“Dong—”
The mountain bell’s echo at midnight was especially deep and heavy, as if carrying a few traces of sighs, heavily lamenting this night of disputes and disturbances.
Fu Yangui stood with his hands behind his back atop the mountain peak, watching the sky above Fuyun Manor ahead reflected crimson by firelight, his gentle eyes and brows glinting with an unclear meaning.
An attendant hurried to behind him and said, “As Prime Minister Fu predicted, those martial artists, upon learning His Majesty’s location, rushed out of Xiaoyao Valley straight toward Fuyun Manor. The manor has already sent out five distress flares. The Longxiang Army has mostly withdrawn. The remaining Imperial Attendants and Yulin Guard probably won’t be able to hold out much longer…”
“Then let them hold out a while longer…” Fu Yangui raised his chin slightly, “When they truly can’t hold anymore, we’ll dispatch reinforcements to ‘make a show of it.'”
The attendant dared not presume lightly, only saying, “If His Majesty manages to escape, then…”
“How could His Majesty possibly escape?” Fu Yangui’s tone was calm as if merely discussing the weather, “Remember, His Majesty died at the hands of Western Xia people.”
The attendant involuntarily shivered, then said, “Then, those martial artists…”
“His Majesty suffered this great calamity. As his subjects, how can we tolerate and condone it?” Fu Yangui said, “Those who participated in attacking the manor naturally cannot be spared… But the other martial artists should first be rescued with all effort, then mainly appeased. After all… we have no need to make enemies of all the martial artists under heaven.”
“This subordinate understands.” The attendant clasped his fists and was about to leave when suddenly another deputy general rushed over in a panic, kneeling and saying, “Prime Minister, someone saw Second Young Master appear in the valley of Jiulian Mountain…”
Fu Yangui suddenly turned around, “Jiulian Mountain valley?”
“We heard that valley once had its mountain gate opened by the Yulin Guard. His Majesty specifically dispatched an elite force vowing to capture Sect Leader Xue and other treasonous criminals, but the Yulin Guard and Longxiang Army attacked for an entire day with almost no one returning.”
Fu Yangui’s breathing unconsciously quickened. The only ones who could make both the Yulin Guard and Longxiang Army stumble would be her…
“Who else is in the valley?”
“We heard there are experts from the He Manor, and also Jing… that woman who claims to be the second Young Master Yue. Oh, our people also saw Scholar Shu.”
Shujuan?
Fu Yangui’s brow furrowed, “Didn’t they say before that Xiaoyao Valley’s elders forced him to jump off a cliff?”
“This subordinate also thought I heard wrong, but they were certain they saw Scholar Shu, and there was someone who looked extremely like Qu Yunzhen. In short, they’re all inside… Now the mountain gate has closed. We also cannot confirm who else is trapped within.”
Fu Yangui reacted swiftly, looking back toward the valley at the base of the opposite mountain. In that instant, memories suddenly flashed past, various chaotic images overlapping in his mind.
Qu Yunzhen… Shujuan.
Fu Yangui murmured, “The Three Heroes… of Maoshan?”
Upon returning to the stone chamber, Jiaye and Jiagu were withdrawing their palms and regulating their breathing. Although Changsheng hadn’t awakened, his complexion had recovered considerably. Luo Zhou helped him lie flat back on the bed. Seeing Ye Qi enter the room, he bowed respectfully in courtesy and withdrew from the stone chamber.
Seeing him arrive, Jiagu hurried to check his pulse. Upon checking, his mouth opened as if to speak but didn’t know what to say.
“How is the eldest young master’s condition?” Ye Qi asked, “Has he improved?”
“Thanks to the marquis’s blessing, the eldest young master has passed through the critical juncture. He currently still needs to rest quietly. Only when he regains consciousness can he be considered saved.” Jiaye stepped forward, also wanting to feel his pulse. Ye Qi imperceptibly withdrew his hand and smiled, “As long as he’s fine. Shifu and Shishu must have expended considerable energy. You should regulate your breathing promptly.”
Jiaye glanced at his colorless face, softly chanted a Buddhist invocation, and asked, “What are the marquis’s plans next?”
“I plan to leave the valley immediately.”
