Безымянный убийца

Глава 35

"Who cares what her name is?" Jing Shan snorted, turning her head away with a sarcastic tone. "She wants to ask you: 'If your mind is made up, can you face anything?'"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Sheng felt a chill run down his spine and nodded firmly: "Yes."

"Think carefully before you answer!" Jing Shan shouted. "This isn't just about your personal grudges; the entire martial arts world might be dragged into it!"

“I don’t care in any way.” Xuan Sheng paused for a moment, then looked up and answered calmly, “Whether it’s the Jianghu, Half Moon City, or Seven Stones Sect, their past entanglements are completely unimportant to me. Right now, I just want to rescue Shuang Jing. If saving her requires me to face and deny everything I know, then bring it on.”

He said this just as the sun was setting.

The last rays of daylight shone on the horizon, seemingly casting their glow upon him. The figure, his robes billowing, appeared as if about to ride the clouds and soar through mountains and rivers towards Shuangjing's location. It was the last glimmer of light before darkness, and also the moment furthest from dawn.

“Alright.” Jing Shan nodded and smiled gently. “If that’s the case, I’ll tell you. I think you know that Mei Hua and Che Shui know where the treasure is hidden, and that’s exactly where we’re going.” Seeing him nod, she couldn’t help but raise the corners of her mouth. “But what you don’t know is that what’s actually hidden down there is the ruins of Qianxia Tower.”

"Also, Xuan Sheng... your father is in that place."

On the way home, even if we meet again, we might not recognize each other.

The evening clouds have dispersed, revealing a clear, cool sky; the Milky Way is silent as the moon turns like a jade disc.

Shuangjing peered through the cracks in the stone wall at the slivers of moonlight streaming in. The flickering flames illuminated the vines and weeds on the wall, and the shadows cast on the ground resembled menacing beasts, their shapes shifting with the firelight.

The night was enchanting, and the moon hung over my heart like a hook, not fatal, but causing a slight, aching pain.

She was draped in a thick white fox fur coat, her whole body huddled in a ball of snow-white fur, which made her face appear even more delicate and slender.

The treatment here was quite good; the people of Flying Eagle Fortress didn't make things difficult for her. Perhaps it was because Xi Yun had given a serious order to treat her with the utmost respect. Those around her were also particularly mindful of her health, showing her extra care throughout the journey and presenting her with almost every good thing imaginable. Even in the ruins of Thousand Heroes Tower, where she lived, the place was almost completely unventilated. Deep in the cave, it was still warm and cozy. The servants assigned to her had somehow found animal hide cushions and piled them all in her room, lit a fire, and added sandalwood, making her comfortable and leisurely.

Indeed, no one wants her to die halfway through.

If that's the case, Flying Eagle Fortress will not only face the wrath of Chongchonglou and Ningshuangmen, but they will also absolutely not be able to get what they want.

When she was captured by the Seven Stones Sect, she was not surprised, but a little curious. In just a few months, just how strong had Flying Eagle Fortress become that it could so boldly and arrogantly capture people under the noses of representatives of various martial arts factions?

She arrived here blindfolded, but even so, she could sense that they had left the sunlight and passed through long passages and winding mountain paths, entering a damp and cold place. Everywhere was filled with the sound of wind and the smell of rocks and weeds, and even some exotic flowers and plants were growing wildly. Besides the wind, there was the babbling of a stream, the dripping of water onto stones, the sound of fish leaping from the lake, and the echoes of voices everywhere. Footsteps stretched out in the air, resounding far and wide.

Shuangjing was politely invited into the room that had already been prepared. Apart from having three meals brought to her on time every day and a doctor who looked like he was about to die coming to see her on time every day, she basically had no contact with anyone else. She thought Xiyun was also in this place, but apart from Madam Han and a group of people coming to the door and staring at her fiercely, she didn't see anyone else.

That's fine too.

In this way, she can eat and sleep all day without having to think about anything, openly slacking off and ignoring worldly affairs.

