It’s not that the Duke of Ye truly loved dragons, but that he loved those things that resembled dragons but were not actually dragons.
[T/N's note on the above phrase.]
By the same logic, the Jianghu that the Second Young Master Zhu yearns for is not the not the cruel Jianghu of reality, but rather the picturesque Jianghu depicted by literati. The demonic lords in books, like the demonic lords in real life… probably aren’t demonic lords at all. Whatever they are, just the thought of the billowing blood mist and the flying heads makes Zhu Yanyin’s stomach tighten again. This time, without the servant pressing his head, he is determined not to look down the mountain again.
But even though he didn’t want to look, someone insisted on making him look.
The waterfall in the gorge roared like thunder, and the wind stirred the damp mist, making the surroundings even colder.
Zhu Yanyin crouched in the grass, stiff all over, thinking, I’m cold.
But the colder thing is still to come.
A drop of blood suddenly splattered with a “plop”, blooming into a flower on a white stone not far away.
Then came the second, and then the third, dripping steadily.
The Xiangjun Sword, once so enchanting to Second Young Master Zhu, even to the point of wanting a replica to display in his bedroom, was now like a blood-sated monster, cruel and ferocious, continuously rolling down fresh blood-red petals.
Zhu Yanyin’s gaze slowly moved up along the blade of the sword.
Li Sui was looking at him speechlessly.
To be fair, Palace Master Li’s expression at this moment isn’t actually ferocious, but rather filled with confusion. He’s puzzled as to why, even in the desolate mountains outside the city, he can still encounter this foolish snow-white figure, feeling as though he’s omnipresent.
Although the attendants were tightly guarding around Zhu Yanyin, they all knew very well that they might not even be able to withstand three moves from the other side, which made them feel a chill in their hearts. The steward Zhu Zhang gathered his courage and stepped forward, bowing respectfully. “Our Young Master came to enjoy the scenery and leisure, never expecting to encounter this Jianghu grudge. Please, Palace Master Li, spare us. We will be tight-lipped about what happened tonight.”
Meanwhile, Zhu Yanyin had started vomiting again, because when the wind blew just now, the strong smell of blood emanating from the sword spread through the air. It was both frightening and nauseating, and the pampered young man from Jiangnan couldn’t bear this kind of stimulation.
Li Sui: “…”
Zhu Zhang tentatively suggested, “Then, shall we descend the mountain first?”
Li Sui glanced up at a higher spot and coldly asked, “Are they also your people?”
Zhu Zhang was startled. Are there other people on this mountain?
Li Sui couldn’t be bothered to ask further questions and leaped up to the mountaintop.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Zhu Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly called the servants, who hurriedly helped Zhu Yanyin down the mountain and stuffed him into the carriage. Without stopping for a moment, they rushed back to the city in a frenzy.
As they continued on their way, there came another deafening roar from behind, as if a mountain was exploding from within, even more chilling than the furious roar of the Tiger Roar Gorge. If Second Young Master Zhu, was willing to poke his head out of the carriage and look back, he would see the walking stones and flying sand at the highest peaks, illuminated by the moonlight. It was a breathtaking sight that no scholar or literati could describe. However, unfortunately, after experiencing the sight of heads floating all over the mountain and witnessing the blood-dripping Xiangjun sword up close, Zhu Yanyin was desperate for nothing but an immediate gulp of Mengpo Soup, not to mention thunderous roars. Even if the nine heavenly fairies played celestial music, it wouldn’t make a difference.
Ujc Vtltbe tjv reoofgfv wlcbg lcpeglfr lc atf gfmfca rxlgwlrt. Llr vlrmlqifr tfiqfv tlw ab rla vbkc bc j gbmx jcv abgf eq j mifjc ecvfgrtlga ab yjcvjuf tlw afwqbgjglis. Fqbc tfjglcu atf rbecvr ogbw atf wbecajlcabq, tf kjr jirb jrabclrtfv. “Ujijmf Zjrafg Ol tjr obgwlvjyif lcafgcji ragfcuat.”
“P xcfk la, P pera xcfk la,” Ujc Vtltbe rjlv, kjamtlcu atf vera glrlcu lc atf jlg, j uifjw bo iluta rtlclcu atgbeut tlr wegxs fsfr. “Snfc lo sbe jvv eq atf vbhfcr bg fnfc tecvgfvr bo wjgalji jgar rfmar, atfs ralii kbeivc’a wjamt tjio bo tlr qbkfg.”
His tone was excited, and he recalled events from over a decade ago, forgetting even his pain.
