That night, the small boat passed the great valley of Lotus Mountain and finally entered the borders of Bai province.
Under the clear and cold moonlight, the surface of the river seemed even more expansive, and the water gradually slowed.
Qiu Yutong sat on the deck of the boat and stared blankly at the bright moon.
It was the twelfth day of the third month, and within the navy blue sky, the bright moon was almost full, and in the moon, the faint figure of the Jade Rabbit could be seen.
Qiu Yutong was dazed for a while, and felt a little bored, so he grabbed a piece of broken bamboo from the deck, tested the sound and started blowing.
In the tranquil night, the mourning sound of the waves, against the sobbing of the xiao, even though some of the notes were not accurate, were still quite moving.
Lu Xiao leaned against the ship’s sail, staring blankly at him.
Qiu Yutong felt the other’s gaze and put down his bamboo xiao in embarrassment, giving a light cough, “Cough, I didn’t play this《Jiangfeng Yuhuo》very well, there were a few notes that were not correct.
Lu Xiao said in melancholy, “I didn’t know, Shizun could still play the xiao.”
“I only know these few songs.” Qiu Yutong shook his head. “When I was young, Zhangmen-Shixiong taught us to play the xiao. In the end, it was only San-Shixiong who was a bit better. Even though my technique is nothing special, but Er-Shixiong* was worse than me. Even Zhangmen-Shixiong covered his ears and begged him to stop playing.”
[T/N: Second Senior Brother.]
“I feel that Shizun plays pretty well.”
“That’s because you haven’t heard Zhangmen-Shixiong’s “Seeking Immortality”.”
Lu Xiao was silent for a moment yet wasn’t able to restrain himself, “Shizun, is the relationship between you and that Zhangmen-Shixiong very good?”
“Eh, we are a pair of disciple brother, could it be bad?” Qiu Yutong blinked. “But speaking of this, Er-Shixiong, San-Shixiong and I, were all brought up by Zhangmen-Shixiong. Saying Zhangmen-Shixiong, but actually, he was basically half a parent. Even though his temper was very good, once he got angry, even Er-Shixiong had to scram to Wenjian cliff to meditate and repent.”
“Like a brother, like a father, no wonder.” Lu Xiao nodded. “It sounds like you all were very scared of him. Is he very strong?”
“I’ve never seen Zhangmen-Shixiong wielding a sword, but according to San-Shixiong, that year when Zhangmen-Shixiong hefted up ‘Zhige’* and battled with an ancient beast, the Sky-Swallowing Serpent, for three days and three nights, and in the end, it fell under his sword, aweing the rest of the cultivation world. It was a pity that at that time, I was not yet born, so I didn’t see it.” Qiu Yutong sighed. “After the North Snow Sword Discussion, Zhangmen-Shixiong’s legs were… crippled, and he never wielded his sword again. Normally, I can only spar with Er-Shixiong and San-Shixiong. After that, even Er-Shixiong and San-Shixiong didn’t want to spar with me, so I was bored to death.”
[T/N: The name of his weapon, directly translates to Prohibit Spear?]
Lu Xiao raised his eyebrows. “What, they couldn’t beat you?”
“We’re all disciple-brothers, only comparing notes, why care about who can beat whom?” Qiu Yutong paused then lowered his voice, “You’re right, they really couldn’t beat me and were afraid to lose face.”
“…” Lu Xiao silently shook his head, yet the corner of his mouth couldn’t help curving up.
“Ai, I still want to have a bout with Zhangman-Shixiong, but a pity that he won’t take up his sword. If not, Gui Wuya from the North Sea Sword Sect is also suitable. However, I really want to spar with Zhangmen-Shixiong, and see how strong he is,” Qiu Yutong stared at the bright moon, his heart full of melancholy.
Lu Xiao said, without understanding, “But, when we were eating at Zuixian Building during the Lantern Festival, I heard Xu Dongqing from Medicine Monarch Manor say that on the Sword Discussion chart, the rank of your Zhangmen-Shixiong is behind that Gui Wuya?”
