Give it to me, Part Two (Newly Revised)
The carriage sped along the scorched yellow road, kicking up clouds of dust.
"So, Brother Yishan is going to Mount Hua to deliver the sword to Zian." Pei Jiangxi held the bundle in her left hand, her right hand hovering near her lips, revealing surprise before turning to delight.
"It's quite a coincidence that Boyu and I were also on our way to deliver a sword to Mount Hua."
As he spoke, Pei Jiangxi pulled out an exquisite sword case from under the chair.
Just as Pei Jiangxi was about to open the sword box, Su Yishan pressed down on the lid of the sword box.
"Shixi, it's best not to show me this sword." Su Yishan, seeing Pei Jiangxi's confusion, continued to explain:
"You may not know this because you're not a member of the martial arts world, but the shape, wear, and weight of a weapon can indirectly reflect a person's martial arts style. It should not be drawn lightly."
"Since you're not participating in the competition anyway, it won't hurt to watch."
"Although I am not directly participating in the competition, it would be unjust for me to peek at this great swordsman's sword here."
Having said that, Pei Jiangxi had no choice but to give up in frustration.
"I wonder what the relationship is between the owner of this sword and Shi Xi?"
Pei Jiangxi rested her chin on her hand and pondered before saying, "My husband?"
“No,” Pei Jiangxi immediately denied, “Our families arranged a marriage between us when we were still in our mothers’ wombs. But I haven’t married into the family yet.”
Pei Jiangxi's eyes flickered, and she smiled shyly, saying, "He said he'd marry me if I won first place this time."
Winning first place is no easy feat. While inwardly sighing, Su Yishan felt a little relieved for some reason.
“Let’s not talk about that,” Pei Jiangxi said mysteriously, patting the bundle beside her. “I’ll show you this.”
The bundle was untied, and inside was a golden Buddha statue.
“This golden Buddha is the key to our journey,” Pei Jiangxi said in a low voice. “My father asked me to entrust this golden Buddha to Master Wuxin and ask him for some guidance. This will make my marriage much easier.”
"Is Shi Xi referring to Master Wuxin of Xinyuan Temple, the witness to this sword-testing tournament?"
“Indeed, I’ve heard that this master is a master swordsman. I’m sure he would enlighten me if he could give me some guidance.” Pei Jiangxi nodded repeatedly.
"But I heard that this master is a senior who is pure and has few desires, and this golden Buddha probably can't move his great Buddha statue."
Pei Jiangxi wrapped the golden Buddha again and said firmly, "Don't worry about Yishan, this isn't the first time our family has asked the monks of Xinyuan Temple for help. It's just that Zian has had to go through so much trouble."
Do you want to marry into that family?
Pei Jiangxi blushed deeply and said, "It is the will of my parents and the words of the matchmaker. How could Shi Xi dare to disobey?"
"It's a good thing you're not participating in this tournament, Brother Yishan, otherwise I would have been really worried that the young master of that family wouldn't be able to beat you." Pei Jiangxi patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
Pei Jiangxi recalled, "When we were young, we practiced martial arts together. Zi'an was always absent-minded. Among the three of us, you were always the most focused and practiced better."
Su Yishan smiled helplessly. Actually, it wasn't that he didn't want to participate, but rather that he was unable to because of his status as a sword attendant.
Pei Jiangxi knew in her heart that Su Yishan was unable to participate, and her performance today was meant to plant a seed of discord in Su Yishan's heart.
In this fictional world, while anyone can learn martial arts, what's even more important than cultivation is the inheritance of family martial arts and internal energy. Just like in reality, while there are certainly people who start from scratch, most wealth comes from the accumulation and inheritance of a family over generations.
The so-called Sword Testing Tournament, which supposedly gathers all the wise and talented, only invites young masters and ladies from prestigious families. Even sword apprentices from renowned clans are not invited, let alone the fallen sword apprentices of the He family.
Pei Jiangxi has already snatched the female lead's right-hand woman, so naturally, the male lead He Zi'an's right and left arms must also be sown apart. Only by constantly weakening the forces around the protagonist can there be a greater chance of survival.
“Zi’an has changed a lot too,” Su Yishan said.
"It's good if you can win," Pei Jiangxi replied without hesitation.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
At this moment, Wang Boyu parted the curtain and said, "Miss, we have arrived."
The bright red exterior walls separate the Le Lai Restaurant from the desolate scenery outside, while the osmanthus tree in the middle of the courtyard exudes a stronger fragrance than usual under the scorching sun.
Unlike the desolation on the road, as soon as Pei Jiangxi and Su Yishan stepped off the carriage, they heard thunderous applause coming from the tavern.
The two young blacksmiths were pushed out of the main hall and stumbled back to the front yard, their faces flushed. They were still wearing the unique uniform of the Sword Forging City.
Pei Jiangxi was also surprised to see Li Letian; he shouldn't have appeared at this point in the story.
The story originally didn't begin until He Zi'an distinguished himself at the Sword Testing Tournament, after which Li Letian would first appear in Xin Rui'en's memories. Based on past reincarnation experiences, Li Letian should have been completely unknown before that.
"There's such a lively tavern on this official road," Su Yishan remarked, looking at the two people who had been squeezed out.
Pei Jiangxi quickly stepped forward to block Su Yishan's view and said, "Brother Yishan, it is said that there is a fairy named Han at Lelai Restaurant who is proficient in music."
