Guo Jing was an honest, straightforward man and suspected nothing. He immediately tried to persuade her to stay. "Why are you in such a hurry to leave, Heroine Luo? The fighting in Xiangyang has temporarily died down, so you could stay a little longer. That would give me a chance to play host."
Huang Rong, however, looked at Luo Bing thoughtfully. Then she said gently, "Since the main hall has important business to attend to, we shouldn't insist on keeping you here. Heroine Luo, the jianghu is full of dangers, so take care. You're welcome to visit Xiangyang again whenever you have time."
Luo Bing nodded gratefully, but didn't dare meet Huang Rong's eyes. She hurriedly packed her things and prepared to leave.
As she was leaving, she inevitably ran into Lin Xuan at the entrance to Guo Mansion. He had come to see her off.
He still wore a blue robe and stood facing the wind.
"Heroine Luo, have a safe journey," he said. His voice was not loud, but Luo Bing heard every word clearly.
Luo Bing's body gave an almost imperceptible shudder. Head lowered, she forced out two words through clenched teeth. "Thank you."
After that, she didn't dare linger. She practically fled as she swung onto her horse and galloped away without looking back, her panicked figure as if pursued by a ferocious tiger.
Lin Xuan watched her ride off, a smile spreading across his lips.
Luo Bing's departure caused no great stir at Guo Mansion.
Peace, rare and welcome, had returned to Xiangyang.
Ever since Lin Xuan had struck like thunder and destroyed the Mongol Army's Wolf Riders amid their ranks, the Mongol Army's morale had suffered an unprecedented blow. They seemed to have finally realized that the fortified city held not only Guo Jing, who was like a god of war, but also Lin Xuan, a man as unfathomable as a demon god, beyond the bounds of ordinary understanding.
So the relentless siege temporarily came to a halt. The Mongol Army withdrew thirty li to make camp, surrounding the city without attacking, as if waiting for a new opportunity—or new orders.
The soldiers and civilians across the city breathed a great sigh of relief.
Guo Jing remained vigilant, but at last the tension that had kept his nerves taut for months eased enough to let him catch his breath. He devoted more of his time to repairing the city's defenses and training the soldiers.
For Xiangyang, this was a golden age of peace.
That night, Lin Xuan and Huang Rong were discussing matters in her study.
Flickering candlelight cast wavering shadows across the furnishings. The study was filled with the faint scent of ink and a woman's delicate fragrance, mingling into an intoxicating air that stirred the heart.
Huang Rong sat at her desk, her graceful figure outlined by a simple silk dress that accentuated her lovely curves. Her hair was loosely pinned up, with a few strands falling beside her ears, lending her a touch of languor and allure. She held a book in her hands but had not turned a page in some time. Her bright eyes were fixed on Lin Xuan, who stood beside her.
"The Murong Family has deep roots in Jiangnan, with influence spreading through a tangled web. One letter won't be enough to uproot them," Lin Xuan murmured beside her. "That Mongol official's identity is a mystery. To make contact with someone like Murong Fu, he must be no ordinary man. If we don't uncover who he is, he'll remain a grave threat."
Huang Rong was Huang Rong, after all. As soon as the subject turned to business, she seized the heart of the matter. "You mean..."
"I want to go to Jiangnan," Lin Xuan replied calmly and decisively. "To Gusu. First, I'll deal with that traitor, Murong Fu. Then I'll follow the trail and see if I can uncover the identity of that mysterious Mongol. Only when we've dragged every poisonous snake out of hiding can Xiangyang truly rest easy."
Huang Rong fell silent, lost in thought. She knew every word Lin Xuan said was true. Murong Fu and the mysterious Mongol were both swords hanging over Xiangyang. Lin Xuan was meticulous, and he was indeed the best person to investigate.
But...
A powerful reluctance welled up inside her.
She had lost herself these past few days. By day, she was the revered Sect Leader Huang. By night, she experienced, in the arms of this much-too-young disciple, a forbidden pleasure that both shamed and enraptured her. She had grown accustomed to living this double life, accustomed to having him near.
If he left, she didn't know when she would see him again.
Lin Xuan seemed to sense how reluctant she was. The arm around her waist tightened. He lowered his head and brought his lips close to her ear, whispering so only the two of them could hear, "What is it, Master...? Don't want me to go?"
His warm breath, accompanied by the teasing word "Master," made Huang Rong shiver again.
She bit her lower lip, her face flushed red as she struggled with herself. Reason told her to let him go—for Xiangyang, for the greater good. But emotionally, selfishly, she wished she could keep him by her side forever.
