Поездка ранней весной

Глава 1

The wind has swept away the last petals, but the remnants of the flowers have not yet settled.

Prelude

Cangzhou, located north of the South China Sea, lies between the states of Qinglong and Zhunan. It borders Fengzhou, Yaojiang, and Mandi.

Since ancient times, Cangzhou has been a place of great turmoil, and the conflicts among the martial arts world are particularly fierce here.

Qingzun Tower is the number one tower in the world. The Qingzun Ranking, published by Qingzun Tower over generations, is also known as the number one ranking in the martial arts world and is recognized by all.

However, many years ago, the Cangming Ranking of the Demonic Path suddenly appeared. It was announced by the Cangming Young Master Xiao Wuqing and was known as the number one ranking of the Demonic Path. It became a ranking recognized by both the Jianghu underworld and the Demonic Path. It had the momentum to rival the Qingzun Ranking, which was recognized by the Jianghu. It caused the bandits in the underworld who considered themselves heroes but could not make it onto the Qingzun Ranking to fight tooth and nail. The competition for the ranking on it was even more fierce than that of the Qingzun Ranking, with constant turmoil.

The Cangming Ranking, written in blood, changes almost every month. Only one miracle remains steadfast on the Cangming Ranking—the number one swordsman of the demonic path on the Cangming Ranking—Cangming Siyue.

April refers to four people. It's common knowledge in the martial arts world that these are the four bodyguards of the Cangming Young Master, Xiao Wuqing.

Only by surpassing April can one become the new number one swordsman of the demonic path.

No one knows how many people went to challenge it, but all of them never returned—thus, the name of Cangming April became a legend stained with blood…

But all of that is now irrelevant to this story...

The wind has swept away the last petals, but the remnants of the flowers have not yet settled.

Chapter 1

The story began a long, long time ago, but it didn't happen until much, much later. When the story took place, Adi had just traded his horse for a mule, and with coarse clothes and some loose silver, he left the town and wandered aimlessly along the mountain road.

The sky is high and the clouds are light, and the season is warm.

The warm sunlight shone on me, making me feel lazy and slowing my pace, which conveniently masked my slight sense of bewilderment.

If the wind remained warm and the sky remained clear, he would continue to drift aimlessly until a strong smell of blood in the wind interrupted his leisurely state.

Adi was unusually sensitive to the smell of blood. He frowned slightly and followed the scent of blood.

In the woods, pools of blood dripped intermittently onto the grass, slowly spreading until they pooled together. And the person lying in the crimson pool—if it was a human, it would be a mangled mess.

Adi frowned and slowly approached. Beneath a pool of blood, one could barely make out that the person was wearing a white robe. The slender body was wrapped in the robe, which was mostly soaked to a reddish-brown color. So frail, it was a woman. The exposed wrists and legs had broken bones, and the flesh was torn and twisted, a gruesome sight. Beneath the marks left by torture instruments, the body was completely mutilated, except for the face, which was pale and delicate, without a single scar.

Adi looked down at her; it was an exquisitely beautiful face, yet utterly lifeless.

Is he dead? With such injuries and so much blood loss, how could he still be alive? His paper-white face made Adi lose interest in bending down to examine him closely; he hated dead people.

It's such a pity; with such a beautiful face, I wonder what kind of eyes she has.

As Adi was about to leave, the woman on the ground slowly opened her eyes. Contrary to his expectations, these beautiful yet lifeless eyes held only a deathly stillness, devoid of any vitality. He gazed at her silently; those calm, expressionless eyes seemed to be looking at him, yet also seemed unfocused, simply waiting to die. No matter how beautiful she was, Adi felt no beauty in those lifeless, emotionless eyes.

However, Adi suddenly dispelled his previous confusion and his mind became clear.

He found what he wanted to do.

He took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, bent down and forced her to swallow it, then carefully picked up the woman covered in blood, abandoned the mule, and ran quickly and slowly toward the nearby town.

The innkeeper in town was terrified when he saw the woman covered in blood being carried by Adi. Adi stepped in front of him, made up an excuse with his sincere face, and managed to get a room for him, and began to treat the woman in blood.

For seven days straight, she stayed indoors without changing her clothes, relying solely on a waiter to buy medicine and deliver food. Finally, amidst a persistent high fever and recurring wounds, the woman opened her eyes.

*

She had endured endless pain and anxiety for far too long, so long that she had lost track of time. She had thought she had fallen into hell... She was destined for hell, wasn't she? What hope could someone like her possibly have?

The prolonged torment from her wounds left her initially disoriented and unsure of her surroundings upon waking. Then, a pair of hands gently yet firmly pressed down on her body as she tried to lift herself.

"Don't move, be careful not to aggravate the wound."

Then she saw a gentle face. Though dressed in simple, coarse cloth, his features were handsome, his gaze sincere, enough to instill a sense of security in any ordinary person. An ordinary person… but she felt nothing. She stared blankly at that face, her voice dry, managing only a few words, “Where…is this?”

She didn't die... How could she not die from such a battered and tortured body?

