Chapter 318 - 222: Even a *Li* Apart, We Can Share the Moon
Chapter 318: Chapter 222: Even a *Li* Apart, We Can Share the Moon
’Why does this feel so familiar? Was it those two masters who killed Liu Wen outside Iron Wall Town?’
’Did they kill Yan Fusha and his men to rescue Chen Yi and Pei Guanli?’
Liu Zhaoxue guessed, her expression flickering with uncertainty.
She didn’t much care if Yan Fusha and his people died. That had little to do with her.
What she worried about was whether Yan Fusha had exposed her before he died.
After all, Chen Yi’s status was no longer that of the obscure son-in-law of the Xiao Family. He was now a master of poetry, a master of the Calligraphy Dao, and an Instructor at Guiyun Academy.
If someone like that revealed her connection to the Five Poison Sect, she would face immediate and utter disaster.
And then there was Pei Guanli of the Mountain Race.
She was Granny Shan’s own granddaughter. If Pei Guanli found out Liu Zhaoxue was working with the Five Poison Sect, wouldn’t she send people to kill her on the spot?
At this thought, Liu Zhaoxue’s gaze fell on the furrows left in the ground by the long spears. She gritted her teeth and hissed,
"We’re leaving. Back to Jing State tonight!"
She had to go.
If she didn’t, she feared she would meet the same end as her second brother, Liu Wen.
’It just so happens that Third Uncle expressed his displeasure with me staying in Shu State tonight. When I return to Jing State, I’ll have an explanation for Father.’
With these thoughts, Liu Zhaoxue boarded her carriage and methodically arranged for people to stay behind in Shu State to continue preparations for Xinglin Hall.
Soon after, the carriage headed east.
As the carriage rumbled along, Liu Zhaoxue gazed at the bright moon outside her window and thought to herself:
’After some time, once I’m sure Chen Yi, Pei Guanli, and the others don’t know about my connection to the Five Poison Sect, I’ll have to find a way to storm back into Shu State.’
’But by then, returning will be incredibly difficult.’
...
「Outside Spring Lotus Garden, Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.」
A full moon hung in the sky, and a gentle breeze was blowing.
Wisps of floral fragrance drifted by, carrying the faint sounds of laughter.
"...’May we all live long and share the moon’s beauty, though a thousand miles apart.’"
"Second Young Master-in-law is so amazing, to be able to write such beautiful, bittersweet lines."
"I heard that when Third Master found out, he praised him nonstop, saying he must be the Wenqu Star reincarnated to have composed such a timeless masterpiece."
"The Master praised him, too."
"What did the Marquis say?"
"He said Second Young Master-in-law doesn’t know how to hide his talents, and that it was a waste to use such a poem to compete for some Poetry Champion title. He said it sullied such fine words."
"Huh? Was the Marquis angry?"
"Of course not. The Master must have just thought it was a pity..."
Listening to the discussions from the surrounding courtyards, Chen Yi thought to himself, ’News certainly travels fast.’
Fortunately, his fight with Yan Fusha tonight had taken place outside Shu State.
If they had come to blows on the Quchi river, he feared the talk in Shu State City wouldn’t just be about his "Song of the Water Melody."
Instead, they’d be singing the praises of Chen Qingzhou’s Perfect Calligraphy Dao, Perfect Martial Arts, and Great Success in the Medical Dao.
What kind of uproar would that cause?
He reckoned that aside from a small number of people who would praise and admire him, the vast majority would just call him a scheming "villain."
’If you aren’t a deeply scheming person, why hide who you are?’
After letting his thoughts wander for a bit, Chen Yi reviewed the night’s events in his mind. He relaxed slightly, certain that for the time being, no one had found out.
Before returning, he had cleared away the traces as much as possible.
Not only had he made Pei Guanli use Corpse-Dissolving Powder to get rid of the bodies of Yan Fusha and the others, but he had also deliberately used the Saber Dao to create confusion.
Even if someone investigated soon, it would be impossible for them to suspect him.
Unless someone had happened to see him fighting Yan Fusha.
And unless that person recognized him and also happened to be a gossip, he could keep his secret for now.
’I hope no one saw...’
Chen Yi sighed inwardly, but he also quietly prepared himself for the possibility of being discovered.
If the worst-case scenario really did occur, he wasn’t afraid.
Just as he had told Liu Lang, the worst that could happen was that he’d get a good scolding from Xiao Jinghong and the Old Master.
Just as he was thinking about this, he heard several sets of footsteps from a nearby corridor.
Among them were the laughing voices of Xiaodie, Cui’er, Juan’er, Pei Guanli, and others, mostly discussing the events of the poetry gathering.
Things like how the visiting scholar Pei Zhaoye and others outwardly conceded to "Song of the Water Melody" but were inwardly unconvinced.
How Li Huai’gu and Liu Zhaoxue had written short poems that received praise from several masters.
And how Chen Yunfan had been ridiculed, called the most ignorant Imperial Top Scholar in the history of the Great Wei Dynasty.