In the end, reason won.
"...The jianghu is dangerous, and Jiangnan is even more of a tangled nest of vipers," she said, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. "You... must be careful."
A smile curved Lin Xuan's lips. He turned Huang Rong to face him, then lowered his head and kissed her deeply.
The next day, in the main hall of Guo Mansion.
A mood of parting hung over everyone.
The morning sunlight fell across the hall, but could not dispel the faint sorrow in the air.
Guo Fu wore her feelings most openly. Her bright eyes were as red as a rabbit's, brimming with tears she stubbornly refused to let fall. She clung tightly to Lin Xuan's sleeve, her slender fingers nearly wrinkling the fabric. Her face was full of reluctance.
A young girl's feelings were pure and passionate; she made no attempt to hide how attached she was to him. She tilted her head up to look at Lin Xuan's handsome face, her voice catching in her throat. "Junior Brother, you have to come back soon!"
She even took an exquisitely embroidered purse from her robes. A pair of mandarin ducks had been stitched onto it. The embroidery was a little crooked, but had an endearingly childish charm. Blushing, she shyly pushed it into Lin Xuan's hand. "I... I embroidered it myself. Make sure you keep it close to you!"
Lin Xuan took the purse and looked at the slightly crooked mandarin ducks embroidered on it. A tender smile appeared on his face.
"All right. I'll keep it close," he said warmly, his manner affectionate, with the fondness of an older brother. "Senior Sister, listen to Master's Husband and Master while I'm away. Keep practicing your martial arts. When I'm back, we can spar again."
Guo Jing stood to one side, looking pleased and approving. He didn't know Lin Xuan's true purpose. He assumed that, having mastered his martial arts, Lin Xuan simply wanted to travel the jianghu and broaden his horizons. His broad, imposing frame seemed even taller than usual as he gave Lin Xuan a hearty pat on the shoulder. His voice rang like a bell.
"Xuan'er! You're young, and though your martial arts are excellent, this is your first time venturing into the jianghu alone. Be careful in everything you do. The jianghu is vast, and people's hearts are hard to fathom. Remember to keep to the right path and uphold justice. Don't stray from it!" He laughed heartily, his boldness and sincerity inspiring admiration. "Your Master's Husband will be here, waiting for your return. Then we'll drink three hundred cups together!"
"Thank you for your guidance, Master's Husband. I'll keep your words in mind." Lin Xuan bowed, carrying out the courtesy of a junior to perfection.
Guo Jing seemed to remember something. He furrowed his brows and added, "Right, Xuan'er, one more thing. My Yang Guo has been unruly since childhood, and now that he's joined the Quanzhen Sect, I don't know how he's doing. The Quanzhen Sect has strict rules, and I'm afraid his wild nature will get him into trouble. While you're traveling, could you stop by the Quanzhen Sect on Zhongnan Mountain and check on him for me? If he's having any difficulties, do what you can to help."
Lin Xuan's heart stirred at the words, but his expression remained unchanged. He answered respectfully, "Don't worry, Master's Husband. I'll do my best."
At last, his gaze fell on Huang Rong.
She had completely put away the tenderness and allure of the previous night. Standing there with graceful poise, she wore a simple, elegant outfit that complemented her lovely figure perfectly. Her expression was gentle, her gaze soft, like that of a caring teacher seeing off a student on a long journey. But deep in her clear eyes, only Lin Xuan could read the complicated ripples beneath the surface.
She looked at him and spoke softly, her voice full of concern. "Xuan'er, Jiangnan is nothing like Xiangyang. You'll be on your own, so think of your own safety in everything you do. Don't go looking for trouble or picking fights." Her every word was a tender reminder. "Keep your money safe, and don't flaunt it. Be cautious when you look for a place to stay at night."
She sounded like a mother making the final preparations for a child about to leave home. Her thoughtful advice showed both the kindness of an elder and the concern of a master; every word revealed how worried she was about Lin Xuan, and how reluctant she was to see him go.
Lin Xuan met her gaze, understanding her completely. He performed a grand disciple's salute to Huang Rong and declared, "This disciple, Lin Xuan, will obey Master's instructions!"
He made the word "Master" especially clear, especially respectful. It was as if he were answering the feelings she had hidden away, with a meaning only the two of them could understand.
After bidding farewell to the Guo family, Lin Xuan took the fine horse that had been prepared for him. The black steed was magnificent, its coat as dark as ink and its four hooves as white as snow. He swung into the saddle in one smooth, graceful motion.
