Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 4

The following day, Lou Yan went to Lou Xuanzhi’s study to see his elder brother. Upon entering, he found someone already speaking with Lou Xuanzhi. Hearing his footsteps, both men turned to look at him.

“Senior Brother Lu,” Lou Yan greeted.

Lu Yuanding was holding a sword and dressed lightly for travel. A servant beside him carried a bundle, making it clear that he was preparing for a long journey.

Lou Yan asked curiously, “Senior Brother Lu, you only just returned. Where are you going again?”

“Several Beggars’ Sect disciples have disappeared in the Jiangnan region. Jiangnan and Jiangbei are the Feihua Alliance’s primary areas of activity, so the Beggars’ Sect suspects that the matter is connected to them. Their chief sent me an urgent letter asking for my assistance in investigating it.”

Lu Yuanding had a close friendship with the chief of the Beggars’ Sect, so it was only natural for him to make the journey.

However, there was another important reason for his departure that he had not mentioned: he intended to search for a renowned physician who could treat Lou Xuanzhi’s old injury.

If he could locate the Peach Blossom Medical Valley, which had remained hidden from the world for a hundred years, there would be no need to worry so much about Lou Xuanzhi’s condition.

For now, Lu Yuanding was the only person who knew that Lou Xuanzhi’s old injury had relapsed. They had chosen not to reveal it yet so that the entire sect would not fall into panic.

Lou Xuanzhi said to Lou Yan, “You never come to my study without a reason. What wind blew you here today?”

Lou Yan smiled. “Who else could it be but Jing’er?”

Lou Xuanzhi sighed. “You already know.”

“It was only a small mistake.”

“If small mistakes are left uncorrected, one day they will become great ones.”

“I think the same. Jing’er acts rashly, but ultimately, it is because she has never experienced much of the world.”

Lou Yan paused.

Lou Xuanzhi raised an eyebrow. “Continue.”

“She grew up on Tiger Roar Mountain, protected by the sect. She has never lacked food or clothing, and her life has always been peaceful. Naturally, she does whatever she pleases without considering the consequences.

“She is older now, and you may not be able to control her forever. Why not allow her to descend the mountain and let the martial world grind away some of her sharp edges and temper her arrogance?”

Lu Yuanding frowned.

“No. She is still young and has never traveled beyond the mountain. These are troubled times. What will happen if she encounters danger?”

Lou Yan tapped his folding fan against his palm.

“Encountering one or two problems would be perfect. Then she would understand for herself what matters and what does not. It would be more effective than a hundred lectures from us.

“Besides, everything has a first time. We cannot imprison her on the mountain for her entire life. She must descend sooner or later.

“As for these being troubled times…” Lou Yan chuckled. “When has the martial world ever been peaceful?”

Lu Yuanding asked, “But which elder in the sect would be suitable to accompany her?”

“An elder?” Lou Xuanzhi gave a soft scoff. “Which elder could control her?”

He lowered his head and pondered for a long time before slowly saying, “Yes. It is one possible solution. She must descend the mountain eventually.”

He had already begun forming a plan.

That same day, Lu Yuanding departed for Jiangbei.

Several days later, Lang Ye returned from visiting his family.

Lang Ye was one of Lou Xuanzhi’s five disciples and ranked second among them. Unlike Yun Yao and Di Hou, whose families lived at the foot of the mountain, Lang Ye’s home was some distance from Tiger Roar Mountain, in Xinyang City.

Every year, he returned home for New Year’s Eve and usually did not return to the sect until the third lunar month.

On the day of his return, Yun Yao had just been released from her confinement. Incapable of remaining idle, she dragged Yu Jingqiu, Di Hou, and Lou Jing along to welcome Lang Ye back.

When they reached the sect gates, they saw three people standing together not far away.

One was Lang Ye. Although they rarely saw the other two, they could just barely recognize them as Lang Ye’s father and elder brother.

The sect did not allow disciples’ secular parents to enter through the mountain gates and disturb their cultivation.

Nevertheless, Lang Ye’s father or brother still escorted him here every year. They respected the sect’s rules and only accompanied him as far as the gates.

