Chapter 6, Going Home.

Zhou Fei listened to Xie Yun's shameless nonsense and knew that he had calmed down. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes curved as she lightly patted her own face and said, "Isn't it true? I'm really useless. Let me help you out - what are you writing?"

Without being in charge of the household, Zhou Fei does not know the value of firewood and rice. After listening to this "Experience of Living", she was quite surprised: "Why do you still worry about this? Aren't you a prince? Don't you have a salary?"

After speaking, she realized that the question was not directed at her. Her ears turned red, and she turned to Xie Yun and repeated Zhou Fei's words.

With a turn of his eyes, Xie Yun looked at her for a while and said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Because that girl is a water plant spirit, and she has already ridden on a carp and swam away."

However, the matter was definitely not handled incorrectly.

Xie Yun placed a copper coin on her tray. After Zhou Fei saw the woman's face clearly, she was stunned. She saw that the woman covered half of her face with a roughly made veil that was slightly transparent, revealing pockmarks and scars underneath. In order to avoid being rude, Zhou Fei only glanced briefly and then looked away, feeling a sense of regret in her heart - the wife had a graceful figure and delicate features, and should have been considered a beautiful woman.

Zhou Fei and his group walked over from the border between the north and south. Hearing this beginning, I felt a strong sense of immersion and immediately became interested. She picked up a bowl of rice wine, ready to drink slowly and listen carefully.

Zhou Fei said, "Are you still mocking me?"

He regretted a little after saying a sentence, feeling that it might have been a bit abrupt. Unfortunately, Zhou Fei didn't catch on and showed a look of innocence and surprise on her face, sincerely commenting, "What a mess!"

Wu Chuchu saw her staring at her with furrowed brows and asked herself, and immediately became stunned: "I don't know."

When Zhou Fei mentioned this, she felt a little ashamed, but the fact is the fact. She honestly said, "My kung fu is not good enough, I need to go back and practice more."

Xie Yun's expression suddenly became very strange.

"Hey, hey, you can kick me, but don't flip the table." Xie Yun carefully protected his messy pile of manuscripts.

Zhou Fei, under the education of the Broken Snow Knife, had a tendency for her anger to reignite in an instant.

The pair of senior martial siblings, Kurong Shou and Naidu Guanfeng, took an unconventional path in their swordsmanship. They were both righteous and wicked, and they shared a supreme martial art, albeit with a slight difference in skill level. Beidao Guanfeng retired early, leaving behind a disciple who had yet to make a name for himself. He had already passed away, also with a slight difference in skill level. However, the Shanchuan Sword was the unrivaled master of the martial world, while the Nandao established a sect and completed the supreme martial art. These two individuals can truly be called grandmasters of their generation. Twenty years ago, the Central Plains martial world was flourishing with talented individuals, witnessing the revival of numerous supreme martial arts and countless legendary stories that are still talked about to this day... But the Shanchuan Sword was the unrivaled master of the martial world, while the Nandao established a sect and completed the supreme martial art. These two individuals can truly be called grandmasters of their generation. Twenty years ago, the Central Plains martial world was flourishing with talented individuals, witnessing the revival of numerous supreme martial arts and countless legendary stories that are still talked about to this day...

Regarding this matter, I had some speculations before. It is said that Yin Wenlan once said that he only had two things he was proud of in his life: one was the Shan Chuan sword, and the other was the "Hai Tian Yi Se" view. Xie Yunguan took a sip of cold water and continued, "So if there is any secret related to Hai Tian Yi Se, such as a token or a key, where would he keep it?"

Zhou Fei gritted her teeth and struggled with the choking flatbread for a while, and finally surrendered to it. She gave up her efforts, raised her neck and swallowed it down. The unchewable bread mixed into a lump and choked all the way from her throat to her stomach. It took a long time before it "clunked" down. Zhou Fei reached out and pressed her chest, thinking with bitter amusement in her heart: "It's almost as cost-effective as swallowing gold, and the effect is about the same. I really made a profit."

Evil deeds, it's nothing. The infamous "Mountain of the Living and the Dead," Zhou Fei has heard of it along the way. When will those people do something good for a change? But why do they have the audacity to be so unapologetically evil and proud?

