That person became angry again: “You’re being so unreasonable! Getting a bargain and still showing off! Don’t you know the blue silkworms of Tianxiang Lake only spin silk once a year, only enough to make one garment? Where am I supposed to order another one now?”
Feng Yi acted as if he hadn’t heard, putting his arm around Hu Sha to leave. She struggled once, walked over, and said full of apology: “I’m sorry, elder brother. I didn’t know this was clothes you ordered in advance. How about… how about I take it off and give it back to you? We’ll buy something else.”
Seeing her say this, that person felt embarrassed instead, his face slightly reddening as he muttered: “Well… that’s not necessary. The clothes suit Miss quite well… forget it, I’ll take the loss. Shopkeeper, what other rare materials do you have?”
The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly said “yes,” then reported seven or eight types of rare and unusual materials. That person touched his money pouch—clearly those materials were extremely expensive and he was quite short of funds.
Feng Yi walked over with a smile: “All right, in the end we did buy the clothes. The shopkeeper hasn’t refunded your deposit yet, right? How about I add some money to buy a bolt of new material—consider it an apology for earlier.”
That person immediately turned from anger to joy, saying repeatedly: “How can I accept this! I was also at fault earlier—I apologize to you, brother!”
Feng Yi smiled and shook his head, taking out money himself to pay the deposit and labor costs. That person clasped his hands: “I’m deeply grateful! My name is Mo Ming. May I ask brother and this Miss’s honored names?”
Mo Ming? Hu Sha was startled and instinctively continued: “Qi Miao?”
Mo Ming’s face reddened: “Ashamed to say, ‘Qi Miao’ is my younger brother’s name.”
Hu Sha immediately broke out in a cold sweat. There were actually parents in this world who named their children “Mo Ming Qi Miao” (utterly baffling)!
Feng Yi gave their names, and after the two sides exchanged pleasantries in the shop for a while, Mo Ming suddenly said: “Meeting you two here must be fate. I’d like to ask you for directions—do you know how to get to the old hall of Mount Lezheng in Yingzhou? I’ve searched everywhere, but no one knows. I see you two have extraordinary bearing and must be distinguished disciples from immortal mountains. Perhaps you could give me some guidance?”
Hu Sha’s heart jolted as she blurted out: “The old hall of Mount Lezheng in Yingzhou? You… what do you want to go there for?”
Seeing Hu Sha, Mo Ming would blush. He could only lower his head: “This… it’s a private matter. I’m afraid I can’t reveal it. Please forgive me, Miss Hu Sha.”
The old hall of Mount Lezheng in Yingzhou—that’s where the Shuiliu Qin was. This person… could he also be looking for divine relics? Could he be… someone Qingling Zhenjun brought here from overseas as well?
Hu Sha couldn’t help wanting to ask, when she suddenly felt her wrist lightly pinched by Feng Yi. He smiled: “What a coincidence—we’re also heading to Yingzhou. Why don’t we travel together? It’ll be livelier. As for that Mount Lezheng old hall or whatever, we haven’t heard of it, but we can help you make inquiries.”
Mo Ming was immediately overjoyed, repeatedly clasping his hands in thanks. He arranged to meet Feng Yi and Hu Sha in three days at the Eight Fortress Ferry in Shengzhou before reluctantly taking his leave.
After Mo Ming left, Hu Sha looked at Feng Yi, wanting to speak but hesitating.
He said indifferently: “Don’t look at me like that. Though I deceived him, it was unavoidable. We haven’t confirmed whether he’s the same as you. If we rashly asked and revealed the secret, that wouldn’t be good, would it?”
Hu Sha nodded and smiled brightly: “I knew Second Senior Brother was the best. They all say you’re quite bad, but I don’t think so.”
Feng Yi lowered his eyelashes, touched the top of her head without speaking, and suddenly tossed her a bundle. It was heavy inside. Hu Sha opened it in a daze and saw various new clothes inside, along with two rolls of gaudy silk fabric.
He teased: “If you think I’m good, then make me a few garments. Second Senior Brother has already bought you the fabric.”
Hu Sha was somewhat bashful, saying in a small voice: “All… all right. But my handiwork isn’t good. If they don’t fit or look nice, Second Senior Brother mustn’t laugh at me.”
Feng Yi curved his lips: “How could I? As long as Little Junior Sister made it, I’ll like it.”
Hu Sha’s face began reddening again. Clutching the bundle, she followed close behind him, unable to say anything.
Should she tell him that she was someone with a husband, that she couldn’t be too intimate with other men, and he couldn’t be too close to her either, or else she’d be the kind of bad woman who violated wifely virtue that Mother spoke of? But he hadn’t expressed anything either—if she said it, wouldn’t that be very embarrassing?
Hu Sha, Hu Sha, you need to stay calm, stop thinking nonsense. Senior Brother treats you well only because you’re fellow disciples. Master treats you well only because you’re his disciple. If you have improper thoughts about this, that would truly be letting down their kind intentions.
She muttered to herself like this for a long while, finally letting out a long breath. She caught up in an upright and dignified manner, grabbing Feng Yi’s sleeve and asking repeatedly: “Second Senior Brother, where are we going now?”
Feng Yi squinted and thought for a moment: “Let’s find an inn to stay at. Don’t trouble Lu Daniang anymore. We’ll rest up—we need to take a boat out to sea.”
Hu Sha was startled: “We still have to take a boat?”
Last time when they went to Taoyuan Mountain in Fenglin Isle, just flying on clouds took half a day. If they took a boat, how long would that take?
Feng Yi looked at her helplessly: “If we don’t take a boat, do you expect Second Senior Brother to carry you both across the sea on clouds alone? Little girl, you can’t bully your Second Senior Brother like this.”
Hu Sha had nothing to say.
The two found an inn on the street to stay at. When going upstairs, Feng Yi suddenly said: “Master and Senior Brother also have to sit quietly in Spirit Rock Cave for three days. When we leave, I wonder if they’ll catch up with us. It would be best not to run into them.”