"I didn't know either..." Adi smiled apologetically. "I met you on the road and hurried to this nearby town, and I really didn't pay attention to the place name." If it were someone else, they would at least know where they came from, where they were going, and what road they were taking. But Adi, who was aimlessly wandering, didn't pay attention to any of these things.

She turned her head slightly to look at him; such a slight movement caused her wound to throb with pain. She remained indifferent, her face expressionless.

"Did you save me, young master?"

“Yes…” Adi smiled modestly, but she couldn’t help but glance at him again. “Thank you, young master… young master… your medical skills are superb.” It would be beyond the capabilities of ordinary people to save her from these injuries.

"Not at all, it was nothing, Miss. You don't need to worry about it. Just focus on your recovery and don't overthink it."

Ordinary coarse clothes, a peaceful expression, an unassuming demeanor, yet he possessed such medical skills—she couldn't imagine who he was, nor did she have the energy to think about it. What entanglement did this world have with her? She slowly closed her eyes, and after a long while, she softly asked, "My injury..."

After a slight hesitation, Adi decided to tell the truth and uttered eight words: "His bones and tendons are broken, and his martial arts are completely useless."

The eyelashes of those closed eyes trembled slightly, and they slowly opened...

In those eyes, Adi saw a momentary emptiness, a void devoid of anything, which quickly subsided, becoming as still as an ancient well. She must have been in great pain; the numerous, gruesome wounds all over her body, constantly recurring, were enough to cause unbearable agony. She must have been shocked, knowing that from now on, she would likely be confined to her bed as a cripple. But she simply accepted it quietly, without any further reaction.

Such a beautiful woman, her stillness like the shimmering light of jade, was too indifferent, as if her heart were as cold as stone, unable to stir even the slightest life.

“Miss…if you are willing to cooperate and do your best to treat me, I am confident that I can make you look no different from an ordinary person after you recover.”

The woman finally showed a slight surprise and doubt, turning to look at him—she knew this injury very well. To survive was already a feat, yet he had healed her so that she appeared outwardly normal? This medical skill was truly remarkable. Was there ever such a person in the martial world?

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind in that instant, a habit she'd long since formed. Her eyes quickly returned to their usual calm. What did the martial world have to do with her now? Who was this young master, and how was he any different from her?

"Thank you, young master."

"Where... do we not yet know the young lady's name?"

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, paused slightly, and then said softly, "Brocade."

Brocade. Upon closer examination, it seems to belong to a woman who is fresh, gentle, and adorned with vibrant flowers, rather than someone like her, who, though a rare orchid in a secluded valley, seems destined to wither and turn to dust.

Many times, Adi wondered: what was he thinking when he spared no effort to help and save this woman? Was it merely to find something to do for his aimless wanderings? Or did he want to see what this woman, so beautiful yet so still as an ancient well, would look like if she truly smiled?

Or perhaps… he wanted to find a companion. Someone like himself, who had abandoned the martial world, or been abandoned by it, and thus became a lonely mortal detached from the world… If it were this seemingly useless woman, she could become his companion without any distractions, and he wouldn't be alone anymore…

Treating Zhijin's injuries couldn't be done in a day or two, and staying at an inn wasn't a long-term solution. Once her condition stabilized somewhat, Adi asked the waiter to find him a carriage, furnished it softly and comfortably, and carried Zhijin into the carriage. They then purchased a small courtyard in a village on the side of town to stay in.

The homeowners were a young couple with three children, the oldest no more than five or six years old, and the youngest still unsteadily learning to walk. The courtyard was divided into east and west wings; the homeowners lived in the east wing, while the west wing was partitioned off to form a separate courtyard, which they sold to Adi. Adi paid the full rent and settled Zhijin in. From that day on, the small town simply had one more ordinary brother and sister, or perhaps a young couple; no one would pay them any attention.

Second

The sky was still high and the clouds were light, and the season was warm.

Carrying a medicine basket, Adi walked up the mountain along the path. Such a warm, leisurely, and peaceful day, even without anything special happening, was enough to bring a faint smile to Adi's face.

"Brother Adi, is your wife feeling better?"

"Yes, much better, thank you, uncle."

"Hey, it's Brother Adi. My son had a bit of diarrhea last night. When is a convenient time for you?"

"Okay, I'll go check it out after I finish gathering the herbs."

He greeted the villagers who went up the mountain to gather firewood and herd cattle along the way. Ah Di was a pharmacist. Although he had moved from elsewhere, he was kind and honest, making a living by dispensing common medicines to the villagers. His medicines were cheap and effective, so the villagers didn't need to see a doctor for minor illnesses. In this poor village, he was quickly accepted by the villagers. Everyone knew that he had a wife who had fallen down the mountain and been injured on the way here. He went up the mountain every day to collect herbs, and sometimes went to town to buy expensive medicinal materials, all to treat his wife. It was hard not to like someone so gentle, kind, and good to his wife.

