Chapter 276: then translation of title

At this moment the waiter brought up all the food and drink Feng Yi had ordered—cooked meat, cooked goose, and two bowls of steaming hot white rice.

Feng Yi didn't even bother to see who had arrived; he gave Mo Da, who was slumped on the table, a bowl of steaming hot white rice, saying, "Eat first, otherwise you'll have no strength for a fight!"

Clearing the venue means driving people out; even Feng Yi could be cleared out by others, so a fight is inevitable.

Feng Yi was just about to lift his chopsticks when he heard "dong dong dong" footsteps on the stairs, and someone came up.

Feng Yi turned his head and saw that the newcomer looked very familiar—it was the old man who had previously received Liu Zhengfeng's qin and xiao score.

His sudden appearance made Feng Yi startle. He immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks, thinking, "So it's Ren Yingying—no wonder such a grand display; looks like this woman is tailing me?"

His eyes were sharp; from the dust on the old man's trouser cuffs and shoes, it was clear he had just been running wildly.

The old man ignored the crowd of energetic, sharply dressed people upstairs, glanced over, and happened to meet Feng Yi's gaze.

The old man's expression suddenly changed; he turned and went downstairs. Feng Yi was stunned again, and stuck his head out to look out the window.

He saw the old man lower his voice by the sedan and say, "Auntie, the person surnamed Feng is upstairs."

From inside the sedan came a low "hmm": "Let's go!"

The sedan bearers immediately lifted the sedan, about to turn and leave.

This left Feng Yi puzzled and even more dissatisfied—he heard that they were leaving just because he was there!

What does this mean?

Feng Yi couldn't help but shout, "Miss Ren, wait!"

The sedan bearers and others all stopped in their tracks.

A girl in green slowly turned around, speaking very calmly: "What do you want?"

She was the one who had just declared she would rent out the whole floor.

Feng Yi said in a deep voice, "You said you wanted to rent the whole floor—why, upon hearing that I, Feng, am here, do you want to leave?"

The girl raised her cheeks slightly and said softly, "Do we really need to know the reason?"

Feng Yi gave a cold snort: "Since I've asked, I certainly need to know."

This is Feng Yi's reason.

Hearing that they would not rent the floor just because he was there made Feng Yi feel greatly insulted.

Thinking back, since his debut, everyone has thought him extraordinary; even when facing enemies, they all held him in high regard. As for women, many have fallen for him at first sight.

Being looked down upon like this by Ren Yingying was a first for him.

It felt as if he were a plague god!

Without realizing it, Feng Yi's competitive spirit was stirred again.

The girl gave a cold snort and said, "Feng, I've long seen you're not a good person; sure enough, you've been following us all along—what exactly are you up to?"

Feng Yi smiled; he thought Ren Yingying was following him, but who knew she thought he was following her. He lifted his wine cup, shook his head, and said, "Miss Ren may be beautiful and bubbly, but I'm not Tian Boguang—what would I do with her?"

The girl's face flushed with anger as she shouted loudly, "Pah, you're shameless!"

Suddenly a low shout came from inside the sedan: "Qin'er, hold your tongue!"

Although the girl held her tongue, she wore a furious expression, wishing she could swallow Feng Yi whole.

After all, the victims of Feng Yi's "Blue Sea Tide" melody were not limited to Ren Yingying alone.

Fortunately she is a woman; those few men who lost their composure have already been dismissed by the lady, and their future prospects likely aren't good.

At this moment a clear, crisp voice floated out from the sedan: "Your remark is too rash, isn't it?"

"You, too, are born of a woman, and moreover you are one of the few top experts in the martial world—yet you compare yourself to a lowly person like Tian Boguang; don't you feel it's beneath your station?"

Who else could this voice be but the Holy Maiden we met last month?

But her tone was odd and sinister, extremely malicious, amounting to saying that Feng Yi willingly debases himself.

Feng Yi was stunned, his hand holding the wine cup suspended in midair, thinking, "Damn it, Linghu Chong making friends with Tian Boguang is heroes admiring each other, but when it comes to me it's seen as willingly debasing myself—this is double standards to the extreme!"

