Chapter 3
After a night, the snowstorm in the city finally stopped.
As the warm sun rose, its thin light shone through the branches and window cracks, like a faint golden ribbon, folding several times before falling on a small face with its eyes tightly closed and its expression pained.
Yin Qiu didn't sleep well, spending almost the entire night trapped in nightmares. In those fragmented dreams, there were countless familiar faces, and various kinds of cursing. Sticks of all sizes fell on her body, causing excruciating pain. She wanted to escape, but no matter where she ran, someone would always find her.
She mumbled a few words in her sleep, and in her dream, she ran desperately across an icy plain. Looking back, all she saw was a desolate, thick fog, and she couldn't see anything clearly.
Unconsciously, it seemed as if someone was chasing her urgently. She was tired and scared, and she tripped and fell. When she looked up again, there was a person dressed in white standing in front of her, reaching out his hand to her.
In an instant, the sky brightened, and a blinding light burst forth before her eyes. Yin Qiu gasped and opened her eyes to find herself gripping a hand tightly.
That hand was fair and slender, with clearly defined knuckles. There were several red marks on the back of the hand, from where she had pinched it.
"Having another nightmare?" Man Jiangxue leaned against the edge of the bed, half-embracing her.
Yin Qiu was stunned for a long time before saying, "I dreamt that many people were chasing me and trying to beat me up."
“It was just a dream,” Man Jiangxue released her, got up and dressed. “Don’t be afraid.”
Still shaken and lingering in fear, Yin Qiu quickly got off the bed and followed behind Man Jiangxue.
"Put your clothes on," Man Jiangxue took her coat and draped it over her shoulders. "After you take your medicine, I'll take you out for some fresh air."
Having been cooped up in this guest room for several days, Yin Qiu did feel extremely lonely. Hearing these words, she felt a little excited, but mostly she felt lonely and helpless.
A servant brought hot water, and Man Jiangxue washed up first. Then she carried Yin Qiu back to the bed and sat her up. She knelt down on one knee to put on her shoes and wrung out a towel to wipe her face carefully.
No one had ever treated her so gently. Yin Qiu's heart softened. Looking at Man Jiangxue's beautiful face so close to hers, she said sincerely, "You are so good to me."
The charcoal brazier by the wall crackled and sparks flew, and a breeze blew in from the small window, stirring the white-clad figure of Manjiangxue and spreading a faint, delicate fragrance.
“It’s only right,” Man Jiangxue said, combing her hair after wiping her face. “Your mother used to take care of me like this too.”
Looking in the bronze mirror, Yin Qiu saw that she was pale and thin, with lifeless eyes, and her whole being exuded a heavy sickness. She looked rather unattractive. In contrast, Man Jiangxue behind her was radiant, with bright eyes and white teeth. She was as beautiful as a fairy who had fallen to earth. She was so close, yet so far away.
Yin Qiu stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror, feeling a sense of unreality for a moment before finally asking, "Are you and my mother on good terms?"
Man Jiangxue remained focused, moving the wooden comb through Yin Qiu's hair without replying immediately. After a short while, for some reason, she suddenly frowned, looking at Yin Qiu's head with a mixture of helplessness and annoyance.
"What's wrong?" Yin Qiu's gaze remained fixed on her face.
"My arms are sore," Man Jiangxue said. "Can you comb your own hair?"
"Nobody taught me..." Yin Qiu said weakly.
Realizing that quite some time had passed and she was still looking the same disheveled as when she woke up, Yin Qiu thought for a moment and said, "How about I do it myself?"
“Senior sister is very skillful. She used to take care of my hair,” Man Jiangxue put down the comb and gathered Yin Qiu’s soft hair with both hands. “I only know how to braid small braids. I don’t know anything else. I’ll braid one for you.”
She was quick and efficient, and in no time she had braided two long braids for Yin Qiu. Although they weren't very neat and looked a bit messy, they were passable.
After checking from all sides, perhaps feeling it was a bit monotonous, Man Jiangxue took out two red ropes from her bosom and tied them to the ends of her two braids, making a small knot in each.
"Alright," Man Jiangxue patted Yin Qiu's head, "It saves trouble."
