Chapter 5, Sweet Osmanthus

Zhou Fei completed the family instructions in a frenzy of wild cursive writing, using a hand that had just crawled out of a dog, in less than half a night. Then, holding the pen made of fur in her mouth, she lay back on the small couch beside her, pondering the events of the previous night. Because Li Sheng delayed, Li Jinrong ultimately could not catch up in person, allowing Xie Yun to escape successfully.

Xie Yun corrected, saying: "It is not because the old man is crying, but because Liang Shao is crying—do you not know who Liang Shao is? Did your father never mention him to you?"

Her words clearly infuriated Li Jinrong, and she squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth: "Do you think I wouldn't kill you?"

Li Sheng did not dare to delay and turned to leave

Mr. Zhou, you are too polite

Li Sheng came with him and naturally witnessed the scene where Zhou Fei used a sword to challenge the four senior brothers in the camp. He felt a mix of emotions that he could not quite identify, and he chose not to look at Zhou Fei, instead focusing his gaze on the ground in front of Zhou Yitang.

Several disciples, not daring to defy the leader, who had all watched Zhou Fei grow up, were reluctant to engage her in combat. After hesitating for quite a while, one of them finally steeled himself, brandished his sword, and initiated an attack, simultaneously signaling Zhou Fei with his eyes to admit her mistake and yield. To their surprise, the young girl completely failed to read the situation; her knife had been broken by the entangling mechanism, yet she somehow managed to find a sword and replied earnestly, "Senior Brother, I apologize for the offense."

The wind cannot reach it, the sun cannot shine on it, it is neither painful nor itchy, one can lie down whenever one wishes; such a "beautiful thing" is something Zhou Fei usually cannot attain, except perhaps when Li Yan makes a mistake

Xie Yun said: "The Big Dipper—after Cao Zhongkun usurped the throne, many people were dissatisfied. He did not have the leisure to subdue each one individually, so he decided to simply kill those who did not share his views.

At that moment, someone shouted: "Stop!"

Zhou Yitang turned his gaze towards Li Jinyong. Although they were only a few steps apart, there was suddenly a sense of unspoken understanding between them. Then Zhou Yitang said softly: "Ah Fei, please pick the token from the tree for father."

The night before, she and Li Sheng were pulled out of the Ximo River by Li Jinrong. Zhou Fei initially thought she would either die or suffer greatly, but unexpectedly, Li Jinrong lifted her high and then gently set her down, only hastily ordering someone to confine the two of them for reflection, with each person copying the family precepts two hundred times to conclude the matter

Zhou Yitang did not stoop to his level. There was a deep furrow in his brow, which also appeared when he smiled, giving him an air of perpetual concern. He gazed deeply at Xie Yun and said: "Young brother, you are quite eloquent"

But what kind of person would come to find her father

"Grow up well. The mountains and rivers will meet again, and the mountains and rivers are eternal; it all depends on when you can come and go freely," Zhou Yitang said. "A Fei, father has left, farewell."

After speaking, he did not step forward. From a distance, he waved his hand, unleashing a force that struck the sheath of Zhou Fei's sword with just the right amount of strength. The sheath fell in response, and the two iron doors, each six zhang high, at the entrance of the forty-eighth stronghold emitted a piercing shriek, and with a loud "bang," they closed.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Zhou Fei hurriedly asked: "What are you going to do?"

Finally, she could no longer lie still, so she turned over and got up, leaning by the window to take a look. It was early morning, the time when people feel the most fatigued, and the few disciples watching over her were dozing off in a daze. Zhou Fei thought for a moment, took out a pair of shoes, tossed one under the desk and another at the foot of the bed, lowered the bed curtains, shaped the quilt into a human figure, and scattered the family instructions she had written all night in a messy manner on the table, pretending to have faced the wall all night and was now sound asleep. Then she leaped onto the beam, skillfully lifted a few movable tiles, and stealthily slipped out without anyone noticing.

The name Zhou Fei actually sounds somewhat familiar, presumably having been heard before. However, Zhou Yitang has a gentle temperament and speaks a lot. As he rambles on, Zhou Fei has always treated it like an old monk reciting scriptures, letting it go in one ear and out the other, managing to absorb only one out of ten sentences at best. After all, her father would not be willing to punish her.

Xie Yun, who had been somewhat nervous just moments ago, suddenly relaxed and revealed his enigmatic smile once again. He leisurely got up from the ground, brushed off the dust from his clothes, adjusted his collar, and calmly bowed to the person, saying: "The junior pays respects to Mr. Zhou"

The oil lamp flickered, and Zhou Fei rubbed her eyes. Seeing that the dawn light was already dimly bright, she raised her hand to extinguish the flame. The ink in the inkstone had dried, and she was too lazy to add water. With a bit of mud-like black residue, she hastily finished the remaining part of the family instruction, using an old brush that was almost worn out from her rough handling.

