Chapter 194
Sparse clouds dotted the sky, and a pale golden light pierced through the entire maple forest. Before the morning dust had even dissipated, the sun had already climbed to the mountaintop.
Man Jiangxue changed her clothes behind the screen, washed up, and then ate breakfast alone in the hall. The disciples had already started practicing their swordsmanship outside. The group was in high spirits, fighting from the front yard to the back yard, and then from the back yard into the woods. When Man Jiangxue put down her chopsticks, they all rushed back, making a ruckus and enjoying themselves immensely.
Yin Qiu wasn't there, but the disciple in charge of meals still brought her a bowl of her favorite red bean soup as usual. Man Jiangxue suddenly had a whim, took a sip, then put it back. She walked to the door and asked, "Hasn't Xiao Qiu come back yet?"
The disciples all stopped, looked at Man Jiangxue, and said in unison, "No."
Man Jiangxue hummed in agreement and instructed, "I'm going to Mingguang Palace. If she returns, you should not make a fuss here. Let her rest properly."
The disciples obediently agreed and saw Man Jiangxue out of the courtyard before continuing their sparring.
After Ji Wanshu descended the mountain, only Bai Ling remained in charge of the Mingguang Hall. When Man Jiangxue arrived, she did not see Xie Yijun. Bai Ling said, "The sun rose early today, so it's probably going to be a good day. The sect leader went to the Lanfeng Pavilion on the back mountain to work. I was just about to deliver some reports from various prefectures and cities. Uncle, why don't you come with me?"
Man Jiangxue nodded, but stopped abruptly after taking only a few steps, saying, "There's something I forgot to do. Wait a moment, and we'll go together when I get back."
Bai Ling said, "Can I send it over first? The sect leader is waiting for it."
Man Jiangxue thought for a moment, then raised her chin and said, "No rush, I'll be back soon. Please have a seat."
Bai Ling looked puzzled, somewhat confused as to why Man Jiangxue insisted she wait for her, but she didn't ask further and obediently sat down at the table with a stack of folded documents. Sure enough, Man Jiangxue returned shortly after leaving, and Bai Ling led the way. Perhaps seeing that Bai Ling was carrying too much, Man Jiangxue even helped her carry a considerable amount. The two followed the mountain steps up the back mountain, and Xie Yijun saw them as soon as she looked up, personally coming out to greet them, saying, "How strange, who has nothing better to do than get up so early?"
Man Jiangxue entered the pavilion, clearly not intending to help Xie Yijun with official business. As soon as she entered, she occupied Xie Yijun's rattan chair, lay down, and then replied, "Xiao Qiu isn't at Jingyue Peak, so I have no one to talk to. I can only come to you."
Bai Ling piled the things on the table and tidied up the memorials that had already been processed. Xie Yijun asked her to brew a pot of new tea. Hearing this, she laughed and said, "No wonder you came here. You are the most leisurely among all the people in the palace. I am busy as a bee. You can take some time to help me."
Smelling the aroma of tea wafting over, Man Jiangxue closed her eyes, feigning sleep, and asked, "Why did you decide to work here?"
“The scenery here is beautiful, much better than being cooped up in the house,” Xie Yijun said, sitting down at the table and gesturing for Bai Ling to go back. “I’ve been staying in Mingguang Palace for over a decade, and I’m so tired of it. It’s good to come out for some fresh air once in a while.”
A mountain breeze swept by, carrying with it a faint, chilly mist. The pavilion's corners were upturned, and soft gauze curtains hung on all sides. Manjiangxue opened her eyes, glanced around at the scenery, and said, "This place is very nice. My master used to like coming here too."
Xie Yijun said, "Yes, the name of Lanfeng Pavilion was personally inscribed by our master. Back then, she didn't like to stay in Mingguang Hall. She often brought us here to drink tea and practice swordsmanship. The other disciples could only envy her."
As one of the sect leader's few disciples, Man Jiangxue and the others not only held high seniority in the palace and became senior uncles at a young age, but were also highly sought after by the disciples due to their superb swordsmanship, making them the center of attention.
Man Jiangxue and Shen Mandong, due to their outstanding appearance and unparalleled swordsmanship, made a name for themselves in the martial arts world at a young age and were known as the "Twin Swallows of Yunhua". Although Wen Chaoyu and Xie Yijun were not as outstanding as the two of them, they were not unknown either, and were also rising stars in the martial arts world at that time.
