Chapter 2, Night Exploration of the Ximo River

He raised his hand and lifted Li Yan up, casually brushing off the dust from her clothes, putting on his hypocritical facade once again, and letting down a standard half-smile, half-frown expression. He said to Zhou Fei, "So, is your anger today because I didn't help you invite your uncle? Ah Fei, it's not that your elder brother isn't trying to help you, but your mischief has gone too far. The teacher's lectures are for your own good, and besides, what he said was not wrong. A girl should be well-behaved; what is the point of shouting and fighting all day? You come from the Forty-Eighth Village, and even if you get married in the future, with me around, who would dare to bully you?"

This time, Li Sheng intentionally aimed to provoke Zhou Fei

Xie Yun, dressed in a night cloak, lowered his head and caught a glimpse of the turbulent waters of the Ximo River, then took a copper coin from his pocket

He was extremely patient, lurking outside the Forty-Eight Villages for a full six months. First, he disguised himself as a traveling merchant for a month. The Forty-Eight Villages could not be completely isolated from the world; there were always some necessities that could not be self-sufficient, necessitating the dispatch of people to go out to the market for purchases. While familiarizing himself with the terrain, Xie Yun also overheard some rumors, even the detail that "Li Dazhang loves dumplings filled with radish greens" was circulating with great specificity.

Zhou Fei felt that it was unlikely to escalate today, so she hung the narrow-backed knife behind her and simply resorted to verbal sparring: "I say pig, dog, and rat; whoever comes forward to speak is who they are. What, does the big cousin still want to stand up for these beasts?"

On this night, when the moon was obscured and the wind howled, Xie Yun lay quietly atop the treetop, seemingly merging with the great tree with each breath he took. A bird's nest was located two fist-lengths away from him, where a large bird was protecting its chicks, and the entire family was sound asleep, completely undisturbed by the presence of this human tree tumor nearby

A little girl dressed in a peach-colored dress ran three steps and then two steps to the middle of the two of them, spread her arms wide, and shouted: "Don't fight!"

If no one picks the fruit on the main road, Li Sheng will surely suffer. Xie Yun is unaware if his lightness skill reaches the level of "unparalleled in the world," but from just the outer perspective, he believes there are still a few capable individuals in the martial world who can cross this great river. Li Jinrong is so at ease, there must be something unusual on the river.

This shout successfully disrupted the tense atmosphere between the two, as Li Sheng slowly retracted the sword in his hand, frowning slightly, while Zhou Fei stood by awkwardly for a moment. They exchanged a glance, then simultaneously averted their eyes in a rather unfriendly manner.

Although Li Jinyong did not name anyone specifically, Li Sheng knew that she must be referring to him, as there were only three people who grew up beside her. If Zhou Fei dared to be distracted while practicing, he would have been beaten long ago. His aunt would not be troubled behind the scenes, unsure of what to say. As for Li Yan, she was a naive and ignorant child, completely unrelated to the notion of being "thoughtful." What struck Li Sheng the hardest was the remark that his "talent was not considered outstanding." He had always prided himself on being a prodigy, striving to excel in everything, wishing that everyone would praise him and find no faults in him. How could he possibly bear the evaluation of "talent not considered outstanding"?

Zhou Fei frowned upon hearing Li Sheng's unreliable challenge, feeling that he was just looking for trouble. Li Sheng stared at her intently, revealing a somewhat malicious smile, and spoke slowly and softly: "It's okay to be afraid; I know you are not one to complain. Just consider that I never said it, and you never heard it."

Zhou Fei was caught off guard by Li Yan's "secret weapon," which left her feeling overwhelmed, effectively drowning any murderous intent she had towards Li Cheng in a flood of tears. She simply squatted to the side, listening with boredom as Li Yan sobbed and accused her, while also casually dividing her attention, recognizing that Li Yan had her merits— even Li Jinrong and that fierce tigress from the book were as gentle as living Bodhisattvas in her presence. There was no need for too many people like Li Yan; having a hundred or eighty would suffice. Wherever a conflict arose, just send the "cousin group" to the front lines, and peace in the world would surely be within reach.

