Everyone split into two groups to investigate the situation. Lu Yun took Gu Qianxi straight toward the Loujiang riverbank. Relying on his considerable internal energy, Lu Yun supported Gu Qianxi’s slender waist as they walked, which wasn’t much slower. Before long, the two had already left the city.
Seeing Lu Yun’s furrowed brow, Gu Qianxi knew he had many worries on his mind and immediately asked: “Didn’t you say Commissioner Wu was responsible for staying in the capital? How did he come down to Jiangnan again?” Lu Yun shook his head: “Originally, the Marquis hoped he could stay in Beijing and not get involved in this matter again. When we headed south that day, he also came to see us off. Sigh… That day, seeing him silent and wordless, I thought nothing was wrong, but I didn’t expect he was so unhappy inside.”
Gu Qianxi nodded and asked again: “Does Commissioner Wu have some conflict with those people?”
Lu Yun smiled bitterly: “More than just a conflict… Back then, he was first framed by the Liangzhou prefect, then pursued for thousands of li by Kunlun Mountain. I’m afraid public and private grudges can no longer be clearly distinguished. I see this trip south is definitely aimed at the Kunlun Mountain people.”
The two searched along the river for a full hour but saw no trace of anyone. Seeing Gu Qianxi was tired from walking, Lu Yun stopped. The two stood by the river gazing out, seeing the bright moon reflected on the water, creating thousands of layers of silver waves. Lu Yun looked at the flowing river and sighed: “Qianxi, when I first came to the capital, Dingyuan was the first person I met. We’re life-and-death friends. If the Marquis knew he went south alone, he’d be furious. Sigh… What can be done?” Thinking of Wu Dingyuan’s past kindness to him, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
Gu Qianxi grasped his hand: “Don’t worry. I think this Commissioner Wu acts with great discretion and won’t do anything foolish.” She had once seen Wu Dingyuan at the Yang residence and felt he was courteous, steady, and worldly-wise, so she comforted her beloved with this observation. Lu Yun shook his head: “You don’t understand. Dingyuan usually appears easygoing and kind on the surface but firm inside. When he becomes stubborn, no one can stop him. Since he snatched that divine sword, it must have been planned long ago. I think tomorrow’s decisive battle at Loujiang Ferry won’t end without rivers of blood.”
Seeing her beloved’s worries, Gu Qianxi didn’t know how to console him and could only do her best to accompany him in the search.
The two searched for another hour and had reached the west of the city. Lu Yun saw Gu Qianxi’s face red and breathing hard, unable to take another step. Seeing a ruined temple in the distance, he said: “We can’t find anyone for now. Let’s go sit and rest.” Gu Qianxi shook her head: “Commissioner Wu is your good friend. Finding him is urgent – you needn’t worry about me.”
Lu Yun knew Wu Dingyuan’s character well – he was resolute by nature. At this moment, openly confronting the Kunlun sect members, he would either stride boldly into the city to provoke them or hide in the wilderness, lying low. He said: “No hurry. Though we can’t find anyone, perhaps Miss Yan Ting has already encountered him. Let’s rest for a while first!”
The two entered the ruined temple to rest. They saw the temple enshrined a very lifelike statue – the local City God, whose official rank was the same as Lu Yun’s. Lu Yun looked at the statue and prayed quietly, first hoping Wu Dingyuan would be safe, and second hoping his own tenure would go smoothly with the people’s well-being. He saw Gu Qianxi also pressing her palms together, muttering something, but didn’t know what she was praying for.
After their worship, Lu Yun found a clean spot and then removed his outer robe. Gu Qianxi said: “The weather is quite cold – why are you taking off your clothes?” Lu Yun pointed at the ground and smiled: “This ground is so dirty – I can’t let it soil your clothes, can I?”
Gu Qianxi shook her head and smiled: “You always treat me like precious jade – don’t spoil me too much.” Lu Yun smiled: “I insist on spoiling you.” He spread his outer robe on the ground, gesturing for her to sit. Gu Qianxi’s face was full of shy beauty as she slowly sat down.