Sometimes, when she was half asleep and opened her eyes to see a few rays of sunlight and halos falling on her eyelashes through the gaps, she always felt like she was dreaming. In her dream, there were layers of thick fog and misty rain, a thin coolness like a water-based garment draped over her body, seeping deep into her skin, impossible to remove. In the hazy mist, she could vaguely see a tall, upright figure, who refused to turn around no matter how much she screamed and cried.

Life's affairs flow like water, a fleeting dream in the end. The road to intoxication is safe and worth visiting often; all other paths are unbearable.

She was truly exhausted this time.

If they had any remaining strength, it was all spent on dealing with Flying Eagle Fortress, and it was slowly being depleted.

Her forehead touched her knees, and she closed her eyes, breathing heavily.

She's been getting tired more and more easily lately. Is she about to die?

If I die, I can see Tiansha again. I can leave all the things that have exhausted her behind. Then, won't I no longer be sad?

It really hurt. Every inch of her body was calling out a name she didn't want to, and couldn't bear to, utter again.

I will never reveal that person's name, because if I do, all I will hear is the utter silence around me and a chilling loneliness.

There will never again be a helpless response to her, tinged with almost invisible pity and tenderness; there will never again be someone rushing to her side without hesitation to protect her in times of crisis; there will never again be someone in a refreshing turquoise robe appearing before her, reaching out their hand, standing behind her and gazing at her when she is sad, carrying her on their back when she is tired, and smiling at her when she is happy.

In truth, Xuan Sheng had long since disappeared. She had been deceiving herself and others, and she deserved it. Because she had hope, because she wanted to fight for the impossible, because she selfishly hoped he would stay by her side, because she imposed her feelings on him, she deserved it. She deserved that her joyful heart was shattered, she deserved to be alone in this situation, and she deserved to be here with heartbreaking regret.

She wrapped herself even tighter in the fur, buried her forehead in her knees, and no cold liquid flowed down her cheeks.

She had used up all her tears months ago, and it seemed as if her blood had flowed out with those tears.

Without blood flowing, the body is always cold, like standing in a space without heaven and earth, empty and without feeling.

Suddenly, she jolted awake, looked up and turned around, only to see a white-haired woman who had been guarding the pear tree sitting quietly at the table, watching her.

"You're here?" Shuangjing wasn't surprised, but breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Could you make some noise next time? You scared me to death."

The woman remained silent, simply gazing at her with the same calm and emptiness as before. Shuang Jing pursed her lips, slowly crawling up to her in her fur coat and sitting cross-legged. She tilted her head, scrutinizing her for a moment before asking, "Are you... from the Thousand Heroes Pavilion?"

But the other person retorted, "Who are you?"

Shuangjing smiled slightly: "I am Ye Shuangjing, the sect leader of the Seven Stones Sect. I pay my respects to you, senior." After speaking, she gently pressed her right hand to her left shoulder, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head slightly in a deep salute.

The man's eyelashes trembled slightly, and after a long pause, he asked, "Who are you?"

Shuang Jing remained silent, looked at her for a moment, and then smiled and replied, "Do you really want me to answer?"

After speaking, the two fell silent, sitting face to face and looking at each other. The footsteps of patrolling disciples could be heard outside the door, and water was dripping somewhere in the distance. The ethereal sound came through the rocks, carrying the scent of damp wind and grass.

"If you knew who you were, perhaps there would still be a way out." Finally, the white-haired woman spoke slowly. She paused. "Do you know who you are?"

“I…” Shuangjing smiled mysteriously, looking up at her: “I am Ye Shuangjing, the sect leader of the Seven Stones Sect, and also the thirty-fourth direct disciple of Ye Zhi, the left wing of the four guardians of Wanying Fortress.” She interrupted her calmly: “The Seven Stones Sect was founded by Wanying Fortress, right?”

"You know?" The white-haired woman looked at her indifferently.

