Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 49

One night passed.

As the sky began to brighten, the first ray of dawn shot from the east and illuminated the snow until it glittered like crystal.

The wind chime before the study swayed gently. Snow slid from the eaves and fell into the drift below with a soft, powdery sound.

Zhan Sanxiao approached at an unhurried pace, lifted the curtain, and entered.

A tall figure stood beside the long table.

At the faint sound near the door, he turned around.

The man wore a black robe edged with silver thread. The thick black hair at his temples was neatly arranged. His entire bearing resembled cold iron.

He possessed high brows, deep-set eyes, a straight, elegant nose, and a handsome, fair face with a distinct foreign quality.

“Little Immortal, your complexion has improved.”

Zhan Sanxiao walked toward her chair.

An attentive maid first placed a warm, heated cushion upon it, then served two cups of hot tea.

Zhan Sanxiao raised one pale hand toward the seat opposite her, inviting Helian Que to sit.

“Tower Master Helian, on the other hand, looks weary. There is hidden worry between your brows.”

Helian Que remained standing with his hands behind his back.

“Yanzi Tower was built upon piles of white bones. In the business of human lives, either you die or I survive.

“Living in constant fear naturally cannot compare with the peace and comfort of the Little Immortal’s blessed residence.”

Zhan Sanxiao scoffed softly.

“Yanzi Tower may not be peaceful, but Tower Master Helian has lived there for many years.

“You are the Living Yama. What demons and monsters could you possibly fail to suppress? Even you experience fear?”

Helian Que paced to Zhan Sanxiao’s side.

“I can suppress only lesser ghosts. When one encounters a god of slaughter, one can do nothing but bow and submit.”

Zhan Sanxiao glanced at him.

Helian Que’s eyes were an unusual color, glowing green like a deep pool beneath the night.

Zhan Sanxiao waved lightly, and the maid waiting nearby silently withdrew.

“Tower Master Helian seems deeply unwilling. That is understandable.

“You once ruled freely within your own territory, looking down upon everyone and doing as you pleased. Then suddenly, you were placed beneath another person and forced to obey her commands.

“If I were in your position, I would be unwilling as well.”

Zhan Sanxiao tilted her head slightly.

Her jade-white face wore a smile that was not quite a smile. Her narrowed eyes glittered faintly, as though they could penetrate directly into another person’s heart.

“That makes it easy to understand why, while the tiger slept, Tower Master Helian eagerly made his move.

“You borrowed another’s blade to kill.

“You revealed Long Chou’s whereabouts to the martial world of the Central Plains. After his death, you took his young son hostage and swallowed his forces.

“You severed one of the tiger’s wings and claimed it for yourself.

“Tower Master Helian, what excellent methods.”

Helian Que surprisingly offered no denial.

He merely laughed coldly twice.

“The Little Immortal’s information network is so effective that it inspires fear.

“But regarding the revelation of Long Chou’s whereabouts, surely the greatest credit belongs to you.”

“I do not understand what Tower Master Helian means,” Zhan Sanxiao said lightly.

“I originally believed I had obtained information about Long Chou’s whereabouts.

“No, no.”

Helian Que slowly shook his head and braced his right hand upon the armrest beside Zhan Sanxiao.

“You arranged for me to obtain it.”

“Your words only confuse me further.”

“At first, I merely suspected it. But what you said just now has made me certain.

“Borrowing another’s blade to kill—the four words are most appropriate for you, Little Immortal.”

Helian Que narrowed his eyes, his gaze growing deeper.

“You understood my thoughts completely.

“You knew that once I received the information, I would never allow such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pass.

“You borrowed my hand to eliminate Long Chou and sever one of Qiu Zhaoyi’s arms.

“When Qiu Zhaoyi emerged from seclusion and began investigating, I would stand before you and attract her attention.

“If she discovered anything, all the better. I would fall out with Qiu Zhaoyi, creating yet another scheme to sow discord.

“With this single move, you removed two of the three principal forces beneath Qiu Zhaoyi.

“An excellent calculation. I, Que, freely admit that I am inferior!”

Zhan Sanxiao remained perfectly calm.

She used the lid of her teacup to sweep aside the floating leaves and took a small sip.

Helian Que was tall.

He bent at the waist, allowing his shadow to envelop her.

“I merely wonder, Little Immortal, when you plan to make your move against the last fierce general beneath Qiu Zhaoyi—Shao Yan.”

Zhan Sanxiao paused.

