Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 36

Yu Jingqiu continued along the main road, leading the horse by its reins while Lang Ye’s body lay across its back.

For an entire day, she walked and stopped, stopped and walked.

The snowy region was sparsely populated, and the paths were desolate. Withered vines coiled around ancient trees beside the road. At dusk, crows in the forest strained their throats and cried mournfully toward the sky.

Yu Jingqiu’s expression was numb.

Her eyes remained fixed upon the road several feet ahead, scarcely moving for long stretches of time.

Lou Xuanzhi’s death, Lou Jing’s escape, the ambush at Zhixing Village, and Nie Chan’s pursuit circled endlessly through her mind.

The murderer who killed Master remained unknown.

Jing’er refused to confess, so she fled the sect.

The Zhixing Sect had ambushed and attempted to kill them.

When they said, “Blame your unfortunate origins,” had they meant the Qianyuan Sect shared some grievance with them?

Or had someone hired them to kill?

Nie Chan’s attitude had changed after seeing the letter. Thinking back carefully, that had been the first sign that something was wrong.

Could there have been a problem with the letter?

Yet they had guarded it cautiously throughout the journey. The envelope had never been damaged, and no outsider had been able to touch it.

Could the problem have come from someone within the sect?

The three fellow disciples who had traveled with them were now dead.

Apart from Yu Jingqiu herself, the only people who had handled the letter were Martial Uncle Yu, who wrote it, and Martial Uncle Li, who delivered it…

After her thoughts circled endlessly, another concern arose.

She possessed no medicine capable of preserving a corpse.

In the present weather, she could not prevent Lang Ye’s body from decaying.

Yu Jingqiu’s rigid gaze slowly shifted toward the horse, settling upon Lang Ye’s cold, stiff body.

Before Lou Xuanzhi told her the truth, she had believed herself to have no family.

She had therefore treated Tiger Roar Mountain as her home.

Master was her father, while Lang Ye and the others were her younger brothers and sisters.

Because an elder sister was like a mother, she could tolerate every unreasonable thing Lou Jing did.

And because Lang Ye had died to save her, the pain pierced straight through her heart.

Her junior brother had been handsome and noble, with the bearing of a dragon and phoenix.

She could not bear to watch him remain beside her after death, exposed to wind, sunlight, sand, and dust while his flesh and features slowly rotted beyond recognition.

Yet burying him temporarily in this place would leave him far too lonely.

Before Lang Ye died, his final wish had been to return to the sect with her.

Countless tangled thoughts weighed heavily upon Yu Jingqiu’s heart.

The sun tilted westward, and the evening wind carried a faint chill.

The sound of galloping horses came from the northern end of the road.

Yu Jingqiu’s hand closed around her sword hilt.

She cast a cold glance in that direction, then froze and turned fully toward the approaching group.

The hoofbeats drew closer, and the figures upon the horses gradually became clear.

Yu Jingqiu’s voice caught in her throat.

“Martial Uncle.”

All the pain in her body and exhaustion buried deep within her heart seemed to surge forth at once.

When Li Changhong saw Yu Jingqiu, light flickered in his eyes.

For a brief instant, panic appeared upon his face.

Then he immediately suppressed it beneath a livid expression and shouted harshly to conceal himself.

“Yu Jingqiu!”

Having survived so many dangers, Yu Jingqiu felt as though a thousand-catty burden had finally been lifted from her shoulders when she suddenly encountered people from her own sect.

She lowered her defenses.

She failed to notice how hostile Li Changhong’s tone was and did not immediately consider why he, who should have been far away on Tiger Roar Mountain, had appeared here.

“Where do you think you are going?”

“Martial Uncle, your arrival is fortunate.

“Junior Brother and I went to Heavenly Star Palace to ask City Lord Nie for the medicine. Not only did he refuse to help us, he surrounded and attempted to kill us.

“Junior Brother died saving me. He…”

The two disciples of Wu Qingtian who had accompanied Li Changhong at Yun Yao’s request hurried forward.

They supported Lang Ye’s body, only to find it icy cold.

Both cried out in grief.

“Senior Brother Lang Ye is dead!”

Li Changhong narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, then suddenly opened them wide again.

Cold light shone from them as he glared at Yu Jingqiu.

“Yu Jingqiu, do you admit your crimes?”

The question blocked all the words Yu Jingqiu had wanted to say.

Her heart became empty.

It felt as though someone had abruptly drained all her spirit and strength.

She shook her head.

“What crime has this disciple committed?”

“There is no need to conceal it.

“The sect has already obtained evidence that you colluded with outsiders.

“Your master is dead, yet your heart is filled only with schemes.

“For the position of sect master and to conceal your identity, you did not hesitate to join forces with outsiders and ensure that Elder Lou would never awaken.

“Your intentions deserve death!

“Now that you failed to retrieve the medicine, you have even invented a lie claiming City Lord Nie tried to kill you.

“That alone proves your guilt!”

Yu Jingqiu found it impossible to believe.

