Chapter 157: Also a Journey to the Ends of the Earth (Part 2)
The overwhelming sounds of battle lifted the entire Sanhelou building, making it float above the myriad phenomena of Bianjing.
Downstairs, the scene was murky and chaotic, a corner stained with blood and tears. Hundreds and thousands of these corners pieced together faces glaring with fury, roars, and screams. Whether they were disciples of the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion or the Six and a Half Hall, it was impossible to tell with the naked eye. The cold glint of swords and blades pierced the sunlight, the surging of weapons seemed to vow to change the color of the entire street. From this point on, life and death were in the hands of fate; the losers would become withered bones, the victors heroes.
Upstairs, however, was a completely different scene, a completely different silence.
The stillness after the first round of combat, like an arrow poised on a bowstring or a sword about to be drawn, is sometimes the very eye-opening stillness at the heart of the storm.
Stillness is the extreme of movement; stillness is the pinnacle of power.
Su Mengzhen stood silently, bent over, coughing in fits and starts, as if his back would never straighten again. Even when he was upright, he was haggard, his illness seemingly hollowing out his bones. Yet, his soul still remained, strong enough to support his sword. He gripped the red-sleeved blade tightly, each grip tightening with each stroke. The blade's gleam resembled the eyes of a beautiful woman, sorrowful and poignant, all under the perfect light of the setting sun.
Lei Sun also stood still, his hands behind his back, like a golden bell, impeccable in every way. His age was reflected in his wrinkles, but also in his experience. As a result, he was calm and composed, as if he had the situation under control. There was little panic about being besieged. His sleeves fluttered in the wind, which only made his great power more apparent and his position as firm as a mountain.
Three steps to Su Mengzhen's side stood Bai Feifei at the very edge of the stillness, her blue robes fluttering in the wind like the lingering shadow of a bird. Su Mengzhen was not in her sight; she was only focused on Lei Sun, watching his every move. What difference was there between being bitten by her and being bitten by a venomous snake? Perhaps the difference lay in her ruthlessness, sometimes even more like a natural disaster, where cries of agony filled the wilderness, yet she would still accomplish what she set out to do.
The wind and waves subside, the world turns upside down, stillness gives way to movement, and the knife reveals the man's face!
Lei Sun's initiative was not entirely unexpected. He understood that only he could deal with Su Mengzhen and Bai Feifei. He was already well aware of the unfathomable depth of Su Mengzhen's Red Sleeve Blade Technique, and Bai Feifei, while no less skilled than Lei Dongtian, was completely unknown to him. Therefore, he could not afford to wait. While an ordinary person might think of proceeding cautiously, Lei Sun knew that giving Su Mengzhen time to gather his strength would be tantamount to handing over the initiative.
Since that's the case, why not give it our all?
The blade was swift and fierce, its momentum like a giant eagle swooping down on a rabbit. The sleeves billowed, and the blade, with the power to cleave mountains and shatter rocks, came slanted out, without hesitation or deliberation, aimed directly at Su Mengzhen's neck. The blade flew swiftly, its energy enveloping all around. The surging internal force within the blade was both visible and hidden, its speed varying to obscure its true trajectory. The blade's edge and shadow were sometimes as swift as thunder, sometimes as deep as a swamp—its power was undeniably domineering.
Faced with such a strike, Su Mengzhen had nothing to fear. Hongxiu appeared again, and the wind seemed to clear, as if his illness had ended instantly. He raised his hand and swung his sword, the rainbow shadow was breathtakingly beautiful, truly living up to its name. It was like the eyes of a lover, the last glimpse of a lover, the last wave of Hongxiu. So this was also a lingering yet resolute strike, just as the mortal world is all-pervasive in a person's life, instantly cutting into Lei Sun's sword shadow.
Using skill to overcome force and technique to break through strength, even the changes in speed could not put Su Mengzhen at a disadvantage. Dozens of moves passed in the blink of an eye, turning the surrounding tables and chairs into dust.
After several dozen more moves, the two separated and joined forces. Lei Sun exchanged his palm for his sword, and with a gust of wind from his palm, Su Mengzhen used the momentum to retreat. The sword light turned back to protect himself, and he bent over again, coughing softly.
