A pristine white moon gently illuminated the bamboo grove of Changfeng Manor. Jiang Ci sat on the grass, taking a sip of flower-carved wine. She gazed up at the bright moon, a faint melancholy washing over her. “Master, where are you? Are you well?”
The sound of silk and bamboo instruments pierced the night sky, reaching her ears. She cast aside her subtle sorrow and, with a swift movement, leaped out of the bamboo grove. Passing through forests and courtyards, she jumped over the wall beside the chrysanthemum garden.
On the high platform before the Pingyu Lake in front of the manor, a moon-shaped lute played melodiously, accompanied by the low tones of an erhu. A young male actor and a female lead were performing “Farewell to San Lang.”
The female lead possessed an exquisite voice and graceful figure. Every glance and sleeve movement exuded endless charm. As she turned and moved, her long phoenix eyes displayed alluring beauty. Her cherry lips articulated each word like jade pearls falling onto a plate, enchanting the hundreds of martial arts heroes in the audience, who responded with continuous applause.
Jiang Ci, who had always loved opera, watched with a beaming smile. She tucked the wine jug into her bosom, held two bamboo baskets of dim sum, and found an empty seat while keeping her eyes on the stage.
Just as she sat down, a woman beside her coldly said, “Little junior sister, these seats are for us from Emei. Your Qingshan sect’s seats are over there.”
Jiang Ci then realized she had sat at a table with several Daoist nuns, the table filled with vegetarian dishes and cold foods. One of the nuns snorted, “The martial arts world is truly becoming more and more improper.”
Another nun nodded, “Sister, you’re right. I don’t know if it’s because the Alliance Leader is too young or if we’ve grown old, but the world is truly declining! These young people don’t know how to respect their elders, just snatching seats wherever they please.”
Jiang Ci realized they had mistaken her for a Qingshan sect disciple. She smiled, picked up her dim sum, and walked away. Weaving through the crowd, she couldn’t find a place to eat and watch the opera comfortably. She decided to leave the crowd and looked around, spotting a towering ancient tree to the west of the chrysanthemum garden, directly facing the stage. Her face lit up with joy.
She crossed the chrysanthemum garden and stopped under the big tree. Combining the two bamboo baskets into one, she bit down on it, swiftly climbed up using her hands, and soon reached a sturdy branch.
Sitting on the branch, Jiang Ci removed the basket from her mouth and placed it on her lap. She had an unobstructed view of the stage and smiled smugly. She took out her wine jug from her bosom and began eating dim sum while drinking, occasionally singing along softly with the female lead on stage, quite content.
Just as she was enjoying herself, an autumn breeze blew by, causing the leaves to her right to sway before her eyes. She frowned, looked around, and noticed another branch above that seemed to offer an even better view. Once again, she bit down on the bamboo basket and flipped her body upwards.
As she was about to settle on the new branch, a black shadow suddenly appeared before her eyes. Jiang Ci was startled, nearly dropping the basket from her mouth. She quickly caught it but lost her balance, falling towards the person sitting on the branch.
The person, seeing her fall, swept his left sleeve, causing her to fall in the opposite direction. Her head was about to hit the tree trunk when a gust of wind made her breath catch. Dizzy and disoriented, she realized the person had sealed her acupoints and placed her on the branch.
Jiang Ci was furious but unable to speak due to her sealed acupoint. She glared fiercely at the person.
In the moonlight, her beautiful eyes sparkled with moisture, complementing her jade-like face. She resembled a peony with glistening dewdrops, causing the person’s gaze to linger for a moment.
Jiang Ci glared at him again. Finding her glare amusing and feeling it inappropriate to kill her to silence her, he leaned close to her ear and whispered coldly, “I was here first, so this is my territory. You’ll have to bear with it for now.”
Jiang Ci was initially furious but suddenly calmed down. She gave him a graceful smile, then turned her attention back to the opera, ignoring him.
With her acupoints sealed and only her head and neck free to move, she watched the female lead on stage sing sorrowfully, reminding her of her senior sister. For a moment, she forgot about her sealed acupoints and swayed her head rhythmically to the music of the moon-shaped lute and orchestra.
