Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 7

The thief was pursued relentlessly by Yu Jingqiu, who was truly a difficult opponent. Exhausted from coping, he became desperate, fighting his way into a room. He had accrued many wounds, and his anger was triggered. His moves became overbearing, relying on the fact that he was older, the girl before him was young, and his internal energy cultivation was higher than Yu Jingqiu’s, intending to overwhelm her with raw power.

Yu Jingqiu saw through his intention and preemptively suppressed him with her sword technique, unleashing the Qian Character Formula move, ‘Purple Qi Coming from the East,’ with overwhelming force. The thief felt as if the fierce north wind of a harsh winter in a snowy region was scraping against his body, the bone-chilling cold like knife cuts. He couldn’t help but lose a breath, and his hand faltered, unable to use his full strength. Yu Jingqiu took the opportunity to strike with all her might. Under the impact of their clash, the wooden floor beneath the thief could not bear the load and snapped apart, creating a large hole that caused both of them to fall through.

The thief could never have known the location of the secret floor beneath their feet, let alone that it was the elegant room where Sister Yan was. As he fell, a glimpse of the person in the room made him lose his composure instantly.

Yu Jingqiu seized the moment the thief was distracted, thrusting her sword sheath forward and striking the thief’s maijing (numbness) acupoint. As the thief landed, his hands went numb and immobilized. Yu Jingqiu flicked her sword, hooking the package he was carrying, and caught it in her hand.

She opened it to look, and indeed, it was the brocade box containing the Buddha Hand. Yu Jingqiu relaxed slightly, but immediately felt a dull pain in her abdomen, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. The thief was highly skilled, and his internal energy was even greater than hers. Although she had been clever and defeated the thief, she had also sustained some internal injuries.

“You!”

A seductive female voice rang out nearby.

Yu Jingqiu thought the people in the room were just ordinary guests. She had abruptly entered while entangled in a fight, offending them. She was about to apologize when she looked at the woman who spoke.

The woman wore a flowing crimson gown, her movements graceful with the sway of her slender waist. The red skirt fluttered like rosy clouds unfolding in the sky. Her face was charming and beautiful, carrying a three-tenths smile even before she spoke. She looked around thirty, with excellent composure.

Nature must have favored her bones, for she is naturally charming even without makeup.

Sister Yan was astonished, her eyes wide as she stared at Yu Jingqiu. She looked at her, then turned to glance at the person inside the pearl curtain. That person had already been guarded behind three attendants due to the sudden incident. Sister Yan’s gaze returned to Yu Jingqiu, whom she scrutinized from head to toe. “Oh dear, you…”

Yu Jingqiu saw her astonishment and thought her ‘descent from heaven’ had scared her. She said, “Miss, this thief stole something. While fighting him, I accidentally shattered the floor and fell in here, startling you. Please forgive my intrusion.”

Having said that, she prepared to leave. The item had been retrieved. She was alone, unaware of the opponent’s background, and further entanglement might lead to trouble.

Yu Jingqiu retreated toward the door, remaining vigilant against the thief’s sudden eruption. She figured that with the item in her hand, even if the thief was bent on theft, he would aim for her and not trouble the woman. Moreover, she noticed four people behind the pearl curtain who had remained completely silent and composed from the start. Three of them had restrained internal auras, clearly skilled martial artists who were not to be trifled with.

Who would have thought that Sister Yan would grab her arm and say, “You can’t leave!”

Sister Yan pointed at the wooden table crushed by the thief and the vase nearby. “You’ve stirred up such a mess here, and you think you can just walk away? Impossible! This table made of gold-thread coral willow, this exquisite white-ground blue-and-white porcelain—a thousand taels of silver won’t be enough! If you just walk away, the owner will come to us for compensation!”

Yu Jingqiu glanced at the thief, who was half-kneeling, slightly panting, his head bowed, and his face extremely pale. He wasn’t rushing to grab the Jade Buddha Hand. Yu Jingqiu thought he was injured and secretly regulating his breath, so she didn’t relax her guard against him. Yu Jingqiu’s voice was gentle. “I don’t have a thousand taels of silver. That person broke the table and the porcelain. You can ask him to pay.”

Sister Yan pointed to the large hole in the ceiling. “You are half responsible for this hole! That is black sandalwood and ebony! Pay up.”

“…” Yu Jingqiu reached into her robe and placed the bag of silver that Lou Jing had tossed back to her into Sister Yan’s outstretched palm.