Lu Yun was about to put his arm around her shoulder when he suddenly heard voices outside the temple. His hearing was acute and he immediately detected something unusual. Seeing his expression change, Gu Qianxi quickly asked: “What’s wrong?” Lu Yun gestured for silence and listened carefully. He heard one person say: “Damn! Forging a sword also creates so much trouble – what rotten luck.” Another person said: “Stop complaining. We should follow the sect master’s orders and quickly find that sword-snatching brat!” The first speaker cursed and said: “Searched all night without seeing even a shadow… Let’s go rest for a bit…” Then footsteps approached the temple door.
Lu Yun’s heart sank, knowing Kunlun Mountain was also searching for Wu Dingyuan. He didn’t know who these two were, but hopefully it wasn’t the most violent Tu Lingxin – that would be very difficult to handle. While thinking, those people had already approached. Lu Yun quickly embraced Gu Qianxi and hid behind the statue.
Before long, the Kunlun experts had entered. Lu Yun stole a glance and saw the newcomer was thin-faced – it was Kunlun’s fourth-ranked “Sword Shadow” Qian Lingyi, with a one-armed man beside him who was “Sword Wave” Liu Lingchuan. Lu Yun looked at Gu Qianxi, secretly worried: “These criminals rape, pillage, and commit all evils. Now that we’ve met on this narrow path, we mustn’t let them see us.”
With Gu Qianxi’s delicate beauty, if these greedy, lustful criminals saw her, who knew what disasters might occur. Though Lu Yun possessed martial arts, under attack from two experts, he might not be able to protect his beloved safely. Thinking of this, he held his breath even more carefully, not daring to move.
Qian Lingyi kicked aside debris on the ground and sat down directly. Liu Lingchuan was more careful – seeing clothing on the ground, he quickly said: “There’s a robe here. There might be travelers hiding in the temple, Fourth Senior Brother. Let’s go check.” Lu Yun groaned inwardly: “This is bad. If they come over, I’ll have to make a surprise attack and catch them off guard.” He quickly thought of a plan and picked up a stone, waiting for Qian and Liu to approach the statue before throwing it outside the temple. Once the diversion worked, he’d leap out from behind the statue to attack – such a desperate gamble might defeat one of them.
Seeing him holding the stone with a very determined expression, clearly ready to risk his life to protect her, Gu Qianxi felt her heart flutter with tender affection. Even in this dangerous moment, she helped Lu Yun tidy his hair, not taking the current danger seriously at all. Lu Yun was completely focused and didn’t notice her movements, only watching Qian and Liu’s activities.
Before Liu Lingchuan moved, Qian Lingyi yawned: “You’re really like a woman – it’s just a piece of clothing. Why make such a fuss? It’s probably peasant men and women doing unseemly things here, taking off their clothes.” He sat on Lu Yun’s robe and said coldly: “If you’re worried, go check yourself. I’ll guard here.”
Liu Lingchuan felt discouraged and said indifferently: “Since Fourth Senior Brother says so, forget it.” Since losing his arm, Liu Lingchuan’s martial arts had greatly declined, and his status in the sect had plummeted. Seeing Qian Lingyi so casual, he couldn’t muster the energy to investigate and simply rested there too.
Lu Yun looked at Liu Lingchuan’s severed hand, remembering the great battle outside Wangfu Alley over a year ago. At that time, Lu Yun was still an insignificant noodle vendor, while Liu Lingchuan was a skilled swordsman. Who knew that he would later become a top scholar and government official, while Liu Lingchuan was cruelly maimed by Xue Nu’er and had become disabled. Life was truly unpredictable.
Lu Yun felt slightly melancholy when suddenly a tall, broad figure appeared before his eyes – that person with wide shoulders sitting at his noodle stall eating. All the memories of wandering the martial world with Wu Dingyuan and supporting each other through hardships rushed to his mind.
Seeing his junior brother sit down with a face full of gloom, Qian Lingyi patted his shoulder and laughed: “Fifth Brother, don’t look so bitter. How’s your left-hand swordsmanship practice? Any progress these days?” Liu Lingchuan shook his head: “Still the same old way – don’t ask.”
Qian Lingyi gave a dry laugh: “When all’s said and done, it’s all because of that damned sheepskin that we’ve been running around everywhere these years – some died, some were injured, and we can’t even return to our base. What a damn losing business!” Lying on the robe, he continued: “Didn’t Lord Jiang promise to give everyone official positions? Why is there still no word after all this time?”
