Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 35
The guards of Heavenly Star Palace had sealed off the street.
Apart from them, not a single passerby remained. The city gate stood not far away, seemingly only a hundred steps distant, yet in truth it might as well have been a thousand li.
The four generals had served together for many years. A single glance was enough for them to understand one another.
They advanced simultaneously and occupied four positions, completely surrounding Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye.
Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye had only barely fought Generals Han and Yang to a draw. Compared with Generals Jiang and Shen, they were slightly inferior.
How could they possibly defeat all four together?
Worse still, Yu Jingqiu now had an injured leg.
Heaven itself had cut off every path of escape.
The martial siblings’ lives hung by a thread. There was no road left before them, yet neither was willing to cast aside their sword and wait for death.
Instead, a proud fearlessness arose within them.
Since death awaited them regardless, they would drag their feet forward by force if necessary.
The four generals appeared familiar with the Qianyuan Sword Formation. The moment they raised their weapons, they separated the two.
General Jiang swung his golden-threaded nine-ring saber, sending waves of violent qi through the air.
The heavy saber on his back was sharp and unyielding, its intent overbearing as he pressed forward step by step.
General Shen’s infantry lance stabbed, lifted, swept, and chopped. Its movements were both forceful and agile, as though the weapon itself were alive.
Yu Jingqiu could not move freely, so she focused upon defense. The wind of her sword formed a three-foot wall around her, solid as an iron fortress.
Lang Ye’s blade moved like a dragon and snake, shifting unpredictably.
Their advances and retreats remained measured, and for a time, they managed to withstand the assaults of Generals Jiang and Shen.
But once the saber and sword of Generals Han and Yang entered the battle, Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye were forced to defend in every direction and quickly fell into disadvantage.
General Yang’s sword flowed like a long ribbon of light, entangling Yu Jingqiu’s blade.
She adapted immediately.
Although General Yang could not defeat her, she was likewise unable to free herself in time.
General Shen found an opening.
His infantry lance swept around like a black python emerging from its cave.
If Yu Jingqiu wished to avoid it, she would have to abandon her sword.
To surrender her weapon was to surrender half her life. Death would become inevitable.
Besides, with her injured leg, she might not even evade the strike completely.
At that desperate moment, Yu Jingqiu twisted the sheath held in her other hand and thrust it forward.
The mouth of the scabbard met the edge of General Shen’s lance precisely.
She blocked the attack.
But for that instant, she could not move a single step.
Then Lang Ye cried out in alarm.
“Senior Sister!”
Generals Han and Jiang were fighting Lang Ye.
Both men wielded sabers.
Even though Lang Ye used softness to overcome hardness, he had not yet reached the pinnacle of that principle.
Absolute strength could overcome ten thousand techniques.
Relying upon their deeper cultivation, the two generals suppressed softness with sheer force, driving Lang Ye backward again and again until he was exhausted merely defending himself.
Either of the two could therefore withdraw from the fight at will, while Lang Ye could not stop them.
At the instant Generals Yang and Shen restrained Yu Jingqiu, General Han suddenly changed targets.
His saber came with extraordinary speed, clearly aimed at Yu Jingqiu.
Lang Ye had been worried about her injured leg and feared she could not hold on. Whenever he found an opening, his eyes flicked toward her.
Thus, he saw at once that she could neither move nor defend herself.
If General Han’s saber landed, Yu Jingqiu would be gravely wounded at best and killed at worst.
A ball of fire burst inside Lang Ye’s heart.
It burned through his entire body until every hair stood on end.
He could think of nothing else.
He saw only that saber.
Turning abruptly, he left his back completely exposed to General Jiang and rushed straight toward General Han.
He wanted only to stop that blade before it fell upon Yu Jingqiu.
General Han raised the saber high.
Its white edge reflected a fierce, cold light directly into the eyes.
The blade looked so sharp that a single strike would surely cut a person in two.
That deadly blow descended toward Yu Jingqiu’s waist.
Even the wind was slower than Lang Ye.
His qinggong surpassed General Han’s, allowing him to move second yet arrive first.
His sword flashed like a silver serpent, stabbing toward the arm holding the saber.
Yet General Jiang’s qinggong was no weaker than Lang Ye’s.
As Lang Ye pursued General Han, he failed to escape General Jiang’s saber net.
The moment he withdrew, General Jiang’s blade followed, tracing half a circle before chopping directly toward Lang Ye’s waist.
General Han had attacked Yu Jingqiu precisely because she could neither escape nor defend herself. His strike should have been certain to land.
Both Lang Ye and General Jiang were attacking a place their opponent was forced to protect.
Lang Ye aimed for General Han’s arm, calculating that if the man refused to withdraw his saber, Lang Ye’s sword would cripple that arm and prevent the strike from falling.
General Jiang, meanwhile, attempted to cut Lang Ye in half, wagering that the young man would value his life and turn his sword back to save himself.
Everything happened within a single instant.
Blood sprayed into the air.
It blossomed like a crimson lotus, withered, and broke apart, scattering in every direction like falling beads of coral.
Yu Jingqiu looked over.
Her pupils contracted.