Lei Sun gave him no chance to catch his breath, switching his palm for a knife. In an instant, his palm turned as black as iron, fierce and powerful, like an iron tower, ready to take Su Mengzhen's heart meridian.
A figure a few steps behind her flashed in front of her—this was her chance! Bai Feifei spun around, as if she were a dark light, a ghost, impossible for people to catch. She didn't even bother to stir up any human presence, let alone the warmth of the mundane world.
However, she was not a true ghost. With her fingers forming a sword, a cold and sharp gust of wind pierced directly at Lei Sun's ribs, aiming to cut into his flesh. Unarmed, she was more powerful than countless ordinary soldiers.
Lei Sun's heart skipped a beat. If this "sword" hit, the consequences would be unimaginable. Bai Feifei was indeed as formidable as Di Feijing had said, and her timing was incredibly sharp. He had no choice but to be distracted, turning his palm and flipping to the side to use his powerful internal energy to disperse her finger strikes.
This, in turn, left Su Mengzhen with a huge opening.
His eyes suddenly became incredibly bright, burning away his cough and illness, replacing his gauntness and pain. The next moment, a sharp and incomparable blade of light appeared, which then surged in size in an instant.
My lover is gone, my lover has departed, our romance is over, and the beauty has faded. Gone are the tender moments; now only endless sorrow remains, like a sudden storm. This is a farewell, a resolute declaration that since ancient times, love has often ended in regret, and that we will never meet again.
It is to dedicate oneself to the annihilation of this strike, so that even in old age, this strike will have existed!
Everything about "Twilight Rain and Red Sleeve Blade" is contained in this blade, as is everything about Su Mengzhen. This is a lament that regrets the world, filled with sorrow and desolation, arriving with recklessness and leaving no room for compromise.
Lei Sun was attacked from both sides and knew he had no choice but to take the blow. However, Bai Feifei's eerie and chilling finger winds had at least 40% distracted him. Her speed was increasing and her attacks were becoming more and more erratic. He could only roar and urge all his internal energy to its peak, then push Bai Feifei back a step before he could fly his hands to take Su Mengzhen's earth-shattering blow. At the same time, he tried to twist his body to avoid Bai Feifei's next pursuit.
He did dodge, because Bai Feifei did not pursue him from the side.
Ghosts are unpredictable. The force of his palm clashed violently with the blade. The ghost saw through his weakness and appeared behind him.
She made only one move and only intended to make one move.
One move is enough!
Chai Yuguan's obsession with the Ghostly Secret Manual back then certainly had its twisted logic. If we're talking about ruthlessness and the ability to take lives, there aren't many martial arts techniques in the world that can be ranked above the Ghostly Secret Manual. Besides, she is Bai Feifei, and the previous twenty years of her life were all about killing her own father.
The graceful movement transformed into a domineering one, unleashing a chilling aura. Bai Feifei harbored constant resentment, hence this palm strike was born of deep-seated hatred and sleepless nights; Bai Feifei could never forget, hence this palm strike was both gentle and lingering; but Bai Feifei was also resolutely ruthless, hence this palm strike was vicious and piercing; Bai Feifei was driven to madness, hence this palm strike was solely aimed at death!
With profound internal energy poured into this palm strike, it was gently pushed against Lei Sun's back. It immediately pierced through to the bone, displaying a ferocious and domineering hatred that transcended the mortal realm. It forcefully tore through Lei Sun's protective internal energy, directly invading his internal organs, while simultaneously pouring in a frenzied cold poison that relentlessly ravaged him.
A sweet taste rose in Lei Sun's throat, and he was about to spit out a mouthful of blood. This wasn't right. What kind of move was this? And why would the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion have someone who could use such a vicious technique?
There was no time to think; thinking was Su Mengzhen's chance.
The crimson sleeves and flashing blades were meant to steal his life; the setting sun had already fallen, and the past could not be retrieved.
Using all his strength, Lei Sun turned his head at the last second and parried with his palm.
A splash, a line of crimson blood.
Lei Sun let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale. Two of his fingers flew out diagonally and were cleanly severed by Su Mengzhen, leaving a crimson line before falling into the dust.