Yin Qiu didn't care. She had never had anyone to take care of her and had always had messy hair. She was used to it. Man Jiangxue, on the other hand, got out of bed with her and was also wearing her long hair loose.
Yin Qiu turned and glanced at her, then asked, "And what about you?"
Man Jiangxue paid even less attention to herself, casually grabbed a pure white hair ribbon and tied it behind her head, saying casually, "That's fine, drink the medicine on the table, and I'll take you out to eat something delicious."
·
The snow on the streets has been cleared, and the water is sparkling. After the snowstorm, Yaoding City is shimmering with silver light. High-rise buildings stand tall, resembling carved railings and jade steps. The dim sunlight shines on the world, spreading a faint warmth.
Yin Qiu was in relatively good spirits, but she had not yet fully recovered from a serious illness. It took her quite some time to adjust to the sunlight outside. Her steps were unsteady, and she could not walk for long before she could no longer walk. Man Jiangxue then carried her and they walked steadily through the bustling street.
Yaoding City was quite prosperous, the most prosperous of the neighboring prefecture cities. As soon as the heavy snow stopped, the city returned to its lively scene. People went out and about, and there were shouts and calls of vendors everywhere. Restaurants and teahouses were readily available, and stalls sold all kinds of items, food and toys, a dazzling array that was hard to resist.
Yin Qiu wrapped her arms around Man Jiangxue's neck, her eyes darting around. She had never seen so many new things before, nor had she ever had the chance to stroll around so leisurely. Her mood was naturally cheerful.
"What would you like to eat?" Man Jiangxue asked.
Yin Qiu looked left and right, finally fixing her gaze on a small stall steaming with heat: "What's that?"
Man Jiangxue followed her gaze and said, "Wonton noodles, would you like some?"
Yin Qiu didn't know what wontons were, but seeing the wontons in the big iron pot on the stall looking like gold ingots, she nodded.
Man Jiangxue paid first and asked the stall owner to cook a bowl. It was just past noon, and the small tables were still crowded with customers. No one left until the noodles were cooked, and several more customers came in one after another. Business was booming.
The stall owner, holding a white porcelain bowl, said loudly, "Oh dear, there are no seats left at my stall. Why don't you take your younger sister to sit in the teahouse across the street? You've already paid, and I'll go and collect the bowls myself when you're done. It's warmer there than here. The teahouse owner is someone I know, and he won't kick you out."
Man Jiangxue nodded slightly, said "thank you," and then carried Yin Qiu into a teahouse across the street.
There were still a few empty tables by the window. The two sat down, and Yin Qiu looked at the bowl of wonton noodles. Instead of eating, she asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"
Man Jiangxue was probably tired from carrying her, so she let her hands hang at her sides and looked a little lazy. She said, "I woke up earlier than you and ate at the inn. You eat."
Yin Qiu didn't stand on ceremony. She picked up her chopsticks and took a sip of the hot soup. She found that although the soup looked light, it was very flavorful, fresh and fragrant. She then took a bite of a wonton. The wrapper was thin and the meat filling was tender. It was refreshing with a hint of spiciness from the pepper. After eating half a bowl, she was sweating all over and felt warm all over.
“It’s really delicious,” Yin Qiu said, looking at Man Jiangxue. “Don’t you want to try some?”
Man Jiangxue shook her head, and was about to speak when she suddenly heard the storyteller in the hall strike his clapper and shout, "Just now we talked about how the Ziwei Sect massacred the Ruyi Sect. It was the work of the sect's member, Yin Xuan. He infiltrated the Ruyi Sect as an undercover agent, and in just two years, he launched a coordinated attack from within and without, annihilating the Ruyi Sect in one fell swoop. Do you all know what method Yin Xuan used to deceive the people of the Ruyi Sect?"
Upon hearing the name "Yin Xuan," Yin Qiu paused in her chopsticks and looked up at Man Jiangxue.
Man Jiangxue leaned back in her chair, her gaze seemingly fixed on nowhere, and simply said, "It's your father, listen to him."
Yin Qiu's heart clenched instantly, and the wontons in front of her lost their appeal. She focused almost all her attention on the storyteller.