"Hmm." Shuangjing nodded, then slowly hugged her knees, curling up into a ball. "Ever since I saw you in the valley last time, I've been wondering why that poem was inscribed in the Seven Stones Sect Master's room. There's no record of it in the books at Jianrou Manor, so I went to the Seven Stones Sect to look for it. Sure enough... I found quite a few clues, and they were all left in places that were hard to find." Tiny writing on the floor, wooden beams on the eaves, and several precious weapons left by their ancestors—all bore clues.

"It was hard to connect these things at first, but I only remembered it when Mei Hua mentioned it casually one day," she said with a smile.

"—Wan Ying Fortress?" Plum Blossom turned to look at her in confusion. They were preparing for the Seven Stones Sect's 'Testing Ceremony,' and Plum Blossom, the sect leader, was busy with her own business plans. Hearing her words, she frowned slightly, stood up, and walked past her, carrying a large stack of scrolls: "—Why did you suddenly decide to want to know these things? And…" She suddenly turned around, approached Shuang Jing, and raised an eyebrow: "—Getting information from me costs money, Sect Leader Ye."

"Okay." Shuangjing nodded with a smile, then pulled out an abacus from somewhere: "Then let's calculate. These past few days you ate two plates of stir-fried vegetables with shredded pork, four bowls of soup, and two skewers of cured mutton at Qishimen... and then we'll calculate the accommodation costs..."

Meihua rushed over, hooking her arm around Shuangjing's neck, and said with a fake smile, "Oh dear, why are you calculating so much between yourselves? Alright, alright, what do you want to know? Scandalous gossip? Top-secret files? Martial arts feuds? About whom? The fortress lord or one of his disciples? Perhaps the Four Guardians?"

—The Four Guardians?—

"Hmm." Plum Blossom replied casually, writing down the prices and discounts for Plum Blossom Hall as she spoke: "Back then, Wan Ying Fortress was very powerful, with three branch fortresses, each guarded by a top disciple. They would gather at the main fortress every five years. The head of the four guards was named 'Takiya,' whose martial arts were second only to the fortress lord, and he was responsible for protecting the fortress lord and his family. Rumor has it that the last one, Takiya, was also the fortress lord's maid or concubine at the time; in any case, their relationship was quite ambiguous. The left wing, 'Hailian,' was responsible for recording and teaching the essence of Wan Ying Fortress's martial arts. The right wing, 'Yezhi,' was Wan Ying Fortress's representative in the martial arts world, and he was responsible for gathering and communicating information between the legitimate and illegitimate factions. Finally, there was the tail feather 'Xinxia,' who was a secret agent and handled all the dirty work of the gang." She finished writing on one page and then picked it up and blew on it: "According to records, Xinxia's selection was carefully made from the fortress lord's family members, and it was strictly forbidden to hand her over to outsiders."

"—Then... what about the left wing and the right wing?" Shuang Jing asked cautiously.

"—Not much was left behind. In the scrolls and books of Jianrou Manor, there are only a few sentences, basically what I just told you. And those four guardians disappeared without a trace when Wanying Fort fell…" Plum Blossom paused, then sighed: "Ah…if only I could have been born in that era…"

"Later... I guessed that the Seven Stone Gate must be related to the right wing of Wanying Fortress." Shuangjing said, looking at the woman before her, and couldn't help but sigh:

"Grandpa died suddenly, and I was still seriously ill. Perhaps he knew something but didn't say it. Anyway, I searched through the family genealogy and records page by page, and only then did I discover that the Ye family's craftsmanship coexisted with Wanying Fort. It's just that at that time, the Seven Stones Sect had not yet been established, and there were only a few records of the Grandmasters exploring everything. Actually, it was you who dispelled my doubts." The Seven Stones Sect Master looked earnestly at the white-haired girl:

"Right now, I just want to know why Wan Yingbao founded our sect, and what its connection is to my current situation. Also, who are you?"

On the way home, even if we meet again, we might not recognize each other.