He neither takes the main road nor the small path, but instead circles around the Forty-Eight Villages.

Li Sheng's gaze was somber as he spoke slowly and deliberately, "Li Yan, this is none of your business"

A month later, he managed to secure a delivery job, but was unable to enter the mountains. The villagers only allowed them to deliver the goods to the outskirts and sent their own people to receive them, not permitting them to enter the mountain gates. Xie Yun recognized the entrance, and that night, relying on his exceptional lightness of foot, he attempted to sneak in. However, he underestimated the stringent defenses of the Forty-Eight Villages and had to retreat after a brief exploration. Before he could even show his face, he was nearly hunted down like a dog, and it was only with great difficulty that he managed to escape.

"She won't," Li Sheng said before Li Yan could protest, "I want to cross the Ximo River, do you dare to go?"

As soon as the words fell, an object suddenly came crashing down.

She raised her hand and flicked it, unconsciously exerting some force. The girl was at the age of rapid growth; although Zhou Fei was not much older than Li Yan, she was almost half a head taller than her. Li Yan, who practiced her skills infrequently, was firmly knocked down to a squat by her.

Zhou Fei had never encountered what a hypocrite looked like, but with her limited imagination, the image that surfaced in her mind was that of Li Sheng, who was a size larger. Just by looking at his face, a surge of fiery anger ignited in Zhou Fei's chest. She was quite sharp-tongued, but when she decided to take action, she would not waste words. With a narrow-backed knife firmly in her hand, she did not bother to say a word and charged straight at Li Sheng, aiming to strike him down.

A copper coin fell to the ground in front of him, neither heads nor tails, wedged between two stones, in a provocative side-lying position

"Let me consult the oracle," he pondered, "the front side signifies great fortune in all matters, while the reverse indicates a situation with no real danger."

Even if there truly exists someone with unparalleled lightness of body who can descend into the river, it would not matter, for there is an elder guarding the heart of the Ink Washing River. It is unknown how old he is, nor where he comes from; Zhou Fei feels that he has been there since her birth. The people in the village all call him "Old Fish"; he is a divine being capable of protecting the residence, controlling countless mechanisms and traps.

The narrow-backed knife suddenly halted in mid-air, and Zhou Fei gently flicked the tip of the knife, catching the object. It turned out to be a small girl's pouch, embroidered with several adorable kingfishers on the satin. The pouch was thrown with such force that it also flung out a few pieces of osmanthus candy.

Xie Yun, dressed in a night cloak, lowered his head and caught a glimpse of the turbulent waters of the Ximo River, then took a copper coin from his pocket

Xie Yun held the strange and audacious token in his hand, tossing it a couple of times before casually tucking it away. He heard someone mention that there were one hundred and eight bright and dark stakes ahead, yet he showed no signs of panic. Instead, he plucked a palm-sized leaf from the ground, folded it in half, and drew a line of dew to moisten his mouth. He then swiftly turned and glided away. It was as if he had no weight at all; his toes barely touched the branches as he floated gracefully through the treetops. Wherever he passed, the branches would tremble lightly, and the dew on the leaves would not fall.

This girl is named Li Yan, and she is the younger sister of Li Sheng, two years his junior. She has a small oval face and big eyes, exuding a remarkable charm. Unfortunately, she is a case of beauty without substance, being rather shallow. Li Yan, at the tender age of eleven, seems to have a mind no larger than a broad bean, containing only two thoughts—whatever Ah Fei says is right, and I like whatever Ah Fei likes, with the exception of practicing martial arts.

Li Sheng ignored her verbal provocation and simply said: "At the third watch of the night two days from now."

