Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 24

The bright moon cast a cold, desolate silver light.

The bells had stopped ringing. This mountain path lay far from the main peak, and the uproar of the search for the fugitive could no longer be heard. Everything around them was quiet.

Lou Jing bent slightly at the waist, her eyelids lowered as she stared unblinkingly at Yu Jingqiu.

Her gaze was unmistakably that of a wild beast hunting its prey—cold, sharp, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Yu Jingqiu stood motionless. Her robes fluttered while her aura remained restrained.

She herself seemed to be the sword in her hand, its blade concealed within the sheath without revealing the slightest glimmer of cold light.

She showed no intention of attacking first.

Yu Jingqiu could afford to wait.

Lou Jing could not.

Lou Jing and Yu Jingqiu had fought each other for more than a decade, through countless springs and autumns. They had exchanged moves at least a thousand times.

Never before had Lou Jing entered a match with such calmness and unwavering resolve.

Her sword trembled, releasing the faint cry of a dragon.

Silver light flashed as she executed Purple Qi Comes from the East from the Qian Formula. Sword qi enveloped Yu Jingqiu’s entire body.

Yu Jingqiu remained composed in the face of danger.

Her sword abruptly left its sheath, its shadows weaving together into an impenetrable defense.

Since childhood, every contest between them had ended the same way:

Yu Jingqiu won.

Lou Jing had won once during the martial gathering at the beginning of spring, but only because Yu Jingqiu deliberately yielded.

Eventually, the sect’s disciples came to regard Lou Jing’s defeat as inevitable.

Yu Jingqiu possessed the greatest martial ability among the younger generation, while Lou Jing ranked second.

Lou Jing would never catch up with Yu Jingqiu.

The distance between them was not an impassable chasm.

Yet Lou Jing could never cross it.

Only Yu Jingqiu understood that if the difference between them had once resembled the hundred or so stone steps before the sect gates, those steps had quietly diminished one by one over the years.

To outsiders, there was no difference between being a hundred steps behind, fifty steps behind, or even one step behind.

Only Yu Jingqiu knew.

She could no longer afford to relax when fighting Lou Jing.

Their blades collided at close range.

Dazzling sparks flew, and metallic clashes rang out without pause.

Dark clouds covered the moon.

Upon the steep cliff, wind swept through the forest. Branches and leaves rubbed together like chaotic raindrops, or like the cheers and encouragement of a disorderly crowd beneath a tournament platform.

Sword qi condensed to its limit upon the two cold blades.

The figures that had suddenly separated abruptly converged again with the force of rushing thunder.

Sparks flashed.

Within that brief burst of light, they passed each other.

In the next instant, Lou Jing spun around and struck with her palm.

Yu Jingqiu raised her own palm to block it.

Their inner forces collided, but Lou Jing used the power of the impact to withdraw. She leaped backward several steps, immediately turned, and flew down the mountain.

Lou Jing had put all her strength into that palm.

When Yu Jingqiu forced her back, she herself stumbled a step behind.

After a moment of astonishment, she looked again, but Lou Jing’s figure had already dissolved into the darkness.

The wind scattered the remaining clouds, revealing the moon once more.

Its silver radiance fell over Yu Jingqiu like a veil of cold gauze.

The light revealed that her hairpin had been broken. Her black hair spilled loose and fell across her shoulders.

An unusual sound came from the air.

Two more figures approached from the direction of the mountain.

They were Lang Ye and Yun Yao.

The martial siblings had thought alike and guessed that Lou Jing would take this path, but they had arrived one step too late.

The moment Yun Yao saw Yu Jingqiu’s unsheathed sword, she knew the two had fought.

“Senior Sister, where is Ah-Jing?”

Yu Jingqiu said, “She left.”

Lang Ye said, “Senior Sister, you were foolish. How could you show mercy and let her go at a time like this?

“Once she descends the mountain, clearing her name will become even more difficult. By allowing her to leave, you have not helped her—you have harmed her.”

Yu Jingqiu stared blankly.

“I did not let her win. She… she defeated me.”

At those words, Yun Yao and Lang Ye both froze.

How many times had they watched Yu Jingqiu and Lou Jing spar?