But he knew that double standards are human nature, and he didn't take offense.

After all, Linghu Chong is Ren Yingying's beloved; whatever he does is right, whereas I am the one who makes her lose face—how could they be lumped together?

Feng Yi raised his wine cup to his lips, drained it in one gulp, then said, "Miss Ren, what you say does make sense—I was rash!" Saying this, he rose and clasped his hands in salute.

The Holy Maiden said, "If you admit your mistake, that still counts as being a hero!"

Feng Yi replied, "I dare not, but I must say that meeting you all here now is quite unexpected even for me!"

The Holy Maiden said, "This is 'the mountain does not turn, the road turns; the road does not turn, people turn'—this world seems rather small!"

Feng Yi smiled and said, "Yes, it's quite a coincidence."

But I'm a bit odd; your leaving like this inevitably puts me in a foul mood—if you don't give me a proper and reasonable reason, heh…

The Holy Maiden remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said coldly, "I have never seen someone as unreasonable and domineering as you."

Feng Yi laughed heartily and said, "Domineering?"

Feng Yi always judges by closeness, not by reason, so he's naturally accustomed to being domineering; if he were to reason, he would have long joined the glorious cause of unifying the martial world!

The Holy Maiden seemed to be angered, her breathing growing somewhat heavy.

Qin'er raised her eyebrows and exclaimed, "Oh! So if you don't give a reason, you won't let us leave?"

Feng Yi gave a light smile: "Since my debut, if I don't want someone to leave, no one has ever escaped."

The Holy Maiden laughed softly and said, "Then let's have a go! Little sister, I got a taste of Hero Feng's deep inner strength last time and am still wanting more—this is a perfect chance to witness your exquisite martial arts; even if I die, it would be glorious!"

Although she was laughing, her voice was hollow, flat, and devoid of inflection.

Feng Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, his pupils shooting out sharp light like needles, staring at the sedan as if he wanted to see through it and then through the woman inside.

Elder Green Bamboo and the four maidens all had their hands on their weapons, looking as if they were facing a formidable foe.

But Feng Yi drew a conclusion in his heart: the Holy Maiden's words carried no emotion at all.

Although Feng Yi has a roguish nature, he is not devoid of feeling.

Such matters of life and death, love and hatred, are inherently unavoidable for humanity.

How could his heart not be competing with the original plot's Linghu Chong for superiority?

After all, Ren Yingying sees Linghu Chong, plays the lute and teaches it; when it's his turn he simply turns and walks away. This not only makes him feel somewhat defeated, but also makes him feel loathsome.

Perhaps this was indeed the fact.

But this indifference, Feng Yi still couldn't quite accept it; yet at this moment, his competitive spirit didn't just drain away from the Holy Maiden's cold words—it was as if the original plot's Linghu Chong were speaking up to mock him: "Feng Yi, Feng Yi, what are you, a mere hair? How could you compare to even a single strand of my sweat?"

Whatever I do, Yingying feels it's right.

Whatever she does, I also feel it's right.

Yet you, relying on your high martial skill, forcibly detain others—how is this any different from Tian Boguang? What right do you have to kill them? Don't you find it shameful and ridiculous?

Finally, Feng Yi let out a long sigh and said, "All right, I was rash—you may go!"

Upon hearing this, several people again exchanged glances.

The Holy Maiden let out a 'yi' and said, "Strange? This shop is yours—what gives you the right to let me leave?"

Feng Yi twitched the corner of his mouth, seeming unable to smile anymore: "You weren't supposed to leave? How come it's me letting you go?"

The Holy Maiden said lightly: "Tell you, I'm also quite odd—I like bustle, yet I also like tranquility!"

So I've always liked places where bustle meets stillness. Likewise, whoever wants to keep me, I'll deliberately walk away to show them.

Whoever wants to drive me away, I'll instead stay right here, becoming a thorn in their eye, a splinter in their flesh!

Saying that, the small sedan lowered again; Qin'er lifted the curtain and walked out a maiden dressed in light green robes, her face veiled with sheer gauze.