At that very moment, a large hole suddenly blasted open in the wall of a room inside the building, and smoke and dust billowed up, obscuring the view. A burly man, as imposing as a mountain, stormed into the battlefield with unstoppable force. It was none other than Lei Dongtian, the second master of the Six and a Half Hall.
He came to save Lei Sun. Without saying a word, he thrust out both palms at the same time, with the force of a storm, violent and fierce, like thunder on a clear day. His palm wind swept towards Su Mengzhen and Bai Feifei like a tidal wave, churning the earth and splitting rivers.
This palm strike used most of his strength, and its advantage lay in its unexpected attack. Faced with this powerful palm strike, both of them chose to avoid its edge. Bai Feifei used her lightness skill and instantly appeared several meters away. Su Mengzhen's red sleeves formed a net, cutting away the surging palm wind.
Having already succeeded, Lei Dongtian didn't linger. He grabbed the injured Lei Sun and heard Lei Sun shout, "Let's go!"
Their bodies transformed into lightning, and they flew backward out of the huge hole created by the thunderous impact. After several leaps and bounds, they disappeared among the eaves and tiles outside the building.
Su Mengzhen did not pursue.
He wiped the blood from his lips without speaking. A few drops of blood slid down his red-sleeved dagger, just like the flush on his face after he coughed again. But this did not stop him from looking down at the battle outside the building. This chaotic situation should finally come to an end for the first battle.
Sunlight streamed in through the window and the hole, illuminating the still-flying dust and the dilapidated Sanhe Building. Su Mengzhen murmured, "Severing two of his fingers and injuring his heart and lungs is better than killing a hundred men. You did a good job today. Let's go."
Bai Feifei didn't move, looked around, and kept saying, "I'm going to find Xie Huailing."
Su Mengzhen's voice became even softer, so soft that it didn't come out of his throat, but instead drew him into his memories.
In the dimly lit study, where her features were barely discernible, he still remembered her expression—a nonchalant, expressionless look. At the very center of his memory, in his eyes, it told him:
"Lord, I will take Di Feijing away tomorrow. Please don't worry about what I do or when I will return."
When she said this, he naturally had to agree. As her partner and superior in discussing important matters, he had to have complete faith in her. He couldn't stop her from taking the risk and had to send her there.
But aside from these identities, he suffered from illness and death thousands of times, yet he only experienced this one moment of wild drunkenness, and after endless battles with fierce warriors, all he gained was a single poem.
Su Mengzhen wiped the red-sleeved knife, her expression unclear, and said, "She has her own things to do, let her do it."
.
"Achoo!"
Xie Huailing sneezed, feeling as if she'd been stung by a voodoo doll; even in the sweltering summer heat, goosebumps were rising on her skin. This was certainly no good sign; she was definitely being talked about behind her back. Who could it be? Bai Feifei never meant anything by her insults; she was just being sarcastic. Su Mengzhen had too high a moral compass, so it couldn't be him either. It was probably Lei Sun, that old geezer, that really old geezer.
Fortunately, she was magnanimous. Considering that he was almost dead anyway, she didn't care. People are generally forgiving of the dead.
The young maid at the inn was only twelve or thirteen years old, with her hair still styled in a child's bun. When she saw her suddenly sneeze, she came over with concern. Her clever mind turned quickly, and her slightly thin face was close to hers: "Esteemed guest, are you feeling unwell? Would you like some hot tea?"
Xie Huailing said, "Give me a pot of tea, but we don't need any food."
The little girl nodded, pleased with her own keen eye for spotting good business opportunities. She then pointed to the other side and asked, "Where's that customer over there? Does he want hot tea? Does he want something to eat? Is he sick? Does he want some soup?"
Xie Huailing turned her head away, not minding this little thought. In Bianjing, where everyone was having a hard time, having such a little thought was quite cute. She raised her voice and asked, "They're asking you, do you want it?"
Di Fei sat on the bed in the guest room, his skin so white it was almost lifeless, his neck so fragile it could hardly bend, his delicate features almost boyish, all of which were perfectly accentuated by his frailty. He possessed no air of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world), and those who saw him would not associate him with the martial arts world. He was more like a scholar, a literary figure who would spend an entire night studying poetry, unlike anyone who had ever been involved in the jianghu. He seemed to belong to a world apart from the mortal realm.