Her eyelids lowered halfway, and her face became gloomy, like a sky suddenly overtaken by rain.

Dense black clouds seemed to descend, extinguishing every trace of daylight.

Seeing her expression, Helian Que straightened and returned his hands behind his back.

“Hahaha. Shao Yan and the Little Immortal share such deep affection.

“Since it is snowing, she must already be here enjoying the snow with you.”

Only a moment passed before Zhan Sanxiao recovered.

Yet her expression was colder than before.

“All of this is merely Tower Master Helian’s imagination.”

“I possess no concrete evidence, but you and I both understand the truth.”

“Since we have spoken this far, I have already been perfectly frank.”

Helian Que’s lips curved upward.

The smile was extremely dangerous.

“You said earlier that I was unwilling to submit…”

He slowly enunciated the next words.

“Are you not the same?

“You once possessed loving parents above and a younger sister of your own blood below. Your family happiness was the envy of others.

“Qiu Zhaoyi’s stiffness could not be cured. She wanted the medicinal formula but also wished to avoid violating the rules of the Feihua Alliance.

“So she fabricated an enormous lie.

“In an instant, your estate was reduced to ashes.

“From then onward, you were entirely alone, left with a half-crippled body and forced to cling to life.

“You even had to surrender the medicinal formula and seek refuge beneath your enemy merely to obtain protection and secure one peaceful corner in which to live.

“Compared with what you suffered, my small resentment is nothing.”

Zhan Sanxiao’s body trembled.

She placed the teacup upon the table, but her strength failed her.

It struck the surface with a clatter.

Hot tea spilled across the small table, releasing a wisp of steam. Some splashed onto the back of Zhan Sanxiao’s hand.

A patch of her pale skin immediately reddened, like rouge spreading from the tip of a painter’s brush across snow-white paper.

“Little Immortal, you and I suffer from the same illness. We should support one another and share the same boat through wind and rain.

“With your network of information and the power of my tower, even if we truly turn against Qiu Zhaoyi one day, we will possess the strength to oppose her.”

Zhan Sanxiao’s face had turned ashen.

Her cheeks were thin, and whenever she clenched her teeth, the tension along the side of her face became clearly visible.

It slowly relaxed.

She replied indifferently, “As Tower Master Helian said, I possess only this half-crippled body and fall ill every few days.

“How could I have the strength or energy to compete and scheme?

“I desire only to steal one or two peaceful days, as I do now, and live a quiet life.”

Helian Que looked directly at her for a long while before narrowing his eyes.

When trading with an intelligent person, saying something once was generally enough.

If an agreement could not be reached, further words were useless.

Zhan Sanxiao used a handkerchief to wipe the tea from her hand.

“Rather than spending your free time speaking with me, Tower Master Helian should consider how to clean up the consequences.”

Helian Que chuckled twice.

Before taking his leave, he lowered his voice and spoke with equal parts threat and amusement.

“Qiu Zhaoyi has recovered from her illness. Upon leaving seclusion, she has drawn all authority back into her hands.

“Little Immortal, use your fingers and calculate—how much longer will our suspicious alliance leader permit you to remain?”

Helian Que departed.

Zhan Sanxiao stood beneath the covered corridor and gazed into the courtyard.

A tree grew there.

During spring and summer, its branches and leaves flourished, its dense shade covering the ground. At such times, it did not appear lonely.

But when autumn and winter arrived, every leaf turned yellow and fell away.

Human strength could not prevent it.

In the end, only bare branches remained, appearing especially desolate beneath the bitter winter snow.

Footsteps approached in the distance.

Zhan Sanxiao turned and glanced over indifferently.

Shao Yan came toward her wearing only a thin inner robe.

“You are standing beneath the corridor and exposing yourself to the wind again.”

Shao Yan reached her and naturally took one of her hands.

The skin was smooth and delicate, yet it felt like holding a block of ice.

“Some time ago, I obtained a piece of spiritual jade. Its color is excellent, and it becomes warm to the touch.

“When worn, it can nourish the meridians.

“I had it made into a bracelet for you to play with. It should arrive today.”

Shao Yan’s concern only made Zhan Sanxiao’s expression more bleak and desolate.

She turned her gaze slightly away.

“Why did you come here without dressing properly again?”

She ordered the subordinate following Shao Yan to fetch a cloak.

Shao Yan said, “I am not like you.”

“…That is true.”

Zhan Sanxiao half lowered her eyes.

