Five Miles of Fog (Part 8)
Chapter Eighteen
Xie Yuan never expected that the seal on the Gu control technique would be broken and fall into the hands of Song Ling's organization. Not only that, but this mission was also assigned to him after going through many twists and turns.
It seems the original storyline still hasn't given up on having Song Ling turn to the dark side.
However, this also shows that her choice back then had a significant impact. Although Song Ling has now embarked on the path of an assassin, at least she didn't turn evil at the age of nine and get besieged and killed by the so-called righteous sects. That was the key turning point for her to turn evil.
She remembered that Song also established an organization in the original book called the Wujian Pavilion, which was known in the martial arts world for its cruel killings. After killing someone, they would place a black datura flower on the corpse. She had a deep impression of this description in the original text.
Xie Yuan forgot most of the main plot. The forgetting began the moment she chose Song Ling. She couldn't even write it down with a pen. As long as it was related to the plot, the writing would automatically disappear on the paper.
The original text doesn't delve too deeply into Song Ling's tragic childhood experiences, mostly just mentioning them briefly. However, even from these few words, she could still discern the source of his unhappiness and resentment between the lines...
And when his master experienced it firsthand, let alone Song Ling, she herself wanted to turn evil and take revenge on the world. Back then, almost every ten days or so, some idiots would come rushing to their deaths...
"Master, be careful."
Xie Yuan was thinking about Song Ling and was walking absentmindedly. She was almost bumped into by a passerby who was walking in a hurry. Fortunately, Song Ling, who was walking behind her, pulled her back a few steps and bumped into the boy's firm chest.
The girl's soft body parted as soon as it was touched.
"Hey, Ah Ling, why are there so many people gathered around that notice board over there?" She subconsciously turned around and looked in the direction the person had left. It was a person wearing a white headscarf that covered her completely. Judging from her figure, she was probably a woman. She quickly disappeared into the noisy crowd behind her.
Xie Yuan then noticed a large crowd gathered around the bulletin board ahead. "It seems like something happened over there. Let's go take a look." She habitually took Song Ling's hand and struggled to push through the crowd. Knowing that Song Ling didn't like crowded places, she pulled him behind her. "Do you think this might also be related to the people behind the bandit stronghold?"
"Hmm, maybe so."
Song Ling silently tightened his grip on her hand, smiled at the girl who turned to look at him, and when she turned back, his gaze, seemingly casual, swept over the crowd in front of them, and then drifted meaningfully over the adjacent attic.
——
Not far away, on a two-story pavilion facing the street, a young man in purple robes stood by the window, watching the scene of the girl and boy holding hands naturally, and he felt inexplicably annoyed.
It looks just like her, so much like her.
Could there really be people in this world who are so similar?
Now, sixteen years later, he still vividly remembers those carefree days he spent with her in the martial arts world.
Even now, sitting in this position...
When he recalls her every smile and frown in the dead of night, he always feels a sense of loss and wakes up in a daze.
I can hardly believe how I felt when I received her suicide note back then.
She wasn't the kind of person who would easily give up her life.
It is precisely because I know this that I find it even more unacceptable.
"Your Highness, that man in black robes has brought this again, and this too." A whirlwind of a young man in black robes burst in from outside the door, slapping two items out of his robes: a sealed bamboo tube and a wilted, blackened flower, which he then placed on the table.
"I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore, I'm exhausted! This isn't what we agreed on, I don't want to do this anymore!" The young man was sprawled out on the ground, completely unrefined. The purple-robed young master ignored his sighs and stepped over him, walking towards the door. With a forced smile, he tossed out a sentence: "If you don't want to do it, then go back to the Heavenly Prison yourself."
"All you do is threaten me with jail all day long! What kind of master is this! He clearly treats me like a laborer!" The boy muttered to himself in dissatisfaction as he watched him turn his back, raising his fist and waving it at him twice in a fit of rage.
Inside the room was a half-person-high blue and white porcelain vase. The young man in purple saw all of this through the reflection in the mirror, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.
He thought to himself, "This idiot doesn't even know how to be discreet when he's cursing. I must have lost my mind. He's hopeless. How did I end up with such a stupid apprentice?" He said, "Take the things and let's go."
"Seriously? We just got here, and we're leaving again!" The boy complained as he weakly got up from the ground, stuffed his things haphazardly into his clothes, and hurriedly caught up with him. His mouth never stopped for a moment, and he was still complaining, "Going from a thief to a deliveryman isn't much better, is it? Why is my life so miserable?"
"Don't worry, there's more to come."
The purple-robed young man's calm voice came from ahead, and the boy hurriedly chased after him, looking utterly exhausted.
"Hey, I was just talking nonsense, Your Highness, please don't take it seriously!"
——
Xie Yuan ultimately didn't make it to the bulletin board because a vendor selling clothing from southern Xinjiang and various trinkets appeared out of nowhere.
