Song of Everlasting Regret - Chapter 7
The thief had been relentlessly pursued, and Yu Jingqiu was truly difficult to deal with. Exhausted from defending himself, he began fleeing without regard for where he was going and crashed into a room.
Numerous wounds had accumulated across his body, stirring his anger and making his attacks increasingly overbearing. Relying on the fact that he was older while the young woman before him appeared youthful, he intended to use his superior internal cultivation to overpower Yu Jingqiu through a direct contest of inner force.
Yu Jingqiu recognized his intention and moved first, suppressing him with a sword technique.
She unleashed Purple Qi Comes from the East, a move from the Qian Formula. Its momentum was vast and overwhelming.
The thief felt as though the bitter northern winds of a snowbound winter were scraping across his entire body. The cold pierced his bones like blades cutting through flesh.
He involuntarily lost a breath of qi. The strength in his hands weakened, preventing him from using his full power.
Yu Jingqiu seized the opportunity and struck with all her might.
When the two forces collided, the wooden floor beneath the thief’s feet could not withstand the pressure. The planks cracked and collapsed, opening a large hole that sent the two of them falling through one after the other.
The thief could never have known that the hidden floor beneath their feet was precisely where Madam Yan’s private room was located.
As he fell, he caught sight of the people inside from the corner of his eye and immediately lost his composure.
Yu Jingqiu seized the moment of distraction.
She thrust her scabbard forward and struck the numbing channel in his arm. The moment the thief landed, his hand went numb and became incapable of movement.
Yu Jingqiu flicked her sword forward, hooked the bundle he carried away from him, and caught it in her hand.
When she opened it, she found the brocade box inside. Within the box lay the Jade Buddha’s Hand.
Yu Jingqiu relaxed slightly.
Immediately afterward, a dull pain spread through her internal organs, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
The thief’s martial arts were considerable, and his inner force was even stronger than hers. Although Yu Jingqiu had relied on her quick thinking to defeat him, she had also suffered internal injuries.
“You!”
A charming female voice rang out beside her.
Yu Jingqiu had assumed everyone in the room was an ordinary guest. Since she had intruded while fighting and offended them, she turned toward the speaker, intending to apologize.
The woman wore a flowing crimson gauze dress. As she moved, her slender waist swayed gracefully, and her red skirts rippled like scarlet clouds unfurling across the heavens.
Her face was alluring and beautiful, and a hint of laughter appeared before she even spoke. She looked around thirty and possessed exceptional charm.
Her natural beauty was likely so great that even without rouge or powder, she remained captivating.
Madam Yan stared at Yu Jingqiu in astonishment.
She looked at her, then turned toward the person behind the pearl curtain.
Because of the unexpected disturbance, that person had already been shielded behind the other three.
Madam Yan’s gaze returned to Yu Jingqiu and swept over her from head to toe.
“Oh my, you…”
Seeing her shocked expression, Yu Jingqiu assumed that her sudden descent from the ceiling had frightened her.
“Miss, this thief stole something. While fighting him, we unexpectedly shattered the floor and fell into this room. I apologize for disturbing you and ask your forgiveness.”
With that, she prepared to leave.
The stolen item had already been recovered. She was alone and knew nothing about the people here. Continuing to remain entangled with the thief might lead to further complications.
Yu Jingqiu slowly retreated toward the door while remaining alert in case the thief suddenly attacked.
She thought that since the item was in her hands, even if the thief had not given up, he would come after her rather than trouble the woman.
She had also noticed four people behind the pearl curtain.
They had remained silent and composed from the beginning. Three of them carried restrained auras and were clearly martial artists who would not be easy to provoke.
Unexpectedly, Madam Yan grabbed Yu Jingqiu’s arm.
“You cannot leave!”
Madam Yan pointed at the wooden table that had collapsed beneath the thief, then at the nearby vase.
“You have left this place in complete disorder and now intend to walk away? Absolutely not!
“This table is made of golden-thread sea willow, and that is a first-rate blue-and-white porcelain vase. Several hundred, perhaps even a thousand taels of silver would not be enough to replace them!
“If you simply dust yourself off and leave, won’t the owner demand that we pay for everything?”
Yu Jingqiu glanced at the thief.
He was kneeling on one knee nearby, breathing faintly with his head lowered and his complexion extremely poor. He no longer attempted to seize the Jade Buddha’s Hand.
Yu Jingqiu assumed he was secretly regulating his breathing because of his injuries, so she did not lower her guard.
She replied gently, “I do not have hundreds or thousands of taels. That man broke the table and the porcelain. You may ask him to compensate you.”