The light within her bright eyes went out.
An arm and a human figure fell to the ground at the same time.
Blood rained over them like scarlet petals, dyeing everything before her red.
General Han had confidently left his back to General Jiang, trusting that his comrade would stop the young man. Without hesitation, he continued his strike toward Yu Jingqiu.
General Jiang believed that cherishing one’s life was human nature. Lang Ye was still young and could not possibly possess the courage of dragons and tigers. He would surely turn his sword back to defend himself.
Both men had guessed incorrectly.
Lang Ye moved without hesitation.
Ignoring the blade behind him, he thrust his sword without regret.
With one sweep of the green edge, he severed General Han’s arm and freed Yu Jingqiu from danger.
As for the golden-threaded nine-ring saber behind him, he could only receive it with his own body.
General Jiang’s blade cut deeply, splitting skin and flesh until it struck Lang Ye’s spine.
The incomparably sharp saber should have cleaved him in half.
Yet General Jiang was shaken by the young man’s fearless courage and instinctively stopped.
The sudden turn of events stunned everyone present into silence.
General Han clutched the wound of his severed arm. Blood dyed his hand crimson, and his face turned as white as paper.
He could not suppress a howl of agony.
General Yang withdrew his sword.
“Old Han!”
He hurried forward and struck several acupoints to stop the bleeding.
But the wound was too large, and blood continued to pour out.
General Shen glanced at General Jiang.
Both men ceased attacking.
Yu Jingqiu staggered several steps before falling to her knees beside Lang Ye.
She turned his body over and saw that the blade had torn open the left side of his abdomen.
She sealed his vital acupoints, but it did no good.
Yu Jingqiu pressed both hands against the wound.
Blood was warm and sticky beneath her palms.
“Ah-Ye.”
Lang Ye’s face was deathly pale, utterly without color.
Blood welled from the corner of his lips as he looked at Yu Jingqiu with unfocused eyes.
“Senior Sister… cough…”
Yu Jingqiu’s voice was hoarse.
“My leg is injured. I could not have escaped. At least you… Why were you so foolish?”
Lang Ye gently held her hand.
Perhaps his consciousness was already fading, for his voice was faint and he began speaking incoherently.
“Senior Sister, we must go home together. Let us go home… We still have to bring Ah-Jing back.”
A sharp, bitter grief surged into Yu Jingqiu’s heart.
She bit her lower lip as layers of tears filled her eyes.
“Yes. We will go home together. We still have to bring Jing’er back.”
When Nie Chan arrived with Nie Zhongyuan, he heard those words.
He closed his eyes and released a quiet sigh, then raised one hand.
General Jiang frowned upon seeing the gesture.
Nevertheless, he obeyed the city lord’s command and lifted his golden-threaded nine-ring saber over Yu Jingqiu.
Yu Jingqiu removed her outer robe and bound Lang Ye’s wound. She held his meridians and transferred true qi into him, completely ignoring the blade suspended above her head.
General Jiang needed only to bring his saber down to end her life.
Suddenly, a sparrow-feathered arrow shot toward him.
General Jiang’s eyes widened.
He turned his blade and split the arrow cleanly in two.
The soldiers immediately became alert and raised their weapons toward the direction from which it had come.
A fast horse charged from the city gate directly toward the encirclement.
When the soldiers saw its rider, they not only refrained from attacking but opened a path.
Nie Yunlan reined in her horse.
She saw Lang Ye lying upon the ground, covered in blood, then looked at Yu Jingqiu’s injured leg.
Sweeping her gaze around, she saw sabers and swords in every hand.
Everyone surrounding them belonged to Heavenly Star Palace.
She immediately understood what had happened.
She had noticed that the city gates were under strict guard and assumed some calamity had befallen the city.
After hesitating repeatedly, she had been unable to stop worrying about her family and came to investigate.
Instead of someone attacking Heavenly Star Palace, she discovered that Heavenly Star Palace was hunting others.
It felt as though someone had struck her across the head.
She looked at Nie Chan.
“Father, they are from the Qianyuan Sect. Why are you—”
Seeing his missing daughter return, Nie Chan secretly relaxed.
His expression, however, became extremely stern.
He shouted at the attendant beside him, “Escort the Second Young Lady home!”
Nie Yunlan stepped backward until she stood beside Lang Ye and Yu Jingqiu.
She demanded, “Father, what did they do? Why have you mobilized so many people to exterminate them?”
“This matter does not concern you! What are you still standing there for? Take the Second Young Lady back!”
“Do not come any closer!”
Nie Yunlan drew the sword from the waist of a nearby guard.
“They are my friends. Unless you explain everything clearly, I will not leave!”
Nie Chan frowned.
His voice became heavy.
“Zhongyuan, take your sister back.”
Nie Zhongyuan stepped forward.
“Yunlan…”
Nie Yunlan held the sword horizontally before herself and shouted, “You told me that the Qianyuan Sect saved your life!
“Since I was young, you taught me that kindness must always be repaid.
“What are you doing now, Father? I do not understand!”
Nie Chan’s face darkened.
“The one who showed kindness to your father was not a sect, but a person.