Even his mother had personally come once. Yu Jingqiu still remembered it, though she had been very young at the time.

It was clear that Lang Ye’s family loved him deeply.

Lang Ye’s elder brother patted him affectionately on the shoulder. Amid their warm conversation and laughter, he reminded Lang Ye to return home earlier for New Year’s Eve.

The mountain breeze also carried over his father’s concerned instructions.

Yu Jingqiu watched the harmonious family scene, and an envious expression unconsciously appeared on her face.

After seeing his father and brother off, Lang Ye turned toward his fellow disciples waiting at the mountain gate.

He was an exceptionally handsome young man, dignified and noble in bearing. He carried a three-foot sword and wore a light robe with narrow sleeves. A decorated belt encircled his waist, from which hung a purse and a short sword.

He strode up the blue stone steps.

Seeing all four of them waiting for him, Lang Ye was delighted. Yet steady and proper as always, he first greeted Yu Jingqiu according to etiquette, then asked after their master’s health.

Yu Jingqiu said, “Your timing is perfect. Master said that once you returned, we were all to go to his study together.”

Lang Ye had intended to pay his respects immediately, so he did not return to Xiangri Peak. Instead, he headed directly toward Lou Xuanzhi’s study, with the other four following him.

Lou Xuanzhi had summoned all five disciples for no other reason than the suggestion Lou Yan had made several days earlier about sending Lou Jing down the mountain to gain experience.

After considering it repeatedly, he had reached a decision.

He would send Lou Jing down the mountain and allow the world to properly temper her disposition.

However, Lou Jing would not be going alone. His other four disciples would accompany her. They also needed to broaden their horizons and suffer a few hard knocks.

When Lou Xuanzhi told them, all five disciples lit up with joy. Yun Yao even cried out aloud.

They were young eagles whose wings had nearly finished growing, eager to spread them and soar into the sky.

Only because Lou Xuanzhi was so strict had they never truly entered the martial world. Other disciples their age were often allowed to accompany their masters on journeys once their swordsmanship had reached a basic level in their early teens.

Lou Xuanzhi instructed them on several rules and then ordered them to return to Xiangri Peak to pack their belongings.

They were to choose a day, pay respects to their grandmasters in the ancestral hall, and then promptly get off the mountain.

That night, the five young disciples did not sleep.

Each had thoughts of their own, but most of them were filled with anticipation and curiosity.

Lou Xuanzhi wanted his disciples to suffer some hardship, so he deliberately refused to send a sect elder with them.

First, no elder was truly capable of controlling Lou Jing. Accompanying her would only mean cleaning up the disasters she caused.

Second, the sect’s elders were all familiar faces in the martial world. The moment others saw them, they would know the group belonged to the Qianyuan Sect. Out of respect for the sect’s reputation, they would retreat or show tolerance.

How, then, could Lou Xuanzhi’s disciples ever experience adversity?

Of the five, Yu Jingqiu and Lou Jing had only visited the towns at the foot of the mountain, and even then only rarely.

Di Hou and Yun Yao’s families lived below the mountain, so they traveled back and forth more often than their senior and junior sisters. Even so, the range of their activities was still quite limited.

Only Lang Ye traveled between Xinyang and Tiger Roar Mountain every year. If sect disciples happened to encounter trouble in that region, they occasionally invited him along, and Lou Xuanzhi usually permitted it.

Lang Ye had traveled the martial world before and understood many of its rules and customs. Thus, Lou Xuanzhi was not concerned that the five of them would be completely ignorant upon leaving the sect.

The five discussed a date and settled on the middle of the month.

When that day arrived, the five martial siblings first went to the ancestral hall to burn incense. Then they went to bid farewell to their master.

Lou Xuanzhi stood beneath the eaves, watching his five disciples walk away amid laughter and conversation.

Sunlight beyond the window passed in the blink of an eye, while the shadows of flowers shifted across the seats before him.

Those tiny children had once been no taller than bamboo shoots after the spring rain. Yet in what seemed like an instant, they had grown so tall.

Lou Xuanzhi’s expression became desolate. He sighed and returned to his study.

