Chapter 7
When I woke up the next day, there was a lot of noise downstairs. I could hear the laughter of the disciples from afar, as if some distinguished guest had arrived.
Yin Qiu was awakened by the noise. When she opened her eyes, Man Jiangxue was washing up. She was dressed in a white dress and white silk ribbon, standing gracefully with a beautiful profile.
"It looks quite lively downstairs." Yin Qiu rubbed her eyes, put on her clothes, and got off the bed.
"It must be the evening report. I just got up and haven't gone to see it yet." After washing up, Man Jiangxue skillfully helped Yin Qiu put on her shoes.
"Is this the person who came with you to save me that day?" Yin Qiu asked.
“It’s her,” Man Jiangxue braided Yin Qiu’s hair again. “Her name is Ji Wanshu. She is the eldest disciple of Yunhua Palace. You have to call her senior sister.”
Man Jiangxue combed Yin Qiu's hair every day, and her skills gradually improved. She braided the two braids neatly and secured them with red ribbons. Yin Qiu's complexion had improved a lot in the past few days, and with her hair neatly combed, she looked quite delicate and lovely.
The two went downstairs hand in hand and found that the disciples of the post station were gathered in the courtyard. Among the crowd, Ji Wanshu, dressed in a simple blue robe, held a long sword in her hand. Her expressionless face exuded an aura of authority without anger. Compared with the disciples around her, she stood out.
"Senior Sister Ji is here too? Our inn is really lively."
"Yes, with Martial Aunt Xiaoman in front and Martial Sister Ji behind, it's really rare to see you both."
"Why don't we stay a few more days with our martial uncle? He can give us some pointers on our martial arts!"
...
Although Ji Wanshu is known for her fiery temper, she enjoys a high reputation in the palace. She is the second person after Shen Mandong to have exceptional talent in swordsmanship. At a young age, she has already secured the position of chief disciple of Yunhua Palace and is highly appreciated and favored by the sect leader and elders. All the disciples in the palace also admire her.
Ji Wanshu set off later than Man Jiangxue and Yin Qiu, yet she was able to reach Qingluo City the day after the two arrived at the post station, which shows that she must have been riding at full speed and hadn't rested much along the way.
With insufficient sleep, Ji Wanshu was inevitably a little irritable. Listening to the disciples chattering and laughing around her, she felt as if there was a swarm of flies buzzing in her ears, extremely noisy. She was about to tell them to go back to where they came from when she saw Man Jiangxue leading Yin Qiu out of the hall.
"Greetings, Martial Uncle." Ji Wanshu frowned and stepped forward to bow to Man Jiangxue.
Her disciples also greeted her.
"Thank you for your hard work." Man Jiangxue nodded slightly.
"It wasn't hard work, but I'm ashamed that I failed to complete the task assigned by my master." Ji Wanshu immediately knelt down on one knee.
“It’s hard to guard against a hidden arrow, you don’t need to blame yourself,” Man Jiangxue helped her up and asked, “Are you injured?”
Ji Wanshu shook her head: "No."
Man Jiangxue scanned the crowd and asked, "Where's the child?"
Upon hearing her words, the disciples all looked around.
A child? What child?
Ji Wanshu stepped aside, and the disciples followed her, splitting into two groups, which revealed the gray-clad boy who had been hidden outside the crowd.
"Oh, there really is a child!"
"How come I didn't see it just now?"
"Senior Sister Ji, you didn't also pick up a baby and raise it like your Uncle-Master, did you?"
Amidst the harmonious banter, Meng Jing was still wearing his dirty, tattered clothes, with dark bloodstains still visible on his chest, making him look like he was covered in mud. His face was pale, even more so than Yin Qiu had been at the beginning.
Looking at the various gazes directed at him—some scrutinizing, some questioning, and some barely perceptible astonishment—it was as if they were surprised that he looked like a little beggar, covered in dirt and stench.
Meng Jing felt extremely uneasy and almost wanted to run away on the spot, but when he saw the little girl in the white dress opposite him, who was dressed neatly, he stared at her intently and suppressed his urge to escape.
·
After a brief uproar, Lu Huaiwei spoke first: "It's a boy, he looks about the same age as Junior Sister."
Ji Wanshu stood to one side and gave a detached account of what happened on the night of the attack, before saying, "His parents entrusted him to me before they died. I asked about his family situation and found that he had no other relatives to rely on. After weighing the options, I brought him back."
