Лучжоу Луна

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Qi Chenli remained silent. Seeing his puzzled expression, Gu Dukaixuan continued, "As soon as Chu Yi shows himself, Young Master Bixie will come sooner or later. I've been keeping an eye on the movements outside the window... Sure enough, after we chatted for a few minutes, the leaves of the mulberry tree outside the window flashed, and someone came."

"You did this..." Qi Chenli sighed, seemingly understanding the bitterness of unrequited love, and then stopped talking.

"The moment I saw Chu Yi, I found myself unable to control myself... I would do anything to be with her as long as I could." Lonely Triumph's eyes glazed over, hazy and dreamy, just like the soft glow of the flowers and trees outside the window. "Two years ago, I accepted the mission to escort the Dragon Pattern Sword, and that's when I first met Chu Yi... No matter what happened, she always thought of me first and protected me... One day it was raining heavily, and I asked her to come into the tent to rest, but she shook her head and just stood by the river, like a wooden stake guarding everyone. Large raindrops pelted her, but she didn't move, letting the rain flow down her hair... I felt heartbroken and asked Ruan Si to replace her, but she didn't come back. She stayed with Ruan Si and got soaked in the rain all night... From then on, my heart was completely filled with her image."

Qi Chenli had followed Gu Dukaixuan for many years and understood his nature of suppressing his illness. Seeing him sinking into his memories, she no longer stopped him, only hoping that he would continue to live happily like this.

Sunlight streamed through the windowpane, refracting the bluish light of the glazed tiles. A blurry shadow swayed on the ground. Lonely Triumph stared at the shadow, a faint light gathering on his handsome face: "From childhood to adulthood, I've always been restrained, afraid to like anything too much, afraid that one day I wouldn't be able to part with it... I've lived with this suppressed nature for twenty years... Then Chu Yi appeared and opened my heart, and then the young master of Bixie forced me into a dead end, leaving me with no way out... It's said that a gentleman's revenge is never too late, but I can't wait ten years, and my body won't allow me to wait for Chu Yi for ten years. I don't want to endure it anymore. Taking advantage of today's opportunity, I lured Chu Yi into agreeing to my request, and also took the opportunity to get the Qiu Ye Yi sword for some fun." He slowly stood up, walked to the window and stopped, sunlight instantly bathing him again: "But I didn't expect that he could actually hold back and leave without doing anything..."

“No,” Qi Chenli quickly replied, “I examined that paper mulberry tree. The outer bark appears intact, but the veins have been crushed to pieces by the palm technique, the leaves are withered, and there are two deep footprints at the base of the trunk, enough to hold a bucket of water…”

Lonely Triumph smiled slightly: "It seems he's quite angry. Since he doesn't dare to strike me, given his personality, he'll definitely suffer internal injuries from holding it in, and might even vomit blood."

Qi Chenli looked at his face and sighed, "Luckily, I didn't offend you..."

Lonely Triumph smiled slightly at him again and said, "I'm just trying it out. If the result is beneficial to me in every way, why wouldn't I do it?"

Lonely Triumph spoke with certainty, and Qi Chenli immediately understood his meaning: He had heard that Qiu Yeyijian was arrogant and rude, and had humiliated the young master in front of Miss Leng last time. If he couldn't help but take action today, Miss Leng would hate him more and more, and his carefully planned scheme would also fall through; if he refrained from taking action, it could only mean that his plan was very important, forcing him to restrain himself, which would also satisfy the young master's wishes.

Qi Chenli sighed again: "You're so cunning. It's only because Miss Leng was focused on the important matter that she didn't notice your self-inflicted injury."

Lonely Triumph replied, "This is serious business, not a joke."

Seeing his handsome face turn solemn, Qi Chenli smiled and said, "Miss Leng said earlier that she had a favor to ask, did you agree?"

"She was just being polite. Resisting foreign invasion is an inescapable responsibility for martial artists." Gu Du Kai Xuan spoke of Leng Shuang Cheng with a gentle expression and a smile on his lips. "She trusts me so much, so naturally I won't go against her wishes."

"What does she want you to do?"

"Withstand the attack from the Tantric sect this time, and retreat towards Baishi as much as possible after the agreed time."