The person behind her watched for a moment and was about to lean in to speak when she suddenly jerked her head back, hitting his nose. Afraid of making noise if he dodged, he hesitated for a second and was struck. In response, he pushed her towards the ground below.
Jiang Ci, annoyed at having headbutted him, didn’t expect to be pushed off the tree. The tree was extremely tall, and with her acupoints sealed, a fall would likely result in death or at least severe injury. As she fell past the fork in the tree, she closed her eyes, lamenting her impending doom.
Just as she was lamenting, she felt a tightness around her waist. The person had grabbed her by the waistband of her skirt, pulling her back up to the treetop and setting her back on the branch.
Jiang Ci had left home and wandered the jianghu alone, relying on her decent qinggong and quick wit, never encountering real danger. But today, while trying to watch an opera from this tall tree, she had been ambushed and toyed with, experiencing the greatest humiliation of her life. She leaned her face close to the person’s, staring intently at him for several seconds.
In the moonlight filtering through the treetop, Jiang Ci vaguely saw that his facial expression was rigid, his features blurred, clearly wearing a human skin mask. The only distinct feature was his eyes, shining like black gems.
She scanned him up and down, noting that even sitting on a tree branch, he exuded an aura of tall, slender elegance and supple strength, with a hint of misty coolness. The scattered moonlight on his shoulders made him appear like a clear, otherworldly wall moon, yet also like cold and lonely frost.
The man had never been so brazenly scrutinized by a young woman before. His eyes narrowed as he let out a cold laugh, filled with cruel intent, as chilling as an asura god.
Jiang Ci was startled and, affected by the wine she had drunk earlier, let out a hiccup. The alcohol fumes made the man lean back, but since he was still holding her skirt, this movement pulled Jiang Ci straight into his chest.
Their position was now extremely intimate. Jiang Ci was naturally annoyed, while the man was somewhat stunned, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes. He abruptly pushed Jiang Ci away, about to act harshly, but after a moment’s consideration, he decided against it. If the girl’s masters came looking for her, it would only lead to endless troubles.
He straightened Jiang Ci and whispered in her ear, “If you behave and watch the opera quietly, I’ll spare your life. If you cause any trouble and alert others, know that I’m the only one in the world with the antidote for this poison.” Saying this, he quickly slipped a pill into Jiang Ci’s mouth.
The pill dissolved instantly upon entering her mouth, and Jiang Ci couldn’t spit it out before it went down her throat. As she was stunned, he reached out and unsealed her acupoints.
Jiang Ci glared at him for a moment, then turned her attention back to the stage, ignoring him completely.
“I once thought, you were like a lotus in green mud, and I, the moon reflected in a cold pond. The moon illuminated the pure lotus, its fragrance accompanying eternally. Yet, who knew that when beauty reaches its peak, all flowers wither? The young must still grow old, and human affairs are ever-changing—”
At this moment, the female lead on stage was singing acapella. Her orchid finger brushed past her temple, her eyes sweeping across the audience below. The hundreds of martial arts heroes were silent, and even the monks and Daoist nuns sitting far away raised their brows and widened their eyes.
Jiang Ci pouted, took out her wine jug, took a sip, and said softly, “She doesn’t sing as well as my senior sister.”
The man was stunned. He had expected her to be terrified after being fed the “poison,” but she seemed completely unaffected, casually watching the opera and conversing with him. It was quite unusual.
He let out a cold laugh, his voice extremely soft: “She’s the famous Su Yan from the capital. Even ordinary official families have to consider her mood before inviting her to sing. You say she’s not as good as your senior sister? You’re quite ignorant of your limitations.”
Jiang Ci turned her head to look at him: “You’ve never heard my senior sister sing, how do you know she’s not better than this Su Yan? You’re the ignorant one. Besides, my senior sister would never sing for a sneaky person like you.”
He sneered, “How am I sneaky?”
