The spring waves were intoxicating. On the willow-lined embankment, a young maiden with twin buns walked slowly while leading her horse. The shimmering water beside her stretched across the vast lake, and the faint sunlight from the east cast her slender, graceful shadow upon the ground. Her surname was Zhong, and her given name was Chunji. She was the disciple of Xue Xianzi, a figure of immense prestige in the Martial Arts World. Though she had barely wandered the jianghu for two years, her reputation as Xue Xianzi’s beautiful and righteous disciple had already spread far and wide—she had accomplished many heroic deeds that even the most gallant men could not match.
Yet despite the boundless beauty of spring and her youthful fame, she did not seem happy. Leading her renowned steed, Plum Blossom, she strolled slowly along the embankment of Little Swallow Lake. The scenery was delightful, with willows along the shore like wisps of smoke, but to her, it was all fleeting—none of it entered her eyes. Her heart was preoccupied with thoughts of him… him… Ah…
The "him" in her heart was Wan Yu Yuedan, the master of Azure Fall Palace. Xue Xianzi was elusive, and even she rarely saw him more than a few times a year. The Snow Tea Manor where she had grown up was nestled beneath Cat Sprout Peak, a place seldom visited by others. Since childhood, she had lived there in solitude. A few years ago, the mysterious Azure Fall Palace had relocated to Cat Sprout Peak, becoming her neighbor. That was how she had met Wan Yu Yuedan—a man as gentle and refined as jade, whose words were as soothing as a spring breeze. From the age of fifteen, she had harbored feelings for him. But while the flower may yearn, the stream remains indifferent. It was said he already had a wife, though she had never met this Lady Wan Yu. In her two years of wandering the jianghu, she had hoped to forget him, yet the more she traveled alone, the lonelier she felt—and the more she missed him.
And he… surely he did not spare her a single thought? Zhong Chunji gave a faint, bitter smile and raised her head. The shimmering waves were like a dream, and a fishing boat drifted peacefully on the lake. The lives of others seemed so content. She continued leading her horse forward, and after walking another thirty feet or so, she suddenly noticed another set of hoofprints on the ground, along with wheel tracks—evidence that a carriage had passed by not long ago. Zhong Chunji frowned slightly. Little Swallow Lake was remote, and the road was rugged, hardly suitable for carriages. Who could have such skill to drive a carriage here? As the disciple of a renowned master, she quickly deduced that the carriage carried someone from the Martial Arts World. Curiosity piqued, she mounted her horse and followed the tracks at a leisurely pace.
The carriage’s trail meandered along the lakeshore, the hoofprints somewhat erratic. The further she went, the more puzzled she became—had the carriage’s occupant not controlled the horse, allowing it to wander freely by the lake? Before long, she spotted a carriage stopped beneath a cliff by Little Swallow Lake. Dismounting, she lifted the curtain with her horsewhip—and was instantly startled. Inside, a man lay slumped on the seat, a throwing knife embedded deep in his chest, its hilt barely visible. The blade was snow-white, its ring silver—it was none other than the "Moon Crossing Ring"! Zhong Chunji glanced around, her heart filled with confusion. The "Moon Crossing Ring" was the signature weapon of Chi Yun, known as "Heavenly Cloud." Though he was a man of the black path, his reputation was surprisingly good—eccentric and solitary, but never one to kill without reason. Why would Chi Yun kill the owner of this carriage? Was this man a corrupt official? Or perhaps he carried some rare treasure he had stolen, only to be robbed in turn by Chi Yun? But Chi Yun never killed when seizing goods—why had he struck so ruthlessly this time?She gently lifted the corpse's face with the handle of her horsewhip. The face was covered in red spots, extremely horrifying, yet the features were well-proportioned, and the person was very young—somewhat familiar. "Shi Tinghe?" Zhong Chunji was shocked. This corpse was actually Shi Tinghe, the young hero of the Martial Arts World who had defeated the "Sword King" Yu Qifeng in a single battle two years ago! She had met Shi Tinghe once before. Since defeating Yu Qifeng, his fame had spread far and wide—slaying remnants of the Blood Sacrifice Society, breaking into the Candle Holding Temple to kill the Five Butterfly Kings—he had accomplished many earth-shattering deeds and was poised to replace Jiangnan Feng as the new leader of the Martial Arts World. How could he suddenly die here? The "Sword Saint" Shi Tinghe, killed by Chi Yun's blade—this was undoubtedly a major event that would shake the Martial Arts World. But why... why would Chi Yun kill Shi Tinghe? Was his martial arts truly superior to Shi Tinghe's? She set down Shi Tinghe's corpse and reached toward his neck, checking if there was any remaining warmth. If the body was still warm, Chi Yun might still be nearby... Just as she reached out, a cold voice suddenly spoke from above her, "Touch him, and tomorrow you'll look just like him."
