Chapter 41: Farewell to the Jianghu
Tap-tap—
Hearing a sudden commotion outside the alley, Heroine Luo—who was drunkenly chasing down a petty thief—and Ye Jingtang—who was spinning around the table—both experienced slight changes in expression.
Luo Ning’s drunkenness sobered by half instantly, and she desperately wanted to fling herself onto the bed to play the part of a gentle, timid young wife.
However, the person who had arrived this time was far more formidable than the constables from previous occasions.
Almost the exact moment the two of them heard the sound, a figure descended from the sky, landing right in front of the main room’s doorway.
!!
Luo Ning’s heart sank. Fearing that a formidable enemy had arrived, she was already preparing to rush outside to fight to the death and eliminate any witnesses. But then she heard the newcomer speak:
"Jingtang, you... who is this?"
The newcomer was even worse than a formidable enemy!
How was she supposed to explain this?
Ye Jingtang had been playing the "shameless petty thief teases heroine" game with Luo Ning when San Niang caught them red-handed, leaving him equally bewildered.
Fortunately, Ye Jingtang’s composure was rock-solid. Fearing that the two women would misunderstand and start a fight, he quickly spoke up:
"San Niang, why are you here? This is Miss Ning'er, a friend I met on my way to the capital. She came to the capital specially to visit me these past couple of days and hasn't had the chance to greet you yet..."
Ning'er... visiting...
Shao Xiangjun blinked, looking at the celestial-looking young noblewoman, and understood the implication—this was Jingtang’s former lover.
For some reason, a strange feeling of a fine piece of cabbage being nibbled away by a pig arose in her heart, accompanied by an inexplicable awkwardness:
"Oh, is that so? A pleasure to meet you..."
After speaking, Ye Jingtang looked back at the somewhat flustered Heroine Luo:
"Ning'er, this is Shao Xiangjun, the chief proprietor of Tianshui Bridge. I work under her, so you can just call her San Niang."
Having had a bit to drink and having been "caught in the act," Luo Ning’s thoughts were in utter disarray. She didn't even stop to process that the newcomer’s lightness skills were extraordinary.
Hearing Ye Jingtang’s introduction, Luo Ning hastily put away her sword. Her face flushed scarlet as she lowered her head and greeted:
"San Niang."
Then she slipped into her shoes and made to leave, looking very much like she wanted to flee in a panic.
Shao Xiangjun had come intending to ask if Ye Jingtang had any thoughts of settling down and starting a family. Now that she had seen his lover in the flesh, that notion naturally vanished like smoke.
Since this was someone close to Ye Jingtang, she couldn't possibly treat her coldly. Having accidentally barged in on a scene of a young man and woman flirting, she felt thoroughly embarrassed. Seeing the young matron about to cover her face and run away, Shao Xiangjun hurriedly stepped forward to block the doorway:
"It was my intrusion. Don't mind it, Miss Ning'er, we're all family here."
Luo Ning was blocked right in her tracks. She wished she could give Ye Jingtang a jab with her sword, but unable to voice her frustration, she could only say with a flushed face:
"Um... how could that be? Earlier, I... I was drinking with Jingtang and had a bit too much, so..."
"It's fine, it's fine, we're all at home here. Whenever I drink too much, I act even wilder than Jingtang."
Shao Xiangjun was exceptionally amiable. Like an elder sister, she linked her arm through Luo Ning's, only to realize—*Oh~ this woman has quite a generous bust, almost rivaling my own. No wonder she managed to snare Jingtang...*
Luo Ning, however, had no mental capacity to dwell on such matters, though she privately thought that the exquisitely charming female proprietor possessed an utterly unreasonable and exorbitant figure.
With her arm held, she was led back to the table and seated. Sitting on pins and needles, she cast a glance at Ye Jingtang, silently pleading with him to rescue her from this predicament.
Ye Jingtang was rather reluctant to part with Heroine Luo, but San Niang was the female leader of the Crimson Flower Tower, and Heroine Luo’s identity was ambiguous at best. If the two of them stayed together and chatted for more than a few sentences, things were bound to go awry. Smiling gently, he said:
"San Niang, she still has matters to attend to and is leaving the capital immediately. Just now, she was actually getting ready to depart..."
"Is that so?"
Shao Xiangjun blinked. Seeing that Ye Jingtang’s words did not seem fabricated, she enthusiastically offered:
"The carriage is just outside. Shall we have Jingtang accompany the young lady a piece?"
Luo Ning mustered a shy, awkward smile:
"No need. My family has arranged a carriage. I... I must be going. Staying here too long will make it difficult to explain. Please don't take offense, San Niang; another day, Jing and I will pay a formal visit together."
With that, Luo Ning stood up, performed a graceful curtsy that befitted a young lady of a distinguished family, and then bolted for the exit.