Of course, he himself is certainly incapable of killing, " Xie Yun continued, " but he has seven great masters under his command, who have taken on the name of the Big Dipper after following him, specifically killing and working for Cao Zhongkun. Just how formidable are they... Let me put it this way, your mother once led a group of heroes into the Northern Capital to assassinate Cao Zhongkun, and three thousand Imperial Guards could not stop them. At that time, the false emperor had only 'Luzun' and 'Wenqu' from the Big Dipper by his side, who fiercely protected Cao Zhongkun and helped him escape. If all seven stars had been present back then, it would not have been certain who would have been 'sacrificed' in the Northern Capital. Do you think they are formidable?

So what about those ... ? ... The storms and tribulations that she has painstakingly suppressed from the outside? Does he silently keep all of them in mind as well?

Zhou Yitang glanced at him and asked, "What if I didn't hear anything at all?"

Zhou Yitang's small courtyard was quiet; at this hour, he probably had not yet risen. As Zhou Fei hesitated about how to sneak in, she suddenly heard a series of bird calls. The forty-eight villages in Shu are like spring all year round, with flowers and leaves never wilting, so the sound of birds is nothing unusual. At first, Zhou Fei did not pay much attention, but the bird calls grew closer, seemingly endless. She felt irritated and was just about to throw a stone to silence the noisy creature when she turned around and saw Xie Yun sitting in a large tree, looking at her with a smile.

Wen Yu listened to Zhou Yitang speaking softly with the girl, thinking he would use kind words to coax her. To his surprise, he uttered such heartless words that not only the little girl but even he felt a sting on his face from the harshness of it.

As Zhou Fei had just run away, Xie Yun was immediately surrounded by a group of well-armed disciples from the stronghold. Zhou Fei nervously gripped an iron lotus seed in her hand, peering through the gaps in the leaves, and recognized several outstanding senior brothers—apparently, Li Jinrong had ambushed the elite of the Forty-Eight Stronghold near Zhou Yitang's small courtyard.

"I am unworthy of such praise." Zhou Yitang walked over slowly, his steps not hurried, even somewhat unsteady. He first tapped his fingers on Zhou Fei's forehead and scolded, "There is no discipline."

Zhou Fei, separated by a courtyard, exchanged glances with Li Sheng on another rooftop for a moment, then both turned their heads away, pretending that neither had seen the other, and ran off in opposite directions

At that moment, the crowd suddenly fell silent, and a line of disciples parted to both sides, all bowing in greeting. It turned out that Li Jinrong had arrived. Uncertain if it was merely a figment of her imagination, Zhou Fei felt as though Li Jinrong had glanced in her direction, prompting her to lower her posture even further.

As she spoke, Zhou Fei flicked her wrist, and the long sword sprang out with agility, the scabbard bouncing high, mercilessly disarming the disciple. Several senior brothers were taken aback, realizing she was unwilling to yield, and dared not show leniency in front of Li Jinrong. At that moment, four of them surrounded her, with two swords thrusting at Xie Yun from above and below, while the remaining sword and knife pressed towards Zhou Fei, intending to force her to parry with her long sword.

"The leader," Zhou Fei changed her address, performed a gesture of respect similar to that of other disciples in the same camp, and said softly, "The leader mentioned last night that as long as he hands over this token, he can leave. Since that is the case, why is he going back on his word now"

"I will not send anyone to escort you," Li Jinrong said expressionlessly. "The journey to Jinling is long and the world is not very peaceful. You should stay a few more days, write a letter, and have them come to fetch you."

On that day, the Forty-Eight Villages were lush and verdant, with emerald waves resembling a vast sea, and when the gentle breeze swept through, it rustled softly, creating an atmosphere of profound tranquility

In her eyes, Li Jinrong resembled a mountain. Every time she quarreled with her mother, she would practice diligently. Over the course of three hundred sixty-five days in a year, this means she practiced fiercely for about three hundred sixty-four days. Every night, she would dream of the leader striking her, yet she could effortlessly disarm her of the whip in a matter of moments, tossing it at her feet and leaving with a smile. Of course, this has only been a dream until now. Every night, she would dream of the leader striking her, yet she could effortlessly disarm her of the whip in a matter of moments, tossing it at her feet and leaving with a smile. Of course, this has only been a dream until now

However, her heart had not yet fully settled in her chest when Xie Yun was once again pursued by the three swordsmen. Suddenly, he raised his hand, and Zhou Fei's spirits lifted as she awaited his brilliant move. To her surprise, she saw him throw down the bamboo flute in his hand and exclaim, "Hey, hey, no more fighting, no more fighting, I can't defeat you! Ah! Be careful, you might stab someone to death!"

