Kapitel 35: Is it a conspiracy?
Ten years on Pear Blossom Mountain, racing against small, agile creatures, Xianyue's speed was absolutely like lightning. In the darkness, her pure white figure dashed by like a gust of wind, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
On Qiqiao Mountain, people came and went, heads bobbing. Xianyue weaved through the crowd like a nimble rabbit, turning to watch Bai Zhanfeng and the closely following Nian Xiaoyu grow more distant, her lips curving into a proud smile.
As the hour of the dog approached, the Moon Elder Temple remained bustling with activity. Everywhere she looked, there were people gathered around signs promising fortune and love.
A young maiden sat at the front, her palms open, allowing a middle-aged man with a slightly unfocused gaze to squat down and examine them closely. At that moment, it was surprising how they didn't mention the taboo against men and women touching each other.
Xianyue smiled, watching the girls pass by, each wearing a radiant expression that struck her as dull.
"Hey, woman, get out here!"
While Xianyue pondered where to go next, she suddenly heard a loud shout from behind, her heart raced twice, and her brows furrowed. How could they catch up so quickly?
If she returned with them tonight, she would surely become cannon fodder in the duel between two great experts. In a war of words, Bai Zhanfeng would definitely not be a match for Lan Lixuan, but now things were different with the addition of Nian Xiaoyu. She was certain to be swept into the conflict between those two.
Xianyue glanced around and suddenly thought of a good place.
The path up Qiqiao Mountain was flat and devoid of trees, but there was a secluded path from the city of Yanjing to the foot of the mountain, lined with lush trees. If she detoured this way and walked for another quarter of an hour, she would reach the famous Yingjiang Tower in Yanjing.
Ordinary women wouldn't dare to take such a narrow path alone, but Xianyue was different. She had grown up on the mountain, was bold, and boasted some martial skills. Plus, with her craving for alcohol, she genuinely missed the drink she had at Yingjiang Tower that night. If she could also snag some snacks from the kitchen and sit on the roof, it would be a tremendous pleasure in life.
In the mountain at night, the cold wind howled, and the more Xianyue thought about it, the more excited she became. She looked ahead, her steps light and quick. Towering trees flanked her, their branches lush and green, the stars and moon shining brightly, casting only bits of silver light, leaving everything else in darkness.
The path was narrow and bumpy, making it difficult to navigate. Fortunately, the weather had been nice these past few days, making it quite convenient to walk. Looking around, the underbrush next to the trees was half a person high, even denser than the branches above. If someone were to hide there, it would be hard to spot them.
In the mountain wilderness, fireflies flickered, and the chirping of insects echoed. From time to time, green and gray-black insects would jump out from the vibrant grass, landing right in front of her. Xianyue hummed a cheerful tune, moving lightly, pretending not to see.
After passing a stony path and circumventing the main street, she would arrive at her destination. Xianyue squinted her eyes; she seemed to see those fragrant, smooth wines beckoning her.
Feeling happy and proud, she momentarily lost her focus, and her foot caught on something. She was moving quite fast, leaning forward instinctively. Just as she was about to tumble into the grass, her right hand instinctively pointed to the ground, her left hand pushed down, and she leapt, landing smoothly. However, suddenly, her hands met something sticky and cold, pulling her down, and she fell to the ground.
She landed hard on the ground, and it should have hurt a bit, but instead, it felt soft. It wasn't exactly soft, but there was no sharp pain from hitting the stone beneath her.
While Xianyue was contemplating this, she suddenly heard a groan from beneath her, realizing that icy, sticky sensation was coming from the person beneath her. She hurriedly stood up.
In the lush grass, a bloodied man lay sprawled. One hand was pressed to his chest, the other held outwards, his legs straight and extended towards the road. It seemed she had tripped over his legs, and his clothes were torn in several places, revealing clear and distinct wounds.
Xianyue glanced around; there was no one in sight. She crouched down, bringing her hand to his nose. His breath was weak and irregular; he must have sustained severe injuries. She retracted her hand halfway when the man on the ground suddenly opened his eyes.
His face was smeared with blood, his features rugged yet lacking the brilliance of Bai Zhanfeng. Those eyes were dark and deep, cold like ice, and even though he was gravely injured, they still shone brightly, illuminating this area nearly isolated from the moonlight. They were cold and sharp, like a wolf ready to pounce, possessing a level of instinct only animals and trained individuals would have. It was alarming how wary and defensive he seemed.
Those icy eyes fixed on Xianyue's face, as if trying to carve a line between her brows, wanting her to bloom into a more enchanting flower.
"Help me with something."
His bloodstained hand suddenly gripped Xianyue's wrist. His voice was hoarse and strained, piercing through the stillness of the mountain wilderness and the silent night, low and deep, yet remarkably pleasant to the ears.
Xianyue glanced sideways at the hand gripping her wrist, remaining silent. She pulled out a small white bottle from her pocket, carefully poured out a milky-white pill, and offered it to the bloodied man.
He looked at her, then glanced down at the pill in her hand. His icy eyes flickered, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"Don't you want it?"
Xianyue smiled at the man, asking playfully. Seeing he still didn't make a move, she flipped her hand to take it back. "Then never mind."
In a split second, the man on the ground suddenly released her hand, swiftly snatching the milky pill from her grasp and putting it into his mouth.
"Aren't you afraid I'll poison you?"
Xianyue clapped her hands, chuckling.
The man shot a glance at her, his gaze no longer as icy and distant as before, confidently stating, "You won't."
Xianyue stood up, continuing to laugh. She indeed didn't have a penchant for staining her hands with blood and lives. Turning, she intended to leave the injured man behind.
"They say people in the martial world are chivalrous and generous. Are you really unwilling to help without knowing the circumstances?"
The man on the ground propped himself up, questioning Xianyue's retreating figure with a tone as cold as his eyes, devoid of any emotion.
"I've already helped."
Xianyue turned back to look at the still cold man on the ground. "Just now, you took a pill that is worth its weight in gold."
Xianyue wore a distressed expression, believing that her intervention was indeed helping.
In a place of conflicts and disputes, it was best to avoid complications. She had an uneasy feeling that tonight's events were too suspicious. Was it a conspiracy? She couldn't say for sure.
"The time is pressing. Please inform His Highness the Crown Prince that the Third Prince intends to kill his brother and usurp the throne during his birthday banquet in two days."
Upon hearing this, Xianyue halted her steps but did not turn around. Although she had only interacted with Yingjiang Tower and Yanyu Tower once, she could sense that this Third Prince was likely a typical type—someone who harbored intentions but lacked the courage to act. He would never dare to undertake such a perilous act.
His power was concentrated around Fancheng; only the emperor and the Crown Prince could mobilize the Imperial Guards and Yulin Army. Where would he find the strength to control the situation? The troops from Ancheng and Fancheng could not possibly enter the capital.
It was as if the man behind her could see through Xianyue's doubts. "I heard the Third Prince and Young Master Lan plotting in the study."
Young Master Lan? Xianyue suddenly turned around, looking into those cold eyes, feeling that the three words were particularly heavy.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein