(One)
“Move aside!”
A childish yet clear voice rang out, filled with urgency.
Huo Ling Long’s heart suddenly sank. An indescribable chill, like the wind piercing through the river, inexplicably sent a bone-deep cold through her.
Pressure emanated from the person on the stretcher, instantly enveloping her entire body, making it hard for her to breathe for no apparent reason.
Amid the vast curtain of rain, by the ancient bluestone riverbank, a faint red palm shadow suddenly soared.
That palm shadow was gentle, appearing to ordinary eyes like a Buddha in the clouds, smiling as he held a flower. Yet in that instant, the smiling eyes of heaven and earth abruptly transformed into the ferocity of a rakshasa, spreading everywhere with evil and cruelty.
The one who unleashed this palm couldn’t help but smile. This was an unavoidable strike, one that never missed.
But Huo Ling Long actually managed to evade it!
Her body, following that clear voice, softened and blurred within the faint red palm shadow.
The countless rakshasa eyes failed to fix upon her: her figure, under the effect of "A Startling Glance," was already dozens of feet away.
The attacker couldn’t believe his eyes: how was this possible!
For a moment, Huo Ling Long’s face seemed indistinct in the sparse, hazy rain, only her snow-white "Rabbit Teeth" still faintly gleaming.
But her voice carried through the rain, suddenly heavy with emotion.
“The ‘Great Compassion Palm’ of Shangqing Temple?”
“You’re actually using the Great Compassion Palm?”
The "he" on the stretcher had stood up. Hearing her words, his body swayed slightly. Instantly, his gaze sharpened like a piercing sword, cutting through the endless rain and fog, straight into her heart.
Though this person had the same face as him, it wasn’t him.
How could the him she was used to have such eyes?
—Over the past few days, Huo Ling Long had seen all kinds of eyes.
The Sun-Grasping Envoy’s eyes were like those of a dead man, devoid of any expression. The Moon-Grasping Envoy’s eyes were enchantingly soft, as if about to drip with tenderness. Chang Hong Bi’s eyes had once been guarded and weary, yet full of passion. Shao Jizu’s eyes always held a contradiction of ice and fire.
Tang Tianhao possessed the innate arrogance of the Tang Sect in his eyes. And the eyes of the person before her, though set in a face identical to Zhan Zhao’s, seemed overly cynical and cunningly agile, yet beneath this "refined" exterior, there was a trace of desolation.
But no one could possess Zhan Zhao’s eyes.
—Those were eyes as dark as stars in the night, gathering brilliance yet never piercing. Though deep enough to see through the secrets of one’s heart, they always held understanding and tolerance.
—Was this why the "he" on the stretcher had kept his eyes tightly shut?
Huo Ling Long already knew who the person opposite her was. Her heart raced so fast she could hardly breathe. Her voice came out hoarse and strained: “The Ever-Changing Black Fox? Are you Zhi Hua?”
In the light rain, a pair of swallows fluttered by the riverbank. Their black wings, rising and falling, occasionally sliced through the confusion of the rain and mist.The icy wind rustled Huo Linglong's yellow robe, making it ripple with the shimmering reflections of the river.
The figure opposite had already turned his back, and a soft sigh escaped: "If someone hadn't warned you beforehand, how could you have evaded this move 'Boundless Dharma'?"
By uttering these words, he had directly admitted his identity.
When "he" turned around, "he" was no longer him at all!
Huo Linglong's entire body had turned as cold as the wind in the rain, her restless heart like the misty rain, severed and tangled by this pair of flying swallows.
Although she had anticipated that "he" wasn't him, she still couldn't bear the blow.
—The face before her was, of course, no longer Zhan Zhao's face.
The person before her had a wise and calm countenance. It was a face that, though no longer young, still brimmed with masculine charm.
At first glance on the street, no one could distinguish this face from an ordinary person's. But upon a second look, one would realize how truly unique it was.
