Chapter 52 Draft [Do Not Buy] [Do Not Buy] marked as a draft...
Dear readers, we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused, but the Bat chapter will be suspended in this chapter.
The Bat arc is too slow-paced; the ship scenes alone have taken up 18 chapters, and they still haven't reached the island. If they followed the outline's pace, it would take at least another 15 chapters, practically becoming filler to increase word count.
Furthermore, the characters are very disorganized, with everyone talking in a buzzing voice, and the camera doesn't follow Ming Jiang. The plot is fragmented, frequently jumping around, with too many flashbacks and interludes. Much of the foreshadowing from earlier parts is hastily inserted, as if patched up. This clearly disrupts the overall flow and clarity of the story, resulting in a "high start, low finish."
Therefore, I have decided to pause here and resume construction later (Chapters 33-52). Following the fast pace of the first two volumes, I will only use 15-20 chapters to finish the Bat arc. The remaining fragmented plot will be reorganized and released later.
I've set up two tags. After this part is revised, the chapter content will be replaced and the tags will be deleted. The VIP chapter price is based on the word count of the author's first post, so please rest assured, the rewritten main story will only have more words, not fewer, including this chapter. This chapter will be filled with more main story chapters later to protect the interests of legitimate readers. I won't take advantage of you.
Due to my shortcomings in plot design, the data for this story is not ideal. However, Ming Jiang is a character I put a lot of effort into creating, and I really want to tell this story as completely as possible, especially to live up to the expectations of the readers who have followed the story all the way here.
I have never thought that saintly figures are bad, and I hate the kind of rhetoric that says "kill saintly figures first in the apocalypse." If someone were willing to save me in the apocalypse, I wouldn't think of her as a saintly figure; I would only recognize her as my adoptive mother. Only if she doesn't look down on my wimpy state and is willing to lend a helping hand, would I love her dearly! Similarly, I don't like the plots that accompany this kind of rhetoric and that vilify the image of the working class and the lower classes.
To keep on track, here's a brief outline of the remaining plot: Ming Jiang and Xiang Shuai have a long talk and reach a cooperation agreement. Later, they go to the island and enter the Bat Cave. In the dark Bat Cave, Ming Jiang encounters a precocious little girl. This little girl is actually Sun Bulao from the Palace of Bliss. Sun Bulao has a secret: every thirteen years, she needs to eat five Jade Peaches to maintain her age. Because the Bat Prince stole four or five Jade Peaches, Sun Bulao didn't have enough peaches to maintain her age and reverted to a young girl. She took the opportunity to infiltrate Bat Island, pretending to be captured by the bats and imprisoned with girls kidnapped from various places. Then, when the bats left, Sun Bulao escaped and met Ming Jiang. After learning the truth, Ming Jiang rescued the girls, devised a plan to expose the Bat Prince, and the group joined forces to defeat the boss. After killing the Bat Prince, they occupied Bat Island, burned down the evil, and developed the island for salt production.
Edits:
1. Chapter 33 Dragon Tiger Stronghold ⑤ Rewritten: Foreshadowing deleted, Ding Lingzhong and Ma Kongqun are directly killed off.
2. The Bat Chapter compresses Lin Pingzhi's storyline, removes Meng Nu'an's character and storyline, and strengthens the main plot.
3. The assassination + the seagull murder case + see you directly on the island are retained.
4. Existing emotional scenes will be refined and integrated, transforming syrup into a single piece of candy—sweet but compact.
In other words, after the Bat arc was revised, it became a story with a clear and complete main plot and a fast pace, which can be read as a fast-paced, enjoyable read.
Starting tomorrow, I'll be updating a new volume, "The Four Divine Catchers: The Blue-Eyed Wolf Boy vs. the General."
I'll probably update every other day. One day I'll revise an old chapter, and the next day I'll update the new chapter. I'll try my best to revise the old chapter completely, and ideally, I'll replace it entirely. If I have enough energy, of course, it would be best to update daily or even do a lot of updates.
I apologize again to everyone; my writing skills and abilities may have caused you some trouble. (bows)
The original version of Lin Pingzhi has been removed and may be moved to the later Blackwood Cliff dungeon, replaced by Qiu Fengwu, to avoid portraying Qiu Fengwu as overly delicate.
The counter was no more than three feet wide, with a row of rouge boxes displayed on it. Ye Kai sat in a wooden chair, but his gaze was fixed on Ding Linglin.
Ding Linglin was the most meticulous when it came to choosing lipsticks. She pursed her lips, bent down to pick out the lipsticks, and lightly dipped her fingertips into the glossy lipstick to test the color on the back of her hand.