Liu Lingchuan said irritably: “Still thinking about that? After the embarrassing defeat at Mount Hua, didn’t you see Lord Jiang becoming colder and colder toward us? Now if our sect master wants to see him, ha! He won’t even open his door!” Qian Lingyi picked up a stone and threw it forcefully outside the door, cursing: “Damn! What kind of world is this!” His expression was very indignant.
Hearing this, Lu Yun understood – Jiang Chong was quite callous. Seeing Zhuo Lingzhao’s martial arts were inferior, he immediately distanced himself. It seemed that relationships between martial world figures and court ministers could never have true feelings.
Qian Lingyi threw several stones, chattering incessantly. He first cursed Jiang Chong for a while, then turned to Zhuo Lingzhao. He said: “When all’s said and done, it’s still our sect master’s fault. He’s always loved putting on airs and ignored everyone else. Now Jiang Chong ignores us too – what can we do in the future?” Hearing him criticize their sect master, Liu Lingchuan immediately whispered: “Don’t gossip about sect affairs where people might hear – no one can bear the consequences.” Qian Lingyi said loudly: “There’s no one around now – what are you afraid of? Let me speak plainly – though our sect master’s martial arts are high, his methods are completely inadequate. That’s why we’ve fallen to this state. Bah!”
This “Sword Shadow” was truly unrestrained in speech. Given the chance, he vented his frustrations – it seemed he was dissatisfied with everyone.
Qian Lingyi was still chattering endlessly when suddenly footsteps came from the distance – someone else was approaching the temple. Lu Yun’s heart sank: “In the dead of night at this hour, who else is coming?” Lu Yun’s internal energy cultivation was unique and superior to martial world figures. While Qian and Liu hadn’t yet heard the sounds, he could hear the footsteps clearly. In terms of internal energy alone, he could rank among first-class experts.
When the footsteps reached nearby, Qian and Liu also noticed. Liu Lingchuan whispered: “Someone’s coming – don’t know if friend or foe. Let’s quickly hide.” Though Qian Lingyi was reluctant to get up, he also feared the newcomer might be the sword-snatching expert. If they met face to face, they might suffer losses. The two looked for hiding places in the temple.
Liu Lingchuan pointed at the statue: “That’s a good place – let’s hide behind the statue.” Hearing this, Lu Yun broke out in cold sweat all over, but Gu Qianxi smiled slightly and winked at him. She was an official’s daughter who had never seen martial world fighting. Though there was danger, she didn’t know what fear was. Hearing these criminals speak improperly, she figured they must be incompetent and wanted to see her beloved’s skills – best if he defeated them soundly to show his literary and martial talents.
Lu Yun was worried and afraid. In the past, when selling noodles in the capital, he had fought with various Kunlun members and knew these two had formidable swordsmanship. Though his own martial arts had improved considerably over the years, he was confident of defeating either one alone, but if both attacked together, thinking of Qian Lingyi’s “Sword Shadow” – invisible and traceless, able to wound him at any time – he couldn’t help worrying.
While on guard, he heard Qian Lingyi’s voice: “Behind the statue is all cobwebs and mud – too dirty. Let’s hide in the rafters instead.” Liu Lingchuan didn’t argue much. The two gathered their energy and leaped onto the roof beams, then hid. Seeing both sides wouldn’t have to meet, Lu Yun immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
In the footsteps, a person entered the temple. Lu Yun looked carefully and saw a girl with beautiful features and tall figure – it was Yan Ting. Lu Yun’s heart was greatly alarmed: “Why did she come to the temple too?”
Thinking that Qian Lingyi was a lecher who loved women above all else, and this place was deep in the night with no one around – perfect timing for great evil – Lu Yun gritted his teeth and clenched his fists: “There’s no choice. If these two criminals try to do shameless things, I’ll risk my life and fight them.” While thinking, he suddenly felt a soft body lean against his shoulder, then whisper in his ear: “Prefect Lu is filled with righteous indignation – are you going to play the hero saving the beauty?” Hearing Gu Qianxi tease him, Lu Yun couldn’t help blushing: “Me, a hero saving a beauty? I just hope I don’t get beaten black and blue.”
