Лучжоу Луна - Глава 88
35. Patience
A light mist veils the moon, making the courtyard and steps exceptionally deserted. The bright moon, like water, rises alone from the treetops until midnight, coldly watching over the world.
Qiu Ye, his white robes stained with blood, stood coldly beneath the eaves before the steps. Soft silver sunlight bathed the courtyard, falling upon him, yet it could not dispel the chilling aura emanating from him. Yin Guang and Wu Suan cautiously stood a few feet away, keeping the young master company for several hours. Ling Hui, upon hearing of the turn of events, also came in shock.
The plants in front of the courtyard were in disarray, like raindrops, withered branches and fallen leaves piled on the ground, lifeless and desolate. The three of them watched as Qiu Yeyi's sword, with its palm strike, reduced half the courtyard to dust, and they looked at each other in disbelief, unable to utter a sound.
Qiu Ye stood motionless, his eyes as cold as ice. Despite his unchangingly handsome and indifferent face, he gave everyone an indescribable feeling—his blood-stained white robe and his strong, bluish hands were signs of an impending deep-sea storm.
Under the cold mist, Qiu Yeyi coughed and said coldly, "Qingzhou is only a hundred miles in circumference. We haven't received any reports from the guards in two hours. Obviously, we can't find Leng Shuangcheng."
The three stood frozen in fear, unable to utter a word. Then Qiu Yeyi coughed again and added, "Huang Yushuxue has captured Leng Shuangcheng; she'll definitely try everything to torture her. I..."
He coughed suddenly and clutched his chest: "If I ever see Leng Shuangcheng again, I'll slap her to death."
The greater the love, the more intense the pain; the three understood this principle and couldn't help but look at each other.
Yin Guang looked at Wu Suan with a worried expression, but Wu Suan turned to look at Ling Hui. Ling Hui understood, realizing that she was entrusted with this task by everyone, because no one dared to advise Prince Qiu Ye, and the two hoped that she could give it a try.
She gathered her green sleeves and white veil, and slowly took a step forward: "Your Highness..."
Qiu Ye Yi Jian's icy expression remained unchanged as she stared straight ahead. Suddenly, she said coldly, "Princess, how have I, Qiu Ye Yi Jian, treated you?"
The moonlight was desolate, and the shadows stretched out in one continuous line, as if someone skillfully held a brush and painted, the splashed ink instantly swallowing up the white ground. In the prison cell in the rear courtyard of the imperial camp, following Lin Qingluan, another serious criminal was imprisoned—Ruan Hong, the maid of Princess Linghui.
A few days ago, as soon as Qiu Yeyijian received Huang Yushuxue's invitation, he immediately ordered her arrest. Although he did not torture her, the two cold, gleaming chains in the prison still made her tremble with fear.
A tattered rope hung askew from the corner of the wall, its links interlocking, drooping listlessly over the straw mat. The silver clasps were stained with mottled blood. Once, she touched a link, and with a whoosh, sharp spikes sprouted from the chain, their cold edge slicing her fingers.
But what made Soft Red tremble the most was the visit of Akiha Izumi just now.
Qiu Ye, covered in blood, entered the secret chamber and ordered a rope to be pierced through her throat, intending to torture her to death. She was terrified and, if the princess hadn't staggered in after her and knelt down to beg for mercy, she would probably be a wronged soul trapped under the rope by now.
Looking at Qiu Yeyi's cold and ruthless face, Ruan Hong vaguely guessed what had happened. After he left, the princess wiped away her tears, composed herself, and said solemnly, "Ruan Hong, out of consideration for your past kindness to me, I knelt down to beg for help for the first time... I'm not afraid to tell you, the Crown Prince was enraged today and only spared you this time out of consideration for me. Tomorrow, the Crown Prince will go to the appointment with Huang Yu. If he can save Leng Shuangcheng, he might forget to kill you in a moment of carelessness. If anything happens to Leng Shuangcheng, I'm sure he will... At that time, I won't be able to protect you either. Good luck to you!"
Ruan Hong wept and prostrated herself on the ground, secretly making a decision: if Qiu Yeyi came to kill her again, she would take a gamble and use the "breath-holding technique" taught by the Tantric sect to fake her death and see if she could get away with it and escape.
Seeing the young master emerge from the prison gates, Yin Guang quickly followed. He secretly scrutinized the young master's face and asked with concern, "Young master, what happened to you...?"
Qiu Ye, with the wind swirling through his sleeves, walked forward indifferently: "I'm just here to scare her; she'll be useful later."