"Where is she going and what is she doing?" Qi Chenli asked curiously.

Lonely Triumph stared at him and replied, "If Huang Yushuxue suffers a defeat in her first battle and loses most of her troops, will she hate her opponent? If her opponent blows up the underground mine she has been working so hard to develop, will she be so angry that she's about to go crazy?"

Qi Chenli's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile, "I understand your plan now. So you wanted to lure the Japanese to Baishi Mountain and wipe them out in one fell swoop." After thinking for a moment, he added, "There must be something strange about that mountain. Didn't she tell you anything?"

"Chu Yi left in a hurry, only swearing that she had a way to break the Tantric sect, and left without saying anything else. But I could roughly guess what she was thinking, so I let her go without worry. What we need to do now is to hold off Lao Jin and face this big battle that is bound to come sooner or later."

The night is dark, the stars are dim, and the moon is bright.

The wind rustled through the lush foliage, the moon cast heavy shadows on the dense branches, and sparse trees dotted the area outside Seven Star Manor, creating a scene of utter silence. The needles of the larch trees were laden with a soft, silvery frost of moonlight, shimmering and ready to spill forth. Lonely Triumph slowly drew back the blue scabbard of his sword, revealing Bai Ze, its cold, sharp light illuminating the heavy, misty night scene.

The sword is broad and thick like a gentleman, shaped like an orchid leaf, long and simple.

Looking at his gentle features, Qi Chenli said with emotion, "The sea is gradually rising, once the sky of Donghua was dark, looking back, it is vast and boundless... This is the iron sword 'Donghua' that the old man sank into the sea for ten years, right?"

Lonely Triumph discarded the scabbard, gently stroking the cold blade with one hand, a humming dragon's roar echoing around him. His expression was solemn as he touched the iron sword, as if appraising a rare treasure, his whole body radiating a warm glow, carrying an air of reverence.

"Ten years ago, I came to Qinglong Town and, following my father's arrangement, drowned Donghua at the bottom of the sea, becoming an ordinary merchant. However, every night when I wake up from my dreams, I always hear the sound of swords echoing from the coast, and I finally understand that my heart is not at peace." Lonely Triumph flicked his wrist, and the shimmering white sword light flowed like the moon's reflection in the river, piercing through with a sharp sword aura. "I should live life to the fullest, rising and falling with the tides, and be a carefree young master who enjoys life to the fullest."

Ten years of honing a sword, yet its sharp edge remains untested.

Alone and triumphant, he gripped his iron sword tightly, his robes billowing in the wind as he strode into the main courtyard.

The village was filled with bright torches, and under their light, the young faces were solemn.

"Fellow young heroes!" Lonely Triumph clasped his hands in a crisp salute, the tip of his Donghua Sword pointing downwards, its cold light carrying the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon. "I've heard that the Japanese have reinforced their forces tonight with six thousand, including the Mizukuri ninjas skilled in suicide bombings. We, on the other hand, only have two thousand fighters. The disparity in strength is considerable..."

"We are not afraid!" someone in the crowd shouted loudly, and instantly the echoes rolled in, one wave after another, like a roar.

"Thank you... Lonely Triumph thanks you all!" He steadied himself and said loudly, "With a formidable enemy at hand and time pressing, I only ask you to remember one thing: Do not act rashly; let a thousand men be of one mind, advancing and retreating together!"

The trees stood stark and stern, their shadows thick and heavy. In the inky darkness, silvery figures tumbled and rolled, hundreds of Water Drinkers forming three concentric circles, slowly creeping towards the manor gate. Behind the shimmering silver ripples, countless Black Tide warriors spread out like wings, relentlessly pursuing and attacking.

The slope in front of the villa resembled a sieve, shimmering with dense shadows of people. Two lanterns hung from the gate, creaking and groaning in the wind, emitting a monotonous noise.

Dead silence.

A crow took flight with a start, hurtling towards the distant sky. Its cry, trailing a trembling tail, had not yet faded when suddenly a long, bright light illuminated the sky, a rosy glow descended, and a powerful sword aura cleaved through the darkness.