This statement sparked the enthusiasm of generation after generation of disciples attempting to cross the river, but unfortunately, they all retreated in defeat, and none have succeeded to this day

The older man said cautiously: "It is possible to make a mistake in a day; with the two of us and our four eyes, can we still make mistakes every day? This person must possess exceptional lightness of body; he has been circling around our village for these days, and we do not know his intentions... Regardless, let us return and send a message, instructing the brothers to remain vigilant tonight. If something truly happens, even if we do not catch the person, with the one hundred and eight bright and dark stakes ahead, he would be unable to pass through alone, not even a sparrow could fly over."

After these two individuals left, approximately half an hour passed, and the moon, which had been obscured by clouds, reappeared. Only then did Xie Yun's gaze gently shift, and in an instant, he transformed back into a living being, subsequently falling to the ground like a feather

Li Sheng said calmly: "The Forty-Eight Villages are led by my Li Family Village, and after all, my great-aunt's surname is Li. Back then, there was no one in the village, so she was entrusted with the responsibility in a time of crisis... However, these matters should not trouble Miss Zhou, right"

Then she stared blankly at Li Yan for a while, imagining herself sitting on the ground, holding a pouch and crying loudly. She shivered involuntarily, feeling that Li Jinrong might find a wolf's tooth club to fix her head.

It is said that this technique is called "Wind Passing Without a Trace," and it is one of the top lightness skills in the world, comparable to "Dancing Through Flowers and Weaving Through Trees" and "Treading on Snow Without a Trace." Who would have thought that at such a young age, he would be an unparalleled master of lightness skills

In the Forty-Eight Villages, the people are either relatives or close friends, all of whom are fathers, sons, brothers, and soldiers. There exists an unspoken understanding among them. Those two, separated by a distance of eight zhang, exchange a glance without the need for gestures, as if they have already communicated. Immediately, with a tacit understanding, they split into two groups: one searches the main road, while the other searches the side road, and in the blink of an eye, both have vanished from sight

Since then, the six words "qualifications are not considered excellent" have become a nightmare for Li Sheng, visiting his mind from time to time, mocking him incessantly, causing his already intense competitive spirit to nearly explode

In the middle of the river stands a small pavilion, where a layer of light rises every night, indicating that someone is keeping watch inside. However, on the night of the fifteenth, when Xie Yun stealthily entered the Forty-Eighth Stockade and arrived at the banks of the Ximo River, he unexpectedly did not see that lamp. He made a swift decision, concluding that there was no time like the present, and thus chose to descend from the cliff.

Zhou Fei cast a scornful glance at him: "Now you dare not, if your sister goes to report me, the chief will surely skin me alive"

She neither said she would go nor that she would not go, but instead, she reached out and patted Li Yan on the shoulder, cunningly wiping that wretched girl's snot and tears back again, and then left with her narrow-backed knife in hand.

Thereafter, he focused his mind and circled around the Forty-Eight Villages for more than three months, meticulously counting the rabbit holes on several hilltops. He cautiously and repeatedly probed the edges, and at last, his efforts were not in vain; he discovered the only route that did not have so many visible and hidden sentries—specifically, the section of the Ximo River that served as a natural barrier

Zhou Fei kicked the door with one foot, and after a loud bang, dust flew everywhere, causing the door hinges and the door itself to immediately be "finished" together

Zhou Yitang replied something, but Li Sheng did not hear it. The fleeting words from his aunt, carried by the wind, felt like a steel nail, mercilessly piercing into his heart.

Li Sheng tightened and then relaxed his grip on the sword, and after a long while, he forced out a smile: "Since you are so confident in your skills, do you dare to compete with me?"

As the two individuals walked away, the large bird turned its head, tilting it to fixate on Xie Yun. Xie Yun did not even blink, remaining as still as a lifeless object. The bird stared at him for a moment, concluding that this "tree tumor" was merely peculiar in appearance and posed no issue, thus it comfortably buried its head beneath its wing and fell asleep again

He is a young man of approximately twenty years of age, possessing a pair of eyes resembling a tranquil lake, seemingly capable of gathering all the subtle moonlight around him, reflecting a stillness of moonlight that is both bright and serene. Leaning against the tree trunk, he pondered for a moment, then reached into his bosom and took out a palm-sized token—if any officials from the previous dynasty were present, they would surely be taken aback. The token is inscribed in large seal script with the eight characters "Heavenly Son's Trustworthy Treasure, National Fortune Flourishing," identical to the inscription on the imperial seal.