Li Dajiang said not to stop Zhou Yitang, but did not mention stopping Zhou Fei, who had no token. Several sentinels at the mountain gate spoke in unison: "Junior sister, please stop"

Zhou Yitang's gaze followed her for quite a distance, and after a long while, he finally waved his hand and said softly: "Everyone can disperse now—Sheng'er"

Xie Yun smiled and said: "I am merely a passing messenger, whether it is a favor or an old grudge, I do not know. However, if Mr. Zhou does not wish to see me, he need not make an appearance, right?"

The several senior disciples nearby were filled with trepidation, fearing that the wildly rampaging Zhou Fei would truly provoke their leader, who, in a fit of rage, might strike her down. They hurriedly stepped forward to intercept her, cutting off her escape route.

At that moment, a few "puff" sounds were heard as several crossbow bolts shot through the air, aimed directly at Xie Yun. Zhou Fei was taken aback, nearly dropping the iron lotus seed in her hand, and then she saw Xie Yun unexpectedly leap upwards over three feet, as graceful as a drifting cloud or a flying immortal.

I am nobody, my name is Xie Yun, courtesy name Meimei, and I am known as 'The Open-Minded Recluse'. I am essentially a person of leisure. Xie Yun said earnestly, 'That day, I was fishing in the wild when an elderly man, frail and sickly, came to pay respects at a wild grave. After paying his respects, he was unable to rise and collapsed on the ground, weeping bitterly. Seeing this elderly man crying so pitifully, I agreed to run errands for him.'

Since the time Zhou Fei began to keep records, Zhou Yitang has always been one to rarely step outside the door, hardly ever encountering outsiders. Throughout the year, apart from being ill, he would either be nestled in the courtyard reading or occasionally playing the piano. At one point, he even fancied teaching a few younger generations. Unfortunately, even including Li Sheng, none of the three of them had any romantic affairs in their destinies. Listening to the sound of the piano, some played with their fingers while others yawned.

Zhou Yitang turned to Zhou Fei and said: "This knife is truly mediocre; in the future, I will have your father find you a better one"

In her lifetime, Zhou Fei could never learn two words: "fear" and "obedience." It is indeed strange that while children from other families, if raised under strict discipline, tend to develop a certain fear of their stern elders, she, on the contrary, became more stubborn the more she was beaten, and the more she was punished, the less afraid she became. Zhou Fei met Li Jinrong's gaze without flinching: "Alright, then it's settled. Big Boss, remember your words. If you send him out of the Forty-Eight Villages, I will stand here and let you break my legs"

Zhou Fei suddenly turned her head, her eyes wide open

I am not trying to tell you about 'sacrificing oneself for righteousness.' Zhou Yitang quietly said to her through an iron door, 'Ah Fei, the choices you make do not depend on what you value or do not value, for it is inherently the path of the strong, whether in literary or martial accomplishments. Otherwise, you are but an ant, destined to be powerless and drift along with the tide throughout your life. What is there to discuss about choices? Wouldn't that be a source of ridicule? Just like today, you say that you can simply choose not to return, but you cannot even get out of this door. Whether you wish to stay or come with me, is it really up to you?'

Mr. Sun, who was beaten by Zhou Fei, is a pedantic scholar. Her father is not pedantic, but at most, he is merely a knowledgeable and considerate scholar. Aside from being frail and sickly, he does not possess any remarkable qualities. Could it be that he has some extraordinary background? Zhou Fei alternately pondered the grand 'Qianji' of the Ximo River, recalled the miraculous lightness of foot of Young Master Xie, and was filled with questions, simultaneously inserting her father's face into one hundred and eight legendary tales of the martial world, conjuring up seven or eight melodramatic stories of love and hate.

Zhou Fei asked incredulously, "Just because an old man cried, you would risk your life to storm the Forty-Eight Villages?"

Wen Yu awkwardly touched his nose and said, "Your daughter is likely to hold a grudge against me."

Zhou Yitang focused his gaze and saw Zhou Fei rushing out from the Forty-Eight Villages without touching the ground: "Father!"