“What I am doing now is precisely repaying that kindness.
“You do not need to understand!
“I have not yet settled the matter of you leaving home without permission. Return immediately!”
Nie Yunlan asked, “What do you intend to do with them?”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
“Do you know that they saved your daughter’s life?
“They are your daughter’s lifesaving benefactors!”
“…”
Nie Yunlan led her horse to Yu Jingqiu’s side.
She looked at Lang Ye, unable to suppress the guilt inside her.
She had only wanted to make their journey easier by bringing them to the snowy region.
Privately, she had also hoped they could experience its scenery and customs.
Who could have imagined that she was delivering them into a tiger’s den?
“Elder Sister Yu, place him on my horse and leave.”
Yu Jingqiu raised her head and looked at her.
Nie Yunlan’s heart tightened.
“Go. I will remain here.”
Yu Jingqiu gazed into her eyes for a moment, then turned and lifted Lang Ye.
The moment Yu Jingqiu moved, the nearby soldiers and generals tensed and stepped forward.
Nie Yunlan raised her sword toward them.
“Do not come closer!”
Yu Jingqiu placed Lang Ye upon the horse.
Nie Chan’s expression became fierce.
“Attack!”
Nie Yunlan turned the sword and pressed it against her own throat.
“If any of you approach, I will kill myself before your eyes.”
“You!”
Nie Zhongyuan attempted to persuade her.
“Yunlan, stop causing trouble.”
“Causing trouble? I am merely following the principles Father taught me for conducting myself in this world.”
Nie Yunlan kept her eyes fixed upon Nie Chan and the others while using one hand to help Yu Jingqiu onto the horse.
Then she shouted at the soldiers on either side.
“Move aside!”
The soldiers were caught between two impossible choices.
They looked at Nie Yunlan, then at Nie Chan.
Nie Yunlan pressed the sword closer to her neck.
The sharp edge cut through her skin, and blood began to flow down.
Nie Zhongyuan’s voice changed with panic.
“Yunlan!”
He hurriedly looked toward their father.
Nie Yunlan and Nie Chan stared directly at one another.
Their eyes shone brightly, and neither yielded in the slightest.
Suddenly, Nie Yunlan flicked her sword and stabbed the horse.
The animal neighed in pain and bolted forward.
The soldiers did not know whether to stop it.
The horse broke through the encirclement and raced toward the city gates.
Some soldiers prepared to pursue, but Nie Yunlan flew in front of them.
“No one is allowed to follow!”
The soldiers could only look toward Nie Chan and await his command.
Nie Chan clenched his hand so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
He abruptly turned his back upon Nie Yunlan and shouted at Nie Zhongyuan, “Take her back! Without my orders, she is not permitted to leave!”
“Yes, Father. But those two… should we continue pursuing them?”
Nie Chan gave no answer and walked away.
Nie Yunlan looked back.
The horse had already become nothing more than a black speck in the distance.
Her entire body relaxed, and the sword slipped from her hand.
Fearing she might attempt something else, a nearby soldier quickly picked it up.
Nie Zhongyuan waved.
Two people stepped forward, gently restrained Nie Yunlan, and escorted her back to Heavenly Star Palace.
Yu Jingqiu carried Lang Ye beyond the city gates and did not dare stop.
She urged the horse onward while searching desperately for signs of habitation.
“Ah-Ye, hold on. I will find a physician for you. Once your wounds heal, we will go home.”
The snowy region was sparsely populated.
Because Heavenly Star Palace had drawn most people together, many commoners had moved closer to the city.
Apart from Heavenly Star City, there were no other cities, only scattered villages.
Near sunset, Yu Jingqiu finally found one.
It was the hour when farming families prepared their evening meals, and smoke curled gently from every chimney.
Yu Jingqiu dismounted at the village entrance.
With Lang Ye still supported by the horse, she held the reins and stumbled unevenly toward the houses.
She asked each family whether they had medicine for wounds or knew anyone in the village capable of treating injuries.
The villagers were honest people who farmed and wove, leaving early and returning late.
When they saw Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye covered in blood, they assumed the two had offended dangerous enemies and feared they would bring trouble to the village.
Because the pair carried swords, no one dared openly drive them away.
Instead, they shut their doors tightly.
Six or seven households responded the same way.
Even Yu Jingqiu’s pleas were useless.
At the very end of the village lived a hunter.
He did not fear blood and possessed some knowledge of treating external injuries, so he did not turn them away.
Yu Jingqiu said, “Elder Brother, please show mercy. I beg you to save my junior brother’s life.”
The hunter looked troubled, his face filled with pity.
“Miss, it is not that I am unwilling to help, but…”
“Your brother has already stopped breathing.”
Yu Jingqiu seemed to awaken from a dream.
Then, as though her soul had left her body, she stood frozen in place.
She felt only that the sky was vast and distant, the evening clouds brilliantly beautiful.
The scenery of the snowy region appeared no different from that of Tiger Roar Mountain.
The wind blew past, stirring the petals of the rhododendrons and dyeing the entire mountain crimson.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
pavilion
Thank you very much for the translation of the latest chapters! I can’t wait for more chapters.