Xie Yun said: "Ah, Lai Gui, can your eyes speak for themselves?"

Wu Chuchu said somewhat uneasily to Xie Yun, "Afei said she's going back to Shu, so I'll go with her."

Zhou Fei asked, "What are you writing?"

After reading two lines, Zhou Fei was snatched back by Xie Yun. Xie Yun crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it into an empty cup, saying, "Madam, spare me. Every time you read it, I feel like I have to rewrite it."

Xie Yun turned his brush upside down again, and with the slightly cracked brush handle, he made another stroke on the wine stain, saying, "But there's no need to be complacent. Martial arts is like climbing a mountain, with one level after another. There are still many top-notch experts in the world, such as some senior figures from prestigious families... For example, there are the Daoist leader of the Qi Sect, the lord of the Huo Family Fortress, and so on. Above the top-notch experts are the elite masters, rare and exceptional. Regardless of their reputation, once their names are mentioned, they will surely cause a sensation in the martial arts world."

Can this chaotic lawsuit be finished before it reaches Shu?

Xie Yun paused for a moment and smiled lightly, "Go home? Jinling is not my home, my home is in the old capital."

Xie Yun remembered that there were still remnants of the Green Dragon Sect on the mountain. He approached Yin Pei and asked, "Young Master Yin, where are you headed?"

At this moment, the blind man's playing stopped for a moment, and Xie Yun's words also stopped. He turned his gaze and seemed to have walked out of the inventory of ancient and modern times in an instant. He took out some change from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Fei, saying, "I think those two are also about to close their stalls. Please give them a ride for me."

Zhou Fei originally did not have any talent for romantic poetry, nor did she care. She asked, "Are you referring to the coward who values his life over his duty and carries a sword that symbolizes eternity?"

The singer's voice, though soft, was extremely captivating. She continued, "…She was attacked by the Seven Dogs of the North as soon as she left the pass, and they besieged Huojia Fort and Huarong City... At that time, the people in the city were in a state of panic. It was the female knight who, with her own strength, defeated the Seven Dogs of the North, killed the Lü Cun star, broke through a bloody path, and left unscathed... She then traveled alone for thousands of miles to Hengshan, where she sought justice at an inn and devised a clever plan to lure out the leader of the Qinglong gang, whom she killed at the foot of Hengshan. Everyone was overjoyed. Do you know who she is?" At that time, the people in the city were in a state of panic. It was the female knight who, with her own strength, defeated the Seven Dogs of the North, killed the Lü Cun star, broke through a bloody path, and left unscathed... She then traveled alone for thousands of miles to Hengshan, where she sought justice at an inn and devised a clever plan to lure out the leader of the Qinglong gang, whom she killed at the foot of Hengshan. Everyone was overjoyed. Do you know who she is?"

In a chaotic world, there is no rule of law. If morality also falls silent, then what can those who live in desperation and survive by any means hope for?

Xie Yun placed the pen aside and sighed, "I can tell you're not sincere even with my nose."

Zhou Feilue was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

Wu Chuchu, however, inexplicably asked, "Where?"

Xie Yun saw her slightly leaning forward, and the despicable side in his heart couldn't help but stir. He deliberately poured himself a bowl of wine calmly, until Zhou Fei's hand began to itch, he slowly said, "The difference between the two is that there are top-notch experts in every generation, but not necessarily grandmaster-level figures."

Speaking of heroes is one thing, but talking about "deserters," Zhou Fei asked with a bored expression as she rubbed the corner of the wooden table with the sole of her shoe, "What's so interesting about deserters?"

Xie Yun felt depressed about his own incompetence, and at the same time, he withdrew his pen in a bad mood, and responded to her in a displeased tone, "Scared to death."

Zhou Fei recalled the words that Yin Pei said when he was pretending to be garlic in the Sanchun Inn. Some of them were insinuating and sowing discord, while others were vaguely suggesting not to let Ji Yun sink to death. If his bullshit was just an act, then how much of it was intentional and how much was genuine?

Zhou Fei and his two companions left Hengshan. They didn't encounter the lackeys of the Green Dragon Lord on the way. It seems that in this day and age, even evildoers need to be a bit clever, otherwise they may not reach the realm of being truly wicked and end up "failing before success".

