Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 30

Yu Jingqiu had never encountered such a ferocious young woman before. She could only marvel at the vastness of the world and the countless different temperaments found within it.

Once the woman saw that she had beaten the man to death, her nerves relaxed and the heat of her blood subsided. The drug’s effects surged through her again, and she could no longer support herself.

Her body swayed before collapsing.

“Miss!”

Lang Ye reached out and caught her bare arm. His cheeks immediately reddened, and he released her as though he had been burned.

He looked helplessly toward Yu Jingqiu.

“Senior Sister.”

Yu Jingqiu picked up the woman’s fallen clothes, helped her put them on, and fastened the sash around her waist.

At that moment, a bell rang inside the room.

The ringing was urgent but rhythmic—two short chimes, repeated twice.

Lang Ye glanced at the bell swaying overhead. Sword in hand, he lightly stepped over the bandit leader’s corpse and headed outside.

“Senior Sister, I will take a look.”

Yu Jingqiu carried the young woman to the bed and followed him.

Upon leaving the side chamber, she saw the corpse of the bandit from earlier lying beside the wine table. A sword had pierced his chest, and blood covered the floor.

Naturally, Lang Ye had killed him.

When Yu Jingqiu reached the passage, Lang Ye was already standing behind the concealed door with his sword in hand, operating the mechanism.

The door opened, and the sounds of fighting outside flooded inside.

Their two senior brothers had already begun “smashing bowls and chopping tables” upstairs.

A man stood outside the secret entrance. They had never seen him before, but he could only be another member of the bandit gang.

He carried a demon-headed saber and pressed one hand against his forehead. Blood flowed between his fingers.

The moment the concealed door opened, he hurriedly said in thieves’ cant, “Chief, Second Brother has been injured! These marks are tough—we cannot handle them. We need to pull out quickly!”

Lang Ye’s sword flashed out like a silver python.

“You wish to flee? Does your chief no longer want his pretty lamb?”

The man possessed some skill and raised his saber in time to block the swift strike.

When he saw Lang Ye’s face, he immediately understood that his leader had probably met with disaster.

He cursed furiously, “Damn it! I told that bastard to control what was between his legs! He has hollowed himself out so badly that he is useless when it matters. Now he has capsized in a ditch and fallen to some yellow-haired brat!”

Lang Ye sneered.

“There is no need to be impatient. Before long, you will be reunited with him. Whatever you wish to say, you may tell him personally below.”

Lang Ye raised his sword, and its blade danced like a silver serpent.

The Qianyuan Sword Art was divided into the Qian and Kun Formulas, but few people cultivated both.

Practicing both required not only tremendous energy but twice as much time. If one lacked sufficient ability, the result would merely be twice the effort for half the achievement.

Only a few among their generation trained in both formulas.

Yu Jingqiu possessed exceptional talent and comprehension, so cultivating both was naturally no problem for her.

Lou Jing was determined to compete with Yu Jingqiu in everything and refused to fall behind, so she also practiced both the Qian and Kun Formulas.

She possessed greater patience than most and could practice the sword for six or seven hours every day. Through relentless training, she had thoroughly comprehended both sets of techniques.

Lang Ye understood his own abilities clearly.

His natural talent could not compare with Yu Jingqiu’s, and his endurance was inferior to Lou Jing’s.

He therefore selected the sword art most suitable for him and devoted himself exclusively to the Kun Formula.

The Kun Formula emphasized overcoming hardness with softness. A flexible sword could best display its continuous and unpredictable techniques.

Against a saber, such a sword was somewhat inferior in raw strength.

However, Lang Ye’s weapon had never been forged for direct clashes.

The bandit swung his saber down with tremendous force, its violent wind pressing upon them.

Lang Ye stepped lightly, his body and sword becoming one. He flowed forward like drifting clouds and running water, attacking the man’s waist.

The bandit turned his saber horizontally to block.

However, Lang Ye’s force traveled through the flexible blade, causing it to bend inward. Its point continued around the saber and stabbed into the man’s side.

Sword qi swept past, opening a long wound from which blood poured.