The attack was powerful, like a tidal wave crashing into the shore without any deviation. Everyone recognized the sharpness of the sword and dodged to the sides. The silver-clad warrior was a little too slow, and with a few hissing sounds, the wounds on his armor were already stretched open.

Lonely Triumph stepped out, sword in hand, and smiled slightly as he faced the outside of the manor: "I am deeply grateful to the Left Envoy for his high regard and for his unwavering loyalty in pursuing me all the way from Qinglong Town. Today, I, Lonely Triumph, am opening the gates of my manor once more and inviting you all to a tidy and clean courtyard!"

Old Jin stood behind the others, squinting at the gleam of the longsword, and was slightly moved: "Donghua, one of the Iron Swords, is said to be a swordsman of the Lonely Young Master. He has received the true teachings of the Iron Sword Ancestor and ranks among the top three swordsmen... It seems that this is true today."

The night wind stirred, and the lonely triumphant figure, adorned with tassels, rose and fell, his form as clear as heaven and earth, yet without the slightest sway: "You flatter me!" Before the words were finished, his green robes swayed, and he suddenly sprang up, his long sword, cold and sharp, slashing down coldly from the sky!

At the same time, the wind howled continuously within the village, and one figure after another leaped up, throwing javelins at the water!

The water rippled and murmured softly.

The moonlight was dim, and the crowd was engaged in a chaotic battle.

In front of the main gate of Qixing Villa, amidst the scattered trees, young lives fought a bloody battle, tinging the desolate night with a spectacle of life and death.

7. Deception

The sword is drawn from its hidden sheath, its cold light piercing the air. Ten years of honing this sword will culminate in its magnificent brilliance tonight.

Lonely Triumph unleashed a powerful and exhilarating sword strike, unleashing the full force of his being. The white, gleaming water surrounding him formed an impenetrable barrier around the central figure. When Pear Brother glanced back, the sword's edge and the silver-clad water armor had merged into one, indistinguishable from friend to foe.

A lone figure triumphs, its azure shadow flashing, as it gathers its strength and cleaves the ground with a single sword strike. White light coalesces, sword energy surges, and the sword's blade gleams with a chilling aura. The surrounding air condenses around the sword, forming a bowl-shaped vortex that coils and twists with the power of a dragon.

The sword aura is too powerful!

After Lao Jin concealed himself as a Black Tide warrior, he carefully observed the movements of Lonely Triumph. The sword wind swept through the Water Drinking Formation, like flowers in full bloom, and the silver-white figures withered and fell to the ground one after another, followed by a wave of ninjas rushing forward.

"I'll exhaust you to death." Old Jin sneered.

Several youths who rushed out of the manor screamed and fell to the ground. The water, glowing with white light, viciously pounced on them, like leopards that had been starving for a long time. Lonely Triumph suddenly turned around, his longsword sweeping horizontally, producing a dragon's roar with a whoosh. The cold sword flow expanded and echoed, as if it were about to explode the air at any moment.

His sword moves were simple and swift as flowing water. Old Jin caught a glimpse of the sword shadow out of the corner of his eye and, after watching for a moment, suddenly realized: No wonder the triumphant Donghua only used horizontal sweeps and side slashes; it turned out he wanted to keep his distance from Shuiyin and prevent them from getting close enough to detonate the sword.

Witnessing the brilliance of Jian Chu Donghua, he could sense that the loneliness tonight was quite different. It was definitely not the cold and aloof person that was rumored to be, nor was it the refined and handsome person that his young master described.

Without hesitation or regret, the lone victor unleashed his long-dormant power, each strike fierce and ruthless, like a raging storm engulfing the earth, his sword unstoppable.

Beside him were his companions and the sword intent he longed to unleash. Waves of exhilarating heat coursed through his body, and the long-dormant Donghua Sword finally burst forth, unleashing its power once more, following the Wufang Shiyang Liekong and opening its heavenly wings.

With a gust of air, the water-drinking formation was cleaved open, and Lonely Triumph Donghua, sword tip pointed at Old Jin, smiled and said, "Left Envoy, how delightful! You're willing to send some crab soldiers and shrimp generals to flush out the water, but you yourself are hiding and acting coy like a young lady!"