Knowing that once they parted ways today, they wouldn't meet again until next month, Ye Jingtang felt a pang of reluctance. He stood up and walked to the doorway:
"Hey..."
Hearing herself called, Luo Ning had no choice but to suppress her surging emotions and glance back over her shoulder:
"Is there something else?"
Ye Jingtang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't find a topic.
Shao Xiangjun misunderstood, thinking she was standing in the way. She turned her back and playfully teased:
"If you want to hug her, just hug her. I won't peek."
?!
Seeing that Ye Jingtang stood there in silence for ages, Luo Ning assumed the petty thief wanted to take advantage of her one last time before parting ways!
Half-intoxicated and in an utterly humiliating predicament, Luo Ning gritted her teeth in order to make a swift escape. Opening her arms wide, she delivered a "little watermelon crash" tackle straight into Ye Jingtang's chest.
Ye Jingtang hadn't actually intended that, but now that the opportunity presented itself, he quickly raised his arms, wrapped them around her willow-like waist, and even lifted her off the ground to spin her around once at the doorway.
*Whoosh—*
Her cyan skirt fluttered in the air.
This stunt made the already mortified Luo Ning arch her willow brows in annoyance, yet she still refrained from scolding him. The moment her feet touched the ground, she spun on her heel and fled, looking every bit like a young heroine deeply in love, reluctant to leave her lover yet painfully shy.
*Tap-tap...*
Hearing the commotion, Shao Xiangjun gave a faint shake of her head. Seeing Ye Jingtang standing in the doorway watching the departure, she frowned and urged:
"Aren't you going to see her off? What are you standing there like a dummy for?"
"Oh, right."
Seeing that San Niang didn't mind being left alone for a moment, Ye Jingtang hurriedly chased after her.
----
*Tap-tap-tap...*
Inside the deserted alleyway, a slender figure in cyan sprinted briskly. Reaching a secluded spot where no one was paying attention, she leaped onto the rooftops and flew forward.
"Heroine Luo..."
She hadn't run far when she heard a shout from behind. Turning her head, she saw that the petty thief who had just taken advantage of her was actually pursuing her!
A flash of irritation crossed Luo Ning's eyes, and she ran even faster.
Yet, relying on the lightness skills he had just recently learned, Ye Jingtang truly managed not to be shaken off.
The two of them chased one another back and forth, covering half a mile in the blink of an eye as they neared the bustling streets.
Fearing that she would attract unwanted attention, Luo Ning was forced to slow her pace, dropping back down into the alleyway. She drew her treasured sword, turned around with an icy expression, and marched back.
Dropping into the alley, Ye Jingtang saw Luo Ning charging toward him with murder in her eyes and hastily raised his hands:
"Alright, alright. If Heroine Luo is truly furious, just poke me with your sword—just spare the lower extremities."
Luo Ning marched right up to him, lifting her sword as if to strike, but seeing that Ye Jingtang didn't budge, she couldn't bring herself to deliver a real blow. Instead, she said coldly:
"How can you be so utterly shameless? Your proprietor was right there, and yet you still had the audacity to—"
Ye Jingtang assumed an expression of grave solemnity:
"Heroine Luo, do not misunderstand. Just now, I was merely trying to think of parting words, but you didn't even give me a chance to explain before throwing yourself into my arms..."
?!
Seeing Ye Jingtang shift the blame right back onto her, Luo Ning's chest heaved with indignation, and she raised her sword with genuine intent to strike.
Ye Jingtang quickly conceded: "Fine, fine, fine. It's my skin that's thick. Let's make this the first and last time."
Glaring at him, Luo Ning wanted to lecture him a bit more, but failing to find any suitable vocabulary beyond "shameless," she sheathed her sword and stated icily:
"I'll spare you today, but I'll settle accounts with you another time. Go back and explain things properly so your proprietor doesn't suspect my identity. I'm leaving."
"You can rest assured of that. Are you certain this trip holds no risks?"
A flash of the Cult Mistress's aristocratic pride surfaced in Luo Ning's eyes:
"Throughout the entire pugilistic world, you are the only one who dares be discourteous to me! Do you truly take me, Luo Ning, for some mediocre nobody whom anyone can bully the moment I step outside?"
"I'm simply concerned."
"I'm merely going to deliver a gift; what is there to worry about?"
Unmoved, Luo Ning let out a cold "Hmph," turned as if to leave, but paused and added:
"And one more thing. Regarding the matter of the Imperial Princess, you'd better weigh your options carefully. I've told you everything I should. When I return to the capital, if I discover you've become the Imperial Prince Consort..."
Ye Jingtang chuckled softly: "If the Imperial Princess genuinely takes a fancy to me, I'll simply tell her I already have someone in my heart whom I can never forsake, no matter what. If Heroine Luo refuses to let me make amends, I'll just explain to the Princess that you ran off with another man, which should be just enough to win her sympathy..."