The question was raised, and someone below immediately chimed in, "Is that even a question? Everyone knows that Yin Xuan used a 'honey trap'!"
Then another person said, "That's right! He won the heart of Shen Mandong, the successor of Ruyi Sect, with his pretty face. The two got married in less than a year after they met, and had a child the following year. The old sect leader Shen treated him as her own son. Who would have thought he was such an ingrate? On the day Shen Mandong gave birth, that scoundrel Yin took the opportunity to inform the Ziwei Sect and led a group of followers to attack Liucang Mountain. In just one night, he slaughtered the entire Ruyi Sect!"
"Yin Gou is shameless and despicable. It is an outrage against heaven and earth if the Ziwei Sect is not destroyed!"
The storyteller sighed: "It's a pity that it was the Ruyi Sect that was destroyed. It is said that when Shen Mandong was giving birth, she heard the news, took the scissors and cut the baby's umbilical cord. Without even catching her breath, she dragged her body to fight for her family and killed Yin Xuan with all her might. After that night, she abandoned her newborn daughter and disappeared without a trace. Ten years have passed and her fate is unknown. Some say she committed suicide in front of the Ruyi Hall, while others say she went insane after this incident. There are many different opinions and the truth is hard to discern. It is a pity that Shen Mandong's lifelong reputation was ruined by an unknown person from the Ziwei Sect. It makes people sigh with regret."
An uproar erupted in the hall.
"They say even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman, but isn't it the same for women? If you can't judge a person well, you'll ruin your life!"
"Ten years ago, when Shen Mandong was still studying under a master at Yunhua Palace, I had the honor of seeing her once. She was truly beautiful with bright eyes and a charming appearance. What a pity."
Amidst the sighs of regret, someone spoke in a less than friendly tone: "This is all old news, what's the point of bringing it up again and again? You old man, don't try to brush it off and take our tea money for nothing!"
As soon as he said this, those who had been indignant earlier started echoing his sentiments.
The storyteller waved his hand and laughed, "Don't rush, don't rush. I haven't finished speaking yet. Everyone knows that Ruyi Sect has been destroyed, Yin Xuan is dead, and Shen Mandong is missing. But have you all thought about what happened to their daughter?"
"She was born without parents, who will take care of her?"
"They're probably dead too!"
"I haven't heard any news about that child, but it seems that Yunhua Palace has been looking for her all these years. But so many years have passed, and the world is so vast, where can we even begin to look?"
The storyteller stroked his beard and said slowly, "Shen Mandong was a disciple of the former headmaster of Yunhua Palace and was the chief disciple. After her accident, Yunhua Palace naturally had to raise her child. However, after many years of searching, they found nothing. But a few days ago, I received news that the long-dormant Ziwei Sect has suddenly reappeared and killed the Su family in Jinhuai City, saying they are looking for a ten-year-old girl."
Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that Shen Mandong's daughter is being raised in the Su family?"
"But what does the Ziwei Sect want with her? It's understandable that Yunhua Palace would look for someone, but what use would the Ziwei Sect have for that child?"
"These damned evil spirits have started killing and burning again. If that child isn't found, I'm afraid another bloodbath is coming!"
...
·
A cold wind suddenly rose, bringing a chill and carrying away the surrounding voices.
Yin Qiu slumped into the wooden chair, her face pale, her heart pounding with shock.
Every word echoed in her ears, like sharp knives, relentlessly churning her mind.
Her father plotted to marry her mother, and on the day she was born, he wiped out her mother's entire family. Later, he was killed by her own mother. For ten years, her mother's fate was unknown. Now, the Ziwei Sect has slaughtered everyone in the Su family in order to find her. All of this struck her heart like thunderbolts.
The hall was filled with constant noise, which was very annoying. Yin Qiu felt as if she were in a freezing cold, and a chill ran down her spine from head to toe.
She put down her chopsticks, her hands trembling slightly, her eyes red, unable to speak.
Yu Guangzhong saw a white figure approach, and Man Jiangxue bent down and hugged her. Amidst the murmurs in the room, he strolled away without mentioning a word about what he had just heard.
"Is what they said... true?" Yin Qiu asked softly, her mind elsewhere, her head resting on Man Jiangxue's shoulder.