—This was Zhi Hua's face.
The Thousand-Faced Black Fox rarely revealed his true appearance in the martial world.
—Could this be his real face?
Huo Linglong couldn't believe it: "How could it be you? Why is your martial arts different? That day outside the grove on Little Hammer Hill, the person I saw with the Hua Fengzi brothers—wasn't that you?"
Zhi Hua only smiled without answering. His gaze had already shifted to someone else.
—The one who had issued the warning.
By the old ferry crossing, along the small riverbank, a young boy and girl emerged from the grass. Huo Linglong then realized they were the same siblings she had encountered yesterday at the post station's small inn. Her mind had been so unsettled that she hadn't noticed others hiding in the distant grass.
Under Zhi Hua's gaze, the boy showed no fear. With hands on his hips, he angrily shouted, "Who are you, daring to impersonate our Third Young Master?"
Huo Linglong was stunned once more.
—So the "Third Young Master" the boy kept mentioning was Zhan Zhao. Were these siblings truly servants from Zhan Zhao's household?
Zhi Hua chuckled mockingly.
"At such a young age, you managed to see through my disguise. In today's martial world, you are the first. Where exactly did I slip up?"
The boy retorted, "Our Third Young Master is a true hero. Except for some blind fools, no matter how skilled your disguise, how could you imitate his heroic spirit and deceive us?"
Zhi Hua looked at him and asked, "And who are you?"
The boy said, "I am the famous 'Ghosts Fear, Spirits Dread' Ming Zhuer of the Eastern Capital. This is my sister, Ming Yue'er."
Zhi Hua sneered, "So it's you! I've long heard of you as a notable figure in the capital, paired with Young Prince Zhao's Zhao Zhier like a pair of monkeys. One is called 'Gods Fear, Spirits Dread,' the other 'Ghosts Fear, Spirits Dread'—truly a troublesome pair of clever imps. Seeing you today, your reputation is well-deserved. I've heard that Young Prince Zhao and Zhan Zhao share a deep friendship, and even their underlings have similar temperaments. How peculiar indeed."Ming Zhur said, "If you think you can deceive me, it's not that easy! It takes several days to travel from here to Xiangyang. If my third young master had truly fallen into your hands, how could he possibly arrive here within a single day?" As he spoke, he glanced at Huo Ling Long and added, "Since it's impossible to get here so quickly, who's to say the person on your stretcher isn't an imposter?"
Zhi Hua actually sighed and said, "Such intelligence at such a young age. I never expected even Zhan Zhao's household to be full of hidden talents."
Ignoring him, Ming Zhur demanded, "What have you done to my third young master?"
Zhi Hua swept a glance at Huo Ling Long, who remained dazed and silent, then sneered coldly again.
"Him? Naturally, he's already arrived at the Xiangyang Royal Mansion."
This casual remark pierced Ling Long's heart like an awl.
Her heart broke because of the person who had deceived her. Though shattered, why couldn't she bring herself to believe what she had heard was true?
—"So, so he did deceive me after all. Little Shao... he actually deceived me!" Her words trailed off into unspeakable sorrow.
Yet Zhi Hua's gaze held only mockery and cruelty. He said leisurely, "Women always think they can manipulate men at will. What's so strange or excessive about being deceived by a man occasionally? Since you treated him that way, why shouldn't he deceive you once?"
Huo Ling Long murmured, "You... you actually know about it too?"
Zhi Hua said coldly, "I'm not blind. Even a blind man could see his affection for you. Given his current state, what else could it be but you wronging him?"
Huo Ling Long gritted her teeth and said, "I know he hates me, but I simply can't believe he would send you to kill me!"
Surprisingly, Zhi Hua didn't deny it. He looked at her and said word by word, "Correct. No matter how much he hates you, how could he bear to kill you? He went to great lengths to obtain your Huo family's Exquisite Eyes. If you die, who knows how long he'd have to wait for the next generation's Huo family eldest daughter to be born. Even if he could wait, I'm afraid the Prince of Xiangyang couldn't!"