Upon hearing of Meng Jing's plight, the disciples couldn't help but show pity.
“It’s good that you can keep your junior sister company,” Lu Huaiwei said, leaning closer to Meng Jing, as she had always liked children. “From now on, you can stay with us at Yunhua Palace. Don’t worry, your senior brothers and sisters will treat you well.”
Meng Jing didn't react at all, his gaze still fixed on Yin Qiu. Yin Qiu met his gaze and noticed the obvious hostility in his eyes. She couldn't help but shiver and subconsciously tightened her grip on Man Jiangxue's hand.
Thinking that Yin Qiu was cold from the wind, Man Jiangxue looked down at her, grasped Yin Qiu's hand, and said to Ji Wanshu, "You must be tired from your journey. Take a bath first to wash away the dust, and then come to my room to talk in detail after you have a meal."
Ji Wanshu responded and walked forward without paying attention to Meng Jing. Lu Huaiwei then took Meng Jing's hand and said with a smile, "Come with me, I'll have someone get you some good food, you must be hungry."
Unexpectedly, Meng Jing suddenly shoved her aside and rushed straight towards Yin Qiu's departing figure.
"Murderer!" Meng Jing gasped for breath, kicking Yin Qiu in the waist. "You'll pay for my parents' lives!"
The sudden turn of events caught everyone present off guard.
Meng Jing's kick landed squarely on Yin Qiu, a vicious blow. Yin Qiu was caught off guard and immediately gasped for breath, nearly coughing up blood. He crashed headfirst to the ground before even Man Jiangxue could react, and Yin Qiu slammed to the ground with a loud thud.
"Murderer! Murderer!" Before anyone could stop him, Meng Jing, his eyes red, lunged at Yin Qiu, punching and kicking him. "You killed my parents! Give me back my parents!"
Yin Qiu's head was bleeding from the banging, and he was terrified. He was also sick and weak, so he couldn't help but be hit a few more times.
"Insolence!" Man Jiangxue's eyes turned cold, a rare sight. She reached out and pushed Meng Jing aside, shouting, "Why did you attack someone?"
Ji Wanshu had already crossed the hall to go up to the second floor when she heard the noise, so she turned back and grabbed Meng Jing, saying, "What's wrong with you!"
Meng Jing, her face streaked with tears, struggled incessantly, pointing at Yin Qiu and shouting hoarsely, "It's all because of her! My parents were killed by her!"
Ji Wanshu had already analyzed the death of his parents with him, but now that he was still making such wild accusations, her tone turned cold: "What did you promise me that day that you forgot? You begged me not to abandon you and brought you to Yunhua Palace. I told you not to take your anger out on others and to focus on learning martial arts so that you could find the Ziwei Sect and take revenge when you grew up. It's only been a few days, and you already think I'm talking nonsense?"
When Meng Jing saw Yin Qiu, he recalled the scene of his parents being crushed to death by heavy stones that had protected him. Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, he lost his reason.
"If it weren't for her, my parents wouldn't have died so tragically!" Meng Jing cried, glaring fiercely at Yin Qiu. "She deserves to die! She should pay for my parents' lives!"
Ji Wanshu had lost her patience. She used force to throw Meng Jing toward the door: "Enough! Your parents were greedy for money, they deserve to die!"
Meng Jing fell and hurt himself, but he didn't feel it at all. He stood up and argued, "They only accepted the fifty taels of silver to treat my illness! Besides, my parents didn't kill her, but died because of her. I want to seek revenge on her!"
"The Ziwei Sect killed your parents, how many times do I have to tell you?" Ji Wanshu's expression was unfriendly. "The assassins lying in ambush on the mountain road were members of the Ziwei Sect, and they were the ones who pushed down the falling rocks that killed your parents. You just want to find an easy target to take the blame and vent your resentment. If you really want to avenge your parents, you'd better get out of here and go to the Ziwei Sect right now and kill those villains. If you can do that, I, Ji Wanshu, will serve you like a slave for the rest of my life and be at your beck and call!"
Meng Jing was speechless after hearing her words, unable to refute them. His mind was in chaos, and he felt as if a raging fire was burning in his chest, threatening to make him faint.
Ji Wan was furious, and the other disciples did not dare to interrupt. Man Jiangxue was busy bandaging Yin Qiu's injuries. Yin Qiu listened to Meng Jing's words and tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back.
