(Part One)
“Get out of the way!”
A youthful yet clear voice rang out, filled with urgency.
Huo Linglong’s heart suddenly sank. An indescribable chill washed over her as if the wind had penetrated the river water, leaving her feeling bone-deep cold.
The pressure emanated from the person on the stretcher, enveloping her entirely and leaving her breathless for reasons she could not comprehend.
In the vast mist of rain, by the ancient blue stone riverbank, a faint red shadow of a palm suddenly soared into the air.
That palm shadow was gentle, appearing to the ordinary eye like a Buddha in the clouds, smiling as it plucked a flower. However, the smile in the heavens and on earth quickly morphed into the fierce visage of a Rakshasa, overwhelming and filled with the evil and ferocity of those Rakshasa eyes.
The one who unleashed this palm could no longer suppress a smile. This was an unavoidable strike, one that never missed its target.
Yet, Huo Linglong managed to evade it!
Her body, responding to that clear voice, softened and blurred within the faint red palm shadow.
The myriad Rakshasa eyes failed to lock onto her: her figure, under that “stunning glance,” had already retreated several zhang away.
The attacker could hardly believe his eyes: how was this possible?
For a moment, Huo Linglong’s face, amidst the sparse and hazy rain, seemed to become indistinct, with only her pair of snow-white rabbit teeth still faintly gleaming.
But her voice, cutting through the rain and mist, carried a sudden weight.
“Is that the ‘Great Compassion Palm’ from Shangqing Temple?”
“You’re using the Great Compassion Palm?”
The figure on the stretcher had already stood up. Upon hearing her words, he swayed slightly. In an instant, his gaze shone like a sharp sword, piercing through the boundless rain and mist, stabbing deep into her heart.
Though this person bore the same face as him, he was not him.
How could the him she was accustomed to have such eyes?
In these past few days, Huo Linglong had encountered all sorts of eyes.
The eyes of the Palm Master of the Sun were as expressionless as a corpse. The eyes of the Palm Master of the Moon were charming as if they could drip water. Chang Hongbi’s eyes had once been wary and weary, yet filled with passion. Shao Jizu’s eyes were forever a contradiction of ice and fire.
Tang Tianhao possessed a pair of proud eyes, innate to the Tang Sect. Yet the eyes of the person before her, though set in a face identical to Zhan Zhao’s, appeared overly cynical and cunning, with a lively spark, yet beneath that “refined” exterior lay a hint of desolation.
But no one could possess Zhan Zhao’s eyes.
Those were eyes as dark as the stars of a moonless night, gathering brilliance without ever being piercing. Even though they were deep enough to see through the secrets of the heart, they always held understanding and tolerance.
Was this the reason why the figure on the stretcher kept his eyes tightly shut?
Huo Linglong had already recognized who this person was. Her heart raced, making it hard for her to breathe. Her voice came out hoarsely, “The ever-changing Black Demon Fox? You are Zhi Hua?”
In the light rain, a pair of swallows flitted by the riverbank. Their black wings occasionally cut through the mist, creating a momentary clarity.
The cold wind caused Huo Linglong’s yellow shirt to flutter, reflecting the shimmering light of the river.
The figure across from her had turned his back, a soft sigh escaping him: “If it weren’t for someone warning you, how could you have evaded this move, ‘Buddha’s Law is Boundless’?”
With this statement, he had already acknowledged his identity.
When he turned around, he was no longer him!
Huo Linglong felt as cold as the wind in the rain, her restless heart now as disordered as the rain mist, cut and tangled by the pair of swallows flying by.
Though she had suspected he was not him, she still could not bear the blow.
The face before her was certainly no longer Zhan Zhao’s.
The person before her had a wise and calm face. It was a face that, though no longer young, still radiated masculine charm.
At first glance, this face could easily be mistaken for an ordinary one on the street. But upon a second glance, one would realize how extraordinary it truly was.
This was Zhi Hua’s face.
The ever-changing Black Demon Fox rarely revealed his true self in the martial world.
Could this be his true appearance?
Huo Linglong could hardly believe it: “How could it be you? Why is your martial skill different? The person I saw outside the grove at Xiaolangtou Mountain with Hua Fengzi and the five brothers—wasn’t that you?”