“En. On the mysterious Sword Discussion chart, a hundred names are ranked. The first is Immortal Senior Qingheng’s “Skies Illuminate Clouds and Seas”, the second is Gui Wuya’s “Bloodcry”, the third is Zhangmen-Shixiong’s “Zhige”, and the fourth is South Mountain Temple’s… However, sword discussions are ever-changing. Rankings may not be accurate.”
The two of them talked for quite a while. Qiu Yutong only felt the drowsiness like the tide quickly rushing forth, his eyelids incessantly drooped.
Lu Xiao glanced at Qiu Yutong and gently brought his head to rest upon his shoulder.
He felt the incomparable relieving weight on his shoulder, looked up at the bright moon hanging in the sky and didn’t sleep the whole night.
……
“Xiao-er, look at the ferry crossing over there, there are so many people. Have we arrived?” Qiu Yutong tried hard to stand on his tiptoes, looking at the bustling ferry crossing on the riverside.
Lu Xiao nodded. “It should be.”
Lu Xiao put his palm on the helm of the boat and it was quickly docked. Qiu Yutong jumped out of it immediately.
“Ao! Crows!” He screamed.
Tens of large black crows cawed as they rushed forth on their wings, surrounding and beating him.
Lu Xiao anxiously walked over, and waved his hands to chase the crows away. “Leave!”
“Leave… why are there so many crows?!” Qiu Yutong cut a sorry figure as he randomly waved his hands.
From the few boats docked at the pier were some laughs.
“Hahaha…”
“Another one has been pecked foolish!”
“This youngster’s skin is tender meat, better not be pecked until it’s scarred!”
“Hey, can you people speak a little less?!” An old boatman who was smoking from a long pip smiled. “Cough cough, the crows in this place have a lot of vigor and specialise in bullying people like you, young masters.”
Qiu Yutong conveniently caught a bundle of hair that was being pecked into a complete mess and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I still thought that Hanya Crossing* was only a name. I didn’t know there were so many crows!”
[T/N: Hanya translates to Jackdaw, a type of bird.]
The old boatman smiled, “Young Master, what do you see over there?”
Qiu Yutong followed his gaze and couldn’t help but be shocked, “How did this happen?”
Lu Xiao also frowned.
Not too far out, on the Baishui riverbank, on the large desolate stones, gathered thousands of densely packed crows. A few corpses were pecked apart, with all their innards flowing out.
“What happened?” Qiu Yutong frowned.
“Young Master, how do you think this name of Hanya Crossing came about?” The old boatman found it unsurprising and shook his head. “Since you’ve come, Young Master should also be going to the Medicine Monarch Manor? The people of the Medicine Monarch Manor, will throw the people who die at the mouth of the valley into the river. Slowly, the number of crows increased, and the name Hanya Crossing came about.”
Qiu Yutong had some doubts, “What, the Medicine Monarch Manor is not saving people?”
The old boatman took a deep breath of his cigarette, “Cough cough, how could they save so many people? The godly doctor of the Medicine Monarch Manor, only saves one person per year now, it’s all depending on fate.”
He coughed twice and lowered his voice, “A few years ago, because Godly Doctor Xu snatched too many people from the King of Hell, so Godly Doctor Xu’s two older sisters were used to balance it out. After that, Godly Doctor Xu then created this rule.”
“So that’s how it is,” Qiu Yutong nodded.
About ten years ago, he once casually saved Xu Qiushi, but the two of them were not very familiar and he didn’t know that Xu Qiushi also had two older sisters. However, since there were “Xu Qiushi” and “Xu Dongqing”, then it wasn’t strange that there were “Chun” and “Xia”, these two sisters.*
[T/N: So basically this is linked to seasons. The Qiu here in Xu Qiushi is autumn and Dong in Xu Dongqing is winter. Chun and Xia are spring and summer respectively.]
Qiu Yutong muttered to himself. Since he had actually reached here, he definitely had to try, “Sir, may I ask where the Medicinal Monarch Manor is located?”
“Do you see that large road?” The old boatman pointed ahead. “You’ll see the mouth of a valley, that’s Linglu Valley, the Medicine Monarch Manor is inside Linglu Valley. As for being able to enter the valley, or after entering and Godly Doctor Xu refusing to treat you, it’s all up to luck. However, Godly Doctor Xu is about to get married, maybe he’ll be in a good mood and help to treat you.”
