Chapter 10: Midnight Jingyun (1)

Sunny day, with wind.

On the city wall of Xichuan, a battle flag painted with a vermilion bird representing the royal power of the Chu State rose slowly, facing the dazzling sun, amidst the hunting wind.

With the sound of chains winding, the heavy city gate opened, the protective bridge slowly lowered, and a team of horses galloped out. The person in the lead had flying brows and star-like eyes, wearing a moon-white narrow-sleeved gold-patterned martial arts suit, a jade-adorned tassel crown on his head, and a red cloak flying behind him as he galloped, like a dazzling flame flying in the clear sky.

Crossing the moat, the group galloped along the wide horse-riding road until they stopped at the outer city wall. The garrison general stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Shan Qi has seen the Young Master!"

Huang Fei threw the stirrups and dismounted, raising his hand to exempt him from the ceremony, not stopping, asking while walking: "Any news?"

Shan Qi followed: "The end general has ordered people to search everywhere, but the two are not seen in Xichuan City. But it can be confirmed that the one who saved Jin Wu Yu is indeed from the Mingyi Tower."

Huang Fei climbed the city wall, the surrounding soldiers all saluting. He turned back to look at Xichuan City under his feet, a confident smile on his lips: "It is indeed the Mingyi Tower, so it will take some trouble. Jin Wu Yu is seriously injured, so he definitely won't go far. You continue to search, especially pay attention to the pharmacies everywhere. Remember, that person is a woman, don't be fooled by her disguise."

"The end general obeys!" Shan Qi then handed over a letter: "The messenger from Yingdu arrived today. That third young master of the Mu State was assassinated again. It has been secretly investigated, and two of the dead assassins were Mu State people. In addition, this is a letter from the Princess, please read it, Young Master."

Huang Fei took it and tore open the seal, only to see a few lines of delicate and clear writing on the light green fine silk:

Huang Fei, you must come back to watch my coming-of-age ceremony, you are not allowed to be absent, otherwise I will not spare you!

Huang Fei touched his nose, as if thinking of some troublesome things, smiling helplessly, putting away the letter and asking casually: "How is that third young master?"

Shan Qi said: "No damage."

Huang Fei seemed to have expected this answer: "This third young master of the Mu State, it seems there are many people who want to kill him. The old Mu King didn't choose from the many sons, but sent him to my Chu State as a hostage, which is indeed with ulterior motives."

Shan Qi said: "I heard the old Mu King is terminally ill, and the Mu State is now ruled by Crown Prince Xuan Yu, who must be increasingly uneasy about this third young master."

Huang Fei paced slowly, as if falling into deep thought for a while, then his eyes lifted: "Since he is in my Chu State, we can't let them be too presumptuous. The old Mu King is still alive after all, and Young Master Han Hui is also in the Mu State, so don't give them a reason to cause trouble. Send someone to send those two corpses back to the Mu State and ask Crown Prince Yu on my behalf."

"Yes."

Huang Fei turned with his hands behind his back, about to say something else, when suddenly, a warning sign appeared in his heart!

At this moment, a burst of light exploded in the dense forest outside the city, turning into a cluster of dazzling sharp light in mid-air, shooting toward the Chu army flag flying on the city wall like a meteor!

The light was extremely fast, carrying a strong wind, arriving in an instant. The soldiers were shocked and could not stop it, but saw a sword light appear under the sun, and the "Zhuri Sword" famous in the world at Huang Fei's waist let out a clear whistle, arriving later but striking first, intercepting the visitor before the flag was destroyed and the pole broken.

The two lights collided in mid-air, suddenly blooming layers of dazzling light rain, scattering in all directions, blinding people. Huang Fei met it with one sword, but felt it was as light as nothing under his sword, extremely unreal. In the sky full of sword light around him, the things he slashed rose with the wind, turning into butterflies of ink-jade color, dancing gracefully under the sun, golden stars falling from the butterfly wings, like light and beautiful fireworks, decorating the boundless blue sky like water.