The shopkeeper's wife was a quick-witted and eloquent woman who charmed Ding Linglin, making her beam with joy and her interest soar even higher.
"Young lady, look at this 'Pomegranate Delight,' its color is so bright, when applied to the lips it's like a ripe pomegranate seed, so luscious and tempting; and this 'Tender Wu Fragrance,' so delicate and refreshing, it suits a beauty like you perfectly..."
Suddenly, the curtain rustled open, sending in a gust of cold wind.
The shopkeeper's wife quickly turned around, greeting him with a smile: "Welcome, esteemed guest! What are you looking at, sir?"
As she spoke, she deftly laid out more than a dozen rouge boxes again, “Pomegranate Delight, Tender Wu Fragrance, Sacred Sandalwood Heart, Ten Thousand Gold Red…” She looked him up and down and saw that he was a young and wealthy man. The shopkeeper thought to herself, “This is another generous fellow.”
"I want the best." Lu Xiaojia stepped inside, his voice clear and concise, "The most expensive."
"That's the Jia-Jian lip rouge." The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, secretly delighted that a lucrative deal was about to be finalized.
"Sir, are you here to add to your dowry, or to ask for a marriage proposal?"
Lu Xiaojia was slightly taken aback, secretly wondering to herself, "There are such intricacies involved?"
"Is this the first time you've given someone away?" The shopkeeper's wife blinked, a hint of slyness in her eyes.
He answered readily: "Yes."
Hearing that it was a gift for her beloved's first marriage, the shopkeeper's wife smiled even more enthusiastically, her wrinkles radiating warmth, and coaxed, "If it's for betrothal, then it should be a pair of lotus blossoms; for the dowry, it should be a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune..."
As she spoke, she took out several rouge boxes decorated with gold and colorful designs. Some depicted mandarin ducks playing in the water, others twin lotus flowers, and still others auspicious dragons and phoenixes. Lu Xiaojia's gaze swept over them one by one, finally settling on a peony and stamen pattern.
“①The peony enjoys the favor of spring, why should it envy the peony?” The shopkeeper’s wife deliberately showed off a few words, shaking her head and quite proudly, “This peony and stamen pattern represents a special affection, which is most suitable to give to the beloved.”
Lu Xiaojia hesitated. Although peonies symbolize devoted love, their short blooming period and easy withering seemed unlucky and lacked the meaning of longevity. Seeing this, the shopkeeper quickly handed over a red bean and peach blossom, her eyes full of expectation: "Red beans represent longing, and peach blossoms symbolize beauty. This is our best-selling item."
Lu Xiaojia's eyebrows had just relaxed slightly, and she was just starting to feel interested when she heard the words "hot selling". A sense of resistance welled up in her heart for no reason: How could You Mingjiang use such a common item?
He looked around, tapped the table lightly with his long knuckles, and asked, "Do you have any with a wild goose pattern?"
Wild geese are loyal birds with noble character, and they can be given as gifts between friends, so she naturally had no excuse not to accept them.
.
The more familiar the voice sounded, the more Ye Kai and Ding Linglin exchanged a glance. When they saw who it was, their eyes widened in surprise.
Lu Xiaojia?
Assassins and Rouge Shops...
The contrast was so stark that it took her a moment to process it. Her fingertips trembled suddenly, and the newly bought rouge box clattered to the ground.
“Brother…” Recalling the “Ding Lingzhong’s right arm was severed at the root” mentioned in the letter, and then recalling Lu Xiaojia’s threat to kill Ye Kai, Ding Linglin subconsciously took half a step forward and stood in front of Ye Kai.
Her voice trembled slightly as she nervously called out, "Brother Lu...?"
Sunlight streamed through the windowpane and fell on Lu Xiaojia's earlobe, where a scab with a tooth mark still clung.
He pursed his thin lips slightly and gave a soft "hmm," as if he could only see the rouge box that carried his own feelings.
Ding Linglin looked at Lu Xiaojia, her mind in turmoil.
She felt both sorry for him and terrified of him. Remembering what her father had said—that Lu Xiaojia had cut off her third brother's arm—she knew Ding Lingzhong deserved it, but she still felt a chill run down her spine.
What she feared most was that Lu Xiaojia would kill Ye Kai with a single sword strike.
Although Ye Kai's martial arts skills were not weak, no one knew who would win in the end. In her heart, her brother and her sweetheart were the most important people, and she didn't want either of them to get hurt.