Huo Ling Long's heart sank.
—Her turmoil wasn't because of the Exquisite Eyes Zhi Hua mentioned, but because his words sounded strange.
—Wasn't he also employed in the Xiangyang Royal Mansion's Jinshi Hall? Wasn't the Prince of Xiangyang his master too? Why was he speaking about his lord in such a tone?
Huo Ling Long said, "I truly wasn't mistaken. But why are you telling me all this? And why should I believe your words?"
Zhi Hua smiled faintly and said, "Whether you believe me or not is naturally up to you. To be frank, though I'm in Jinshi Hall, the Prince of Xiangyang is not my master."
Ming Zhur couldn't help asking, "Then who exactly is your master?"
Zhi Hua no longer wished to answer. His lips suddenly sealed tightly, giving his masculine lips an indescribable firmness.
Just then, a soft voice rose through the light rain mist: "Zhur, there's no need to guess. Who his master is actually isn't important. But what his master wants to destroy is the Huo family's Exquisite Eyes that can glimpse the future."
Huo Ling Long's body trembled!
In an instant, Zhi Hua's gaze became indescribably complex.The young woman in pale purple, Ming Yue'er, stood there as serene and elegant as a chrysanthemum, yet her words cut into his heart like a blade.
She continued, "Because his master knows that once the Prince of Xiangyang possesses the Exquisite Eyes, he will be able to foresee future outcomes. This naturally includes not only his own grand ambitions but also the secrets of others. His master certainly does not wish his own secrets and vulnerabilities to fall into the prince's hands."
The cynicism in Zhi Hua's eyes finally vanished. He stared intently at her and asked, "Who exactly are you? Zhan Zhao is merely a fourth-rank imperial guard—how could someone like you be a servant in his residence?"
The young woman still smiled gently and replied, "Master Zhi flatters me too much. I am Ming Yue'er, and my younger brother and I have received great kindness from our third young master. Being able to serve him is already our greatest fortune. Yet, someone as wise as you, Master Zhi, would also pledge allegiance to your master and be sent to the Xiangyang Royal Mansion. Surely, you must have been scheming all along to find an opportunity to destroy the Huo family's dowry."
As the words "scheming all along" left her lips, Huo Ling Long shuddered inexplicably. For a moment, countless thoughts scattered like falling petals, clouding her eyes and her heart. She seemed to have thought of something, but she couldn't quite grasp what it was.
Then, the words "Great Compassion Palm" suddenly leaped into her mind.
—"What you are so meticulously trying to destroy is likely not just the Huo family of the Exquisite Mountain Villa, but perhaps also the Shangqing Temple, isn't it? Otherwise, why would you go to such lengths to secretly learn the Great Compassion Palm?"
These words, spoken lightly from her cherry lips, caused a flicker of pain and hatred to flash in Zhi Hua's eyes. The name of this half-Taoist, half-Buddhist temple seemed to suddenly steal his breath away.
(2)
Zhi Hua sneered, "What's so remarkable about the Great Compassion Palm? Why would I need to scheme to learn it secretly? This palm technique was personally taught to me by the abbot of the Shangqing Temple."
The directness and underlying hatred in his words startled Huo Ling Long. She said, "The Great Compassion Palm is never taught to outsiders. Since it was personally taught by the abbot of the Shangqing Temple, it wasn't stolen—clearly, you infiltrated the temple under a false identity, gained the abbot's trust, and then learned it. If that isn't scheming, then what is?"
The cunning and nonchalance in Zhi Hua's eyes had unknowingly shattered, replaced by an indescribable fury and cruelty. Could this be his true nature?
His voice was icy, "I didn't need to infiltrate the Shangqing Temple to become a monk. This is what he owes me. He owes me a lifetime—how could a mere Great Compassion Palm ever repay that debt?"