That is a poem titled "Poem of Breaking the Formation"

Zhou Yitang saw him babbling nonsensically, not a single coherent word, so he simply stopped asking, waved his hand at him, greeted Zhou Fei, and walked away slowly

Xie Yun, seeing that she remained silent, explained: "When Cao Zhongkun usurped the throne, Liang Shao went north to assist the young emperor, setting up a trap in the Lianghuai region. He rescued the young emperor right under the eyes of the 'Big Dipper', inflicting heavy losses on 'Tan Lang' and 'Wu Qu', even risking the life of his only son in the process. After that, he fought through life and death, single-handedly supporting the southern half of the country, which makes him... well, a hero, I suppose. The downfall of a hero is as swift as a mountain collapsing; how painful it is! Since I have no other skills besides being nimble on my feet, it is no trouble for me to run an errand for him."

Li Jinrong did not raise her head and said: "Get lost"

Li Jinrong was stunned for a long time, then slightly raised her head. With this movement, she opened her shoulders again, as if donning a set of iron shoulder pads. After a moment, she gently exhaled a breath. Zhou Fei saw her blink rapidly a few times and said to herself: "Give it to your father."

Little did Xie Yun know, with a startled "Ah!" he instinctively shrank back upon seeing someone attacking him, closing his eyes and thrusting his bamboo flute forward, which was immediately shortened by a slash. He seemed taken aback, lifting his garment and hopping three times on the tree branch, frantically dodging left and right. In the blink of an eye, he had acquired several more rips in his clothing, transforming into a "dapper" beggar, scurrying about with his head in his hands amidst the flashing blades.

Zhou Fei quietly lowered her head even further, pondering how she would respond if it were her in this situation. She disliked sneaking around; she would likely land beneath the tree, where the branches and leaves could shield her from some hidden arrows. As long as she was quick and decisive, focusing on a single direction, she could endure a few blows and carve out a bloody path. However, she felt that Xie Yun would not act in such a manner; with his extraordinary lightness skill, his other abilities must also be unfathomable.

Zhou Fei remarked, "The Emperor is not anxious, so why should we be anxious?" Yet, Xie Yun seemed completely unconcerned, continuing to speak to Li Jinrong in a leisurely manner: "Chief, it is all about timing, fate, and fortune. If this letter does not reach its destination today, it is merely my own fortune at play—yours, Mr. Zhou's, and mine will not change because of us insignificant figures. What is meant to come will eventually arrive; one may evade it for a moment, but cannot escape it for a lifetime. I believe the Chief understands this principle; otherwise, why would you not even dare to let Mr. Zhou hear a little tune?"

Xie Yunchong winked at her, placing the bamboo flute at her lips, and played several notes in varying pitches. The clear sound of the flute instantly pierced the tranquility of the forest, causing the early-risen birds to flutter and soar into the sky. The young man sitting in the tree had the boundless green of the bamboo sea reflected in his pupils. As the hidden figures began to emerge and close in, the melody of his flute gradually took shape.

Zhou Fei listened, feeling somewhat confused. After pondering for a moment, she asked, "So what about the Seven Stars? Are they very powerful?"

"One cannot write two 'Xie' characters in a single stroke," Xie Yun said with utmost seriousness, "I must have been from the same family as him eight hundred years ago, our ancestral graves side by side. However, eight hundred years later, he is in the high halls of power, while I am far away in the rivers and lakes. We complement each other well, perhaps this can be considered a spiritual connection akin to the eight bows of friendship."

Li Jinrong said in a hoarse voice: "Did you not say that the favor has been repaid? Since the grievances have already come to an end..."

Zhou Fei remained silent, strenuously pushing the swords and blades that were pressing down on her upwards. She was clearly at her limit, feeling a sharp pain in her chest, yet stubbornly refused to retreat even half an inch.

Zhou Yitang paused for a moment, turned his head to take a glance, and among those who came to escort him, the leader was a man around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, clad in black armor, with a lean and agile figure. Upon noticing Zhou Yitang's gaze, the man in black armor immediately stepped forward and said: "I am Wen Yu, a subordinate officer, tasked with escorting you to Jinling. Do you have any instructions?"

Li Jinrong shouted sternly: "Take that little beast down along with him!"

"Those who cannot hear the sound of my flute are not the people I am looking for" — she should have understood long ago that someone like Zhou Yitang would never be content to remain in a corner for over a decade, "closing his eyes and blocking his ears"

Zhou Fei spoke with a hint of tears in her voice: "She won't let anyone else see you off, so I will. At worst, I won't come back either!"

Zhou Yitang said: "You go and ask the leader for a token, just say that I want it, and that this young brother is my guest, please let him pass"

At that moment, someone shouted loudly: "Wait!"

