Twelfth image: Yunfeng Chunxiang
Xie Yunfeng rode his little red horse at full speed, traveling intermittently for two whole days. He was worried about his junior brothers and sisters and dared not waste any more time on the road.
Passing through the mountain road, we came to a thatched teahouse, which was Ma Yi Tea House. We took some water to prepare for our journey. This teahouse was located at the border between Dongyue Shenzhou and Nanyang Shenzhou, a place with a large population. For more than two hundred miles between them, there were almost no houses, let alone inns or restaurants, because bandits often roamed the area.
Xie Yunfeng found a spot and sat down to rest. There were about a dozen people drinking tea. At this moment, the old tea master politely stepped forward and greeted him, "Sir, you must be very thirsty, having traveled so quickly!" As he spoke, he poured tea for him.
Xie Yunfeng: "Yeah! We didn't even have a drink of water along this stretch of road, it was really unbearable!"
Tea Master: "Is this your first time traveling this road, sir? You still have to walk another fifty or sixty li before you can find a place to stay!"
At this moment, Chunxiang chimed in, "Old man, why do you have to travel so far to find a place to stay?"
Tea Master: "Young lady, is this your first time traveling this road? This road is the shortest route connecting the two southeastern states. However, it is also the most difficult road to travel. Unless it is an urgent matter, no one would want to pass through here."
Chunxiang: "Then why don't you open an inn? I think business would be pretty good!"
Tea Master: "Young lady, don't even mention opening an inn, even if you open a small noodle shop, you'll be robbed in three days at most! I'm over fifty years old, with no relatives or friends here, so I set up a tea stall here to serve tea to passersby to make a living. They won't rob me! Killing me would only get them a few dozen coins, and if they pass by again, they won't have any tea to drink!"
Xie Yunfeng: "Aren't there any gangs here?"
The old tea master shook his head and said, "Lord Yi once conquered this place three times. When he was there, the bandits would hide. When he left, the bandits would come out again to rob and kill. Lord Yi had no way to deal with it, so he let it go."
Just then, a fast horse came from the south, ridden by Xing Batian. A woman lay across the horse's back. Xing Batian dismounted and lifted the woman down as well. Judging from her appearance, the woman looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old.
After Xing Batian helped the woman sit down, the old tea master hurriedly poured him some tea. Xing Batian picked up a bowl of tea, but splashed it on the woman's face.
Seeing this, the old tea master angrily rebuked, "You monk, how could you waste it like this? Do you know how hard I worked to prepare this bowl of tea, and you just spill it like this?"
Xing Batian didn't speak, then struck Old Man Tea in the chest with his left hand, sending Old Man Tea crashing to the ground, spitting blood. Actually, Xing Batian wasn't a monk at all; he just didn't have long hair. But people called him a monk because of this, especially Zui Mochou, who called him the Flower Monk. He was no match for him and had no choice but to comply.
Just as Chunxiang was about to make a move, the woman woke up. She tried to run away, but Xing Batian grabbed her. The woman was terrified and screamed for help, frantically scratching and flailing her arms.
At this point, several passersby who were drinking tea could no longer stand it. One of them said, "It's bad enough that you unreasonably injured an old man, but you also forcibly abducted a young woman." Another said, "That's right, judging from his behavior, he's no good. Let's all go together and save the young woman!"
Xing Batian laughed loudly, "You ignorant lackeys, how dare you mess with your Grandpa Xing? You really don't know your place! Hahaha..."
At this moment, two people signaled to rush forward together, but before they could reach him, they were sent flying several feet away by Xing Batian's palm strike.
Seeing this, Chunxiang drew her sword and thrust it at Xing Batian. Xing Batian hurriedly dodged, and after several moves, he joked, "I've met another beautiful woman. Perfect, she can warm my bed with me. I'm truly blessed with good fortune today!"
Chunxiang: "Thieves, stop talking nonsense and die!" Just as they were fighting, the woman, for some unknown reason, lost her mind, crashed into the edge of a wooden table, and fell to the ground dead.
Enraged by this, Xing Batian launched a series of deadly attacks, but Chunxiang remained unfazed. Her unique swordsmanship made it difficult for Xing Batian to gain the upper hand. Cunning and treacherous, Xing Batian seized an opportunity to strike a tea drinker. Chunxiang, seeing this, hurriedly tried to stop him, but Xing Batian instantly turned around and struck her with a palm strike.
"Haha! Die!" Xing Batian wanted to press his advantage and launch another attack, but suddenly Xie Yunfeng's sword moved with his breath. Before he moved, his sword was already out. In the blink of an eye, he swung his sword and sliced Xing Batian's thumb off to the ground. Seeing that things were going badly, Xing Batian hurriedly mounted his horse and fled.
Xie Yunfeng stepped forward and asked with concern, "Are you alright, young lady?"
Xie Yunfeng looked at Chunxiang, who was about twenty-two or twenty-three years old. She was wearing a black cross-collar ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her face was as beautiful as a painting. Her long black hair was draped over her shoulders, and she only had a white hairband on her head. She had a relaxed and carefree demeanor, exuding a light and lively spirit.
Chunxiang: "I'm fine. I'm truly grateful for your help, young hero! May I ask your name, young hero?" Chunxiang saw Xie Yunfeng in front of her. He was a young man of about twenty-four or twenty-five, dressed in a light white robe. He had a dignified figure, an exceptionally handsome face, and deep eyes that revealed a smooth and mature demeanor. His jet-black hair was simply tied back with a ribbon, hanging down to his shoulders and fluttering in the wind. He had an elegant posture and exuded the air of a chivalrous hero.
