Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 19

The two men, their blood boiling with reckless fury, had unleashed lethal strikes. Aiming to take each other’s lives, they fought as if they would not cease until one was dead.

Whether it resulted in mutual destruction or a clear victor and loser, neither was an outcome Lou Jing wished to see.

Her heart suspended in a void, she called out in distress: “Father!”

Even though she had learned the truth of her mother’s death—and in her heart blamed Lou Xuanzhi for the deception and resented his failure to protect her mother—she could not truly hate him. He had wronged her mother, but for all these years, he had never wronged her. With so many years of father-daughter affection between them, she could not view him entirely as an enemy.

Her mother was already gone; she did not want Lou Xuanzhi to meet with misfortune as well.

As for Shen Zhongyin—though he disregarded human life, struck without mercy, and belonged to an evil sect—he was nonetheless a man of true passion. She felt relaxed in his company and admired his untrammeled spirit. If this man were to die here, she would feel a profound sense of loss.

She wanted to stop them, yet she was powerless. In a duel between masters of their caliber, she could not even find an opening to intervene.

Her eyes reflected the lightning-fast shadows of the sword. The wild wind before the storm howled, dark clouds pressed down upon the land, and the world grew dim. Only that sword-light and the flames remained as the two brilliant streaks of color in the universe.

Just then, Lou Yan, who had been following closely behind Lou Xuanzhi, arrived. The moment Lou Jing saw his silhouette, it was as if she had seen a savior. She cried out: “Second Uncle…”

She had intended for Lou Yan to act—to first separate the two, and then find an opportunity to restrain Shen Zhongyin.

In that fleeting instant, Lou Xuanzhi and Shen Zhongyin unleashed their ultimate techniques. Upon clashing, the rampaging qi was so fierce that the entire inn was like a withered tree in a gale, nearly shattered to pieces. It emitted terrifying cracking sounds, and roof tiles were sent flying one by one.

Lou Jing was caught in the aftershock. Her blood and qi surged violently, and unable to keep her footing, she was sent flying backward. She struck something hard; a sharp pain flared in her back. Unable to withstand it, she coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.

Lou Jing knew nothing of what happened afterward.

Only a sliver of lingering consciousness allowed her to feel the whistling cold wind by her ears. At some point, the wind stopped.

In a state between dreaming and waking, she heard a sigh, and someone stroked her face.

She exerted all her strength but could not open her eyes. She could only judge by sensation that the person was Lou Xuanzhi. Perhaps because she was semi-conscious, her perception of emotion was incredibly sharp. She felt that sigh was so filled with sorrow that her heart ached with a deep sadness. She wanted to rise and comfort him, but her consciousness sank back into the darkness. In her muddled state, she fainted once more.

Before she drifted off, it began to rain. Drops fell on her face, but for some reason, they felt warm.

It was likely an illusion.

After sleeping for an unknown amount of time, Lou Jing felt a chill throughout her body, but a beam of warm light shone on her hand, feeling cozy. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Having just awakened, she did not immediately notice anything amiss, though she felt something was strange.

A moment later, as if her soul had finally returned to its place, her mind cleared. She suddenly sat up, only to find that above her was not a common wooden beam structure, but a ceiling of stone.

She climbed out of bed and looked around. She was inside a stone cell the size of a small side room.

Three sides of the cell were stone walls; the fourth was a cell door forged of solid iron. On the upper part of the wall opposite the door, there was a long, rectangular window about two palms wide. Sunlight filtered through this gap. The cell contained only a wooden bed, a wooden table, and a small chair.

She felt an inexplicable sense of bizarreness.

Previously, she was clearly at the inn. Lou Xuanzhi had arrived and fought Shen Zhongyin. The powerful qi was more than she could bear, knocking her unconscious. What had happened since then? How did she end up here?

Lou Jing frowned, staring at the iron cell door in a daze as thousands of possibilities flashed through her mind.

Since she was locked up, she had naturally been captured by an enemy. This place might be a stronghold of the Feihua Alliance—though she did not believe her father would lose, especially since Lou Yan had arrived. However, it was possible Shen Zhongyin had used some trick. Alternatively, this could be the Caoliu Mountain Manor; the inn was within their sphere of influence, and such a massive commotion would likely have been discovered by them, leading to her capture.

She had many conjectures, but with no one else present, she could not confirm her thoughts. Desperate to know the current situation, she shouted toward the outside: “Is anyone there!”

A moment after her shout, footsteps echoed outside the cell. A man in white carrying a sword appeared at the door. He glanced at Lou Jing, then immediately turned and left.

Lou Jing knew the man was merely a guard, likely going out to report.

She sat back down on the bed. The beam of sunlight happened to fall upon her. She looked up, squinting her eyes. Recalling the earth-shaking battle between Lou Xuanzhi and Shen Zhongyin, she couldn’t help but feel anxious: I wonder how Father and Second Uncle are.

