Jiang Ling blindly followed He Xi back and unconsciously entered her bedroom.
“Do you want to sleep together?” He Xi sat on the edge of the bed. Her beautiful irises gazed at Jiang Ling as she raised an eyebrow.
Once Jiang Ling figured out where she had wandered into, her face went red, “Ah, I-I’ll leave.”
Jiang Ling hurriedly turned around to leave, but before she could, He Xi’s voice sounded, “When did your internal force return.”
Three years ago, she had clearly lacked the power to face people head on. When He Xi had exchanged blows with Jiang Ling just now, she had probed her qi[1]When they are referring to Jiang Ling’s qi/breath, the terms 气 and 息 are used somewhat interchangeably. Inner force comes from qi, so that’s why both of them are kind of weird with JL rn. Jiang Ling’s qi was scorching hot, enough to burn anyone it came into contact with, and nothing like something Jiang Ling could have learned.
Jiang Ling clenched her fists and turned around, showing her back to He Xi, “Three years ago.”
The events of three years prior was like a sharp needle stabbing into both of their fingers; not enough to be life threatening, yet enough to be acutely distressing.
“…”
The room went silent once more. For a moment, both of them said nothing. Jiang Ling went to exit the room.
“I’m very sorry about what happened with your shixiong.” He Xi had never meant to kill. When A Na had told her that two had been injured and one killed that day at the Qingshan Sect, she had then understood why Jiang Ling had come to her then. The one who died was most certainly her shixiong. Even though she had donned a disguise and concealed her true eye color, Jiang Ling had still recognized her.
“I am not qualified to accept your apology. Wait until I avenge my shixiong. Then you may apologize to him directly. Also, thank you for saving me.” Once she finished speaking, she left without a backward glance.
The corners of He Xi’s lips curled upward. Her mood was quite good.
This person said that she wanted to kill her and thanked her simultaneously. She did not create any contradictions and made things very clear. She even said that, after killing her, she would accompany her into hell. How interesting.
Jiang Ling felt that she had spoken naturally, but after exiting the room, she felt at a loss. She really had no idea where she was going in He Xi’s residence. The land of the Cult of Light was like one large stone palace network. He Xi lived on the eastern side, in a residence called Liuli Palace[2]琉璃殿: lit: “Colored-Glaze Palace.” If you’ve seen Word of Honor, the 琉璃甲 liuli jia glass thing is the same liuli. The palace was not large, as He Xi did not like having too many attendants. Other than the servant, Na Xin, and two door guards, the palace had no other attendants, so the entire place seemed open and spacious. Liuli Palace was decorated with the utmost simplicity, with very little ornamentation beyond the basic necessities. There were just a few dusky pink wall hangings draped in each room, making the empty living spaces feel warmer and suggesting that the Liuli Palace was indeed occupied by a young woman.
Jiang Ling walked in a few circles but could not find where she had been living before, so she could only sit on the flight of stairs before the Liuli Palace’s main hall and daydream.
Na Xin had tidied up the side hall and saw Jiang Ling staring blankly into the distance as she walked out. She approached her cautiously.
“Jiang Ling.” Na Xin only knew how to say her name. She called out to her timidly.
When Jiang Ling heard Na Xin call out to her, she turned her head. She was quite worried that Na Xin would appear frightened upon seeing her, but Na Xin’s expression seemed normal. She walked a bit closer to her and gestured to the side hall.
Jiang Ling understood Na Xin’s intentions, so she followed her into the side hall beside He Xi’s living quarters.
“Why did He Xi have me live next to her? What, are her enemies not close enough?” Jiang Ling muttered internally. She asked about this uncertain point the next morning, but He Xi said that she was afraid she would get herself into trouble, so she kept her close to relieve her worries. She also said that there was a caravan down the mountain that would set off for Zhangye before dawn the next morning and would have Jiang Ling join them.
He Xi saw Jiang Ling’s awkward expression, “What, you don’t want to return?”
“I do.”
“But you haven’t had your revenge yet.” He Xi cut straight to the point.
“…” It had truly been difficult to find He Xi.