Madam Yan pointed at the enormous hole overhead.
“You were responsible for at least half of that hole. That floor is made of ebony and black sandalwood. Pay for it.”
“…”
Yu Jingqiu searched inside her robes and placed the pouch of silver that Lou Jing had tossed back to her into Madam Yan’s outstretched palm.
Madam Yan burst into laughter, as though she had encountered something immensely amusing.
She half-covered her face and studied Yu Jingqiu closely, murmuring, “How remarkably fresh and innocent…”
Yu Jingqiu did not understand what she meant.
Madam Yan finally restrained her laughter.
“It is not enough. Not enough at all. I would need at least fifty taels.”
“I do not have that much with me…”
Madam Yan encircled the brocade box in Yu Jingqiu’s hands with both arms.
“Then use this as collateral. If a thief coveted it, it must be valuable.”
Yu Jingqiu lowered her hands, causing Madam Yan to grasp empty air.
She apologized, “This item does not belong to me, so I cannot leave it as collateral. If you require silver, you may send someone to collect it from the Salt Gang.”
Before Madam Yan could answer, the person behind the pearl curtain spoke.
“If it does not belong to you, then whose is it?”
The voice was like the wind at night, carrying a desolate chill.
When it reached Yu Jingqiu’s ears, she froze.
The voice sounded strangely familiar.
Yet she had grown up on Tiger Roar Mountain since childhood. Even when she descended the mountain, she only visited the nearby towns. This was her first journey far from home.
She had met few people, and she remembered most of them. Yet she could not recall anyone who possessed this voice.
Still, she truly felt as though she had heard it before.
It seemed to come from a dream, or perhaps from a previous life, distant and indistinct.
After a moment, Yu Jingqiu came back to herself.
“Caoliu Manor and Zhongwu Hall have formed a marriage alliance. This was Caoliu Manor’s wedding gift to Hall Master Mu. It now belongs to Hall Master Mu.”
The person laughed upon hearing this.
The laughter was soft but carried unmistakable mockery.
Yu Jingqiu did not take offense.
The person began walking toward her.
The other three tried to stop her, unwilling to let her approach, and called softly, “Tower Master.”
With a single look from her, the three retreated.
She raised a hand, parted the pearl curtain, and stepped forward.
She appeared to be in her twenties. Her skin was like ice and her bones like jade, though her figure seemed delicate and weak.
Her gaze resembled the clear radiance of a brilliant moon as she stared at Yu Jingqiu.
Her features were remarkably approachable. Although they had met only by chance, Yu Jingqiu immediately felt a sense of closeness toward her.
The woman gazed deeply at her for a long while.
“You are Lou Xuanzhi’s disciple?”
Yu Jingqiu was surprised.
It is possible she recognized the Qianyuan Sect from the sword techniques I used, but how could she immediately know who my master is? Could she know Master personally?
Her next question startled Yu Jingqiu even more.
“Is your childhood name Shanjun?”
Only a few elders addressed Yu Jingqiu by that name.
How could this person know it unless she had some connection with her master?
Yu Jingqiu replied, “Yes. Do you know my master?”
“I do.”
Yu Jingqiu adopted a respectful manner.
“May I ask what relationship Senior has with my master?”
“Senior?”
The woman laughed in an unreadable manner.
When she looked at Yu Jingqiu again, her eyes contained an indescribable sorrow and desolation.
“We merely met by chance.”
“Then how does Senior know these things?”
The woman stared directly into her eyes. Her voice was faint and almost bewitching.
“I know many things. Things you know and things you do not—I know them all.”
“May I ask, Senior… Senior…”
Yu Jingqiu noticed that the woman did not seem to like being addressed as a senior, so she corrected herself.
“Since you know my childhood name, forgive Shanjun’s presumption, but might you tell me your name?”
For some reason, seeing the woman’s gaze filled Yu Jingqiu with sorrow.
She could not trace the source of the feeling. She simply found herself wishing to become more familiar and closer to the woman before her.
After a moment of silence, the woman said, “Xuanying.”
Xuanying stared at Yu Jingqiu as though expecting her to say something.
Yu Jingqiu did not know what she was waiting to hear.
“It is a beautiful name.”
A trace of disappointment appeared on Xuanying’s face.
She glanced at the brocade box in Yu Jingqiu’s hands, then looked sideways at the thief.
“Banxia, treat his injuries.”
The thief cupped his hands and bowed.
“Many thanks, Tower Master.”
Of the three people who had been standing behind Xuanying, a beautiful young woman stepped forward.