Zhou Fei gently gathered her fingers, bringing the iron lotus seeds back into her palm, thinking to herself: Indeed, it is still impressive

Li Jinrong's gaze swept over the token in his hand, and he said sharply: "Back in the day, when Emperor Qin proclaimed 'Mandated by Heaven, may his reign be eternal and prosperous' with the imperial jade seal, it was indeed a grandiose statement, a wish for everlasting fortune. So what? The dynasty fell in the second generation, Wang Mang rebelled, and the young emperor fled—ultimately, it all ended in a great fire, with jade and stone alike reduced to ashes.

"Your surname is Xie," Zhou Yitang asked, "Are you related to Xie Xiang?"

He considered himself to be slightly smarter than Zhou Fei, having anticipated that Zhou Yitang would most likely not be at his usual residence. Therefore, after sneaking out of his own room, he began to search far and wide. Li Sheng analyzed that Zhou Yitang had poor health, was sensitive to cold, heat, and humidity, and that Li Jinrong took great care of him, ensuring that the place she arranged for him would not be shaded, near water, or exposed to the wind, and that the path would be easy to traverse. As a result, he meticulously followed his deductions and searched extensively in the Forty-Eight Villages, yet he did not find even a trace of Zhou Yitang. To his surprise, after returning empty-handed, he encountered Zhou Yitang standing not far from his small courtyard, leaning against an old tree, listening to the distant sound of a flute.

Xie Yun took a breath and summarized: "Now you understand, right? A hero like Liang Shao, lying in the fields and crying until he cannot get up, is just as sorrowful as a beautiful young lady like you, who one day will no longer be in her prime, with gray hair and a wrinkled face. Since I have encountered this, I ought to take care of it."

I remember I told you that "one cannot have both fish and bear's paw." Zhou Yitang said to her

The disciple holding the sword beside him whispered: "A Fei ... ... "

Li Jinrong gathered her hands into her long sleeves and said: "If you leave, from this moment on, you will have no further ties with the Forty-Eight Villages."

She discovered that this Young Master Xie is most likely truly ill

Zhou Fei would not heed such talk; she did not know where she had found a narrow-backed knife again. From several zhang away, she threw the iron sheath, which barely lodged itself in the iron bars. The two sentinels stationed there, one wielding a knife and the other a gun, simultaneously moved to intercept her. Zhou Fei bent her bow, using the back of her long knife to deflect their weapons, and with a sideways lunge, she forced her way through. Immediately, seven or eight gatekeeping disciples descended from the mountain gate, surrounding her in a tight circle.

Li Jinrong angrily shouted: "Take it down!"

Zhou Yitang's expression remained unchanged: "I understand"

Zhou Fei went to Zhou Yitang's place, took a distant glance, but did not dare to approach—based on her years of experience in outsmarting Li Jinyong, she felt that her mother would certainly have precautions in place. She patiently circled around to investigate, and indeed discovered ambushes in the bamboo forest behind the small courtyard and under the suspension bridge in front.

Zhou Fei was initially taken aback, like a small snake startled by a stick, instinctively darting into the nearby forest. However, halfway through her escape, she regained her senses and, feeling uneasy about the man with the surname Xie, sought refuge in a large tree to observe from a height. She was perplexed, unable to comprehend why Xie Yun would agree to deliver a message for a complete stranger, nor could she understand why, after managing to escape for an entire night, he would choose to return and throw himself into a trap.

Li Jinyong was not afraid of any tricks he might play right under her nose. She nodded modestly and sheathed the three swords held by Xie Yun simultaneously. Xie Yun, feeling quite frightened, touched his neck and then pulled out an ancient-looking token from his sleeve. He glanced down at it and smiled, saying: "This is the Anping Order, 'the national fortune is flourishing,' truly auspicious and prosperous, yet it hasn't granted me a bit more leisure time."

Just now, Xie Yun, who had been like a celestial being, was finally taken aback and couldn't help but say: "Ah, that little girl..."

These individuals must have received instructions from Li Jinrong, as they came up without saying a word and immediately took action, demonstrating an exceptionally coordinated effort among themselves

Zhou Yitang looked helpless and said: "Zhou Fei, stop messing around, go back!"

This statement is highly persuasive to Zhou Fei

Having spoken, she no longer paid any attention to Xie Yun, who had just shouted that he would kill her, nor did she care about the disciples who were left dumbfounded at the scene. She even forgot to break Zhou Fei's legs and simply turned around and left.

