Chapter 10 A Jade Pendant Presented to You
How do we get up there?
The two had only walked a few steps out of the Buddhist temple when Bian Yi stopped, gazing up at the heights in deep thought. Lin Chengye also looked up at the steep, knife-cut Yunling Mountains, and was startled. Could it be that they were going to have to go up from this side? Even Chai Hu Nan had come up from a gentle slope.
But before she could think it through, a long, slender hand draped over her shoulder, and a mischievous smile played on his lips as he asked her.
Are you afraid of heights?
"I'm not afraid."
Lin Chengye shook his head.
Suddenly, the hand on her shoulder tightened, Bian Yi's fingers gripping her tightly. Lin Chengye's vision blurred, her ears rang, and the fox fur coat on her shoulders swayed pitifully in the cold wind. The scenery before her was no longer the dense forest and temple, but rather colorful rocks on a cliff face, with a thin mist still lingering in the mountains. Her feet were dangling in the air, and there was nothing for her to hold onto. Lin Chengye was still not used to it, so she could only reach out and grab the only thing she could grasp, and after several attempts, she finally managed to pull on the silver thread around Bian Yi's waist.
Bian Yi's body was as light as silk gauze, only occasionally lightly touching the branches extending from the cliff with her toes, or stepping directly on the cliff face. But she was always exceptionally steady. If it weren't for the sharp, cold wind in her ears, Lin Chengye estimated that he wouldn't even realize that they were walking swiftly on the cliff face.
In just a few breaths, they had arrived at the summit of Yunling. When Lin Chengye was placed on the ground, he felt dizzy and almost collapsed to his knees after taking a step. Fortunately, Bian Yi cushioned his fall with her body. Lin Chengye rested his chin on Bian Yi's shoulder with his eyes half-closed to recover.
"Alliance Leader, Miss Lin."
Chai Hu Nan suddenly appeared out of nowhere and nodded to the two of them. He then gave Lin Cheng Ye, who was clinging to Bian Yi, a look of disdain.
"Here you go. Although Chaihunan will be fine with you, if Chenpixi makes things difficult for you, take this out."
This place is very close to where Chen Pixi trains his assassins, so it's not advisable to linger. An hour will pass quickly, and Bian Yi still needs to get back. After thinking it over, she took something out of her bosom and casually stuffed it into Lin Chengye's hand like a pastry.
A white jade ring? Lin Chengye slowly moved off Bian Yi, pinched the red string on it with two fingers, and examined it carefully in the light.
The jade ring is quite simple in appearance, with only flowing water patterns carved on the surface and a long red tassel hanging below.
The Lin family, being military households, rarely possessed such small and exquisite items, and she wasn't interested in them. However, she could roughly tell that the large jade was of excellent quality, crystal clear, pure, and smooth, probably something to indicate that she was someone's imperial envoy. Lin Chengye nodded; not wanting to be too ostentatious, she put it into her bosom.
Bian Yi gave Chai Hu Nan a few more instructions, then leaped off the cliff. Lin Cheng Ye was startled and instinctively looked down the cliff, but Chai Hu Nan stopped him.
"No problem, it's easy for the alliance leader. You..."
Chai Hu Nan's tone was somewhat strange, as if he wanted to say something more. He glanced at the spot where Lin Cheng Ye had kicked the jade pendant in, sighed, stood to the side of Lin Cheng Ye, and waved his hand forward.
"Alright, let's go. Watch out behind me."
...
The summit of Yunling was covered with jagged rocks, with hardly any proper place to put one's feet. Lin Chengye struggled to walk, and almost had to crawl a few steps without regard for his dignity.
But Chai Hu Nan, who was in front of him, was tightly gripping a red and black short blade in her right hand. The blade was covered with intricate patterns, resembling a single-winged butterfly. The veins on the back of her hand were bulging, as if she was on guard against something. Lin Chengye didn't want her to lend a hand, so he just picked up a thick tree branch to support himself.
Lin Chengye wondered if it would be alright to ask Bian Yi for a sword to use as a walking stick tomorrow. Suddenly, Chai Hu Nan stopped and pulled her over.
"Hey! Hey hey..."
Lin Chengye complained bitterly. In the chaos, the pebbles under his feet rolled and slid into the clouds, disappearing without a sound.
Chai Hu Nan remained unmoved, staring at Lin Cheng Ye's back. Suddenly, he raised his dagger and parried three times—at his forehead, heart, and lower abdomen—with three clangs, knocking three hidden darts to the ground. Just as Lin Cheng Ye managed to regain her footing, Chai Hu Nan pulled her back a distance, dodging a palm strike infused with internal force.