His voice was clear and distinct, reaching everyone's ears accurately. Pear Bro slashed through the crowd and peeked at Old Jin, who hadn't been provoked and was still hiding behind the men in black. He smirked, secretly laughing at the town lord's ruthless nature, and chimed in, "Those assassins are dripping wet, they really do look like surfing shrimp! Look at the Left Envoy, waving his arms left and right, doesn't he look like a turtle prime minister delivering imperial edicts?"

Lonely Triumph, with his back to Pear, did not reply after hearing this, but only smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "He can't hold back any longer."

Pear Brother nimbly spun around like a top in front of Lonely Triumph and asked, "Do we really have to force him to make a move?"

Before Lonely Triumph could answer, Old Jin had already made his decision, achieving his goal perfectly—Old Jin coldly curled the corner of his mouth, pursed his lips, and let out a whooshing sound.

A straight figure shot into the sky like a bullet, then landed with a thud in front of the manor gate.

"Seize the opportunity and attack!" Old Jin shouted loudly again, directing the water brigade to seize the opportunity to encircle and annihilate them.

The newcomer had dull eyes and broad, thick palms. He pushed aside the approaching enemy and smiled faintly at him: "I've been waiting for you for a long time, Master An."

Brother Pear, blade in hand, nimbly rolled into the circle and stood up deftly: "Is this the big gift you wanted to give?"

As Lone Triumph's sword flashed, he took a moment to reply, "Don't kill him. I want him alive. I heard from Silver Light that Chu Yi likes An's cooking."

The water-drinking formation circled around the two, while An Jie, inside the formation, unleashed a swift palm strike, intending to kill his prey.

Lonely Triumph's longsword spun, its hum resounding throughout the land. Pear's eyes reflected the crimson light as he slashed left and right, working with Lonely Triumph to repel attack after attack. Large plumes of blood mist fell like fine rain, staining their hair, blades, and clothes with blood, like a jujube tree reborn from blood.

...

The sounds of fighting echoed through the night on the hillside, and blood seeped into the grass roots, staining the earth red. Cool mist lingered on the grass blades, and by dawn, the area outside Seven Star Manor was littered with corpses dressed in rags, a sight of utter devastation and disease.

Many years later, the soil of the Seven Stars reeked of foul odors and could no longer support any plant.

The sky was ablaze with rosy light, the sun was shining brightly, and a new day had begun.

Leng Shuangcheng steadied the reins, and the white horse neighed, raising its hooves to a stop at the gate of the Qingzhou Imperial Residence. With a light leap, she floated into the residence like a purple cloud, her feet barely touching the ground.

When the guards tried to stop her, Leng Shuangcheng removed the disguise mask covering her face and nimbly flipped over to enter the inner courtyard.

Lonely Triumph led everyone in a bloody battle, and she could imagine how fierce the battle was, so she didn't stop and walked faster than anyone else.

Along the way, the fragrance of lotus blossoms remained unchanged, and the elegance of pavilions and terraces remained the same. Guards stood watch every three zhang, maintaining the usual strict vigilance. She walked straight into the Prince's residence in the East Garden. The maids and guards bowed and retreated to the door. Leng Shuangcheng approached the inner room and stood quietly a zhang away from the bed, watching.

Dressed in elegant white robes, Qiu Ye's face was pale, her skin pale with a bluish tinge, looking as thin as a sheet of paper. He lay silently, and she gazed at him silently. Everything remained the same, as if the two had never been separated and time had never passed.

"Night." A sweet, cloying sensation surged up his throat. Leng Shuangcheng endured it for a long time, but still couldn't suppress the soreness and coughed.

Blood splattered out, spreading across her palm; the red against her pale skin was a shocking sight.

Leng Shuangcheng was startled and quickly clenched her hand that was covering her lips, subtly wiping away the blood from the corner of her lips: "Ye, come out, I know you're here."

The curtains fluttered slightly, and a figure completely shrouded in darkness emerged from behind a tree, bowing respectfully: "Madam."