This remark kept Hu Sha from sleeping well all night again.
She took out the small white paper figure from her pouch and held it, staring at it. It was clearly just a small piece, both thin and soft, yet she felt it weighed as heavy as a thousand pounds.
She closed her eyes and kept telling herself: You have a husband, you have a husband, you have a husband… After reciting this a thousand times, she finally fell asleep. But she had a dream: that husband drawn on paper suddenly jumped down, transforming into Fang Zhun’s appearance, holding a flower with a smile; somehow, he suddenly changed into Feng Yi, reclining sideways beneath the moon.
She spent three days in this restless state, constantly wavering between wifely virtue and loss of virtue, increasingly feeling that she had become a bad woman, living in constant anxiety.
On the third day, Mo Ming was indeed waiting early at the Eight Fortress Ferry. As for the Master and Eldest Senior Brother she had worried about for so long, they didn’t appear even when the group successfully boarded the ship. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
Taking a boat from Shengzhou to Yingzhou would take at least half a month. For the first few days, Hu Sha found the vast sea quite interesting. She spent every day at the bow, counting seagulls during the day and stars at night. The further they went, the more bored she became. Eventually, like Feng Yi and the others, she just hid in the cabin sleeping and was too lazy to even talk.
“Second Senior Brother, how many more days until we reach Yingzhou?” Bored to the extreme, Hu Sha finally couldn’t help but ask during a meal.
Feng Yi still observed Qingyuan’s rules—no meat or fish, only picking up two chopsticks of vegetables. While drinking tea, he said leisurely: “About three or four more days. When sailing at sea, no one can say the exact time. There are too many unpredictable situations.”
As he was speaking, Mo Ming came over with a gloomy expression, holding a colorful garment: “I never thought even these immortal mountain holy lands would have dishonest merchants! Spent so much silver and they gave me a broken garment!”
Hu Sha curiously leaned over to look and saw he was holding the new clothes made at that ready-made clothes shop in Shengzhou. She’d heard it was made of material even more expensive than the Tianxiang Lake blue silkworm silk, sparkling with jewels and treasures. Unfortunately, there was a thumb-sized hole at the chest—clearly it couldn’t be worn out.
“Didn’t you inspect it when you bought it?” Feng Yi took it to look, rubbed it with his hand, and said oddly: “It looks like it was freshly poked through. Did you poke it yourself?”
Mo Ming’s face reddened as he stammered: “That shopkeeper said these were clothes woven from fire-bathed rat fur, unafraid of water and fire, impervious to blades and spears. I… I tested it with a dagger… who knew one poke would break through…”
Feng Yi couldn’t help but laugh out loud, tossing the garment back to him: “Clearly he was bullying you outsiders for being ignorant. Fire-bathed rat fur is so precious—how many grades above Tianxiang Lake blue silkworms? Even immortals might not be able to wear it. Would he sell it to you at that price? This is indeed woven from fur, but not fire-bathed rat—it’s ground squirrel fur from Zhichun Mountain. It’s probably warmer than ordinary clothes, but as for water, fire, blades and spears, it can’t defend against any of that.”
Mo Ming awkwardly clutched the garment, not knowing whether to throw it away or hold it and cry. Hu Sha quickly went over to comfort him: “Elder Brother Mo Ming, don’t be upset. It’s just one hole. These clothes are so gaudy—I’ve been making clothes for Second Senior Brother these past few days and have leftover fabric. The color is about the same. Let me patch it up for you.”
Mo Ming gratefully clasped his hands in thanks: “I’m truly troubling Miss Hu Sha. Great kindness needs no words of thanks! In the future, if Miss has any requests, I will certainly fulfill them.”
Hu Sha laughed awkwardly: “This… it’s not a big deal, it doesn’t count as great kindness… just patching a hole…”
He repeatedly shook his head, sighing: “Not so. To be honest, these clothes… I bought them for my fiancée whom I haven’t seen in years. Due to certain matters, I had to leave her before the wedding. Now the matter is nearly resolved and I can finally return to my hometown. These clothes are a gift for her…”
Before he finished speaking, Feng Yi asked: “I wonder where Brother Mo’s hometown is? We two happen to be traveling down the mountain for experience recently with no worldly affairs—we could escort you part of the way.”
It was clearly fishing for information, but old Brother Mo Ming didn’t notice at all and laughed generously: “My hometown is in Yuzhou, Sichuan. I’m afraid you two haven’t heard of it—I wouldn’t dare trouble you to escort me.”
Hu Sha nearly jumped up, pointing her finger at his nose tip, trembling continuously but unable to say a word.
Mo Ming looked at Hu Sha in complete bafflement, asking oddly: “What’s wrong with Miss Hu Sha?”
Feng Yi propped his chin, saying lazily: “I only have one question for you—was it you who found the Tuyan Drum and gave it to Qingling Zhenjun?”
This time it was Mo Ming’s turn to jump up, trembling all over, his face alternating between pale and flushed.
It was then that Hu Sha learned the full story. Mo Ming came from a martial arts family and had learned excellent fighting skills. He had traveled the jianghu since childhood with extraordinary talents. Because he didn’t kowtow at a mountain god temple, he was captured in a dream and brought to the Ten Isles Within the Seas, tasked with obtaining the Tuyan Drum and Shuiliu Qin within ten years.
With his martial skills, he was naturally more formidable than Hu Sha who had no strength to truss a chicken. He ran around the Ten Isles Within the Seas for two or three years and actually managed to find the Tuyan Drum in Endless Valley of Juku Isle. After that, he made inquiries everywhere and learned that the Shuiliu Qin was hidden in the old hall of Mount Lezheng in Yingzhou. Just as he was about to set out, he encountered Hu Sha and Feng Yi.
Hearing this, Feng Yi nodded with a smile: “It seems that now Zhenjun already has two divine relics. If he gets three of the divine artifacts, he can accomplish his goal—just this one Shuiliu Qin is missing. No wonder he’s so anxious.”
