Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 33

On the other side, the reason the two young people who headed for the Snowy Region had not returned for six days was that the group from Zhixing Village had pursued them relentlessly, refusing to let go as if they shared some profound blood feud.

Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye had lost a great deal of time evading them. It wasn’t until they reached the sphere of influence of the Celestial Star Palace in the Snowy Region that they finally managed to shake off those tails, thanks to Nie Yunlan leading the way.

Having dodged these hidden arrows and open blades all the way, the travel-worn trio finally sighted the city gates of the Celestial Star Palace on this day.

Of the twelve months in a year in the Snowy Region, half are spent amidst piled jade and carved ice, a world draped in silver and wrapped in snowy white. The other half is much like the Central Plains, with delicate flowers in spring and a scorching sun in summer; only when it snows does the biting, piercing cold become exceptionally difficult to endure.

The indigenous people of the Snowy Region were mostly hunters living scattered about, until the ancestors of the Nie family brought their kinsmen here to migrate and carve out a settlement. This attracted the commoners of the region, who built houses leaning against the Celestial Star Palace. Over time, it grew to the scale of a city.

Having escorted them to their destination, Nie Yunlan looked at the city gates from afar. “I’ll only see you this far.”

After having survived life and death together, why pass the family door without entering?

Lang Ye asked in surprise, “Is Miss Nie not going home to have a look?”

Nie Yunlan placed a fair hand by her mouth and lowered her voice mysteriously. “I’ll let you in on a secret: I snuck out.”

Nie Yunlan watched the shocked expressions of Lang and Yu with satisfaction, then let out a hearty, boisterous laugh. “My dad always says I’m young and my skills aren’t up to par, so he forbids me from stepping foot into the martial world. This time you saw it—I took out that bandits’ nest all by myself; traveling the world is more than within my capabilities. But my dad doesn’t care about any of that. If he sees me, he’ll definitely catch me and lock me up for a few months of solitary confinement. So I can’t go back; I’ll wait for you right here.”

Yu Jingqiu thought to herself that City Lord Nie must be consumed with worry over his missing daughter, searching everywhere. She felt compelled to persuade Nie Yunlan to return home once to put her father’s mind at ease, starting with: “Miss Nie, you…”

Nie Yunlan reached out to stop her. “Ah, Sister Yu, don’t persuade me. Even if it’s you, I’ll get angry if you try to make me go back.”

Seeing her firm attitude, Yu Jingqiu did not want to dampen her spirits. Lang Ye also urged her forward, so they bid farewell to Nie Yunlan and entered the city.

Yu Jingqiu looked back once, but the figure was already gone. “This girl’s spontaneity is like Yao’er’s, and her directness surpasses Jing’er’s. She would surely get along with the two of them.”

Lang Ye smiled. “It’s not just ‘getting along’; they would be able to run wild together.”

But at the thought of Lou Jing wandering outside, her fate unknown, Yu Jingqiu’s brows knitted slightly, her expression turning somber. “I wonder how Jing’er is doing.”

Lang Ye consoled her, “Don’t worry, Senior Sister. A’Jing is favored by heaven. Once we retrieve the Emerald Drop Pearl and Uncle Lou wakes up to clear her name, us siblings will go together to bring her home.”

Before long, the two arrived at the Celestial Star Palace. The palace was grand, its halls and towers imposing and magnificent. Much like the snowy sky of the far north, it was vigorous and soul-shaking.

The two declared their identities and were treated with great courtesy, led to the City Lord’s study to wait. A maidservant brought tea and fruit. Yu Jingqiu picked up a cup and took a light sip; she could not hide her admiration. The tea was crisp and refreshing. “Excellent tea.”

Laughter echoed from outside the study. “This is the Clear Snow Tea of the Snowy Region. If my young friend likes it, take some back with you when you leave.”

A tall man entered the study. Judging by his frame alone, he was quite formidable. He wore a beautiful beard that was black, shiny, and smooth, not at all coarse. Silver ornaments hung in his hair, and his thick brows slanted long into his temples. His eyes held a restrained light. He was an exceptionally handsome man, and his age only added to his sophisticated air.