As he spoke, he began to grin malevolently. "Even if he refuses to teach it to others, he can't bring himself to refuse his own flesh and blood, can he?"
This simple statement struck like a bolt from the blue, causing Huo Ling Long to stagger back a step, too stunned to speak. Even the siblings stared in shock, their mouths agape.He finally said it. In this vast curtain of rain, at this ancient, lingering little ferry crossing, somehow he spoke those words lightly and casually to his three enemies, as if all the hatred pent up in his chest had erupted with the exposure of this secret.
He laughed bitterly, his shrill laughter echoing through the misty drizzle: "Who would believe that the notorious Black Demon Fox of the martial world is actually a bastard child—the illegitimate son of the abbot of Shangqing Temple, who preaches benevolence and righteousness and poses as a chivalrous hero!"
His laughter had become bone-chilling.
He took a step forward and added viciously, "What is this to me, some shameful secret? Why should I care if Shangqing Temple tries to cover it up and keep it from outsiders? As the esteemed abbot, high and mighty, since he could deceive an innocent woman, why shouldn’t he pay the price?"
Huo Ling Long’s heart suddenly trembled, chilled by this hatred. She murmured, "No wonder the abbot of Shangqing Temple passed away suddenly six years ago, becoming an unsolved mystery in the martial world. I suspect he discovered your true nature and your motives, and you killed him. So this is why Shangqing Temple desperately concealed the secret of the Great Compassion Palm being leaked."
As she spoke, she thought of that day in the shrine at Five Stone Ridge, when she had nearly wronged Zhan Zhao, and her heart ached as if cut by a knife. "And because of this, I wrongly accused him!"
Zhi Hua snorted coldly and said, "That was his own way of seeking release. After all, he was my biological father—how could I let him die so easily? Did he think his death would settle this grudge once and for all? If that were the case, the world would be far too fair."
Huo Ling Long’s thoughts flashed like lightning, and without thinking, she blurted out, "So you used this secret to blackmail Shangqing Temple. You must have threatened them not to interfere with your actions on the condition that you wouldn’t use the Great Compassion Palm, otherwise the leak of the palm technique would spread throughout the martial world, Shangqing Temple’s reputation would be ruined, and this renowned sect would cease to exist, isn’t that right?"
Her words sent a chill through Zhi Hua’s heart, and he immediately calmed down. When he spoke again, the agitation in his voice was gone: "Keeping those self-righteous, meddling bald monks in check naturally saves me a lot of trouble. That night in Chongxiao Tower, if Zhan Zhao hadn’t been so troublesome, I wouldn’t have been forced to use the Great Compassion Palm against him!"
He looked at Huo Ling Long, and a careless cunning surged in his eyes: "No wonder Shao Jizu can’t forget you. The eldest daughter of Exquisite Mountain Villa, possessing the Exquisite Eyes—truly extraordinary."
This composed speech seemed to bring everything to a sudden, transparent stillness!
Huo Ling Long’s heart grew as calm as a lake. Gazing at Zhi Hua, she said quietly, "Since you’re not only targeting the Huo family’s Exquisite Eyes but also involving Shangqing Temple, why would you stop now, Master Zhi?"
—The Great Compassion Palm of Shangqing Temple, the marvelous sword formation of Prosperous Cloud Manor’s Flying Cloud Cavalry, the look in Chang Hong Bi’s eyes as he departed.
What was once a tangled mess of countless threads, impossible to cut or sort, what was once layers upon layers of clamoring doubts, left unspoken.Finally, in this misty drizzle, everything fell silent; all the subtle clues slowly began to piece together, forming a transparent crystal with intricate patterns, yet as clear as the water in the heart's lake.
In the light rain, Huo Ling Long's voice was eerily calm.
"If they dare to move against Exquisite Mountain Villa and Shangqing Temple, why wouldn't they dare to target Prosperous Cloud Manor and Cold Water Palace? Your master is actually the true backer of Prosperous Cloud Manor!"