Lou Jing had always resembled a stubborn ox charging endlessly into the same southern wall.

Had the day truly arrived when she finally smashed through it?

They had no time to dwell upon it.

Lang Ye immediately followed the descending path to pursue Lou Jing.

Yun Yao suddenly cried out, “Senior Sister, your arm is injured!”

She seized Yu Jingqiu’s hand.

A cut had opened across Yu Jingqiu’s right arm. Blood flowed from it, darkening her clothing and running all the way down to the back of her hand.

Yu Jingqiu lowered her eyes toward the blood and suddenly remembered something from childhood.

She had never liked fighting others.

Even during sparring matches, she never used her techniques to their full extent and retained almost half her strength.

If she prevented herself from being hurt, then naturally, she would not hurt anyone else.

Master once asked her why.

She replied that she did not wish to injure her junior brothers and sisters. If there was no victor or loser, then no one would be unhappy.

Master told her:

“In a contest, injuries are sometimes unavoidable, and there will always be victory and defeat.

“Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit.

“If you constantly allow yourself to relax, always retaining half your strength instead of giving everything, challenging your limits, and discovering your full potential, it will eventually become a habit that is difficult to change.

“Even the finest talent will ultimately be covered by the dust of time and lose its brilliance.

“Jing’er is less gifted than you, but she possesses no reservations. Her objective is clear. She wishes to win, and so her sword possesses incomparable sharpness.

“Accumulation will eventually produce a sudden breakthrough.

“Shanjun, if this continues, there may come a day when Jing’er surpasses you.”

Just as Master had predicted, that day had arrived.

She and Lou Jing had fought honestly, without deception or deliberate yielding.

She had lost.

Yet this defeat felt entirely different from the defeat she had experienced at the previous martial gathering.

She had never felt such an emotion before.

Her chest felt stifled, as though something had twisted tightly inside her, preventing her entire body from relaxing.

Lang Ye descended the mountain in pursuit of Lou Jing but ultimately returned without success.

“…?”

Elder Li’s thoughts shifted.

He turned, pointed into the empty air, drew in a sharp breath, and narrowed his eyes.

“Even if that person belonged to Shen Zhongyin, entering the Qianyuan Sect would not be so easy. Perhaps the person who helped that wicked disciple was someone within the sect…”

“Martial Uncle, why are you looking at me?”

Yun Yao defended herself in embarrassment and anger.

“Although I do not believe Ah-Jing is the murderer, I can still distinguish between what should and should not be done!”

Elder Li said awkwardly, “I merely said that such a possibility exists.”

The study door was suddenly pushed open from outside, and a figure stepped inside.

Yun Yao exclaimed, “Martial Uncle Yu!”

Yu Xiu had buried himself in the library searching for a method to treat Lou Yan and had not been seen for many days.

Naturally, Yun Yao was greatly surprised to see him.

Wu Qingtian’s thoughts moved swiftly, and he said delightedly, “Sixth Brother, have you found a way?”

Yu Xiu nodded.

He looked around and asked, “Where is Shanjun?”

Yun Yao replied, “After Master was buried, she returned to Chengxin Waterside Pavilion. I will call her.”

Yun Yao left the study and headed directly toward Xiangri Peak.

After Lou Xuanzhi’s burial, Yu Jingqiu no longer needed to keep vigil.

Although she still had to handle certain minor sect affairs, she had brought the work back to Chengxin Waterside Pavilion.

Beneath the clear blue sky came the fluttering sound of a bird’s wings.

A pale hand rose beneath the eaves, its slender fingers extending slightly.

A carrier pigeon landed upon them.

Yu Jingqiu removed the message tied to its leg.

The previous time, she had accidentally released the pigeon before placing her refusal inside the message tube.

Now the pigeon had returned carrying another note. The person on the other side must have seen the empty tube and misunderstood her intentions.

Yu Jingqiu removed the note and unfolded it.

It contained only the words:

The fifteenth. Ancient Plum Blossom Cave.

Yu Jingqiu’s heart gave a sudden leap.

Because she had hesitated instead of refusing clearly, her elder sister had made the decision for her.

“The fifteenth” was obviously the date of their meeting.

Ancient Plum Blossom Cave was a quiet and elegant estate more than thirty li east of Tiger Roar Mountain.