Zhi Hua merely smiled in response. His gaze had already shifted to someone else.
To the one who had issued the warning.
By the ancient ferry, at the riverbank, a pair of young siblings had emerged from the grass. Huo Linglong then realized they were the brother and sister she had encountered at the inn yesterday. Distracted, she had not noticed the presence of others hidden in the distant grass.
Under Zhi Hua’s gaze, the boy showed no fear. He placed his hands on his hips and shouted angrily, “Who are you to dare impersonate my family’s Third Young Master?”
Huo Linglong was taken aback.
So the “Third Young Master” the boy frequently mentioned was Zhan Zhao. Were these siblings truly servants of Zhan Zhao’s household?
Zhi Hua burst into laughter.
“You’re so young yet able to see through my disguise; you are indeed the first in the martial world today. Where did I reveal my flaw?”
The boy replied, “My Third Young Master is a true hero. Aside from a few blind fools, no matter how skilled your disguise, how could you mimic his heroic spirit? How could you deceive us?”
Zhi Hua looked at him and asked, “And who are you?”
The boy replied, “I am Ming Zhu, known as ‘Ghosts Fear Ghosts’ in Dongjing. This is my sister, Ming Yue.”
Zhi Hua sneered, “So it’s you! I’ve long heard of you as a prominent figure in the capital, alongside Zhao Zhi from the Southern Qing Palace. One claims to be ‘Gods Fear Gods,’ and the other ‘Ghosts Fear Ghosts.’ Truly a pair of troublesome spirits. Meeting you today, you live up to your reputation. I’ve heard that the little Zhao Prince and Zhan Zhao share a close friendship, and even the servants beneath them are of like minds. How curious.”
Ming Zhu replied, “If you think you can deceive me, it won’t be that easy! This place is a several-day journey from Xiangyang. If my Third Young Master fell into your hands, how could you possibly arrive here in a day?” He glanced at Huo Linglong and added, “Since you can’t reach here, who knows if the one on your stretcher isn’t just a fake?”
Zhi Hua sighed, “At such a young age, you possess such intelligence. I didn’t expect that even in Zhan Zhao’s household, there would be hidden dragons and crouching tigers.”
Ming Zhu ignored him and pressed, “What have you done to my Third Young Master?”
Zhi Hua cast a glance at Huo Linglong, who was still in a daze and sneered.
“He has naturally already arrived at the Xiangyang Prince’s residence.”
This casually spoken sentence pierced Huo Linglong’s heart like a dagger.
Her heart shattered because of the person who had deceived her. Even though it was broken, why could she not believe what she heard was true?
“Turns out, he still deceived me. Xiao Shao, he deceived me!” Her words, in the end, were filled with unspeakable sorrow.
Zhi Hua’s gaze was filled with sarcasm and cruelty. He said slowly, “Women often think they can toy with men at will. If occasionally deceived by a man, what’s so surprising? Since you treated him that way, why couldn’t he deceive you once?”
Huo Linglong murmured, “You, you know?”
Zhi Hua coldly replied, “I’m not blind. His feelings for you are evident even to a blind person. In his current state, what else could it be but your fault?”
Huo Linglong gritted her teeth, “I know he hates me, but I can’t believe he would send you to kill me!”
Zhi Hua did not deny it. He looked at her, speaking each word deliberately: “Indeed. No matter how much he hates you, how could he bear to kill you? He has gone to great lengths to obtain the Linglong Eye of your Huo family. If you die, he wouldn’t know how long he would have to wait for the next generation of the Huo family’s eldest daughter to be born. Even if he could wait, I’m afraid the Xiangyang Prince wouldn’t be able to!”
Huo Linglong’s heart sank.
Her turmoil was not due to Zhi Hua’s mention of the Linglong Eye, but because his words sounded strange.
Wasn’t he also serving in the Jinshitang of the Xiangyang Prince’s residence? Wasn’t the Xiangyang Prince also his master? Why did he speak of his master in such a tone?
Huo Linglong said, “I truly did not misjudge. But why are you telling me this? Why should I believe your words?”
Zhi Hua smiled lightly, “Whether you believe me or not is up to you. To be honest, although I am in the Jinshitang, the Xiangyang Prince is not my master.”
Ming Zhu could not help but ask, “Then who is your master?”