Zhou Fei, Li Jinrong said word by word, "I command you to reflect in solitude, yet you dare to escape on your own. Today, I must break your legs. Get out of my sight; I have no time to deal with you right now"

What he said was clearly nonsensical, yet upon further reflection, it somehow seemed entirely reasonable, leaving one with no grounds for rebuttal

Even Li Jinrong was slightly taken aback, and soon after, Li Dazhang realized what was happening, causing his anger to intensify. He reached out to grab Zhou Fei's back. Although Zhou Fei was unyielding in arguments and often entertained rebellious fantasies, she was still hesitant to confront her mother directly. In that moment, she executed a nimble "Swallow Dipping Water," leaping up the tree, using the hilt of her sword to hook onto the treetop, spinning around without looking back to evade Li Jinrong's second strike, narrowly landing on the ground along with the broken branch.

At this moment, Xie Yun had calmly crafted a complete bamboo flute while chatting with her. He gently blew away the shavings and, with a rather mischievous smile, said to Zhou Fei, "Run a little further away; if your mother catches you, she will hit your palms."

"Where could it be? I was still playing in the mud when your mother retreated to the Forty-Eight Villages," Xie Yun said, pulling out a piece of bamboo from somewhere and taking out a small knife. As he sat on the tree slowly carving, he continued, "But she might have a grudge against that old Liang who asked me to deliver the message. I don't know what happened... Sigh, he didn't explain it to me clearly before he died."

Zhou Fei was taken aback. She had been in the village all along, and under the guidance of Li Jinrong, she had developed a somewhat pragmatic personality of "do what needs to be done and avoid unnecessary chatter." There were few peers with whom she could interact, and she was accustomed to being solitary. For a moment, she was unsure whether this Young Master Xie was a friend or foe, and did not know how to respond, so she could only nod slightly. After a while, she tentatively asked, "Do you have any grievances with my mother?"

Zhou Fei on the tree was taken aback—indeed, the leader had refrained from alarming her father, even leaving her previous beating unsettled. How could she allow Young Master Xie to swagger outside Zhou Yitang's courtyard playing the flute? Was the courtyard empty? She felt a bit anxious, yet she did not know for whom she was anxious. Zhou Fei thought, her mother would never harm her father, so there must be some connection in this letter. However, if Young Master Xie's "letter" ultimately fails to reach its destination, would he be turned into dumpling filling by the leader?

"Li Dazhangjia." Xie Yun smiled at her from a distance, his gaze sweeping over the three swords hanging from his neck.

Zhou Yitang turned back to glance at the path he had traveled, but did not see the person he wished to see, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch slightly, as if in self-mockery

Zhou Fei was firmly restrained in place by seven or eight guards, and she raised her head in anger, glaring fiercely at Wen Yu

Zhou Fei felt that the numerous swords and blades pressing down on her head were like an unbreakable, inescapable Mount Huashan. She exerted herself to the utmost, her joints turning a shade of iron blue, and gritted her teeth, saying: "I will not!"

"Jinrong," Zhou Yitang gently interrupted her, "He is alive, and our grievances are settled. I have taken refuge in Shu, and we shall not meet in the underworld. Now that he is gone, life and death are separated, and the old matters can be put aside. Do you understand?"

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Just now, a sword-wielding disciple hurriedly said: "Chief, please calm down—Ah Fei, listen, quickly step aside"

"It doesn't matter; those who cannot hear my flute are not the ones I seek. The land of Shu is rich in talent and beauty, with breathtaking scenery. This journey has been a feast for the eyes, and even if I return empty-handed, it is not a wasted trip." Xie Yunxin replied with great generosity. Then, with a quick glance, he lightly jabbed at Zhou Yitang, continuing with a smile, "The troubles of the Kunpeng in shallow waters and the pain of the Canglong with broken horns are beyond our understanding as river minnows; there is no need for the gentleman to speak to us as one would to summer insects about ice."

The plight of the Kunpeng in the shallow waters, the pain of the Azure Dragon with its broken horn, we, the river carp, cannot comprehend; there is no need for you, sir, to speak of ice to the summer insects

Zhou Fei had never heard her mother speak such a long discourse, and she almost thought she was possessed by Zhou Yitang. However, Xie Yun shook his head and raised his hand to hang the "Anping Order" on a nearby branch

Zhou Fei had never heard such a simple and blunt explanation, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah?"

After that day, Zhou Fei had not seen Young Master Xie again. It was said that he had already left the mountain and had taken a letter for Zhou Yitang. More than a month after Xie Yun's departure, someone formally knocked on the mountain gate to request an audience with the chief of the Forty-Eighth Village, Li Jinrong. However, Li Jinrong did not appear, only instructing someone to open the door and let Zhou Yitang leave

Zhou Fei was puzzled and turned to look at Li Jinrong. She had never seen such an expression on Li Jinrong's face; it was not exactly sadness, but compared to the furious anger when she had grabbed her earlier, Li Jinrong seemed to have calmed down now. However, her shoulders were slightly slumped, and the imposing armor she wore had almost completely diminished, nearly revealing her vulnerable human form.