At these words, both Hu Sha and Mo Ming looked at him in confusion, not quite understanding what he meant.
He explained: “The five artifacts of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth form a set. Gathering the power of the five elements creates enormous might. The Muhao Bell was obtained by my friend, the Tuyan Drum was obtained by Mo Ming—both given to Zhenjun. The Golden Pipa was stolen, the Yuhuo Flute is in demonic hands—Zhenjun has no ability to get those, so he can only focus on the hardest to obtain Shuiliu Qin. As long as he gets it, both his and your wishes will be fulfilled. Mutual benefit.”
Mo Ming sighed: “These immortals and ghosts—I never used to believe in them, but now I have no choice but to believe. Yet I still can’t make heads or tails of it. Regardless of what he wants it for, in order to return, we all must work hard. Miss Hu Sha, I never imagined you and I came from the same place.”
Hu Sha nodded dazedly, staring at Mo Ming and saying in a low voice: “You’re the third. I wonder if there’s a fourth or fifth.”
Mo Ming slapped the long sword at his waist: “This Zhenjun is really too much! Making us rough jianghu men run errands for him is one thing, but how could he also abduct a young lady? Isn’t that just sending her to certain death? Miss Hu Sha, on this journey Mo Ming will definitely protect you to the end. When we obtain the Shuiliu Qin, it will count as your achievement. Since I’ve already given him the Tuyan Drum, that Zhenjun shouldn’t make things difficult for me.”
Hu Sha looked at him gratefully and was about to speak when she suddenly felt the entire ship violently struck by something. The three immediately lost their footing and tumbled to the ground. Decorative vases placed in the corner also crashed down with clanging sounds.
Outside, many people were shrieking: “It’s a sea demon! We’ve encountered a sea demon!” For a moment, some cried, some shouted, some ran, some jumped into the sea—complete chaos.
Hu Sha was thrown from one wall to another like soybeans being stir-fried in a pot, rolling over and over until she was dizzy. Finally someone grabbed her arm and forcefully dragged her out of the cabin. The fishy, astringent sea wind immediately struck her face, mixed with surging seawater, almost instantly soaking her through.
The bow was full of terrified people desperately clinging to the deck, trying to find a support point in the violent wind and rain.
The sky had already darkened considerably, with dense heavy rain falling. Both sea and sky were pitch black—completely impossible to distinguish directions. The seawater seemed to boil, constantly churning. Who knew what massive creature was hidden below.
Feng Yi pressed Hu Sha down onto the deck. She cried out in pain. Behind them, Mo Ming drew his long sword and said sternly: “Brother Feng, Miss Hu Sha, retreat quickly! There’s a monster under the ship!”
As soon as the words fell, a thick, long, pitch-black thing shot up from the sea surface—slippery, like a monster’s tail. It coiled around the ship’s hull and, like a child playing with toys, with a “crack” sound, the entire large ship was broken in half from the middle. It creaked and groaned as it split apart, with people on it crying endlessly.
Hu Sha was pressed tightly onto the deck. Feng Yi used his chin to pin down her neck, not letting her move. The ship broken in two crashed into the sea. Being randomly stirred by that large tail, it looked like it would be drawn into a whirlpool at any moment.
She felt the world spinning. Her throat was hoarse from screaming when she suddenly heard Feng Yi say in a low voice behind her: “Don’t panic, I’m here! That demon is somewhat unusual—I can’t use cloud-riding techniques. Hold on to me tight and don’t let go for even a moment!”
The broken ship ultimately sank. Ice-cold seawater surged up like countless powerful hands tearing at her body. Hu Sha choked on several mouthfuls of water, finding it unbearably salty and bitter. When it got in her eyes, it hurt terribly. Fortunately, Feng Yi had tied their waist sashes together. He held her body tightly in his arms—for now the two hadn’t separated.
With a “whoosh,” a massive creature burst up from the sea surface—its body long, slender and pitch black, fully a hundred zhang tall, with prominent horns on its head. Its two eyes were like enormous lanterns in the black fog, gleaming with cold light.
“Sinner!” It was as if someone was roaring furiously in midair. “Why don’t you leave him quickly?”
In her panic, Hu Sha suddenly recalled that strange dream. Looking up at that demon now, she understood everything in an instant.
Swish, swish, swish… The gentle sound of ocean tides brushed back and forth by her ears, like the song Mother sang to lull her to sleep as a child.
Hu Sha’s eyelids moved as she woke from unconsciousness.
Blue sky, white clouds, a sea as beautiful and calm as gemstones—everything before her eyes was so wonderful, unprecedented. Hu Sha couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Just as she was about to prop herself up to sit, she suddenly felt intense pain in her left leg. With an “ah” sound, she fell back down.
A groan suddenly came from beside her. She quickly turned her head and saw Feng Yi, covered head and face with sand grains, sleeping face-down next to her, seemingly about to wake.
“Ah, ah, it hurts…” He muttered, propping up his body and looking around. Finally he looked down and asked Hu Sha: “Where is this?”
She shook her head.
Feng Yi patted the sand from his hair. Just as he was about to stand up, he didn’t expect that their waist sashes were tied together. When he moved, Hu Sha moved too, triggering the wound on her left leg. Immediately the pain made her want to cry.
Feng Yi quickly untied that tight knot and reached out to touch her left leg: “The bone is broken. Don’t move for now.”
He turned to look around. Wooden planks, ropes and such items were scattered all over the nearby sea surface—even wooden boxes and chamber pots, clearly things from that ship. He took two wooden planks, secured her broken left leg bone, tied it properly, then looked up. Hu Sha’s eyes were already brimming with tears.
“Second Senior Brother, I think I understand why that sea demon attacked our ship.” She bit her lip, murmuring: “That day the acolyte told me that if I told others about this matter, he’d make my soul scatter. I told Master, you, and Elder Brother Mo Ming, so he definitely won’t let me go. But if he wanted to kill me, why make such a big fuss? He caused an entire ship of people to lose their lives…”
Feng Yi was tearing his outer robe to dip in seawater to wash his face, absentmindedly replying: “In his view, human lives are like grass. It’s not your fault—you don’t need to think too much about it.”