Zhou Fei was most annoyed by this sticky and clingy behavior, and immediately said irritably: "Let go!"

Li Jinrong said to Zhou Yitang with some concern: "This child does not possess particularly outstanding talent, which is not a big deal; we can take our time. However, I fear that he may be hindered by his heavy thoughts and excessive distractions, and I do not know how to convey this to him..."

A small thought arose in her heart, and Zhou Fei wondered: Can I not learn a little from her?

This technique, "A Thousand Clocks Echoing, Ten Thousand Mountains Roaring," originally embodies the demeanor of a master. However, the junior disciples under the Thousand Clocks sect, lacking sufficient skill, always execute it somewhat clumsily, which is why during the duel, Li Cheng was able to easily counter it. Little did they know whether Zhou Fei had privately modified this technique, or if it was due to her using a sharp blade instead of a spear, which gave her an advantage in weaponry. When this "Colliding with the Southern Mountain" came into her hands, it inexplicably carried a more intense and fierce aura, reminiscent of a wrathful strike against the Cangshan.

The long knife, sheathed in its scabbard, came slicing through the air with a fierce wind. In that instant, Li Sheng felt a twinge of fear and did not dare to employ the same trick again. Just as he steeled himself to endure, a sudden scream rang out from the doorway: "Stop!"

Li Yan reached out to wipe away her tears, her snot and tears smeared all over her palm, sticking messily to Zhou Fei's hand. The veins on Zhou Fei's temple throbbed twice, nearly causing her to shake her off again, when she heard Li Yan sobbing: "I’m afraid that my aunt will hit you, so I specifically went to find my uncle... and you still pushed me! You don’t recognize a good person's heart!"

"Crossing the Ink River" is a catchphrase often uttered by the younger generation of disciples from the Forty-Eight Villages, similar to "I'll take care of you" and "I'll treat you to a meal another day"; it is said casually and holds no real significance

Li Yan stood in front of Zhou Fei with a sorrowful expression and said softly, "Ah Fei, for my sake, could you please not fight with my brother?"

"I didn't mean to push you," Zhou Fei paused, then said dejectedly, "That... well, sister was wrong, is that alright? Come on, get up."

There are countless local legends about the Ximujian River, as the water in the river is neither blue nor green, appearing pitch black. When viewed from above, it resembles a massive piece of black agate spread across the ground. During the time of the old village chief, countless human and material resources were expended to gradually clear the trees and protruding boulders between the mountain walls on both sides. The cliffs on both banks resembled two large mirrors, reflecting the dark waters of the river, making the cliffs not only difficult to climb but also allowing for a clear view during patrols.

The Ximojian River is the only location among the Forty-Eight Villages that does not have sentries changing shifts day and night. Located at the southeastern end, it is flanked by high mountain cliffs that separate the two areas, with a wide Ximojian River flowing in between, forming a natural barrier.

Li Yan persistently reached out to tug at Zhou Fei's sleeve: "Don't..."

Zhou Fei and Li Sheng had little to say to her, and were too lazy to take her out. Unfortunately, Miss Li Er was naturally sentimental, admiring her cousin on the left and worrying about her brother on the right, often lost in a self-conflict of not knowing which side to lean towards, spending a considerable amount of time in this indecision.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, startling the large bird, which opened its eyes warily. It saw two sentries on duty from the Forty-Eighth Stockade rushing past through the dense forest.

Whenever a young person utters such grandiose statements, they are filled with genuine emotion. However, they often fail to consider that they are merely a novice, and phrases like "as numerous as the fish crossing the river" have no relation to them whatsoever. In any case, since their abilities cannot transcend the ordinary, at least their aspirations can still soar high, which allows them to maintain the illusion that they are "not a creature of this pond"

Oh, fifteen," Zhou Fei laughed ambiguously and said, "It's a good day, the moonlight is bright, in case of an accident, just howl a couple of times, even the old fish will be able to see who you are.