Jiagu was shocked, “Leave the valley? In your current condition… how can you leave the valley?”
“Naturally I won’t be alone. Besides my family’s experts, I also want to request Hero Qu the Second and Scholar Shu to accompany us…” Ye Qi said, “It’s just that right now the eldest young master shouldn’t be moved, and Changling hasn’t awakened yet. I fear after dawn there will be another fierce battle. At that time, I must trouble Shifu and Shishu to take good care of them… Oh yes, I still have some wound medicine and bone-softening powder here. Please keep them for now.”
Jiagu watched him take all the various bottles and jars from his pockets and place them on the table, feeling truly distressed inside, “What need is there for these? You…”
Ye Qi forcibly stuffed a jar into his hand, “I won’t have use for them anyway. Keep them for emergencies.”
Hearing the three words “won’t have use,” Jiagu was speechless for a moment before saying, “Can’t you wait until she wakes before leaving?”
The valley was abundant with water vapor. Mingyue Zhou had lit a campfire inside the stone cave and stripped several subordinates of their felt coats to spread on the ground, so Changling could lie more comfortably.
Tianhun, peeking from outside the cave, watched his prince squatting on the ground like a big fool rolling up a “pillow,” finding it truly incomprehensible. He quietly leaned close to Tianpo’s ear and asked, “I’ve never seen the prince so concerned about a woman before…”
Tianpo was unsurprised, “Life-saving grace, heavenly beauty, now add a legendary background—no wonder the prince is fixated…”
Tianhun found this reasonable and said worriedly, “But isn’t this Young Master Yue… Miss the unmarried wife of Marquis He? If the prince wants to seize love from another, should we…”
“The prince hasn’t given orders. We shouldn’t presume.” Tianpo said softly, “Besides, didn’t Marquis He say he’s leaving? Looking at his condition, once he leaves, he won’t be coming back…”
“Who are you saying won’t come back?” A rather displeased voice suddenly popped up from behind. Tianhun and Tianpo turned simultaneously and were both startled—this woman had a pretty appearance, but if not Changling, then who?
“You—you’re not…” Tianhun turned back to look inside the cave—wait, Changling’s true self was clearly still lying inside!
Tianpo’s head turned back and forth several times, re-examining this “Changling” before his eyes, finally discovering some differences—a head shorter, slightly rounder eyes, no trace of cold aura, a few strands of fluffy curls hanging at her shoulders, actually giving off somewhat of a playful feeling.
“Little Qin, don’t waste words with them. Anyway, no matter where the young marquis goes, our Sister Ling won’t take a liking to their prince.”
Another white-robed gentleman arrived gracefully, bearing “Ye Qi’s” appearance, but the performer’s voice gave him away. Tianhun and Tianpo immediately recognized who it was. Tianhun asked curiously, “Why have you disguised yourselves as Marquis He and Miss Yue?”
Fu Yanyang snapped open his fan with a “swish” and waved it affectedly, “Guess?”
Tianhun watched this kid’s face full of frivolous smiles and suppressed the urge to draw his blade. Tianpo asked, “Could it be luring the tiger away from the mountain?”
Fu Yanyang raised an eyebrow noncommittally. Zhou Qin elbowed him and pointed at her own nose, “They recognized us at a glance. Do you think we don’t look very similar?”
“I think we look quite similar.” Fu Yanyang helped arrange her messy hair, “Later, just pad several more layers in your shoes. When you go out and flash by, who can tell?”
Zhou Qin looked down at her shoes with considerable difficulty, “If I pad any more, I’ll be walking on stilts. How can I fight anyone…”
Before finishing her words, a dark blue precious sword was unexpectedly offered forward. Zhou Qin instinctively caught it and was shocked to discover it was the Muling Sword. Looking up, she saw the genuine marquis appear before her. Seeing her own face, he was also shocked, “Seventh Uncle truly hasn’t lost his touch. At first glance, there’s a seventy to eighty percent resemblance…”
“This is the Muling Sword…” Zhou Qin held it in her hand, only feeling its heavy weight, “My swordsmanship isn’t good. I’m afraid…”
“You’re a student your shifu taught hand by hand. Have more confidence in yourself.” Ye Qi smiled gently, untied the Infinite Whip from his waist, and handed it to Fu Yanyang, “You’re also my only disciple. Giving you the Infinite Whip can be considered having a successor.”