Zhi Hua no longer wished to answer. His mouth suddenly closed tightly, giving his charming lips an indescribable firmness.
At that moment, a gentle voice rang out in the faint rain mist: “Zhu’er, you need not guess. Who his master is does not matter. But his master wishes to destroy the Huo family’s Linglong Eye, which can glimpse the future.”
Huo Linglong’s body trembled!
Zhi Hua’s gaze suddenly became indescribably complex.
The girl in the light purple dress, Ming Yue, stood there, as delicate as a chrysanthemum, yet her two sentences cut into his heart like a knife.
The girl continued, “It is because his master knows that once the Xiangyang Prince possesses the Linglong Eye, he will be able to foresee the future’s outcome. This naturally includes not only his grand ambitions but also the secrets of others. His master certainly does not wish for his secrets and leverage to fall into the Prince’s hands.”
The playful disdain in Zhi Hua’s eyes finally vanished. He stared at her intently, “Who exactly are you? Zhan Zhao is merely a fourth-rank guard; how could there be someone like you in his household?”
The girl still smiled gently, “You flatter me too much, Zhi Ge. I, Ming Yue, along with my brother, have received great kindness from my Third Young Master. To serve him is our immense fortune. Yet someone as clever as you, selling yourself to your master, must have long been plotting to destroy the Huo family’s dowry.”
As she uttered the words “plotting to destroy,” Huo Linglong involuntarily shivered. In an instant, various thoughts scattered like falling flowers, clouding her eyes and heart. It seemed she thought of something but could not articulate what it was.
Then, the words “Great Compassion Palm” suddenly leaped into her mind.
“You are so intent on destruction; it seems you are not only targeting the Huo family of Linglong Mountain Villa but also Shangqing Temple, right? Otherwise, why would you steal the Great Compassion Palm?”
These words slipped from her cherry lips, causing a flicker of pain and hatred to flash in Zhi Hua’s eyes. The name of that half-Buddhist temple seemed to suddenly steal his breath away.
(Part Two)
Zhi Hua sneered, “What’s so great about the Great Compassion Palm? Why would I need to go to such lengths to steal it? This set of palm techniques was personally taught to me by the abbot of Shangqing Temple.”
His straightforwardness and the underlying hatred in his words startled Huo Linglong. “The Great Compassion Palm is never passed on to outsiders. Since it was taught to you by the abbot, it’s clear you didn’t steal it; you must have infiltrated Shangqing Temple in disguise and deceived the abbot into trusting you. Isn’t that a calculated scheme?”
The cunning and carefree glint in Zhi Hua’s eyes seemed to shatter, replaced by an indescribable rage and cruelty. Was this truly the essence of his eyes?
His voice turned icy: “I didn’t need to infiltrate Shangqing Temple to become a monk. He owes me. He owes me his entire life; how could a mere Great Compassion Palm repay that debt?”
As he spoke, he began to snarl, “Even if he could refuse to pass it on to others, he wouldn’t dare deny it to his flesh and blood, would he?”
This casual remark struck Huo Linglong like a thunderclap, causing her to stagger back in shock, speechless. Even the brother and sister gaped in astonishment.
He had finally spoken it out loud. In the vast mist of rain, by the ancient, lingering ferry, he had casually revealed this to his three enemies, as if the hatred that had built up in his chest had erupted with the unveiling of this secret.
He laughed bitterly, his chilling laughter echoing through the misty clouds and light rain: “Who would believe it if I said that the infamous Black Demon Fox of the martial world is a bastard child, the illegitimate son of the abbot of Shangqing Temple, who prides himself on righteousness and virtue!”
His laughter became bone-chilling.
He stepped forward and viciously added, “What secret is this to me? If Shangqing Temple wants to hide it from the world, what does it have to do with me? As the esteemed abbot, high and mighty, if he can deceive innocent women, why shouldn’t he pay the price?”
Huo Linglong’s heart trembled, frozen by this hatred. She murmured, “No wonder six years ago, the abbot of Shangqing Temple suddenly passed away, becoming a mystery in the martial world. He must have discovered your true identity and the purpose behind your actions, and you harmed him. So this is why Shangqing Temple desperately concealed the secret of the Great Compassion Palm from being passed on.”