They fought all the way into the main hall.

The bandit released a furious roar and lunged with his saber, apparently intending to perish together with Lang Ye.

But Lang Ye was faster.

Silver light flashed, and a bloody line appeared across the man’s throat.

When Yu Jingqiu reached the hall, she happened to witness the strike and could not help freezing.

Sparring inside the sect always ended once victory was decided.

Although she had fought outsiders before, she had never reached a situation in which one person had to live and the other die.

She therefore remained somewhat resistant to killing.

Inside the sect, Lang Ye was always modest and courteous toward his junior brothers and sisters. Even while sparring, his techniques were usually restrained.

Yu Jingqiu had never seen the side of him that fought outsiders seriously.

His movements were clean and decisive. Even when taking a life, his sword showed no hesitation.

He had traveled through the martial world for many years and sharpened his edge through experience.

In this respect, he was more decisive than his senior sister.

The thought of recommending Lang Ye as sect master arose in Yu Jingqiu’s mind.

Once the man died, the fighting upstairs also ceased.

A moment later, the sound of a galloping horse came from outside the inn.

One of their fellow disciples flew in from the rear courtyard.

“Junior Brother, stop that man!”

As he spoke, he had already rushed outside.

He looked into the distance and saw a hazy figure riding away beneath the dim sky.

The rider was already too far away to pursue.

The disciple struck the doorframe angrily.

“That damned thief!”

Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye hurried forward.

“Senior Brother, what happened?”

The other accompanying disciple appeared beside the upstairs railing and leaped down.

“The bandits upstairs have either fled or died. No one remains.”

The disciple standing at the door barely heard him. He stamped his foot in frustration.

“Aiya! Those damned thieves killed our horses!”

The other three were startled and hurried toward the stable.

They found three dead horses inside.

One horse had been taken by the fleeing bandit. Fearing pursuit, he had apparently used a short sword to stab the remaining three to death.

The four stood silently before the bodies.

Without horses, no one knew how much their journey would be delayed.

Yu Jingqiu sighed softly.

“What is done cannot be changed. We have already spent the entire night fighting. Dawn will arrive before long.

“We should rest now and recover our strength. Tomorrow, we can decide what to do.”

The following morning, the four ate dry provisions with water drawn from the well and discussed their departure.

One of the accompanying disciples said, “Without horses, we may not even pass through the border by the day after tomorrow. Who knows when we will reach Heavenly Star Palace?

“Those thieves were truly cunning! They have delayed our journey and made the road ahead much more difficult.”

Lang Ye considered the matter.

“Senior Brother, do not worry. If I remember correctly, once we cross this mountain and continue forward, we will reach Zhixing Village.”

The disciple slapped the table in realization.

“That is right! I had forgotten about it. Zhixing Village lies ahead and has some connection with our sect. Borrowing several horses there should not be difficult!”

“Zhixing Village?”

Yu Jingqiu looked confused.

The name sounded familiar, but she could not immediately remember where she had heard it.

Lang Ye smiled.

“Senior Sister may not recognize the name Zhixing Village, but you certainly know the Zhixing Sect.”

“Ah, the sect that gathers information throughout the martial world? Why is it also called Zhixing Village?”

“Senior Sister may not know this, but the Zhixing Sect is located inside an ordinary village, and its members are the villagers themselves.

“Originally, this arrangement was meant to conceal their identities. But they now interact frequently with the various martial factions, so it is no longer much of a secret.”

“I see.”

After agreeing upon their plan, the group prepared to leave.

When they descended the stairs, they saw someone standing in the hall below.

A flying-fish pouch was strapped across the person’s back, along with a purple sandalwood bow. Sparrow-feathered arrows filled a lion-shaped quiver.

She wore a Hu-style riding skirt, and her hair was tied high in a ponytail.

Hearing them approach, she turned around.

It was the young woman from the previous day.

The drug had worn off, and her earlier weakness had vanished.

In the bright hall, they could clearly see her appearance. She had heroic brows, strong and elegant features, and the bold bearing of a spirited young woman.

Lang Ye stared at her blankly for a moment.

