Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 24

The bright moon cast a cold, lonely silver light. The mountain bells had ceased, and as the trail led further from the main peak, the raucous clamor of the manhunt faded into a profound silence.

Lou Jing stood with her upper body slightly coiled, her eyelids lowered, staring at Yu Jingqiu without blinking. Her gaze was suddenly like that of a predator on the hunt—cold, sharp, and waiting for the perfect moment.

Yu Jingqiu stood still, her robes fluttering slightly, her aura restrained. She was like the sword in her hand: the edge hidden within the scabbard, revealing not a single glint of cold light, with no intention of striking first.

Yu Jingqiu could afford to wait, but Lou Jing could not.

In the ten-plus years since their childhood, Lou Jing and Yu Jingqiu had sparred thousands of times, but never had there been a match like this—one where her heart was so calm and her will so unshakable.

Lou Jing’s long sword shuddered with a faint sound like a dragon’s cry. A silver flash erupted as she unleashed the Qian Formula move, “Purple Qi Coming from the East,” her sword qi enveloping Yu Jingqiu.

Yu Jingqiu remained unruffled in the face of danger. Her sword snapped out, and a web of sword shadows formed a defense so tight that even a drop of water could not pass.

Since their youth, the contest between these two had always yielded one result: Yu Jingqiu’s victory. Aside from the martial competition in early spring—which was the result of Yu Jingqiu yielding—Lou Jing had never truly won.

Over time, it became a matter of course among the disciples that Lou Jing would lose. Yu Jingqiu’s martial arts stood at the pinnacle of the younger generation, with Lou Jing in second place; Lou Jing would never catch up.

The gap was not a vast chasm, but it was one Lou Jing simply could not cross.

Only Yu Jingqiu knew the truth. If the gap between them had initially been the hundred-odd stone steps leading to the mountain gate, those steps had been quietly narrowing, one by one, over the years.

To an outsider, there is no difference between a gap of a hundred steps and a gap of fifty—or even one.

Only Yu Jingqiu knew.

In facing Lou Jing, she could no longer afford to relax her vigilance.

The blades clashed, sparks flying and metal clanging incessantly.

Dark clouds obscured the moon. On the cliffside, the wind blew through the forest; the rustling of leaves sounded like pelting rain, or perhaps like the chaotic cheers and applause of spectators beneath a tournament stage.

Atop the two cold blades, sword qi condensed to its absolute limit. The figures, having momentarily separated, suddenly converged with the force of crashing thunder.

A spark flashed, and in that brief light, the two crossed paths.

In an instant, Lou Jing turned and struck with a palm. Yu Jingqiu raised her own palm to block. In the collision of internal energy, Lou Jing used the force of the impact to withdraw, leaping back several steps before spinning around and flying down the mountain.

Lou Jing had put her full strength into that strike. When Yu Jingqiu repelled her, she herself stumbled back a step. She stood in a daze for a moment, and by the time she looked again, Lou Jing’s silhouette had dissolved into the night.

The wind swept the clouds away, and the moonlight reappeared. Silver light draped over Yu Jingqiu like a cold veil, revealing that her hairpin had been snapped. Her dark hair flowed down, cascading over her shoulders.

A strange sound echoed in the air as two more figures pursued from the direction of the peak. It was Lang Ye and Yun Yao. Their hearts as disciples were in sync; both had guessed Lou Jing would take this mountain path, but they had arrived one step too late.

The moment Yun Yao saw Yu Jingqiu’s unsheathed sword, she knew she had fought Lou Jing. She asked, “Senior Sister, where is A’Jing?”

Yu Jingqiu said, “She’s gone.”

Lang Ye said, “Senior Sister, you were foolish. How could you go easy on her at a time like this? By descending the mountain now, her guilt will be even harder to wash away. Letting her go isn’t helping her; it’s harming her!”

Yu Jingqiu said blankly, “It wasn’t that I let her go. It was she… she defeated me.”

At these words, Yun Yao and Lang Ye were stunned. They had watched Yu Jingqiu and Lou Jing spar countless times; Lou Jing was like a stubborn bull charging at a southern wall. Had she truly broken through that wall at last?

The two didn’t have time to dwell on it. Lang Ye hurriedly headed down the path to pursue Lou Jing.

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

Yun Yao took Yu Jingqiu’s hand and saw a gash on her right arm. Blood flowed out, staining her sleeve dark and dripping down to the back of her hand.

Yu Jingqiu looked down at the blood on her hand, suddenly recalling a memory from her childhood.

She was always reluctant to strike others. Even in a match, she wouldn’t use the full extent of her moves, holding back nearly half her strength so she wouldn’t get hurt—and, naturally, so she wouldn’t hurt anyone else.

Master had asked her why. She said she didn’t want to hurt her junior brothers and sisters; as long as there was no victor or loser, no one would be unhappy.

Master had told her: Matches inevitably result in injury, and there will always be a winner and a loser. Even a lion exerts its full strength when hunting a rabbit. If you always allow yourself to slacken, keeping half your strength and refusing to push your limits to discover your potential, it will become a habit that is hard to change. Even the best talent will eventually be clouded by time and lose its luster.

Jing’er’s talent is inferior to yours, but she has no reservations. Her goal is clear: to win. Her sword is sharp and matchless.

Accumulating power to release it later.

Shan Jun, if things continue like this, there is no guarantee that one day Jing’er won’t surpass you.

As Master had foretold, that day had come.

She and Lou Jing had fought a real, unfeigned match.

And she had lost.

This loss felt entirely different from the defeat during the spring martial competition.

She had never felt this way before; a heavy, stifling feeling, as if her heart were twisted in knots. She could not find ease.

Lang Ye pursued Lou Jing down the mountain, but ultimately returned unsuccessful.