Jiang Ci saw the intense killing intent in his gem-like eyes but remained calm, saying indifferently, “You’re hiding in this tree, wearing a human skin mask, and afraid of me revealing your whereabouts. If that’s not sneaky, what is? I suspect you’re plotting something against Duke Jianding.”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “I don’t care who you are, and whether Duke Jianding lives or dies is none of my business. I’ll watch my opera, and you do your thing. Let’s not bother each other. Your fake poison can’t scare me either.”
He was stunned, not knowing how this young girl had seen through his ruse about the poison. Her qinggong was decent, and now that her acupoints were unsealed, he feared he couldn’t kill her in one strike without alerting others. Even if he could kill her, if her masters came looking, it could be troublesome. There was no better hiding place near Changfeng Manor. As he regretted his hesitation, suddenly there was a commotion from below.
“Yi Han has arrived!”
“Yi Han is here!”
“It’s the Autumn Water Sword, he’s here!”
Amidst the clamor, hundreds of jianghu figures turned their heads towards the yellow earth road in front of the manor. Jiang Ci in the tree also sat up straight.
On the stage, Su Yan continued her gentle swaying steps, accompanying the soft moon-shaped lute with her alluring voice.
“Cold in green robes, frost in the temples, flowing years of spring pass distantly, vermilion pavilions echo with sorrowful silence. Words exhausted, strings ended, flower pins and painted brows cast pearls of tears. One question for the heartless lover, today at the world’s end, yesterday on that bridge, for whom did you pick up my silk handkerchief?”
The night wind suddenly strengthened, causing the lanterns inside and outside the manor to sway in succession. A man in a light gray robe, treading to the rhythm of the music, breaking through the moonlight, slowly emerged from the darkness.
His clothes were slightly worn, fluttering in the night wind. His brows and temples showed signs of travel-worn desolation. His thin figure seemed to have journeyed through countless mountains and rivers. Though he appeared to walk slowly, in the blink of an eye, he was at the front of the manor.
This world-renowned ‘Autumn Water Sword’ Yi Han stood with his hands behind his back under a cassia tree, seemingly oblivious to the hundreds of gazes fixed upon him. His deep gaze was directed solely at the mournful woman on the stage.
Another gust of wind blew, the music suddenly intensified, the flute soaring high. Su Yan waved her sleeve, raising her head and eyebrows, her gaze sharp as she looked towards Yi Han at the front of the stage. In the moonlight and lamplight, her smile was filled with desolate mockery.
“The world is cruel, fate is wrong, and you cling to a hero’s dreams, I gaze longingly at the path home. Today I raise a cup to toast you, tomorrow we meet as strangers. Long hatred for this fame and fortune, whitening countless beauties’ hair, adding how much lonely fragrance to tombs, this life mistaken!”
Yi Han stood as still as a pine tree, his expression a mix of joy and sorrow. Amidst the intertwining of strings and pipes, he sighed softly, “Long hatred for this fame and fortune, whitening countless beauties’ hair, adding how much lonely fragrance to tombs. Alas, this life mistaken, mistaken this life!”
On stage, the strings quickened and the pipes broke, water sleeves whirling, but the resentful woman’s gaze remained fixed on Yi Han.
Her eyebrows and eyes were so similar to that person’s, every sleeve wave and wrist turn full of endless gentle entanglement, which had haunted his dreams for over twenty years. Upon waking, all he had was a cold sword and a lonely lamp.
If everything could start anew, would he fulfill the vow made on that moonlit bridge, taking her to roam the world, forsaking this dazzling prestige, abandoning this legendary status in the realm of fame and fortune?
Yi Han smiled bitterly, suddenly patting the scabbard at his waist. A cold light flashed, the string music abruptly stopped, and the lute player on stage staggered back several steps, dropping the moon-shaped lute.
Yi Han’s long sword, like a wave of autumn water, reflected the moonlight, dazzling and eye-catching. He looked towards the black and gold plaque of Changfeng Manor and said coldly, “Yi Han has arrived. I request Alliance Leader Pei to come forth and enlighten me!”