Zhong Chunji was startled and leaped back abruptly. Looking up, she saw a man dressed in snow-white robes, casually sitting cross-legged atop Shi Tinghe's carriage, eyeing her with disdain. "A dagger like 'Little Peach Red'—you must be Xue Xianzi's disciple, hm? Did Xue Xianzi not teach you that others' belongings are not to be touched?" The man wasn't old either, perhaps in his late twenties, tall and strikingly handsome, yet he addressed her as "little girl." Unfazed, she pointed at Shi Tinghe's corpse and retorted, "Is this dead man yours, then?" Judging by his demeanor and attire, this person was undoubtedly Chi Yun of the "Heavenly Cloud.""I killed this man, so naturally he's mine," Chi Yun said coldly. "If you killed pheasants or ducks in the mountains, wouldn't they belong to you?" Zhong Chunji retorted, "Shi Tinghe was a renowned young hero. Why did you kill him? And what strange poison did you plant on his body? The martial world says Chi Yun is an honorable man despite being part of the underworld, but I beg to differ."
Chi Yun replied indifferently, "Whether I'm honorable or despicable isn't for a little girl like you to judge. Shi Tinghe took forbidden drugs, poisoning himself until he was neither human nor ghost. I had no choice but to kill him—otherwise, wherever he went, the poison would spread. Who could endure that?"
Zhong Chunji was startled. "Forbidden drugs? What kind?"
Chi Yun sneered, "The Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill. Not that a brat like you would know what that is."
"I truly don’t," Zhong Chunji admitted. "But with Shi Tinghe’s great reputation, why would he take such a thing?"
Chi Yun’s voice turned icy. "If he hadn’t taken it, how could he have defeated Yu Qifeng?"
Zhong Chunji fell silent as Chi Yun continued, "After taking the Nine Heart Pill, a martial artist’s strength more than doubles. But when the poison flares, your face erupts—ugly, itchy, your skills wane, and the pain is unbearable. If you don’t take more of the poison, not even an immortal could survive. The terrifying part? When the poison erupts, the victim’s entire body becomes toxic. Anyone who touches even a trace of it ends up just like them. The Nine Heart Pill is expensive—even a rising star like Shi Tinghe had to resort to robbery and murder to afford it..."
"That’s not necessarily true..." Zhong Chunji began.
Chi Yun scoffed. "Why do you think he slaughtered remnants of the Blood Sacrifice Society and raided the Candle Holding Temple?"
"To rid the martial world of evil, of course."
Chi Yun spat. "That ‘hero’ looted jewels and treasures worth a hundred thousand taels of silver from them and spent every last coin. Today, he tried robbing Squire Chen in Yan Town. I caught him, followed him, and cut him down."
Zhong Chunji frowned. "How can I trust your word alone? The Central Plains Sword Association won’t let this go unpunished."
Chi Yun rolled his eyes. "If I were afraid, I’d have killed you to silence you earlier." He leaped off the carriage. "Step aside, little girl."
Zhong Chunji retreated as Chi Yun flicked a lit firestarter onto the carriage roof, igniting the oilcloth. The flames roared to life. She was stunned by his speed—in the blink of an eye, he had already scaled the cliff, his white figure vanishing after a few flashes.
Such incredible skill! Standing by the fire, she watched Shi Tinghe’s body burn. She gathered dry branches and weeds, tossing them into the flames until the corpse turned to ash. With a soft sigh, she thought, Even if there was poison, it’s harmless now. But was Chi Yun telling the truth about the Nine Heart Pill? If such a thing existed, and people sought it for unrivaled power… how horrifying.
Leading her horse back slowly, she wondered—if he were here, what would he do? Someone as brilliant as Yuè Dàn, yet why did he isolate himself on Cat Sprout Peak, refusing to step into the martial world? He was still so young.Riding past the picturesque Little Swallow Lake, where the fishing boats had already vanished, she urged her horse onward with a crack of the whip, galloping swiftly toward the mountains beyond.