They sank into silence once again. When Na Xin brought breakfast, the silence was broken.
He Xi had Jiang Ling eat some millet porridge with a side of seasoned meat for breakfast. Rice was in short supply in Xiyu, and the majority of the coarse grains were imported from within the Pass. For the most part, Xiyu raised cattle and sheep and ate meals consisting mostly of meat.
Jiang Ling lifted her right hand, then put it back down and used her left hand to ladle the porridge.
“What’s wrong with your right hand?” She had seen her rubbing her right hand ever since last night.
“It’s fine.” Jiang Ling likewise did not know what was wrong. In the dungeon, there had been a dull pain in her right wrist, and when she had engaged in a fight with He Xi, it had started to hurt even more, so much so that she could not use her internal force. The pain had weakened since, but she still could not hold objects.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Ling cried out in alarm. He Xi cradled Jiang Ling’s hand in her palms and rolled up her sleeve. The cornelian bracelet that she had gifted her was on her slender, pale wrist, but the red dot on her wrist stung her eyes.
“Soul-Locking Needle?” He Xi thought back to the ‘punishment’ mentioned by Zhu Li. So he had used the Soul-Locking Needle.
“What?” Jiang Ling did not understand.
He Xi did not answer her. She let go of Jiang Ling’s hand, then left the hall.
…
“The Saintess arrived quite early.” Zhu Li saw He Xi enter wearing a solemn expression and knew that she had come because of that central plains person.
“Soul-Locking Needle.”
The Soul-Locking Needle was a technique specifically designed to inflict torment on traitorous followers or prisoners. The effect would depend on where the needle was inserted; if inserted into an acupoint, then the needle would cause tortuous pain, and if inserted into the meridians, then the needle would eliminate the possibility of the organs functioning normally. The people in the world who knew this technique were few in number. If one was afflicted with the Soul-Locking Needle, then the fear was that one would become disabled. Luo Zhu[3]See note at the end of the chapter had already forbidden this technique. He Xi only knew that the leader could cure it, but asking the leader to treat Jiang Ling was truly a fantastical thought.
“That filthy swine injured my people. It’s just their right hand, so consider it a warning. Does the Saintess not find this punishment appropriate?” Zhu Li spoke as if everything were a matter of course, as if He Xi should be the one thanking him for his ‘punishment.’
“You!” So it was the Soul-Locking Needle. Ruining her sword arm like this effectively removed the possibility of her wielding weapons.
“I’ll give the Saintess a word of advice. Don’t hold any illusions about the people of the central plains, especially men. Or you will end up just as Na Cuo’s younger sister did, losing your heart and your life.” Zhu Li added ‘kindly.’
He Xi clenched her fists. It was unwise of her to attack him at this juncture, “I thank the Lord Left Envoy for the reminder.”
Seeing He Xi admit defeat, Zhu Li was filled with even more joy. In his eyes, Luo Zhu and the followers of his ilk who liked the culture of the central plains, accepted followers from the central plains, and even converted those people casually were not in line with their religion. Now, he feared that they would turn into the central plains’s Cult of Light.
When He Xi had joined the Cult of Light, the leader, Azar, had long been in seclusion, but she had learned from Luo Zhu that after the leader suffered a qi deviation, his mood became unstable. His feelings toward the people of the central plains, which used to be friendly, turned into the desire for subjugation, and his wild ambition of conquering the central plains grew day by day. After being injured by Lu Yi, he could only retreat into seclusion. He entrusted the Cult of Light to Luo Zhu, who loved the culture of the central plains, but this move caused Zhu Li’s faction to grow dissatisfied. They had been looking for an opportunity to bring down Luo Zhu for a long time. At this critical moment, she had brought back Jiang Ling. She had thought originally to send Jiang Ling away after she had healed, but Na Cuo had taken advantage of the time when she was away to look for an opening. He Xi felt an indescribable strangeness about it, as if her every move was being monitored.
Jiang Ling accidentally wounding Na Cuo had heightened the tensions between the two sides. Luo Zhu was her shifu, someone she looked up to like a father. She did not want to add to his worries, but Jiang Ling’s right hand had been ruined. This would undoubtedly be a great blow to her.