Su Yishan looked at the radiant faces of the crowd in the hall, and then followed their gaze to the stage, where he saw a lone pipa standing on it.
"Ah, it seems we're late today," Pei Jiangxi said disappointedly.
The group quickly stepped into the lobby.
Suddenly, Pei Jiangxi tugged at Su Yishan's clothes and said excitedly, "Brother Yishan, look there."
Su Yishan looked in the direction Pei Jiangxi was pointing, and a slender, tall figure came into view.
The woman in white walked with her back straight, moving with the grace of a breeze, her spirit soaring, her skirt fluttering.
*
Regardless, according to Pei Jiangxi's design, "Li Shixi" is an unmarried young lady and it's inappropriate for her to linger in places frequented by others. Pei Jiangxi greeted Su Yishan and then went to her guest room alone.
She deliberately slowed her pace, taking small, quick steps. Lifting her skirt, she climbed the somewhat old stairs, being extra careful to step softly to avoid making too much noise.
Su Yishan and Wang Boyu treated the horse together, and it wasn't until the hour of You (5-7 PM) that the two of them were able to sit down and rest peacefully.
The two sat down facing each other. Su Yishan was still carrying the heavy sword case on his back, which made him lean slightly backward.
Wang Boyu casually leaned the sword case against the table, unaware that it had been slightly ajar. He was busy wolfing down the noodles in his bowl and enjoying the chunks of cooked beef on the table with raw chili peppers.
"Waiter, another half pound of cooked beef, please!" Wang Boyu suddenly raised his hand holding the chili pepper and shouted.
After eating two more pieces, the waiter brought over a bowl of vegetarian noodles, which was for Pei Jiangxi.
Wang Boyu wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with both hands, then wiped them on his trousers.
He got up, picked out two larger pieces of beef, and placed them in Pei Jiangxi's bowl. As he did so, he smiled and greeted Su Yishan, saying, "Master Su, you should eat more meat too. This beef is stewed until very tender; it's quite good."
Picking up the bowl, Wang Boyu walked steadily upstairs to Pei Jiangxi's room.
Watching Wang Boyu's figure disappear down the stairs, Su Yishan's gaze involuntarily drifted to the sword box lying diagonally on the table.
Perhaps due to the angle and lighting, all that could be seen through the barely open crack was pitch black.
Su Yishan removed the sword case and sat up straight.
Heavy footsteps came from the second floor, and after a while, a thin monk came down unsteadily, carrying a patched cloth bag.
The young monk wore an ill-fitting robe, clearly altered from an adult's. It was patched in various colors and shades, with patches here and there.
"Let me help you, little master."
Su Yishan got up to help, but as soon as his hand touched the cloth bag, the little monk cleverly twisted the bag to the side. A corner of the bag swayed, and Su Yishan could vaguely see a golden spiral hair bun inside.
"Thank you, benefactor, this humble monk can carry it." The young monk smiled and quickly walked out of the shop.
"Master Su, there's no need to worry. Just stay here for the night. I estimate the horse will be almost fully recovered by tomorrow morning."
Wang Boyu returned just in time, knowing that Su Yishan had discovered the young monk had taken the golden Buddha. He eagerly awaited what Su Yishan would say.
Su Yishan stared at him for a moment, then simply nodded.
"Master Su, I've already inquired about everything." Wang Boyu reached for the teapot beside him, poured the tea directly into the bowl, and used wooden chopsticks to break up the clump of dough.
Wang Boyu continued his work without stopping, stirring the object as he spoke: "This Fairy Han will be performing at 9:00 AM. I've reserved a seat for you tomorrow. Just come down and let's go see this celestial beauty together."
Su Yishan looked at Wang Boyu, who was eating tea noodles with his head covered in saliva, seemingly lost in thought, but ultimately remained silent.
*
The next morning, the hall became lively. Su Yishan could hear some noises from his room on the second floor; it seemed that everyone had come to watch the pipa performance. However, the performance wouldn't start until 9:00 AM, so those who had come from afar could only order some food and sit and wait.
It was getting brighter outside the window, and the noise in the hall was getting louder.
Suddenly, the crowd erupted in cheers. Su Yishan roughly guessed that it was the Fairy Han who had appeared.
Su Yishan stepped out of the room, leaned on the railing, and looked down at the lobby.
The woman on the stage sat towards the back, so from upstairs you couldn't see her upper body, only her feet, which were placed side by side without moving, with her snow-white insteps faintly visible under the thin gauze of her skirt.
The crowd spontaneously quieted down. The sound of a pipa rose and drifted over the crowd, reaching Su Yishan's ears.
Sometimes it's like a violent storm, sometimes like a beautiful woman's whisper, sometimes melodious and smooth, sometimes difficult and low.
The feet remained still and at ease, as if all the excitement and twists and turns had never happened; only the hem of the skirt swayed with the woman's movements.
Su Yishan was stirred by the rhythm and searched for Wang Boyu in the crowd. At that moment, Wang Boyu seemed to sense it as well and looked at Su Yishan, waving his arm at him from the crowd.
Pei Jiangxi sat upright on the bed, listening attentively.
Amidst the ever-changing music, a sudden door slamming sound was heard.
Pei Jiangxi finally showed the same smile as the audience on the first floor.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