At this point, recalling that day at Wushi Ridge when she had almost misjudged Zhan Zhao, her heart ached like a knife wound. “But I wronged him because of it!”
Zhi Hua coldly snorted, “That was his own choice to seek liberation. After all, he is my biological father; how could I let him die so easily? Did he think that by dying, he could end this enmity? If that were the case, this world would be too fair.”
Huo Linglong’s thoughts flashed like lightning, and without thinking, she blurted out, “So you’re using this secret to blackmail Shangqing Temple. You must be threatening them with the condition of not using the Great Compassion Palm, compelling them not to interfere with your actions. Otherwise, the news of the Great Compassion Palm being passed on will surely spread throughout the martial world, and Shangqing Temple’s reputation will be ruined. This prominent sect in the martial world will cease to exist, right?”
Her words unexpectedly sent a chill through Zhi Hua, causing him to calm down immediately. When he spoke again, his voice lacked the earlier agitation: “Let these self-righteous, meddlesome bald donkeys shrink back; it will naturally save me a lot of trouble. That night at Chongxiao Tower, if it weren’t for Zhan Zhao being too troublesome, I wouldn’t have been forced to use the Great Compassion Palm against him!”
He looked at Huo Linglong, a casual cunning glint returning to his eyes: “No wonder Shao Jizu can’t forget you; the eldest daughter of Linglong Mountain Villa possessing the Linglong Eye truly has her merits.”
This composed statement seemed to silence everything in an instant, creating an eerie stillness!
Huo Linglong’s heart suddenly became as calm as a lake. Looking at Zhi Hua, she quietly said, “Since you not only aim to deal with the Linglong Eye of the Huo family but also intend to involve Shangqing Temple, how could you possibly stop here, Mr. Zhi?”
—The Great Compassion Palm of Shangqing Temple, the marvelous sword formation of the Flying Cloud Riders from Xingyun Villa, the gaze of Chang Hongbi as he departed.
What had once been a tangled web of confusion, impossible to cut through or make sense of, now began to settle in the misty rain; all the clues slowly started to piece together, forming a transparent crystal, intricate yet seemingly clear as the water in a heart-shaped lake.
In the light rain, Huo Linglong’s voice was surprisingly quiet.
“If you dare to act against Linglong Mountain Villa and Shangqing Temple, why wouldn’t you dare to act against Xingyun Villa and Hanshui Palace? Your master is, after all, the true backing of Xingyun Villa!”
—“Xingyun Villa dared to abduct Chang Hongbi because, although they were unaware of his secret, they knew that Granny Hanshui was utterly dependent on him. By taking Chang Hongbi, they could naturally control Hanshui Palace!”
—“Xingyun Villa possesses a secret sword formation specifically designed to counter my ‘Yin-Yang Hound’ and ‘Stunning Glance’ lightness skills. They have long harbored ambitions to topple Linglong Mountain Villa!”
—“No wonder Jiao Chaogui of Xingyun Villa could gather the Flying Cloud Riders within a day, pursuing us to Wushi Ridge with full preparation. The person I saw that day in the grove at Xiaolangtou Mountain was not the real you but a counterfeit disguised as you, while you were secretly orchestrating everything. I had wondered how the ever-changing Black Demon Fox had turned into the ever-changing Black Snail. I should have realized that your mastery of disguise and true lightness skills far surpassed that of any impostor.”
At this point, she raised her head: “Even if you don’t say it now, I’ve already guessed a few things about your master!”
Zhi Hua replied, “Oh?”
Huo Linglong continued, “In fact, no matter how flawless your schemes are, there are still many flaws.”
Zhi Hua maintained his composure, “What flaws?”
Huo Linglong said, “Let’s take the sword formation of the Flying Cloud Riders from Xingyun Villa as an example; that formation is a flaw—whoever could create such a sword formation must have seen the ‘Yin-Yang Hound’ and ‘Stunning Glance’ before!”
Her gaze fixed on him: “Although many have seen ‘Stunning Glance,’ few truly understand the secrets of that lightness skill. As for the ‘Yin-Yang Hound,’ it hasn’t left the ancestral hall of Linglong Mountain Villa for decades. You know very well that in this world, there are hardly any who could simultaneously know these two secrets. How could it be difficult to guess who your master is?”
