft grasslands and rivers. If you listen carefully, you can hear crisp and joyful sounds echoing all around, the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers.

The Yin family was the largest household in the village, so their daughter's marriage was naturally a cause for celebration throughout the village.

The road was filled with the fragrance of fine carriages and fine horses. Tables of food and drink were set up from the main hall to the entrance. People came in an endless stream to offer their congratulations. The crowd was bustling and lively. Maids and servants were busy greeting guests. Children were playing and laughing everywhere. Acquaintances were exchanging greetings and toasting each other. Gifts were piled up everywhere. The air was filled with the aroma of wine and the atmosphere was intoxicating. It was a truly lively and festive occasion.

In the courtyard near Shao Hua's attic, the same lively scene unfolded. Xuan Sheng stood at the window of his room, watching his fiancée, who was jumping and hopping around, the one who would become the person he would spend his life with today.

All the servants and attendants lined up and ran after the bride-to-be, who was halfway through putting on her wedding dress and combing her hair. But how could they keep up with the speed of Shao Hua, who had been practicing martial arts since childhood? So, some maids and old women, carrying the wedding gown, some with hands full of jewels, and some carrying delicate and light shoes, all ran after her with pale faces, calling out, "Miss! Come back! Miss!"

Shao Hua was smiling, her wide, crimson robe fluttering in the wind like a rose in full bloom. She stretched out her hands, her fair skin like a lotus emerging from the water, radiating a crystal-clear, dewy beauty. Her half-combed long hair fell loosely, half languidly and half casually. She ran up and down from the room to the small bridge, then leaped from the bridge to the rockery, and finally swept towards the tree branches. Her red wedding dress fell down, like a bunch of fallen flowers at the end of spring.

She half-jumped up to the top of the tree, stretched out her hands, and finally grabbed what she was chasing.

She clasped her hands together and slowly opened them, revealing a tiny, pale yellow bird. Startled, it flapped its wings frantically and cried out in bewilderment. Shao Hua smiled gently, then sat cross-legged on a branch, ignoring the dirt, leaves, and dust stained by her expensive and exquisite wedding dress. She first gently stroked the bird to calm it down, then carefully untied the thin silver chain binding its leg with her fingers, whispering to it, "Oh, I just released you, and you're already in such a hurry to fly away. You haven't even removed the chain from your leg yet. Won't your leg be ruined when you grow up?" Seeing that the silver chain was untied, her eyes lit up with joy, and she cheerfully launched it into the air: "Fly! Don't let your second brother catch you to please me anymore! Stay far away from him when you see him!" She shouted loudly to it from the tree, waving goodbye.

The maid and old woman below the tree were terrified. Seeing that she was about to fall from the tree, they cried out in alarm, "Miss! Come down quickly! You still need to get dressed and comb your hair, Miss!"

"Hey, what's the rush?!" Shao Hua was very impatient with their yelling. She stomped her foot, and leaves and flowers fell from the tree, covering the people below. "It's still early! I, the bride, will be the last to appear! We can just make them wait a little longer!"

He spoke with such confidence that Xuan Sheng couldn't help but laugh at Shao Hua's posture—hands on her hips, eyebrows raised, and lips pouting—and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up slightly.

I haven't seen her smile at all these past few days.

Since recovering from his serious illness, the girl who used to follow him around, tugging at his clothes and asking for candy, toys, and all sorts of interesting things suddenly became very respectful to him. The girl, who had never been respectful or ladylike, was now very polite and courteous when she met him, which surprised him.

Perhaps it's what women call the changes before marriage?

Xuan Sheng didn't understand women at all, but if it were Ye Shuangjing, he could almost see her roguish smile and her upturned eyes, saying something like, "Marriage is too troublesome, let's just go straight to the bridal chamber, Xuan Sheng?" Hmm?

The thought of smiling made my heart sink to an unfathomable depth.

This person is none other than himself.

Leaving behind a soft sigh, Xuan Sheng turned and went back to his room, completely unaware of the glance Shao Hua cast in his direction. Then, he lowered his head.