With that, he came over to wipe her face and comb her hair. After tidying up a bit, he suddenly heard Hu Sha say again: “Elder Brother Mo Ming couldn’t have also…”
He said indifferently: “Don’t know, but since he has martial skills, he should be fine. Qingling Zhenjun is still waiting for the Shuiliu Qin—he won’t ruthlessly kill everyone.”
Hu Sha fell silent, recalling last night—the sea demon rampaging, they had truly almost died. She didn’t know what cunning method Feng Yi used to escape, only making her break her left leg, which could be considered fortunate in misfortune.
While thinking, she suddenly felt her body lighten as he lifted her up by the waist. Hu Sha was immediately greatly embarrassed, saying urgently: “Don’t… don’t! Put me down!”
Feng Yi laughed: “Don’t put you down? All right.”
“You know what I mean!” She was so ashamed she nearly became angry.
In the end he still carried her on his back, swaying as he walked along the beach. He teased her: “Little Hu Sha, small courage, thin face.”
Hu Sha’s face flushed red behind him. She wanted to say something but in the end pressed her lips together without speaking.
Wifely virtue, wifely virtue, wifely virtue… she kept reciting these words in her heart. See no impropriety, hear no impropriety, speak no impropriety… Right now… right now she was being carried on a man’s back only because her leg was broken. She absolutely had no intention of betraying her husband. Heaven must bear witness!
Footprints stretched a long string along the beach, washed chaotically by the ocean tide, like her current state of mind.
Past the beach, up the cliff, into the forest, climbing over rocks. Feng Yi leisurely ascended to higher ground, gazed around, and said oddly: “Really fortunate—this is Yingzhou. I didn’t expect a sea disaster would actually deliver us here—even faster than taking a boat.”
“Yingzhou? Then let’s quickly go find the old hall of Mount Lezheng!” Hu Sha was excited and kicked the pine tree beside her, crying out loudly again from the pain.
Feng Yi quickly set her down, carefully examined her, and after confirming the bone hadn’t shifted, finally sighed: “My young lady, with your leg like this, what Shuiliu Qin are you going to retrieve? Aren’t you afraid the demon beast at the entrance will eat you? First heal your injury. Unfortunately I don’t have Grand Master’s ability to heal broken bones instantly—you’ll have to endure for a few days.”
“But I heard that when a leg is broken, it takes at least several months to heal…”
He gently picked her up on his back, saying leisurely: “With your Second Senior Brother here, it can heal in a few days. Don’t worry.”
Fortunately, though the person was injured, the bundle wasn’t lost—it had been tied to Feng Yi’s waist the whole time. Mo Ming’s ground squirrel fur garment had also miraculously floated across the ocean to land on the beach, picked up and put away by the two.
The forest had many towering trees, so thick it was hard to believe. Feng Yi didn’t like living in caves, complaining about the strange smells inside. He simply used magic to build a small house in a tree—quite novel indeed.
Entering the tree house, the first thing Feng Yi did was take off her pants.
“What are you doing?” His action earned a scream and several slaps. Hu Sha tightly clutched her waist sash, determined to defend her chastity, looking at him with tearful eyes as if looking at a lecher.
Feng Yi covered his slapped cheek, chuckling: “Broad daylight, gentle breeze, beautiful scenery—what do you think I’m doing? Naturally sharing earthly pleasures with a young lady.”
With that, he went to pull at her waist sash again. If not for her broken left leg preventing movement, Hu Sha really wished she could jump down immediately. She tightly shut her eyes, not daring to look at what was about to happen.
Suddenly she heard two “ripping” sounds of cloth tearing. She couldn’t help but tremble. Yet after a long while, he made no other moves. Hu Sha opened her fingers a crack in doubtful alarm, peeking to see that he had merely torn the left trouser leg to expose the wound and was using magic to heal her injury.
“You… you tricked me!” Hu Sha was both ashamed and indignant.
Feng Yi lazily raised his head: “You kept saying Second Senior Brother was a good person and that you trusted me, but in the end it’s only this much.”
Hu Sha was momentarily speechless. After a long while, she stammered: “It’s… it’s you… you didn’t explain beforehand… that action… and you said those words. Anyone would misunderstand, right?”
Feng Yi said indifferently: “Yes, it’s all Second Senior Brother’s fault. Little Hu Sha is completely right.”
Hu Sha had nothing more to say. She silently watched him heal her injury. The atmosphere in the tree house became extremely oppressive. She couldn’t help but steal a glance at him, but was afraid of being discovered, so she quickly and naturally turned her head away. After a while, seeing he was still looking down without speaking, his expression cool, she couldn’t help continuing to peek like a thief.
Feng Yi suddenly spoke: “If you want to look, do it openly. Sneaking around is not a good habit.”
Hu Sha’s mouth drooped as she said in a tiny voice: “Second Senior Brother, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry, all right?”
He still didn’t raise his head, his voice light: “Who’s angry? Stop imagining things.”
Hu Sha anxiously twisted her fingers on her waist sash. Suddenly thinking of something, she quickly grabbed the bundle and pulled out the half-finished outer robe from inside, ingratiating herself as she held it before him: “Second Senior Brother, don’t be angry. Look, the clothes are more than half done. I apologize.”
He deliberately kept a straight face, saying coldly: “Only half done and you bring it out—you call that an apology?”
Hu Sha’s shoulders slumped. Clutching the garment, she looked ready to cry. Feng Yi extended a finger and flicked her forehead, laughing: “Silly girl, who would be angry with you? So silly.”
She couldn’t help but be dazed. When she reacted, she only felt heat on her cheek—he had kissed her again.
“Really silly and cute.”
She drew in a sharp breath, suddenly covering her face. A voice in her heart kept shouting: Stay calm, stay calm! He’s only joking with you!