Wen Chaoyu was carefree and unpretentious, and was the most beloved senior sister among the disciples in the palace at that time. She could chat and laugh with anyone, and even if she just sat down anywhere, she would soon be surrounded by her disciples in high spirits. She had no airs at all.
Although Xie Yijun's martial arts skills were at the bottom, that was only her ranking among the four fellow disciples. In reality, within the entire Yunhua Palace, she was still considered one of the most talented, and she was also extremely diligent and hardworking in her cultivation. In addition, as the sect leader's first disciple, she was the senior disciple of the palace at the time, just like Ye Zhilan. She was in charge of all the affairs of the palace, so her reputation was no less than anyone else's.
These four individuals each possessed unique strengths. Despite their contrasting personalities, they lived in perfect harmony and never engaged in any major conflicts, only experiencing minor squabbles, mostly instigated by Wen Chaoyu. Wen Chaoyu was known for her loose tongue and penchant for teasing, which Man Jiangxue completely ignored. Shen Mandong, however, kept in touch with her. Only Xie Yijun was frequently provoked by Wen Chaoyu's words, though Shen Mandong would mediate and ease the tension.
Overall, the girls had a good relationship and were always role models for the other disciples.
That year, Master decided to select someone to be the chief disciple, and held a sword competition on a bright and sunny day in March. Man Jiangxue had no interest in it, and upon hearing the news, she told Master that she would not participate. Wen Chaoyu was still an undercover agent under Nangong Min's orders at the time, and naturally would not participate after learning about this. Moreover, she was also clear about her own strength. With Shen Mandong ahead of her, there was no way she could be the chief disciple.
This left only Shen Mandong and Xie Yijun. Seeing that Man Jiangxue and Wen Chaoyu had taken their seats in the stands, Xie Yijun also didn't want to fight. Of the four of them, apart from Man Jiangxue, no one could beat Shen Mandong. Xie Yijun had never thought about becoming the chief disciple, so she followed Wen Chaoyu and slipped away, hiding behind the stage.
Unexpectedly, when Master saw Shen Mandong standing alone outside the sword-fighting arena, he immediately flew into a rage, scolding his three disciples mercilessly, saying that they were unambitious, had no competitive spirit, and that as the disciples of the sect leader, they were treating important matters of the palace so lightly, which was simply unbecoming.
Among them, Xie Yijun was the one who was scolded the most. As the senior sister, she should have set a good example for her junior sisters. She shouldn't have been so afraid of battle. Her master said that she had already developed a desire to back down before even starting, which had ruined the atmosphere.
The three of them were publicly scolded. Man Jiangxue remained expressionless, Wen Chaoyu laughed and joked, while Xie Yijun felt ashamed and embarrassed. Helpless, they had no choice but to leave the stands and stand with Shen Mandong.
As a result, after overcoming all obstacles, the four of them were the ones who made it to the end.
This sword duel reached its climax, yet all four knew the final outcome. Just like their usual sparring, Xie Yijun was the first to be eliminated, followed closely by Wen Chaoyu. Man Jiangxue and Shen Mandong put on a respectable fight, giving their master ample face and providing a thrilling spectacle for their disciples. In the final moments, Man Jiangxue, as pre-arranged, yielded a move. Shen Mandong picked up her sword, climbed the flagpole, and snatched the banner, winning the crown and becoming the undisputed chief disciple. In an instant, she enjoyed unparalleled glory and her fame spread far and wide.
If it were anyone else, they might have disdained to yield to Man Jiangxue, even demanding a fierce battle if they couldn't win. But Shen Mandong was very magnanimous. She knew Man Jiangxue didn't care about empty fame, and she knew she might not be able to defeat Man Jiangxue, so she was happy to grant her wish. Whether she became the chief disciple or not didn't matter much to her, but as long as Man Jiangxue got what she wanted, Shen Mandong was completely willing.
After the sword competition came to a successful conclusion, the master and his disciples returned to Mingguang Hall for a routine meeting. The master praised those who deserved praise and scolded those who deserved scolding, leaving no one out. That night, the master led his disciples to the back mountain, where they set out a simple home-cooked meal. Wen Chaoyu was even allowed to drink some wine. The meal was filled with joy and laughter, and everyone was very relaxed and at ease.