—"Prosperous Cloud Manor dared to abduct Chang Hong Bi because, although they don't know Chang Hong Bi's secret, they learned that Grandma Han Shui can no longer do without relying on Chang Hong Bi. By seizing Chang Hong Bi, they naturally gain control over Cold Water Palace!"
—"Prosperous Cloud Manor possesses a secretly guarded sword formation specifically designed to counter my 'Yin Yang An' and the lightness skill 'A Startling Glance.' It turns out they've long harbored the ambition to bring down Exquisite Mountain Villa!"
—"No wonder Jiao Chao Gui of Prosperous Cloud Manor was able to gather the Flying Cloud Cavalry in just one day and pursue us to Five Stone Ridge fully prepared. So, what I saw that day in the woods of Little Hammer Mountain wasn't the real you at all, but an imposter disguised as you, while you were naturally directing everything from the shadows. I originally thought, how could the ever-changing black fox turn into an ever-changing black snail? I should have realized then—how could the genuine lightness skill of someone as skilled in disguise as you be matched by a mere imposter?"
At this point, she raised her head: "Even if you don't say it now, I've already guessed a fair bit about your master!"
Zhi Hua said, "Oh."
Huo Ling Long said, "In truth, no matter how flawless your schemes are, there are still many flaws."
Surprisingly, Zhi Hua's expression remained unchanged. "What flaws?"
Huo Ling Long said, "Just picking one at random—the sword formation of Prosperous Cloud Manor's Flying Cloud Cavalry is a flaw. The person who could create such a sword formation must have seen both 'Yin Yang An' and 'A Startling Glance' before!"
Her gaze fixed on him: "Although many have seen 'A Startling Glance,' very few understand the secrets of this lightness skill. As for 'Yin Yang An,' it hasn't left the ancestral hall of Exquisite Mountain Villa for decades. You know well yourself—there are only a handful in this world who can simultaneously know both these secrets. How hard could it be to deduce who your master is?"
(Three)
The drizzling rain had stopped, but the fog grew even thicker.
The pair of swallows with black forked tails had flown out of sight.
Swallows come and go, come and go. But will the one in my heart ever be seen again?
Zhi Hua finally sighed and said, "I still underestimated you. Shao Jizu had warned me, but I still underestimated you. Now, I truly can't bear to kill you."
Huo Ling Long curled her lips in a cold sneer. "You can kill me? You can't even catch up to me."
Zhi Hua said lightly, "If I can't kill you, killing this pair of siblings is as easy as turning over my hand."
Huo Ling Long's face changed.
Since she knew they were his servants, how could she bear to see this young pair of siblings harmed by this man's hands?
She excelled in unparalleled lightness skills and her "Yin Yang An," but if she couldn't bring herself to simply leave, how could she easily deal with Zhi Hua?At this thought, she couldn't help but glance at the siblings. Ming Yue'er and Ming Zhu'er actually stood by with folded arms, smiling as if unafraid.
Ming Yue'er smiled faintly and said, "It's just a pity that Master Zhi doesn't wish to kill us."
Zhi Hua asked, "Oh? You've learned too many secrets—why wouldn't I want to kill you?"
Ming Yue'er replied, "I am merely Third Young Master's servant—how could I possibly fathom the intricate schemes in Master Zhi's mind? It's just that these secrets were all deliberately revealed to us by Master Zhi. If you truly wished to kill us, you would have done so long ago. Why wait until now, and why go through the trouble of letting us hear your secrets?"
This young girl, despite her tender age, possessed such remarkable intelligence. Though not as talkative as her younger brother, every word she spoke struck right to the heart, making Huo Linglong and Zhi Hua both unable to resist stealing additional glances at her.
Zhi Hua’s gaze had already drifted toward the night gradually emerging through the mist. Suddenly, he uttered a rather peculiar remark: “Hearing your words, I now truly wish to meet someone.”