As her thoughts wandered, she waited a long time for someone to come. She thought to herself: Is this cell in some remote location? Why hasn’t the person in charge come after so long?

The more she thought, the more she felt something was wrong. Suddenly, she felt as if she had seen that guard somewhere before; he looked very familiar.

Just then, footsteps echoed outside the cell once more. They were disorganized; five people had arrived.

As soon as the figures appeared outside the cell, Lou Jing stood up abruptly, stunned. “Martial Uncles?”

Leading the group were two men. One had a goatee and wore green robes—it was her Martial Uncle Li, Li Changhong. The other had a square face with a vertical crease between his brows and bright eyes—it was her Martial Uncle Wu, Wu Qingtian.

Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that this was not the Caoliu Mountain Manor, nor the Feihua Alliance, but her own Tiger Roar Mountain, the Qian Yuan Sect!

The Qian Yuan Sect also had a “Black Jail.” Even though Lou Jing was frequently scolded by Lou Xuanzhi, her punishments usually involved staying in the ancestral hall for a few days. She had never entered this Black Jail, so she did not recognize it.

Lou Jing thought to herself that perhaps her father was so enraged by her leaving the mountain without permission and tracking Shen Zhongyin on her own that he had thrown her into the Black Jail to punish her.

Deep down, she felt a sense of relief. If that were the case, her father should be unharmed.

However, a sense of resentment immediately began to build up in her heart. Her father was furious and wanted to punish her, but he had hidden the truth of her mother’s death and failed her mother. She hadn’t even “punished” him yet.

The group opened the cell door and walked into the Black Jail.

Wu Qingtian’s face was set, his expression solemn. Li Changhong’s gaze was cold and piercing, as if he were looking at a heinous criminal. He barked: “Who is your Martial Uncle? I, Li Changhong, will not have an ungrateful, rebellious person like you as my niece!”

Lou Jing knitted her brows, wondering what rebellious act she had committed to deserve such an accusation.

Lou Jing glanced at Wu Qingtian, but seeing him unmoved, she felt a surge of indignation.

Wu Qingtian was the elder in charge of the sect’s laws. Except for the Sect Leader’s direct disciples—who were disciplined by the Sect Leader himself—any disciple who committed a wrong was punished by him, and any crime was interrogated and sentenced by him. He was always upright and followed the rules strictly; thus, he deeply loathed those who acted willfully. Li Changhong was the elder in charge of the armory and archives. He had always felt Lou Jing was defiant and difficult to discipline, and he found her eyesore. Whenever Lou Jing made a mistake, he always felt Lou Xuanzhi’s punishment was too light.

To punish her so severely this time that he didn’t even want to show his face?

Lou Jing felt angry and deeply defiant. Her back ramrod straight, she cupped her hands to Li Changhong and deliberately spoke in sarcasm: “This junior is unworthy of such high praise from Martial Uncle.”

Li Changhong said: “You needn’t put on such an act. What, do you think that after committing such an act that heaven and earth cannot tolerate, you will be let off lightly as before? Or do you think you can escape, that the demon Shen Zhongyin can rescue you!”

Lou Jing thought to herself: So Shen Zhongyin is also fine. From the sound of it, he had likely escaped from her father’s hands.

But she did not understand why Li Changhong said she was counting on Shen Zhongyin to rescue her. Why would she need Shen Zhongyin to rescue her?

Lou Jing shook her head. “Lou Jing does not understand what Martial Uncle is talking about.”

Wu Qingtian said in a deep voice: “You needn’t play dumb with us.”

Lou Jing said frankly: “What act? If Martial Uncle has something to say, feel free to speak plainly.”

Was it not just her leaving the mountain without permission and tracking Shen Zhongyin? Was that an unpardonable crime?

She was not Yu Jingqiu. Whenever she encountered an elder, Yu Jingqiu would bow her head three inches regardless of right or wrong. Lou Jing was the type who, as long as she felt she was in the right, would never bend her back.

Li Changhong narrowed his eyes. He first gave two cold laughs, then said: “Do you not have any idea what we are talking about? Yet you are here playing games with us.”

Lou Jing felt these two Martial Uncles were here to toy with her. If there was a punishment, they should just say it plainly instead of circling around. Naturally, she did not take it quietly and said: “I want to see my father.”

Lou Jing saw Wu Qingtian’s expression change drastically. He clenched his jaw, the muscle twitching, his eyes looking as if they would spit fire. His chest heaved as if he wanted to say something, but he ultimately restrained himself. Li Changhong glanced at Wu Qingtian and roared at Lou Jing: “You still have the face to mention the Sect Leader!”

Due to these various anomalies, a thought flashed through Lou Jing’s mind, and her heart slowly began to hang in the air. She asked: “Why do I not have the face to mention him?”

“It is clear you have no remorse whatsoever.”

“I am not in the wrong. Why would I need remorse?”

Li Changhong took a step toward her. “You are not in the wrong? If you are not in the wrong, why did you leave the mountain without permission!”

