Chapter 30 The Ancient Tomb: He is also a descendant of the Blood Crossbow Case
Years have passed, and Guan Ye still occasionally dreams of the boy Hu Xian pushed into the sea. A Jiu said that since they refused to come to the island, they certainly wouldn't make it back to shore alive. Xingguo Fang was able to escape the Blood Crossbow Case and survive by sheer luck because three generations had been in seclusion and had no connection with the outside world. If people knew that they were smuggling teenagers and had even taken in Guan Xiaotian's daughter... Guan Ye felt a chill run down her spine. Not to mention them, everyone on Canglang Island would probably be dead.
Guan Ye heard her father's almost frantic roar—"Are you afraid others won't know our origins?!"
"Why did you cover his mouth?" Xiao Ma struggled to pick up any fish meat, then angrily threw down his chopsticks. "I did say I want to go back to Rongdu."
“Big brother…” Ji Yuan tugged at Ji Fang’s sleeve in fear, “They’ve all gone mad.”
“I’m not crazy.” Xiao Ma took a deep breath. “Even if Xingguofang can’t go back to Rongdu, I will definitely go back.”
Just as Guan Ye was about to say something, her hand was suddenly covered by something warm. She looked up and saw that A Jiu was expressionless, his rough palm just gently pressing her.
"Oh?" Feng Shisan's hostility subsided, and the redness in his eyes faded. "Could it be... you've been planning to escape all along?"
“I am different from you.” Xiao Ma licked his dry lips. He wanted a drink, but the Ji family didn’t seem to have anything. But without something exciting, he felt something was missing. So he picked up his chopsticks, dipped them in the cold soup, and sipped. It was so salty that he almost spat it out.
"What?" Feng Shisan became interested. "A blood feud? Tell me about it. Brothers who share a common hatred for the enemy."
Xiao Ma lowered his head bitterly, "My family has been wronged. I will go back to Rongdu to seek justice."
Those who ended up in Tangshui City were all homeless and had no enemies. And which of the young men who were coaxed onto the boat by Hu Xian had a clear background? She was like that, as were Xiao Ma, Feng Shisan, and Ajiu. Guan Ye glanced at Ajiu and saw that his face was calm, like a deep sea that was hard to see through, as if he hadn't heard what everyone was talking about at all.
But as he pressed his palm, it was clear that he had heard every single word.
"A redress is wonderful!" Feng Shisan slapped his thigh. "When we get to Rongdu, I'll beat the drum for you and tell you what your grievance is."
Xiao Ma's eyes showed sorrow, and he sighed, "It's not that I don't believe you, but the road is long and difficult. If the day comes when justice is served, I will definitely take you with me to beat the drum and clear my family's name."
Xiao Ma composed himself, glanced sideways at the silent Feng Shisan, and said, "I'm done speaking. It's your turn."
"Me? What do I have to say?" Feng Shisan shrugged.
"What's your story now?" Little Horse asked impatiently. "You were just about to continue."
“I have no story.” Feng Shisan laughed heartily. “I was just bluffing you, hahaha.”
"You!" Little Ma was so anxious that he reached for his sword.
Ji Fang reacted quickly, drawing his sword and throwing it to Ajiu. He pointed at Xiao Ma and said, "You're not allowed to be violent in my house. If you scare my sister, I'll never forgive you."
"I really have no story," Feng Shisan said honestly. "I'm the thirteenth child in my family, and no one has ever paid any attention to me. The world is vast and the sea is wide, and I wanted to go out and see it for myself. So, I came to Canglang Island, and that's it."
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him anymore, Feng Shisan showed no embarrassment. "Didn't we say we were going up the mountain? Are we still going or not?"
“Of course I’ll go.” Ajiu stood up, sword in hand, and reached out to Guan Ye.
The group stood up and saw that Xiao Ma had a gloomy face. Feng Shisan nudged him lightly with his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "It was just a joke. Why are you so angry? I promised to beat the drum for you. I'll take as many beatings as you need. This is what I, Young Master Shisan, promised you."
"Do you know which way the government offices in Rongdu face?" Xiao Ma asked with a disgusted look.
"To the east." Feng Shisan smiled meaningfully, brushed past Xiao Ma's stiff body, and walked at the front of the group.
Canglang Island is more than ten miles in circumference. The eastern coast is mostly lined with houses, while the northern side is surrounded by mountains and forests. The furnace burns day and night, and the sky above the island is shrouded in smoke all year round. It is dark and gloomy from a distance, day and night. Only when you enter the mountains can you see towering ancient trees, knee-high grass, and climbing vines and strange rocks.
Guan Ye and the workshop masters would go into the mountains every few days to carry newly mined charcoal. Going into the mountains was a very common thing for her. Even at night, her steps were still light, guiding the group to find herbs to stop bleeding and heal wounds.
As they continued along the mountain path, the loose stones underfoot became denser, and thorns occasionally blocked their way. Just as Guan Ye was about to step over them, A Jiu drew his sword and slashed out a path. Animals lurked in the mountains, and animal bones were visible among the wild grass, emitting a foul odor that attracted flies. When someone broke the silence, the flies swarmed towards them. A Jiu gripped the hilt of his sword and brushed the flies away for everyone, holding his sword in one hand as a watchful watch.