The girl in purple asked, “Who might that be, Master Zhi?”
Zhi Hua replied, “The third young lady of the Ding Family in Songjiang Prefecture. I truly wish to see what kind of celestial beauty she is, how exquisitely clever and brilliantly sharp-witted she must be, to make even Zhan Zhao willing to give up someone like you.”
Ming Yue’er’s cheeks flushed slightly as she softly responded, “Master Zhi flatters me too much. Our future young mistress is naturally a person beyond ordinary, dwelling in realms above the heavens—how could we servants ever compare?”
Zhi Hua looked at her, gently shook his head, and for some unknown reason, sighed quietly to himself.
Then his eyes turned to Huo Linglong. When looking at her, the cunning in his gaze had completely vanished, replaced only by desolation and melancholy.
He said, “That is why I advise you not to waste your efforts chasing after Shao Jizu. That piece of yellow silk he deceived you out of is no longer in his possession. Along the way, he has long arranged swift horses to deliver messages—no matter how exceptional your lightness skill, you cannot catch up now.”
—Just moments ago, he had wanted to kill Huo Linglong, yet now he seemed concerned for her. Why was he saying these things? Was he an enemy or a friend?
But Huo Linglong suddenly sneered, “Why should I chase after him?”
Zhi Hua was taken aback. “Do you not wish to reclaim that piece of yellow silk?”
Huo Linglong sneered again. “Why would I still want that yellow silk? Even if he took it, the secret on that silk would still be exposed.”
A trace of triumph finally appeared in her smile. Her lips parted slightly, and without looking at him, she slowly enunciated, word by word: “We, your servants, pledge our utmost loyalty and effort to assist and support the great cause. Your servant, Xie Qiming, Transport Commissioner of Huguang; your servant, Duan Xiu, Military Governor of Bashu—”
As name after name flowed effortlessly from her thin lips, the smile on Zhi Hua’s face stiffened, and cold sweat began to trickle down his forehead.
He could hardly believe his ears, his voice growing hoarse: “Could it be… could it be that you have already seen this Alliance Token?”
Huo Linglong said, “Exactly. I have already committed everything on that yellow silk to memory. Why would I still need that piece of silk?!”
Zhi Hua still found it hard to believe, muttering to himself, “Impossible! This Alliance Token is immensely complex—how could you possibly memorize it in such haste?”
Huo Linglong curled her lip and sneered triumphantly, “What’s so remarkable about your Alliance Token? One glance was enough.”
Zhi Hua simply stared at her, then suddenly let out a long sigh and said, “Sometimes I truly don’t understand whether you are genuinely clever or just a fool. Perhaps you are far too clever—so clever that it becomes unwise! Do not forget, Zhan Zhao also possesses a photographic memory. Then why did he risk his life to retrieve that piece of yellow silk from Chongxiao Tower?”
Huo Linglong froze, an inexplicable fear welling up inexplicably in her heart.Zhi Hua continued, "Because that yellow silk scroll itself is evidence of Prince of Xiangyang's rebellion! It contains the list of his co-conspirators and bears the seal of his privately forged imperial jade seal. This is already his lifeline, the leverage that keeps his accomplices obedient. As long as the yellow silk scroll remains outside Chongxiao Tower, the prince dare not act rashly. Without this evidence, even if you go to the capital and recite everything verbatim to Young Prince Zhao and the emperor who dotes on you, who would believe you? Who would convict Prince of Xiangyang based solely on your one-sided account?"
Huo Ling Long interrupted him hoarsely, "I have the token he gave me! The emperor trusts him so much, he'll naturally believe my words!"
—But why did that thread of fear in her heart now make her feel suffocated?