The next day, in the study of the main peak.

Wu Qingtian and Li Changhong were discussing the aftermath. Li Changhong asked, “Could someone have helped her from the shadows?”

Elder Li’s thoughts shifted. He turned around, pointed at the void, and let out a sharp breath. Squinting his eyes, he said, “Even for Shen Zhongyin’s people, entering the Qian Yuan Sect is not that easy. Perhaps the one who helped that wicked disciple was someone within our own sect…”

“Martial Uncle, why are you looking at me!” Yun Yao protested in shame and anger. “I may not believe A’Jing is the killer, but I know the difference between what should and shouldn’t be done!”

Elder Li said sheepishly, “I was merely stating it as a possibility.”

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

Yun Yao said, “Martial Uncle Yu!”

In order to find a way to treat Lou Yan, Yu Xiu had buried himself in the archives and hadn’t been seen for days. Seeing him now, Yun Yao was naturally surprised.

Wu Qingtian’s mind raced, and he said happily, “Old Sixth, have you found a way?”

Yu Xiu nodded. He glanced around and asked, “Where is Shan Jun?”

Yun Yao said, “After the burial, she went back to the Clear Heart Waterside Pavilion. I’ll go get her.”

Yun Yao left the study and headed straight for Xiangri Peak.

After Lou Xuanzhi’s burial, Yu Jingqiu no longer had to keep vigil. Although there were sect matters for her to handle, she brought them back to the Waterside Pavilion.

Under the blue sky, the sound of flapping wings rang out.

A fair hand reached out from under the eaves, slender fingers extended. A carrier pigeon landed on her finger.

Yu Jingqiu removed the message from the pigeon’s leg. Last time, she had accidentally let the pigeon go before she could attach her refusal. Since the pigeon had returned with a new message, the sender must have seen the empty tube and misunderstood her silence.

Yu Jingqiu opened the note. It read: The fifteenth. Plum Blossom Ancient Cave.

Yu Jingqiu’s heart gave a sudden throb. Her hesitation in giving a clean refusal had led her sister to make the decision for her.

The fifteenth was clearly the date for their meeting, and the Plum Blossom Ancient Cave was an elegant, secluded garden about thirty miles east of Tiger Roar Mountain.

With a date and location set, her desire to see her only living relative intensified. But she had sworn an oath to obey her Master’s words. Now that Master was dead, violating that oath would bring her immense guilt.

A battle between duty and desire raged in her mind.

Hearing someone approaching, Yu Jingqiu’s eyes caught a line of small print at the bottom of the note: Release the pigeon, destroy the note.

Yu Jingqiu tossed the pigeon into the air. It took flight, flapping its wings as it disappeared into the distance.

A voice came from behind. “Senior Sister, what are you doing?”

Yu Jingqiu folded the note and tucked it into her sash. As she turned around, she said, “Releasing a pigeon.” While not technically a lie, her manner was somewhat stiff.

Yun Yao didn’t think much of it. “Martial Uncle Yu says he found a way to save Uncle Lou.”

Yu Jingqiu’s eyes lit up. “Truly?”

“Would I joke about something like that?”

Yu Jingqiu followed Yun Yao hurriedly to the study.

If Lou Yan could wake up, the truth of what happened that day would finally be revealed.

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

After greeting the three Uncles, Yu Jingqiu got straight to the point: “I heard from my Junior Sister that Martial Uncle has found a way to treat Uncle Lou.”

“Yes.” Yu Xiu traced a circle over the chest and lungs. “The palm strike Elder Lou suffered from Shen Zhongyin damaged his internal organs. The technique Shen Zhongyin practices is extremely overbearing; the palm strike carries an inherent scorching energy. This energy invaded Elder Lou’s meridians like a wildfire spreading across a plain, attacking the meridians throughout his body. It leaves him burning hot with crimson skin. Fortunately, Elder Lou’s foundation is strong; he resisted with his own true qi, which kept him from dying instantly. If…”

Wu Qingtian frowned. “Darn it, Old Sixth, stick to the important parts. Who wants to hear all that? Just tell us how to treat him.”

“In medicine, we emphasize the balance of elements. Shen Zhongyin’s technique is peak Yang; it must be countered with something of peak Yin and extreme cold, aided by our internal energy…” When it came to his field, Yu Xiu unconsciously began to ramble.

Wu Qingtian glared impatiently. “You—”

Yu Xiu changed his tune, speaking concisely: “The Emerald Drop Pearl can cure him.”

Li Changhong stroked the tip of his goatee and murmured, “Since that is the item required…”

Yu Jingqiu looked at the three Uncles. Their expressions were composed, and she understood they must know the whereabouts of this pearl. “Does Martial Uncle Yu know where this Emerald Drop Pearl is?”

Wu Qingtian remarked, “Heaven aids those with good intentions.”

Yu Xiu said, “The Emerald Drop Pearl is an artifact held by the Celestial Star Palace. It is their family treasure.”

Yun Yao gave a joyful cry. “Ah! Then there is hope for Uncle Lou’s recovery!”

The Celestial Star Palace was located in the Snowy Region. Though named a “Palace” like a martial sect, it was actually a city in the snow. The City Lord had been a friend of Lou Xuanzhi for many years. At the martial competition earlier this year, the City Lord had traveled thousands of miles to come to the Qian Yuan Sect.

Yu Jingqiu and the others had heard of their friendship. Apparently, many years ago, Lou Xuanzhi had saved the City Lord’s life. The City Lord was a man who repaid kindness, and so the two families began to correspond, gradually becoming close.

If the Emerald Drop Pearl was at the Celestial Star Palace, even if it was a family treasure, the City Lord’s straightforward and grateful nature meant he would surely offer it. There was indeed hope for Lou Yan’s recovery!