Up in the ancient tree, the man shook his head and sighed, “Yi Han will be defeated within ten moves.”
Jiang Ci turned her head to look at him: “Impossible. Although Yi Han’s mind is disturbed, he’s still the world-renowned Autumn Water Sword. How could he be defeated in just ten moves?!”
He sneered, “Pei Yan is not one to accept battles without confidence. He excels at attacking the mind and is particularly good at planning step by step. He’s gone to great lengths to find Yi Han’s weakness, inviting Su Yan here to disturb his mind. There’s likely more to come. Yi Han may keep his life, but he’ll be defeated within ten moves.”
Jiang Ci was about to ask why he said “Yi Han may keep his life” when she saw the main gates of the manor open wide, with over a dozen people filing out.
The bright moon shone clearly, and the autumn wind was distant.
Yi Han looked at the group of people emerging and said calmly, “Sect Leader Liu, fellow sect leaders, it’s been a long time.”
Cangshan Sect Leader Liu Feng stared at Yi Han for a moment, let out a quiet sigh, and stepped forward, saying, “Hall Master Yi, it’s been years since we last met. The Hall Master’s demeanor remains as impressive as ever. Liu pays his respects.”
A bitter smile flashed across Yi Han’s lips as he inwardly sighed: Junior brother, why do you do this? Although our brotherhood was deep when we were fellow disciples, now you are the Cangshan Sect Leader, and I am the Hall Master of Huan Kingdom’s First-Class Hall. We each serve our masters. If you could avoid this, please do so.
Liu Feng seemed to understand the meaning behind Yi Han’s bitter smile. After a moment of silence and internal struggle, he finally took out a letter from his bosom and held it before Yi Han’s eyes.
Yi Han didn’t speak, only questioning with his eyes.
“I found this by chance among Master’s belongings. It seems Master deeply regretted expelling you from the sect back then. According to this letter, Master had intended to let you return to the sect. Please reconsider, senior brother.” Liu Feng lowered his eyes as surprised murmurs arose from the crowd.
Jiang Ci in the tree didn’t understand and turned her head to look at the man.
He was reluctant to speak but feared the girl might suddenly make a noise. So he said coldly, “Yi Han was originally a disciple of the Cangshan Sect in our Hua Dynasty. He had exceptional martial arts talent and was hailed as Cangshan’s top expert at the age of eighteen, the undisputed successor to lead the sect. But for some unknown reason, when he was twenty, the previous sect leader, his master, sent letters to martial arts allies, expelling him from the sect and declaring that anyone could kill him. He fled to the Huan Kingdom, where he rose to prominence, leading the largest warrior hall there – the First-Class Hall, becoming the sword god worshipped by Huan Kingdom’s soldiers.”
Jiang Ci listened to his clear explanation and turned to smile at him before looking back at the scene below.
In front of the manor, Yi Han gazed intently at the letter in his hand but did not unfold it for a closer look.
The autumn wind rustled as hundreds of people stood in silence before the manor, all silently watching this revered sword master of the Huan Kingdom and the rebellious disciple of the Huachao Cangshan Sect. They waited to see what choice he would make and which path he would take.
On the stage, Su Yan had somehow taken up a pipa, and in the autumn breeze, she lowered her eyes and focused. Her right hand lightly strummed the strings, though the tune was disjointed, it conveyed a sense of desolation and indignation.
Yi Han’s expression remained unchanged. The Autumn Water Sword suddenly moved, its light shining coldly, holding the letter and presenting it to Liu Feng.
Liu Feng sighed deeply, took back the letter, and said nothing more as he stepped back two paces. The crowd reacted with a mix of regret, disdain, and excitement, a murmur rising among them.
Yi Han, with his robes fluttering and a stern expression, announced loudly, “Alliance Leader Pei, please come out and provide your guidance!”
His voice, though not loud, cut through all the other noises, clear and resonant, echoing over the Changfeng Manor.
As his voice faded, a more melodious and elegant voice responded, “This Pei is unworthy and has kept Hall Master Yi waiting!”