Upon hearing Xie Huailing's words, Di Fei exclaimed in surprise. His voice, however, was not weak; he said softly, "Yes."
Xie Huailing exclaimed "Ah!" and estimated the amount of money he had on him.
Expecting her to bring money is like expecting Su Mengzhen to be penniless. Su Mengzhen is never penniless, so she never carries any money. Even the money she has is thanks to Shaman's thoughtful care, who sews it into her sleeves so she can have money to spend and afford to take Di Feijing to stay at the inn.
To be honest, Xie Huailing still didn't have a complete understanding of the Song Dynasty's concept of money. She knew the price of grain and the standard for spending lavishly, but since Su Mengzhen hadn't shortchanged her in anything or made her spend a single penny, she was only guessing about the inn's expenses. Thinking she could afford it, even for seven days, she asked the maid, "What good food do you have here?"
The little girl immediately began reciting the menu: "Vegetarian noodles, braised pork noodles, beef noodles, vegetarian buns, old duck soup, roasted pork skin..."
She kept going on and on, and at such a young age, she was the most dedicated person. Xie Huailing was completely impressed and ordered a bowl of soup and noodles. Seeing how clever she was, he ordered some more food and told her to make sure she brought it up.
The little girl was overjoyed, feeling incredibly clever. She kept in mind her father's advice to be good at getting close to guests, and chatted with Xie Huailing as she memorized it.
Seeing Xie Huailing and Di Feijing's faces, she assumed they were wealthy and of noble birth, spending lavishly. So she asked, "This guest... Sister, where are you from? Why are you in Bianjing at this time?"
"I do live in Bianjing. I just came out of my house to play with that brother." Xie Huailing couldn't really be said to be lying.
The words reached the little girl's ears. Born and raised in the city and in an inn, she was precocious and had seen a lot. She immediately misunderstood: "So that's how it is! Sister, do you know, I thought you two were a perfect match at first glance. You're a handsome man and a beautiful woman... uh, a handsome man and a beautiful woman."
Xie Huailing liked it even more. She usually didn't like children, but this was an exception. She didn't correct the misunderstanding in her words and pinched her cheek.
The little girl's next words became unclear: "But during this time, sister should stay in the inn. Bianjing has been quite unsettled these past few days. My father said there's still more chaos... um, stop pinching... Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou and Liu Fen Ban Tang are fighting."
She spoke very seriously, her expression frightening. Xie Huailing, the actual second-in-command of the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion, known as "The Hand That Cuts the Sky," and the true instigator of this turmoil, feigned surprise, her mouth slightly agape, and said, "What? The Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion and the Six and a Half Hall? That's terrifying? Heavens, what are we going to do!"
The next second, her tone returned to normal, as if she were enjoying the drama, and she asked, "Who do you think will win? You know, that Six and a Half Hall isn't a good company."
"I know." The little girl still couldn't escape Xie Huailing's grasp, staying there resentfully for the sake of money. "My dad often uses it to scare me. When I was little, if I cried, he would say that the Six and a Half Hall was coming to get me. Humph, I'm not a child anymore!"
Xie Huailing exclaimed sincerely, "Being able to stop a child from crying at night, that's a kind of reputation, isn't it?"
Di Fei, the head of the Six and a Half Hall and known as the "Bowing Dragon," was astonished: "..."
After calling another servant to take the menu away, Xie Huailing pulled the little girl aside and continued chatting, asking her, "How much do you know about the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion? Have you heard of 'Slender Hands Cutting the Sky'?"
The little girl thought for a moment: "I've heard of her. Hmm, the chivalrous man who stayed at the inn said she's very beautiful, but a formidable woman. What did he say about her? I haven't learned much from my studies yet."
Xie Huailing said mysteriously, "Let me tell you, I won't tell anyone else. This 'Slender Hands Cut the Sky' is not just beautiful, she's stunningly beautiful, a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, a beauty that could shame the moon and flowers. Do you know what that means? Do you know how to write it? I'll teach you."
The young girl, unaware of the shameless things she had just heard, blinked in confusion. She didn't really want to study while at work, but thinking that this was the God of Wealth—no, the Goddess of Wealth—she decided to endure it. A strong woman can bend over backwards for money.
