Swordsman

Li Yunxin let out a breath as well. Mm... I guess I've found a place to settle down.

The two Taoists who had chased him were dead. The five constables who had seen him were dead. Perhaps others were still looking for him, looking for the Tongming Jade Slip. But since his parents had lived in seclusion for so many years without incident, finding him could not have been easy either. He would head for a large city with plenty of people.

There was neither internet nor television news in this era. Where could anyone even begin looking?

He had to find out what exactly the Tongming Jade Slip was, then break the restraint on his Qi Sea. After that... he could investigate certain matters. He could accept running away for a while, but if he had to spend his whole second life bound hand and foot, vanishing into the common crowd, how could he possibly live up to it?

Qiao Sifu, driving the cart, burst into laughter. "Hahaha, little brother, let me tell you—"

Qiao Jiaxin knew what he was about to say—he was going to explain what kind of person Liu Laodao really was. But the girl's delicate, perceptive heart feared that Li Yunxin would be embarrassed and angered if he learned the truth, so she hurriedly said, "Fourth Brother, why are you meddling so much?"

Qiao Jiaxin had always feared neither heaven nor earth at the escort agency. Qiao Sifu was slightly taken aback by her words, then seemed to understand something. He waggled his brows at Jiaxin with a grin before turning back to drive the cart.

Jiaxin's face reddened slightly. She looked at the youth, only to find Li Yunxin smiling and nodding at her again. As though possessed by ghosts, she quickly turned her head away.

What the devil... the eldest miss of the Qiao Household thought. What's wrong with me?

She had actually planned to speak to Li Yunxin in secret after they settled down for the night. That way, the youth would not be too embarrassed. Thinking of that handsome youth's gentle, composed manner, she truly did not want to see him awkward and at a loss.

So the convoy traveled for another half day.

When the sun began to drift westward, they stopped to light fires and cook. The road between Hui City and Luo City had always been peaceful, so there was no need to hurry onward. Qiao Duanhong had always been kind and generous to his own people; whenever they escorted goods outside, they ate three meals a day. They camped now on a gentle slope, where fragrant grass spread like a carpet and clear water flowed slowly by, making it seem as though the day's exhaustion would be swept away.

Qiao Jiaxin's large eyes kept darting toward Li Yunxin as she searched for a chance to speak with him.

But Liu Laodao seemed to have found a treasure and feared someone might snatch it away. He held on to Li Yunxin and told him all about himself, while Li Yunxin listened with great interest. The old Taoist became ever more convinced that this bargain disciple was respectful and obedient, while Miss Qiao became ever more certain that this handsome youth was about to be swindled miserably.

Qiao Sifu sidled over to Qiao Jiaxin, waggling his brows. "Hey, hey, look at him. He's handsome, but he's got a hole where his heart should be."

Qiao Jiaxin glared at him. "You're the one with a hole where your heart should be."

Qiao Sifu gave a wicked snicker.

After waiting another quarter hour, Miss Qiao saw the youth take the gourd from Liu Laodao's waist and head to the river behind the slope to fetch water. She thought for a moment, her face reddening faintly. Then she kicked the tip of the grass before her and followed after him with her hands behind her back, swaying from side to side.

The youth crouched halfway by the river to fill the gourd. Against the slanting rays of the setting sun, his hair had taken on a faint reddish glow.

Qiao Jiaxin looked behind her—Qiao Sifu had been called away by her father and was tying ropes onto another large cart. Her heart settled. When she looked at the youth again, she suddenly felt a strange peace arise within her—as though only the two of them remained in this little corner of heaven and earth. The sunset was warm, the grass green, the water slow, and the breeze gentle. The fourteen-year-old girl was startled by this sudden feeling that made her happy, yet also confused and uneasy. She did not know that this feeling was called falling for someone.

The first stirrings of love.

Her heart leaped like a little deer, and she no longer knew how to walk over or how to begin.

She watched the youth's figure like that for a while. Only when he turned, stoppered the gourd, and raised his head did she softly gasp in her heart.

The youth was only slightly startled before he smiled at her. "Miss, have you come to fetch water too?"

Jiaxin found the youth calm and composed, without the slightest trace of panic,

and her own heart suddenly calmed as well.

Of course, Li Yunxin would not panic over something like this. In his eyes, this girl was still only a girl—a beautiful girl next door, with a slender, graceful figure and a pretty face. He had seen this sort of thing many times before. In the past, he had not exactly been unpopular.

Qiao Jiaxin hesitated for a while before speaking. "Mm, I came to tell you something. Anyway, you seem like you don't understand anything, so I came to tell you. Don't believe Liu Laodao's words. He's not really any sect master at all. He's just..."

At that point, she suddenly felt that speaking ill of someone behind his back was not very proper. So she curled her lips and thrust out her chest. "Hmph. I'd dare say all this to his face anyway. I just don't want you to feel embarrassed. Actually, you don't have to follow him. If you have nowhere to go, my household... my household... actually, my household's escort agency isn't small... my household's escort agency needs people too... Mm, I'm only telling you because I think you're pitiful..."