Sister Yan burst into a giggle, as if she had encountered something amusing and couldn’t help but laugh. She partially covered her face, gazed at Yu Jingqiu’s features, and quietly said, “This is quite novel…”

Yu Jingqiu didn’t understand why. Sister Yan stopped laughing and said, “It’s not enough, not enough. It needs at least fifty taels of silver.”

“I don’t carry that much with me…”

Sister Yan circled her hands around the brocade box in Yu Jingqiu’s hand. “Then use this as collateral. Since a thief was eyeing it, it must be a treasure.”

Yu Jingqiu shifted her hand downward, causing Sister Yan’s grab to miss. She apologized, “This does not belong to me, so I cannot use it as collateral. If Miss truly needs the silver, you may send someone to the Salt Gang to retrieve it.”

Before Sister Yan could speak, the person behind the pearl curtain spoke up, asking, “If it’s not yours, whose is it?”

The person’s voice was like the night wind, carrying a hint of desolate coldness. It fell into Yu Jingqiu’s ears, causing her to be momentarily stunned. The voice sounded familiar, yet she had grown up on Tiger Roar Mountain. Even when she went down the mountain, she only moved within the foot-of-the-mountain towns. This was her first long journey. She hadn’t met many people, and most had left an impression, but she couldn’t recall anyone with this voice. Yet, the voice did sound like one she had heard, vague and misty, as if in a dream or a past life.

After a moment, Yu Jingqiu recovered. “The Caoliu Mountain Manor and the Zhongwu Hall are holding a wedding. This is a congratulatory gift from the Caoliu Mountain Manor to Hall Master Mu. It now belongs to Hall Master Mu.”

The person smiled at her words, the laughter light but clearly mocking. Yu Jingqiu did not take offense.

The person walked closer. The other three attendants tried to block her, uneasy about her approach, and called out softly, “Master.”

With one look, the three retreated to stand behind her. The person reached out and parted the pearl curtain, stepping forward. She looked about twenty years old, with skin like ice and bones like jade. Her appearance was frail, and her gaze was like the clear light of the full moon as she gazed intently at Yu Jingqiu.

The person’s face was so approachable that Yu Jingqiu felt an immediate sense of intimacy, despite their chance encounter.

The person gazed deeply at her for a long moment and asked, “Are you Lou Xuanzhi’s disciple?”

Yu Jingqiu was surprised in her heart. It’s possible to determine I’m from the Qian Yuan Sect based on the sword moves I use, but how could she tell with one glance who my Master is? Does she know my Master?

The next sentence surprised her even more.

The person asked, “Is your familiar name Shan Jun?”

Only a few elders called her by her familiar name. If this person did not have a relationship with her Master, how could she know this?

Yu Jingqiu said, “Yes. Do you know my Master?”

“I do.”

Yu Jingqiu’s attitude became respectful. She asked, “May I ask what relationship Senior—Miss has with my Master?”

“Senior?” The person gave an enigmatic smile, and when she turned to look at Yu Jingqiu, her gaze was indescribably sad and melancholic. “Just a chance acquaintance.”

“Then how does Miss know these things?”

The person looked directly into her eyes, her voice faint, like a hypnotic lure. “I know many things. What you know, and what you don’t know, I know it all.”

“May I ask Senior—Senior…” Yu Jingqiu noticed the person seemed to dislike being called ‘Senior,’ so she changed her address. “Since Miss knows my familiar name, and if Shan Jun’s request is not too rude, could Miss tell me your name?”

When Yu Jingqiu looked into that person’s eyes, she felt an inexplicable sadness in her heart. Unable to determine the reason, she simply and vaguely wished to become more familiar and intimate with the person before her.

The person was silent for a moment and then said, “Xuan Ying.”

Xuan Ying looked straight at Yu Jingqiu, as if anticipating something Yu Jingqiu might say. Yu Jingqiu did not know what the person was waiting for her to say and only remarked, “A beautiful name.”

A slight disappointment flashed across Xuan Ying’s face. She glanced at the brocade box in Yu Jingqiu’s hand, then looked sidelong at the thief, and said, “Ban Xia, tend to his injuries.”

The thief bowed with cupped fists. “Thank you, Master.”

A beautiful woman, one of the three who had been standing behind Xuan Ying, stepped out. She helped the thief to one side, took his pulse, and transferred true qi to heal him.