Yan Ting entered the temple door and immediately saw Lu Yun’s outer robe on the ground. She was curious and said to herself: “Isn’t this Prefect Lu’s garment? How did it end up here?” Lu Yun was puzzled when Gu Qianxi leaned over again and whispered teasingly: “She even recognizes the clothes you wear – what good memory!” Lu Yun nodded repeatedly, thinking: “Yes, Yan Ting is amazing – just seeing a garment once, she can recognize the person. I should really ask her to be Changzhou’s constable. In the future, criminals would be unable to escape once she’s seen them.”
Yan Ting looked at Lu Yun’s garment for a long time without speaking. After a while, she sighed softly: “Ah… only envying mandarin ducks, not immortals…” Lu Yun was puzzled: “Only envying mandarin ducks, not immortals? Are those words on my clothes?” Suddenly his ear tickled as someone blew on it. Lu Yun turned to look and saw Gu Qianxi’s face bearing a brilliant smile, seeming quite happy. Lu Yun thought: “What’s this about? Are mandarin ducks so funny?”
Yan Ting wandered and murmured for a long time, finally sitting down gracefully. She could have sat anywhere, but chose to sit on Lu Yun’s garment. But she was naturally pure and elegant in manner – even with no one else present, she still sat with legs to the side in a refined and courteous posture, unlike Qian Lingyi’s crude behavior earlier. Watching this, Lu Yun thought: “My robe is really popular – first Qian Lingyi lay on it, now Yan Ting sits on it. It’s more useful than the stool at my noodle stall.”
Just as Yan Ting sat down, Qian Lingyi could no longer restrain himself. He called out: “Little miss, don’t sigh! I’ll come keep you company! Haha! Haha!” Instantly, a figure jumped down from the beam – it was Qian Lingyi. Though Liu Lingchuan didn’t want trouble, since his senior brother had acted, he had to jump down too. The two, one in front and one behind, had blocked the temple door.
Yan Ting was startled, not expecting people to be hiding here: “It’s you bad people again!” Qian Lingyi laughed: “What bad people? Didn’t we have some friendship during that trip to Tianshan? Why turn your back on us?”
Seeing his lustful, ill-intentioned look, Yan Ting quickly jumped up, drawing her sword and shouting: “What do you want?” Qian Lingyi gave a lecherous laugh: “What do I want? I want to do everything!” He moved forward to embrace her. This Qian Lingyi was naturally lustful – that day at Yanling Escort Agency, he had devised the vicious scheme of forced rape to extract confessions. Seeing Yan Ting’s beauty at Tianshan, he had long been unable to restrain himself. Now seeing no one around, he intended to assault her.
Yan Ting urgently said: “Show some respect! My master is nearby – don’t try anything!” This actually reminded Liu Lingchuan, who immediately advised: “Fourth Senior Brother, don’t act rashly! Changzhou city is full of experts, and this girl is a disciple of Mount Jiuhua. If you provoke her and the Azure Robe scholar comes after us, we might not fare well.” Qian Lingyi spat: “Mount Jiuhua is just those few cats – what are they worth? The Hundred Flowers Fairy killed Zhang Zhiyue, and the Azure Robe scholar still can’t take revenge. He’s just a paper tiger.”
Yan Ting angrily said: “Don’t insult my master!” Qian Lingyi laughed lecherously: “Oh my! The little girl’s angry – so passionate! Grandpa will cool you down!” Yan Ting was furious and immediately drew her sword, then thrust forward. This move was Mount Jiuhua’s orthodox “Flying Lian Sword Technique.” Though Yan Ting’s power was shallow, this sword technique was based on lightness skills. Relying on her agile movements, when she suddenly used it, it showed no signs of immaturity. Two swift sounds and she had forced Qian Lingyi back a step.
Qian Lingyi laughed: “Good ‘Flying Lian Sword Technique’! Can’t kill people, but killing ghosts isn’t hard. Wonder how many Zhang Zhiyue has killed in hell?” Hearing him insult her deceased senior brother, Yan Ting couldn’t help her eyes reddening, and her long sword moved even more urgently, all killing moves. Seeing her graceful movements, Qian Lingyi’s lust was aroused and he only wanted to quickly strip her naked and pin her down for rape. He gave two lecherous laughs and was about to draw his sword. Liu Lingchuan knew his senior brother’s swordsmanship was formidable and feared that once he acted, this female disciple would be injured. He quickly said: “Fourth Senior Brother, since we rarely encounter disciples from other sects to spar with, let me try my left-hand swordsmanship!” He wanted both to let Yan Ting escape and to practice, as he had been disabled for so long without real combat experience.