(Part Three)
The light rain had stopped, but the fog had thickened.
The pair of swallows with their black-tipped tails had vanished from sight.
Swallows come and go, but will the one in my heart ever return?
Zhi Hua finally sighed, “I underestimated you. Shao Jizu warned me, yet I still underestimated you. At this point, I truly find it hard to kill you.”
Huo Linglong pouted, sneering, “You think you can kill me? You can’t even catch up to me.”
Zhi Hua replied nonchalantly, “I can’t kill you, but killing this pair of siblings would be a piece of cake.”
Huo Linglong’s expression changed.
Knowing they were his servants, how could she bear to watch these young siblings get hurt at his hands?
She was known for her unparalleled lightness skills and the “Yin-Yang Hound” in her possession. If she didn’t want to leave them behind, how could she easily deal with Zhi Hua?
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but glance at the siblings. Ming Yue and Ming Zhu stood there, smiling and relaxed, as if they weren’t afraid at all.
Ming Yue smiled slightly and said, “It’s a pity that Zhi Ge doesn’t want to kill us.”
Zhi Hua replied, “Oh? You already know too many secrets; why wouldn’t I want to kill you?”
Ming Yue said, “I’m just a servant of the Third Young Master. How could I possibly guess Zhi Ge’s intricate schemes? These secrets are merely things you intentionally let us hear. If you wanted to kill us, you would have done so long ago. Why wait until now and waste so many words for us to hear your secrets?”
This young girl, so tender in age, was surprisingly insightful. Though not as talkative as her brother, her few words struck home, making both Huo Linglong and Zhi Hua glance at her more than once.
Zhi Hua’s gaze drifted toward the nightfall gradually rising in the fog. He suddenly said something strange: “Hearing your words, I truly want to meet someone.”
The girl in purple asked, “Who does Zhi Ge wish to meet?”
Zhi Hua replied, “I want to see the Third Miss of the Ding family from Songjiang Prefecture. I truly want to see what kind of celestial beauty she possesses, how transparent and exquisite she is, and how clever she must be to make Zhan Zhao willing to give you up.”
Ming Yue’s face flushed slightly as she softly said, “Zhi Ge is too flattering. Our future Young Mistress is certainly someone beyond our reach, a person from another realm; how could we mere servants compare?”
Zhi Hua looked at her, gently shook his head, and for some reason, sighed quietly.
Then his eyes turned to Huo Linglong. As he looked at her, the cunning glint in his gaze vanished entirely, replaced by desolation and melancholy.
He said, “So I advise you not to waste your efforts chasing after Shao Jizu. The piece of yellow silk he tricked you out of is no longer in his possession. He has already sent fast horses with messages along the way; no matter how good your lightness skills are, you won’t catch up.”
—He had just wanted to kill Huo Linglong, yet now he seemed to care for her. Why was he saying these things? Was he an enemy or a friend?
Huo Linglong suddenly sneered, “Why would I want to chase after him?”
Zhi Hua was taken aback. “Don’t you want to retrieve that piece of yellow silk?”
Huo Linglong laughed coldly, “Why would I want that piece of yellow silk? Even if he took it, the secrets on that silk will still leak out.”
Her smile finally held a hint of triumph. Her lips parted slightly, not looking at him, but speaking each word slowly: “I, along with my loyal subjects, have devoted our lives to assist and share in great endeavors. I, Xie Qiming, the Transport Commissioner of Hubei, and Duan Xiu, the Military Governor of Bashu—”
As each name slipped from her thin lips, the smile on Zhi Hua’s face froze, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
He could hardly believe his ears, his voice turning hoarse: “Could it be… have you seen this alliance document?”
Huo Linglong replied, “Indeed, I have memorized everything on that yellow silk. Why would I still want that piece of yellow silk?!”
Zhi Hua still found it hard to believe, muttering, “This is impossible! This alliance document is so convoluted; how could you memorize it all in such a short time?”
Huo Linglong pouted, sneering with pride, “What’s so special about this alliance document? Once is enough.”
Zhi Hua stared at her, suddenly letting out a long sigh: “Sometimes I don’t understand whether you’re truly clever or just a fool. Perhaps you’re just too clever, clever to the point of being foolish! Don’t forget, Zhan Zhao also has an extraordinary memory; why would he risk his life to retrieve that piece of yellow silk from Chongxiao Tower?”