Lin Chengye didn't even see who was attacking them, but he heard a loud crash. A huge rock behind him was shattered by that palm strike, sending sand flying. Then three more palm strikes came. Chai Hu Nan leaped up, her toes touching a thin, bone-like branch. She hooked herself upside down on the branch, her palm once again covered with black scales. A short blade flicked out like a butterfly. In the distance, where there was no one, a muffled groan suddenly came from, and a figure fell heavily, panting.
When the short blade returned to Chaihunan's hand, it was already bleeding.
Lin Chengye hung beside her like a sack, bobbing up and down with her. At first, she could think of other things, but now her mind was blank, with no other thought but to drag the villain who attacked them out and behead him.
"Save your energy."
Chai Hu Nan gently landed and helped Lin Chengye sit down on the protruding root nodule under the big tree. Lin Chengye's face was pale, and he gave her a resentful look.
"This is the Stone-Patterning Palm, Chen Pixi's martial art."
Chai Hu Nan raised her hand to pat her back to help her catch her breath, her eyes fixed on the kneeling person, her tone quite unfriendly. Lin Cheng Ye waved wearily, telling her to hurry up and take care of it.
"As expected of a snake... the Snake Shadow Movement Technique... Wh... when was it discovered?"
The man stammered, managing to squeeze out a few words with difficulty. He stood up and limped over to Chai Hu Nan. Only then did Lin Cheng Ye notice that blood was flowing from the side of his calf; Chai Hu Nan's cut had been extremely deep.
“From the moment you caught up with the two of us.”
Chai Hu Nan snorted coldly and sheathed the short blade in his hand.
"It's fortunate that Miss Lin is alright. Otherwise, you should save these words for when you meet the Alliance Leader and see if she'll send you straight to the King of Hell."
Chen Pixi seemed to only then notice that there was someone else there, and turned to look at Lin Chengye.
His skin was an uneven brown from years of sun exposure; he had thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and high, prominent cheekbones. He was quite tall, and his hair, which looked unkempt, grew to his nape and had slightly curled ends. His large hands were unusual, covered in thick calluses but without any palm lines. He wore ordinary coarse linen clothing, and at first glance, he looked like an ordinary hunter.
After recovering, Lin Chengye stood up and walked to Chai Hu Nan's side.
"You...you are the one that the Alliance Leader brought back."
Chen Pixi nodded to her, then, as if remembering something, his eyes lit up and he asked.
"Do you...do you know martial arts?"
"Won't."
Lin Chengye replied curtly.
"oh……"
Chen Pixi seemed to lose interest all of a sudden and turned to leave.
"Wait, Miss Lin has something to ask you. Answer honestly."
With a flash of silver light, Chai Hu Nan's short blade was already pressed against Chen Pi Xi's neck, drawing a string of blood beads. Normally, she might have been interested in exchanging a few blows with Chen Pi Xi, but although she didn't know Huang Qin Dong's true intentions, the fact that these two dared to bypass the alliance leader had long since exhausted her patience; she wished she could kill them both with a single blow.
At first, she thought Lin Chengye was a useless young lady from a noble family, but now she sees her as much better than those two scoundrels. Young yet intelligent, and kind to the alliance leader as well.
"What...he..."
"Do these assassins obey Jiang Jinmeng or only you? Why are you intensifying their training? Why change it from once every three days to once every two days?"
This man was indeed a complete martial arts fanatic, utterly uninterested in anything else. Lin Chengye skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"It's just... my... interest..."
"Listen carefully before you answer my questions."
Lin Chengye narrowed his eyes, his ambiguous smile chillingly cold.
Chen Pixi was annoyed. Why was he wasting his time on this? Besides, what right did some unknown young lady from a powerful family have to interfere in the internal affairs of the Jiangjin Alliance? If it weren't for the Alliance Leader backing her up…
But then Lin Chengye opened and closed his mouth, each word piercing the heart.
"...Then let me guess, it must be your own privately kept assassins? After all, if you're going to take action against the Alliance Leader, it's impossible for all the assassins in the Jiangjin Alliance to be disloyal to the Alliance Leader."
In an instant, the short blade that was across Chen Pixi's neck pushed inward an inch, the flesh turned outward, and blood beads flowed into Chai Hu Nan's fingers.
"Keeping a Deadpool in private? Chen Pixi, you've really had enough of living."
"You...you're talking nonsense! I...I...how could I possibly lay a hand on the...the Alliance Leader!"
Chen Pixi's expression changed drastically, and he spoke urgently.
"I... just..."
"Then it can only be... being entrusted by someone? After all, only you and Chai Hu Nan have the authority to train the Death Servants within the Alliance, and Chai Hu Nan is busy with official duties, so it's just you in charge now. I just realized something, I'm afraid this isn't some kind of intensive training, but rather... these aren't even the same batch of Death Servants, are they?"