So even the pure white snow of the snowy region could turn black.

“With whom did this disciple supposedly collude? Where did this accusation come from?

“This disciple has never wished to inherit the position of sect master. Master knew that. Elder Wu knew that.

“Heaven itself can bear witness to my intentions.

“As for my identity, what identity does this disciple have to conceal?”

Li Changhong gave a cold shout.

“Nothing to conceal? The name Yangshen is enough to terrify everyone in the martial world!”

Hearing her mother’s name without warning, Yu Jingqiu’s entire body shook.

She could not refute him.

Li Changhong continued, “You claim you never colluded with outsiders. Then where did those carrier pigeons kept at Chengxin Waterside Pavilion come from?

“Han Ling intercepted one flying toward Xiangri Peak.

“Every word in the message clearly showed that someone was communicating with you!”

Carrier pigeons?

Yu Jingqiu thought that perhaps her elder sister had tried to contact her after she failed to attend their meeting.

But the matter concerned an elder sister she had never met and whose identity remained unknown.

How could she possibly explain everything in only a few words?

“Nothing to say?”

Li Changhong laughed twice without warmth.

Then he reached inside his robe, took something out, and held it before Yu Jingqiu.

“Look carefully. What is this?”

Yu Jingqiu focused her gaze.

A pearl lay in Li Changhong’s palm, about the size of a pigeon egg.

Its entire body was crystalline, and blue-green liquid flowed within it.

It looked exactly like Yu Xiu’s description of the Dewdrop Emerald Pearl.

The instant she saw it, dizziness swept through Yu Jingqiu.

An ominous premonition had already arisen inside her.

Li Changhong said, “City Lord Nie personally presented this Dewdrop Emerald Pearl to me with both hands.

“He also personally received our entire group.

“Forget trying to kill us—he did not show us even the slightest displeasure.

“Several pairs of eyes witnessed it.

“Do you still claim that City Lord Nie refused to give you the pearl and instead attempted to kill you and Lang Ye?”

“This disciple did not lie,” Yu Jingqiu said weakly.

“Then what is this in my hand?

“The sect discovered that you were colluding with outsiders and exposed your intention to murder Elder Lou.

“When you failed to return on time, we were sent to escort you back for interrogation.

“We followed your trail to Heavenly Star Palace, where City Lord Nie received us and informed us that you had never gone there at all.”

Li Changhong swept his gaze around.

“Let me ask you this: where are the two disciples who traveled with you?”

Yu Jingqiu’s heart sank deeper.

“On our way here, we passed through Zhixing Village.

“The members of the Zhixing Sect set an ambush and attempted to kill us.

“The two senior brothers were outnumbered and died beneath their weapons.

“Lang Ye and I escaped by chance, but they continued pursuing us along the road.

“That was why our journey was delayed.”

“For no reason whatsoever, why would they ambush and pursue you?

“The dead cannot speak. You are the only one left alive, making unsupported claims.”

Yu Jingqiu was utterly helpless.

“There was another person traveling with us. Her name is Nie Yunlan, and she is City Lord Nie’s daughter.

“She rescued us from the pursuit at Zhixing Village.

“She also personally witnessed City Lord Nie surrounding and attempting to kill Lang Ye and me.

“If she possesses a righteous heart, perhaps she can testify against her father and dispel Martial Uncle’s suspicions.”

Li Changhong threw back his head and laughed contemptuously.

After a long while, he looked down at her.

“Nie Yunlan ran away from home half a month ago and secretly entered the martial world. She has not yet returned.

“Everyone in the snowy region knows this.

“Shanjun, oh Shanjun. The elders always said you were pure-hearted and benevolent.

“It is true that one cannot see through another person’s heart. Who would have thought you were so cunning?”

“What else do you have to say?”

It was like a mute tasting the bitterness of coptis, unable to explain the suffering in their mouth.

Yu Jingqiu’s heart fell to the bottom of a valley.

She suddenly understood what Lou Jing had felt while being falsely accused.

Yet she was not as fierce and unyielding as Lou Jing.

She did not rise in furious resistance.

Instead, she lowered her head.

The two disciples of Wu Qingtian remained gathered beside the horse, carefully lifting Lang Ye’s body down and laying him flat upon the ground.

Both had shared a close relationship with him.

Now that he was dead, they were overwhelmed by grief and paid attention only to the corpse before them.

At that moment, a furious shout suddenly rang across the open ground.

“Wicked disciple! You dare attack me from the shadows!”

The clash of weapons immediately followed.

The two disciples turned around and saw Li Changhong and Yu Jingqiu fighting.

Sword light flashed, forcing everyone nearby to retreat.

Li Changhong had cultivated martial arts for many years.

Although Yu Jingqiu possessed extraordinary talent, she could not match the depth of his cultivation.

Her leg was also injured, and the endless conflicts along the journey had exhausted her body and mind.

She therefore retreated repeatedly and was forced into the forest.

The two disciples of Wu Qingtian abandoned everything else and hurried after them.

They found the pair fighting near a slope.