Yin Guang pressed on, but Qiu Ye Yi Jian ignored him, coldly walking to the side of the bath, tearing off his blood-stained robe, and plunging his head into the clear water. The white water churned and washed away his filth. Seeing the young master submerged for so long, Yin Guang hesitated and whispered, "Young master, are you alright?"
With a splash, Qiu Ye emerged from the water, revealing his stunningly handsome face, though his complexion was deathly pale, devoid of any color. He clutched a few strands of water, his voice filled with hatred as he said, "Leng Shuangcheng is living a life worse than death; how can I possibly fare any better!"
Yin Guang remained silent, and Qiu Yeyijian said coldly, "She's a fool, willing to take this risk for the lives of a few unrelated people... When I see her, I will definitely slap her hard."
Seeing that the young master mentioned slapping Leng Shuangcheng twice, Yin Guang felt a pang of unease and asked with a somber expression, "Young master, what exactly happened?"
Qiu Ye Yijian walked coldly towards the poolside: "Gu Du Kaixuan once mentioned that he could not decipher the formula for the medicine man. Leng Shuangcheng was most likely risking her life for Lin Qingluan and the others. She guessed that after Huang Yu Shuxue captured her, she would force her to take the medicine, so she took a 50% chance to see if she could resist the poison and get the formula out."
Yin Guang recalled what the young master had said: "Huang Yushuxue has captured Leng Shuangcheng and will definitely try every means to torture her." She couldn't help but blurt out: "Madam is still as bold as ever..."
Qiu Ye unleashed a violent palm strike with her sword, sending up towering waves that soaked the entire ground: "She still knows how to cry! She still knows how to grieve! Does she know that my pain has turned into blood, which I have swallowed whole!"
Seeing the young master's disheveled hair and pale, bluish-purple face, Yin Guang sadly shut her mouth.
Qiu Ye clapped her hands several times with her sword, almost shattering the jade in the pool, before stopping, her breathing slightly disordered. She put on a clean robe and walked out of the pavilion, standing once again on the steps in front of the courtyard, cold and silent.
The moon has already set in the west, and I imagine that several people will be unable to sleep tonight, forced to spend the rest of the night alone.
"Light, no matter what happens after I keep my promise, you must remember what I told you."
36. Rumination
Leng Shuangcheng's eyes were tightly closed, her eyelids twitched slightly, and her thoughts retreated into a vast ocean.
There was no wind on the sea, only darkness, as dark as ink. Dark clouds seemed to gather overhead, and suddenly a flash of lightning illuminated a pale, bloodless face.
She moved her fingers reflexively and weakly murmured, "Brother."
After the scalding blood flowed from the wound, it cooled in the wind, and the sweat clung to my body, feeling like ants gnawing at my bones—a chilling sensation that sent shivers down my spine.
She felt her whole body grow cold and lifeless, and before losing consciousness, she mustered her strength to shout one last time: "Owl!"
“Shuangcheng…” She was certain she heard a call, very soft and low, almost a sigh.
Leng Shuangcheng stretched out her fingers with trembling hands. Her last wisp of consciousness, like a lost child in a mountain gorge, followed the faint light of her memory and walked out...
Black, a deep, inky black, as torrential rain poured down from the sky, its chill penetrating to the bone. A fierce wind howled like a raging torrent, tearing at the heart and whipping thousands of branches into a chaotic, swirling dance.
The owl's cheeks were deathly pale, and his eerie, beautiful eyes were dull and lifeless. He coughed violently twice, and bright red blood trickled from the corner of his mouth again: "Shuangcheng..."
Leng Shuangcheng held him tightly in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably, "Owl, owl, please, don't die..."
A weak, withered hand tried desperately to wipe away the tears of sorrow, but it fell limply, splashing mud with a soft thud: "Shuangcheng, I can't bear to leave you either. If I leave, you'll be the only one left in this world..."
Leng Shuangcheng burst into tears, her sobs piercing the ink-splashed sky, shimmering brightly in the howling wind. The owl's face, exposed to the downpour, its once androgynous, eerie beauty now disheveled and withered like a faded flower under the relentless pounding of the raindrops. He took a breath, enduring the pain, and urged, "Shuangcheng, listen carefully to what I have to say..."
Leng Shuangcheng lowered her face and pressed it against his cold lips, shaking his body and wailing incessantly.
