Ветер и дым

Глава 24

Tang Qiefang's eyes were dark and lifeless, devoid of any light. It was truly despair; no one knew what had caused his usually sparkling eyes to become so dull.

Can I tell you?

If I tell you, will you still see me as your light and warmth?

You would think I am filthy.

I will no longer have the face to appear before you.

Yes, I actually had impure thoughts about you.

Tang Qiefang tilted her head back and smiled slightly.

"That brat cursed me to be childless, so I killed him in a fit of anger."

Why would Yue Shenlan say such a thing about him? No wonder he acted strangely; the secret of the Heavenly Fragrance Poison Gas was something he was always wary of.

“He was just talking nonsense, why bother with him?” Tang Congrong sighed. “Since things have come to this, I will inform Yue Tong.”

Tang Qiefang nodded. "Then I'll be going."

Tang Congrong watched him leave. His wet clothes clung to his body, revealing his tall figure, but his back was not as upright as usual, as if some invisible weight in the darkness was pressing down on him, making him unable to straighten his back.

Even this silhouette conveys despair.

Tang Congrong suddenly felt an indescribable pang of sorrow and called out to him, "Qiefang."

He stopped, but did not turn around.

“Your bloodline will continue in this world, you will have your own children, and you can still be a normal person.” Tang Congrong’s voice trembled slightly. “Believe me, you can.”

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Tang Qiefang's lips.

Calm down, do you really think I'm heartbroken over having children? Well, that's fine too, just think that way.

Chapter Forty-Eight

He left.

An old woman was waiting on the magnolia boat.

He didn't go up; instead, he stood on the last stone step and leaned over, falling towards the lake.

With a loud splash, it made a very loud noise in the silent night.

He was submerged by the icy lake water.

Yue Shenlan was sent back to Qingcheng, and Tang Congrong suggested that Yue Shenhong replace her brother in joining the Thirteen Riders of Kun.

This decision caused another minor upheaval, as even daughters of the Tang Clan were prohibited from practicing Tang Clan martial arts. In response, Tang Congrong issued another decree, allowing all members of the Tang Clan, regardless of gender, to practice the clan's martial arts.

At this moment, Tang Congrong had officially taken over the Tang Clan, and his orders were absolute, with no room for objection.

A few days later, a book club meeting was held at Yuewei Pavilion on Wangshu Mountain, and Tang Congrong went there with Tang Qiefang.

A century ago, a master established the Martial Arts Academy, inviting elites from various schools and sects to serve as instructors and teach in their respective fields. This broke the old pattern of each school and sect operating independently and without any friendly relations. Furthermore, the Yuewei Pavilion managed major affairs of the martial arts world, resulting in a rare period of peace for over a hundred years.

The Zhishu Gathering is held every three years, and ten people are invited each time. Tang Congrong's family head, from one of the four major forces in the martial arts world, was naturally among those invited.

Those who can access the Reading Pavilion on this day are all the most outstanding figures in the world. Each person can ask the scholar three questions, or make one request. However, whether or not they receive a reply to either question or request depends entirely on the scholar.

Someone once asked how to achieve immortality, and a learned man replied, "Cultivate the Tao."

How to cultivate oneself? A learned man said: "Through arduous cultivation."

The person asking the question grew impatient and finally asked, "Where can I get it repaired?"

The answer was: "It can be repaired anywhere."

Having learned from this lesson, people began to consider, in the year before the Zhishu Association, which three questions should I ask if I could ask them?

The answer should be the most practical, the most useful, and the one most likely to elicit a response.

This time, they traveled in a wide sedan chair. Tang Congrong was worried that the sedan chair would be too slow and they wouldn't be able to keep up, but to her surprise, the eight sedan chair bearers were all skilled light-footed men handpicked by Tang Qiefang from her sect. Their footwork was no weaker than that of a horse-drawn carriage, and they were steady and smooth, unlike the bumpy ride of a horse-drawn carriage. In less than three days, they arrived at the foot of Wangshu Mountain.

Wangshu Mountain looked no different from other places. The mountain was covered with lush flowers and trees, but there were no houses or people. Only a guide boy stood at the foot of the mountain.

The Yuewei Pavilion is the dwelling place of immortals; mortals cannot see it without the immortals' permission.

Tang Qiefang said, "You can't enter Yuewei Pavilion without an invitation. I'll wait for you at the foot of the mountain."

Tang Congrong nodded.

Tang Qiefang then instructed his disciples to find an inn at the foot of the mountain, when Tang Congrong suddenly called out to him from behind: "Qiefang."

He turned around.

Don't you want to know what I want to ask?

Tang Qiefang smiled slightly, "I know you know what I'm doing, so I don't need to say anything more."

“But… this complete lack of curiosity is so unlike you.” Tang Congrong squinted slightly in the sunlight. “You’re not usually like this.”

"I'm not your father, why should I interfere in your affairs?" Tang Qiefang said irritably. "Go on."

This is the Tang Qiefang we know and love. This Tang Qiefang made Tang Congrong feel at ease. He turned around and handed the invitation to the boy who was leading him up the mountain.

Dressed in a lotus-green robe, he resembled a new lotus in the spring sunshine. Tang Qiefang felt a slight pang of sadness, and the emotions she had been suppressing began to churn gently in her chest.