The ink butterflies danced, landing on the flags on the city wall, landing on Huang Fei's sword tip, lingering and flying around him. A wisp of faint fragrance drifted with the wind, and with the dancing of the butterflies, it was lingering. Everyone stared at what was before them, confused by the beautiful scenery for a while, forgetting to speak. Huang Fei examined the surroundings, but his brows were locked. Just at this moment, accompanied by a scorching breath, all the butterflies suddenly turned into flames and bloomed. The fire borrowed the wind, instantly engulfing the battle flag in the wind into a sea of flames.

The moment the firelight appeared, Huang Fei had already swept out several zhang, the flames before him becoming nothing but wisps of residual smoke under his sword. He borrowed the momentum to tap his foot on a protruding bluestone of the city wall, and with a few leaps, he pursued toward that dense forest.

A figure flashed past in the woods, drifting like a wisp of light smoke and mist in the mountains. When he reached the close distance, the other party had already disappeared without a trace. The sun spilled mottled light and shadow through the branches, the mountains and fields were silent, empty, only a few ink-colored butterflies dancing up and down, the same as what he saw on the city wall.

Looking at the mountains and fields, he felt that he was not far from the mysterious woman. The faint fragrance of her was floating in the wind, entangled with the fragrance of the mountains and plants, thought-provoking. He walked a few more steps, and suddenly saw a few lines of cinnabar characters written on a big tree:

Peak of Jingyun, Nine Domains of mountains and rivers, midnight at the Zi hour, inviting you to appreciate and talk.

He returned the sword to the scabbard, dipped his finger in the enchanting color, and lowered his head to bring it to his nose. It was indeed the familiar faint fragrance.

Xichuan was located on the edge of the royal domain, bordering Qishan in the east and the Yong River in the west, with the Wen and Si rivers converging here and rushing away, straight into the Jingyun Mountain range. This distance was no more than a hundred li. Huang Fei entered the Jingyun territory just as the sun was setting over a thousand mountains. The clouds in the sky were like fire, the birds in the mountains were returning to the woods, and the mountains and fields were quiet and vast, gradually shrouded in a dim dusk.

Sure enough, he saw the ink-colored butterflies again before the mountain, like guiding messengers dancing in front, the golden light on the wings flowing in the wind like scattered stars, appearing and disappearing between the clouds and mist.

Huang Fei followed with his hands behind his back, seeing steep cliffs and deep gorges, dangerous peaks and emerald green, floating clouds and mist, ethereal like a fantasy. The mountain road was winding and secluded, turning and rising in impossible places, gradually getting higher and higher, and the trees on both sides also turned into a piece of emerald green bamboo forest, spreading boundless in the clouds and mist under the night, clear wind passing, the sound of waves like the sea.

Walking in this cloud mountain bamboo sea, one felt refreshed and all worries vanished. When he reached the peak, the ink butterflies disappeared from his sight. Huang Fei looked up, only to see the starry sky brilliant under the firmament, a white stone on the top of the mountain flat and open, a woman in black robes lying with her eyes closed, supporting her chin with her hand, her cloud clothes and wide sleeves flowing idly by the stone, like a wisp of free cloud traces in the depths of the night.

The bamboo rustled, the breeze sending a wisp of faint fragrance and the intoxicating scent of light wine. The moment Huang Fei stopped, Zi Rao's star-like eyes opened slightly, and with the elegant arc of her lips, two clear and transparent gazes fell on his face.

White clothes facing the wind, calm and carefree, Huang Fei stood leisurely before the bamboo forest, not in a hurry to speak.

Zi Rao stared, suddenly smiling charmingly, her white hand holding the pot and tilting it slightly, the starlight swirling in the jade cup, the fragrance overflowing, "Midnight has arrived, Young Master is indeed a person who keeps his promise."

Her voice was soft, charming, and elegant, with a faint lazy meaning, reminiscent of the quiet and graceful posture when flowers fill the spring courtyard at midnight and light red petals fall. Huang Fei walked forward slowly, "Jingyun Holy Domain, a beauty has an appointment, how could I dare to be late?"