Suddenly realizing that he was being impolite, he hurriedly lowered his eyes and looked away.

Yu Jingqiu glanced at his expression and smiled faintly.

“Do you feel better, miss?”

The woman had been holding her head high, openly examining Lang Ye and Yu Jingqiu with a bright smile.

She showed none of the modesty or shyness expected of ordinary young women.

Upon hearing Yu Jingqiu’s question, she replied, “That little amount of drug was nothing.”

“How did those bandits manage to restrain you?”

The woman explained what had happened.

Like Yu Jingqiu and the others, she had stopped at the inn for the night. However, she failed to notice that the food had been drugged.

When the medicine took effect, the bandits came forward to bind her.

She had already been weakened by the drug, and there were too many enemies for her to resist, so she was captured.

One of the accompanying disciples asked, “Judging from your clothing, you do not appear to be from the Central Plains. May I ask where you come from?”

The woman replied, “Heaven and earth are vast. The four seas are my home.”

Lang Ye laughed.

“Well said—heaven and earth are vast, and the four seas are home.”

The woman cupped her hands toward Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye.

“This elder sister and young gentleman saved my life. Although people say that great kindness cannot be expressed through mere thanks, a debt of gratitude must still be repaid.

“I simply do not know how to repay you.”

Lang Ye said, “Since the four seas are your home, everyone within them can be considered friends and siblings.

“Speaking of debts and repayment would only make us strangers.”

The woman could not help looking at Lang Ye several more times.

Yu Jingqiu said, “Anyone traveling through the martial world will encounter difficulties. You need not take this matter to heart.”

“Very well.”

The woman answered without hesitation and grinned, revealing neat white teeth.

Yu Jingqiu liked her straightforward nature.

“You appear ready to depart. Where are you going?”

“I intend to settle accounts with the bandits who escaped yesterday. I know they have another stronghold.”

Yu Jingqiu said regretfully, “Then it seems our paths lead in different directions.”

Lang Ye was somewhat concerned for the woman, but she was also a child of the martial world and must possess her own means of protecting herself.

Furthermore, their group had an urgent responsibility and could not assist her.

He therefore said only, “Please be careful in all things.”

The two groups separated at a fork in the road.

Yu Jingqiu and the others had not traveled far when someone called from behind.

“Hey, friends and siblings up ahead!”

They turned around.

It was the young woman.

She called, “Since we are friends and siblings, could you do me one more favor?

“Lend me some silver.”

Lang Ye froze briefly.

By the time he recovered, he had already removed his money pouch.

He smiled and tossed it toward her.

“Of course.”

The woman caught the silver and waved to him in thanks before departing with carefree strides.

Lang Ye watched her for a while and sighed inwardly.

They had met by chance upon the water, with no certainty they would ever meet again.

The group left the inn and followed the road forward without stopping.

They walked until the sun began descending in the west, when a village finally appeared.

The settlement was prosperous, with many people from the martial world coming and going.

After passing through the village archway and continuing a short distance, they saw a wine banner hanging from a tall pole ahead.

Having traveled for an entire day, the sight of the banner fluttering in the wind made their mouths feel even drier.

The four stopped.

One accompanying disciple said, “Go inside and rest. Order some wine and food. I will obtain horses and return.”

The other three agreed and entered the tavern.

The disciple left the tavern and headed directly toward a stable at the eastern end of the village.

A man resembling an accountant sat behind a table recording figures, while two other men drew water beside a well.

The disciple approached and sat opposite the accountant.

Seeing that the man was older, he respectfully addressed him as Senior Brother.

“I am from the Qianyuan Sect. We lost our horses along the road and would like to borrow several fast mounts from you.

“Payment will not be a problem. I ask only that you grant us this convenience.”

The two men drawing water abruptly stopped and turned toward him.

The accountant also raised his head and looked at him from the corner of his eye.

“You are from the Qianyuan Sect? How many horses do you need?”

“Four—”

Before he could finish, the disciple suddenly felt a surge of coldness behind him.

He dodged sideways.

A tiger-headed bronze mace crashed down upon the place where he had been sitting.