"Later... I guessed that the Seven Stones Sect must be related to the right wing of Wanying Fortress." Shuangjing looked at the woman before her and sighed, "My grandfather died suddenly, and I was still seriously ill. Perhaps he knew something but didn't say it. Anyway, I searched through the genealogy and records page by page and found that the Ye family's craftsmanship coexisted with Wanying Fortress. But at that time, the Seven Stones Sect had not yet been established, and there were only a few records of the Grandmasters exploring everything. Actually, it was you who dispelled my doubts." The Seven Stones Sect Master looked earnestly at the white-haired girl: "Now I just want to know why Wanying Fortress founded our sect, and what the connection is between this and my current situation. Also, who are you?"

"When Qianxia Tower was destroyed..." the woman began, naturally avoiding Shuang Jing's first question: "The Lord of Jingyue Tower handed over everything the sect had treasured to Lord Zhuangtian Fortress. However, the only two things that remained safe in his possession were the Heart-Locking Bronze Mirror, the Half-Moon Silk Tassel, and a very blurry map. All the others responsible for transporting the map, scrolls, treasures, and weapons were caught and killed. Fortunately, the disciples of Qianxia Tower were loyal and would rather perish with those items than hand them over to the other side. That's why the secret of Qianxia Tower was able to be kept for so many years."

She glanced at Shuangjing, paused for a moment, and then said, "The master of Wanying Fort and the master of Jingyue Pavilion are lovers." A ripple finally appeared in her eyes, but it was too deep to tell what the emotion was: "It's no less than your love affair with that other person."

"..." A slight pang of pain shot through her heart, and Shuang Jing forced a bitter smile: "He and I are not lovers."

“You are,” the white-haired girl answered without hesitation, seemingly displeased that her opinion had been denied. “You are. The way you look at him, the way he looks at you. You are.”

"Okay, okay..." Seeing her stubborn look, Shuangjing quickly shook her head and nodded, "And then?"

The woman gave her a deep look: "Lord Zhuangtian Fortress once promised Lord Jingyue Pavilion that one day he would make the essence of Qianxia Pavilion famous for generations. And he did indeed devote his entire life to achieving this goal. But these two things and a blurry map are not enough. Although he found the location of the Qianxia Pavilion's treasure, he couldn't enter; it was full of traps and mechanisms. Therefore..." She laughed: "He and the four guardians worked together to create the Seven Stone Gate, which excels at creating, imitating, or destroying weapons and other artifacts, and..."

"The Chongchonglou, skilled in setting up levels and traps!" Shuang Jing blurted out, then froze on the spot.

“Yes.” The white-haired woman nodded. “The existence of these two gangs is because Zhuang Tian knew he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his promise to Jingyue in his lifetime, but he had never broken his word to her. So he hoped that in some distant future, he could finally complete this task. He was so obsessed with this matter that he neglected his sleep and meals, which led to the gradual decline of Wan Ying Fort, a century-old enterprise. In the end, only his secret agent, ‘Xin Xia,’ was desperately trying to keep it afloat, but she couldn’t save the gang from its fate.” She said this with a touch of sadness, but then gave a cold smile.

"But what the world cannot understand is that Wan Yingbao has never disappeared; it simply exists in another form."

Ye Shuangjing listened blankly, staring at her in a daze, unsure how to react.

Sure enough, the Seven Stones Gate and the Chongchonglou were intricately connected.

I and Che Shui are actually the heirs of Wan Yingbao?

She suddenly remembered the flute and zither duet "The Moon Fills the Empty Mountains" and "Flowers Fill the Sky," which she and Che Shui's ancestors had written together. She feared it might also be related to this matter. Thinking of this, she suddenly remembered something: "You said the right wing founded the Seven Stone Gates, the left wing created the Tower of Layers, and secretly ensured 'Xin Xia' maintained the existence of Wan Ying Fortress until the very end. Then… what about 'Long Ye,' the leader of the Four Guardians?"