“My poor Shuangcheng, if I had known this would happen, I would have treated you much better.” The owl’s voice trailed off, “You must listen carefully to what I have to say… Last time we were forced to jump off the cliff, you were seriously injured and unconscious. To save you, I tried all sorts of herbs at the bottom of the valley, only to find that two poisonous herbs reacted with your blood. One was the daylily, which brings forgetfulness, and the other was the paralyzing celestial candle… Shuangcheng, don’t cry, let me finish…” He breathed weakly, the burning sensation in his chest choking his throat, but he had no strength left to cough: “Remember, these three cannot be mixed, otherwise it will trigger a backlash of your cold poison, and you will not be able to control it…”
"Brother, rest a bit, don't talk, just look at the stars with me..." Leng Shuangcheng buried her face in his chest, her head trembling deeply. "The stars will appear once the rain stops, just hold on a little longer..."
The owl's thin face twitched slightly, and a ripple appeared at the corner of its mouth: "What a silly child... I'm dying, promise me!"
“It’s alright, brother.” Leng Shuangcheng lowered his head, the heavy rain sliding down his neck, covering his entire body like icy snowflakes. “The cold poison won’t kill me. When it flares up, it will only increase my internal strength… You don’t need to worry. It’s like a calf chewing its cud… The sudden pain will eventually be suppressed by me…”
The owl gave a bleak smile, the smile failing to reach the corners of its mouth, only a faint light shimmering in its eyes: "Foolish Shuangcheng... how can I let you go..."
Leng Shuangcheng held his upper body tightly, shaking him repeatedly, her heart aching so much she couldn't speak.
The sky, as if its heart were broken, pelted down with icy raindrops, unleashing its fury in a cathartic outpouring. The downpour continued for a long time, and the owl's breast grew cold against Leng Shuangcheng's cheek. She carefully and greedily counted the faint heartbeats, one, two…
"Shuangcheng, don't blame Young Master Li anymore." The owl used its last strength to move its purple lips, "...In the next life, I will definitely find you before he does..."
With a deafening roar, lightning flashed like a fiery dragon, hurtling down from the edge of the dark clouds, swallowing Leng Shuangcheng's screams and cries. A dense rain of arrows filled the air, making the wild landscape even more desolate.
"Splash her to wake her up." A bright and gentle voice rang out.
The icy water gushed out like a chilling waterfall, lashing solidly against Leng Shuangcheng's mangled body. The cold water washed away some of the bloodstains around her, leaving a faint red stain beneath her.
The bone-chilling cold from before hadn't subsided, and now he was struck by the chilling water. Leng Shuangcheng quickly couldn't withstand it, and his body, lying flat on the ground, began to tremble slightly.
Huang Yushu smiled radiantly, sitting indoors in a white robe that seemed to outshine the snow. The dim, dancing light revealed a hint of cruelty in her eyes. She stared intently at Leng Shuangcheng's face, slowly savoring every expression on his deathly pale features.
Leng Shuangcheng coughed, moved his hand, and struggled to sit up. He said calmly, "Huang Yu, I want to see Lin Qingluan."
Huang Yushu Xue tilted her head slightly, looking at her with amusement, as if she were looking at a monster: "Leng Shuangcheng, are you still asleep?"
Leng Shuangcheng shifted her body, finding a comfortable corner to lean against, and lowered her eyelids. The wall was uneven, and the cold rocks pressed against her back. She glanced at the light, then hid in the shadows, which conveniently concealed the flames in her eyes: "You gave me a protective pill, obviously you don't want me to die... You must be using me to deal with Qiu Yeyijian."
Huang Yu chuckled: "So what?"
Leng Shuangcheng struggled to support herself against the wall, hissing as she gasped, "I don't have much strength right now, but I can still commit suicide."
Suddenly, a cold wind swept by, and Huang Yu rushed in front of Leng Shuangcheng, slapping her across the face with lightning speed. He then pressed her pressure point and said with a smile, "See, this is not a problem at all."
Leng Shuangcheng was completely restrained, unable to move or speak. He could only silently close his eyes, bearing a bright palm print.
The wind was soft just now, and she had fallen into the shadows, but could see very clearly in the bright light.
However, she couldn't see Huang Yu's attack. This could only mean one thing: Huang Yu's martial arts were more powerful than she had imagined, and even with her current skill, she couldn't completely subdue Huang Yu, no matter how hard she tried.
She wouldn't rashly attack a powerful and cunning opponent unless she was absolutely certain of success.
With a burning pain on her face, Leng Shuangcheng suppressed her emotions and silently pondered a more important question.
—Huang Yushuxue and Qiu Yeyijian have extremely similar personalities. She still remembers how Qiu Yeyijian cruelly and carefully observed her face when the Gu poison took effect on Changshai Street. The two are just as cold-blooded.