But the two words “wifely virtue” involuntarily drilled into her mind again, pressing until she saw stars.
Mother, your daughter’s wifely virtue is probably going to completely vanish.
By the time Feng Yi’s two garments were finished, Hu Sha’s broken leg had also healed. She happily presented the two garments for him to try.
After Feng Yi put them on, he shook his sleeves, smacked his lips, and frowned: “So-so, I suppose. Still wearable.”
Hu Sha covered her face in shame, not daring to look at his sleeves of different lengths, the hem front and back seriously disproportionate, and the waist sash pieced together from miscellaneous scraps of cloth. Though she had learned some needlework from Mother at home, it was only occasionally making a few pairs of shoes for Father. Last time she made a jacket, Father didn’t dare wear it out.
All right, she had originally thought that after cultivating on the immortal mountain for a while, her hands would become more skillful. Who knew her handicraft still showed no improvement.
“Second Senior Brother… can you really wear it?” she asked against her conscience.
Feng Yi rolled up the overly long sleeves one fold, looking at her helplessly: “Even if I can’t wear it, I must wear it.”
Hu Sha thus felt good about herself, smiling as she organized the fabric scraps: “There’s still material left. I’ll make you a pair of shoes.”
Feng Yi quickly stopped her, saying seriously: “I think we’ve delayed long enough. We should quickly find the old hall of Mount Lezheng—the shoes can wait.” The way he said it, no matter how you heard it, had a flavor of trying to cover up something.
Hu Sha didn’t catch on and continued smiling, only feeling Second Senior Brother was the number one good person in the world. Those two words “wifely virtue” pressing on her head, shining with golden light, became even more sparkling. She deeply believed she could definitely be a virtuous good wife.
Mo Ming felt he was a fortunate one among the unlucky. Though he had the misfortune of being dragged to the Ten Isles Within the Seas to play a deadly game of seeking divine artifacts, every time disaster struck he managed to turn danger into safety.
For instance, yesterday he encountered the sea demon, the ship broke, and he fell into the sea, rolling and rolling with the whirlpool, yet somehow didn’t die. After being washed by the tide all night, he finally made it to shore, barely crawled to a nearby town, met kind people who took him in for a few days to recover his strength, and even learned that the old hall of Mount Lezheng he had searched for in vain was in a valley not far away.
What kind of luck was this? This was the treatment only protagonists received! If this experience were written as a legend, he would surely be the indomitable male lead who moved heaven and earth and made ghosts weep.
So now Mo Ming was desperately running around in an endless stone forest, praying that one turn would reveal the old stone mountain hall with the treasure Shuiliu Qin lying there waiting for his favor… oh no, waiting for him to take it away.
He turned past the largest stone pillar, raised his head full of hope, and instead of seeing the long-dreamed-of old stone mountain hall, saw two people floating down from above the stone forest to land—the man handsome, the woman lovely. They were none other than Feng Yi and Hu Sha, whom he thought had perished in the demon’s belly.
“Ah! Brother Feng! Miss Hu Sha!” Mo Ming was excited and emotional, hurrying forward. “Heaven has eyes—you’re still alive! I’ve been worried for days, thinking you’d met with misfortune…”
Feng Yi smiled: “Just a mere sea demon, not worth mentioning. Rather, Brother Mo is truly fortunate, finding this place even earlier than us two. So? Have you found any sign of the old stone mountain hall?”
Mo Ming shook his head dejectedly: “To be honest with you both, I’ve been wandering in this stone forest for half a day. Forget the old hall—I haven’t even seen a stone house.”
With that, he stood on a large bluestone and gazed into the distance. As far as the eye could see, there was only stone forest with no trace of any palace ruins.
Seeing Hu Sha also becoming dejected, Feng Yi smiled: “Why be discouraged? Brother Mo has been running around for divine relics for two or three years. Now the old stone mountain hall is right before our eyes—why are you becoming restless instead?”
Mo Ming shook his head with a sigh: “No… I don’t know why either. Perhaps because the result is within reach, I’ve become anxious about gains and losses instead. Brother Feng must be laughing at me.”
The three searched the stone forest for another while but ultimately had no clues. Seeing the golden crow sinking in the west and evening clouds dyeing the sky, they could only call it quits. At a sheltered spot they built a fire and temporarily stayed for the night before making further plans.
Mo Ming took out a bamboo flute from his chest. By the firelight he carefully drilled holes with a small knife, occasionally bringing it to his lips to test the tone. Though the flute body was clearly spotless, he wiped it over and over with a silk handkerchief.
Hu Sha found it novel and couldn’t help leaning over to ask: “Elder Brother Mo Ming, can you make your own flutes?”
He smiled with slight bashfulness: “Ashamed to say, I learned this craft from an old man after coming to the Ten Isles Within the Seas. My wife has loved music since childhood, especially the crisp sound of bamboo flutes. When I passed through Juku Isle, someone said the purple bamboo from the shores of Lüyao Lake had the best quality, making flutes with sounds clear as the nine heavens. So I cut several stalks to make bamboo flutes.”
“Your wife? Didn’t you say you weren’t married yet?”
Mo Ming’s face reddened further as he stammered: “Though we haven’t had the wedding yet, she and I were childhood sweethearts who fell in love… I’ve long considered her my wife in my heart. Originally we agreed to marry in October, but unfortunately I was inconsiderate back then, insisting on going out to duel with others. Now thinking back, regret comes too late. Fortunately the divine relics now have some clues. I only hope that by making some things she loves, when I return I can beg her forgiveness.”
Hu Sha nodded quite moved. Suddenly remembering something, she quickly pulled out that ground squirrel fur garment from the bundle and handed it to him: “Elder Brother Mo Ming, I’ve mended the clothes for you. See if it’s suitable?”
His eyes immediately lit up: “Eh? This garment actually wasn’t washed away by the seawater! Thank you so much, Miss Hu Sha!”