“I got it, thank you Sir,” Qiu Yutong thanked the old boatman and the two of them walked along the large road.
Not long later, as expected, they saw a large mountain valley in front of them.
“We’ve reached!” Qiu Yutong said in high spirits.
Lu Xiao started at the mouth of the valley and frowned, “So many people.”
Outside the valley was a large plain, where over a hundred people were sitting or lying down. There were people who put up tents, some who spread blankets, some were loudly groaning and moaning, some were crying and weeping, looking like they had been waiting for a very long time.
“They are all patients begging for treatment, rather pitiful,” Qiu Yutong said softly. “Let’s go look at the valley’s entrance.”
The two of them walked past the people to the entrance of the valley.
The valley had four thick and solid servants standing guard. The youth at the front had a dark face, as he sized the two of them up, “Who are you, do you have any recommendation letters? My family’s manor master does not meet strangers.”
Qiu Yutong blinked and felt a little awkward. Should he move North Snow City out to scare people? But he had no tokens on him either.
The dark-faced youth impatiently said, “Nothing? Go back and wait.”
Qiu Yutong was anxious, “I…”
The dark-faced youth waved his hand, as if he were chasing a fly away, “I, what I? Scram!”
Lu Xiao took a step forward and firmly grabbed the other’s arm. “We’re not here to seek medical assistance, we’re here to offer congratulations. This is Young Master Tong Yuqiu, I am surnamed Xiao, first name Lu. We’re here early, please do not make things difficult.”
As he spoke, he stuffed something into the other’s hand without batting an eye.
“…” The dark-faced youth looked down and secretly glanced at the gold ingot in his hand. A smile slowly crawled up his face. “No wonder, the two of you can follow me.”
Qiu Yutong stared at Lu Xiao. This brat was a person who had become the emperor yet he was still able to give bribes so naturally!
Lu Xiao said softly, “Since Shizun does not want to reveal your identity, and we also cannot offend the manor’s people, then we only have this method.”
The dark-faced youth led the two of them into the valley and their view suddenly opened up.
This Linglu Valley was extremely large, a large, abundant bamboo forest, a clear brook snaked across the valley floor, and spiritual deers* would sometimes leap across the water. Farther out, behind the cover of the green bamboo, was the faint image of a house with a black roof an white walls, which was probably the residence of the Medicine Monarch Manor’s owner.
[T/N: The name of the valley, Linglu, directly translates to spiritual deer.]
The dark-faced youth brought the two of them to a thatched cottage beside the brook and was a little embarrassed as he said, “Young Master Xiao, Young Master Tong, since there is no wedding invitation, you two are uninvited guests and can only stay here.”
“Unimportant,” Qiu Yutong nodded.
After sending the dark-faced youth away, the two of them walked into the thatched cottage.
The inside of the cottage was extremely simple and crude, with only a desk, two chairs and a narrow, hardboard bed, with old cotton wadding messily placed on top the bed.
As it was already evening, the sunset glow shone through the small window, looking extremely warm.
“We’ve finally reached, I’m exhausted to death,” Qiu Yuton stretched his body and sat on top of the bed. “Just now, the person didn’t say but where do we eat?”
Lu Xia took out two pieces of golden-yellow flatbread, a bag of already cut stewed beef, and a bulging cowskin bottle, “Shizun, let’s eat these to get by first.”
“You also brought dry rations?” Qiu Yutong was stunned.
The two of them had wandered amongst the people for quite a few years. Qiu Yutong was usually undisciplined and did not bother with petty things, so Lu Xiao couldn’t help but become someone who had the habit of bringing umbrellas and dry rations. Now, even though he had become the emperor, this youngster actually still had this habit.
Qiu Yutong accepted the flatbread and took a bite. It was crispy, and tasted pretty good.
He ate the flatbread and said vaguely, “Xiao-er, don’t you think that we should prepare some congratulatory gifts for Godly Doctor Xu who is about to get married?”
“I forgot about this,” Lu Xiao was silent for a second. “Why not, we go outside thevalley to buy something tomorrow?”
“No need for all that trouble,” Qiu Yutong rubbed his chin and suddenly smiled. “I have a good idea.”