Li Yunxin smiled gently. "Mm, all right. Thank you."

Jiaxin froze for a moment. "I told you all that. I meant it!"

Li Yunxin smiled again. "Mm, I know that too. Thank you. It's just that my health isn't very good. I don't think I could endure escorting goods like you do. I get sick often too. So... thank you."

Qiao Jiaxin felt a small pang of disappointment. But then she told herself—children of the martial world, forget it.

Looking at him, he truly was neither sturdy nor dark-skinned. He really did not seem able to fight.

The youth cupped his hands to her and walked two steps away. Qiao Jiaxin suddenly felt that he looked a little strange now—not quite like before. When he had blocked the road, he had seemed odd and frivolous, but now... he was calm and steady, nothing like the other rash and impetuous boys she had seen before.

But after taking two steps, Li Yunxin suddenly raised his head and glanced in Jiaxin's direction.

His brows furrowed, and his gaze turned icy in that instant, frightening Qiao Jiaxin badly. Just as she was about to ask, "What's wrong?" she heard footsteps coming from behind her as well.

A man in a coarse blue-gray Taoist robe came through the wild grass, a sword in his right hand.

Li Yunxin recognized that sword—it was exactly like the swords wielded by Red Pine Master and Kang Cangzi.

Just as Qiao Jiaxin was about to speak, the sword-wielding man said coldly, "Ha. Two more little brats. Come. Go with me."

His identity was unknown, but his tone was hostile. Even Qiao Jiaxin knew this fellow was no good person. She stepped back and stood in front of Li Yunxin. The gentle yet slightly overbearing tone she had used moments ago was gone, replaced by wariness and vigilance. "Who are you?"

There was a slim little sword hidden in her sleeve. But her father, Qiao Duanhong, had always told her: those who escort goods were not wandering heroes of the martial world. If one could avoid fighting, then avoid fighting. When walking beneath another's eaves, if lowering one's head could solve the problem, there was no need to draw a blade.

So Qiao Jiaxin merely gripped the little sword without drawing it.

The swordsman frowned and snorted. "You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit."

After saying that, he thrust his slender sword forward and lunged at them.

Li Yunxin felt that this man's skill was probably not very high—at the very least, he was weaker than the two Taoists who had chased him using only mundane martial arts after their spiritual power had been sealed. His father had once made him practice a technique called Watercloud Force. He had said that the technique "was fairly decent," cultivating both the flesh and the soul, and was most suitable for young people to temper their bodies and lay their Foundation Establishment. Li Yunxin had practiced it for eight or nine years.

That was also why he had been able to tangle with the two Taoists for three days and three nights without being killed by a single sword strike. By his current judgment, his former self could probably have defeated this fellow.

Unfortunately, he had used the painted formation his parents left in the courtyard to seal the two Taoists' spiritual power, and the two Taoists had afterward burned a talisman to seal his Qi Sea. Spiritual power was all stored in the Qi Sea. At this moment, he could only watch. If it came to truly fighting—how could the body of a fourteen-year-old boy, without spiritual power to drive hidden force, be a match for an adult?

His eyes were quick, but his body was not. By the time he reacted and intended to intervene, the swordsman's slender blade had already flicked Qiao Jiaxin's right sleeve. With a clang, the little sword in her hand was knocked away.

Only then did the girl cry out and try to dodge.

But Li Yunxin had already caught her shoulder from behind and pulled her behind him.

The sword-wielding man frowned again. "Don't think I wouldn't dare hurt you..."

"You misunderstand, hero." Li Yunxin cut him off, spreading his hands. "Your martial arts are superior. We surrender."

"...Hey!" Both the man and Qiao Jiaxin were stunned. After a while, the girl cried out in disappointment, "How could you..."

In her heart, even if this youth could not fight, he should at least... have some backbone, shouldn't he?

What was this supposed to mean?

The man sized Li Yunxin up again and sneered. "Heh. At least you know what's good for you. Move!"

He flicked the slender sword and held it in a reverse grip, then strode toward the gentle slope, seemingly unconcerned at all that the two youths might flee.

Li Yunxin followed him. Qiao Jiaxin reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "You, you, you..."

Li Yunxin shook his head and said softly, "Look over by the slope."

They were actually some distance from the camp, and in her shock and panic, the girl had not heard the sounds from the other side of the slope. But Li Yunxin had heard them. He realized there were others there—the swordsman had accomplices. It had already grown quiet over there, with no fierce shouts of battle. When they had been setting up camp and cooking earlier, everyone had been talking. Later, several unfamiliar voices had mixed in, and then the conversation had died away. By now, all was silent.

Li Yunxin guessed that the other side had used some astonishing method to intimidate the escorts.

Only when the two of them climbed the gentle slope did the girl see what had happened there.

Five men in coarse Taoist robes had surrounded the people from the escort agency.

The escorts had originally carried weapons both long and short, but now those weapons lay in the grass at their feet. Not one of them dared pick one up.

On this Mid-Autumn night of the full moon, I wish everyone a Happy New Year!!

All readers are welcome to come and read. The newest, fastest, hottest serialized works are all here! Mobile users, please read on mobile.