Lou Jing answered: “Because I wanted to find the real killer of Cao Ruxu and prove my innocence!”

Li Changhong took another step closer. “You are not in the wrong? Then why did you meet privately with Shen Zhongyin? He is a demon of the Feihua Alliance. What were your intentions in associating with him!”

Lou Jing said: “I simply happened upon him on the road. The subordinates of Cao Ruxu in the derelict garden that night were killed by him. The person who killed Cao Ruxu most likely has something to do with him, so I tracked him!”

“Happened upon him? Hmph! Quite a coincidence. Then why did you plot secretly with Shen Zhongyin and use the Second Elder to lure the Sect Leader away?”

Lou Jing said indignantly: “What lure? I sent someone to deliver a letter back to the sect, but that person mistook Second Uncle for my father and gave the letter to him. What was written in that letter was a request for the elders to work together to capture Shen Zhongyin!”

Li Changhong raised his voice: “You are not in the wrong? You conspired with the evil path, personally murdered your father, committed parricide, and harbor the heart of a wolf—yet you dare to say you are not in the wrong!”

Li Changhong’s questions came faster and faster. Because Lou Jing had a clear conscience, she was able to answer the rapid-fire interrogation fluently. But when this question came out, she froze.

Lou Jing looked at Li Changhong, her expression filled with disbelief. She shook her head. “Martial Uncle, you must be possessed. You are speaking nonsense.”

Though Lou Jing was defiant of discipline, she possessed at least a basic level of respect for her elders. At this moment, she spoke recklessly only because Li Changhong’s words were too absurd.

Wu Qingtian glared at her and roared: “You’re still playing the fool!”

Lou Jing stumbled forward a step, leaving the beam of sunlight from the window and stepping into the shadows. Suddenly, she felt the cell was far too cold. “Why would I kill my father? Martial Uncle, your words are not just illogical, they are utterly ridiculous.”

“That is something you should ask yourself! What did Shen Zhongyin say to you that led you to strike down the father who raised you, joining that demon to murder him? You are truly worse than a beast!”

The string in Lou Jing’s mind snapped with a twang.

She could no longer argue with them over this absurd accusation. Only the word “dead” echoed in her mind. She stared blankly at Wu Qingtian. “You… Martial Uncle, what did you say? I don’t understand.”

Wu Qingtian said: “You murdered your father. The Sect Leader’s body is currently lying in state in the ancestral hall. Upon his neck is the sword wound you left behind! All the ancestors are watching this evidence of your rebellious filial impiety! Lou Jing, if you still have a shred of conscience, then tell us exactly what happened that day!”

Lou Jing felt as if insects had entered her ears; they were buzzing loudly. “Martial Uncle, this sort of thing is not a good joke. I know my unauthorized actions made my father angry. I admit my mistake. I will apologize to him. Just… don’t tease me like this.”

“Do you think I’m speaking to you for fun!” Wu Qingtian’s voice was deafening.

Standing beside Li Changhong was his inner disciple, Jia Yu, who said: “Lou Jing, stop pretending to be crazy.”

The color completely drained from Lou Jing’s face. Her eyes gradually turned red, and she kept shaking her head. “No… you’re lying.”

The air in Lou Jing’s chest seemed to be squeezed out. Her voice was thin and raspy, as if she couldn’t breathe. “I want to see him! I don’t believe it. There must be a mistake somewhere.”

Lou Jing turned and tried to rush out.

Jia Yu came forward to block her. “You want to escape?”

Lou Jing’s heart was burning with grief, and she was on the verge of collapse. To come forward and block her at this moment—was he not asking for a beating?

She had no weapon in her hand, so she could only use her fists and feet. She blocked with her arm and struck with her palm. Caught off guard, Jia Yu took a direct hit. The two disciples behind him hurriedly caught him.

Lou Jing pushed past them, wanting to go outside. Several disciples on both sides drew their swords. Seeing her approach, they thrust their long swords at her. In her state of mental haze, she instinctively unleashed a palm strike.

With two clangs, the long swords of the two disciples fell to the ground one after another.

That palm technique was the move Shen Zhongyin had used to snatch her sword during their two encounters. It used internal energy to sweep aside the sword’s edge, then lunged into the open center to strike the swordsman’s arm acupoint, making his hand go weak and unable to hold the sword.

This move to seize a weapon was truly marvelous and perfectly suited for her use in this situation. Although she had only learned the form, it had already shown its effect.

Lou Jing forced the two back and was about to rush out the door when suddenly, the wind whistled behind her. Li Changhong roared: “Wicked disciple, you still dare to act wildly here!”

The palm strike from behind came with great urgency. Lou Jing could not dodge it, so she could only turn and meet it head-on. She had not expected Li Changhong to use ten-tenths of his power. The moment they connected, she felt her internal organs as if struck by a heavy iron hammer. Her blood surged, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Before she could catch her breath, Wu Qingtian suddenly arrived from the side and struck her acupoint with a finger.

Her eyes went black, and she collapsed onto the ground.