The singer quickly got up to express her gratitude, and somewhat awkwardly accepted the money handed to her. She whispered, "Since you have given me a reward, please allow me to sing a song."

Xie Yun furrowed his brows, stared at his back thoughtfully for a moment, but did not catch up.

Zhou Fei explained, "Of course, it's on the mountains and rivers sword. I'm not quite sure how the number one sword in the world thinks, but if the people around you are not as reliable as you, the only thing you can trust is the sword in your hand."

Killing Zheng Luosheng, and also getting involved with Ji Yunchen, it can be said to be killing one and adding another, has his big revenge been avenged, is he satisfied?

Because Zhou Fei, in a moment of impulse in the secret passage, offended His Royal Highness Prince Duan with his words. Afterwards, he accidentally laughed, adding insult to injury. So after escaping danger, Xie Yun turned into this kind of character, still shamelessly following them, but refusing to speak to her.

Zhou Fei gritted his teeth and glared at his back, while Wu Chuchu secretly pulled her aside.

Wu Chuchu silently shook her head and turned to look at Zhou Fei.

Zhou Fei asked, "And you?"

Without waiting for Zhou Fei to ask, Wu Chuchu spontaneously spoke up and asked, "Why?"

Zhou Fei finally came to his senses and wondered, "Weren't you still impoverished and writing small tunes? How come you are now helping others and being generous?"

Xie Yun continued in a low voice: "The great thief relocates, Jinling falls. Mountains crumble, treading the path of peril and demise; as the seasons change, there must be the sorrow of leaving the old... Do you think it's fate or man-made?"

So how should we calculate the gratitude of more than ten years of nurturing?

After hearing these praises, Zhou Fei didn't take it seriously and thought somewhat disapprovingly: "You're just a scholar who writes songs, as long as you can sing, why bother with all these twists and turns."

The Snow Breaking Sword is truly worthy of being called the "Master's Sword". Even before the moon has risen, it has already transformed her from an immature little girl of not yet six years old into a sensible adult.

Zhou Fei was shaken to the core by his few words, while Xie Yun suddenly drew a circle on the table with the pen in his hand, turning the half-dried small hill into a mess. His tone abruptly changed: "But this brilliant era is too short-lived, just a passing moment. The deaths of Shan, Chuan, Jian, and Nan Dao, the disappearance of Kuroiyo, the sealing of Beidao, even with descendants like Lingtang, are burdened by the complicated affairs of the Forty-Eight Villages in the wind and rain. There has been little progress in these years, and it may not be easy to move forward in the future. Shen Tianshu's vicious attack on the Huo Family Fortress, intending to swallow the heart of the world's extraordinary achievements, is only because he wants to climb higher. It's a pity that he can come up with such a rotten idea and dirty means. I think he should just give up."

Seeing them being so polite, the singer was a bit flattered. After thinking for a moment, she lightly cleared her throat and said, "Since that's the case, let me tell you a bit of recent news. It may not be entirely true, but it will surely make you laugh. Recently, there have been several major events at the border between the north and south, and there is also an extraordinary figure."

When the woman turned and left, Wu Chuchu asked in a low voice, "She..."

Zhou Fei has no concept.

Zhou Fei saw him speak and quickly led the donkey down the slope, saying, "Thank you, Brother Xie. I was wrong."

Why exactly, Zhou Fei herself couldn't explain. She had no plan, and even at the beginning, she had to use tricks to slip away from under the nose of the Qinglong leader. She clearly knew she couldn't win, and she tried every possible way to avoid a direct conflict with the big boss.

Zhou Fei: "..."

Xie Yun didn't know where he got a small oil lamp from, placed it by his side, and illuminated the old papers and pens spread out on the table. He would write for a while, then lose himself in thought for a while. Occasionally, he would pick up his wine cup and take a sip of the turbid wine. Dressed in a green robe, he appeared somewhat down and out.

Xie Yun seemed not to have heard, slowly picking up a pickled vegetable with his chopsticks - which had already bent into a circle - and picking up the vegetable steadily. It can be seen that this person has some skills in eating at least.

The heart of Zhou Fei, who upholds justice, was pushed by the sudden childishness and she retreated in a lightning-fast manner. She summarily expressed her full of emotions in three words: "I'm willing!"