Now that a date and place had been chosen, her desire to meet her only relative became even stronger.

Yet she had already resolved to obey Master’s command.

Now that Master had passed away, breaking her oath again would fill her with unbearable guilt.

Her thoughts battled fiercely, and she could not decide.

Hearing someone approach, Yu Jingqiu’s eyes fell upon a line of smaller writing beneath the message:

Release the carrier pigeon. Destroy the letter.

Yu Jingqiu pushed the pigeon gently into the air.

It rose, flapped its wings, and flew into the distance.

A voice came from behind her.

“Senior Sister, what are you doing?”

Yu Jingqiu folded the letter and slipped it into her sash before turning around.

“Releasing a pigeon.”

Although this was not truly a lie, her movements remained somewhat stiff.

Yun Yao studied her twice but did not think much of it.

“Martial Uncle Yu says he has found a way to treat Martial Uncle Lou.”

Yu Jingqiu’s eyes brightened.

“Truly?”

“Would I joke with Senior Sister about something like this?”

Yu Jingqiu hurried after Yun Yao toward the study.

If Lou Yan awakened, then the truth of what happened that day would certainly be revealed.

When they arrived, Yu Xiu, Wu Qingtian, and Li Changhong were all present, discussing Lou Jing’s escape.

After greeting the three martial uncles, Yu Jingqiu came directly to the point.

“Junior Sister said Martial Uncle has found a method to treat Martial Uncle Lou.”

“Yes.”

Yu Xiu traced a circle over the area of his chest and internal organs.

“The palm strike Lou Yan received from Shen Zhongyin injured his lungs and internal organs.

“Shen Zhongyin’s cultivation method is exceedingly tyrannical. His palm art naturally carries a scorching force.

“Once that heat entered Elder Lou’s meridians, it spread throughout them like wildfire, invading his entire body and causing him to burn with fever while his skin turned crimson.

“Fortunately, Elder Lou possesses a strong martial foundation and resisted it with his own true qi. Otherwise, it would have taken his life immediately. If—”

Wu Qingtian frowned.

“Aiya, Sixth Brother, speak of what matters! Who wants to hear all these details? Just tell us how to treat him.”

“Since ancient times, medicine has emphasized the mutual generation and restraint of opposing forces.

“Shen Zhongyin’s cultivation is of the utmost yang. It must therefore be restrained by an object of the utmost yin and cold, after which we can assist with our inner force…”

Once Yu Xiu began discussing his own field, he unconsciously became expansive again.

Wu Qingtian glared impatiently.

“You—”

Yu Xiu immediately changed direction and said concisely, “The Dewdrop Emerald Pearl can treat him.”

Li Changhong pinched the tip of his beard and murmured, “If that is what is required…”

Yu Jingqiu studied the expressions of her three martial uncles.

All of them remained calm and composed.

She immediately understood that they must know where the Dewdrop Emerald Pearl was located, which was why they showed no concern.

“Does Martial Uncle know where the Dewdrop Emerald Pearl can be found?”

Wu Qingtian sighed emotionally.

“When a person possesses a benevolent wish, Heaven will surely offer protection.”

Yu Xiu said, “Heavenly Star Palace possesses this spiritual treasure. It could be considered the treasure that guards their city.”

Yun Yao exclaimed happily, “Ah! Then Martial Uncle Lou truly has hope of recovering and awakening!”

Heavenly Star Palace was located in the snowy region.

Although its name made it sound like a martial sect, it was actually a city within the snowlands.

Its city lord had been friends with Lou Xuanzhi for many years.

At the martial gathering at the beginning of the year, the city lord had even traveled thousands of li to visit the Qianyuan Sect.

Yu Jingqiu and the others had heard about their friendship.

Many years earlier, Lou Xuanzhi had apparently saved the city lord’s life.

The city lord was someone who remembered and repaid kindness.

Thus, the two sides began interacting and gradually became close.

If the Dewdrop Emerald Pearl was in Heavenly Star Palace, then even if it was the treasure protecting the city, the city lord’s forthright and grateful nature meant he would most likely offer it without hesitation.

Lou Yan truly had hope of recovering and awakening.