When He Xi returned to the Liuli Palace, Jiang Ling was still sitting beside the table, using her right hand to grip her tea cup, but as soon as she raised the cup a bit off the table, it slipped out of her hand. She caught the cup with her left hand and stared at He Xi wordlessly. She placed the cup lightly back on the table and smiled wryly, “It seems I can’t use it.”
He Xi walked up to her slowly and held her right hand gently. The joints of Jiang Ling’s hand looked sharp, but when held in her hand, they were actually fine and soft.
“Return tomorrow.” He Xi sighed, “I’ve let you down.”
If she stayed for another day, the internal conflict within the group would only be exacerbated.
Jiang Ling could not feel the touch of He Xi’s palm too clearly. When she heard He Xi say this, she was able to put a few things together in her mind.
“Mhm.” This was already a better outcome than perishing in the desert.
With her hand already ruined, there was no reason for her to linger. Her chance at revenge had slipped even further out of her grasp.
…
The sun was setting to the west of the mountain.
“Lady Saintess, Jiang Ling has been sitting at the entrance for the whole day, holding her sword.” Na Xin said anxiously.
“Let her sit. Once she has thought everything over, she will rest on her own.”
“Where did you put the scar dispersing ointment from Grandmother A Xi?” Jiang Ling would be leaving tomorrow, so she had to give it to her.
Na Xin had been distracted by the matter with Na Cuo and had already forgotten about it. He Xi’s question prodded her memory.
“I will go grab it.”
By the time He Xi received the scar dispersing ointment, Jiang Ling was no longer sitting at the entrance.
He Xi knocked on Jiang Ling’s door. There was no response. Thinking she was not inside, she pushed open the door.
Jiang Ling was sitting on the bed, circulating her breath quietly. Her form, concealed behind the dusky pink curtain, was hazy.
Hearing the knock, Jiang Ling opened her eyes.
“Scar dispersing ointment.” He Xi flashed the medicine jar, then pushed aside the curtain and entered. She placed the jar on the table.
Jiang Ling stood up and walked to the table, taking the ointment with her left hand. It was in an exquisite, wooden container. Jiang Ling removed the lid. The scent of osmanthus flowers floated outward, the milky white ointment shimmering under the candle light. Jiang Ling closed the jar, “Thank you.”
“Do you need help?” He Xi stood with her hand placed on the table, gazing fixedly at Jiang Ling.
“What?” Jiang Ling gazed back at He Xi, not understanding her meaning. Help her with what?
“The caravan you’re leaving with tomorrow is full of men. You’re also dressing as a man. Are you planning on having a man apply the ointment for you?”
“No.” Jiang Ling immediately shook her head.
He Xi grabbed the jar out of Jiang Ling’s hand, her fingers scraping along her palm. She retracted her hand and gently rubbed the center of her palm.
He Xi raised her eyebrows and signaled for Jiang Ling to sit on the bed. Jiang Ling followed along, somewhat subconsciously.
As He Xi reached out a hand to undo her waist belt, Jiang Ling felt the atmosphere become strange. She hurriedly pressed down on He Xi’s hand at her waist.
“Shy?” He Xi knew that the people of the central plains were more reserved than the people of Xiyu, “I’ve already seen it many times when you were injured.”
He Xi’s explanation made Jiang Ling even more bashful. She mumbled, “It’s strange.”
She had been muddled when she was injured, and afterward, she had been laying on the bed most of the time. Further, Na Xin could not communicate with her, so she had not been nearly as shy. Now, she was as red as a cooked shrimp.
“We’re both women. What’s strange about it.”
Footnotes
| ↑1 | When they are referring to Jiang Ling’s qi/breath, the terms 气 and 息 are used somewhat interchangeably. Inner force comes from qi, so that’s why both of them are kind of weird with JL rn |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | 琉璃殿: lit: “Colored-Glaze Palace.” If you’ve seen Word of Honor, the 琉璃甲 liuli jia glass thing is the same liuli |
| ↑3 | See note at the end of the chapter |