He had originally intended to wait until his disciples were older, then gradually allow them to become involved in the affairs of the martial world.

He had not expected that his own remaining time might be insufficient.

Thus, he could only force their growth.

Better for him to stretch these young seedlings himself than to allow outsiders to trample them.

When the five martial siblings reached the mountain gates, many disciples had come to see them off.

For disciples to leave the mountain without their master accompanying them on their very first journey was unprecedented.

Moreover, they were the sect master’s personal disciples and were unrivaled among the younger generation in martial arts. Naturally, everyone was curious.

“Senior Sister! Senior Sister!”

Among the disciples was a boy of about eight years old. He had round black eyes and soft, fair skin.

He ran forward and sorrowfully clung to Yu Jingqiu. Then he reached out and caught hold of Yun Yao’s robe as well.

He was Lu Yuanding’s disciple, named Chunting.

Lu Yuanding spent most of the year traveling. Chunting was still too young to accompany him, so whenever Lu Yuanding was away, Chunting usually lived on Xiangri Peak and was cared for by his senior brothers and sisters.

Now even they were leaving. How could he not be upset?

While they comforted him, Han Ling stood nearby, his expression shifting several times with hesitation.

Finally, he made up his mind and stepped forward.

Yun Yao smiled at him.

“Senior Brother Han, with Senior Sister gone, I’m afraid you will not visit Xiangri Peak so often anymore.”

Embarrassed by her teasing, Han Ling became visibly awkward.

“Junior Sister Yun Yao, you are about to descend the mountain, yet you still cannot resist making fun of your senior brother.”

Yun Yao giggled and patted Chunting’s head.

She promised to bring him snacks and treats when they returned, finally coaxing the child into stopping his tears.

Then she led him aside, allowing Han Ling to speak privately with Yu Jingqiu.

However, once Yun Yao left, Han Ling merely stood there staring blankly at Yu Jingqiu, unable to say anything.

Yu Jingqiu asked, “Junior Brother Han, is something the matter?”

Han Ling remained silent for a moment.

Yun Yao’s interruption had caused him to lose the courage he had gathered, but he forced himself to regain his composure.

With an extremely solemn expression, he said, “Senior Sister, when you return, I have something to tell you.”

Seeing how serious he was, Yu Jingqiu assumed it must be important and nodded.

“All right.”

Hearing her agreement, Han Ling broke into a joyful smile.

“May your journey be safe and smooth.”

Yu Jingqiu bade farewell to everyone.

Yun Yao had also finished comforting Chunting, and the five of them left the mountain gates and descended the mountain.

At that moment, someone approached from the side and stood beside Han Ling.

The person muttered, “She has a little ability and won one competition, so she behaves arrogantly. She offended Caoliu Manor and attacked her senior sister, yet received only a light punishment—guarding the ancestral hall for a few days.

“Now she is even allowed to travel down the mountain. Senior Sister does not dare offend her either. Tsk. As expected of the sect master’s biological daughter. How impressive.”

Han Ling glanced sideways and saw that the speaker was Jia Yu, a disciple of Martial Uncle Li.

Jia Yu asked, “Senior Brother Han, don’t you agree?”

Han Ling frowned and gave no reply.

He looked at Lou Jing’s departing figure.

The words Senior Sister does not dare offend her either left him deeply displeased.

The weather remained pleasant over the next several days, with gentle, warm sunlight.

Once Lou Jing and the others descended the mountain and escaped the supervision of their elders, they were as happy as birds released from their cages.

Lou Xuanzhi’s first instruction had been that whenever they arrived somewhere new, they must send a letter back to the sect clearly explaining whom they had met and what they had done.

His second instruction was that they were not to casually reveal their identities while traveling. Unless absolutely necessary, they could not announce that they belonged to the Qianyuan Sect.

Of the five, only Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye continued to remember these instructions.

Lou Xuanzhi had intended for them to suffer some hardship, but unexpectedly, their journey went extremely smoothly.

They hoped to encounter some vile criminal or great evildoer so they could perform an act of chivalry and justice.

Unfortunately, the heavens did not grant their wish.

