Thousand Dusts Ferry Me - Chapter 81

After being busy all day, Jiang Baiyu took off his elaborate ceremonial robes and went to find Yun Qing.

The four of them—Yun Qing, Fu Xue, Ci Li, and Cheng Suiyan—were discussing the route to Liuyun Mountain.

According to Yun Qing’s thinking, this journey to seek immortals carried extreme risks. Even though they all possessed some cultivation, they were still like ants before immortals, and could lose their lives with the slightest carelessness. She and Fu Xue had already prepared themselves for death on this journey.

She could accept Ci Li coming along, since this matter might involve Bie Li’s whereabouts. But if Cheng Suiyan also went, she felt it wasn’t quite appropriate. Suiyan and her master had no blood relation after all, and if he lost his life because of this, it would trouble her conscience.

Cheng Suiyan had been fired up with fighting spirit yesterday by Yun Qing’s words about being “a worthless life standing tall between heaven and earth,” but now suddenly having cold water thrown on him, he felt somewhat unhappy.

The usually good-tempered man rarely spoke harsh words. “What do you mean? Didn’t you say that friends should take care of each other? Now you think my cultivation is too low and I can’t take care of you all, is that it?”

Yun Qing said, “You know that’s not what I meant. I’m just afraid you’ll be in danger.”

“Wow, you’re all not afraid of danger, but I am? Am I some kind of useless waste?”

“We’re willing to take risks because this matter is closely related to ourselves.”

“What a coincidence—this matter is also closely related to me.”

“Oh? Tell me then, how is it related to you?”

“My good friend’s master has been kidnapped. That’s a huge relationship.”

Yun Qing felt both amused and moved.

Ci Li said, “Can’t tell, but you’ve got some backbone, kid.”

“I’ve always had it, okay!”

Jiang Baiyu watched the four of them looking so harmonious together, and his mood became somewhat low.

When the group saw Jiang Baiyu arrive, they all smiled and teased, “Oh, the sect leader has come. We pay our respects to the sect leader.”

Jiang Baiyu smiled helplessly and waved his hand at them. “Stop making such jokes.”

Cheng Suiyan thought about how Baiyu would have to stay at Huayang Mountain from now on, and they couldn’t all wander the martial world together anymore, which inevitably made him feel some regret.

He wanted to persuade Baiyu to leave with them, but was afraid of putting him in a difficult position. After all, Baiyu had his own matters to attend to. The Huayang Sect had just stabilized, and if the new sect leader ran off without a trace right after taking office, it really wouldn’t look good.

Jiang Baiyu glanced at Yun Qing and said, “Yun Qing, I have something to say to you.”

The two of them then went outside.

Today was the new moon, so there was no moon. The pitch-black sky was studded with stars. White snow reflected light across the earth, and an old plum tree grew beside the wall. Now its branches were laden with snow, stretching out branch after branch like jade.

Yun Qing sniffed, and in the cold, delicate fragrance of plum blossoms, she caught wisps of faint lotus scent. This fragrance added a touch of cold beauty to the winter snowscape, different from usual.

She didn’t dare imagine how much her nose would enjoy it if she were to embrace him and smell this.

Jiang Baiyu looked down into her eyes. Though he was the one who had called her out, he now said, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“I—” Yun Qing indeed had many things she wanted to say to him, but she knew she couldn’t say them. Her future on this journey was uncertain; she wasn’t even sure if she could stay alive. What right did she have to say those words?

She took a breath, feeling the cold air travel through her lungs, and that burning impulse cooled down.

So she no longer met his gaze, turning her eyes away to look at the plum tree in the corner of the wall, saying, “After I rescue my master, if I’m still alive, then I’ll tell you.”

Jiang Baiyu stared at her face, frowned slightly and said, “Whatever you want to say, you can say it now. Don’t mention anything about dying or living.”

Yun Qing steeled herself and said in a light tone, “Then I’ll say it. Congratulations on becoming sect leader. In the future, if Fu Xue and I have nothing to eat, we’ll come find you.”

Jiang Baiyu felt disappointed and wronged. He looked at her quietly, then self-mockingly tugged at the corner of his mouth and said lightly, “As you wish.” With that, he turned and left.

Yun Qing stood in place, watching his waterfall-like black hair and the red hair ribbon faintly fluttering among the black strands, feeling an inexplicable pain in her heart.

How much she wanted to say to him: Come with me.

But this thought was too selfish—how could she say it out loud?

Jiang Baiyu walked more than ten steps away, then turned back and expressionlessly stuffed something into her hand.

Yun Qing looked closely and saw it was a thick envelope. Opening the envelope, she pulled out a stack of papers—they were all banknotes.