Guan Ye noticed something, bent down and picked a few pieces. "Found it. The wound medicine in the workshop is made from this." Seeing that A Jiu and the others were standing still, their eyes looking in a certain direction, Guan Ye followed their gaze, but it was pitch black and she couldn't make out anything.
“Speaking of which,” Xiao Ma glanced at the two of them, “we probably won’t be coming back after we leave. That day, Steward Pei summoned us to the beach in a hurry, and I left without taking some things. Now that we’re here… perhaps…”
"Why don't we go back?" Feng Shisan suggested. "It'll only take half an hour, what do you say?"
Guan Ye understood what they were referring to. The swordsman had been hiding in the mountains for many years. They were reluctant to leave their old place and wanted to go back for a final look before leaving. Guan Ye looked up at the sky and saw that there was a wind coming on. She pulled on A Jiu's sleeve and said, "I'm afraid it's going to rain. Ji Fang is still waiting for us at home."
“Ah Jiu will take you back.” Feng Shisan weighed the sword in his hand. “Xiao Ma and I will go back and take a look.”
“If you’re going, we’ll go together. Guan Ye, come with us.” A Jiu gently pressed Guan Ye’s palm, indicating that she should follow him.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, an abandoned old house came into view. The doors and windows were dilapidated, the walls were half collapsed, and the courtyard was covered with fallen leaves. A sudden gust of wind rose, and the branches and leaves tumbled. Guan Ye followed them, stepping on the fallen petals, as if she were on a wave. When the wind stopped and the leaves fell, the courtyard was desolate again. The chirping of insects in the corner was low and hoarse, mixed with the cawing of crows on the withered branches, which made the feeling of desolation even more pronounced.
"I thought..." Guan Ye looked around, hesitating to speak.
"What did you think?" Ah Jiu chuckled. "You thought I'd found a good place to enjoy life after I've been gone for three years?"
Guan Ye pursed her lips and remained silent. She had often thought that her daily toil was a long way off, while A Jiu was healthy and must be pursuing a better future.
"This is where Pei Chong, the ancestor of Xingguofang, secluded himself after he came to the island," Ajiu said in a somber voice. "Pei Chong's tomb is right behind this house."
"A secluded place?" Ajiu noticed Guan Ye's doubt and said calmly, "Back then, when the sword was tested before the emperor, it was one thing for Pei Chong to be inferior in skill, but the precious sword that the entire workshop had poured its resources into forging was also broken into several pieces. This incident has nailed Xingguo Workshop to the pillar of shame for nearly a hundred years. After Pei Chong came to the island, he was confined here, never to see anyone, as a form of self-punishment. Now that the Meteor Sword has been forged, it can be considered as washing away a century of shame. Pei Chong's spirit in heaven should feel gratified."
Guan Ye had heard her father recount this old story. It was through this imperial sword trial that Lu Wenting, the ancestor of Tianhu Fang, forced Xingguo Fang to flee to Canglang Island, leading the Lu family of Tianhu to dominate the imperial city and even the entire Great Jin Dynasty for a hundred years.
Father said that Pei Chong's Golden Sword was made of diamond sand from the northern desert, which could be considered the best of the best among iron ore. It didn't matter whether he won or lost the sword fight, but it was unheard of for the sword to break into three pieces. Father even gestured as he spoke, saying that he could easily make an ordinary horizontal sword without it breaking into three pieces.
Have you seen the treasure that cut the Golden Sword in two, Father?
Father shook his head. How could a rough old man like me see the master's treasures? Besides, Tianhu Workshop's skills are unfathomable, and their craftsmanship is becoming increasingly refined. A piece of art from a hundred years ago is just a souvenir; it's better not to see it.
Father lamented the death of the blacksmith in Xingguo Workshop who died by striking his sword. For a blacksmith, the things he painstakingly created were valued more than his own life. When the sword broke, his heart died, and he died for his sword. It was tragic, but also heroic.
"After Pei Chong arrived on the island, he secluded himself here and did not step out for decades. He pondered where he had failed. As time went by, he became obsessed and died in depression before the age of fifty. He had the ambition to revitalize the country, but ended up like this."
Xiao Ma cried out in sorrow, looking around. He saw cobwebs everywhere, mottled and indistinct. Thorns and vines were intertwined in the courtyard. The moon was hidden behind dark clouds, and the last rays of light reflected the fine dust floating in the air. The night wind blew through the broken window frames, and a nearly rotten smell hit his nose and mouth, making him gasp for breath. "Going back to Rongdu is a difficult road, daunting to walk. Even though I am on the same road as Pei Chong, I... have no choice but to take it."
Guan Ye pondered the words carefully. A Jiu held Pei Chong in high regard, then glanced at Xiao Ma's unusual grief. He was referring to Pei's ancestors, but he was lamenting his own uncertain future. The injustice he spoke of... could it be... that he was also a descendant of the Blood Crossbow Case? I've never heard my father mention it.
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