Zi Rao held the jade cup, her red lips slightly parted, "Then I will thank Young Master for arriving as promised with this cup of wine."

Huang Fei smiled, drinking the wine happily. The wine was sweet and clear down the throat, like a clear stream soaking into the lungs, the distant and clear wine intent turning and turning, gradually becoming strong and mellow, with a long aftertaste. He couldn't help but praise: "Good wine!"

Zi Rao raised her hand to pour wine again, her wrists like snow, the thin stream like pouring, a faint ice-blue color floating crystal clear, bright and transparent, with the coolness of the wind and the clarity of the snow. She said leisurely: "The Jingyun Mountain peak has a spring coming down from the clouds, capturing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, obtaining the essence of the sun and moon, even the nectar of the gods cannot compare to one ten-thousandth of it. Brewing wine with this, it is named 'Liequan', what does Young Master think?"

"Wind as clothes, clouds as terraces, wine comes from the sky under the moon, beauty is like jade, wine is like a spring, it is naturally wonderful." Huang Fei smiled, his handsome face dyed with wine, a trace of compelling brilliance in the depths of his eyes looking at Zi Rao.

Zi Rao smiled beautifully, "This second cup of wine is to thank Young Master for showing mercy under the arrow in Xichuan City and letting me take Jin Wu Yu away."

Huang Fei's brows moved, playing with the jade cup in his hand, sipping it lightly, "Young Master might as well pass this word to Jin Wu Yu for me. After his wounds heal, I am willing to learn his sword technique again."

Zi Rao lowered her head to add wine gracefully, "I will definitely bring this word to Young Master, and I think Jin Wu Yu must have the same intention."

Huang Fei drank the wine, looking at her with eyes half-smiling and half-playful, wondering what this third cup of wine would be. He saw her brows lift slightly, her eyes bright, "This third cup of wine is to apologize to Young Master, today I destroyed the Liefeng cavalry battle flag, I hope Young Master will not blame me."

The beauty under the night was out of the ordinary, her light frowns and shallow smiles were all style. That charm between her brows and eyes, one turning, one twisting, one thick hook, one light description, was all a different kind of charm, so beautiful that it made people unable to look away. Huang Fei tapped the jade cup with his fingers, his pitch-black eyes reflecting the night, his smile deep. Before coming here, he had the intention of asking for accountability, but the wind was clear and the moon bright, the beauty was by his side, she personally held the wine and spoke softly, every word was open and honest, every sound was soft and gentle, making it impossible for him to attack. He smiled calmly, his eyes sharp, "The flag is the soul of the army. Exchanging a cup of wine for my Liefeng flag, is this cup of wine too strong?"

Zi Rao raised her eyes indifferently, a light flashing beneath her dense eyelashes, revealing a bit of pride, "I destroyed that battle flag without any malice, just because it shouldn't have appeared in the royal domain. Young Master took a royal flag in Xichuan for no reason, and I took a Liefeng flag, which is considered fair."

Huang Fei raised his sword brows, his sharp eyes sweeping over.

Zi Rao also maintained her previous proud posture. Between the collision of their gazes, the clear wine on the stone was ice-cold, a ripple sinking into the depths of the deep light and shadow, gradually becoming cold. The mountain wind blew, one person's hair flying, one person's long clothes fluttering, the bamboo sea waves surging around, dense and surging, making the deep mountains even more empty, not like the human world. After a moment, Zi Rao gently turned the jade cup, suddenly biting her lip and smiling, "I sincerely prepared wine to apologize, why does Young Master have to be angry?"

Huang Fei's heart moved slightly. That smile with its dazzling brilliance made him feel that this woman was not simple. He saw her brush away a few bamboo leaves on the stone, gracefully raising her cup, "How about this? I know Young Master must have many questions in his heart. Young Master drinks this cup of wine, and you can ask me three questions at will. I will definitely know everything and say everything."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 11 =====