With that, he unfolded the garment. At the chest, that hole had been patched from inside with another piece of floral fabric. The stitching was chaotic, looking like it had been gnawed by a dog—actually three points uglier than the original bare hole.
Hu Sha’s eyes shone as she looked at him ingratiatingly, asking repeatedly: “How is it? Is it much better than before?”
Mo Ming was dumbstruck. Finally he wrapped up the garment, put it in his bundle, and forced a smile: “Indeed… much better. Miss Hu Sha has good… good… good craftsmanship.”
Feng Yi, listening with one ear from the side, finally couldn’t help but chuckle, sympathetically patting Mo Ming’s shoulder. This was mutual understanding between men.
Mo Ming turned to look at the clothes Feng Yi was wearing, understanding even more, returning him a sympathetic gaze.
Hu Sha was completely oblivious, still proudly blinking her eyes.
Night deepened. The stone forest was extremely quiet—no insect chirping or bird calls whatsoever.
Hu Sha had Feng Yi’s garment covering her body, sleeping soundly sprawled by the fire. The firelight danced on her eyelashes, making it look like she might wake at any moment. She was naturally born with lively features. When awake, that liveliness still carried some silly innocence—one look and you knew she was a child who hadn’t suffered. Now sleeping deeply, she made one unable to resist wanting to pinch her.
Mm, she was a good child.
Feng Yi hugged his arms, leaning sideways against the bluestone, motionless as he stared at her. His pupils were pitch black—who knew what he was thinking.
Suddenly an ethereal, light song came from the distance, as if a woman was singing with flowing sleeves. The voice was gentle and clear, quite able to move the heart. Feng Yi’s brows moved slightly—it’s here!
Mo Ming sleeping below was after all a martial artist with sharp ears and eyes. He immediately rolled over and sat up: “What sound?” He grabbed his long sword, vigilantly looking around.
Feng Yi didn’t speak, only gazing indifferently in the direction the sound came from. In that direction’s sky, faint red light weakly emerged—demonic energy. At that time the song rose and fell, now in front, now behind, now left, now right, becoming elusive in its movements. When the female voice finished singing, immediately came a male voice, deep and vigorous. Suddenly it seemed close at hand, but listening carefully again, it was already distant.
“A demon?” Mo Ming grew tense, drawing his long sword with a “clang” and holding it before him defensively.
Feng Yi glanced at him sideways with seeming disdain, saying in a low voice: “If there really were a demon, what could your meager skills and that broken sword do?”
Mo Ming was taken aback. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard him say again: “Look, it’s emerged.”
The distant stone forest seemed shrouded in mist, emitting faint white light. Deep within it, a half-old palace had silently appeared, entirely piled with massive bluestones, brilliantly lit inside yet not showing half a trace of human presence.
Mo Ming leaped up, wildly shouting: “The old stone mountain hall!” He pulled up his legs and chased after it, instantly running out of sight.
Hu Sha rubbed her eyes, murmuring: “What cushion? Shoe insoles? I’ll make you insoles tomorrow, Second Senior Brother…”
Feng Yi knocked her on the head: “Second Senior Brother wouldn’t dare trouble you further. Quick, get up! We’ve found the old stone mountain hall.”
Hu Sha was startled and bounced up with a swoosh, disheveled hair and all, about to jump down from the bluestone. Feng Yi grabbed her: “Don’t rush. Fix your hair and dress properly.”
He seemed not at all anxious, methodically using a comb to brush her hair, braiding several braids, carefully pinning them with hairpins. Hu Sha anxiously fidgeted in front: “Second Senior Brother, hurry! If we’re late and can’t get the Shuiliu Qin, what will we do?”
He said leisurely: “Then let Mo Ming get it for you. What’s there to fear? Can the Shuiliu Qin grow legs and run away?”
Hu Sha was immediately speechless.
Finally, he finished pinning up her hair, using his fingers to carefully comb the soft hair hanging by her ears. His fingertips were slightly cool, and his voice also carried a chill: “Hu Sha, after getting the Shuiliu Qin, do you want to leave together with Second Senior Brother?”
She was confused: “How would I leave together with you? I need to give the Shuiliu Qin to Qingling Zhenjun, then… then I’ll go home.”
He said softly: “Don’t go home. Isn’t staying here good? Second Senior Brother will be with you. As long as you don’t give the Shuiliu Qin to Qingling Zhenjun, you can stay here. How about it? Little Hu Sha, isn’t Second Senior Brother good to you?”
Hu Sha murmured: “You’re naturally very good to me, but… I also can’t not go home… Besides, if I don’t give the Shuiliu Qin to Qingling Zhenjun, I’ll be killed by him…”
“Silly girl, with Second Senior Brother protecting you, no one can touch you in the slightest. Hu Sha, don’t go back. Stay here, all right?”
He gently embraced her from behind, like holding a precious treasure—not using a trace of force, yet enough to prevent her from breaking free.
Hu Sha froze there. For a moment she only felt her heart pounding like a drum, saying in a trembling voice: “Se… Second Senior Brother?”
Feng Yi placed his chin in the hollow of her shoulder. His lips intentionally or unintentionally brushed past her temple and slender neck. His breath carried a hint of bewitching flavor, his voice seeming to complain yet not: “Must I say it out loud before you’ll be willing? Hu Sha, I’ve followed you and protected you all this way—do you only consider me Second Senior Brother?”
Hu Sha trembled slightly in his embrace, not knowing if it was from cold or anxiety. The neck he had kissed felt somewhat numb, that sensation spreading throughout her entire body. Her body softened, going numb and tingly. She felt his arms tightening more and more. She couldn’t help saying in a trembling voice: “Second Senior Brother! Let’s… let’s go to the old stone mountain hall first, all right?”
He murmured in a low voice: “Not all right.”
His hand grasped her chin as he kissed upward along her delicate neck, across her temple, finally returning to her cheek.
“Hu Sha, Hu Sha… say you like me, that you’ll be with me, forever together, never leaving.”
