Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 33

Meanwhile, the two young disciples who had traveled to the snowy region had been away for six days without returning because the people of Zhixing Village had pursued them relentlessly, refusing to let go as though they bore some deep and bitter hatred.

Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye had lost a great deal of time evading them.

Only after entering the territory controlled by Heavenly Star Palace—and thanks to Nie Yunlan guiding them—did they finally manage to shake off their pursuers.

The three had endured open attacks and hidden ambushes throughout the journey and were covered in dust from travel.

At last, on this day, they caught sight of the gates of Heavenly Star City.

For six months of every year, the snowy region appeared as though built from jade and decorated with pearls, wrapped entirely in silver and covered in endless white.

During the other six months, it resembled the Central Plains: delicate flowers bloomed in spring, and the summer sun burned fiercely.

Only when the snow arrived did the bitter, piercing cold become especially difficult to endure.

The native inhabitants of the snowy region had originally been hunters living in scattered settlements.

Then the ancestors of the Nie family led their people there, opened up new territory, and established a place to live. They attracted the local population, who built houses around Heavenly Star Palace.

Over time, the settlement grew into a city.

After escorting the pair to their destination, Nie Yunlan stopped at a distance from the city gates.

“I will only take you this far.”

They had only just survived so many life-and-death dangers together. Why would she pass by her own home without entering?

Lang Ye asked in surprise, “Miss Nie, are you not going home to visit?”

Nie Yunlan placed one pale hand beside her mouth and lowered her voice mysteriously.

“I will tell you a secret. I ran away from home.”

Satisfied by the astonishment upon Yu Jingqiu’s and Lang Ye’s faces, Nie Yunlan burst into hearty laughter.

“My father always says I am too young and my abilities are inadequate. He forbids me from setting foot in the martial world.

“But you saw what happened this time. I destroyed that entire bandit stronghold by myself. I am more than capable of traveling through the martial world.

“My father will not care about any of that, though. If he sees me, he will certainly capture me, take me home, and confine me for several months.

“So I cannot go inside. I will wait here for you.”

Yu Jingqiu thought that City Lord Nie must be frantic after discovering his daughter missing and was probably searching for her everywhere.

She could not help wanting to persuade Nie Yunlan to return home once and reassure her father.

She had only begun, “Miss Nie, you—”

Nie Yunlan raised a hand to stop her.

“Aiya, Elder Sister Yu, do not try to persuade me. Even if it is you telling me to go back, I will become angry.”

Seeing her determined attitude, Yu Jingqiu did not wish to dampen her spirits.

Lang Ye was also urging her onward, so they bid farewell to Nie Yunlan and entered the city.

Yu Jingqiu glanced back, but Nie Yunlan’s figure was already gone.

“That young woman is as free-spirited as Yao’er and even more straightforward than Jing’er. She and those two would certainly get along.”

Lang Ye smiled.

“Get along? The three of them would go mad together.”

But when Yu Jingqiu thought of Lou Jing wandering outside, her survival unknown, her brows drew together and her expression dimmed.

“I wonder how Jing’er is doing.”

Lang Ye comforted her.

“Senior Sister, do not worry. Ah-Jing is protected by good fortune.

“Once we retrieve the Dewdrop Emerald Pearl and Martial Uncle Lou awakens, he will clear her name. Then all of us martial siblings will go together and bring her home.”

Before long, they reached Heavenly Star Palace.

Its halls and towers were grand, imposing, and magnificent, resembling the skies of the far north—powerful, austere, and breathtaking.

After identifying themselves, they received an extremely courteous welcome and were escorted to the city lord’s study to wait.

A maid brought tea and fruit.

Yu Jingqiu lifted a cup and took a light sip. She could not conceal her amazement.

The tea was clear and refreshing, soothing her entire body.

“Excellent tea.”

Laughter came from outside the study.

“This is Clear Snow Tea from the snowy region. If my young friend enjoys it, take some home when you leave.”

A tall man entered.

From his figure alone, he appeared exceedingly imposing.

A handsome black beard flowed smoothly over his chest without making him seem coarse. Silver ornaments hung among his hair. His thick brows slanted toward his temples, while his eyes contained a restrained brilliance.

He was an exceptionally handsome man, and age only added to his elegance.

Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye rose and bowed.

“City Lord.”

Nie Chan raised a hand slightly.

The maid quietly withdrew as he walked forward.