Li Jinrong's expression grew increasingly gloomy: "Has the letter been delivered? Do you really think that by casually playing a nonsensical tune, you can save your life? I might as well tell you that the person you are looking for is not here at all"

So it turns out to be General Feiqing, how fortunate. Zhou Yitang pointed to the tightly secured scabbard of Zhou Fei and said, "This child has been spoiled by me, quite stubborn, I must apologize to the General. My meridians in both hands have been severed, could I trouble the General to lend a hand?"

"I am ashamed," Xie Yun said without a hint of embarrassment, "As a junior of my caliber, the only things I have left are the ability to run fast and a long tongue."

No one dared to engage Li Jinyong in casual chatter such as "Your daughter is truly beautiful." The elders would only subtly and politely compliment Zhou Fei by saying, "Your daughter has the grace of the great matriarch from years past." As for her peers, they hardly exchanged a few words in a month, so no one had ever directly praised her beauty. This left her feeling somewhat bewildered.

Zhou Yitang: "A Fei ... ... "

Zhou Yitang slowly descended the mountain alone, while the sentinels on both sides had already received orders, opening the gates to let him pass on the left and right. At the foot of the mountain, a line of soldiers in black armor was precisely the escort sent by the Southern Dynasty to accompany him to Jinling

Li Jinrong's gaze flickered: "Did you not say it was with you?"

Xie Yun smiled and said: "I have traveled a thousand miles to deliver a message. The Anping Order is merely a small token. Now that the message has been delivered, this item is nothing more than a piece of scrap iron. To risk my life for it would be to put the cart before the horse"

Three swords were placed on the neck of "Flowing Clouds and Flying Immortals," bringing him down from the tree. Xie Yun, in an effort to prevent any accidental injury, stretched his neck out as long as possible and said, "Gentlemen, please show mercy. Your leader might still want to ask me some questions. If you cut my throat, I won't be able to speak."

Li Sheng quietly stepped out from behind him: "Uncle."

She is still young and does not understand. Zhou Yitang shook his head, bent down to pick up the section of the iron knife sheath, which had first been caught by the iron gate and then flicked by Wen Yu, resulting in two additional dents on it

Zhou Fei was not particularly worried; instead, she felt a bit curious

Zhou Fei was stunned, her eyes suddenly reddened, and she stared blankly at Zhou Yitang

Then he exchanged a glance with Li Jinrong, who was not far away, and slowly turned his gaze to the token hanging on the tree, softly saying: "The bond between master and disciple, Zhou has already repaid. Now I am merely a blind and deaf useless person, why come to find me again?"

Li Jinrong's expression suddenly changed—Zhou Yitang actually knew that Liang Shao was dead

Xie Yun also showed promise, falling in response without hesitation, pushed over by a little girl, just in time to evade the two swords and create space for Zhou Fei. Zhou Fei pivoted on her left foot, sword held horizontally in front of her chest, and suddenly spun around. A sound that sent chills through the ears rang out as she used her sword like a blade, deflecting three swords. Then, the soft blade coiled around the last steel knife thrust before her. The person wielding the knife felt a tremendous force sweep over, causing the knife to slip from their hand, which was unexpectedly twisted into two pieces by Zhou Fei. Zhou Fei pivoted on her left foot, sword held horizontally in front of her chest, and suddenly spun around. A sound that sent chills through the ears rang out as she used her sword like a blade, deflecting three swords. Then, the soft blade coiled around the last steel knife thrust before her. The person wielding the knife felt a tremendous force sweep over, causing the knife to slip from their hand, which was unexpectedly twisted into two pieces by Zhou Fei.

Thank you, Mr. Zhou. Xie Yunmei said with a smile, "When this uninvited guest arrived, I climbed over walls and squeezed through holes; at least now I can see which way the gate of the Forty-Eight Villages opens as I leave."

Zhou Fei not only did not retreat, but instead walked a few steps forward without changing her expression, positioning herself in front of Xie Yun. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the token hanging from the tree branch and saw that its color was ancient and dull, truly resembling a piece of junk that wouldn't fetch even a penny at a pawn shop.

The old token felt very rough to the touch. Zhou Fei casually ran her fingers over it and discovered several marks left by various weapons, which caused the originally magnificent and ancient inscriptions on it to reveal a hint of solemnity and a sense of impending danger

Zhou Fei stared in astonishment, pondering: Is this what is known as being deep and unassuming?