—She must continue to feign serious injury and weakness in order to lower Huangyu's guard. Since she is as proud as Qiuye, the more she pretends to be dead, the less attention she will attract from Huangyu.
Seeing Leng Shuangcheng's cold and expressionless demeanor, Huang Yu scoffed, "However, I do enjoy watching something interesting..."
A delicate fragrance wafted through the air, its subtle elegance captivating. Huang Yushuxue approached Leng Shuangcheng, bending down to gently stroke her face. Her palms were as white as jade, exuding the scent of orchids: "Good child, drink the medicine I prepared for you, and you will soon be able to see Lin Qingluan."
Huang Yu's eyes were gentle and affectionate, like those of a doting mother. She touched Leng Shuangcheng's right cheek twice, then met Leng Shuangcheng's brows, which were covered in frost. Suddenly, she pulled her fingernail, drawing a bloody line: "I heard that Qiu Yeyi killed ninety members of my clan with his sword. Since you are his person, then take these ninety lashes for him..."
With a slight smile, she released the pressure points on Leng Shuangcheng's upper body, still managing to restrain the wooden figure's limbs.
Leng Shuangcheng slightly raised her eyes, her face remaining unchanged, and readily agreed: "Okay."
"Hehe, what an interesting woman." Huang Yushuxue chuckled, her voice like silver bells filling the dark basement. "But don't worry, I can't bear to let you die, so after you've been whipped, I'll take good care of your wounds..." She slowly walked to the rack, took down a dark whip, and cracked it with a loud snap.
"Because I want to torture you like this every day."
The rough chains were embedded in Leng Shuangcheng's wrists, leaving deep bloodstains. She tried her best to stand firm, but her body swayed uncontrollably.
The whip, like a venomous snake, pierced her back with its fangs. Although the whip marks were not fatal, they still caused her to gasp and groan in pain when they struck her usually most resilient skin.
She had long anticipated Huang Yushuxue's ruthlessness—before sending her to be refined into a medicine man, Huang Yushuxue wanted her to suffer torture consciously, which would be even more painful.
One lash after another fell, and Leng Shuangcheng silently endured the searing pain, all the while listening intently to Huang Yu's smug laughter: "Leng Shuangcheng, how does it feel? It'll hurt even more after you take the medicine. I want to see you crawl on your knees like a dog and beg me for mercy..."
Listening to Huang Yu's soft, sweet voice, Leng Shuangcheng stared at the shadows on the ground and suddenly realized that it was already late at night.
The moonlight was somewhat pale, shining through the cracks with a chilling indifference. She stared blankly for a long time, a painful cry escaping her lips: Qiu Ye Yi Jian, after seeing me, you must not be sad.
Damp earth, dappled tree shadows, cold walls, and corners seeping water—all these elements constitute the entirety of an underground chamber.
Lin Qingluan stood stiffly in front of the wall, her eyes vacant and her face expressionless, like a puppet, devoid of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, unaware of the warmth and coldness of human relationships.
With a "bang," Leng Shuangcheng was thrown in front of him, but he remained frozen in place.
Leng Shuangcheng struggled to lift her head, extending a trembling hand. She glanced at him, and the person who hadn't cried until now broke down in sobs: "Lin Qingluan... Lin Qingluan..."
"Oh? So sentimental." Huang Yushu, dressed in pristine white, stood elegantly on the steps, chuckling softly. "After taking the medicine, you'll soon be just like him!"
The pain in his chest and abdomen churned violently, its intensity no less than that of the Nine Gu of Miao territory. Cold sweat poured down Leng Shuangcheng's face, and his fingers curled up like thorns, firmly rooted to the ground.
She noticed the changes in her body and, before the medicine took effect, struggled to move her body and crawl toward Lin Qingluan's figure.
Blood streaks blurred the wet ground as it dragged along, creating a horrific scene.
She stubbornly clawed at the ground, calling out in a trembling voice, "Lin Qingluan, Lin Qingluan, if you can hear my voice, remember you must live on..."
A strand of silver hair fluttered down before her eyes. Leng Shuangcheng glanced at it and wept bitterly, "If you hadn't met me, you would still be Young Master Qingluan; if you had met me sooner, we could have lived a carefree life, indulging in the beauty of nature... Lin Qingluan, Lin Qingluan!"
Leng Shuangcheng cried out twice in pain, finally grabbing Lin Qingluan's ankle and refusing to let go: "Please, you must live..."