Qian Lingyi laughed: “That’s fine! Just be careful not to mark up her tender face!”
Yan Ting was furious and shouted: “You’re so arrogant!” In her delicate cry, she had already thrust out over ten swords, their light flashing as she forced the two Kunlun experts to dodge in all directions.
Liu Lingchuan saw Yan Ting was eager to attack but her moves weren’t scattered, and secretly praised the Azure Robe scholar’s excellent teaching. He seized an opening and lightly called out as his left-hand sword emerged, the sword tip pointing toward Yan Ting’s wrist. This move was incredibly fast – a killing move from “Sword Wave” – immediately forcing Yan Ting to jump back a step.
The two each held long swords and in an instant had exchanged four or five moves. Mount Jiuhua’s swordsmanship was based on lightness skills and was graceful and elegant. Yan Ting was also a beautiful woman – watching her movements flow like dance made Qian Lingyi drool, his eyes wandering lewdly everywhere.
Facing a strong enemy for the first time, Yan Ting could only summon her spirits and perform her inherited sword technique so tightly that not even water could penetrate. Though she had only studied swordsmanship for six or seven years, with her careful mind and patient nature, she had learned this “Flying Lian Sword Technique” extremely well. After over ten moves, seeing Liu Lingchuan couldn’t overcome her, her fear gradually left and her desire to win blazed as she pressed forward step by step.
After losing his right arm, Liu Lingchuan’s swordsmanship was less than half of what it used to be. After fighting for a while, seeing that as an established swordsman he couldn’t defeat a junior disciple, he couldn’t help feeling anxious. But the more impatient he became, the more scattered his swordsmanship became. Several times he was powerless and nearly had Yan Ting reach his face, forcing him into dangerous situations. He then switched from attack to defense, carefully guarding his gates.
After several more exchanges, Yan Ting saw Liu Lingchuan had lost his right arm and figured he couldn’t defend his right side well, so she fiercely attacked his weakness. Qian Lingyi, watching the fight from the side, saw Yan Ting’s vicious swordsmanship and immediately cursed: “Little bitch is so cruel, specifically picking people’s weak spots!” Yan Ting snorted but didn’t respond, only intensifying her offensive.
Seeing both sides’ continuous attacks and fearing Yan Ting might have some mishap, Gu Qianxi felt slightly worried and gently tugged Lu Yun’s sleeve, wanting him to help. But Lu Yun wasn’t alarmed – he saw Yan Ting’s sword work was light and her moves exquisite. Though only eighteen or nineteen years old, once she engaged in combat, she wasn’t at a disadvantage. It seemed she might win in a prolonged battle, so he shook his head at Gu Qianxi, indicating she needn’t panic.
At this time, Liu Lingchuan defended more than he attacked, but with his rich martial world experience, he didn’t lose heart and sought opportunities to turn defeat into victory. At the height of battle, he concentrated his energy in his dantian, internal force moving, and suddenly swept with a sword. The sword trembled up and down, swaying like waves – this was “Jade Pool Broken Waves” from Sword Wave. Half a year ago, Zhuo Lingzhao had used this at Mount Hua – when drawing the sword, it was like raging tides, amazing all the heroes of the world. Though Liu Lingchuan’s internal energy couldn’t compare with his sect master’s, this sword technique was his signature skill, and when suddenly used, it also had a great inspiring effect.
Indeed, Yan Ting heard this sword contained the sound of ocean tides and felt slightly afraid, stepping back. Qian Lingyi laughed heartily: “Fifth Junior Brother, not bad! Your left hand can also perform ‘Jade Pool Broken Waves’ – your two years of hard practice weren’t wasted.”
Though Liu Lingchuan had gained the upper hand, he felt shame rather than joy. In the past, this move would have done more than just force Yan Ting back – with slightly more force, he could have taken her life. Knowing his left arm’s strength was insufficient and not even fifty percent of his former skill, he felt distressed and suddenly roared, his left hand dancing as the sword swept down inversely. Qian Lingyi called out: “Good move ‘Blue Sea Soaring’!” Liu Lingchuan wanted to test his own power, so he used full force with this sword.