The cunning and pity in Zhi Hua's eyes made her indescribably uncomfortable. "Don't forget, the person you're trying to overthrow this time is Prince of Xiangyang, the emperor's own uncle, not Prosperous Cloud Manor. Even Prosperous Cloud Manor isn't something you can bring down alone. Even if Zhan Zhao himself stood before the emperor without concrete evidence, he would be convicted of slandering royalty."
His tone suddenly shifted. "Rest assured, I won't report today's events to Prince of Xiangyang. Whether the emperor believes you or not is no longer important to me. What matters is that your cleverness has harmed the person you love most."
As he spoke these words slowly, Huo Ling Long's face turned deathly pale.
Zhi Hua approached her gradually, enunciating each word: "Indeed, you're finally beginning to understand. I don't need to kill you. Your heart will soon die. Your heart will die because you'll soon discover what kind of mistake you've made. For someone whose heart is nearly dead, no amount of Exquisite Eyes or 'Yin Yang An' can enlighten your mind."
He cruelly savored the terror slowly welling up in her eyes, adding, "You were wrong. You know it now, don't you? Everything you did was for the person you love, yet everything you did has also destroyed the person you love!"
A thunderous roar erupted in Huo Ling Long's mind. The world spun around her as she staggered, barely able to stand steady!
Her ears rang as if struck by hundreds of thunderclaps threatening to overwhelm her.
"You were wrong!"
"You were wrong!"
"You were wrong!"
These three words hammered mercilessly against her heart like heavy iron mallets. Her mind buzzed into chaos. Her heart felt as if being ruthlessly trampled by invisible hands, torn to shreds!
She—was—truly—wrong!
Zhi Hua looked at her deathly pale face, a triumphant smile spreading across his own. He smiled with genuine satisfaction, and indeed he had reason to be proud.
His eyes now turned to Ming Zhu'er and her sibling, slowly adding, "As for you, I advise against any clever schemes. Xiangyang City isn't the Eastern Capital Bianliang. Now that the Song court has first lost Bai Yutang in Xiangyang Royal Mansion, then Zhan Zhao, adding your young life to the tally would truly be worthless."He suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "But you will still go, won’t you? Now you finally understand why I don’t need to kill you either?"
His laughter was like a basin of icy water, chilling one to the bone.
Amidst the laughter, a thick plume of black smoke rose behind him.
By the time the smoke dissipated, he had long vanished.
—He had ample opportunities to kill these three who had uncovered countless of his secrets, yet he did not. Was the reason he gave truly why he spared them?
—What purpose did this shrewd man have, lurking silently in Xiangyang Royal Mansion? Was he an enemy or a friend?
He disappeared as if he were a ghost. Under normal circumstances, Huo Ling Long would have challenged him to see if her lightness skill, "A Startling Glance," could surpass his. But now, her vacant eyes seemed to see nothing.
Ming Zhu’er glanced at Huo Ling Long, who stood dazed on the ground, and whispered, "Sister, look at that girl—she hasn’t said a word. Could she have suddenly lost her mind?"
The young woman sighed softly and said, "Zhu’er, don’t talk nonsense. That young lady may not have lost her mind, but she is already a heartbroken soul."
Ming Zhu’er asked curiously, "She’s heartbroken?"
The young woman replied, "Only because she should never, under any circumstances, have used that piece of yellow silk as leverage to exchange for the Third Young Master."
—"If she hadn’t made the exchange, the Third Young Master might still cling to life. But once she hands over that yellow silk, the Third Young Master will surely face mortal danger!"
—"Though she is clever, her cleverness has backfired. Not only has she betrayed the Third Young Master’s trust, but she will also cost him his life. How could she still have the face to see him? She must have realized this, which is why she is so heartbroken. Zhu’er, don’t blame her anymore."
Huo Ling Long stood frozen by the roadside, yet the young woman’s words pierced her ears without missing a single syllable. Each word felt like a steel needle, stabbing into her already shattered heart, reopening the pain that could never be undone. She trembled involuntarily.
