Kill That Transmigrator Woman - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Companionship (2)

Seeing that Cui Wanwan remained rooted in place, unmoving, staring unblinkingly at the characters on the plaque, Ling Xun tilted his head and blinked. “Wanwan likes the calligraphy? If I happen to run into Shen Jingzhou another day, I’ll get a painting from him for you.”

“Painting?” Cui Wanwan came back to her senses.

Ling Xun nodded. “Shen Jingzhou not only has excellent calligraphy, but I’ve heard his painting skills are also top-notch. Many renowned literary scholars of the older generation are full of praise when they see his work.”

Cui Wanwan pressed her lips into a smile. Both literary talent and military prowess—this handsome monk had them all. He really was remarkable.

Ling Xun had leaned in close, and was momentarily dazzled by that faint smile. He stared for quite a while, dazed, only coming back to himself after a long pause.

Though Cui Wanwan’s eyes weren’t on him, she was well aware.

Upon learning it was the Heir who had arrived, the steward of the Sword Manor hurried out to receive him.

“This old servant welcomes the Heir. I didn’t know the Heir would grace us with his presence. If we’ve failed in our hospitality, I beg your forgiveness.” The white-bearded steward had also followed the general into battle in his younger days and earned military merits. Even now, facing the Heir, he was respectful and composed, neither servile nor overbearing.

Ling Xun, being a youth accustomed to doing as he pleased, had never cared much for these formalities. He waved his hand, not putting on the airs of a noble.

“Is your young general here?” Ling Xun asked the steward curiously.

The steward shook his head. “The young master and the general live on the battlefield year-round. They rarely even return to the General’s Manor in the capital, let alone come to the Sword Manor.”

“If he rarely comes, then why go to such great lengths to collect the world’s famed swords and build such a Sword Manor?” Cui Wanwan, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked.

The white-bearded steward smiled, his face kindly. “Miss Cui may not know, but our young master poured his heart, mind, and fortune into building this Sword Manor to give it as a gift.”

“A gift?” Ling Xun and Cui Wanwan said in unison.

“Yes, to someone very important to our young master. As for who it is, what her name is, where she lives—no one knows. I fear even the great general couldn’t get a word out of the young master about it.”

“Then it must be a young lady,” Cui Wanwan curled her lips into a smile.

Who would’ve thought—who would’ve thought—that this seemingly ascetic living Bodhisattva would also have someone he cherished.

In her past life, he had suddenly become a monk. Could it be that Shen Jingzhou’s beloved had gotten married?

Watching the person you love marry someone else—perhaps the blow had been too much to bear, and in sorrow and rage, he chose to leave the worldly life behind.

Come to think of it, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

But then, whose daughter must she be, and how beautiful must she have been, to leave even someone like Shen Jingzhou—who looked like a celestial being—so haunted?

Cui Wanwan certainly didn’t think of herself. She wasn’t so narcissistic or conceited.

She had never met Shen Jingzhou before her death. The two of them were complete strangers, so naturally, that woman couldn’t possibly be her.

Could it be Wei Qingyu?

After all, in her past life, there wasn’t a single man who didn’t fall for Wei Qingyu upon meeting her.

Even Cui Wanwan’s own older brother, Cui Heng—didn’t he also love Wei Qingyu to death?

After a casual chat with the steward, they learned that not all the swords in the Sword Manor were sealed away. Aside from some top-grade famous swords, the rest were available for purchase by outsiders.

Ling Xun eagerly pulled Cui Wanwan inside to browse. Though they couldn’t afford the highest-tier swords, there were still some ordinary ones they could consider.

The Sword Manor held over three thousand swords. Excluding the nineteen famous swords and the seven hundred first-rate good swords, the rest were all considered ordinary longswords.

Yet any sword selected to be kept at the Sword Manor—even if labeled “ordinary”—would still be a decent weapon in the martial world.

After each of them picked a sword, they saw that it was getting late and decided to rest there for the night.