“In the future, when you’re out and about, borrow less money from others.” He stiffly dropped this sentence and finally left, not looking back again.

Yun Qing stared at the pile of banknotes in her hand, dazed.

****

The next day, Hanlu Zi found Yun Qing and handed her a precious sword.

This sword was more slender than the Cangye sword and lighter in weight. The black scabbard was carved with dark red patterns. Drawing the precious sword revealed a blade like a flash of snow light, with a blood groove around the edge that matched the red color on the scabbard.

Yun Qing was a connoisseur and couldn’t put the sword down, examining it from every angle and praising it endlessly.

Hanlu Zi smiled and said, “This sword was forged with the blood of evil-warding beasts. It’s called Hundred Years of Sorrow, and has been my companion sword for one hundred and twenty-seven years. I’m giving it to you now. Your sword style is nimble and flowing, ever-changing, and better suited to such a lighter weapon. The Cangye sword isn’t suitable for you.”

Yun Qing was both surprised and delighted. Holding Hundred Years of Sorrow, she practiced a few moves and immediately felt how perfectly it suited her.

“Thank you, senior!”

Hanlu Zi picked up a sword similar in size to Hundred Years of Sorrow and said, “Girl, let’s spar a bit.”

Yun Qing had just obtained a fine weapon and wanted to test it, so this suggestion was exactly what she wanted. She was very excited at the moment, her sword techniques forming dense attacks, while Hanlu Zi’s swordsmanship was seasoned, and she smiled as she resolved each move.

After several exchanges, Yun Qing realized the other was intentionally instructing her. She became even more excited, wielding the precious sword like a spinning wheel. The two sword styles shook the surrounding area, causing snow to fall with rustling sounds.

Fu Xue and the others watched from the side. Though Fu Xue couldn’t completely understand what was happening, it didn’t stop her from clapping enthusiastically.

After about twenty or thirty moves, Hanlu Zi sheathed her sword and said, “Enough.”

Yun Qing stopped and respectfully bowed. “Thank you for your instruction, senior!”

“What instruction? You child, let me ask you—they say the Great Dao is without emotion. Yu Wanzhi chose emotion and died an unnatural death. Jiang Binghe chose the Dao and also died an unnatural death. If it were you, how would you choose? Do you think the Dao is more important, or emotion?”

As soon as these words were spoken, not only Hanlu Zi, but everyone else’s eyes focused on Yun Qing, waiting for her answer.

Yun Qing thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I can’t say which is more important, but senior, I know there’s one thing that’s least important.”

“What thing?”

“What I say is least important.”

Hanlu Zi couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows with interest. “Oh?”

“Because people not only deceive others, but also deceive themselves. I can’t even guarantee that what I’m telling you right now reflects my most genuine inner thoughts. I think perhaps only at the final moment, when things truly happen, will the choices I make reflect the most authentic me. So before things actually happen, I can’t answer this question.”

Hanlu Zi smiled. “For someone so young to be this perceptive, your future achievements will surely be considerable. I have a sword manual here, rumored to be left by an immortal. Take it and study it.” She pulled out a yellowed booklet and handed it to her.

But Yun Qing didn’t take it, saying with difficulty, “Senior, if you want to teach me sword techniques, I’m naturally infinitely grateful. It’s just that I already have a sect, and my master’s whereabouts are unknown. I… I don’t want to take a new master for now.”

Hanlu Zi shook her head. “I just said you were perceptive, but now you’re saying such mundane things. Sword manuals should naturally be passed to worthy people—that’s enough. What use are those vulgar formalities of master and disciple? Jiang Binghe was still Huayang Zi’s disciple.”

Yun Qing then happily accepted the sword manual. “Thank you, senior!”

Hanlu Zi handed the sword in her hand to Fu Xue, smiling. “This sword is called ‘Fine Snow.’ Though it’s not as good as Hundred Years of Sorrow, it’s still quite usable. Little girl, take this sword.”

Fu Xue hadn’t expected to receive a weapon too and happily accepted the sword, expressing her thanks.

Hanlu Zi turned her head and saw Yun Qing’s face flushed with excitement, her eyes bright as she began flipping through the sword manual, thinking about how this girl was about to risk her life to seek immortals.

If she couldn’t find them, that would be fine, but if she truly found that mysterious immortal, it would likely be a dead end with no survivors—whether she could even leave behind a complete soul would be uncertain.

Hanlu Zi knew she had no standing to dissuade the other party. The words stuck in her throat, her eyes reddened, and her face was full of unbearable expression. “Yun Qing, you… you must take care of yourself.”

Yun Qing looked at her solemnly. “I will, senior.”