She was both greedy and helpless, hoping that God would open his eyes and be kinder to them.
.
Seeing Lu Xiaojia's relaxed expression and the indescribable joy radiating from her, the usual murderous aura gone, Ye Kai's smile deepened. Based on this, he made a very bold guess: "Dr. You is still alive."
But he didn't say it.
Since Cui Nong, Fu Hongxue, and Lu Xiaojia have all chosen to remain silent, he should also keep quiet.
Everyone has secrets, and digging into their secrets is never a good thing.
In this world of martial arts, some secrets are perhaps best left unrevealed.
Seeing the faint joy in Lu Xiaojia's eyes, Ye Kai was genuinely happy for him.
The martial arts world is inherently a place of right and wrong, and it is already difficult to find a trace of warmth in such a place.
But then Ye Kai thought of Fu Hongxue, and a sense of melancholy welled up in his heart.
Fu Hongxue and Doctor You were supposed to be a couple, so how did they end up as Lu Xiaojia?
They didn't usually have much interaction, but now they seem to have come together.
The world is unpredictable and truly unfathomable.
Ye Kai felt sorry for Fu Hongxue, but didn't know how to bring it up.
.
Ding Linglin also felt that Lu Xiaojia looked a bit strange.
After thinking it over for a while, it suddenly dawned on her: he hadn't continued eating peanuts.
This is truly a case of the sun rising in the west.
It's actually very simple: when you have nothing and can't change anything, you can only hold on tightly to what you can still grasp.
For example, peanuts.
Lu Xiaojia tucked the rouge box into her leather pouch before looking up at the two of them and saying calmly, "Let's go."
He casually tossed a peanut into the air, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I'll treat you to a drink today."
At this moment, he felt exceptionally happy and wanted to share this rare joy with his blood relatives.
.
Inside the tavern, the fire was blazing, the flames leaping merrily in the hearth, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The smoky wine swirled gently in the glass, filling the air with the aroma of wine and roasted meat.
Lu Xiaojia suddenly said, "I'm very happy today."
His voice radiated an undisguised joy, a joy that came from the bottom of his heart.
Ye Kai smiled slightly and nodded: "I'm also very happy." He was now certain that Doctor You was still alive.
Ding Linglin asked, "Brother Lu, you won't kill Ye Kai, will you?" Her voice was cautious, as if she was afraid of touching on some taboo.
Lu Xiaojia smiled and said, "Mm."
Like a reassuring pill, Ding Linglin smiled, and a weight was finally lifted from her shoulders.
Lu Xiaojia glanced at Ding Linglin and noticed that the skin on her hands and face was very delicate, without any signs of redness, swelling, or cracking.
Thinking of You Mingjiang's red, chapped earlobes, and her hands, calloused from years of using Ziyun ointment, a tender feeling welled up inside him. To like someone is to find yourself constantly thinking of them, no matter what you're doing.
Lu Xiaojia took a sip of her drink and casually asked, "What do you usually wear?"
"Almond honey!" Ding Linglin proudly took out a small porcelain box, dipped her fingertip in the snow-white balm, and gently dabbed it on the back of her hand. "No matter where your skin is chapped, almond honey is the most effective."
As she spoke, she gently pinched Ye Kai's nose and said coquettishly, "I've used up all my almond honey. I must buy some when I go to Yangzhou this time. Don't pretend you forgot!"
Ye Kai smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly, saying, "A beautiful woman's fragrance is worth half a month's food for a poor man."
Lu Xiaojia then asked, "Besides almond honey, what else is there?"
At this point, Ding Linglin became more alert.
She keenly sensed something amiss.
Ding Linglin stared at Lu Xiaojia's earlobe, where there were teeth marks. The word "Dr. You..." rolled between her teeth, but she didn't say it.
She really wanted to ask Lu Xiaojia if Dr. You was still alive. Lu Xiaojia had once said that if Dr. You died, he would commit suicide to accompany him. But he was sitting here perfectly fine, which meant Dr. You should still be alive. However, in front of Ye Kai, she swallowed her curiosity.
She didn't know if Ye Kai had noticed anything, but Ding Linglin felt that her brother was already pitiful and lonely enough. Compared to having multiple sisters-in-law, she would rather have multiple sisters-in-law.
If Dr. You could become her sister-in-law, that would be the best thing ever.
Forgive her for this little bit of selfishness.
Ding Linglin's heart involuntarily tipped slightly in favor of her brother.
Ding Linglin remained calm and introduced the products as if they were her most treasured possessions: "There's also snail-shell eyeshadow, rose water, peach blossom jade face cream..."