Yu Jingqiu was astonished. “This thief is your subordinate!”

The person who was the mastermind had been half-kneeling throughout the whole event, his gaze fixed only on Yu Jingqiu, skillfully hidden, showing no sign of recognizing anyone here. He only acted when Xuan Ying revealed herself.

Yu Jingqiu now knew the thief was Xuan Ying’s subordinate. She had initially thought the man remained still because he was injured and wary of the three powerful-looking attendants behind Xuan Ying. Now, it seemed she had been careless.

Xuan Ying scoffed softly. “Who is the thief? It’s hard to say.”

Yu Jingqiu frowned, looking at the brocade box in her hand, her feelings complex. Breaking into the Zhongwu Hall, stealing someone else’s property, and even setting a fire to distract people—all of this violated the principle of justice and righteousness. Yet, she felt a strange, inexplicable closeness to the person before her and couldn’t bring herself to blame her, or even consider that the person before her might try to harm her to get the Jade Buddha Hand.

Xuan Ying looked at her. “Shan Jun, I must have this Jade Buddha Hand.”

Yu Jingqiu thought for a moment and asked, “What do you need the Jade Buddha Hand for?”

“To extend my life.”

Two concise words.

Yu Jingqiu was startled. She said, “If that is the case, Hall Master Mu has always been known for his benevolence. Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. If you negotiate with him, human life is paramount; he will surely grant it generously. I will speak to him about this when I see him. Even by using the Qian Yuan Sect’s name, I will get him to agree.”

She was actually anxious about the two words ‘extend my life’ and wanted to help this person. Yet, she was unwilling to violate her own conscience by giving her stolen goods, so she proposed this compromise.

Xuan Ying was unimpressed. “Why should I beg him?”

Yu Jingqiu said, “After all, it belongs to someone else.”

The person laughed again, her eyes cold. “Who says it is his? This is mine.”

Xuan Ying said this, but Yu Jingqiu found it hard to believe. The Jade Buddha Hand had been visibly handed from Cao Ruxu to Mu Yunsheng. Now, a person suddenly appeared, having stolen the Jade Buddha Hand, claiming it was hers. Who could possibly believe that?

Xuan Ying could see her disbelief and said, “Open the box and look. The Jade Buddha Hand has nine fingers. Is it missing a few fingers?”

Yu Jingqiu opened it as instructed. The jade Buddha Hand had only five fingers. It was hard to say how many fingers it originally had, but looking at the side, there were indeed traces of cutting. Judging by the color, the cut was made some time ago.

“Did Miss Xuan Ying use these missing fingers?” Yu Jingqiu asked, following Xuan Ying’s lead.

“No, you ate them.”

This statement was even more absurd, as if casually made up to tease someone. Yu Jingqiu found it ridiculous and couldn’t believe it. However, the matter of the missing fingers might not be a secret, since the martial world, despite not knowing how to consume the Jade Buddha Hand, knew that taking it was like taking poison, which would scorch the stomach. Someone must have tried it, and to try it, they would have to cut off one or two fingers. Thus, the cuts on the Buddha Hand were not unusual.

Xuan Ying turned around, her back to Yu Jingqiu. “I won’t put you in a difficult position, but I must take it back.”

As soon as her voice fell, the attendant standing on Xuan Ying’s left walked toward Yu Jingqiu. The man was dressed in green, with a lean, handsome face. His weapon was a jueguan pen (Judge’s pen), suggesting he specialized in acupoint striking techniques.

Xuan Ying instructed, “Just knock her out, don’t hurt her.”

The green-robed man advanced, his pen strokes moving like a dragon, exuding an extraordinary aura. Despite Xuan Ying’s sudden change of demeanor, Yu Jingqiu was only slightly dismayed and still able to respond calmly. Her sword light flashed as she fought him to a standstill.

Yu Jingqiu noticed that the green-robed man held back considerably in his attacks, knowing he was not using his full strength due to Xuan Ying’s instruction. Yu Jingqiu, though young, was highly skilled. For the green-robed man to subdue her by striking her acupoints without injuring her, under the sharp and nimble Qian Yuan sword technique, he would need to possess power that completely overwhelmed Yu Jingqiu’s.

After only a moment, the green-robed man was not only unable to subdue Yu Jingqiu but was subtly being suppressed by her.