Huo Linglong was taken aback, a wave of inexplicable fear surging within her.
Zhi Hua continued, “It’s because that yellow silk itself is evidence of the Xiangyang Prince’s treason! It contains the names of the Prince’s accomplices, stamped with the Prince’s private jade seal. This is his lifeline, a leverage that forces his accomplices to submit. As long as that yellow silk is not in Chongxiao Tower, the Prince will not dare to act recklessly. Without this evidence, even if you go to Dongjing and recite it word for word to that pampered little Zhao Prince and the Emperor, who would believe you? Who could convict the Xiangyang Prince based solely on your word?”
Huo Linglong interrupted him hoarsely, “I have the token he gave me; the Emperor trusts him, so he will naturally believe me!”
—But as she spoke, why did that thread of fear in her heart make it hard for her to breathe?
The cunning and pity in Zhi Hua’s eyes made her feel indescribably uncomfortable: “Don’t forget, the one you’re trying to bring down is the Xiangyang Prince, the Emperor’s uncle, not Xingyun Villa. Even if it were Xingyun Villa, it’s not something you alone can topple. Even if Zhan Zhao were right in front of the Emperor, without solid evidence, he would still be charged with slandering a royal relative.”
His tone suddenly shifted: “Don’t worry; I won’t tell the Xiangyang Prince about today’s events. Whether the Emperor believes you or not is no longer important to me. What matters is that your cleverness has already harmed the one you love most.”
As he spoke these words slowly, Huo Linglong’s face turned as pale as death.
Zhi Hua slowly approached her, speaking each word deliberately: “Indeed, you finally begin to understand. I no longer need to kill you. Your heart will soon die. Your heart will die because you will soon realize what kind of mistake you’ve made. A heart that is nearly dead cannot be opened by any Linglong Eye or ‘Yin-Yang Hound.’”
He cruelly reveled in the terror that slowly welled up in her eyes, saying, “You were wrong. You already know it, don’t you? Everything you did was for the one you love, yet all of it has destroyed the one you love!”
Huo Linglong’s mind exploded with a deafening roar, making her feel as if the world was spinning. She staggered, nearly losing her balance!
In her ears, it sounded like hundreds of thunderclaps, threatening to knock her down.
“You’re wrong!”
“You’re wrong!”
“You’re wrong!”
These three words struck her heart like heavy hammers, mercilessly pounding down. Her mind buzzed a chaotic mess. Her heart felt as if it were being ruthlessly trampled, torn to shreds!
She—had—truly—made—a—mistake!
Zhi Hua looked at her face, pale as death, and a triumphant smile spread across his own. He was genuinely pleased, and he had every reason to be.
His gaze now shifted to Ming Zhu and Ming Yue, and he slowly said, “As for you, I advise you not to entertain any foolish ideas. Xiangyang City is not Dongjing Bianliang. The Song court has already lost Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao in the Xiangyang Prince’s residence. If you were to lose your life as well, it would truly be not worth it.”
He suddenly burst into laughter, “But you will still go, won’t you? Now you finally understand why I don’t need to kill you?”
His laughter was like a bucket of icy water, chilling her to the bone.
Amidst his laughter, a thick black smoke began to rise behind him.
When the smoke cleared, he had already vanished.
—He had numerous opportunities to kill the three who had learned countless secrets from him, yet he did not. Was his stated reason truly why he spared them?
—What was this cunning man silently plotting as he lurked in the Xiangyang Prince’s residence? Was he an enemy or a friend?
He disappeared like a ghost. Normally, Huo Linglong would have wanted to compare her “Stunning Glance” lightness skill against him. But now, her vacant eyes seemed to see nothing.
Ming Zhu glanced at Huo Linglong, who stood dazed, and quietly asked, “Sister, do you think that girl has suddenly lost her mind?”
The girl sighed softly, “Zhu’er, don’t speak nonsense. That girl may not have lost her mind, but she is certainly a heartbroken person.”
Ming Zhu asked in surprise, “How can she be a heartbroken person?”
The girl replied, “It’s simply because she should never have used that piece of yellow silk to threaten in exchange for the Third Young Master.”