Lu Xiaojia listened quietly, finished her drink, suddenly stood up, the money clinking on the counter, and turned to leave.
Ye Kai teased, "Aren't you going to ask Miss Ding if this thing is expensive?"
Lu Xiaojia smiled faintly and said nonchalantly, "No need." After saying that, he strode out.
He didn't care whether these items were expensive or not. As long as they could make You Mingjiang smile, he didn't mind spending more money.
.
Actually, he only had one thought in his mind: to see her as soon as possible.
Lu Xiaojia ordered ear warmers from a clothing store. They were fluffy and looked very warm, and her ears wouldn't get cold.
He thought that if she wore these ear warmers, her earlobes wouldn't get red from the cold anymore.
He looked up at the sunlight, its golden rays shining on his face.
The winter sun is like a fleeting visitor, barely having time to dispel the chill before being obscured by clouds. But the brief moment of its light is enough to illuminate the entire world.
Lu Xiaojia rode off on horseback, her figure nimble and graceful, heading towards a grand rendezvous.
Before him lay his happiness, his future.
.
.
The rain is still falling.
The Prince Taiping's Mansion, thousands of miles away, flickered in and out of focus during the thunderstorm.
Suddenly, a thunderclap exploded.
The young Prince Taiping suddenly sat up from the soft couch. He hung his head, clutching the quilt tightly, panting heavily. His snow-white undergarment was soaked with cold sweat, clinging to his back and feeling cool against his body.
A dull, aching pain came from my left chest.
He endured the same pain every stormy night.
After a while, he got off the bed barefoot, reached out and pushed open the window. The wind and rain rushed in from outside, and the candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on his face.
He leaned against the window, reaching out to catch the icy rain.
It's so cold.
"You Mingjiang..." he murmured, his voice so soft it was drowned out by the sound of rain. A spasmodic pain immediately shot through his left chest. He picked up a thin silver needle and pierced his arm without hesitation, and fine beads of blood immediately seeped out.
Feeling the stinging pain of his skin being pierced, he rotated the needle tip to ease the deeper pain in his heart.
Another bolt of lightning!
The rain intensified, turning into a downpour.
His memories of that rainy night gradually overlapped...
.
The night I first met You Mingjiang, it was also pouring rain.
While fighting off the coastal pirates who landed at Yulin Port in Yazhou, he was hit by several arrows and was eventually forcibly carried to a nearby clinic by several guards sent by that person to protect him.
Several doctors said he wouldn't make it.
His wounds were throbbing painfully, he had recurring high fevers, and he was in a daze. In the occasional moments when he was clear-headed, he felt that it would be better not to live at all.
Yu Mingjiang happened to be passing by here.
Hearing about his deeds, they worked tirelessly to save him, pulling him back from the brink of death.
As she fed him the medicine, she said with a smile, "A little hero's life isn't so easy to lose! You must cherish your life. When you get better, I'll be proud of you too."
You Mingjiang was a traveling doctor who was unforgettable.
She looks like a cat.
She has a round face and round eyes, but when she smiles, her eyes curve into crescent moons.
Her hair was braided, and she wore silver rings the size of a baby's fist hanging from her earlobes. Her hair was loosely tied back. She wore a short, diagonally-fastened blouse, an indigo Li brocade knee-length skirt, and straw sandals.
Her steps were as light as a cat's.
It's not a cute little kitten, nor a docile house cat, but a leopard cat that specializes in lurking in the bushes.
She always carried a dark, chapped bamboo medicine basket on her back.
There's always an endless jar of tofu soup in the medicine basket.
He always saves one fallen person after another.
Those hands, with their distinct knuckles, neatly trimmed nails, and calloused fingertips, were capable of both processing medicinal herbs and wielding a long spear.
He looked up at her, staring blankly.
When she smiles, she shines.
That year, on the rocks by the Yazhou shore, he looked at her with unwavering determination and said, "I swear that in my lifetime I will eradicate all the corrupt and treacherous, bring order to the world, and restore peace and tranquility to humanity. Mingjiang, let's change this world together, okay?"
You Mingjiang's eyes sparkled.
She reached out her hand, her little finger slightly curled up:
“…Alright! This road is difficult, but you are not walking alone, nor are you venturing into danger by yourself! I swear, I am willing to share your pain and will never let you bear everything alone.”
He hooked his finger around hers: "Whoever breaks his vow will suffer the agony of a thousand needles piercing his heart!"
A gentleman's word is his bond.
"What's done is done!"