Feng Yi indeed hadn't expected this turn; he couldn't help furrowing his brow, thinking: "This woman won't be playing hard to get with me, will she?"

Little did he know, he was overthinking it.

Ren Yingying couldn't stand the flattery and fawning that had become rampant at Black Wood Cliff lately, so she set out with her junior uncle, Green Bamboo Old Man, to tour the mountains and enjoy the waters.

In the original plot, her seclusion in Luoyang's Green Bamboo Alley was precisely because she felt it was a place where bustle meets stillness.

And from the moment Ren Yingying was born, everyone in the Sun Moon Divine Cult treated her like a princess—no one dared defy her in the slightest; as she grew older, she became ever more imperious, getting her way in everything, with no one ever daring to oppose her, let alone make demands or mock her.

This time, her chance encounter with Feng Yi, the reason she avoids him is entirely because she's thin-skinned, suffered a silent loss last time, and after hearing various rumors in the jianghu, she feels shy about facing Feng Yi and wants to leave.

But when Feng Yi lets her go, her stubborn temper flares up. If she just left like that, who knows what the jianghu would say about her?

Feng Yi cares about face—does the Holy Maiden not care about hers?

Soon, Green Bamboo Old Man went upstairs first and said, "Finished eating—please, go ahead!"

Some, fearing trouble, hurriedly left; in an instant a large area of tables was emptied, and the waiter rushed to tidy up.

Green Bamboo Old Man stood with head bowed and hands at his sides; immediately afterward, several girls stepped up the stairs, and at once a fragrance like orchid and musk filled the air, making the whole tavern seem redolent with scent.

The four girls stood at the stairway entrance, two on each side, to welcome the Holy Maiden.

Those who enjoy a spectacle just wanted to see the excitement; upon seeing her entourage, they momentarily held their breath,

Green shadows fluttered, and the Holy Maiden finally appeared in everyone's sight.

Qin'er pulled out a chair at the central table; another girl took a piece of white satin from her bosom and spread it on the chair; a third went to the kitchen, and a fourth brewed tea for the Holy Maiden.

Only then did the Holy Maiden slowly sit down.

Feng Yi laughed and shook his head, unable to avoid uttering a word of admiration.

The Holy Maiden asked softly: "Why are you shaking your head?"

Feng Yi replied: "I shake my head because, having met the young lady three times, I still don't know your noble name—it's a regret."

The Holy Maiden suddenly let out a cold snort and said: "To be frank, I don't want to see you because your conduct is too ruthless—you've killed members of my sect; if someone brings this up, it would be awkward to discuss."

I, the younger sister, am also not nameless; but if Elder Brother Feng truly had an interest in inquiring my name, surely someone would have already whispered it to you—why bother saying this?

Feng Yi laughed loudly: "Haha, you are indeed clever—just..."

"Just what?" the Holy Maiden said coldly.

Feng Yi's expression turned serious: "Just that a name inquired about and a name spoken by the young lady herself cannot be spoken of in the same breath."

Since you're unwilling to say it, why should I bother inquiring?

The Holy Maiden chuckled lightly: "You really are quite arrogant."

Feng Yi said: "It's not arrogance; it's just that the young lady insists on being so mysterious that probing to the bottom seems uninteresting—how then could one win a girl's favor?" As he spoke, he poured himself a bowl of wine.

Qin'er secretly despised him, giving Feng Yi a white-eyed glance.

But the Holy Maiden said: "I've long heard that Elder Brother Feng loves wine and beauty, matching wits with heroes from all under heaven, and at the Jade Chamber he never forgets!"

"I dare not, I dare not." Feng Yi laughed: "This little talent of mine surely can't escape your notice, but to say I match wits with heroes from all under heaven would be overpraising me."

The Holy Maiden snorted and said: "We have met three times, which is a kind of fate. As for lust, I, the younger sister, am unable to satisfy you."

However, wine I can provide.

Qin'er, bring out the wine.

Feng Yi thought: "Why does she ask me to drink? Could she have some request of me?"

As he pondered, he saw Qin'er take out a wine jug, then a wine cup, pour wine into the cup, place it on a wooden tray, and walk over saying, "Please, enjoy!" as she set it on the table.