The two rose to salute. “City Lord.”

Nie Chan raised his hand slightly, and the maidservant withdrew quietly. He walked over slowly. “Young friends, forgive me for my late arrival.”

Yu Jingqiu said, “The affairs of the Celestial Star Palace are many. This junior has come to disturb you out of sheer necessity.”

Nie Chan said, “I have heard the general situation from my attendants. This is your first time at my palace. I originally intended to host a banquet, but knowing you are anxious and worried for your elder, and that the mission is paramount, I shall forego these formalities.”

Yu Jingqiu felt this man was incredibly thoughtful. While people of the Snowy Region were typically boisterous and informal, as a City Lord managing a territory, he possessed a layer of delicate consideration. Yu Jingqiu said, “The City Lord’s arrangements are perfect. This junior is profoundly grateful.”

Nie Chan rested his hand on an armchair, his other hand lightly clenched into a fist in front of his abdomen, lowering it slightly in a gesture of regret. “Sigh. When Sect Leader Lou passed, I was unable to go and offer my condolences as I was far away and tied down. My heart is deeply sorrowed. I had heard earlier of Elder Lou’s injury. If I can contribute even a little, I shall not hesitate. Pray, speak freely.”

Hearing this, Yu Jingqiu felt at ease and took out the letter Li Changhong had given them. “Uncle Lou suffered a palm strike from Shen Zhongyin. Scorching qi is eroding his organs. We require the City Lord’s treasure, the Emerald Drop Pearl, to suppress the evil fire and save his life.”

Nie Chan took the letter with both hands. Yu Jingqiu noticed his palms were broad, his fingers remarkably long, and the veins on the back of his hands protruded. Though she did not know his internal strength, he was certainly a master of external techniques.

Nie Chan opened the letter on the spot. A jade pendant slid out of the envelope, which he caught in his hand. He unfurled the letter; the script was the language used by his nomadic tribes. Few in the Central Plains understood these characters. At first, he did not understand why such caution was needed just to request medicine, but as his eyes scanned the page and finished the letter, his entire body stiffened.

Seeing Nie Chan’s expression turn grim as he stared at them, Yu Jingqiu asked, “City Lord, is there some difficulty?”

The light in Nie Chan’s eyes flickered. After a long while, his expression returned to normal. He said, “Young friends, please wait a moment while I retrieve the Emerald Drop Pearl.”

She saw him lower his head slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

The two waited in the study. Since Nie Chan said he was going to get the pearl, they did not know when he would return. It was not appropriate for them to wander about, but after sitting for a long time, there was still no sign of him.

The wound on Yu Jingqiu’s waist was healing and scabbing, making it itch. She couldn’t help but stand up to walk around. She saw a snow-wolf pelt hanging behind the grand armchair. The fur was pure white without a single stray color. Some method had been used to preserve the wolf’s head perfectly, preventing rot.

She sighed inwardly; even a beast as agile and ferocious as a snow wolf was nothing more than a beautiful creature in a cage or a delicacy on the table when faced with a hunter’s careful design.

Lang Ye suddenly stood up. “Senior Sister, something’s wrong!”

Yu Jingqiu snapped back to attention and realized with a start that it was far too quiet outside the study compared to before.

Lang Ye gripped his sword hilt tightly. “The City Lord has been gone for half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.”

A thought flashed through Yu Jingqiu’s mind. “Has the City Lord run into trouble…?”

A sound echoed from outside again—the sound of heavy, disciplined footsteps surrounding the study.

Lang Ye said, “We are the ones in trouble.”

Two men walked into the study. One was of massive build, dressed in military attire, with one hand on his hip and the other resting on the saber at his waist. “You two.”

Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye stared at the pair, feeling an indescribable sense of wrongness.

The two men cupped their hands and said, “Excuse us!”

The moment the words fell, one drew the ring-pommel saber from his waist, while the other drew a cold, shimmering flexible sword with a sharp clink. These two men were filled with killing intent; they weren’t joking—they were coming straight for their lives.