Her attention was immediately drawn, and she couldn't move an inch.
Although she disliked the malice shown to Song Ling by those people in Southern Xinjiang, the undeniable fact was that her little apprentice ultimately had the blood of the people of Southern Xinjiang.
However, from the day he was born, he was thrown into the Ten Thousand Gu Cave, and his identity was never recognized by his clansmen. He could never have had the Southern Frontier clothing that belonged to him.
She felt a strange sense of regret. He would look so good in it, but she didn't know if he would even want to. Ah Ling must really hate Southern Xinjiang...
Xie Yuan lingered, picking and choosing, unable to put her eyes down. She had to admit that the area was indeed rich in silver ornaments and various exquisite handicrafts. She remembered the natural disaster and plague that killed and injured countless people in the Southern Frontier. Now, the Southern Frontier had a new ruler, and she wondered who this person was who had managed to revive the Southern Frontier, which was on the verge of extinction.
"Ah Ling, do you like this?" Xie Yuan excitedly waved a pair of crescent-shaped silver earrings in front of Song Ling.
Song Ling smiled gently, "I like everything Master chooses."
"Then Master wants to see you wear this!"
Seeing that her plan had succeeded, Xie Yuan quickly stuffed the entire set of Southern Xinjiang clothing that she had spent half a day choosing into his arms.
The boy was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously reached out and hugged her, before smiling and saying, "Of course, Master can see it. Let's go back to the inn now, and A-Ling will show it to you."
"Really? Then let's go back now!"
Xie Yuan was surprised that he agreed so quickly, and she didn't realize the deeper meaning in his words. She was overjoyed.
She picked out a whole bunch of things, expecting to haggle over the prices, but to her surprise, the shop owner was a kind old man with a hunchback and a long white beard, who readily gave her an extremely low price.
"Grandpa, all these things only cost two taels of silver?" Xie Yuan asked, looking at the large package.
The old man had a kind face and a gentle smile: "Young lady, we have plenty of these things in our southern border region, they're not worth much."
"Of course, I only gave you this price because you and your young master are such a perfect match."
"No, he is not my husband..." Xie Yuan was startled by the old man's words and quickly waved her hand to explain subconsciously.
Unexpectedly, the old man stroked his white beard and interrupted with a smile, "Young lady, to be honest, I am well-versed in Buddhism and Taoism. Your connection with this young master goes beyond this..." He gave Song Ling behind her a meaningful look.
"That's all I have to say. My two young friends, I hope we'll meet again someday."
Before Xie Yuan could reply, the old man took the two taels of silver, quickly packed up his stall, waved, laughed, and left, soon disappearing into the crowd.
"Huh, you're not selling it anymore?" Xie Yuan was completely confused; this person was really strange.
"Master, that person said our fate is not just this, is that what I think it means?" Song Ling asked her with an innocent and obedient smile, leaning slightly forward.
"What are you thinking about all day long? Hmm?" Xie Yuan poked his fair forehead with a serious expression.
"I want to..." Song Ling smiled and was about to speak without hesitation.
Xie Yuan knew almost immediately what nonsense he was about to spout. Quick as a flash, she covered his mouth, suppressing the heat rising on her face, and said in a low, threatening voice, "There are people coming and going on the street. You're not allowed to talk nonsense outside! Do you hear me!"
The warm, soft touch of his lips against her palm made Song Ling smile without fading. He replied gently, "I heard you, Master~" His tone was deliberately drawn out with a pleasant rise at the end, like he was being coquettish, which sent a tingling, inexplicable itch through her.
Where did this kid learn all these seductive tricks?!
Xie Yuan blushed and glared at him fiercely. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, he raised his hand, took the back of her hand, and gently kissed her palm before letting go.
Xie Yuan felt that her current expression might rival that of a cooked crayfish in terms of redness.
"You...you..." Xie Yuan didn't know how to describe her feelings at that moment.
No, this is on the street, with people coming and going. What's the difference between this and flirting in public?
After arguing for a while, Xie Yuan said irritably, "I'll deal with you when we get back!" and turned to leave.
The main problem was that she simply couldn't bring herself to say anything to criticize Song Ling when she saw his face.
It turns out that being handsome can not only be a source of sustenance but also help reduce internal heat.
No wonder people say when they're scrolling through short videos these days, "If you date a handsome guy, just looking at his face will calm you down when you're arguing..."
Song Ling, carrying the large package that had been tossed into her arms, followed the girl in red who was walking away quickly, in a good mood.
Master is so cute when he gets shy.
After all, she had always regarded him as her apprentice, so she was naturally accustomed to his physical contact and did not resist it. But it was okay; he could take his time. It didn't matter if he couldn't accept it for the time being. After all, being close to the source of the water meant he had an advantage, and it was only a matter of time.
Master, we have a long future ahead of us.
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