Zhou Fei did not want to listen to his nonsense about "sacrificing oneself for righteousness" and turned a deaf ear to his words, avoiding his gaze. The long knife in her hand clashed continuously, producing a "clack" sound, and then, without warning, it suddenly broke again, the shattered blade piercing fiercely into the ground. The guards simultaneously shouted loudly, pressing the backs of their blades against her shoulders.

Xie Yun had been hunted down by Li Jinrong across the mountains and fields for an entire day, which was likely quite uncomfortable for him. His outer garment was torn, the hem was shortened, his hair was disheveled, and a leaf covered in dew had fallen onto his head. There were several cuts on his hands and neck, making him appear even more disheveled than the night before in the Ximo River. However, he wore a relaxed and comfortable smile on his face, as if he was completely unconcerned about this perilous situation. This image did not prevent him from appreciating the morning mountain scenery and the young girl in her prime.

Just as Zhou Fei was about to leap over the eaves, a soft sound came from not far away. She looked up and saw—well, it turns out she was not the only one on the beam.

Four or five individuals blocked Xie Yun's escape route, and soon three skilled swordsmen surged forward. Two agile fighters leaped onto the large trees on either side, one in front and one behind, to prevent him from retreating through the trees. On the other side, thirteen crossbows were set up, each with its bowstring drawn tight, aimed directly at Xie Yun. Even if he were a bird, he would be shot to pieces.

Zhou Fei asked: "Then what is your relationship with him?"

Zhou Fei usually uses a narrow-backed knife, which is many times harder than this sword. The two disciples assumed that her internal strength was insufficient and thought that they only needed to suppress her sword with one move to prevent her from causing further trouble, without injuring her. Little did they know that Zhou Fei had been avoiding Li Cheng and was accustomed to concealing her strength—after all, a single-edged knife is uniquely tough and difficult to conceal compared to revealing it, and her true level was far higher than what she displayed. In an instant, she swiftly stepped back, methodically connecting several moves, while simultaneously freeing one hand to forcefully push Xie Yun away. Little did they know that Zhou Fei had been avoiding Li Cheng and was accustomed to concealing her strength—after all, a single-edged knife is uniquely tough and difficult to conceal compared to revealing it, and her true level was far higher than what she displayed. In an instant, she swiftly stepped back, methodically connecting several moves, while simultaneously freeing one hand to forcefully push Xie Yun away.

As soon as her voice fell, the bows and crossbows hanging not far away were immediately reloaded, and everyone placed their hands on their weapons, creating a suddenly tense atmosphere. A young disciple's small crossbow slipped unexpectedly, and with a "buzz," the thin arrow shot straight towards Xie Yun's back. However, halfway through its flight, it was struck down by an iron lotus seed.

Li Jinrong was not her naive little daughter; from just a few words, she understood the subtle exchange between Xie Yun and Zhou Yitang.

When my late father was alive, even if he had to raise a flag and become a bandit, tarnishing his reputation, he still wanted to preserve the last refuge of the down-and-out in the world, the Forty-Eight Villages. Li Jinrong said solemnly, "We are isolated from the north and south, with the Ten Thousand Great Mountains as our wall and the Ximo River as our rampart. Anyone who dares to invade will be executed. We cannot defy the last wishes of our ancestors, so beyond the Forty-Eight Villages, we have no friends, no relatives, no alliances, and no factions, not even you."

"The layout of your Forty-Eight Villages is truly intricate; I have exerted all my strength to finally arrive here," Xie Yun exclaimed, then waved to her and casually continued the conversation, "Little girl, are you the daughter of Chief Li and Mr. Zhou?"

Zhou Fei estimated that at this moment she could still lie peacefully in her room, and it was probably about 80% due to the efforts of this Young Master Xie. The big boss wanted to capture him, but it seemed he did not dare to do so openly, and even she and Li Cheng did not dare to impose any severe punishments, likely out of fear of alarming certain individuals. After contemplating this, Zhou Fei felt that if she were to receive a good beating, the only one who would likely be 'alarmed' would be her father. With this thought, she increasingly felt that the 'Mr. Gantang' mentioned by Xie Yun, which sounded familiar, was indeed her father.

Zhou Fei sometimes has the illusion that she will never be able to surpass her mother. Every time she feels she has caught up a little, she looks up and finds her mother coldly watching her from an even farther distance

Zhou Fei observed for a long time and felt that this Young Master Xie looked quite imposing, but he was probably full of empty talk. At this moment, it seemed that there was no performance to be had. She then leaped down from the large tree and called out: "Mother!"