Zhou Fei replied to Li Yan with a face as cold as water: "You can go away."

Li Yan sat on the ground for a moment in disbelief and let out a cry of "Ah" before bursting into tears

The so-called "provocation tactic" can sometimes be quite effective. No matter how much one claims, "I won't fall for your provocation," internally, they may still be seething with anger. Often, those who shout the loudest about "not falling for this trick" are the ones who are most enraged. Zhou Fei had no interest in provoking Old Yu in the dead of night; rationally, she thought Li Cheng was insane, yet emotionally, she could not bear to hear the words "I am afraid." At that moment, the troublemaker Li Yan, believing she had reason and evidence, spoke up: "Ah Fei, let's go, don't pay attention to him. No one has ever crossed the Ximok River at midnight. Li Cheng, you must be crazy. Can't the Forty-Eight Villages accommodate you?"

The two searched the vicinity but did not find a single trace of the ghost. The younger one then said: "Fourth brother, perhaps we misjudged the situation."

The origin of this matter is quite lengthy to explain—ever since the third leader of the Three Villages betrayed us, leading to the death of Lord Li Er, the Forty-Eighth Village suffered a significant blow. In recent years, with the confrontation between the North and South and the increasingly chaotic struggles among various forces, the Forty-Eighth Village has harbored an unknown number of imperial fugitives, necessitating strict control. The mountainous terrain of Shu is riddled with countless secret paths and watchtowers, both visible and hidden. Any unusual movement can quickly spread throughout the entire Forty-Eighth Village. Normally, all personnel entering and exiting must leave a record, detailing who they are, the purpose of their visit, how long they stayed, and so forth, ensuring that all information is complete for future reference. Each person possesses their own token, inscribed with their name, and it is forbidden to steal another's token. Uninitiated disciples are not allowed to descend the mountain at will; the timing of their initiation is strictly controlled by their respective masters. Without the master's approval, even those with extraordinary abilities cannot leave—except in one case, that is, if someone can cross the Ximo River by their own strength.

Zhou Fei immediately replied: "Thank you for your consideration, but it is not necessary to trouble a useless person."

Li Sheng laughed arrogantly and said: "How vast is the world, how wide are the four seas! Exceptional masters are as numerous as the fish crossing the river, countless in number. A mere Forty-Eight Villages, which no one has ever crossed before, can I not cross? I am determined to be the first!"

At that time, Li Jinrong was both commanding people to bring down this group of ignorant disciples and jokingly said that whoever could cross the Ink Washing River would be considered to have graduated.

Xie Yun came to the Forty-Eight Villages to meet someone and deliver an item. He was well aware that the Forty-Eight Villages were not easy to enter. If he were to announce his sect and request an audience, it was possible that the person he wished to meet would not be seen, and he himself might end up being cooked in a hot pot by Li Jinrong, that fierce woman. Moreover, forcing his way in or sneaking in was even less advisable—after all, even the notorious thief Cao Zhongkun had not succeeded in such a feat. Xie Yun felt that he was not quite at the level of being a thief to that extent.

Her casual remark during an argument inadvertently struck at Li Sheng's sore spot. With his youthful cunning still insufficiently developed, Li Sheng's expression suddenly darkened: "Zhou Fei, who are you talking about?"

However, regardless of Li Sheng's plans, the weather is quite uncooperative—on the fifteenth of this month, it is a cloudy day

Zhou Fei remembered that when she was young, the entrance and exit of the Forty-Eight Villages were not as strict as they are now. A few unfortunate senior brothers, not knowing what they had done wrong, chose not to use the door and insisted on testing the depth of the Ximo River. A few of the best in lightness skill went down once, and the next day, without exception, they were all tied up with hemp ropes and hung on the cliff. Old Yu was very particular about order; not only did he tie them up, but he also aligned their feet and arranged them in a row according to their heights. From a distance, it looked very neat and pleasing to the eye

"Let me consult the oracle," he pondered, "the front side signifies great fortune in all matters, while the reverse indicates a situation with no real danger."