“Young friends, forgive me for arriving late.”

Yu Jingqiu said, “Heavenly Star Palace has many affairs requiring attention. We juniors would not have disturbed you if circumstances had not forced us to come.”

Nie Chan replied, “My attendant has already explained the general situation.

“This is your first visit to Heavenly Star Palace, and ordinarily I would hold a banquet to welcome you.

“But I know you are anxious and concerned for your elder, and your mission must take priority, so I have dispensed with those formalities.”

Yu Jingqiu found him extremely considerate.

Although the people of the snowy region were forthright and unconcerned with minor etiquette, a city lord governed an entire territory and naturally possessed greater refinement and attentiveness.

“City Lord has arranged everything thoughtfully. This junior is deeply grateful.”

Nie Chan rested one hand upon the arm of his chair. His other hand curled lightly into a fist and lowered before his abdomen in regret.

“Aiya. When Sect Master Lou passed away, I was occupied with matters here and thousands of li away. I could not attend his funeral, which I deeply regret.

“I had also heard that Elder Lou was injured.

“If there is anything I can do, I will not refuse. Young friend, speak freely.”

Reassured by those words, Yu Jingqiu took out the letter Li Changhong had entrusted to them.

“Martial Uncle Lou received a palm strike from Shen Zhongyin. Scorching force entered his organs, and we require City Lord’s precious Dewdrop Emerald Pearl to suppress the harmful fire and save his life.”

Nie Chan accepted the letter with both hands.

Yu Jingqiu noticed that his palms were broad, his ten fingers unusually long, and the veins upon the backs of his hands prominent.

She did not know the depth of his internal cultivation, but he was certainly an expert in external martial arts.

Nie Chan opened the letter immediately.

A jade pendant slipped from the envelope, and he caught it in his hand.

When he unfolded the letter, he discovered that it had been written in the language used by his tribe beyond the frontier, a script few people in the Central Plains could understand.

At first, he could not comprehend why a simple request for medicine had been handled with such caution.

Then his eyes swept over the page.

After reading the entire letter, his body stiffened.

Yu Jingqiu saw his expression turn grim as he stared at them.

“City Lord, is there some difficulty?”

Light shifted within Nie Chan’s eyes.

After a long moment, his expression returned to normal.

“Young friends, please wait here. I will retrieve the Dewdrop Emerald Pearl.”

He lowered his head slightly, appearing lost in thought.

The two waited in the study.

Since Nie Chan had said he was fetching the pearl, they did not know when he would return and felt it improper to wander elsewhere.

Yet even after they sat quietly for a long time, he did not reappear.

The wound at Yu Jingqiu’s waist had scabbed over and begun to itch.

Unable to remain seated, she rose and walked around.

Behind the grand chair hung the pelt of a snow wolf.

Its fur was pure white without a single blemish, and some unknown method had preserved the wolf’s head perfectly without decay.

Yu Jingqiu sighed inwardly.

Even a swift and vicious beast like a snow wolf, once trapped by a hunter’s careful design, became nothing more than a beautiful creature in a cage and a delicacy upon the table.

Lang Ye suddenly stood.

“Senior Sister, something is wrong!”

Yu Jingqiu returned to her senses and realized that the surroundings outside the study were far quieter than before.

Lang Ye tightened his grip upon his sword.

“City Lord Nie has been gone for half an incense stick.”

A thought flashed through Yu Jingqiu’s mind.

“City Lord Nie may have encountered trouble…”

Sound arose outside the study.

Orderly, heavy footsteps surrounded the building.

Lang Ye said, “We are the ones who have encountered trouble.”

Two men entered from outside.

One was powerfully built and dressed in military attire. One hand rested upon his hip, while the other pressed against the saber at his waist.

“Both of you.”

Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye stared at them.

An indescribable sense of strangeness filled the room.

The two men cupped their hands.

“Please.”

The instant the word left their mouths, one drew a ring-pommel saber while the other pulled free a flexible sword whose blade gleamed with cold light.

Both men radiated killing intent.

This was no jest.

They had come to take their lives.

Yu Jingqiu stared in astonishment.

The swordsman was the same man who had escorted them into the study earlier—Nie Chan’s personal attendant.

How had someone so courteous and respectful suddenly become filled with killing intent and turned his weapon against them?

Yu Jingqiu drew her sword and blocked the cold blade thrusting toward her, then immediately withdrew.