Ming Zhu’er, still unable to forgive, said, "That’s right. Although the people of Xiangyang Royal Mansion have captured the Third Young Master, since the yellow silk isn’t on him, they will do everything to extract its whereabouts from him and won’t harm him. But once they obtain the yellow silk and know full well that the Third Young Master would never collaborate with them—and would even go to great lengths to thwart their schemes—they will certainly not spare his life. Such a simple logic, even a servant like me can grasp it. How could anyone fall for such a trap?"
The young woman rebuked sharply, "Zhu’er!"
Though her voice was not loud, it carried an air of authority. Ming Zhu’er immediately fell silent, though he still shot Huo Ling Long a resentful glare.
He seemed utterly obedient to his sister and lowered his voice, saying, "In that case, we must hurry to Xiangyang to rescue the Third Young Master! Sister, I will take you to Official Yan’s residence in Xiangyang and then head straight to Xiangyang Royal Mansion."
A shadow of worry crossed the young woman’s exquisite features as she said, "Xiangyang Royal Mansion is surely a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair, fraught with danger. How can I let you venture there alone?"Ming Zhuer said, "How can we afford to worry about so much now! If anything happens to the Third Young Master, how could I ever face him? Even if I die, I must die by his side!"
The young woman chided gently, "At such a young age, you should cultivate better speech habits instead of saying such foolish words. You truly don't live up to your nickname 'Ghosts Fear, Spirits Dread'!"
Ming Zhuer replied, "When we get there, I will naturally adapt to the situation. Even if Xiangyang City is truly as dangerous as you say—a dragon's pool and tiger's den—can it possibly be more treacherous than the Eastern Capital Bianliang? Sister, you should go to Lord Yan's residence and wait for my news."
The young woman said, "We siblings have depended on each other since childhood. At such a critical moment, how can I rest assured letting you go alone?"
Ming Zhuer responded, "I'm afraid the situation is perilous, and what if the Third Young Master—" He shuddered, unable to continue. His nose tingled with emotion, and tears immediately welled up in his eyes, though he fought hard to keep them from falling.
The young woman's expression remained calm as she gazed at the encroaching dusk and sighed softly, "If anything happens to him, how could I go on living alone—"
(4)
Unnoticed, the rain began to patter down again.
The young woman sighed faintly and murmured, "Ming Zhuer, let us continue our journey. After all, we must go to Xiangyang. It's not very far from here now."
Ming Zhuer answered, "Yes."
But he still turned back to glare fiercely at Huo Ling Long, who remained standing there in a daze.
In the drizzle, he held an umbrella with one hand while supporting his sister with the other.
Though small in stature, he straightened his chest like a soldier marching to battle, protecting his beloved kin. No matter what dangers lay ahead, he possessed unwavering confidence.
Through the misty rain, two small figures gradually vanished into the gathering night.
The road to Xiangyang lay before them.
After traveling for some time, Ming Zhuer glanced back along the path they had come. Faintly, he could see Huo Ling Long's figure growing smaller in the distance: this young woman in yellow, though her features were no longer discernible, still stood motionless by the roadside.
The wind picked up.
The fierce wind made the rain even more misty, drenching their already broken hearts with piercing cold.
Huo Ling Long stood blankly in the rain, her mind in complete confusion. The fine drizzle, swept by the wind, fell continuously, washing over her face. In that moment, her face appeared much more haggard.
Through the vast darkness, someone began singing softly to the accompaniment of a short flute.
Faintly, a gentle voice could be heard singing: "Matters before and behind are all obscure, To speak of fate would break my heart. Though I've searched all over the hills and streams of Wu and Yue, I turn my mist-enshrouded boat toward Qutang Gorge."
The singing of Ming Yue'er gradually faded into the distance. Huo Ling Long's tears finally overflowed. Between heaven and earth, everything appeared blurred—whether from the rain or her tears, it was impossible to tell.
[End of Text]
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