After the meal, Master stood in the warm spring breeze that year, recited a few lines of poetry to the moon high in the sky, and then took a brush and ink and wrote the three large characters "Lanfeng Pavilion" with lightning speed.
"Don't try to grasp the bright moon, try to grasp the spring breeze," the master put down his pen, looking at his four proud disciples with a look of satisfaction. "What does this mean? I hope you will not be overly ambitious and will not covet such unrealistic things. The bright moon is unattainable, but the spring breeze comes every year. The journey through the world is long, so you must be content with your lot and be down-to-earth. I hope the four of you will love each other, stand together through thick and thin. Only by being loyal and supportive of each other can you go further. I can then entrust Yunhua Palace to you with peace of mind."
"May you all, even a hundred years from now, remember your original aspirations and walk hand in hand. The future of Yunhua Palace depends on you all."
·
Years have passed, and spring has come again. The scenery at Lanfeng Pavilion remains the same, but the people have gone or left. The five people who used to drink and laugh together can no longer be reunited. This is truly a case of things changing and people being gone.
The clear sunlight streamed down, dispelling the thin mist in the mountains, taking with it the people and scenery of yesteryear. Man Jiangxue leaned back silently in her wicker chair, her pristine white robes rising like gentle clouds, dancing with the breeze. Xie Yijun picked up and put down the folded document in her hand, a slight smile playing on her lips. She sighed, "For no reason, mentioning Master brings back so many memories; it's hard not to feel nostalgic."
Man Jiangxue remained silent, not responding, but simply watching the birds flying in from afar.
Xie Yijun noticed the thoughtful look in her eyes, so she simply put aside her official duties to rest for a while and poured two cups of tea. Xie Yijun said, "I still remember what Master said back then. Now, only the two of us are left in the palace. If Mandong had made the right choice, and if Wen Chaoyu had also abandoned the darkness and embraced the light in time, things might be very different today."
Man Jiangxue straightened up, held the teacup, and gently inhaled the aroma. Her gaze lowered as she looked at her reflection in the cup, and she said calmly, "The last time I saw my senior sister was on the day the Ruyi Sect was wiped out." She paused, finished the tea, and continued, "That day, I returned from the south and rushed there after hearing the news. I saw her in front of the Ruyi Hall. I asked her to come out of the fire, but she refused and stepped into the flames right in front of me. I rushed in and searched for her for a long time without success. Even after the heavy rain extinguished the fire on Liucang Mountain, I never saw her again."
Xie Yijun frowned and asked, "Did she say anything to you? To this day, I still can't understand why she's avoiding me?"
Man Jiangxue put down her teacup and said softly, "She didn't say anything." Then she looked at Xie Yijun and said, "You're closer to the palace than I am. Where will she be when you arrive?"
Xie Yijun sighed again and said, "When the news of the Ziwei Sect's attack on Ruyi Gate reached the palace, Master ordered Wen Chaoyu and me to lead the disciples to help. But Wen Chaoyu ran away immediately. I searched for a while but couldn't find her, so Master and I had to set off first. By the time we arrived, Liucang Mountain was already on fire, and many people had died. Master and I were busy repelling the Ziwei Sect, so we ordered Zhilan, who was already familiar with me at that time, to find Mandong's whereabouts. But how could I have known that Zhilan was a spy? She told me that Mandong was missing and that the newborn Yin Qiu was nowhere to be found. Master and I were overwhelmed and couldn't think of anything else, so we could only believe her. Now that I think about it, how could Zhilan not know? She watched Mandong being murdered and then lied to us. More than ten years have passed, and we only now know that Mandong had already passed away back then. If it weren't for Zhilan's interference, Master and I might have been able to save her life. It's such a pity..."
"And what about Yin Xuan?" Man Jiangxue asked again. "Have you ever seen Yin Xuan?"
Xie Yijun said, "Him? Didn't I tell you already? It's said that he was stabbed in the heart by Man Dong himself. Nangong Min wanted to take him away, but he refused and was determined to die. At that time, my master and I saw him jump into the fire. Later, a rainstorm extinguished the fire. Ruyi Sect was full of charred corpses, and it was impossible to tell who was who. That's why my master told us to collect all the corpses and bury them in the open space behind the old site of Ruyi Sect."