Having said this, without any further instructions, he waved his hand to turn away. Fu Yanyang stepped forward, “Shifu, rest assured. We’ll stay with you the whole time. Even if… there are any accidents later, as long as I’m still his Fu Yangui’s younger brother, I definitely won’t let anything you’re worried about happen.”
Ye Qi comprehendingly patted his shoulder. When turning around, he saw Mingyue Zhou leaning against the cave entrance, arms crossed over his chest, “Do you have anything you need us to convey?”
For some reason, hearing these words, though the corners of Ye Qi’s mouth maintained their upward curve, he didn’t seem to be smiling at all.
The things he wanted to say were truly too many.
But when he actually sat beside her, he only wanted to quietly gaze at her, carefully holding her palm, firmly engraving this warmth in his heart.
“Tomorrow when you wake and see I’m not here, you’ll surely be angry with me.” Ye Qi had originally only wanted to say one sentence, but this moment of murmuring was too beautiful, so beautiful he wanted to stretch time just a little longer, “However, it’s me who didn’t keep my promise. Your anger is deserved.”
If only… heaven would grant him one more day.
One day’s time, he could compose poems at dawn, watch her bind her dark hair, dance with her long sword.
One day’s time, he could share a pot of wine, accompany her riding together, draped in rosy clouds.
One morning, one evening, one day exchanged for one lifetime—enough.
Ye Qi feared if he lingered any longer he wouldn’t be able to leave. He bent down and gently kissed Changling’s forehead, then released her hand and walked out of the cave without looking back.
When Fu Yangui personally led elite troops to reach Xiaoyao Valley, two blood-covered deputy generals came riding in panic to report, “My lord! We just learned from Fuyun Manor the method to activate the mechanism of Jiulian Mountain valley, but just moments ago, Jiulian Mountain gate suddenly opened wide. The people inside fought their way out. Our forces were insufficient and couldn’t stop them. They’ve already seized horses and left the valley, heading east!”
“Fought their way out?” Fu Yangui was somewhat shocked, “How long have they been gone? Could you see clearly who they were?”
One deputy general recalled and answered, “Less than half a shichen. Besides He family experts, Marquis He was present, Yue Changling was also there, and Shujuan, Qu Yunzhen, and one more…”
Another person rushed to answer, “One more person was unconscious, lying on Qu Yunzhen’s body. Couldn’t see the face.”
Fu Yangui’s heart trembled, “What clothing, what physique?”
“Disheveled hair, tattered robes, height shouldn’t be short, but it was too dark. We couldn’t see clearly.”
An attendant beside Fu Yangui said, “Prime Minister, since they’re heading east, they seem to want to escape by waterway. Could the He family have also planted naval forces in Longmen River?”
Fu Yangui turned his horse around and ordered, “Pass the command. Deploy all remaining troops to follow this minister eastward in pursuit. Capture alive only, no harming. Also, the three defense lines on Longmen River waters must be held. All fishing boats, merchant ships, including pleasure boats, must be stopped and carefully inspected!”
The fire at Fuyun Manor had not yet been extinguished. Most of the Longxiang Army in the city received the flare signal and gathered from all directions, rushing like death itself toward Longmen River to the east.
These well-trained elite troops excelled most at carpet-style searches. A few people, wounded and having to ride horses, wanting to smoothly escape from Yuzhou—the possibility was never great to begin with.
But Fu Yangui had no confidence in his heart.
Because those two people… one was Changling, the other was He Yu. When these two were together, they could turn too many impossibilities into possibilities.
He had painstakingly managed for so long, waited until today, endured until today—not merely to replace Shen Yao.
If he just let her leave like this, wouldn’t all his efforts be wasted?
Fu Yangui whipped his horse like a madman. When he reached the hilltop, he heard a sharp whistle from the plains ahead. Looking out, a dozen people in jianghu attire were surrounded by the Longxiang Army. Facing wheel-like siege attacks, they countered with one sword and one whip leading the way.
They were finally intercepted.
Fu Yangui unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but didn’t dare easily approach.
He needed time to carefully consider how to arrange Ye Qi’s “accidental death,” how to stage a “sacrificing rescue” that would leave no trace.