?!
Having reached her limit with this petty thief, Luo Ning stated coldly:
"Can't you just stay away from the Imperial Princess?"
"Then how am I supposed to save Qiu Tianhe?"
"..."
Left speechless, Luo Ning massaged her temples and turned on her heel to leave.
Ye Jingtang didn't attempt to stop her again. He stood in the alleyway watching her retreat, and only when her figure was about to vanish into the lane did he call out:
"Heroine Luo, farewell to the jianghu. Help me bid farewell to Yunli. By the way, will Yunli be coming back next time?"
"What do you mean?"
----
*Tap, tap, tap...*
The sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
At the corner at the end of the alley, the woman in cyan leaned her back against the brick wall, tilting her head to listen to the retreating footsteps while gazing at the rolling clouds in the sky.
Countless shifting emotions churned in the depths of her eyes. The lingering effects of the alcohol painted a flush across her cheeks, resembling the pink peach blossoms of February.
This wretched brat...
Luo Ning raised a hand to massage her brow. Only when the footsteps had vanished entirely did she force away her turbulent thoughts, assuming her usual aloof, ethereal, and immortal demeanor.
Yet she barely managed to maintain the facade before her embroidered shoe impatiently kicked a small pebble by her foot—as though that tiny stone were the petty thief who had thrown her heart into such turmoil.
Walking and pausing by turns, she knew not how long she had traveled before reaching a quiet street near the capital's East Gate.
A carriage was parked on the street, with four figures waiting outside.
At the lead was an old man leaning on a fortune-teller's banner. With one hand behind his back and his eyes half-closed, he was staring intently at the towering imperial city in the distance—having grown up outside the imperial city in his youth, he was likely recalling days of yore.
Wearing a bamboo hat and with a saber hanging at her waist, Zhe Yunli sat on the edge of the carriage in a daze, her lower legs dangling and swinging back and forth. In her hands, she held a small rag doll she had just bought on the street; though it was supposed to be a bird, no matter how one looked at it, it bore no resemblance to a bird at all, leaving her thoroughly disgruntled.
Beside Zhe Yunli stood two women dressed as ordinary matrons. They were incense masters of the Flat Heaven Cult and also handmaidens to the Cult Mistress.
As Luo Ning approached wearing her veil, the two women bowed respectfully:
"Mistress."
Zhe Yunli hopped down from the carriage and asked:
"Mistress, what did Brother Jingtang say?"
"Everything has been arranged. Let's go. He asked me to pass along a farewell message and tell you not to be mischievous on the road."
Her voice remained as ethereal and limpid as when she first arrived, resembling an immortal fairy from the heavenly palace untainted by mortal dust.
With a listless sigh, Zhe Yunli tugged on her teacher's hand and glanced back.
Immediately, however, her teacher turned her face straight back around.
"What are you looking at? Reluctant to part with Brother Jingtang?"
"Mistress, what are you saying~ Grandpa Zhang is right here... I was just worried something might happen to senior martial brother Qiu."
"..."
Luo Ning felt she must have drunk far too much today; her words and actions were becoming utterly absurd.
It was all that wretched brat's fault...
Suppressing her chaotic thoughts as best she could, Luo Ning led the incessantly backward-glancing Zhe Yunli toward the carriage. Just before stepping inside, she couldn't resist casting one last look back.
A gentle breeze lifted the sheer gauze of her veil, revealing a pair of peach-blossom eyes capable of stunning the world, their depths holding meanings difficult to decipher.
"Yee-haw—"
*Rumble, rumble...*
The carriage rolled across the quiet street and headed toward the city gates.
Zhang Henggu, the "Iron Diviner of Nanshan," leaned on his fortune-teller's banner as he walked slowly alongside the carriage. Glancing back at the towering imperial city, he sighed softly:
"The national fortune of Daliang appears to be at its zenith."
Peering anxiously out the window at the receding streets, Zhe Yunli asked curiously:
"Grandpa Zhang, how can you tell? Divination?"
"The will of the people. Cloud Province is far more prosperous now than when I was a little Daoist boy in the capital all those years ago. Harboring the grand designs of the Great Yan for sixty years and scheming half a lifetime for restoration, only to witness in my twilight years the glorious prosperity Cloud Province ought to possess—right here in the capital of the Wei Dynasty... sigh..."
Knowing those words would deal a blow to her high-spirited ambitions, Zhe Yunli declared with absolute confidence:
"Only the capital of Daliang is peaceful; everywhere else is still a chaotic mess. If my master became emperor, she'd certainly do a better job than the female emperor in the palace..."
"Heh..."
...
Inside the carriage, Luo Ning remained silent, yet waves of emotion stirred within her heart—even a proud son of heaven like Ye Jingtang's heart turned toward the imperial court; how could the national fortune of Daliang be anything less than flourishing?