The green-robed man was neither foolhardy nor aggressive. He reported to Xuan Ying, “Master, this girl’s skill is not weak. I alone may not be enough.”

Xuan Ying saw Yu Jingqiu’s proficiency. In her every move, the demeanor of a Grandmaster was already beginning to show, making it difficult for her subordinate to subdue her quickly. Yet, Xuan Ying seemed quite happy, the corners of her mouth slightly curved.

Sister Yan said, “Since the item is right here, my little ancestor, please take it quickly and leave. Don’t delay, lest that old man Mu Yunsheng realize what’s happening and come over. If he discovers you, my few ounces of flesh won’t be able to shield you from many of his saber cuts.”

Xuan Ying called out, “Gu Sheng.”

Another man standing behind Xuan Ying stepped forward. This man had a resolute face, a broad back, and a slender waist. He wore a pair of steel gauntlets. When he stepped forward, the heavy impact suggested he excelled in external martial arts.

She was correct.

Gu Sheng thrust out a palm with the power to shake a mountain. Yu Jingqiu flipped over to dodge, and Gu Sheng’s empty palm strike shattered the decorative hanging doorframe.

As Yu Jingqiu dodged Gu Sheng, the green-robed man’s jueguan pen moved like a ghost, aiming for her side. Yu Jingqiu used offense as defense, her sword light exploding, forcing the green-robed man back and simultaneously shattering a red jade vase holding flowers nearby.

Sister Yan shouted from the side, “Make a note! Make a note! Make a note of all the damages for me!”

Yu Jingqiu, fighting two opponents and still suffering from internal injuries, gradually weakened. Her mind was already searching for an escape route. On the other side, the green-robed man and Gu Sheng exchanged a look, attacking Yu Jingqiu simultaneously from the left and right.

If Yu Jingqiu’s internal energy were profound, she could have forcefully blocked them, but she knew she was inferior to both in internal power and could only retreat. However, the shift in the wind behind her suggested she could not escape the net.

The woman named Ban Xia had finished tending to the thief’s injuries at some unknown point. She attacked Yu Jingqiu from behind.

Caught between the two men in front, Yu Jingqiu was too slow to defend the rear and was struck by Ban Xia’s finger, which hit an acupoint.

Yu Jingqiu slumped to the floor. Before she completely lost consciousness, Xuan Ying’s figure gradually blurred before her eyes, until all that remained was darkness.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Lou Jing was chasing the fleeing figure with Cao Ruxu.

The shadow was truly elusive, but for some unknown reason, it suddenly stopped.

It slipped into a derelict garden. The garden was old and overgrown with weeds, rustling loudly in the night wind.

As soon as the thief entered the garden, Cao Ruxu caught up with him. Cao Ruxu shouted angrily, “You thief! Hand over the Jade Buddha Hand! If you hesitate for one word, I’ll hang you up and beat you until both your legs are broken!”

The thief did not speak, but instead let out two painful shrieks.

Lou Jing had just climbed over the wall and heard the sound. She secretly thought, “Why does that sound like a woman?”

Cao Ruxu said, “Stop playing tricks! Don’t think you can still run away.”

His several subordinates drew their swords and surrounded the figure. Just then, the dark clouds moved away, and the moonlight shone down, illuminating the derelict garden in a silvery glow.

The ‘package’ the thief was holding was not a brocade box but clearly a woman, and a pregnant one at that.

Exclamations of surprise rose one after another. “Who is this person?”

“Where is the thief?”

“Did we chase the wrong person?”

Cao Ruxu was filled with rage because he couldn’t see the Jade Buddha Hand, and veins throbbed on his forehead. “If you weren’t guilty, why did you run?! You thief, what trick are you playing? Where did you hide the Jade Buddha Hand? Speak!”

At this moment, an attendant beside Cao Ruxu, having clearly seen the figures of the two people, had a drastic change in color. He hurriedly ran to Cao Ruxu’s ear and whispered a few words.

Cao Ruxu’s anger quickly shifted to surprise. He frowned, then relaxed, waiting for the attendant to finish his two sentences. Cao Ruxu then smiled, his gaze intense as he stared at the two people. “Capture both of them and take them back to the Zhongwu Hall!”

Cao Ruxu let out a hearty laugh. “Chasing the wrong person? Lou Jing, do you know who they are? They are the woman and subordinate of Long Chou, the demon of the Feihua Alliance and Sect Leader of the Dingshan School! It is them we have been chasing all along!”