Fu Yangui turned around. In that instant, a feeling that something was off passed through.
The Infinite Whip lacking some flexibility could still be understood, but the Muling Sword was too crude.
Yue Changling was someone who, facing a thousand troops and ten thousand horses, remained unmoved even as Mount Tai collapsed before her. That woman wielding the Muling Sword, though her appearance seemed similar, still lacked something.
Fu Yangui rode his horse forward. A single “stop” command made all the Longxiang Army withdraw several steps, clearing a path for him.
His gaze swept over Shujuan and Qu Yunzhen one by one, finally settling on “Ye Qi” and “Changling.”
It wasn’t them.
With Fu Yangui’s unparalleled wisdom and strategy, how could he possibly mistake these two?
In the distant horizon, faint light suddenly appeared. He knew he had fallen for He Yu’s scheme again.
He had forced himself to deploy all military forces away from Xiaoyao Valley, so the He family army would enter Longmen Mountain territory even more smoothly and unobstructed.
Fortunately he discovered it early. Rushing back now might still be in time.
Fu Yangui gave a look to the deputy general beside him and was about to leave when he suddenly heard that “Ye Qi” say, “Elder brother, will you kill even me?”
Fu Yanyang tore off the human skin mask from his face, his eyes full of disappointed tears, “I shouldn’t have saved you that day!”
Fu Yangui stared in disbelief for a moment, then laughed self-deprecatingly, “Good, very good, my dear younger brother… To deal with me, you’d even serve as someone’s decoy…”
“Elder brother, withdraw.” Fu Yanyang’s eyes reddened, “Sister Ling has already promised me she won’t try to kill you anymore. If you withdraw now, it’s still not too late.”
“You have no right to make decisions for me!” Fu Yangui was enraged. He jumped off his horse, rushed before Fu Yanyang and grabbed his collar, “I don’t need her to be merciful to me, and I won’t let her go. No one can stop me. Not even you.”
“Do you think if you go back now you can catch up with Sister Ling?” Fu Yanyang didn’t resist either, letting his brother grab him like this, sneering, “In your contests with the young marquis, when have you ever won?”
These words held deeper meaning, truly making Fu Yangui’s heart skip a beat. At this moment, an officer galloped over and reported to Fu Yangui, “Reporting, my lord, we’ve discovered a small boat in the heart of Longmen River. There are two people on the boat. Looking at the figure, the boatman resembles the young marquis!”
Hearing this, Fu Yangui abruptly released his hand. Fu Yanyang tried to pursue, but was pushed back by him. Fu Yangui ordered, “Watch everyone here. If anyone takes half a step to leave, kill without question!”
“Elder brother!” Fu Yanyang was blocked by rows of long spears, still unwilling to give up, shouting, “Listen to my advice—let them go, let them go!”
Dawn was about to break.
The pale blue sky still faintly bore a few lingering stars. A half-crescent moon reflected on the boundless river surface. A light boat passed by, dividing the moon in the water, shattering it into sparkling silver light.
Ye Qi rowed the oar, listening to the gurgling sounds the bow brought forth, watching the distant mountains and near peaks. Feeling he should still have time to see one more sunrise, he couldn’t help humming a few bars of a ditty.
Where water and sky met, an arc slowly curved upward.
He craned his neck forward and suddenly saw a row of vast dark shadows appear in the azure cloud belt.
It was a fleet of ships. Standing on the deck of the foremost vessel was a person. Just one distant glance was enough to recognize who it was.
Ye Qi hadn’t expected Fu Yangui would mobilize such great forces to pursue, and couldn’t help but smile.
He felt he couldn’t row anymore anyway, so he simply tossed the oar aside and let the small boat drift with the waves.
Fu Yangui, however, had no mind to appreciate the river scenery with him. The ship advanced rapidly, only stopping several zhang away from the small boat. Fu Yangui bent slightly at the waist, unable to see clearly the scene within the boat canopy.
“Who is Prime Minister Fu looking for?” Ye Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly. He reached into the canopy and “invited out” a scarecrow, removing its straw hat, “Oh! Could you be looking for this Lord Scarecrow?”
Fu Yangui’s expression suddenly darkened.