…
Zhu Yanyin fell ill with a fever as soon as he returned to the bank, his whole body feeling like a piece of charcoal burning on fire. The steward, in a panic, disregarded formalities and went to the inn to fetch the Divine Doctor in the middle of night.
Jiang Shenglin hastily wrapped himself in his outer robe, ordered the medicine boy to prepare the medical kit for house calls, and asked, “Why did the fever suddenly spike and not subside?”
Zhu Zhang had previously promised Li Sui in the mountains that he would keep silent about what he saw and heard, but he didn’t dare to delay the diagnosis. He had to embellish the truth a bit and said, “My young master went for a night tour at the Tiger Roar Gorge. It was already cold and windy there, and he happened to witness a ghost committing murder. He was so frightened that he fell ill as soon as he got home.”
Jiang Shenglin was shocked. Say that again. What did you say he witnessed?
Zhu Zhang looked earnest. “My young master is timid and mistook some shadow for a ghost. I implore the Divine Doctor to save him!”
Why would a timid person go on a night tour to Tiger Roar Gorge?
Jiang Shenglin had a headache, “Let’s go, let’s take a look first.”
Meanwhile, Li Sui had also sent Pan Shihou back to the Sky Spider Hall. Pan Shihou’s son, Pan Jinhua, hurriedly arrived upon hearing the news. “Father, big brother, what happened?”
Li Sui didn’t pay any attention to the address “big brother,” and didn’t even glance in that direction. He only asked, “Fengming Mountain, which academy?”
Pan Shihou answered, “Weeping Willow Academy.”
Pan Jinhua was left hanging on the side, feeling a bit embarrassed but dared not say much. After Li Sui left, he complained softly, “Father, you spoil him too much. After all, who is the elder here?”
“What do you know!” Pan Shihou reprimanded him, hating that iron cannot become steel. “You’ve spent your whole life without achieving even a fraction of the martial arts prowess others possess. Where do you get the nerve to talk nonsense here? If you had any talent at all, if you could eradicate Shangru Mountain Villa and make a name for yourself in the martial arts world, would I have let this opportunity slip away?”
Pan Jinhua’s face turned green and red under the scolding, but he felt even more resentful in his heart.
….
Zhu Yanyin burned for a day and a night, having nearly eight hundred nightmares before finally waking up.
In each nightmare, Palace Master Li was present—either engaged in killing, or drinking blood, or both killing and drinking blood, or doing nothing at all, just standing there silently. The nightmares were so vivid and overwhelming.
Between “continue to feverishly sleep” and “although feeling unwell, still really want to sleep but dreaming of a serial killer is too scary, so I’ll grit my teeth and wake up,” Second Young Master Zhu weakly chose the latter. He placed a cooling cloth on his head, resembling someone undergoing postpartum recovery, with a bleak outlook on life.
Jiang Shenglin was not at the money house at this time; he was outside the city. Recently, he had indeed been a bit stretched, having to take care of both Zhu Yanyin and Li Sui, but their travel schedules didn’t quite align. With Young Master Zhu bedridden and weak, it wasn’t advisable for him to continue the journey northeast day and night until he fully recovered. So, Jiang Shenglin suggested, “How about you stay a few more days at the Sky Spider Hall?”
Li Sui said, “I have other matters to attend to.”
Jiang Shenglin asked, “What matters?”
“It’s related to Shangru Mountain Villa,” Li Sui said as he wiped the blade, recounting briefly what happened last night at the Tiger Roar Gorge.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shenglin suddenly realized, “No wonder.”
Li Sui frowned, “No wonder what? You knew that there was a problem with Shangru Mountain Villa?”
“It has nothing to do with Shangru Villa,” Jiang Shenglin explained. “It’s about Zhu Yanyin. Last night, the steward of the Zhu family came to me in a fluster, saying that their young master went on a night tour to Tiger Roar Gorge, accidentally encountered a ghost, got scared, and started talking nonsense while running a fever. I was puzzled about what kind of ghost it was until I found out it was you.”
Li Sui: “…”
Jiang Shenglin was still pondering, You really scared him quite a bit.
Two days later, the various martial arts sects departed from Baitou City and continued on their way to Xuecheng.
Although Wan Zhuyun was unwilling in every way to have Li Sui separate from the group, he was well aware that he couldn’t control the situation. He could only pin his hopes on Zhu Yanyin. Carrying two bags of snacks, he personally visited to inquire about his health, repeatedly advising and urging him. Once Young Master Zhu recovers, he must ensure to take Palace Master Li northeast as soon as possible!
Just hearing the three words “Palace Master Li” made Zhu Yan Yin feel like fainting on the spot.
I am not, I did not, don’t talk nonsense.