"Alright, alright, stop making a scene," Lu Huaiwei had no choice but to step in and ease the tension. "Junior Sister is just like you, orphaned and with a tragic past. You and she are both innocent. Don't blame her. In the future, your senior brothers and sisters will avenge you. Come here quickly."
Meng Jing stood alone at the door, looking very thin in the cold wind. Facing these people, he felt isolated and helpless, and his heart was filled with sorrow.
"Stop talking!" Meng Jing wiped away her tears fiercely and said with a chill, "You're all in cahoots! You conspired to harm my parents, and now you're ganging up on me! You're all protecting her, protecting this murderer. I never want to see you again!"
After he finished speaking, he cried hysterically and ran out of the post station without looking back.
·
Unexpectedly, such a thing happened so early in the morning, and the atmosphere immediately became somber.
“I can’t leave him out there alone,” Lu Huaiwei said. “I’m going to look for him.”
Ji Wanshu was furious and roared, "What do you want with him? Let him fend for himself!" With that, he left the others behind and departed.
Her clean clothes were stained with fresh blood. Yin Qiu let Man Jiangxue do as she pleased, speechless.
Man Jiangxue wrapped a bandage around her forehead and asked, "Does it hurt?"
Yin Qiu's eyes reddened, and she moved her lips, but only shook her head.
Lu Huaiwei had already led several disciples out of the post station to find Meng Jing. It was freezing cold, and he was unfamiliar with the area. It would be bad if something happened to him.
The remaining disciples all came forward to inquire about Yin Qiu's injuries.
"Why is there so much blood? Are you alright?"
"That child has lost both his parents and must be very sad. Junior Sister, please don't take his words to heart."
"Yes, once he's calmed down, we can reason with him properly, and I believe he'll understand."
...
Yin Qiu wanted to cry, but she held back and forced a smile, saying, "I don't blame him. I know what it feels like to not have parents."
The farce ended with Meng Jing's departure. The disciples comforted Yin Qiu for a while before going about their own business.
Yesterday, Lu Huaiwei made an appointment with a doctor. After breakfast, the doctor came here to take Yin Qiu's pulse and prescribed some medicine. As long as she doesn't catch a cold, she should gradually recover within a month.
Lu Huaiwei and the others still hadn't returned by noon, and Yin Qiu felt uneasy. She found Man Jiangxue and said, "Uncle-Master, can you take me out?"
Man Jiangxue knew what she was thinking and asked, "He treats you like an enemy now, are you still going to go see him?"
Yin Qiu was still throbbing with pain in her lower back. Of course, she was scared, but she couldn't help but care about what Meng Jing said. She felt very guilty. The Ziwei Sect was looking for her and mistakenly thought that Meng Jing was Yin Qiu, so they chased after her all the way, causing the couple to die tragically in the desolate mountains. Yin Qiu felt very sorry and also felt that she was involved in this matter.
She thought that even if the couple had ulterior motives, it was ultimately because of her.
“It’s alright, it’s not the first time I’ve been beaten up,” Yin Qiu said. “I have my martial uncle to take care of me, but he has no relatives left now. What if he runs into bad guys and gets sold off like I did?”
Man Jiangxue patted her head, her eyes smiling: "Good child, let's go then."
The two put on their outer robes and left the post station. Before leaving, Yin Qiu carried some pastries with her. She followed closely beside Man Jiangxue, her eyes searching for Meng Jing's figure everywhere.
Today's snow was light and negligible, but the cold wind was strong and blowing like a drum. There weren't many pedestrians in the city, except for the streets in the central area, which were still quite lively.
Where would people run off to?
Yin Qiu recalled his days on the streets and said thoughtfully, "When I used to beg on the streets, I would squat in crowded places, but now he's hiding in less crowded places to avoid us."
“That makes sense,” Man Jiangxue said, holding Yin Qiu’s hand, and suddenly asked, “Are you afraid of heights?”
Yin Qiu looked at her blankly: "What?"
Suddenly, Man Jiangxue grabbed her around the waist, leaped onto the tall building beside her, and in a flash, Man Jiangxue stepped onto the railing and carried Yin Qiu to the rooftop without any hindrance.
A sudden gust of cold wind swept in, causing Yin Qiu's two braids to fly high, and the robes of both of them to flutter in the wind.
"Wow!" Yin Qiu shouted excitedly.
From above, Qingluo City is surrounded by high walls on all sides, with crisscrossing roads and buildings that resemble jade and ice sculptures, all covered by a vast expanse of white snow.