“Don’t blame me for being heartless. I’m also considering the entire Huayang Sect.”

“I know.” Yun Qing answered while glancing left and right.

Baiyu hadn’t come today.

He must have been truly angry last night.

She felt somewhat downcast, then thought that this was probably for the best—it saved everyone from being sad.

****

Early the next morning, the four of them packed their belongings and descended the mountain. They had grown accustomed to wandering these days and didn’t have much, and even Cheng Suiyan wasn’t so particular anymore.

So aside from their personal belongings, the only thing they took from the Huayang Sect was a large wine gourd filled with Qinghua wine.

Cheng Suiyan carried the wine gourd, walking through the snow-covered mountains, complaining, “Baiyu really is something—he didn’t even see us off.”

Ci Li said, “He’s probably sad too.”

“Sigh. I originally thought that guy was quite good at putting on airs, but now without him, I really feel a bit unaccustomed.”

Fu Xue said, “Senior sister, why don’t we kidnap him again?”

Yun Qing laughed helplessly. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m just joking. I just miss him a little.”

“There’s no banquet that doesn’t end. Besides, it’s not like we won’t have chances to meet again in the future. At worst, after we finish our business, we’ll come back to find him.”

She appeared too calm, which made Fu Xue feel something was wrong. She asked, “Senior sister, you miss him too, don’t you?”

Yun Qing was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard music coming from not far away.

The sound was melodious, slightly thinner than a flute, and the melody was extremely familiar.

Cheng Suiyan asked curiously, “Hey, what’s that sound? Is it a flute?”

Yun Qing looked dazed and said softly, “No. It’s a leaf.”

“Really? What song is this? It sounds quite nice.”

“It’s called the Song of Ease.”

“Really? How do you know so clearly? Hey, Yun Qing?”

Yun Qing actually started running toward the direction of the sound.

The three looked at each other in confusion and also ran to catch up.

Running to the end of the path, at the intersection, they saw a person standing on a large tree.

He stood on a branch extending from the tree. The wind stirred his clothes, his red hair ribbon fluttered, brushing against the snow on the branches, causing snowflakes to fall in flurries.

Hearing footsteps, he lowered the bamboo leaf from his lips and looked down at those below the tree.

With one downward glance, he met her eyes that held tears.

“Baiyu.” She called his name softly.

—

“Grand Martial Aunt, when you and master jointly betrayed the Jiuxiao Sect years ago and were hunted with your lives in constant danger, did you ever think about your future and life?”

“Never.”

“When you wanted to investigate Yu Wanzhi’s cause of death and confronted Jiang Binghe, did you ever think about your future and life?”

“Never.”

“Future and life are indeed important, but I think there are always some things in this world that are more important than them.”

“Baiyu, you can’t just think about the present—you should think about the future. Even if the Golden Frost Jade Dew Lotus can grant you an immortal body, with your current strength, you still can’t contend with immortals. I don’t even dare say whether you can maintain your immortal body before the power of immortals. This journey is like a moth flying into flame—what meaning does it have?”

“Human fate is unpredictable. We don’t even know what will happen tomorrow, so how can we grasp what will happen decades or centuries from now? Everyone lives for the righteousness in their heart—that’s enough. Where in the world is there a perfect solution? What does it matter whether we live or die?”

“…You’re right. Child, go then.”

—

Hanlu Zi stood in Changsheng Hall, looking up at the giant statue, recalling her conversation with Jiang Baiyu.

She sighed deeply and said, “Senior brother, it seems I’m truly old. The sharp spirit of my youth has completely vanished.”

“Fortunately, there are always young people with passionate blood in this world.”

****

Jiang Baiyu leaped down from the tree and landed steadily. This movement again stirred up the snowflakes on the branches, and the four people looked up, feeling the cool touch on their faces.

Cheng Suiyan finally couldn’t help saying, “Brother, you’re so good at showing off.”

Jiang Baiyu smiled and walked up to them, saying, “Let’s go.”

But the four of them just looked at him silently, not moving an inch.

He was somewhat puzzled. “What’s wrong? Don’t you welcome me?” As he spoke, he glanced at Yun Qing. The tears were gone from her eyes now, and she was biting her lip, looking at him with a half-smile.

Jiang Baiyu had a bad premonition in his heart.

Sure enough, the four of them suddenly rushed at him all at once. Jiang Baiyu was caught off guard and startled.

The four grabbed him and threw him up into the air.

“Will you still show off in the future, you brat? Making me cry!”

“Exactly! Let the snowman molest you!”

“That won’t do—Yun Qing would be reluctant, right, Yun Qing?”

“That’s right.”