After all the dishes were served, Xie Huailing gave a few plates to the little girl, telling her to eat them herself. The little girl was flattered and asked if she could take them to her parents. Xie Huailing agreed, and then she left, running out with the dishes to share her joy.
So cute. Xie Huailing thought.
I don't know if Da Song Gu encourages having children; if he did, she would want this one.
Stretching, Xie Huailing yawned again. She rubbed her eyes, picked up the teapot, and poured herself a cup of hot tea. Because it was summer, there was very little steam rising from the teapot; instead, the tea was warm enough to be felt in one's hands, and carried a faint aroma of tea.
The small inn naturally wouldn't have any good tea, but Xie Huailing wasn't picky. He looked at the tea in his cup, picked it up, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Di Feijing leaned against the bedpost and felt her movement. His thick eyelashes flickered, casting an uncertain shadow, but as she approached, the shadow was completely covered.
"Does it still hurt?" Xie Huailing asked, her slender fingers sliding to poke his abdomen without using force, thus avoiding the wound from the hidden weapon. "Have you taken care of the wound yourself? Neither of us brought any medicine, and infection is not good. Also, don't worry, although there was medicine on the hidden weapon, it won't restrict your martial arts or harm your condition. It's just to make you obey me."
Her lips moved as she spoke, her eyes sparkling: "There's no other way. After all, it's just the two of us for the next seven days. What if I get bullied? Someone has to protect me."
Di Feijing moved his lips, but ultimately didn't speak, pursing them back, seemingly filled with boundless sorrow, or perhaps simply serene. Xie Huailing picked up a teacup with one hand and brought it to his lips, rarely serving anyone like this. However, even after she touched his lips with the teacup, Di Feijing didn't open his mouth, remaining forlornly silent, shyly silent.
Xie Huailing stared at him.
She looked him over, from head to toe, then raised her hand and took a sip of the tea in her cup.
"Even though you look like this, I know you're very happy." The teacup was brought to Di Feijing's lips again, her light red lipstick still on it, the fragrance instantly burning over him. This time, she opened his lips and put the teacup into his mouth.
Xie Huailing lifted his face slightly, in a gesture that seemed almost humiliating, and poured the tea she had drunk from into his mouth. Di Feijing lowered his eyes and drank it down drop by drop, swallowing the aroma as well, which naturally became intertwined with his wounds.
Her lip rouge stained his lips, adding a touch of color to his pale face. Then she stretched out her finger, her soft and fragrant fingertip pressing against his equally soft lips, spreading the lip rouge and giving it to his handsome features.
After applying the varnish, Xie Huailing, disgusted that it had stained her fingers, wiped it on his lips, making it look as if he had been bitten.
Once she was sure it was clean, Xie Huailing released him, leaned against the bed, and lazily collapsed onto it, ignoring him completely. She didn't intend to do anything more to him; it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. She didn't want him to die of thirst, and she was already at her limit of sleep. She could fall asleep the moment her head hit the bed. At this moment, dreaming was all she wanted to do; she didn't care about anything else.
With her eyes closed, Xie Huailing commanded, "Get off my bed, I'm going to sleep. Go eat your food, I'm so sleepy, can't you be a little more considerate of me? Don't sit next to me, it's annoying."
But Di Feijing didn't get up either, watching her gradually become still and drift off to sleep right before his eyes.
He remained in this position for half an hour, thinking about many things, yet it was as if he hadn't thought at all. He was controlled by her, threatened by her, poisoned by unknown sources, and even when she was asleep, he couldn't leave her side. She had forcibly dragged him out of the final battle. He wanted to do something for Lei Sun, but he was powerless. He was her prisoner, with no way to escape.
So at this point, he could only listen to her. Even if he racked his brains to think of a way out, he really had no way to get away for the time being. He could only compromise and watch her.
This is the most realistic truth: he simply can't do anything about it.
He truly did run away with her.
so……
Perhaps it was shameful at this moment, but Di Fei lay down on the bed, right next to her body, without touching her, only his nose brushing against her hair. He closed his eyes, listening to her even breathing.
————————!!————————
Thanks for the nutrient solution and the free tickets! Here's an extra chapter! [cheering]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com