"Her?" Suddenly, the white-haired woman smiled, a smile that was half sorrowful and half gentle. She looked outside and said, "She fulfilled her duty to the very end, protecting the Lord of the Fortress and his family until they left one by one. In the end, she decided to go to the location of the treasure of the Thousand Heroes Tower to help Lord Zhuang Tian protect the important things of his beloved."

"Are you a direct descendant of 'Longye'?" Shuangjing asked, looking at her.

"I guess so. You can call me that."

"Long...Long?"

Hearing the Seven Stones Sect Master's cautious, tentative call, the woman was taken aback. She looked at Shuang Jing in a daze, then suddenly smiled slowly and hazily: "It's been so long since I've heard anyone call me that..."

“Then… Longye.” Shuangjing smiled too. For some reason, a gentle feeling mixed with sympathy, pity, and sorrow slowly welled up in her heart.

This woman must be very lonely. Alone in that valley filled with moonlight and falling petals, even the most beautiful and unparalleled scenery, if appreciated alone, will only bring a sense of desolation and sadness. So, without realizing it, I smiled at her, my eyes crinkling. When I smiled, I felt my whole face was tense; she probably hadn't smiled in a long time either.

"Since you were able to get in, you can get out too, right?" She winked at the other person. "This place is too dangerous. You'd better escape first."

A look of surprise flashed across Long Ye's face: "You... want me to leave? And what about you?"

"Oh dear...did you think I let you go out so you could run away alone?" She chuckled, her lips curving upwards, but her eyes were cold and devoid of any light or amusement. "You have to pass on my message to Che Shui and the others, don't you?"

"Clear water?"

“The owner of Chongchonglou…” Shuangjing smiled and said, “Just tell him…” She thought for a moment, but hesitated.

Knowing Che Shui's personality, he wouldn't give up until he's driven to the brink of death to rescue her. If she were told to stay away from here, he would probably risk his life even more to save her. However, it would be better for her to stay in this place alone. There was no need to drag a group of people into this mess. If she hadn't insisted on going out with Xuan Sheng, Chong Chong Lou might never have stepped into this murky water.

“Tell him that if I die, it will be entirely of my own free will, just like all the resolutions I have made in my life.”

My chances of surviving here are slim, but Che Shui still has a lifetime to go on. That person's life has already been marked with an unhealable scar by the battle five years ago, and there is no need to add more sorrow to his life because of my willfulness.

She doesn't regret it at all. Years ago, she helped him and shielded Xuan Sheng from injury. This time, she risked her life to travel to the ends of the earth. Even if in the end, she is the only one standing alone in this dark place facing death, she still doesn't regret it.

Only by understanding yourself can you stand tall in this world.

She dedicated her life to practicing her master's teachings, and when she reached the end of her journey, she felt no burden or regret.

Long also looked at the woman before him with curiosity, only to find her smiling. It wasn't the mischievous smile from before, but a serene and peaceful one, detached and composed, as if gazing upon the most beautiful and comforting scenery. It was as if she had seen through the world and this land, and the truth she finally saw was exactly as she had expected. Such peace.

"Please remember to pass this message on to him," Ye Shuangjing said with a smile. Then, she slowly rose, knelt on one knee, placed her right hand on her shoulder, and bowed her head respectfully. Her long hair flowed down like a stream, and her voice was clear and crisp like pearls falling on a jade plate. It suddenly carried an indescribable cold and majestic aura in the empty space: "Shuangjing entrusts you with this important task. Thank you, senior."

Long was taken aback and was about to reach out to help her up, but his hands froze in mid-air: "...It seems I don't need to tell him...he's here."

Shuangjing was startled, suddenly hearing a tremendous sound of rocks crashing against the wall. Dust swished down from the walls, and then Cheshui's angry voice, filled with threat and ferocity, pierced the darkness and silence, echoing throughout the valley:

"Xi Quan...!! If you don't hand over Shuang Jing, I'll offer up the head of the Flying Eagle Fortress Lord!"