Amidst the groves by Little Swallow Lake, two extravagantly dressed young men were grilling fish. As Zhong Chunji's Plum Blossom dashed past, the one in green robes chuckled, "Xue Xianzi is too troublesome to deal with. Best not provoke the girl he's raised." The one in purple robes replied indifferently, "Hua Wuyan has always had a soft spot for beauties." The green-robed man, referred to as "Hua Wuyan," exclaimed, "Oh? If I'm the one who pities fair maidens, then why didn't you kill her? I know Cao Wufang is no match for Chi Yun, hahaha!" The purple-robed man, "Cao Wufang," retorted, "Since you already know, why say it out loud? It damages my dignity." Hua Wuyan said, "Right, right, but today Zhong Chunji saw Shi Tinghe's poisoned corpse. If we don't kill her, it'll be hard to explain to the Revered Master when we return." Cao Wufang took a bite of grilled fish and said coolly, "Isn't it simple? Once she leaves this place and Chi Yun isn't around, I'll just cut her down with a single stroke." Hua Wuyan laughed, "I'd hate to kill her with just a stroke. How about I poison her with 'Drunken Dream'? I guarantee it'll be painless." Cao Wufang closed his eyes. "Poison her, drown her—whatever. As long as she's not dead by the third watch tonight, I'll cut her down myself."
Zhong Chunji galloped out of Yan Mountain. As noon approached, she spotted a roadside tea stall not far ahead and dismounted. "Shopkeeper, do you have any steamed buns?" The stall had only one middle-aged man wiping down tables. Startled by the sight of such a radiant young woman leading a horse, he wondered if she might be a fox spirit—what fairy maiden would appear in broad daylight in this desolate wilderness? "I... I..." the shopkeeper stammered, "We don't sell buns here, only noodle soup." Zhong Chunji smiled faintly. "Then bring me a bowl of noodle soup." She took a seat on a stool. The tea stall stood at the village entrance, and just beyond lay a small settlement. With spring in full bloom, the village bustled peacefully with people coming and going. She sighed softly in her heart. Ordinary folk, untrained in martial arts, lived quiet lives of farming and weaving in these mountains—far fewer worries than those in the Martial Arts World.The shopkeeper served her a bowl of rice noodle soup. She took a sip and suddenly noticed something odd. Setting it down, she asked, "Shopkeeper, there's rice paste mixed in this soup. What's going on?" The shopkeeper exclaimed, "Ah! I'll replace it right away. The pot was just used to cook rice porridge earlier. My wife probably didn't wash it thoroughly enough. My apologies, miss." Zhong Chunji smiled faintly. Having detected no poison in the soup, she didn't mind this minor mishap. "The shopkeeper must have an infant at home, no wonder preparations are lacking."
The shopkeeper awkwardly replied, "No, no. My wife and I are already in our forties or fifties. That was for Young Master Tang at the inn—he asked my wife to help prepare it."
Zhong Chunji was slightly surprised. "Young Master Tang?"
The shopkeeper explained, "Young Master Tang from the capital, traveling with a four- or five-month-old child. Not like us rough folk—he's a scholar, heh. Seems like he'd be a good match for a refined lady like you." After exchanging a few words with Zhong, he already felt familiar with her. Country folk had no reservations and spoke whatever came to mind. Knowing he meant no offense, Zhong merely smiled again, finished the bowl of soup, paid for the meal, and asked, "Which way to the village inn?"
"There's only one road in the village," the shopkeeper chuckled. "You'll see it when you walk down." Zhong patted her horse and led Plum Blossom along. Sure enough, after about twenty paces, she spotted the village's sole inn, named "Immortals Welcome."
Such a shabby little inn, yet with such an elegant name. She stepped inside to find only a middle-aged woman in her forties. "Innkeeper, I'd like a room." The woman remained squatting on the ground, washing vegetables without looking up. Zhong frowned slightly. "Innkeeper?"
"She's a fool—are you one too?" A familiar voice suddenly rang out from inside. "Why do I keep running into you, little girl?" Zhong abruptly took several steps back as the door curtain was flung aside and a man strode out—dashing in white robes, unmistakably Chi Yun.
"You—" She was genuinely startled, her face paling. "Why are you here?" Had Chi Yun traveled faster than her on horseback?
"I go where I please," Chi Yun glared at her. "Why are you here?" Zhong steadied herself. "I have an appointment with Jiang Cheng. We were to meet at Little Swallow Lake."