Who took the ten thousand piles of snow on the flat ground and carved them into these flowers that stretch to the sky?
The expansive view lifted her spirits, and Yin Qiu stood steadily, saying with a joyful expression, "It's so beautiful! I've never been to such a high place before."
The two stood on the rooftop for a while, and soon they saw Lu Huaiwei leading her disciples on the street on the left side near the city wall. Man Jiangxue said, "They're over there, so let's go look in the opposite direction."
After saying this, Man Jiangxue carried Yin Qiuyue to the ground and headed towards the street on the right.
Just as the two left, a blurry shadow suddenly appeared in a dark corner behind them, silently watching their backs.
Then the man let out a low laugh and completely disappeared.
·
After searching carefully for a long time, they still couldn't find Meng Jing. Yin Qiu accidentally inhaled a few breaths of cold air and kept hiccuping. Man Jiangxue then found a nearby restaurant and ordered a few cups of hot tea for her.
On the steps outside the restaurant, several ragged children huddled together for warmth, watching longingly as the customers inside feasted.
Yin Qiu felt a pang of pity. Seeing them reminded her of her own past life on the streets, so she asked Man Jiangxue, "Can I give them some food?"
Man Jiangxue nodded.
Yin Qiu then distributed the pastries she had brought to them. The children were overjoyed and rushed to grab them. Yin Qiu distributed them one by one, saying with a smile, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
"Where are you from?" Yin Qiu asked.
“Our hometown was flooded, and almost everyone in the village died. We went to Jinhuai City to stay with relatives,” said the oldest-looking child.
“Jinhuai City is still far away; it would take several months to walk there,” Yin Qiu said.
"There's nothing we can do about it, otherwise we'd just starve to death on the streets," the child said again.
Then Man Jiangxue took out her money pouch and handed it to them, saying, "This money is enough for you to rent a carriage, so spend it sparingly."
The children were flattered and widened their eyes, but none of them dared to reach out and take it.
"Don't flaunt your wealth; hide it so no one can see it." Man Jiangxue proactively stuffed the money pouch into the child's hand.
The child held the money bag, his expression complex: "This..."
“Take it, and let me ask you something else,” Man Jiangxue said. “Have you seen a little boy, about your age, wearing gray clothes, and not very tall?”
The child suddenly looked up and said, "Are you crying and looking unwell? Are you sick?"
"That's right!" Yin Qiu hurriedly asked, "Did you see him?"
The boy first put the money bag into his pocket, and then said, "A woman just instructed us that if anyone comes to ask us about this, we should answer that he is in an abandoned building near the South Gate."
Yin Qiu was taken aback and immediately turned to look at Man Jiangxue: "Oh no, could he really have been captured by bad guys?"
"What does that woman look like?" Man Jiangxue asked.
"I didn't see her clearly. She was hiding in a dark alley, just talking to us from a distance, and she even threw us a few big steamed buns," the child replied.
Man Jiangxue immediately led Yin Qiu towards the south gate. Yin Qiu suddenly felt uneasy and asked worriedly, "Who could it be? How did she know we were looking for someone?"
“She not only knew we were looking for someone, but also knew exactly who we were looking for,” Man Jiangxue said. “She also knew we would definitely pass through this place, so it seems she has been following us all along.”
Hearing her say that, Yin Qiu felt a chill run down her spine and asked, "Could it be someone from the Ziwei Sect?"
Man Jiangxue simply picked up Yin Qiu and flew onto the rooftops of the shops on both sides, replying as she flew, "Possibly."
The two were located near the South Gate, and it wouldn't take long to get there by speed. When they landed, they saw a cluster of dilapidated small buildings nearby, which looked like they had been abandoned for a long time and were uninhabited. Perhaps they were going to be demolished and used to build new buildings.
Almost all of these abandoned buildings had their doors tightly shut, except for one that was open. Man Jiangxue shielded Yin Qiu behind her, and the two of them stepped over the threshold and went inside.
The damp, stifling air was mixed with a slight stench. The ground was littered with crooked tables and chairs and broken vases. Meng Jing sat amidst this mess, his hands and feet bound by ropes, struggling desperately.
Sensing someone approaching, Meng Jing stopped what she was doing, raised her bloodshot eyes to look at Man Jiangxue and Yin Qiu, and immediately let out a muffled cry for help from her mouth stuffed with rags.
"Waaah!"
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