"I have something to tell you." Leng Shuangcheng faced the window, her lips slightly parted, her voice a thin line reaching his ears, "Protect the Crown Prince well. Only after all the wars have been quelled, remember, after all the wars between the Central Plains and the Northern Frontier have ended, can you pass this message on to him..."

As she said this, tears slowly streamed down her face, white and transparent tears covering her cheeks and rolling down like pearls: "I miss him, and I will definitely go back to him."

A cool breeze swept through, rustling the gauze curtains and fluttering the tassels, making the room suffocatingly quiet. Leng Shuangcheng stood silently for a moment, tears streaming down her face like a winding river, crying bitterly and silently for a long time.

"Spread the word that I'm going to White Stone Mountain, but do it discreetly. Send a message to Xiao Bai in Green Dragon Town, asking her to assist Young Master Lonely in his retreat." She took one last look at the white-clad Qiu Ye lying still, tears streaming down her face as she walked out of the camp.

June 19th, at 1-3 PM, eight hours after the Battle of the Seven Stars, and two quarters of an hour after Leng Shuangcheng left the camp.

At daybreak, Huang Yushuxue received the battle report: Lonely Triumph led his men in a desperate resistance, refusing to retreat an inch from Seven Stars. After Yuwen Xiaobai arrived, the remaining forces suddenly withdrew. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, with Seven Stars' side nearly wiped out...

Sunlight bathed her in white, her hair slicked back, creating shimmering shadows like a vibrant, beautiful scene. She stood gracefully by the window, gazing at the winding bridge and flowing water, her face as gentle as a painting: "Father."

The man who had been gazing at the flowing water turned his face away.

His long, dark eyebrows reached his temples, his thin, purple lips were delicate and bright, and his clothes fluttered in the wind. His handsome face was like that of a banished immortal.

Shuxue gazed intently at his features, her voice filled with infatuation: "Father, the young master looks just like you."

Qiu Yinyuan smiled gently, a subtle and reserved smile, with only ripples lingering at the corners of his eyes, like a pond in spring water being disturbed. "Are you still determined to continue this entanglement?" He smiled calmly, without the slightest hint of anger.

Shuxue stretched out her slender fingers and wrapped them around the palace silk, turning her head to chuckle: "Father has been thinking of you for twenty years, but now that we're about to meet, he's feeling apprehensive?"

Qiu Yinyuan smiled: "You really have the heart of a child. In order to prove your ability to Madam Xiaoju, you did not hesitate to order the entire sect to come out and deplete all the power of the Tantric sect."

“No, Father.” Shu Xue shook her head, a charming smile playing on her lips. “My purpose is not so simple. I not only want to wreak havoc on the martial arts world of the Central Plains, but I also want to bring back the young master and keep him by our side for the rest of his life.” She suddenly began to murmur softly, like a poet gazing at her reflection in water, lamenting the passing of spring and the passing of the moon: “Does Father not know who I am doing this for…”

Qiu Yinyuan was silent for a moment, then said softly, "You don't understand him. For the past twenty years, I have been watching him grow silently, from a young master to the all-powerful Prince Qiuye. I know every step of his journey. Over the years, I have never seen him fail, never seen him surpassed by anyone. Everything he does is carefully planned before he acts, and his strategies are often implemented very early on."

"Hehe." Shu Xue laughed in the wind, her laughter like a clear, resonant bell echoing by the window. "Every time Father mentions the young master, he has this same expression, as if he's watching his son take control of the world, filled with immense pride and satisfaction! But Father should also consider that I am also your daughter! Just because I am a child brought from Mother, does Father disregard me and care about me so much? Speaking of which, I also pity my mother. She devoted herself entirely to Father, yet in the end, she was not even as good as the deceased Ye Ying. In the end, she still couldn't gain Father's approval and lived for twenty years bearing the title of 'Lady Xiaoju'!"

Qiu Yinyuan's face was ashen, and he remained silent, only quietly looking back at Shuxue, his dark eyes filled with pity. A few steps away, Shuxue noticed the gentle, indifferent aura of the person before her, like a second Qiuye Gongzi after the snow melted. She suddenly snapped out of her daze, tugged at her white silk ribbon, covered her mouth, and chuckled softly, "I've lost my composure. I was truly foolish. Father's advice was for my own good!"