He looked back one last time.
He saw Guo Jing wave heartily, Guo Fu looking at him with tearful reluctance, and Huang Rong's gentle eyes holding a trace of attachment she could not conceal. Her posture remained graceful, but a hint of sorrow was unmistakable deep in her eyes.
He smiled faintly, with a touch of confidence, a touch of ease, and a touch of anticipation for the future. Without another backward glance, he squeezed his legs against the horse's flanks and called out, "Hyah!"
The steed whinnied and galloped off, hooves flying as it raced toward the city gate and disappeared into the distance. The sound of its hooves faded, leaving only billowing dust behind.
The morning sunlight stretched his departing figure into a solitary silhouette, which gradually vanished beyond the city gates.
The romance and pleasures of Xiangyang were now in the past.
A wider jianghu, and many more beautiful women, were waiting quietly ahead.
Author's note:
Thank you to the generous reader Wuxin Lian Fancheng for the tip.
The first volume is over. The story in Xiangyang pauses here for now. The male lead is setting out into the jianghu. Feel free to discuss any thoughts you have about the plot.
Volume Two: Journey Through the Jianghu
Chapter One: Making a Name in the Jianghu
The long wind roared, and hoofbeats rang out as the horse traveled along the flagstone road.
Lin Xuan wore ordinary blue traveling clothes. His figure was tall and straight, his back ramrod straight as he rode at a gallop.
Lin Xuan had an important mission on this journey. His primary goal was to investigate Murong Fu's collusion with the Mongol Tartars and sever this secret alliance that brought calamity to the country.
He had also promised Guo Jing that he would visit the Quanzhen Sect on Zhongnan Mountain and check on how Yang Guo was doing. And, of course, he would take the opportunity to see the legendary Little Dragon Girl, untouched by worldly concerns.
The Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique had taken deep root in him and fused perfectly with the Nine Yin Manual, remaking him from the inside out. His Internal Energy was now as vast as the sea, inexhaustible and never-ending.
Every movement he made carried an indescribable, magnetic charm. It was the natural masculine aura that the technique had instilled throughout his body—and, for him, it was another invisible advantage.
He made no effort to cultivate this charm; it simply radiated from him. Those who came near felt their minds settle without realizing it, and even developed a faint, hard-to-define attachment and submission. Even sitting quietly, he seemed to draw everyone's gaze, making women take a liking to him and want to get closer almost against their will.
Along the way, he kept a low profile, even deliberately restraining his sharpness as he traveled like an ordinary young master from a wealthy family. Yet his very presence was like a magnet, inevitably drawing attention and trouble.
One day, he reached a mountain path where the wind howled through dense woods. Suddenly, a woman's terrified scream rang out ahead, mixed with a man's rough curses and the occasional sharp clash of weapons. Lin Xuan reined in his horse, frowning.
He pushed aside the bushes beside the road and saw a group of merchants surrounded by a band of fierce-looking robbers not far ahead. Most of the caravan's guards had fallen, and blood stained the mountain path.
The leader, a burly man with a face full of flesh and a steel saber in his hand, was dragging a young woman off a carriage with a leering grin. Her clothes were disheveled and her face pale with fright. She struggled desperately, but to no avail.
"Let me go! You beasts!" the woman screamed, her eyes filled with despair.
"Heh, pretty girl, just give in to me! I promise I'll make you enjoy yourself!" the bandit leader leered, lightly drawing his steel saber across her neck. His threat was clear.
A cold glint flashed through Lin Xuan's eyes. He didn't draw his sword, or even make a sound as he walked. In a blur, he appeared beside the bandits like a ghost, moving so fast it seemed he had teleported.
The bandit leader saw something flicker before his eyes. Before he could react, Lin Xuan's fingertip flicked. An invisible burst of force shot out like an arrow, striking the man's wrist with pinpoint accuracy.
"Ah!" Pain shot through the bandit leader's wrist. His hand went numb, and his steel saber clanged to the ground. He stared in shock, but before he could even make out who had appeared, Lin Xuan casually struck him with a palm.
The blow looked effortless, but it held the formidable Internal Energy of the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique. His palm wind roared forward with unstoppable force.
Pfft! The bandit leader flew backward like a broken kite and crashed into a boulder several yards away. Blood spilled from his mouth. After a few feeble struggles, he fell still, clearly dead.
The other bandits were stunned. They had never seen such strange and powerful martial arts. For a moment, they were so shaken that none dared to approach.
