Section 5

Master, have you had any contact with others since you withdrew from the martial world

It is actually Li Qing'er

What is your surname, young lady

I do not know yet. However, the person who sent the secret letter is certainly not the one who stole the qin, as it seems that the sender has discovered the whereabouts of the qin. The secret letter also specifically instructed me to bring along a girl who resembles a moon goddess.

I did not respond and turned to go upstairs. The young man in white stood gracefully on the staircase and spoke gently: "Miss, did you rest well last night?"

All have turned against each other

I digress: "Did you hear the sound of the zither last night, young master?"

Can the words of a disciple be trusted? I asked, and he merely smiled without replying

The master clasped his hands together and recited "Amitabha" with his mouth: "My apologies. I remember when you were eight years old, accompanying your mother to the mountain to offer incense. I noticed you at first glance, not only for your agility and grace but also because your features remarkably resembled those of the celestial maiden Shangguan Qing'er from the past. Thus, I decided to take you as my disciple."

Both arms were severed cleanly; apart from Shen Ruosu, no one would do such a thing. Shen Ruosu is known in the martial world as the 'Young Master of Severed Arms.' Every time he strikes, he removes the arms of others. However, Shen Ruosu has never killed anyone; even when he severs arms, he always applies pressure to the acupoints to stop the bleeding.

The master heard the sound of the zither last night

Very well, thank you for your concern, young master

Who sent that secret letter

I smiled and thought to myself: "Master, if Yan has a plan and a *map* book, I wonder if it would be feasible?"

Madam Li was the first to rush out, followed by me and Du Gu Leng.

"If a lady can marry a master thief, she must possess quite remarkable martial skills, right?" I asked, feigning innocence.

The next day, my master saw the wound on my neck and said nothing more, only sighed: "In a chaotic world, I have been hidden for thirty years, and finally, I am to be revealed to the world."

I am just a farmer's daughter, how could I possibly know martial arts? That is something I wouldn't even dare to think about. When I was young, I always hoped for a good harvest and to marry a good man. Lady Li lowered her head and smiled shyly, then after a while, she raised her head as if awakening from a dream and asked: "Why? That girl Qing said she was going to the town to buy pastries, why hasn't she returned for so long?"

Suddenly, the shopkeeper and the bookkeeper burst in from outside, his face ashen, as if he had been frightened by something: "Not good, not good, under the peach tree behind the inn, there is a dead person"

I turned back and bowed: "Madam Li, it is quite boring at the inn. I bought a zither, firstly to pass the time, and secondly to bring some joy to the elders."

"A good name," he smiled, "but unfortunately I already have a fiancée. Her name is Liu Ruyan. Are all women named Yan as beautiful as fairies?" This is a very nice compliment, but I am not that pleased. Such flattery is not particularly clever, especially for someone like me who has heard sweet words many times.

I see. Mrs. Li sat down to drink tea, but her gaze was constantly fixed on my face.

"Tian Yanyan," I said

When I went downstairs, I realized that the weather was not very good; a fine drizzle was falling, and the fragrance of the earth wafted towards me. I took out a silver ingot and said to the waiter, "Please, young man, go to the nearby town and buy me a guqin."

Qing'er! Lady Li collapsed onto her daughter, utterly heartbroken

Indeed. A person playing the piano must have no thoughts of killing in their mind; otherwise, we probably would not be able to stand here and speak properly.

Under the peach tree, a woman glares with wide-open eyes, her face contorted. Her arms have been severed cleanly, and the mingling of blood and rainwater has stained the ground red, a sight that is shocking to behold

Seeming like one who is rushing towards the moon

A frail female voice came from behind: "On this rainy day, what does the young lady buy a guqin for?"

To prevent the partition wall from having ears, I leaned close to my master's ear and instructed, this way, this way ... ...

I see, no wonder Shen Ruosu said, you are truly the daughter of the Moon Goddess

I was picked up by the master, so I take the master's surname Tian and am called Yan Yan

Yes, I once heard my master say that if a person playing the guqin harbors murderous intent, the music of the ancient guqin can kill. Dugu Leng said solemnly: "My master indeed does not possess that guqin"

Please tell me more

I am Dugu Leng, may I ask for the young lady's name?

This sentence struck like a bolt from the blue, that name which had been repeated countless times since childhood. My future husband, Dugu Leng, stands right in front of me at this moment, yet he is unaware that the woman before him is his fiancée