Feng Yi smelled it—the wine was rich and fragrant—and said, "Good wine; to refuse would be impolite!"

Saying that, he drained it in one gulp; the taste was indeed not bad.

The Holy Maiden lightly raised her brow and slowly said, "Do you know the Five Immortals Sect?"

Feng Yi replied: "You mean the Five Poisons Sect?"

The Holy Maiden nodded: "Yes, the world calls them the Five Poisons Sect. I am good friends with the Blue Sect Leader."

Not a single mistake, not a single piece, not a single launch, not a single internal, not a single containment, not a single presence—look one by one!

Hardly had the words finished when the people in the tavern let out a cry of alarm.

In an instant, everyone ran downstairs.

Because in the jianghu there are two major poison sects, namely the Five Immortals Sect and the Hundred Medicine Gate. It is said that after the Hundred Medicine Gate administers poison, the victim does not die outright; instead, his body feels as if sliced by a thousand blades or gnawed by worms and ants—essentially a fate worse than death, yet he cannot seek death, and aside from being at their mercy, there is no other recourse.

Moreover, the Hundred Medicine Gate's poisoning methods are even somewhat inferior to those of the Five Immortals Sect, showing just how formidable the Five Poisons Sect can be.

They thought of a few women who had just gone upstairs, emitting a fragrance that made one feel as if immersed in a flower thicket, and everyone felt afraid, not daring to linger any longer.

But Feng Yi was as steady as Mount Tai, showing no trace of panic: "Miss, I know you have wide acquaintances, but what do you want to tell me?"

The Holy Maiden couldn't help but a faint smile appear at the corner of her mouth: "Because the wine is poisoned!"

"What am I to do?" Feng Yi laughed heartily: "Isn't there a saying, 'nine deaths, one life'? We are martial artists, our hands stained with blood, unknown how many lives we have harmed; to meet a good end is to die well."

Having drunk the Holy Maiden's wine today, something others could not cultivate in several lifetimes, what harm is there in dying once more? As the saying goes, "to die beneath the peony flowers, even as a ghost one is charming."

The Holy Maiden slightly opened her small mouth, her beautiful eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe Feng Yi would say such things.

After a moment, she coldly said: "Is that how 'nine deaths, one life' is used? Really, just glib talk, lacking any skill!"

I invited you to drink, and you drank it all down frankly; it's truly a pity for your magnanimity that treats life and death lightly.

While she scolded him with her words, her heart felt a great sense of kindred spirit.

Because she also felt that martial artists are destined to meet a bad end sooner or later.

This had nothing to do with right or wrong between the orthodox and unorthodox; Feng Yi's ability to speak frankly about it was indeed surprising.

Feng Yi smiled and said: "You flatter me! I don't know how many experts have fallen victim to poison; I'm no fool, so of course I'd guard against it. But I know the Holy Maiden's status is noble; I consider us neither friends nor enemies, so you would surely disdain to commit such a vile act."

Moreover, I have once consumed a strange substance that makes me invulnerable to all poisons, which is why I dare act this way!" Saying that, he poured himself a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

The Holy Maiden sighed leisurely: "That really is a pity."

Feng Yi laughed: "What a pity? That the poison doesn't kill me?"

She thought this young woman was both pretty and shy, perfect to tease for amusement, just like facing Guo Fu from before.

What's with this silly, spoiled brat?

As long as she's pretty enough, Feng Yi likes to tease her.

It's a pity the Holy Maiden doesn't remove her veil, which is somewhat a flaw in her beauty.

The Holy Maiden had no idea what he was thinking; she sighed leisurely: "It's a pity you possess supreme skill yet linger in the flower streets and willow lanes, consorting with frivolous women—hmph, I see you and Tian Boguang are truly a match!"

Feng Yi couldn't help but be startled.

But then Mo Da's head lifted slightly, and he murmured: "Lingering in the flower streets and willow lanes doesn't necessarily mean consorting with frivolous women. Hero Feng Yi, with such first-rate cultivation, how could a girl of your shallow understanding comprehend?"