Steward Zhu Zhang was also very worried. Seeing his young master taking medicine for three days and still looking pale, he wondered if the hustle and bustle of the bank were too noisy, and perhaps they should move to a quieter place.
The shopkeeper suggested, “If we’re talking about tranquility and pleasant scenery for convenient recuperation, then Fengming Mountain is the best choice. It’s only five miles from Baitou City, and at the foot of the mountain, there are numerous chess clubs and academies filled with scholars and gentlemen. There won’t be anyone wielding knives and swords there.”
Zhu Zhang immediately decided, “Then let’s move to Fengming Mountain. There’s no time to waste; let’s set off now!”
Jiang Shenglin happened to visit the Sky Spider Hall that afternoon, examining Pan Shihou’s injuries, but he was not at home.
When he returned to the bank, only the servants were left inside, who were sweeping. They said that the young master found it too noisy here, so he moved to Fengming Mountain to recuperate. The shopkeeper had prepared another carriage, waiting outside the courtyard, to accompany Divine Doctor Jiang into the mountains.
Jiang Shenglin was taken aback: “Where?”
The servant repeated, Fengming Mountain.
Jiang Shenglin: “…”
First, Tiger Roar Gorge, and now Fengming Mountain. Why do you two always end up together?
…
Zhu Yanyin stood in the courtyard, closing his eyes to listen to the melodious bird songs around him, with the constant sound of reading in the distance.
So comfortable!
Refreshing and delightful!
The psychological shadows caused by the bloody murder incident had finally dispersed somewhat. He had spent the past few days lying in bed, so he decided to take a walk nearby. The steward enthusiastically introduced that there are four large academies nearby, each containing thousands of volumes of books, as well as chess clubs and tea rooms, all of which are elegant and pleasant places.
Zhu Xiaosui also brought over a small map, showing the distribution of buildings in this area. It was the first time Zhu Yanyin had seen such a thing and found it quite intriguing. He walked along the route, stopping occasionally, and was eventually blocked by a tall and grand mansion.
The plaque was inscribed with four large characters in cursive script: Weeping Willow Academy.
Vigorous and elegant, the characters were beautifully written.
Zhu Xiaosui asked, “Would the Young Master like to go in and take a look?”
“Sure.” Zhu Yanyin flicked the copper ring, and upon hearing that it was the young master of the Zhu Family in Jiangnan, the gatekeeper promptly respectfully ushered the two in. The trees here were even more luxuriant than those outside the courtyard, signifying a place for self-cultivation and nurturing one’s temperament. The dense shade blocked the sunlight, and pink and white wildflowers bloomed abundantly, filling the air with fragrance.
“What a wonderful place,” Zhu Xiaosui praised. “While it may not compare to our family’s academy, it’s still unique and quiet.”
“Mm,” Zhu Yanyin, who had been feverish for three days and still felt weak, coughed hoarsely twice when hit by the coolness.
Zhu Xiaosui used the back of his hand to check his forehead temperature, “No more fever, but you feel a bit cool. I better help the young master back.”
“I want to walk a bit more.” Zhu Yanyin’s neck was sore, “It’s stuffy at home, lying down is uncomfortable.”
“Then I’ll go fetch a cloak.” Zhu Xiaosui cautioned, “Young master can wait nearby, but don’t wander too far.”
Zhu Yanyin nodded, “There are a few houses over there; I’ll check if it’s a chess club.”
Zhu Xiaosui hurried back home, and Zhu Yanyin leisurely walked along the corridor, stopping to read through the couplets. If he encountered well-matched and ingeniously crafted couplets, he would shake his head and savor them a few more times.
“With what expectations do we engage with the ancients, tsk tsk, engage with the ancients… Hmm!”
Being dragged away with a hand over my mouth twice within five days, what kind of rotten luck is this from eight lives?
Zhu Yan’s eyes widened, and his entire body was pressed into a small corner. He felt like his soul was about to fly out of his body.
Li Sui covered his mouth with one hand, his face darkening, and squeezed out the words through his teeth: “Shut up!”
Translator has something to say:
I give all the readers a challenge: Take a sip of coffee everytime Palace Master Li addresses Second Young Master Zhu of Zhu Family of Jiangnan as “snow-white figure”. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
“First, Tiger Roar Gorge, and now Fengming Mountain. Why do you two always end up together?”
I am wondering that too, Divine Doctor Jiang….😁😁😁
Ahh
I really can’t wait to find out what happens next!!
Thank you for the chapter 🙂
I always forget that this keyboard combination changes this smiley😭
LoL…poor luck second young master 😂😂😂
,💖✨💖✨
Thanks for the chapter