A cold glint flashed through Lin Xuan's eyes. His figure moved like lightning, darting among the bandits before they could react. Several muffled groans rang out, followed by the clatter of blades hitting the ground.
When he stopped, every bandit lay dead. Some had thin lines of blood at their throats, while others had their chests caved in. All had died on the spot, their eyes still filled with disbelief and terror. The mountain path was left to the stench of blood and a dead silence.
The rescued woman and the surviving merchants stared blankly at what had happened. Having escaped death, they were filled with shock and gratitude. They had never seen such a remarkable young hero—swift and decisive in his attacks, yet possessing a detached calm.
Lin Xuan said nothing. He simply took the reins of his horse and continued on, leaving behind a scene of carnage and the merchants' bewildered stares.
Several days later, Lin Xuan passed through a small village. It was afternoon, and a group of children were playing beneath the large banyan tree at the village entrance.
Suddenly, a fierce-looking burly man charged over with a wooden club in hand and began beating a skinny boy. As he struck, he cursed, "You little brat! You stole my chicken. I'll beat you to death!"
The boy cried out as he was beaten. The other children scattered in fright, but none dared step in to stop the man. Lin Xuan frowned at the sight.
The boy deserved punishment for stealing the chicken, but the man was beating him far too viciously. If no one intervened, the boy might be beaten to death.
Lin Xuan didn't step in directly. As he passed beside the man, he released a trace of Internal Energy without drawing attention to himself. The force spread like invisible ripples, enveloping the man in an instant.
The man felt an inexplicable chill shoot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. The wooden club in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand catties; he could no longer swing it. His whole body stiffened, and cold sweat poured down him. It was as if an invisible force had clamped around his throat, making it hard to breathe.
He looked around in terror but saw nothing. He could only feel an immense pressure bearing down on him, filling him with submission and stripping away every trace of his ferocity.
Lin Xuan merely gave him a cool glance, his eyes carrying a hint of murderous intent. The man snapped out of it. The wooden club slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground.
He was about to beg for mercy when his chest suddenly tightened and a wave of pain struck. His vision went black, and he toppled over, unconscious. The children nearby froze in fright, but none knew what had happened.
Lin Xuan led his horse away, leaving the fallen man and the boy's frightened sobs behind him.
He had not acted this way deliberately, but such incidents became part of his reputation as he traveled the jianghu.
He arrived at a small town called Qinghe Town. Built along the water, it had gray-tiled roofs and black-brick walls, with black-canopied boats moored along the shore—a quintessential waterside town.
Lin Xuan settled into a teahouse, ordered a pot of green tea, and sat by the window. He listened to passersby whispering as well as the storyteller's passionate voice.
"...Now, outside Xiangyang City, three thousand elite Mongol Wolf Riders were ferocious beyond compare, leaving not a blade of grass alive wherever they went! Just when the morale of Xiangyang's soldiers and civilians was flagging, a young hero appeared and turned the tide! He set a brilliant formation and slew the enemy commander amid thousands of troops. In a single night, three thousand Wolf Riders were wiped out without a trace!"
The storyteller rose with a bang, spraying spittle as his tale roused the entire teahouse. The place was packed, and the audience erupted in cheers.
"What was the young hero's name? Where did he come from?" someone called out, their voice full of admiration.
The storyteller stroked his beard with a mysterious smile, drawing out the suspense. Then he snapped open his fan and cried, loud enough to shake the roof tiles, "He was Young Master Lin! Known as 'Little Zhuge' Lin Xuan!"
"Little Zhuge, Young Master Lin! What a name! A genius of our age!"
"A young hero like that is truly a blessing for Great Song! I hear even Great Hero Guo and his wife can't praise him enough!"
The teahouse buzzed with heated discussion. Lin Xuan picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
He paid for his tea and left. As he reached the inn, the shopkeeper, who had been ignoring him while wiping the counter, suddenly showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
It wasn't because he had heard the talk in the teahouse. Rather, Lin Xuan's extraordinary bearing made him feel an unconscious sense of pressure, as if the man before him were no ordinary traveler.
The shopkeeper set down his rag, curiosity and respect in his eyes. He looked at Lin Xuan: tall and straight, handsome, and dressed plainly, yet carrying an air of detachment from the world. His deep eyes, in particular, seemed able to see right through people.
"Are you looking for a room, young master?" the shopkeeper asked, unconsciously lowering his voice and speaking with a trace of caution.
Lin Xuan gave a slight nod and replied calmly, "I am."
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