“It’s true,” Man Jiangxue gently stroked her thin back, her tone as usual. “You’ll find out about these things sooner or later. Now that you’ve heard it, calm down and accept it as soon as possible.”
She didn't try to comfort herself, but Yin Qiu suddenly felt less upset.
Perhaps it was because she had never seen her parents, did not know their character or appearance, and only knew two names she had heard a few times. Even though she was shocked and saddened after learning about her background, those bloody old stories were too far removed from her.
Injuries are inevitable, but on the other hand, it's like listening to someone else's story, as if it has nothing to do with her.
She arrived full of joy, finding everything new and exciting. Now, her mindset has changed drastically, and she has no desire to linger. Yin Qiu didn't shed tears, but remained silent for a long time before asking, "Will someone kill me?"
Man Jiangxue took off her outer robe and covered her with it, saying softly, "Perhaps, perhaps not. We don't yet know why the Ziwei Sect is looking for you."
Yin Qiu's gaze was unfocused, and her voice weakened: "The day I left, the Su family was still holding a banquet. The young master was one month old, and the mansion was very lively."
Hearing her weak voice in his ear, Man Jiangxue was speechless for a moment.
Although the Ziwei Sect is an evil cult, it does not act recklessly. Before taking action, it will conduct investigations and send people to the Su family to verify the truth. If the Su family does not hand over the person, they will only be asking for trouble. However, if they do hand the person over to the Ziwei Sect, it is hard to guarantee that the other party will kill them to silence them.
After weighing the options, the Su family had no choice but to lie and say that there was no such person as Yin Qiu. They then secretly sent her to a farmer in the deep mountains. They dared not kill her rashly, because if the Ziwei Sect found out, they would definitely cause trouble for them.
It just so happens that Yin Qiu is seriously ill, so we can take advantage of the situation and instruct the couple to drag her to her death. Even if the Ziwei Sect arrives in time, it will not be the Su family's fault since she is about to die. It is her own fault for being sick. If the Ziwei Sect does not find Yin Qiu so quickly, it will be even easier. Once she is dead, we can burn everything to the ground. No one will be able to find a single clue.
In order to save their lives, the Su family's plan was ingenious, but they did not expect the Ziwei Sect to be so ruthless. They believed that the Su family had lied and killed the entire family.
Yin Qiu suddenly struggled and jumped off Man Jiangxue's arms to the ground, saying frantically, "No, I can't stay with you. If they find out, you'll end up like the Su family..."
After she finished speaking, she took off running into the crowd, but Man Jiangxue immediately grabbed her wrist: "Come back!"
Yin Qiu stared at her blankly: "I don't want to hurt you, let me go."
Man Jiangxue pulled her in front of her, subdued her with a clever touch, and said, "Where can you go? Don't be silly."
During their brief time together, Yin Qiu didn't say it, but she had already become very dependent on Man Jiangxue. Man Jiangxue wasn't very talkative, but she was gentle and patient when taking care of her, giving her unprecedented care and warmth. She was her savior.
When she was dying, the Su family hurriedly sent her to the deep mountains. The farmer there had a young son who was also sickly. The couple doted on him and took great care of him. At that time, Yin Qiu was lying alone on the bed. She saw this and felt extremely envious.
She never dreamed that she would meet Man Jiangxue, who would take her away from such a cold place, treat her illness, add clothes for her, take care of her in every way, and stay by her side all night just to let her sleep peacefully.
Such a good person, if she is targeted by bad people and gets into a deadly situation because of her, how can she repay them?
The faint warmth of the sun was obscured by dark clouds, and the sky darkened again, with faint signs of snow falling again.
Nestled in Man Jiangxue's arms, feeling the hard-won warmth, Yin Qiu couldn't help but cry, sobbing as she said, "I don't want you to die..."
Man Jiangxue looked down at her. The two of them, dressed in similar white skirts, fluttered in the wind. As they embraced each other and wore similar clothes, Yin Qiu even resembled her in some ways.
Of course, she is more like her senior sister.
Man Jiangxue sighed softly, then picked Yin Qiu up again. She rubbed Yin Qiu's head and said, "Don't worry, I won't die, and I won't let anyone hurt you."
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