Seeing Mo Da awaken at this critical moment, easing his own embarrassment, Feng Yi thought: "This person is truly wicked,"

always intervening at crucial moments.

Mo Da's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Feng Yi apologetically: "Old brother, I can't hold my liquor, I've made you laugh; don't blame me!"

Feng Yi chuckled: "Brother Mo, you're being too polite."

The Holy Maiden felt curious, fixed her gaze, and saw the huqin beneath his stool, thinking: "So it's him!" She said: "Does this sort of thing also depend on one's cultivation? Or is it first-rate? I, a humble girl, would like to ask for instruction."

Mr. Mo Da smiled freely: "Liquor, lust, wealth, and pride—these are what people desire. For their sake, those who use any means and disregard righteousness are like carp crossing the river, found everywhere; no matter what achievements they have, they are essentially no different from beasts."

Among people, they are unrefined; well, they are basically not worthy of being called human.

Some people are stronger than them precisely because they renounce all temptations.

For example, those lofty and solemn gentlemen, eminent monks and venerable masters, and exalted Daoist adepts.

In reality, they are full of male thieves and female prostitutes; given the slightest chance, they will be worse and more vicious than the unrefined.

The Holy Maiden nodded: "That makes sense, which is why I dislike seeing the upstanding gentlemen of the orthodox sects."

Mo Da laughed heartily.

The Holy Maiden, her interest piqued, asked: "Who is even better than these people?"

Feng Yi also became interested and poured a bowl of wine for Mo Da.

Mo Da said: "Those stronger than them are……" He lifted his wine bowl and drank it all: "Those who, upon seeing liquor, think of drinking; upon seeing beauty, think of lust; upon seeing wealth, think of grasping; upon seeing power, think of seizing."

Yet they often can rein themselves in at the brink, holding fast to their original intentions even in impossible circumstances, so as not to stray due to their desires, err, disregard righteousness, and become intolerable to the world.

Such people are now extremely rare in the martial world,

among the younger generation, Linghu Chong of the Hua Shan Sect, who dared to speak up for Liu Zhengfeng, counts as one!

Although he is rare, he is still far inferior to Brother Feng, alas; if I, Mo Da, were twenty years younger and wanted to be like him, I would surely be unable to manage! Come, let's drink!" Saying that, he raised his bowl toward Feng Yi.

The Holy Maiden sipped a mouthful of tea and said lightly: "How could you not manage it?"

Feng Yi found it amusing, yet also admired Mo Da's discernment.

He sees through the characters of all the martial world's seniors; when Linghu Chong spoke up for Liu Zhengfeng at the gathering of the Liu family on Mount Heng, he likewise summed up the other's nature in a single phrase.

Mo Da drained his wine and said: "Brother Feng escorted my junior brother all the way; I have several times sneaked aboard at night, and the beautiful women on the ship, though not as many as you have, are still not few—from young ladies to maidservants, each has taken a liking to this brother of mine, yet he treats them with propriety, not even a teasing word."

He enjoys liquor but does not get drunk and neglect affairs; he likes beauty but does not rely on his skills to indulge in lust; he acquires wealth but does not hoard it exclusively, and his anger dissipates quickly.

Your so-called lingering in the flower streets and willow lanes is actually a debt this world owes to those women, not something he personally caused!

This is also something he cannot change personally; this kind of lingering attachment is truly being in harmony with the dust of the world.

Moreover, it is rare that he mingles with the secular world yet comes and goes freely, enters and exits, comes and goes, without losing his original heart—could this not be a first-rate cultivation? How could it compare to those hypocritical gentlemen, false sages, and true villains? Is it not the mark of a true man of integrity?

Feng Yi's face flushed red; he never expected his own conduct to be praised so highly by Mo Da, and then recalling how Mo Da had several times come aboard to spy, he realized he hadn't noticed at all—it was simply outrageous!

Mo Da saw his expression was not quite natural and laughed heartily: "Brother Feng, don't blame me; I saw that the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect had spread rumors in the martial world that you and she were kindred spirits, so you would surely let loose."

Taking advantage of your ship's arrival at shore, when you were preparing food and drink, I sneaked in secretly.