She wanted to dodge but couldn’t; wanted to struggle but couldn’t break free—like a small insect captured by a poisonous flower, simultaneously frightened and intoxicated, at a complete loss.
“Say it.” His fingers pressed on her soft lips, tracing back and forth. “Say you won’t give the Shuiliu Qin to Qingling Zhenjun. Say you like me and will stay.”
“I…” She drew in a breath, choking, unable to exhale.
He seemed to grow impatient waiting, forcibly turning her around and lowering his head to kiss her. His cold lips had just touched her lower lip when loud cackling laughter came from the distance, accompanied by Mo Ming’s roar. Hu Sha didn’t know where she found the strength, but she suddenly pushed him away, jumped down from the bluestone, and ran frantically.
Feng Yi clicked his tongue in regret, extending his thumb to lightly wipe across his lips. With an expression both smiling and not, both angry and not, after a moment he also leaped down from the bluestone. His gaudy outer robe rustled in the wind like a flying butterfly.
The old stone mountain hall was right before their eyes, brilliantly lit inside yet deathly still. Hu Sha ran over in panic and confusion, seeing Mo Ming standing before the hall with sword raised, expression strange, motionless. She couldn’t help calling out: “Elder Brother Mo Ming!”
He quickly turned back, waving his hand to signal her not to come over. Hu Sha stopped abruptly. Suddenly she felt the moonlight overhead blocked by something. Instinctively looking up, she saw an enormous demon beast flying in the ink-blue firmament. Its form somewhat resembled a tiger, yet wings grew from its back, blocking out all the moonlight.
It flew back and forth in the air, emitting strange cackling laughter. Suddenly lowering its head to see Hu Sha, it swooped down.
Mo Ming cried out in alarm, embraced her at the waist, and rolled on the ground dozens of times. Immediately after, with a “boom,” that monster landed on the ground. While laughing, it opened its mouth to speak: “Another person has come. Just from the scent I know it’s a detestable good person. How about you two both give me your noses and ears? I can consider sparing your lives.”
Hu Sha was pressed to the ground by Mo Ming, saying in shock: “It… how can it speak?”
Mo Ming said in a deep voice: “This is the legendary fierce beast Qiongqi! It can speak human words. When it encounters good people it wants to eat them, but when meeting bad people it becomes quite docile. Innately evil and sycophantic, born from gathered vicious energy!”
Before he finished speaking, seeing that Qiongqi’s large claw swinging down again, he pulled Hu Sha back in retreat, holding his sword horizontally to stab. But with a “crack,” the sharp sword forged of refined steel was actually broken by its claw.
Mo Ming grew desperate. Throwing down the broken sword and giving Hu Sha a push: “You go in! Quickly get the Shuiliu Qin. I’ll delay it for a moment!”
Hu Sha didn’t dare linger. She could only seize an opening, pull up her legs and dash toward the old stone mountain hall.
Just as she was about to reach the entrance, she suddenly heard chanting from overhead. Looking up, she saw Feng Yi standing on the hall’s eaves, hands spread open with red light swallowing and spitting in his palms. That red was extremely vivid and bloody, as if gripping two hearts.
She called softly: “Second Senior Brother!”
Feng Yi acted as if he hadn’t heard, suddenly bringing both hands together and silently reciting: “Congeal!”
The Qiongqi that had been relentlessly pursuing Mo Ming suddenly roared loudly, as if encountering something terrifying. Its giant wings flapped violently as it rose from the ground. It had barely flown one zhang when it wailed again. Immediately after, starting from its feet, it began freezing. In an instant the ice reached its head, forcibly frozen in midair.
Feng Yi lowered his hands, smiling faintly at the two: “Why don’t you hurry in and get the Shuiliu Qin? The spell will lose effect soon.”
Mo Ming opened his mouth wide in admiration, murmuring: “Truly worthy of being a distinguished disciple from an immortal mountain! This is immortal magic?”
Because of what he had said to her earlier, Hu Sha was particularly flustered and didn’t dare raise her head to look more. She only said in a muffled voice: “Elder Brother Mo Ming, let’s go in quickly!”
The old stone mountain hall was completely empty. A main path in the hall led straight to the rear hall, with stone pillars supporting both sides—no carving visible, clearly divine traces left from ancient times.
The two passed through the front hall when suddenly their vision blurred—it was too bright to look directly at. Hu Sha quickly covered her eyes, hearing Mo Ming excitedly shouting by her ear: “The Shuiliu Qin! The Shuiliu Qin! It’s really here!”
She lowered her hands, squinting to look. In the hall a clear pool had been dug. The water in the pool was crystal clear and translucent, like a piece of finest crystal. Countless white lotus flowers bloomed on the crystal. On the largest, tallest lotus at the back rested an ice-blue ancient qin, precious light flowing and rotating, dazzlingly brilliant. Five strings on the qin, like water, like ice, seemingly present yet not—truly a magnificent scene never before witnessed in life.
The Shuiliu Qin! Hu Sha’s heart surged with wild joy. Just as she was about to enter the pool to fish it out, Mo Ming was a step faster. With a “splash” he jumped into the clear pool, calling: “Let me! Be careful not to wet your skirt!”
He charged recklessly forward, not knowing how many white lotus he crushed. Finally arriving before that tallest lotus, Mo Ming could barely suppress his excitement. That divine artifact’s precious light flowed and rotated. Though it couldn’t speak, it revealed an unprecedented solemn and dignified aura. He actually didn’t dare act rashly, shakily bowing to it with both hands, saying in a small voice: “I apologize. This humble one has no intention of offending the celestial gods. I truly have no choice.”
He raised his hands to take it when suddenly someone behind him said sternly: “Don’t touch it!”
Startled, his hands instinctively grasped the Shuiliu Qin tightly, afraid others would snatch it away.
Hu Sha was also greatly shocked. Turning around abruptly, she saw a person standing behind—white clothes, black hair, beautiful features. Who else but Fang Zhun? She drew in a sharp breath, murmuring: “Ma… Master?”