Chi Yun said, "He won't be coming."
"Jiang Cheng of 'Trusting Goose' has never broken his word. He wouldn't miss an appointment without reason." Regaining her composure, she studied Chi Yun, silently speculating why he was here. Noticing the splotches of rice porridge on his clothes, she nearly laughed—could he be the "Young Master Tang" the tea shop owner mentioned?"'Trusting Goose' Jiang Cheng would never break an appointment without reason. He was long since hacked into four bloody pieces by Shi Tinghe and kicked into Little Swallow Lake," Chi Yun said coldly. "If Jiang Cheng made an appointment with you, he must have had some matter to seek Xue Xianzi's help with. If it was related to Shi Tinghe, naturally he'd want to silence the witness—what's so strange about that?"
Zhong Chunji was shocked again, exclaiming, "What? Jiang Cheng is dead?"
Chi Yun replied impatiently, "Dead beyond dead. His corpse has already fed the fish."
Zhong Chunji paled. "He said he had urgent business to discuss with my master... I still don't know what it was about."
Chi Yun sneered. "Most likely something to do with the Ape-Demon Nine Hearts Pill. Anyway, I've already killed Shi Tinghe for him, so he shouldn't mind anymore."
Zhong Chunji flared up. "How can you say such things? Judging by your actions, you're no fool, yet despite your great reputation, your words are shockingly callous!"
Chi Yun rolled his eyes. "Little girls shouldn't speak so rudely to their elders. I won't stoop to your level." He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave for his room.
Zhong Chunji hurried after him. "Wait—did you actually see Shi Tinghe kill Jiang Cheng—" Before she could finish, she suddenly caught sight of the scene inside the room and froze.
The shabby, sparsely furnished guest room held only a bed and a chair. A figure sat on the bed, and beside it lay a sleeping infant. The young man reclining on the bed appeared no older than twenty-one or twenty-two, with fair skin and refined, gentle features. Were it not for the faint scar cutting through his left eyebrow, he might have been considered a handsome scholar. Unfortunately, the blade mark severed his brow, giving him an air of ill fortune. His eyes were closed, his hands folded atop the covers, his brow slightly furrowed as if in discomfort.
The infant on the bed, no more than four or five months old, was plump and rosy-cheeked, utterly adorable, sleeping soundly with an expression of perfect contentment.
The sight—one ailing man, one helpless babe—instinctively hushed her. She took a step back. Who was this sickly youth? And whose child was this?
The young man with the faintly sickly pallor slowly opened his eyes. "A guest has arrived, Chi Yun. Serve tea."
Chi Yun scowled. "How dare you order me to pour tea for this little chit?"
The young man replied serenely, "A guest has arrived."
Chi Yun clenched his fists, grinding his teeth. After a long pause, he forced out a stiff "Yes!" and stalked off to the kitchen to fetch tea.
Zhong Chunji was both astonished and amused. Chi Yun, with his notoriously arrogant nature, was actually being ordered around like a servant—proof that there was always someone to humble even the most unruly. But just who was this man?"My surname is Tang," the patient on the bed smiled faintly. "Chi Yun has always been arrogant and venomous in his speech—he must have offended you." Zhong Chunji couldn't help but ask, "May I ask what relation Young Master Tang is to Chi Yun..."
The young master retrieved something from his sleeve and unfolded it slightly. Zhong Chunji caught a clear glimpse and let out an involuntary cry, torn between laughter and disbelief. It was a deed of servitude—Chi Yun had been sold to the Tang family as a page boy at the age of eight.
The Tang family of the capital was renowned, being the household of the current emperor's father-in-law. Tang Weiqian, the Imperial Father-in-Law, held a high-ranking position in the Ministry of Revenue and was one of the Three Excellencies. His daughter, Tang Yun, had been enfeoffed as Consort Yun. Since this young master bore the Tang surname, he could only be Tang Lici, the Imperial Uncle adopted by Tang Weiqian over three years prior.
Though Chi Yun had long since made a name for himself in the martial world, coming and going as he pleased, in the presence of his former young master, he remained a page boy. No wonder Tang Lici had ordered him to serve tea. But... given Chi Yun's status, temperament, and peerless martial skills, why would he still obey Tang Lici's commands?
The question puzzled her, though she refrained from idle speculation. Noticing that despite Tang Lici's smile, his brow carried a faint trace of suffering, she couldn't help but ask, "Where does the young master feel unwell?"
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