As he spoke, he sat in front of the old desk by the window, solemnly saying, “Xiao-er, grind some ink for this master.”
Finally, he could make this unfilial disciple grind ink for him!
“Okay,” Lu Xiao smiled slightly and stood by the desk, attentively grinding ink.
Qiu Yutong lifted his brush and dipped it in ink, and started writing in a burst of energy. Over an hour later, the sky was starting to darken and he had written over ten pages of slender words*.
[T/N: The script is literally translated to a fly’s head script, where the font resembles a fly’s head.]
Lu Xiao was slightly doubtful, “Shizun, are you writing… a sword manual?”
Qiu Yutong smiled proudly. “Even though this Godly Doctor Xu of the Medicine Monarch Manor doesn’t study the sword, he’s actually a sword idiot, and likes to collect various famous swords and sword manuals. I’ll suit his tastes and gift him the sole sword manual written personally by North Snow City’s Qiu Yutong. Xiao-er, do you think this congratulatory gift is enough?”
Lu Xiao couldn’t help but raise the corner of his mouth. “Shizun’s method is quite good, this is a priceless treasure. However, North Snow City’s Qiu Yutong has long ascended, the ink will look too new.”
Qiu Yutong scratched his head, “That is true.”
Lu Xiao picked up the stack of fine writing paper and smiled, “However, I have a way.”
Qiu Yutong stared at him and saw him bring the papers closer to the oil lamp. He couldn’t help but be anxious, “What do you want to do? Don’t light them up! I put in a lot of effort to write so much!”
“I won’t,” Lu Xiao carefully swept the papers across the oil lamp, smoking the papers. After smoking one page, it would be changed to the next one. Not long later, The stack of fine white writing paper became somewhat yellow, looking extremely old.
Qiu Yutong clapped, “This will be □□* seamless!”
[T/N: These boxes were in the text.]
“Actually, a professional will be able to tell, but it will be enough to fool a layman. What’s more, the handwriting is real, so it’ll be harder to distinguish.”
The two of them were busy for a while, binding the papers in old cotton threads, then using a dark blue cloth to wrap it up, just like an invaluable unique sword manual.
“Hu, that tired me to death,” Qiu Yutong dropped heavily onto the bed. “This bed is so narrow, how can the two of us sleep?”
Lu Xiao paused for a moment and grabbed some straw from the corner of the house, spreading it on the floor beside the bed with a rustling sound. Then, he also took off his outer robe and put it on the ground. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Qiu Yutong turned around and looked at him making his bed on the floor. He suddenly couldn’t bear it. This little disciple is already an emperor, who had left behind his life of luxury in Daning palace to follow him to this lousy place to suffer, eating dry rations, sleeping on the floor…
He pondered, and sleepiness gradually came over him, so he casually threw his outer robe at the end of the bed, and loosened the collar of his inner robes. He did his best to squeeze his entire body to the inside of the bed. “Xiao-er, come up and sleep.”
Lu Xiao glanced up at him and his sight seemed to have been scalded.
He looked down extremely quickly, his expression was as if he had been put in a difficult situation. “I, I’ll just sleep here.”
“Xiao-er, just come up, it’s fine…” Qiu Yutong was very sleepy, but he still wanted to try to persuade him. Except that his eyes couldn’t open and his voice was extremely nasally, sounding as if he was very aggrieved.
Lu Xiao’s breathing suddenly became heavier, and his body was stretched taut.
“You…” He shut his eyes, at the end of his patience. Suddenly, with one finger, he extinguished the oil lamp, lying in the pile of straw with a rustling sound.
“Xiao-er.”
“Shizun, don’t say anymore, I won’t go up. Hurry up and sleep, we have to be up early tomorrow morning.”
“Oh,” Qiu Yutong could only silently close his mouth.
Just as he was about to sink into a dream, he couldn’t help thinking dazedly, when the cold poison flared up and he was in a coma, this brat wouldn’t let go of him while sleeping no matter what. Now, he was acting so reserved, rather than sharing a bed with him, he would rather sleep on a pile of straw… Looks like this youngster was rather ascetic, only getting close to other people when there was no other choice.
The author has something to say:
Xiao Xiao: It’s too hard.