Yu Jingqiu was stunned. The man wielding the sword was the very person who had led them into the study earlier—Nie Chan’s personal attendant. How could someone so polite and respectful turn into a bloodthirsty killer in the blink of an eye?

Yu Jingqiu parried the incoming blade and retreated instantly. “General Yang, what is the meaning of this?” She did not ask where Nie Chan was, for she already had a premonition. Nie Chan had been gone too long, a stark contrast to his earlier enthusiasm. Since General Yang was his attendant, how could he draw his blade against his guests without Nie Chan’s permission?

She simply couldn’t understand: where had they offended the City Lord? Why the sudden fallout? Given the City Lord’s nature—informal and sharing a deep friendship with the Qian Yuan Sect—why would he turn hostile over a triviality?

The man holding the ring-pommel saber said in a deep voice, “The City Lord has ordered your deaths. However, in consideration of our years of friendship with the Qian Yuan Sect and your status as young talents, if you wish to maintain your dignity, you should take your own lives.”

This was bizarre. One moment they were honored guests; the next, they were being told to die.

Even if the two were sages descended from heaven, they could not guess the reason.

Lang Ye’s mouth hung open in shock, his tongue feeling cold. Yu Jingqiu’s mind was a blank; having just entered the martial world, she had never seen such a sudden turn of events. But because of her naturally calm temperament, she managed to steady herself to ask for clarity. “Big brothers, is there a misunderstanding? Our two families have years of friendship. Just now, the City Lord treated us warmly. Why the sudden desire for our lives? If we have done something inappropriate, pray, guide us…”

“We act on orders. Since you are unwilling, then forgive our offense!”

The two men said no more. Even as Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye asked repeated questions, full of doubt, the pair did not respond, focused solely on taking their lives. These two were Nie Chan’s attendants and generals of the Celestial Star Palace; their skills were naturally formidable.

The man with the ring-pommel saber practiced hard-body external techniques coupled with a ruthless, fierce saber style. He was like a tiger whose claws and teeth had been sharpened by wind, frost, and blizzard—unstoppable. Yu Jingqiu, agile and light, avoided his edge, her long sword dancing like a startled swan. She did not wish for a prolonged fight; she only wanted to break out and find Nie Chan to ask for the truth.

Meanwhile, General Yang’s sword style was feminine and subtle. Facing Lang Ye’s Kun Formula, he did not fight with raw power but sought victory through unpredictable and changing sword moves. It was like one stream of water colliding with another, making it hard to determine a victor. Lang Ye, like Yu Jingqiu, was not fighting for victory, but for escape.

The main exit was blocked. Earlier, they had heard the sound of soldiers surrounding the study. There was no way out unless they could fly to the heavens or burrow into the earth.

Yu Jingqiu condensed her qi at her dantian and leaped upward with a sword thrust, like a sword piercing the rainbow. The momentum of this strike was extraordinary. Seeing the power, the man with the saber did not meet it head-on but retreated to dodge. However, Yu Jingqiu’s target was not him; she was aiming for the roof behind him.

The sword qi shot straight into the sky. The building vibrated, tiles splintered, and a large hole was torn in the roof.

Yu Jingqiu flew out. Lang Ye had been watching her every move; seeing her sword-stance begin, he knew she had planned an exit. He was prepared, pretending to be overwhelmed and retreating step by step, while actually moving closer to her. When the roof was broken, General Yang was momentarily distracted, and Lang Ye seized the chance to withdraw and leap out after her.

As they reached the roof, they saw a ring of soldiers surrounding the study, armed with spears and bows. Seeing the two emerge, the soldiers notched their arrows and fired.

Arrows fell like heavy rain. The two weaved a web with their swords, the clinking sounds constant as they blocked every projectile.

In front of the terrace of a large hall to the north, two people stood looking toward the study from a distance.

The one in the lead was Nie Chan. His hands were behind his back, one palm lightly tapping the other, and he let out a sigh.

The handsome man standing behind him, whose features resembled his, asked in confusion, “Father, since you have made up your mind, why sigh?”

Nie Chan said, “They are the pride of the younger generation, brilliant and full of talent. To have the wind destroy them is truly a pity.”