She helped the thief to one side, checked his pulse, then transferred true qi into his body to treat his injuries.
Yu Jingqiu exclaimed in shock, “This thief is one of your people!”
The person behind the entire theft had remained kneeling there throughout the conversation. His eyes had never wandered, and he had looked only at Yu Jingqiu.
He had concealed himself exceedingly well, never revealing the slightest indication that he knew anyone in the room.
Only after Xuanying exposed their connection did he finally move.
Yu Jingqiu now understood that the thief was Xuanying’s subordinate.
She had initially believed that he remained still because of his injuries and because he feared the three martial artists of unknown strength standing behind Xuanying.
It seemed she had been careless.
Xuanying gave a quiet scoff.
“Who is truly the thief is difficult to say.”
Yu Jingqiu frowned and looked at the brocade box in her hands, her emotions complicated.
Sneaking into Zhongwu Hall, stealing another person’s property, and even setting a fire to divert attention all violated the principles of benevolence and righteousness.
Yet she felt an inexplicable closeness toward the person before her.
She could not bring herself to condemn Xuanying. It did not even occur to her that the woman might attack her to obtain the Jade Buddha’s Hand.
Xuanying looked at her.
“Shanjun, I must have the Jade Buddha’s Hand.”
After considering the matter, Yu Jingqiu asked, “What do you need it for?”
“To prolong my life.”
Two concise and direct words.
Yu Jingqiu was startled.
“If that is the reason, Hall Master Mu has always been known for his benevolence. Saving one life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.
“If you discuss the matter with him, he will surely give it to you generously, as human life is more important than anything else.
“When I meet him, I will explain the situation. Even if I must ask him as a favor to the Qianyuan Sect, I will persuade him to agree.”
The two words prolong my life had inexplicably filled her with anxiety.
She wanted to help this person, yet she also did not wish to violate her own principles by allowing her to keep something stolen.
Thus, Yu Jingqiu suggested this compromise.
Xuanying replied dismissively, “Why should I beg him?”
“Because it belongs to someone else.”
The woman laughed again, her gaze turning cold.
“Who said it belongs to him? This belongs to my family.”
Yu Jingqiu found this difficult to believe.
Everyone had witnessed Cao Ruxu present the Jade Buddha’s Hand to Mu Yunsheng.
Now a stranger had appeared, stolen it, and claimed it belonged to her family. Who could believe such a statement?
Xuanying could tell that she was unconvinced.
“Open the box and look. The Jade Buddha’s Hand originally had nine fingers. See whether some of them are missing.”
Yu Jingqiu opened the box as instructed.
The jade-colored Buddha’s hand had only five fingers.
It was impossible to know how many it had originally possessed, but marks along its side clearly showed that something had been cut away. Judging from the discoloration, it had happened some time ago.
“Were those missing fingers used by Miss Xuanying?” Yu Jingqiu asked, following her reasoning.
“No. You ate them.”
That was even more absurd.
It sounded as though Xuanying had invented it casually to tease her.
Yu Jingqiu found the statement preposterous and could not believe it.
The fact that some fingers were missing from the Jade Buddha’s Hand was likely not a closely guarded secret.
Although no one in the martial world knew how to properly consume it, people knew that swallowing it directly was like consuming poison and would burn the stomach.
Someone must therefore have attempted to use it before.
To test it, they would naturally have cut off one or two fingers. The marks on the hand were therefore not unusual.
Xuanying turned away, presenting her back to Yu Jingqiu.
“I will not make things difficult for you, but I must take it back.”
The moment she finished speaking, the guard standing to Xuanying’s left approached Yu Jingqiu.
The man wore green robes and had thin, refined features. His weapon was a judge’s pen, so he was likely skilled in striking acupoints.
Xuanying instructed, “Only knock her unconscious. Do not hurt her.”
The green-robed man attacked.
His judge’s pen moved like a dragon and serpent, carrying an extraordinary presence.
Although Xuanying’s sudden hostility left Yu Jingqiu disappointed, she still responded calmly.
Sword light flashed as she fought him evenly.
Yu Jingqiu noticed that the green-robed man repeatedly restrained himself.
She understood that because of Xuanying’s order, he was not using his full strength.
Although Yu Jingqiu was young, her cultivation was considerable.
For the man to avoid injuring her while striking her acupoints beneath the sharp and agile Qianyuan Sword Art, his skill would have to completely surpass hers.
After some time, the green-robed man not only failed to incapacitate Yu Jingqiu, but gradually began to be suppressed by her.
He was not someone who recklessly pursued victory.