They encountered no great demons, only several groups of petty bandits blocking the road.

Those bandits were so weak that neither Yu Jingqiu nor Lou Jing needed to act. They were not even enough to satisfy Yun Yao.

In the bandits’ eyes, the five disciples were like evil fiends sent to torment the world.

Because the young martial artists had not gotten enough fighting, they even raided the bandits’ hideouts and destroyed them completely.

The bandits had nowhere to seek justice.

In the fourth lunar month, the five eventually arrived in Xuzhou City.

Hong Ya, the leader of the Salt Gang in Xuzhou, was one of Lou Xuanzhi’s closest friends. Since they were passing through the city, it was only proper that they visit the gang.

Upon entering the city, they found the streets filled with people.

Ornate towers and painted pleasure boats dazzled the eye, and without realizing it, they wandered farther than intended.

Yun Yao had just finished a bowl of noodles with thick gravy and was still holding a bag of golden-thread preserved plums when she noticed some gingered plums for sale.

She immediately began acting spoiled toward Yu Jingqiu.

“Senior Sister, lend me some silver.”

Yu Jingqiu took out her money pouch.

Yun Yao eagerly held out her hands, waiting for the pouch to fall into them.

However, the moment Yu Jingqiu released it, another hand reached in from the side and intercepted it.

Lou Jing took out a small piece of silver.

“Along the journey, you have already eaten through your own travel expenses, Second Senior Brother’s, and Third Senior Brother’s. If you also finish Senior Sister’s money, are we supposed to survive on the northwest wind during the journey home?”

Lou Jing handed the small piece of silver to Yun Yao, then tossed the money pouch back to Yu Jingqiu.

Yun Yao protested, “I—I’m still your senior sister!”

Lou Jing looked at her coldly.

Yun Yao immediately deflated.

Forget it. She had never possessed any authority as a senior sister in front of Lou Jing.

The five disciples went to pay their respects to Hong Ya.

Hong Ya had only recently visited Tiger Roar Mountain during the Martial Assembly, so they were not unfamiliar with one another. He invited them to remain in Xuzhou City for several days before continuing their journey.

Lang Ye asked, “Uncle Hong, I noticed many people from the martial world coming and going through the city. Is something important happening here?”

Hong Ya walked to the table and picked up an invitation.

“You have not heard while traveling? Caoliu Manor and Zhongwu Hall are joining their families through marriage. The Cao family’s eldest daughter is marrying into the Mu family. The wedding is tomorrow.”

The five had heard of the marriage alliance between Caoliu Manor and Zhongwu Hall.

It had been arranged several years ago. They simply had not known that the wedding was scheduled for the following day.

“You arrived at just the right time.”

Hong Ya handed the invitation to Yu Jingqiu.

Yun Yao and Di Hou both looked toward Lou Jing.

Lou Jing’s expression was cold, and she clearly had little desire to attend. After all, she had only recently received a severe scolding because of Cao Ruxu.

Yu Jingqiu and Lang Ye were also troubled. They worried that if they encountered Cao Ruxu, the situation would become awkward for both sides.

Hong Ya knew about the conflict between Lou Jing and Cao Ruxu, but he was straightforward by nature and did not concern himself with minor matters.

“Ah-Jing and that boy Cao Ruxu merely had a childish quarrel. It was nothing serious. Who would hold such a thing in their heart?

“Even if you dislike the Cao family, Zhongwu Hall has some friendship with the Qianyuan Sect. Since the Mu family is celebrating a wedding, it is only proper for you to offer your congratulations.

“Furthermore, during the incident involving the Feihua Alliance in early February, both Zhongwu Hall and the Qianyuan Sect made significant contributions. Old Master Mu was even injured because of it.

“Many great heroes and renowned figures will certainly come to offer congratulations. Attending will allow you to broaden your horizons.”

The disciples were somewhat tempted.

Yu Jingqiu asked, “Uncle Hong, since the two families are holding a wedding, has the Qianyuan Sect sent anyone to offer congratulations?”

Hong Ya rubbed the stubble on his chin.

“Hmm… I heard it is Yu Xiu—your Martial Uncle Yu.”