"He pretended not to know," Xie Yun said, "but I guess he definitely knew. Haven't you heard what Zheng Luosheng said? He stole the scabbard of the Shanchuan Sword. The entire Yinjia Village fell into the hands of the Qinglong gang. There are many treasures like the Muyun Sha, but he ignored everything else. Why did he specifically want the scabbard of a broken sword?"

Isn't it the same for Wu Chuchu, a young lady who is powerless? She can't see that Zhou Fei and Hua Zhanggui are tied together, nor can she defeat Zheng Luosheng, right? But even such a delicate and weak girl refuses to leave alone for the sake of her friend, let alone someone who wields a knife?

Xie Yuntuo dragged Zhou Fei and ran outside. The sand and dust were so thick that people couldn't open their eyes. They broke open the secret passage and as soon as they showed their heads, they were drenched by a heavy rain. The rainwater mixed with the dust, forming a "rich and fragrant" mud soup.

In a dilapidated official road, inside a small tavern, Wu Chuchu sat on a crippled bench, carefully taking a bite of a mixed grain pancake. She cautiously chewed and checked for any unsightly small stones, just like picking fish bones. Only then did she feel at ease and started chewing.

Zhou Fei whispered to her, "Is he getting excited again?"

Xie Yun sighed silently and withdrew his gaze, lazily saying, "I don't know if I feel disappointed or fortunate. Anyway, it can be sold for money. We have to go to Shu area and follow the boundary of the Southern Dynasties. We need to take a detour from Hengyang, which is thousands of miles away and cannot be completed in a short time. Do you know how to contact the hidden posts in Guizhai?"

Xie Yun: "..."

In Hengyang, there are local officials and some stationed troops nearby. It looks much better, at least there are no public killings.

Zhou Fei was immediately confused by the sour tone, realizing that Master Xie was indeed a competent author of Xia Qu (a type of Chinese operatic drama). He grabbed some change, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to the hoarse singing girl, saying, "Sister, take a break."

As dull as Zhou Fei, she could feel that there was something else contained in his smile, but before she could think about it, Xie Yun abruptly changed the subject and asked, "Why do you want to go back home?"

Oh, returning to the hometown of the Emperor's son, a thousand hooks and a hundred corridors... The young maiden, claiming to hold the ancient blade in her heart... Oh, wait, the ancient knife, who cares about the old city of Bari... The chapter platform?

Xie Yun said again: "Above top experts are the masters. Do you know the difference between these two?"

Zhou Fei listened while thinking to herself: "This female warrior is remarkable, and she's still near the border between the north and south...? Could she be talking about Duanyu Niang?"

Zhou Fei has already witnessed the saying "one kind of rice nurtures a hundred kinds of people" and knows that it is a great fallacy to judge others based on oneself. These thoughts flashed through her mind and then sank heavily, no longer to be speculated. Anyway, since everyone is dead, the great grudges and grievances can only be left to dust and soil. Those faint thoughts are not worth mentioning.

Yin Pei eventually ordered a retreat, but no one paid attention to him. He struggled and managed to run out. He couldn't stand straight, possibly due to severe internal injuries or broken bones. His blood-stained hands leaned against the rocks, gasping for breath, while his eyes gazed at the partially collapsed entrance to the secret passage. For a moment, no one knew what he was thinking.

Zhou Fei understood when she heard this.

Yin Pei remained indifferent as if he had not heard anything. He moved his gaze away from the entrance of the secret passage with a hint of apathy, and raised his hand to tidy up his messy hair and coat. With a proud look on his face, he brushed past Xie Yun.

At dusk, the coachman brought the two girls to Hengyang city steadily. Xie Yun, who was used to traveling outside, was skilled in driving and drove steadily without rushing or bumping, almost without taking any detours, which was very comfortable. It had just rained heavily here, and the road was not very smooth. The vendors and shops along the street were like plants in the mountains, able to survive in any crevice. The inn also had a restaurant and hired folk artists to attract customers.

Zhou Fei's spirits lifted upon hearing this, as this did not pertain to the evaluation of martial arts skills, but rather to extraordinary anecdotes. In this regard, among the people she knew, there was no one who could surpass Xie Yun in this aspect. She then pursued further, asking, "Are top-notch experts like the Northern Dipper and the Four Symbols?"