The two young men looked down at the surging sea, their hearts filled with the same surging passion.
.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long.
The following summer, in order to cut off the pirates from landing and resupplying, he ignored the people's pleas and ordered all passing ships to be sunk, and forced the fishermen to relocate inland, with those who refused to be beheaded; he also poured tung oil on all the fishing villages and wharves along the coast for thirty miles, and under the fire attack, the coast was turned into scorched earth and ruins, and black smoke covered the sun for half a month.
That night, a torrential downpour poured outside the tent.
The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and You Mingjiang, dripping wet, barged in.
"You promised not to harm the common people—"
"...The docks, fishing boats, and houses were burned down. How innocent were those people who had relied on the sea for generations? Their wives, children, and elderly parents were forced to leave their homes, and some even lost their lives because they refused to abandon their homes. Is this what you call 'changing the world'?!"
What was his response at the time?
"The scorched earth policy, though harsh, has immediate results. The barbarian pirates haven't shown their faces again for half a month, and the coastal prefectures and counties have regained peace. Once things calm down, providing some money and grain to appease the displaced people is a minor matter! In recent years, haven't there been countless cases of coastal residents secretly colluding with pirates and smuggling contraband? My measures are precisely to eliminate this internal threat!"
"To convict someone based on mere conjecture?" You Mingjiang sneered. "Fishermen are born and raised here, and they hate foreign invaders and pirates more than anyone else! You've turned the coastline into scorched earth. The foreign invaders may retreat temporarily, but the people's livelihood will be ruined, and the people will be displaced. When famine strikes, corpses will be everywhere, and plagues will rage, can you guarantee that the foreign invaders won't make a comeback?"
He interrupted her sharply: "You don't understand at all! I did this for the greater good! Sacrificing a mere hundred or so people can ensure the safety of an entire prefecture..."
You Mingjiang suddenly smiled.
"In a doctor's eyes, human life is equal regardless of its value. But what about you?"
She raised her hand and pressed it to her chest, then pointed at his, "What you hold here, is it the well-being of the world, or your own ambition?"
A cold glint flashed suddenly.
The cold blade was pressed against her throat.
His hand holding the sword trembled slightly, his eyes surging with rage and pain: "You Mingjiang, do you really think I wouldn't bear to kill you?"
You Mingjiang did not move.
She looked at him, and the fire in her eyes gradually died out.
There were no hysterical questions, no gnashing hatred, and even the last trace of sorrow had dissipated.
She just stood there quietly, as if all her strength had been drained away, and even anger had become a luxury.
"Forget it. We're on different paths, so we can't work together." She shook her head gently. "...It's over."
Vows, empathy, cooperation—all of it is over.
The empathy between the two was abruptly severed.
He suddenly shivered, and his hand instinctively went to his chest, where the palpitation that should have been there had disappeared.
This was the first time he had experienced true fear.
Outside the tent, the rain poured down, but You Mingjiang turned and left, her back view resolute.
He staggered after him, the rain blurring his vision.
"Mingjiang—"
That scream was so hysterical, it almost drew blood.
Even the thunder seemed to pause.
But she didn't stop, and in the blink of an eye she disappeared into the vast rain and mist.
He eventually knelt down in the mud.
The icy rain could not extinguish the deep remorse in my heart.
.
Later, every stormy night, he would wake up in a cold sweat, increasingly convinced that this was God's punishment for him.
“Mingjiang…” he murmured softly, still gazing out the window.
I wonder how she is now...
Rain pattered against the red window, casting an unpredictable shadow on his profile.
"Knock knock knock!"
A series of urgent knocks abruptly interrupted his thoughts, abruptly pulling him back from his slumbering emotions.
"Speak!" His expression twisted for a moment.
The servant outside the door announced in a loud voice:
"Your Highness, may you be well! His Majesty has sent me with an urgent message that we need to discuss this matter in person. Please come to the study immediately."
"Understood." He put away the silver needles, straightened his clothes, and once again became the young and illustrious Crown Prince of Taiping.
The moment he stepped out of the room, in a daze, he heard his vow from years ago again:
"Mingjiang, let's change this world together... Anyone who breaks this oath will suffer the agony of a thousand needles piercing their heart!"
He paused, then suddenly laughed.
This smile was uglier than a cry, as if mocking the naivety of yesteryear.
Some paths, once taken, are difficult to turn back from.
And some people, in that fleeting moment of passing by...
They were already strangers, separated by life and death, and had forgotten each other in the world of martial arts.
He took a deep breath, straightened his chest, and continued walking forward.
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