—“If she hadn’t made the exchange, the Third Young Master could still hold onto his life. Once she hands over that yellow silk, the Third Young Master will surely be in danger!”
—“Though she is clever, her cleverness has backfired. Not only has she failed the Third Young Master’s trust, but she will also lose his life for nothing. How can she still have the face to see him? She must have thought of this, which is why she is so heartbroken. Zhu’er, you shouldn’t blame her anymore.”
Huo Linglong stood by the roadside, the girl’s words drilling into her ears, each sentence like a steel needle, piercing her already shattered heart, inflicting irreparable pain. She couldn’t help but tremble slightly.
Ming Zhu still found it hard to forgive, saying, “Indeed. Although the people of the Xiangyang Prince’s residence have captured the Third Young Master, since that yellow silk is not in his possession, they will surely try every means to extract its whereabouts from him without harming him. Once they obtain that yellow silk, they will know that the Third Young Master would never collude with them and will go to great lengths to thwart their schemes, leaving no room for his life. Such a simple truth is clear even to someone like me; how could anyone still fall for their tricks?”
The girl called out, “Zhu’er!”
Though her voice was not loud, it carried a sense of authority. Ming Zhu immediately dared not speak further, though he still shot Huo Linglong a defiant glance.
He seemed to obey his sister completely, lowering his voice, “In that case, we must hurry to Xiangyang to rescue the Third Young Master! Sister, I will take you to Lord Yan’s place in Xiangyang, and then I will head straight to the Xiangyang Prince’s residence.”
A layer of worry flashed across the girl’s exquisite features: “The Xiangyang Prince’s residence is certainly a den of dragons and tigers, fraught with danger. How can I let you venture in alone?”
Ming Zhu replied, “What else can we do now? If anything happens to the Third Young Master, how can I face him? Even if I die, I want to die with him!”
The girl lightly chided, “You’re still so young, yet you don’t know how to speak properly. You’re saying foolish things; it’s a shame to call you ‘Ghosts Fear Ghosts’!”
Ming Zhu said, “Once we get there, I will adapt to the situation. Even if Xiangyang City is truly a den of dragons and tigers, is it worse than Dongjing Bianliang City?! Sister, you should wait for my news at Lord Yan’s residence.”
The girl said, “We siblings have relied on each other since childhood. In such a critical moment, how can I rest easy letting you go alone?”
Ming Zhu insisted, “I’m afraid of the perilous situation, and if anything happens to the Third Young Master—”
He trembled, unable to finish his sentence. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he fought to hold them back.
The girl’s expression remained calm as she gazed at the encroaching night, letting out a soft sigh: “If anything were to happen to him, how could I live on alone—”
(Part Four)
Before long, the rain began to fall softly again.
The girl sighed lightly and said softly, “Ming Zhu, we should be on our way. We must go to Xiangyang in the end. It’s not very far from here.”
Ming Zhu replied, “Yes.”
However, he turned back and shot a fierce glare at Huo Linglong, who was still standing there in a daze.
In the light rain, he held an umbrella in one hand while supporting his sister with the other.
Though he was small, he stood tall, like a soldier going into battle, protecting his beloved family. No matter what dangers lay ahead, he felt confident.
In the misty rain, the two small figures gradually disappeared into the encroaching night.
The road to Xiangyang lay ahead.
After walking for a while, Ming Zhu glanced back at the path they had come from, faintly seeing Huo Linglong’s figure growing smaller: the girl in the yellow shirt, though her features were no longer clear, still stood dazed by the roadside.
The wind picked up.
The wind howled, and the rain fell even heavier, soaking her already shattered heart to the core.
Huo Linglong stood in the rain, lost in thought. The fine mist, whipped by the wind, fell steadily, washing over her face. In an instant, her face appeared much more haggard.
In the vast night, someone was softly singing on a short flute.
Faintly, a gentle voice could be heard singing: “The matters before and behind are hazy, wishing to speak of fate but fearing a broken heart. I’ve searched the mountains and rivers of Wu and Yue, yet I return to the misty boat on Qutang.”
Ming Yue’s song gradually faded away. Huo Linglong’s tears finally spilled over. Between heaven and earth, everything appeared blurred, indistinguishable as rainwater or tears.
[The End]