After listening for a moment, Chen Yi saw several figures approaching.
Leading them were, of course, Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Wuge.
Chen Yi smiled and waved. "Eldest Sister, my apologies. Something came up, so I was delayed and couldn’t attend the poetry gathering as planned."
Hearing his voice, Xiao Wan’er watched him from a distance with her beautiful eyes and nodded lightly.
"I heard what happened from little sister Guanli."
"As long as you’re alright, Brother-in-law."
Chen Yi nodded and saw Pei Guanli behind her, her head held high in pride. He shot a discreet glare at her.
"It’s getting late. Eldest Sister, you should get some rest."
"Wuge, Xiaodie, Guanli, come back to Spring Lotus Garden with me."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Brother-in-law, you missed a lot of excitement tonight since you weren’t there."
"Is that so? Why don’t you tell me about it later, Wuge?"
"Okay! I saw the whole thing..."
Xiao Wan’er watched them enter Spring Lotus Garden, paused for a moment, and then quietly walked into Jiaxing Garden.
She was truly happy to see Chen Yi was safe and sound.
But... but the lines from tonight’s "Song of the Water Melody" weighed on her mind.
So much so that when she returned to Jiaxing Garden, changed her clothes, washed up, and lay down in bed, those words still echoed in her head.
"...’People have sorrow and joy, they part and meet again; the moon dims and brightens, it waxes and wanes. Such is the way of things since time immemorial. May we all live long and share the moon’s beauty, though a thousand miles apart.’"
"’Share the moon’s beauty, though a thousand miles apart...’"
Xiao Wan’er stared at the floral canopy above her bed with her beautiful eyes, murmuring,
"Why must it be a thousand miles?"
"In truth, one can share the moon’s beauty from just a mile away."
As she thought this, Xiao Wan’er froze, then suddenly pulled the covers over her head and curled up into a ball.
’What... what am I thinking?’
’Second Sister and Brother-in-law are deeply in love. If they share the moon from a thousand miles apart, what does it matter?’
But despite her thoughts, her mind kept wanting to change that "thousand miles" to "one mile."
She didn’t know how much time had passed.
Face flushed, Xiao Wan’er threw off the covers, quietly rose, and walked to her desk. She ground the ink, picked up her brush, and wrote on a sheet of Yunsong Paper:
"Song of the Water Melody"... ’Share the moon’s beauty from a mile away.’
Jiaxing Garden was exactly one mile from Spring Lotus Garden.
After writing, Xiao Wan’er looked at the signature—the two names, "Chen Yi, Chen Qingzhou"—and sighed softly.
"You scoundrel..."
「Meanwhile.」
Back in Spring Lotus Garden, Chen Yi was oblivious to all of this.
He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, not practicing the Four Symbols Skill, but using Silver Needles on his acupoints to treat his injuries.
Earlier, in his rush to clean up the scene and not worry Xiao Wan’er, he had only purged the Evil Poisonous energy from his body.
His external, superficial wounds had not yet healed.
While healing himself, Chen Yi also unfolded the chessboard in his mind, laying out a new game with his Great Success Chess Dao.
At this moment, he still didn’t know that Liu Zhaoxue had sensed something was wrong and had already fled Shu State overnight.
But even if he had known, he wouldn’t have cared.
Since they were already in a situation where one side had to be annihilated, the best outcome would be to turn them all into dead men.
That was better than having them constantly jumping around in his sight, being an eyesore.
’The Five Poison Sect, Liu Zhaoxue... They made me suffer such a great loss. I can’t just let this go!’
...
「At the same time.」
「Inside Tingyu Pavilion.」
Chen Yunfan had just returned to his residence when he ordered Ning Yu and Niu Shan to stand guard outside the central courtyard.
He didn’t go to rest, nor did he go to the study to read for leisure. Instead, to Chun Ying’s astonishment, he took out a Long Sword and began practicing his Swordsmanship.
"Yo-Young Master, Miss Cui is still in the back courtyard. Y-You..."
Chen Yunfan replied while brandishing his Long Sword, "I can’t worry about that right now."
"Besides, she already knows I practice Martial Arts. If she hears me, she hears me."
Chun Ying was stunned. "Huh? H-How does she know?"
"I told her, of course."
Chen Yunfan stopped impatiently and looked at her. "Do you people have a Cultivation Technique that can rapidly advance my Sword Dao?"
"We do, but..."
"Hurry up and write a letter to ask them for it. This young master needs to break through as soon as possible."
"But you..."
"Don’t ask so many questions. Just do as I say."
"Also, are you people in constant contact with my father? I want to write him a letter..."
Chen Yunfan had no intention of telling her the real reason he was in such a hurry to improve his Sword Dao.
He was still planning to settle the score with Chen Yi after he cultivated his Sword Dao to the Perfection Realm.
’Hmph, with my Fourth Grade Realm Cultivation and a Perfect Sword Dao, I refuse to believe I won’t be able to beat that bastard, Brother Yi.’
’Just you wait!’