Xie Yun "Hmm"ed and raised his eyebrows, saying, "No - Mu Xiaoqiao doesn't count, Zheng Luosheng doesn't count, Shen Tianshu counts, but someone like Qiu Tianji probably doesn't measure up. Zheng Luosheng ranks first among the Four Symbols because he has a group of thugs who can fight and kill, and he is very scheming, constantly using petty tricks. This kind of person is very dangerous, and if you're not careful, he could take your life. But if you say he's a top-notch expert, I'm afraid you don't need to ask anyone else, the other three in the Four Symbols would sneer at him."

Xie Yun suddenly asked again, "Are you also looking for 'The Color of the Sea'?"

Zhou Fei asked, "Why don't you want to go home?"

Xie Yun is still pretending to be ignorant, as if he didn't hear anything at all. He stood up, settled the bill, and urged two girls to pack up the remaining pancakes to take away. "Let's go, this remote and desolate place is not suitable for staying overnight. We must arrive in Hengyang before it gets dark."

Xie Yun nodded slightly, without expressing any opinion.

As he loosened his grip, the old pen holder with cracks fell onto the table with a "snap".

This place is still located on the border, with years of war. The territory under the jurisdiction of the Great Zhao Dynasty has not shown any better peace than the north. It is basically "villages and towns in desolation, facing the setting sun."

Wu Chuchu and Zhou Fei exchanged a glance, and Wu Chuchu asked, "Does Yin Pei know?"

Zhou Fei did not expect that giving money would not be enough, and he was suddenly very worried.

She actually didn't know what Ji Yunchen was up to at the time, and she had never heard of the "Soul-Searching Needle".

Xie Yun laughed silently, and Zhou Fei kicked him under the table.

As soon as Zhou Fei looked down, he saw a few scattered guests downstairs. However, the waiter was already yawning and had brought a small pot of turbid rice wine to Xie Yunduan. He lazily wiped the table on the side. The couple who sang and told stories sat lonely in the audience. The woman's voice was already hoarse, and the blind man was playing with the somewhat damp strings of the qin. The sound of the qin echoed in the empty hall, with a somewhat melancholic and glamorous meaning.

They clearly squeezed together on a small table that was less than three feet square, and no one was hard of hearing. However, Xie Yun and Zhou Fei ignored each other, and even a cough had to be relayed by Wu Chuchu—thank goodness Miss Wu has a good temper.

Xie Yun used crooked chopsticks to poke at the pickled vegetables in the plate, saying, "This place is still close to the front line, the land is not good for farming, it's a bit poor. If we go to the east, it won't be so shabby. The prosperity of Jinling and the old capital are not inferior. Don't you really want to go and see?"

After passing Mount Heng, you will enter the territory of the Southern Dynasties.

The folk artists are a middle-aged couple who sing and speak together. The husband is blind, and the wife has a sweet voice. They sing "Qiansui You" from Xie Moux's "Lihen Building". After singing a round, the wife picks up a tray and walks around among the guests. She does not beg or annoy anyone, but if someone gives money, she gracefully bows to them.

Zhou Fei unknowingly absorbed it.

The mixed flour cake is made with everything, including feed for horses and pigs, but there is no "flour" in it. The cake is dry and hard to eat, and it gets stuck in the throat, making it impossible to swallow. Wu Chuchu was afraid that others would think she was delicate, so she didn't complain. Instead, she took a sip of cold water after every bite. She didn't have a big appetite to begin with, so with this method, half a cake and some water would fill her up, making her seem very economical and easy to feed.

Zhou Fei choked on a mouthful of rice wine and coughed violently.

When he failed to escape, he felt like a towering hero, confident that he would return home in triumph and marry the girl he loved. However, he later discovered that the court had no need for his heroism or his upright character; they didn't even consider him a person. He was merely a decoy, luring the enemy deeper into their trap. Once he died, his mission would be complete. So he escaped. Unfortunately, the journey home was fraught with obstacles, and he never got to see his beloved girl.

Xie Yun smiled and said, "Do you even know what a salary is?"