Every time Adi thought of this, he felt a little embarrassed. He had settled here for some time now. When he first arrived, Zhijin's injuries were quite severe, and to make it easier to care for him, Adi stayed by his bedside almost every night. During the day, he asked his former landlady to look after him. This lack of discretion naturally led the landlady's family to treat them as husband and wife, so they simply went along with it, preventing any gossip. As Zhijin's injuries gradually stabilized with treatment, he had nothing more to worry about, enjoying the peace and tranquility, his mind completely calm and relaxed.

"I'm back." After collecting herbs and returning home, he had just stepped into the courtyard when he heard the sounds of children playing. He saw the landlord's children pestering Zhijin to play with them. Zhijin was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, with two children holding her hands, and her usually calm face showed a slight sense of bewilderment.

Adi couldn't help but chuckle. He had previously asked his landlady to have the children come and keep Zhijin company so she wouldn't be cooped up in her room all day. But every time he saw Zhijin's awkwardness with children, this sense of incongruity inexplicably amused him.

"Adi's back!" A sharp-eyed child spotted Adi and shouted. Two older children rushed over, and even the younger one toddled towards them. "Adi, play with us! Adi, let's play war! Adi..."

"Okay, okay, but it's getting dark, and your mother should be calling you for dinner. I'll come back early tomorrow to play with you."

Adi smiled and sent the children away. Seeing the brocade, she breathed a sigh of relief, exhausted.

Although the children were noisy, they were all quite sensible. Knowing that Zhijin was not in good health, they never made too much noise, and Zhijin just sat and watched them play. However, although she was not physically tired, she was mentally exhausted—she had never known that children could be such energetic creatures.

Adi smiled and came over to help her. He had known all along that Zhijin was not good at dealing with children—although Zhijin never mentioned her own affairs, just by looking at her personality and attitude, one could guess seven or eight parts of it. The environment in which she lived must have been completely unsuitable for such an ordinary life.

"You go back inside and rest first, I'll go cook..."

“I’ve already finished,” Zhijin interrupted him calmly. Adi quickly added, “You shouldn’t be working so hard. Next time, wait for me to come back, or ask the boss’s wife for help…”

"No need, it's just cooking a meal, no need to trouble others." She paused slightly, then said frankly, "Besides, your cooking is terrible."

Adi's smile froze—

"Zhijin, has anyone ever told you that you're very direct?"

"Is that so?" But she didn't think it mattered—Adi was already very capable, seemingly able to handle anything with ease. She used to think that nothing in this world could stump him, which would be abnormal.

She turned her head slightly to look at Adi, who was carefully supporting her. This man, dressed in coarse cloth clothes covered in mud and dust from the mountain, had a gentle smile and a sincere expression. Apart from his overly handsome appearance, he seemed no different from an ordinary villager, yet he naturally inspired trust in people.

She never asked about his background, just as he never asked himself. The two of them had no past.

"Zhijin, I'm going to town tomorrow to buy some things. Would you like to go for a walk?"

She didn't respond immediately, clearly not intending to go out, but also without any reason to refuse. If Adi thought she should go out for a walk, then so be it.

"good."

Ah Di smiled faintly as he set out the dishes. It was the first time he had tasted the craft of brocade weaving. He paused for a moment, then wolfed down his food. He probably wouldn't be willing to come back and cook even if asked to do so tomorrow. Compared to that, his cooking was truly inedible.

Suddenly, it occurred to her that he went up the mountain to gather herbs while she cooked at home… This scene really resembled that of ordinary young couples going about their daily lives. Was this the life he longed for?

He just didn't know how long Zhijin would stay here, or whether he would one day return to his own life.

At night, Zhijin slept in the bedroom, while he slept on a makeshift bed in the outer room, separated only by a curtain. Looking at that curtain, for the first time, he seriously considered whether, if Zhijin was willing, they could walk together in the future… Although he had saved Zhijin on a whim, these past days had undoubtedly shown that a “young married couple” seemed to be able to conceal their whereabouts and blend into the crowd more easily than a single man…

.

The next morning, Adi got up early and got ready. Wearing simple clothes and a plain hairpin, her legs were still a little weak, and her gait was noticeable. Adi went to support her and smiled gently, "You should still walk a little every day; it will help your recovery. Today the journey is long, so I've prepared an oxcart. You can get off and walk around once we get into town."

As Adi was harnessing the oxcart at the door, Brother Wu from the same village passed by and greeted him, "Brother Adi, heading out?"

"Yes, to town."

"Oh, is that your wife? Is she feeling better? Is she able to go out now?"

"Ah, yes..."

Zhijin knew that outsiders regarded them as a couple, and in this situation, it was indeed better not to explain than to explain. When she heard herself mentioned, she turned around and bowed slightly in greeting. Brother Wu's voice suddenly caught in his throat, and he was instantly dumbfounded, his face slightly red.

When Ah Di saw Ah Wu, who had turned into a wooden statue, he realized that he had only treated Zhi Jin as a patient and had completely forgotten that she was a beauty. The woman he had picked up was a beauty that was rare even in the martial arts world, let alone in a small village like this.

He could only pretend not to notice anything unusual, smiled at Brother Wu, and helped Zhijin into the carriage.

It seems the news that Ah Di's wife is a fairy-like beauty will soon spread...