“General Yang, what is the meaning of this?”

She did not ask where Nie Chan had gone because she already had a premonition.

He had been gone far too long, completely contradicting his earlier attentiveness.

General Yang was his trusted attendant. Without Nie Chan’s command, how could he draw a weapon against the city lord’s guests?

She simply could not understand how they had offended Nie Chan or why his attitude had changed so abruptly.

Given his forthright nature and deep friendship with the Qianyuan Sect, he would never turn against them over some minor matter.

The man holding the ring-pommel saber said heavily, “The city lord has ordered us to take your lives.

“However, considering his many years of friendship with the Qianyuan Sect and the fact that you are both outstanding young talents, you may preserve your dignity by taking your own lives.”

The situation was absurd.

One moment, they had been treated as honored guests.

The next, blades were being drawn to kill them.

Even if the two were incarnations of the God of Literature, they could not have guessed the reason.

Lang Ye’s mouth opened in shock, his tongue turning cold.

Yu Jingqiu’s mind became blank.

She had only recently entered the martial world and had never experienced such a sudden reversal.

Yet her naturally calm temperament allowed her to steady herself and seek an explanation.

“Gentlemen, could there be some misunderstanding?

“Our two sides have shared a friendship for many years. Only moments ago, the city lord received us warmly. Why would he suddenly seek our lives?

“If we have behaved improperly in some way, we beg you to point it out…”

“We act under orders. Since you refuse to do it yourselves, forgive us!”

The two men spoke no further.

No matter how many questions Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye asked, they offered no response and focused solely upon killing them.

Both were Nie Chan’s trusted attendants and generals of Heavenly Star Palace. Naturally, their martial abilities were formidable.

The man wielding the ring-pommel saber had cultivated his body to great strength and combined it with a fierce, ruthless saber art.

He resembled a tiger whose claws and teeth had been sharpened by wind, frost, and blizzards—unstoppable and ferocious.

Yu Jingqiu moved lightly and avoided his power.

Her sword danced with the grace of a startled swan.

She had no desire to become entangled in battle. She only wanted to escape, find Nie Chan, and demand an explanation.

General Yang’s sword art was soft and subtle.

When it met Lang Ye’s Kun Formula, neither side attempted to overpower the other. Victory depended instead upon endlessly changing, unpredictable techniques.

It was like two currents of water colliding, with neither able to gain the advantage.

Lang Ye also cared nothing for victory or defeat.

Like Yu Jingqiu, he sought only to escape.

The main doorway had already been sealed.

When they first heard movement outside, they had known the study was surrounded.

There was no path of retreat in any direction unless they could ascend into heaven or burrow beneath the earth.

Yu Jingqiu gathered qi in her dantian and thrust her sword upward.

The strike rose like a blade piercing a rainbow, carrying extraordinary force.

Seeing its power, the man with the ring-pommel saber chose not to block it directly and moved aside under cover of a feint.

Yet Yu Jingqiu had never been aiming for him.

Her target was the roof behind him.

Sword qi surged into the sky.

The building shook, tiles and debris scattering as a large hole opened overhead.

Yu Jingqiu flew through it.

Lang Ye had been watching his senior sister closely.

The moment he saw the opening stance of her technique, he understood that she had planned an escape route and immediately prepared himself.

He pretended to be losing and retreated step by step, while in truth drawing closer to Yu Jingqiu.

When the roof broke open, General Yang’s attention wavered.

Lang Ye seized the opportunity to withdraw and leaped out after her.

The moment they reached the rooftop, they saw soldiers surrounding the study in a complete circle.

They carried long spears and bows.

As soon as the two appeared, the soldiers nocked arrows and fired.

The arrows descended like torrential rain.

Yu Jingqiu’s and Lang Ye’s swords intertwined into a dense net.

A rapid succession of metallic clangs rang out as they deflected every arrow.

Before the raised terrace of a hall to the north, two figures stood watching the study from afar.

The man in front was Nie Chan.

His hands were clasped behind his back, and the back of one hand lightly struck the other palm as he sighed.

Behind him stood a handsome young man whose features resembled his own.

The young man asked in confusion, “Father, since you have already made your decision, why sigh?”

Nie Chan replied, “They are the finest talents of the younger generation, gifted and full of brilliance.

“For the wind to destroy them now is truly a pity.”