“Seems not.” Ye Qi chuckled softly. Without rising, he just leaned against the boat’s edge like this, “‘Do you think if you go back now you can catch up with Sister Ling?’—this line was taught by me to Little Fu… Pity, if you had immediately rushed back then, you might have gotten your wish. But now…”
He casually picked up a wine jug beside him and shook it invitingly, asking, “Any interest in drinking a cup with me?”
Fu Yangui’s form didn’t move. He only said, “The young marquis truly is carefree and content. Do you think that once you’ve fallen into my hands, she’ll remain indifferent?”
“Seems Prime Minister Fu doesn’t want to drink wine with me.” Ye Qi didn’t answer his question, drinking on his own, “Mm, this Longmen River boatman’s wine has quite a unique flavor.”
Fu Yangui was too lazy to waste words with him. He turned his head to the attendant beside him, “Take the young marquis back.”
Ye Qi said unhurriedly, “If Prime Minister Fu wants to bring back a corpse to see how she reacts, you might as well try.”
Only then did Fu Yangui notice his face was deathly pale, his entire person already teetering on the edge between life and death in a state of decline.
“Do you think this means you’ve won? He Yu, the one who survives to the end is the victor.”
Ye Qi stared at Fu Yangui, a trace of confusion passing through his eyes. Then, supporting himself on the boat canopy, he stood up and said, “Fu Yangui, normally by this time you would have already attacked me. Today why so many useless words without daring to come close to me?”
Fu Yangui’s breathing hitched.
Ye Qi glanced at the many attendants behind him, “You just planned to have someone else capture me. Could it be… you yourself can’t make a move?”
Fu Yangui said, “You’re already at the end of your strength. Why would I need to act personally?”
“So you’ve truly found where Wu Run’s divine technique is located.” Ye Qi gently shook his head and sighed, “Finding it is one thing, but why be so impatient?”
Fu Yangui said coldly, “Even if I’m injured, it’s better than you being on the verge of death.”
“When a person is about to die, his words are kind. I might as well tell you the truth.” Ye Qi said, “The village chief of Yanling Village told me that back then, Grandmaster Wu Run refused to let his disciples practice this divine technique, but there were always those who wouldn’t listen and secretly practiced. Later… those people all died. None survived…”
“It was you.” Fu Yangui finally realized, “You knew this would happen today, which is why back then you…”
“If I’d known today, why do it at all?” Ye Qi shrugged, “Prime Minister Fu, seeing me unable to live and coming to accompany me—quite loyal. I’ll certainly remember this kindness in my heart.”
“I won’t just die like this.” His heart suddenly twisted in pain. Fu Yangui pressed his hand against it. Unable to hold back, he sprayed out a mist of blood, then after gasping a few breaths, smiled, “I still have at least three years. Within three years, I will certainly find a cure… But you, your death day has arrived.”
Having said this, he raised his hand. The attendants behind him all raised their bows, arrow tips pointing at the small boat.
Ye Qi smiled indifferently, not bothering to argue with him about “how many years one can live.” He seemed somewhat tired, sighing deeply, “Fu Yangui, from the moment you personally severed the life-and-death promise between you and Changling, it was destined to be a road of no return. You… why must you mistake the road you came from as the way home, leaving yourself at a dead end?”
“If not for you,” Fu Yangui said unwillingly, “I could have salvaged everything.”
Ye Qi showed an absurd smile, but his eyes were extremely cold, “Do you truly love her?”
“I love her.” Fu Yangui’s tone was certain, “More than anything.”
“If you love her, you should accept fate. No matter how much you regret, you ultimately committed a sin she could never forgive in her lifetime.” Ye Qi said, “Loving but unable to have—that should be the karmic result you must bear in this life.”
Fu Yangui’s entire body trembled fiercely, unwilling, “I, Fu Yangui, never accept fate!”
Everything around began to blur. Ye Qi started feeling his eyelids heavy. When he heard the sound of drawn bowstrings, his hand involuntarily reached into his bosom and pulled out that longevity lock, hearing the bell beneath the lock tinkling.
On the eastern horizon, myriad rays of dazzling red light broke through. As the rain of arrows fell, he turned his head and saw the magnificent rosy dawn.