He called to Xuanying, “Tower Master, this young woman’s martial arts are not weak. This subordinate fears I cannot defeat her alone.”
Seeing how proficiently Yu Jingqiu fought, with the bearing of a future grandmaster already visible in her every movement, Xuanying appeared delighted rather than troubled.
The corners of her lips curved slightly.
Madam Yan said, “Since the item is right before you, my little ancestor, quickly take it and leave. Do not delay!
“If that old fellow Mu Yunsheng notices and finds his way here, and he discovers you, these few pounds of flesh on my body will not be enough to block many blades for you.”
Xuanying called, “Gusheng.”
The other man standing behind Xuanying also stepped forward.
He had a firm, resolute face, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. A pair of forged-steel bracers covered his arms.
When he stepped forward, the floor sounded heavily beneath him. He was clearly highly accomplished in external martial arts.
And indeed, he was.
Gusheng thrust out his palm with mountain-shaking force.
Yu Jingqiu flipped aside.
Gusheng’s palm missed her and directly shattered the ornate hanging gate behind her.
Having evaded Gusheng, Yu Jingqiu saw the green-robed man’s judge’s pen approach her waist like a ghost.
She used offense as defense.
Her sword radiance surged, forcing the green-robed man backward and shattering a red-jade flower vase nearby.
Madam Yan cried from the side, “Put it on the account! Record everything on the account!”
Yu Jingqiu fought two opponents alone.
She had already suffered internal injuries and gradually began to struggle. She quietly began watching for a route of escape.
The green-robed man and Gusheng exchanged glances.
One attacked from the left and the other from the right, both striking Yu Jingqiu simultaneously.
Had Yu Jingqiu possessed sufficiently deep inner force, she could have forcibly blocked both attacks.
Knowing that her internal cultivation was inferior to theirs, she could only retreat.
However, she had not expected another attack from behind. There was no escape from the net closing around her.
The woman named Banxia had finished treating the thief at some unknown point and attacked Yu Jingqiu from behind.
Yu Jingqiu was occupied by the two men in front of her and could not defend herself in time.
Banxia struck one of her acupoints with a finger.
Yu Jingqiu collapsed weakly to the floor.
Before losing consciousness, she saw Xuanying’s figure gradually blur before her eyes.
Then everything became darkness.
At the same time, elsewhere, Lou Jing continued pursuing the fleeing figure alongside Cao Ruxu.
The person was exceptionally skilled at escaping, yet for some unknown reason, they suddenly stopped.
They slipped into an abandoned garden.
The grounds had fallen into disrepair, and weeds grew everywhere. When the night wind blew, they rustled loudly.
The moment the figure entered the garden, Cao Ruxu caught up.
He shouted sternly, “Thieving bastard! Return the Jade Buddha’s Hand immediately! If you hesitate for even a single word, I will hang you up and beat you until both legs are broken!”
The figure did not answer.
Instead, two cries of pain rang out.
Lou Jing had only just climbed over the wall.
Hearing the voice, she thought, Why is it a woman?
Cao Ruxu said, “Stop playing tricks. Do not think you can still escape.”
Several of his subordinates drew their swords and surrounded the person completely.
At that moment, the dark clouds concealing the moon drifted away.
Moonlight descended, bathing the abandoned garden in silver.
What the figure held was not a brocade box at all.
It was clearly a woman—and a pregnant woman at that.
Cries of astonishment sounded one after another.
“Who are these people?”
“Where is the thief?”
“Could we have pursued the wrong person?”
Unable to see the Jade Buddha’s Hand, Cao Ruxu’s anger surged.
Veins bulged at his temples.
“If you were not guilty, why did you flee? What trick have you played, thief? Where did you hide the Jade Buddha’s Hand? Speak!”
One of the servants beside Cao Ruxu finally saw the two people clearly.
His expression abruptly changed, and he hurried to Cao Ruxu’s side to whisper several sentences into his ear.
Cao Ruxu’s fury first turned to astonishment.
His brows furrowed, then gradually relaxed.
After the servant finished speaking, Cao Ruxu smiled broadly and stared at the two with blazing eyes.
“Seize both of them and take them back to Zhongwu Hall!”
Cao Ruxu laughed loudly twice.
“Pursued the wrong people? Lou Jing, do you know who they are?
“They are the woman and subordinate of the demon Long Chou—the head of the Feihua Alliance’s Dingshan Branch and its Tianwu Officer!
“They are precisely the people we should be pursuing!”
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Thank you so much for the translation so far! I’m really looking forward to future chapters. Will you be translating the rest of this novel in the future?