The next morning, the light of dawn poured down, and the weather looked noticeably clearer, brightening one’s mood considerably. The seasons in the Northern Lin Kingdom were unevenly distributed—autumn and winter took up most of the year, while summer was almost nonexistent. As for the warm and blossoming days of spring, though not as rare as summer, they were still relatively short-lived by comparison.

By the mountain path, trees were in bloom with peach blossoms. When the wind blew, petals scattered in all directions.

Cui Wanwan raised her head and placed her fingers over her eyelids. Through the gaps, she could see the vast, clear blue sky above.

She suddenly remembered—that the day she died had also been just such a spring day, warm and blooming, a season when all things awakened. Everything had been bathed in the glow of spring: blue sky, white clouds, a gentle breeze dispelling the lingering cold of winter and bringing thick warmth.
Such a fine scene of spring… and not a bit of it belonged to her.

Cui Wanwan silently recited in her heart, Cui Wanwan, oh Cui Wanwan, look on the bright side—at least Heaven let you see such a beautiful spring before you died.

Perhaps that was Heaven’s only—and last—mercy toward her?

Ling Xun patted her shoulder. “Wanwan, do you like peach blossoms? I’ll go break a branch off for you, how about that?” As he said this, he stepped forward, ready to pick some.

Cui Wanwan, quick-eyed and quick-handed, grabbed the boy’s wrist. “Forget it. Don’t.”

“Why not? If you like it, shouldn’t you pick it and admire it as you wish?” the boy asked, puzzled.

“You’re wrong. Not all things we like in this world must be forcibly kept,” Cui Wanwan said calmly as she gazed at the peach blossom tree. “It’s not the peach blossoms I like. What I like is the vitality of spring, the sight of all the flowers in bloom.”

What she truly wanted was for Wei Qingyu to have never… appeared. For her to still be the second young miss of the Cui family, with everything unchanged.

She could have peacefully lived through each spring of her life, spending a lifetime in happiness with the one she loved.

What she wanted was for the warmth of spring to gently envelop her—not to struggle and fight desperately for it, only to watch that sliver of warmth slip through her fingers, never to be touched again.

“Let’s go! The world of Jianghu is so vast—there are still so many places we haven’t been to!” The girl beamed as she lifted her skirt and ran ahead, shouting with joy.

“Wanwan, wait for me!” The boy had a sword fastened at his waist, his high ponytail swaying in the air as he chased after the girl in the gauzy dress.

This year’s Heir, Ling Xun—because of his hopeless sense of direction—could only follow behind his little childhood sweetheart to pursue the chivalrous dream in his heart. To tread boldly through the Jianghu and witness all the ways of the world.

As they traveled, they laughed and teased one another, helping common folk who were oppressed by corrupt officials and ministers, and aiding those in the slums to escape their suffering.

Ling Xun was in charge of providing the money. As for Cui Wanwan, she patiently taught the people skills and means of survival.

Some learned embroidery. Some were good cooks and found work in taverns. Some were naturally gifted at fishing—at first just fishing to fill their stomachs so they wouldn’t starve, and later making a living by selling their catch.

Cui Wanwan told the downtrodden and sorrowful: If you’re alive, you must strive for even the faintest hope of survival.

With mountains high and rivers long, those in power in the capital could not manage places so far away.

Some fought and bled on the battlefield, defending the country and securing peace for the people.

Some were monarchs, dedicated to the welfare of the people, aiming to bring peace to one corner of the land so all could live and work in safety.

Some served as upright and honest officials—not for all under heaven, but just to ensure that every person within their jurisdiction received justice and protection, suffered no torment, and faced no oppression or injustice without recourse.

Yet even so, there would always be corners left unattended, places the light of day could not reach. And in time, darkness would take root.

The people of Jianghu—those who roamed the martial world—were the ones who became renowned for sweeping away such darkness and filth.

Chivalry, loyalty, and justice—these were the qualities every great hero of the Jianghu possessed.

How interesting that Cui Wanwan and Ling Xun also became part of this very group.