Man Jiangxue leaned back in her chair, took the Ning Shuang sword from her waist and looked at it for a moment, then said, "Since you saw Yin Xuan with your own eyes, was the sword in his heart still there when he walked into the fire?"
"A sword?" Xie Yijun recalled, then shook her head. "Who could remember that? I was just hoping he would die soon, I didn't care whether he had a sword or not."
Hearing her say that, Man Jiangxue fell silent again.
Last time, when Yin Qiu went to Cang County on her own initiative, Nangong Min clearly told her that Yin Xuan never drew his sword until his death. This meant that Yin Xuan's body would be easy to identify. Not to mention that Zhu Bing was originally her master's weapon, how could she not recognize it? But Zhu Bing ultimately fell into Meng Wugui's hands. She sent Afu to the prison of the Yaoding City government to give Zhu Bing to Yin Qiu. She used this sword to convince Yin Qiu and Man Jiangxue that Shen Mandong might still be alive. Only after this did everything begin.
Therefore, it is clear that Meng Wugui was able to obtain the Zhubing by personally taking it from Yin Xuan's corpse.
But what if the corpse she saw wasn't Yin Xuan?
"Why did you suddenly ask Yin Xuan?" Seeing Man Jiangxue's furrowed brows and deep thought, Xie Yijun said, "He's dead, so be it. Although he took the blame for Zhilan's betrayal, he was ultimately just trying to get revenge by deliberately approaching Mandong. He had no good intentions. The destruction of Ruyi Sect is inextricably linked to him. He deserved to die."
Man Jiangxue snapped out of her reverie and said casually, "It's nothing. I was just wondering why we didn't find Zhu Bing, but Meng Wugui took it instead."
“The situation was critical and chaotic that day, and no one knows where Yin Xuan died,” Xie Yijun said. “She survived by hiding in the shadows and didn’t expose herself, so it’s normal that she found her before us. On another note, Man Dong refused to go with you and insisted on leaving alone. Could she have been in a hurry to kill Yin Xuan?”
Man Jiangxue said, "She shouldn't have avoided me if she wanted to kill anyone. It's obvious that she was coerced because Xiao Qiu was taken away, and she had no choice but to deliberately walk into that building to keep me occupied and make me look for her in the building."
While she was searching desperately in the building, Shen Mandong had already been murdered in a place she had no idea about.
Such a conversation made the atmosphere between the two exceptionally heavy. Xie Yijun raised her hand, spreading her five fingers in a gesture of catching the wind. Looking at her empty hand, she said in a low voice, "What is destined to happen cannot be avoided. One wrong step leads to another. Every choice has its gains and losses. Jiang Xue, although you don't say it, I know you haven't been able to let go. Some things should have been let go long ago. Don't let them become an obsession, which will only harm you. My master entrusted Yunhua Palace to me, and like her, I have devoted my life to this land. Although I haven't managed Yunhua Palace as well as she has, making it even more prosperous, I have done my best and worked tirelessly. Now, there are many capable people in the palace, and rising stars are emerging one after another. When I am old enough to take charge, I will retire to the mountains and forests, and go on a carefree journey through the mortal world that I have never been before."
She finished speaking slowly and deliberately, smiled slightly at Man Jiangxue, and sighed, "I'm tired too."
The sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze came and went, leaving behind only endless whispers. Steam rose from the hot tea on the stone table, and Xie Yijun sat within that thin mist, her crimson robes resembling a clump of wind-blown ashes. Having held a high position for many years, she always appeared as an unyielding rock to the public, able to withstand the wind and shelter from the rain. She was a flagpole watched by countless eyes; everyone else could fall, but she alone could not.
But at this moment, through the mist, Man Jiangxue saw the white frost that had appeared on Xie Yijun's temples at some unknown time. The wisps of frost were intertwined and interwoven, making them impossible to ignore or pretend not to know.
The two remained silent for a long time. Man Jiangxue reached out, her calloused palm dispelling the tea steam, and reached out to touch Xie Yijun's hand through the cool air.
Her eyes flickered with an uncertain light, and her smile was unusually bright.
Man Jiangxue asked, "Shall we go to the observatory to see Master?"
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