Seeing this “Blue Sea Soaring” move’s extraordinary momentum, Yan Ting dared not block it directly and quickly moved two steps to the right. Her footwork was light and exquisite – with a slight twist of her graceful figure, she had already dodged. With a “clang,” the ground had been split by Liu Lingchuan’s sword, but his impure sword power only stirred up dust without splitting the bricks and stones, causing his long sword to break instead.
Seeing his power still wasn’t sufficient, Liu Lingchuan couldn’t help feeling extremely dejected. Yan Ting saw his spirit slightly shaken and quickly thrust her sword toward his right chest. Liu Lingchuan’s gaze was scattered and his heart distressed, lamenting and blaming heaven and fate, not realizing Yan Ting’s attack.
Qian Lingyi was greatly shocked and urgently called: “Dodge quickly!” Liu Lingchuan suddenly awakened, but when he looked up, the sword tip was already at his chest. He wanted to retreat but was a step too slow. Qian Lingyi hurriedly drew his sword and thrust fiercely at Yan Ting, shouting: “Withdraw your sword quickly, or I’ll kill you, little girl!”
Yan Ting paid no attention and thrust her long sword even more urgently. Liu Lingchuan was listed among Kunlun’s Thirteen Swords – though disabled, he was still considered a first-generation Kunlun expert. If Yan Ting could defeat this person, it would definitely shock the martial world and would be a great achievement. For this reason, she was determined to succeed and ignored Qian Lingyi’s threats, showing a mutual destruction attitude.
This sudden change came so quickly that Lu Yun, watching coldly from the side, never expected that Liu Lingchuan, a martial world veteran, would lose his fighting spirit during intense combat. Seeing this person about to suffer a piercing wound and Yan Ting also in danger of injury, he quickly took out a copper coin from his chest and flicked it with his finger. The copper coin shot toward Qian Lingyi’s right eye – if this hit, Qian Lingyi would inevitably be blinded.
The copper coin’s momentum was urgent and fast. Qian Lingyi suddenly felt fierce wind and immediately shouted: “Who’s there!” In his haste, he quickly turned his sword to save himself. With a “clang,” he had deflected the copper coin. But Lu Yun’s interference left him no time to rescue his junior brother from danger. At this time, Yan Ting’s long sword had reached his chest. Liu Lingchuan’s face was pale as he thought painfully: “I, Liu Lingchuan, who dominated the Western Regions, am dying today at the hands of this little girl.” With a long sigh, he simply threw his sword hilt to the ground and closed his eyes to await death.
At this life-and-death moment, suddenly a sword flew from nowhere, then pressed down with force, blocking Yan Ting’s fatal move. Everyone saw this profound and sophisticated swordsmanship and were all shocked. Qian Lingyi gave a cold laugh – having been ambushed by the copper coin earlier, he knew there were experts watching nearby and immediately said: “Who’s the expert? Come out quickly!”
A person came around from the temple door. This person wore a pale yellow shirt, had handsome features, and skin whiter than snow – it was Yang Suguan!
All five people in and outside the temple showed surprise, and Yan Ting’s eyes filled with tears as she said tremblingly: “It’s you!” After half a year of separation, she finally saw this man again, her heart filled with indescribable emotion.
Qian Lingyi and Liu Lingchuan exchanged glances, both feeling uneasy, not knowing what plot Yang Suguan had.
Seeing Yang Suguan’s sudden arrival, Lu Yun felt mixed emotions. First, he worried that Yang Suguan had come to Changzhou on Gu Siyuan’s behalf to find Gu Qianxi and take her back. Second, he feared Yang had come on Liu Angtian’s orders to punish Wu Dingyuan. He couldn’t help feeling anxious.
While thinking, he suddenly felt his hand tighten. Lu Yun turned to look at Gu Qianxi and saw his beloved’s beautiful eyes fixed on him, full of teasing, as if afraid her lover would feel inferior and cowardly, wanting to flee upon seeing Yang Suguan’s face.
Seeing her gaze, Lu Yun felt comforted and thought: “Qianxi is looking at me this way because she’s worried I’ll be jealous of Doctor Yang and become troubled and fearful… Sigh, she treats me so well – how can I hesitate and retreat again?” He smiled slightly and gently squeezed back, indicating she needn’t worry.
The five people in the temple had various feelings of joy or worry, each with their own concerns, and for a moment no one spoke.