Fang Zhun flew forward but didn’t dare approach that lotus pool, only saying sternly: “Quickly put it down! Absolutely don’t touch it!”
Mo Ming said oddly: “Who are you? Why should I…”
Before he finished speaking, suddenly myriad cold rays shot from that qin. Mo Ming’s entire body trembled. He felt as if his body had been pierced by tens of thousands of ice arrows. Before he could even react, he slowly looked down to see his chest clothes already soaked through with fresh blood.
The Shuiliu Qin fell from his hands with a “splash” into the pool. That originally crystal-clear transparent pool water had already been dyed red by Mo Ming’s blood. He gave an inexplicable sigh and fell backward face-up.
Fang Zhun grabbed the back of his collar, lightly lifting him out of the pool. Fresh blood mixed with clear water immediately spilled across the ground. His fingertips gently brushed across the numerous blood holes at his vital points on his upper body, applying force to heal.
Hu Sha saw Mo Ming had almost become a bloody man, his entire body covered with dense blood spots as if pierced by fine, sharp thorns. Bright red fresh blood spread in large patches beneath him. Her legs involuntarily went soft as she weakly called out: “Elder Brother Mo Ming…” She wanted to go over and check his injuries but couldn’t take a step.
While desperately trying to heal him, Fang Zhun said in a deep voice: “You shouldn’t come over either! This Shuiliu Qin is very different from other divine artifacts. Only those with pure yin bodies can touch it, and only those with pure hearts can approach it. Otherwise they will either die or be injured. Go and summon your Second Senior Brother. I have questions for him.”
Hu Sha’s lips trembled slightly. She answered yes, stiffly turning around, only to see Feng Yi already leaning sideways against the wall, half-smiling as he looked at Mo Ming who had fainted covered in blood.
Second Senior Brother… she wanted to speak but found her throat so stiff she simply couldn’t get words out.
Feng Yi didn’t look at her, only saying indifferently: “Master, was I wrong to help Junior Sister?”
While barely managing to heal Mo Ming’s injuries, Fang Zhun said in a low voice: “You clearly knew the Shuiliu Qin’s special properties, yet still deceived her into coming here to her death. What is your reasoning?”
At these words, Hu Sha’s heart immediately sank. She instinctively spoke: “Master… Second Senior Brother isn’t like that…”
“You be quiet and step back. I’m not speaking to you.” Fang Zhun’s voice was extremely cold. Hu Sha was shocked again. This was the first time he had scolded her so severely. She inevitably felt flustered and wronged, retreating a step at a loss, looking at him in bewilderment.
Feng Yi supported her shoulder, half-embracing and half-holding her, saying gently: “Master, why get angry? Don’t frighten Junior Sister. If you don’t let her seek divine relics, how can Junior Sister return home? Can you bear to let her live like duckweed in a foreign land, unhappy her entire life?”
Fang Zhun slightly closed his eyes, his voice low: “You haven’t answered my question, Feng Yi.”
Feng Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: “I don’t understand what you’re asking. I only know Qingyuan drove Hu Sha out, disregarding her life or death. I only know the journey from Shengzhou to Yingzhou is long and distant, with countless demons and monsters. I only know Qingling Zhenjun wants to kill her quickly because she revealed secrets. I also know she could die here at any time. Hu Sha’s life, in your eyes, naturally isn’t worth mentioning—like Mo Ming, if she dies it’s no big deal. Just drag another one over. How could you understand the bitterness of being uprooted from home, the heartache of having life and death toyed with in others’ palms? You’ll only ever speak grand words with righteous indignation! Tell her to stay? By what right do you make her stay? By the promises you made but cannot fulfill, or by your charming personality that always loves telling cold jokes?”
At the last sentence he couldn’t help but laugh, his eyes curved, carrying a trace of innocence, a trace of sinister cruelty, a trace of contempt as he stared fixedly at Fang Zhun.
Hu Sha didn’t laugh. Fang Zhun didn’t laugh either. His eyes were slightly closed, those butterfly wing-like lashes gently trembling. Hu Sha wasn’t sure if she saw pain and helplessness in his expression. It was only an instant before his expression had already returned to normal, slowly opening his eyes. In his gem-like eyes, rippling light flickered.
“Feng Yi.” He said softly. “Hu Sha is Hu Sha. You are you. You’ve been here fifty years—more than half a mortal lifetime. Are you still harboring resentment?”
Feng Yi turned his head away, saying indifferently: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Fang Zhun revealed a slight smile: “I’m saying—the Golden Pipa and Yuhuo Flute, and now the Shuiliu Qin. Qingling Zhenjun wants to become a celestial god. What about you? What do you want to do?”
Feng Yi looked at him expressionlessly. After a long while, he said in a low voice: “I knew long ago I couldn’t hide anything from you, you fox. Yet you said nothing, hiding behind to watch my ridiculous performance?”
With that, without waiting for an answer, he said darkly: “You truly are excellent!”
From his sleeve suddenly shot blood-red light, howling toward Fang Zhun like a meteor. Fang Zhun didn’t move, allowing that fierce red light to strike three feet before him. It twisted like a snake, trying to drill inward, yet no matter what it couldn’t penetrate. His surroundings seemed protected by copper walls and iron ramparts—no one could gain advantage.
His hands still moved lightly and swiftly over Mo Ming’s body, healing countless large and small blood holes, his expression as if strolling leisurely in a courtyard. He smiled: “I don’t recall teaching you such a sinister thing, much less giving you permission to attack your teacher.”
Feng Yi coldly withdrew the red light and walked forward a step. The blood-red light in his palms began swallowing and spitting again. Reflected in his pitch-black eyes, it actually made one feel chilled.
His arm was suddenly grabbed tightly. He looked down sharply and saw Hu Sha, face deathly pale, clutching him. Her entire body trembled like a withered leaf about to shatter at any moment.
She said in a trembling voice: “Second Senior Brother, have you gone mad?”