Saying that, he then turned to the Holy Maiden, wiggling his eyebrows and eyes, and said: "Now you needn't be afraid, right?"

"Afraid?" The Holy Maiden gave a light cold laugh: "Are you talking about me?"

Mo Da smiled and said: "Isn't this brother of mine a true dragon among men? Tell me, would such a man still disgrace that Holy Maiden of the Sun Moon Divine Sect?"

Feng Yi immediately froze, thinking: "Which screw has this old man loose? Is he trying to play matchmaker for me?"

Lv Zhu Weng wore a look of resentment, but he couldn't say much, so he hunched his body and pretended not to see.

Mr. Mo Da appears disheveled, but in fact he is old and crafty.

Even with Feng Yi present, he had all along been secretly safeguarding the Liu Zhengfeng family; knowing he was contending with the Holy Maiden, how could he not know she had arrived?

He merely pretended not to know, so as not to have to say inconvenient things—just as the Holy Maiden knows he is the head of the Heng Shan Sect but does not expose it.

After all, the two are of different orthodox and demonic affiliations.

Moreover, Mr. Mo Da was not haunted by Feng Yi's prophet, and as an impartial observer, he saw that the Holy Maiden was not as the jianghu said; she showed no coldness toward any man. At the very least, she did not dislike Feng Yi.

The Holy Maiden, pure and bright as snow, understood the refined meaning upon hearing the strings; her pretty face behind the veil was made to blush like a crabapple flower by Mo Da's such words.

Feng Yi glanced.

But that glance made his heart pound uncontrollably, for looking through the veil, the Holy Maiden appeared even more lovely and moving, her beauty indescribable.

Even a great sage might have a momentary stir, let alone Feng Yi, this lecher, whose heart was immediately restless, having some improper thoughts.

"Nonsense!" The Holy Maiden gave Mo Da a glance, shot him a fierce look, turned her back, and muttered something under her breath.

Feng Yi had originally mustered his strength to compare with the so-called Ling Hu Chong, and was also startled by the Holy Maiden's beauty, so he didn't hear what she muttered.

But Mo Da heard it clearly: three words, 'Old Immortal,' and he burst out laughing.

Feng Yi saw the Holy Maiden turn her back; just then the food they ordered arrived, and seeing Mo Da laughing nonstop, he felt rather lewd.

He was about to ask why he was laughing so hard.

Suddenly the clamor from the riverbank faded, and the sound of scraping on the street never ceased, as if a large number of people were being mobilized, all skilled in lightness.

Feng Yi poked his head out the window and saw hundreds of people in varied attire rushing from all directions, each holding gleaming weapons.

Feng Yi didn't need to look closely; those with good martial arts landed lightly, those with shallow skill landed heavily. Just from the sound of footsteps, Feng Yi knew there was nothing remarkable about these people, and he turned his head back.

But he heard the footsteps of a few people, extremely light, each highly skilled in martial arts, totaling five.

Feng Yi was wondering when he suddenly heard a few cracks from the roof, and more people arrived. He identified those coming from the roof, and indeed there were another five masters.

Although Feng Yi was skilled and bold, hearing that the masters had all gathered, in a blink there were as many as ten, and he couldn't help but wonder: 'Which sect is this, to have so many masters? Could it be the Demonic Cult?'

In the midst of his thoughts, thump-thump-thump, a light footstep sounded from the stairs, obviously someone coming up.

Feng Yi turned his head to look at the Holy Maiden, seeing her holding chopsticks, eating her meal, very graceful, utterly unconcerned.

Her chopsticks were pure white, like jade, obviously brought by herself.

Lu Zhu Weng stood beside her, calm and composed, while the four maidens beside him were somewhat tense.

Feng Yi felt they were not her people, and looked toward Mr. Mo Da.

Mo Da's jovial expression faded, revealing a sharpness like a blade's edge, and he said in a hoarse voice: 'What was meant to come has come!'

Feng Yi let out a faint sigh, gazing out the window: 'Indeed, how can one kill without cause? Sir, seize the chance to escape!'

Just as his words fell, five black shadows had already appeared upstairs. (End of chapter)