Lin Chengye narrowed his eyes.
Just as Yu Guangzhong's knife was about to advance another inch, Lin Chengye quickly and quietly kicked her shin to prevent her from killing him in a moment of excitement.
"you……"
Chen Pixi was clearly not going to lie; though he kept a straight face, the panic in his eyes was impossible to hide. But in the end, he said nothing, swallowing his words and only staring warily at Lin Chengye with his eyes.
Even though he was a head taller than the young man, he felt as if he were being stared down at. Like a vulture circling overhead, his mere presence in the field of vision, without doing anything, was enough to instill fear.
"Hmm, he's quite loyal to that person, even so he won't say anything."
Lin Chengye said casually, seemingly unintentionally.
"She...she said...no, she wouldn't harm the alliance, the alliance leader. I...I'm not loyal to her either!"
But Chen Pixi's face turned red, as if Lin Chengye was saying something insulting to him.
Lin Chengye finally stopped hiding the coldness in his eyes, flicked his wide sleeves, and said in a resounding voice.
"Ridiculous! Now you and she are both elders of the Jiangjin Alliance, and your every move represents the Jiangjin Alliance. The Jiangjin Alliance's position is delicate, and I think Elder Chen Pixi understands this better than I do. Where does what she is doing place the Jiangjin Alliance, and where does it place the Alliance Leader?"
Having said her piece, she immediately turned around and snapped her fingers, signaling Chai Hu Nan to leave with her.
This probing was enough. Chen Pixi was a martial arts fanatic, and his inflexible and dull personality meant that sometimes, saying nothing was enough. Perhaps he helped Huang Qindong out of pity, or perhaps there was a secret relationship between them, but that was irrelevant.
"I'll only remind you this much. Just pretend you don't know anything about our visit today, and let her think that things are still under her control."
...
The two didn't linger any longer, and Chai Hu Nan led Lin Cheng Ye down the gentle slope of Yunling. When they finally landed on the ground, Lin Cheng Ye's legs were still a little weak, but he could still barely hold on.
Chai Hu Nan wasn't in a good mood and hadn't spoken until the two reached the carriage, at which point he sighed and asked.
"Aren't you afraid he'll tell Huang Qin, the leader of the alliance, that he already has suspicions about this matter?"
"Bian Yi is soft-hearted. What she wants to know is why Huang Qindong did this, so that she can resolve her inner conflict."
Lin Chengye waved his hand.
"If Chen Pixi really tells Huang Qindong what happened today, then all my grudges will be forgotten. I will have you kill both of them to prevent future troubles."
The alliance and the government are so similar; we cannot keep anyone with ulterior motives. If the alliance leader and the entire Jiangjin Alliance are not put first, then this person is better off not being kept.
"...Yes, the Butterfly Blade is poisoned. It's not fatal, but it'll give him a hard time."
Chai Hu Nan suddenly chuckled softly and said.
"Hmm? Well done. What kind of poison?"
Lin Chengye patted Chai Hu Nan on the shoulder approvingly.
"The Soft Bone Powder. The poison takes effect after three hours, making the poisoned person unable to stand up like a puddle of mud. However, people with strong internal energy can force it out, but they will still be unable to move for three or four hours."
Chai Hu Nan lifted the carriage curtain for Lin Cheng Ye, and then nimbly sat at the front of the carriage to drive the horses.
"Then he'll have to sleep on Yunling Mountain tonight, unless someone takes him down there."
There were two pastries left, and they had become a bit soft and soggy after being left out for a while. Lin Chengye took a bite and then regretfully put them back in the oil paper package.
“He won’t. He’d rather sit in Yunling all night.”
Chai Hu Nan spoke loudly, and Lin Chengye detected a hint of pleasure in his voice. He couldn't help but chuckle softly as well.
...
It was already late when she returned to Crab Roe Noodles. Lin Chengye felt extremely tired today. There were still a few days before she went to Yicheng. She had originally planned to go to Bian Yi to discuss it today, but unfortunately, she was too weak. After Wutong and Cangliu helped her wash up and change her clothes, she went to rest first.
Unexpectedly, it started raining during the night.
The pattering raindrops fell on the eaves, obscuring the full moon of the night. Lin Chengye frowned in her dream; the events of those three months still tormented her, but now she could distinguish between nightmares and reality, and would wake herself up in time when the pain became too unbearable.
Even though the rain in Jiangjinjie was soft, it was still bothersome. Lin Chengye slowly woke up and was no longer sleepy. He simply put on his fox fur coat, got up, grabbed an oil-paper umbrella, and pushed open the door to walk into the rain.
Unexpectedly, there was still one person awake on this rainy night.
Lin Chengye had only taken a few steps when she heard the clanging of swords cutting through the air. She looked up and was immediately taken aback by a white figure that seemed to be suspended in mid-air in the rain.