He felt an unprecedented resentment in his heart, determined to surpass Zhou Fei. However, whether through provocation or sarcasm, Zhou Fei simply ignored him, never engaging in conflict. During their usual exchanges, she always stopped short, and if he deliberately pressed her, she would calmly step aside, completely looking down on him. Over time, Zhou Fei's avoidance turned this sense of rivalry into an obsession for Li Cheng. During their usual exchanges, she always stopped short, and if he deliberately pressed her, she would calmly step aside, completely looking down on him. Over time, Zhou Fei's avoidance turned this sense of rivalry into an obsession for Li Cheng.

Li Sheng thought, he does not have good aptitude, does Zhou Fei have very good aptitude

Then Zhou Fei sighed and bent down to extend a hand towards Li Yan

Zhou Fei stood up, slowly raising one eyebrow. Her eyebrows were perfectly shaped, naturally resembling those that had been meticulously groomed, extending straight into her temples. She coldly laughed and said, "Why don't you go tell the big boss this? Let her quietly stay in the room and do some embroidery, I would fully support that."

Li Sheng had long been prepared to make his move. At that moment, he raised his sword to block her downward strike, feeling a violent jolt in his wrist. He did not dare to be careless and focused all his energy to engage in battle. Neither of them had drawn their blades, yet in the blink of an eye, they had exchanged seven or eight moves. Suddenly, Zhou Fei stepped forward, sweeping her narrow-backed knife horizontally. Li Sheng's pupils constricted—she was actually using her long knife as a spear, executing a move known as "Colliding with the Southern Mountain".

The heavens may have never encountered such a shameless inquiry, and thus decided to teach him a lesson. Xie Yun had just thrown the copper coin into the sky when a sudden noise came from not far away, as if a heavy object had fallen into the deep ravine, producing a series of crisp sounds in the silent valley. Disciples patrolling the mountain on both sides immediately lit their lamps, causing Xie Yun to be momentarily distracted. Little did he know that in that brief moment, a gust of wind came and gently blew the copper coin away, and he failed to catch it.

In the dense forest, it is quiet and still, with the croaking of frogs from an unknown location carrying a hurried rhythm, incessantly murmuring with insects of various sizes. After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the two sentinels suddenly reappeared from an unknown place, meeting at the same spot— it turns out they had merely been pretending to pursue.

Li Sheng was practicing swordplay in the courtyard. Upon hearing a sound, he turned his head and saw a horizontal "debt" flying in from the entrance. He was not particularly surprised; he merely sheathed his sword slowly and asked knowingly, "Ah Fei, what are you doing?"

Xie Yun goes for a walk by the river every day, yet he does not rush to go down; instead, he observes from the shore day after day

Li Sheng forgot how he managed to escape that day. Fortunately, the wind was strong in the back mountain that day, and the guards at various posts were absent, which is why Li Jinrong did not notice his presence

Li Sheng came to his senses, the momentary fear still lingering. His heart was racing, and an indescribable embarrassment had already spread across his face. He reached out to pinch the pouch hanging from the tip of Zhou Fei's knife, tossed it back into the arms of the newcomer, and said irritably: "What are you doing here to cause trouble?"

Zhou Fei found him both amusing and irresistibly provoked by the phrase "How vast is the world." Thus, she cast a glance at Li Cheng and said, "When did I ever pull you in?"

Zhou Fei angrily said: "How much is your face worth? Get lost!"

Li Sheng stood to one side, gently moving his numb wrist amidst Li Yan's cries, his expression difficult to discern. Last winter, he encountered a bottleneck in his sword practice, so he wandered around to clear his mind. When he reached the back mountain, he happened to see Li Jinrong walking with Zhou Yitang, who was ill, from a distance. Li Sheng initially intended to catch up and greet them, but unexpectedly overheard a few words carried by the wind.