Xie Yunfeng: "My name is Xie Yunfeng. Punishing the wicked and eliminating evil is the duty of a chivalrous person. I admire your righteousness, young lady. May I ask how you are addressed?"
Chun-hyang: "My name is Chun-hyang!"
"Such a young girl, what a pitiful thing!" Old Man Tea picked up the dead little girl and lamented with heartache.
Chunxiang stepped forward and said, "Old man, please dig a hole and bury the little girl. That way, she won't be bullied by wolves after she dies." She casually took out a few copper coins and gave the old man a few coins.
The old tea master said with emotion, "Young lady, you are kind-hearted and just saved my life. How could I dare to take your money? Even if you didn't tell me, I would still do it."
Xie Yunfeng: "Miss Chunxiang, where are you going all by yourself? What brings you here?"
Chunxiang: "I want to go to Longyang City to find someone!"
Xie Yunfeng laughed and said, "Then let's travel together! There are still dozens of miles to go before we find a place to rest. I think we need to hurry and try to find an inn before dark!"
Chunxiang smiled and said, "Alright!" Then the two mounted their horses one after the other and galloped away.
After dinner, Yi Qingxue and her group went up to the roof to drink and sleep, while Yin Xiaosheng accompanied Yi Qingxue to chat in the garden. The two chatted and laughed among the flowers, just like a newlywed couple.
Xiaoyao Lang accompanied Murong Hanchan on a stroll through the training ground. Feeling bored after a while, Murong Hanchan suddenly grabbed Xiaoyao Lang and excitedly said, "Brother Xiaoyao, shall I teach you martial arts? First, I'll teach you the Frost Palm, which is domineering and majestic! Then I'll teach you the Frost Sword Technique, which is both offensive and defensive, making it impossible for anyone to defend against!"
Xiaoyao Lang shook his head and said, "I don't like fighting and killing."
Murong Hanchan was instantly disappointed, pouting and looking unhappy.
Xiaoyao Lang, impressed by the impressive lightness skill, exclaimed happily, "Chan'er! Why don't you teach me lightness skill? I think it's quite practical!"
Murong Hanchan happily replied, "Great! But, Brother Xiaoyao, whether you're learning lightness skills or fist and palm techniques, you have to learn internal energy cultivation methods first. I know a lot about internal energy cultivation methods, which one do you want to learn?" She asked with a sweet smile.
At this moment, Yi Mingzhao arrived alone, smiling as he greeted the two, saying, "Miss Murong, Brother Xiaoyao!"
Xiaoyao Lang bluntly asked, "Second Brother Yi, is there something you need?"
Yi Mingzhao said to the two of them, "To be honest, I have two musical scores, which are extremely classic. However, my skills are mediocre and I cannot play them. Today, I heard Miss Murong play 'Red Dust Tribulation' and I was captivated. It is my great fortune to have heard such heavenly music. I wonder if Miss Murong could show her divine skills and play the two pieces I have!"
Murong Hanchan smiled and said, "The skill of the string players is nothing to speak of! May I ask the names of the two pieces?"
Yi Mingzhao: "The sheet music is here! Please show it to me, young lady." He then took out the sheet music from his bosom.
Murong Hanchan took the sheet music, and after reading it, she exclaimed with delight, "There is such a sheet music in the world! It is truly wonderful! Please!" Then she smiled sweetly, ignored Xiaoyao Lang, and walked away with great interest.
Yi Mingzhao: "Brother Xiaoyao, aren't you coming along to hear Miss Murong play her divine music?"
A feeling of unease welled up in Xiaoyao Lang's heart, and he said slowly, "I'm not going. What's so good about a song!"
Yi Mingzhao solemnly declared, "The melody is a timeless masterpiece, and the sound is a timeless wonder!" He then turned and chased after Murong Hanchan.
Murong Hanchan had walked quite a distance when she realized that Xiaoyao Lang hadn't followed. She turned around, waving the sheet music at Xiaoyao Lang, and said, "Brother Xiaoyao, why aren't you following? I'll play a tune for you!"
Xiaoyao Lang retorted angrily, "I'm not going! I don't like listening to any music!" Xiaoyao Lang was just saying this out of spite, but Murong Hanchan could easily tell that he was jealous. She looked at Yi Mingzhao, who immediately bowed respectfully.
Murong Hanchan turned around and said, "Alright then! If you don't like it, go back to sleep!" Without turning her head, she raised the sheet music and waved it.
"Sigh..." Xiaoyao Lang wanted to call out to Murong Hanchan again, but he had bitterness in his heart that he could not express.
At this moment, he quickly called out to Zui Mochou, "Old man! Old man!..."
Drunkard Mochou on the rooftop cursed impatiently, "What are you yelling about! Did your wife run off with someone else?"
Xiaoyao Lang: "...Could you take me up there?" He pointed to the roof. Zui Mochou, thinking he was going up to keep him company, was quite pleased. She then jumped down from the roof and brought Xiaoyao Lang up. Xiaoyao Lang: "Take me to Brother Yi's roof!"
"Why would you go to his roof?" Zui Mochou asked, looking puzzled.
Xiaoyao Lang: "Just help me when I ask! Why are you asking so many questions!?"
Zui Mochou pointed at Xiaoyao Lang and said, "I hope you won't trick me like that little girl did!" After saying that, she grabbed Xiaoyao Lang's collar and flew away to the other side.
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