Bian Yi danced as if it were a casual dance, holding a withered branch in her hand as if it were a long sword. Her moves were wide and unrestrained, each move like a dragon soaring through the air. This was completely opposite to the solemn feeling that Lin Chengye had felt since he had seen his brother and mother's moves since childhood. The torrential rain at night did not wet her clothes at all.
Unlike the gentle, watery demeanor Bian Yi displayed in front of her, this was more of an unrestrained arrogance.
Lin Chengye couldn't help but shout "Good!"
"I saw you earlier, why weren't you asleep? Had another nightmare?"
Bian Yi casually tossed aside the withered branch, and with a smile, he stepped into her presence in a few rainy steps.
"Yeah, I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk. What about you?"
Lin Chengye held the umbrella over their heads; she was a head taller than Bian Yi, so it fit perfectly.
"I also dreamed about things from a long time ago."
Bian Yi was surprised for a moment before replying. She hadn't used an umbrella in the rain in a long time, let alone had a junior shield her from it.
The rain grew heavier, the night deepened and the fog thickened, making it increasingly difficult to see.
Lin Chengye suddenly pursed her lips, carefully choosing her words before speaking, and told Bian Yi about her speculation that day.
"...I think the downfall of the Lin family was not so simple. Although this is just my guess, I feel that it was not just the Emperor's doing behind the scenes."
The moment Lin Chengye finished speaking, Bian Yi's face suddenly turned pale. She actually trembled and took a step back, letting herself fall out of the umbrella's protection. The torrential rain soaked her moon-white robes, and her face became blurred in the rain. Lin Chengye heard her bewildered murmur.
"Impossible... How could it not be him... There must be someone else...? But, but there can't be someone else..."
...No one else could it be? What does that mean? Why is Bian Yi so certain that it was the emperor who did it?
Lin Chengye's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing. He simply moved closer and blocked the rain from entering.
"I have no intention of forgetting the past. I will continue my investigation, Bian Yi. If this is difficult for you, I will leave after a while."
"don't want!"
Bian Yi's dark pupils suddenly contracted, and she abruptly grabbed Lin Chengye's other sleeve, her chest heaving violently and her breathing rapid. This was completely unlike her usual composed demeanor.
Lin Chengye recalled that when she was unconscious, Bian Yi had also pleaded with her in a similar, almost begging tone.
"I'll help you, whatever you want to do."
Why? Why care so much about her life or death? And since she woke up, she has received far too much kindness and flattery from this person. It's as if no matter what she does, Bian Yi will always do his best to support her.
Lin Chengye took a deep breath and finally voiced his doubts.
"...Bian Yi, what exactly is your relationship with my mother? You're not just an ordinary acquaintance, are you?"
Bian Yi remained silent for a long time, so long that Lin Chengye wanted to take back what she had just said. Suddenly, a lot of intense and sorrowful emotions welled up in the eyes of the person in front of her. Lin Chengye felt that Bian Yi was looking at her, but it was more than that.
“Your mother… she, she is my senior sister. I was born into the martial world and do not know my biological parents. I only regard everyone in my sect as my family. Your mother is like a sister to me, so you are very important to me, Chengye.”
Finally, Bian Yi spoke.
"You can trust me. Whatever you do, I will help you, as long as you can live well."
...
Lin Chengye lay on the bed, holding the white jade ring in his hand, lost in thought. His eyes had adjusted to the dark environment, and he could see a little more clearly.
After saying those words, Bian Yi left somewhat dejectedly, and she returned to the house. Without the intense emotions that had overwhelmed her, Lin Chengye calmed down and carefully considered their conversation.
Bian Yi's unusual attitude does say something.
Azure Phoenix Valley...
Could it be that the destruction of Qingluan Medicine Valley, as mentioned by Monk Shichen, was also related to the emperor?
Lin Chengye's pupils contracted, and she gripped the white jade ring tightly in her hand, as if she had finally grasped something.
It's highly likely. Bian Yi seems to know about this. She should believe that the culprit behind the destruction of Qingluan Medicine Valley is the emperor, but her own speculation makes her realize that perhaps there is someone else behind the destruction of Qingluan Medicine Valley?
This explains why Bian Yi reacted so strongly. Lin Chengye slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
But what follows is even more obscurity and mystery.
Why did the emperor want to wipe out a martial arts sect? What exactly happened back then?
As if by some unseen force, Lin Chengye always felt that the Lin family and the destruction of Qingluan Medicine Valley were inextricably linked, but the destruction of Qingluan Medicine Valley had happened twenty-one years ago.
Lin Chengye had a slight headache. She rubbed her temples, placed the white jade ring under her pillow, and slowly closed her eyes.
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