Shao Yan’s voice softened considerably.

“When your health fully recovers, even though it will be rather late to begin learning martial arts, you can still learn several techniques to strengthen your body.”

Zhan Sanxiao looked back into the courtyard.

“Let fate decide.

“What is destined to be yours will eventually come. What is not destined for you should not be forced.”

Hearing her tone and observing her expression, Shao Yan understood that she did not wish to discuss the matter deeply.

She changed the subject.

“Did Helian Que come here?”

“So you hurried here in such a panic because of him. Could he possibly devour me?”

“I was afraid he might.”

Shao Yan’s gaze became dark.

“To investigate the traitor within the alliance, Master met with both Helian Que and me.

“Throughout the conversation, Helian Que repeatedly directed suspicion toward you, making Master doubt you…”

Zhan Sanxiao looked into Shao Yan’s eyes.

“And you? Do you suspect me?”

Shao Yan remained silent for a long while.

“I hope it was not you.”

Shao Yan did not allow Zhan Sanxiao to remain beneath the corridor for long and escorted her back inside.

At noon, Zhan Sanxiao possessed little appetite and managed only two mouthfuls of porridge before going to the study.

An embroidered box lay upon the table.

Its lid was open.

Zhan Sanxiao gently stroked the long sword within it.

Lou Jing wished to see her.

The moment permission was granted, she hurried over despite the internal injuries Yan Bumei had inflicted upon her still being unhealed.

“Tower Master.”

Zhan Sanxiao slowly closed the lid of the box, returned it to its original place, and went back to her seat.

A maid entered carrying a wooden tray.

“Tower Master, it is time to take your medicine.”

Lou Jing moved quickly.

She picked up the bowl from the tray and offered it to Zhan Sanxiao.

Zhan Sanxiao accepted it.

As someone deeply experienced in drinking medicine, she frowned and swallowed everything in one breath.

Her complexion became almost the same color as the medicinal liquid.

Only her lips, moistened by it, appeared vividly red and lustrous.

Lou Jing took the empty bowl and offered tea for rinsing her mouth.

Zhan Sanxiao accepted it and rinsed.

Lou Jing then took the teacup and handed her a handkerchief.

Zhan Sanxiao raised her eyes and looked at Lou Jing before accepting it and wiping her mouth.

Lou Jing next offered candied fruit to suppress the bitterness.

At this, Zhan Sanxiao laughed softly.

“After spending half a year at Apricot Blossom Heaven, your ability to serve others has improved considerably.

“Speak. The moment you saw me, you became so attentive and obedient. What do you want?”

“I have something to ask you.”

“Mm.”

Zhan Sanxiao picked up one piece of preserved fruit and placed it in her mouth, signaling for Lou Jing to continue.

“Last year, during the transition between spring and summer, Zhongwu Hall and Caoliu Manor arranged a marriage alliance.

“Something was stolen from Zhongwu Hall.

“Cao Ruxu, the young master of Caoliu Manor, pursued the thief all the way to Apricot Blossom Heaven.

“There, he followed the wrong person by mistake and accidentally discovered Long Chou’s lover and trusted subordinate.

“He continued pursuing them. In the end, both of those people died, and Cao Ruxu also perished under unexplained circumstances.”

“I know of the matter.

“Everyone in the martial world says you killed him.

“For this reason, Caoliu Manor demanded your life and pursued you relentlessly.”

Lou Jing’s expression was solemn.

“I did not kill him.

“I did indeed fight Cao Ruxu, but I only wounded him.

“Afterward, I pursued Shen Zhongyin and left.

“Cao Ruxu was murdered after my departure.

“Apricot Blossom Heaven belongs to you.

“That day, Cao Ruxu searched the entire restaurant and nearly turned it upside down. Your people could not possibly have failed to notice.

“How deeply were you involved in the matter, and how much of the truth do you know?”

“You question me so directly.”

Zhan Sanxiao’s elegant brows lifted, her expression filled with interest.

“If I truly had some connection to the matter, why would I admit it openly?”

“If you refuse to speak, that means you feel guilty and possess some connection to Cao Ruxu’s death, so naturally you would not confess.

“But if it had nothing to do with you, your conscience would be clear. Why would you refuse to sell me a favor?

“If you tell me, I will determine for myself whether your words are true or false.”

Zhan Sanxiao’s brows relaxed.

She released an appreciative sigh.

“It appears that serving others is not the only thing in which you have improved.”