Li Changhong’s sword wind hissed through the air.

His next technique went directly for Yu Jingqiu’s vital point.

Lacking strength, she could not block it completely and only managed to deflect its path.

The sword sliced across her shoulder.

The two disciples shouted, “Martial Uncle Li, show mercy!”

Li Changhong seemed not to hear them.

He struck Yu Jingqiu with his palm.

Although she dispersed some of the force, the blow still sent her flying down the slope.

Li Changhong said, “A wicked creature like you cannot be allowed to live!”

When he attempted to advance again, the two disciples of Wu Qingtian drew their swords and stepped between them.

One stood on each side, receiving Li Changhong’s techniques.

“Martial Uncle Li, whether Senior Sister is guilty should be decided after we return to the sect.”

Li Changhong swept his sword around and knocked both their blades aside.

“Is her guilt still unclear?

“You accompanied me throughout this journey. You saw how City Lord Nie received us.

“You also know that Miss Nie ran away from home.

“If she is innocent, why can she not explain the carrier pigeons?

“Why is every word from her mouth a lie?”

“Even if she is guilty, she must be punished according to the sect’s rules and judged by our master.”

“A general in the field need not obey every command from the sovereign.

“I originally intended to bring her back, but this wicked creature attacked me when she realized her crimes had been exposed.

“Look for yourselves!”

Li Changhong exposed the side of his waist.

A bloody cut had appeared there.

“I suspect that Lang Ye’s death and those of the other two disciples are also connected to her.

“How did all three of them die while she alone remained unharmed?”

The two disciples obstructed Li Changhong’s view.

By the time he pushed them aside and looked down the slope, panic appeared openly upon his face.

“Aiya! That wretched thing escaped!”

Li Changhong had no time to deal with the two disciples.

He immediately summoned his own disciples and shouted harshly, “Pursue Yu Jingqiu! Dead or alive!”

As for Yu Jingqiu, the moment she rolled to the bottom of the slope, she forced herself to rise and fled deeper into the forest.

Originally, she had been willing to return with Li Changhong and accept an investigation.

But before she could speak, Li Changhong drew his sword and cut his own waist.

For a moment, she had merely stared in confusion.

Then she saw the murderous intent filling his hawk-like eyes, their sharp brilliance piercing directly toward her heart.

The cold sword turned and attacked her, every strike intended to kill.

Yu Jingqiu did not know what role Li Changhong had played in the upheaval within the sect or in everything that had happened since Heavenly Star Palace surrounded them.

But she could now confirm one thing.

Li Changhong wanted her dead.

Rotten branches covered the forest floor, while the soil was damp. The scents of decay and newly grown green leaves mingled and rushed toward her in waves.

Lou Jing’s words echoed inside her mind:

You would never suspect them. The thought would not even enter your mind.

That is simply your nature. You believe all your relatives, friends, masters, and elders are good people.

What use is your belief in me?

You are still a fledgling whose feathers have not fully grown. In a storm, you cannot even protect yourself. How could you help me?

Yu Jingqiu forced herself to flee for some distance.

A sudden, piercing pain erupted from the injury in her leg and drilled straight toward her heart.

The agony disrupted her breathing.

She stumbled and fell forward into a thicket.

Her entire body continued falling uncontrollably.

The bushes were hollow.

Behind them stood three small buildings, probably grass-roofed huts belonging to a hunter, surrounded by a wall.

Cold sweat covered Yu Jingqiu’s back from the pain.

Even if she continued forcing herself onward, she could not travel far.

Leaning upon her sword, she barely managed to reach the buildings.

She rested against a wall and struggled to breathe.

Not far from a haystack, a mule was tied up.

Clothing hung from a drying pole.

Yu Jingqiu knocked upon the door.

It was locked, and no one was home.

After hesitating briefly, she untied the mule.

Then she realized that her current appearance was too conspicuous.

She reached toward the clothes hanging upon the pole.

Her hand paused before a woman’s garment.

Then she took down the men’s clothing beside it and changed.

Once she had finished, she removed the purse containing her silver and threw it beside the place where the mule had been tied.

Softly, she said, “Forgive me.”

She mounted the mule and left along a narrow path.

Throughout the journey, she remained extremely cautious and chose only desolate routes.

Even after night fell, she did not stop, relying upon the moonlight to continue forward.

She only hoped to pass through the border before Li Changhong and the others.

By dawn, Yu Jingqiu had crossed through the pass.

She did not encounter Li Changhong lying in wait, so he had probably fallen one step behind her.

The mule continued walking forward, but after traveling throughout the entire night, it was exhausted.

Its steps became weak, and white foam appeared at its mouth.

After the sun rose, Yu Jingqiu lifted her head.

Three suns seemed to hang in the sky.

Their light filled her entire vision until only whiteness remained.

It felt as though a Thousand-Catty Drop had been fastened behind her, pulling her relentlessly backward.

She could no longer sit upright.

Yu Jingqiu fell from the mule and could not rise again.

The white before her eyes gradually turned black.