Content warning: animal death, also a bit of homophobia (nothing egregious, just thought I’d mention it)
Jiang Ling’s right hand gradually recovered its strength. While she could not wield her sword, she could now use her hand for daily activities. She was not idle, either; she repaired the fence smashed by the Cult of Light follower that day.
Now that she was almost better, they thought they ought to leave now. They packed up their things and went to bid the old couple farewell.
Jiang Ling knelt in front of Xue Fang and offered him three ketows, “Senior-shishu…Sir, thank you for sheltering us. And my hand…I, Jiang Ling, do not know how I can ever repay you.”
“Hmph, you little ingrates, scampering off and abandoning us old folks.” Xue Fang straightened his neck, not looking at either of them.
The old woman wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and supported Jiang Ling up, “Don’t listen to him. The old man just can’t bear to part with you both. If you could, come back and visit us old folks when you are free.”
“Mhm.” The two of them answered.
Xue Fang took out a bag of silver and placed it on the table, “Here’s the money from the things you’ve sold. Don’t forget to bring it.”
He Xi pushed the bag of silver away, “Senior Xue, we’ve already taken so much, we…”
“It’s yours if I say it’s yours.” Xue Fang insisted, “I’m perfectly happy to give my own granddaughters some money.”
He Xi was moved.
As she waited for Jiang Ling to say her final words to Xue Fang, He Xi went to ready Little Donkey.
“After you return, don’t forget to practice your carving. Next time we meet, I’ll be sure to check your progress.” Xue Fang patted Jiang Ling on the shoulder.
“Mhm.” Jiang Ling’s eyes grew misty, for she felt reluctant to part, “Take care of yourselves. We will be back to visit you both.”
“It’s fine as long as you remember us.” Xue Fang waved a hand, motioning for Jiang Ling to set off.
Jiang Ling pressed her lips together, then made up her mind and ran to He Xi’s side, waving back at the old couple as she called: “Sir, Madam, goodbye!”
The Xue couple stood at the entrance of their home, sending them off with a smile and tears in their eyes.
He Xi was enveloped in He Xi’s embrace as she rode the horse. She scooted forward, but He Xi stuck even closer to her, so she admitted defeat and let He Xi hold her. “Where are we going?”
He Xi propped her chin up in Jiang Ling’s shoulder, “I want to go to the Lake of Rebirth[1]往生湖, Wangsheng Lake for something.”
Jiang Ling turned her head, “What is that?”
“The Cult of Light’s Holy Land.”
Little Donkey’s hooves kicked up sand as they headed toward the Lake of Rebirth.
The Lake of Rebirth was in an oasis to the northwest of the Cult of Light. It served as their Holy Land, so naturally no commoners would be living there, and only on special occasions would fresh converts be baptized in its waters. Under normal circumstances, there would only be a few followers left to guard it.
Silver needles flashed in the night, soundlessly felling the followers set to guard the lake. He Xi and Jiang Ling rushed past and arrived at the Lake of Rebirth.
The medium size lake reflected the silver light of the moon, but in its center lay an island. White-topped reeds lined the outside of the lake and the island. Enormous poplar trees grew on the island, their thick foliage enough to blot out the sky.
The two of them stepped across the lake and entered the forest.
“Wait.” He Xi landed on the ground. Jiang Ling thought that the item He Xi had come for was located on the island, but who knew that He Xi would dive into the water like a fish, the surface rippling slightly before returning to its tranquil state.
Seeing that the water had calmed but He Xi had yet to return, Jiang Ling descended and knelt beside the water, anxiously trying to find a glimpse of He Xi.
“Whoosh—” He Xi leapt out of the water with a rush of water droplets. Jiang Ling sat on the ground, looking up at He Xi. He Xi’s clothes were soaked through, her hems dripping water as the fabric stuck close to her skin, revealing her exquisite curves under the moonlight. Jiang Ling stared at her in a daze as she sat on the ground motionless.
He Xi had a wooden case in her hands. Seeing the dumbfounded Jiang Ling sitting on the ground, she whispered, “Come on.”
In the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the forest. When the water droplets splashed onto her face, she returned to her senses. Jiang Ling’s throat went dry. She swallowed, then got up and followed her into the forest.
“Hand me the clothing.” He Xi reached out and grabbed the bundle off Jiang Ling’s back. It took too long to dry the clothing with internal force, and in the desert, wearing wet clothing could be life threatening, so she had prepared an additional set.
“What…what are you doing?” Seeing He Xi starting to take off her clothing, a blush stained Jiang Ling’s cheeks. She looked around, but luckily the foliage provided enough coverage to shield them from view.
A wet layer of clothing was tossed into Jiang Ling’s hands. Jiang Ling rushed to shake open the garment and hold it in front of He Xi, hiding her red face behind the clothes.
He Xi chuckled at Jiang Ling’s bashful expression, “Anyone who didn’t know would think that you were the one who’s changing.” She pinched the sleeves of her middle clothes and put on a dry outer robe.
He Xi bundled up the wet clothing in Jiang Ling’s hands and placed it into the bag, then returned it to Jiang Ling.
“So fast?”
“Anything else you’d like to see?” He Xi slanted a look at Jiang Ling before grabbing a strip of linen and wrapping it around the wooden case, strapping it to her back.
“You!” Jiang Ling suddenly became competitive.
“I’ll give you a look when we get back.” He Xi reached out to brush aside the foliage, making sure that no one was around, “This place won’t work.”
“…” Jiang Ling vowed to never speak to He Xi ever again.
The leaves swayed under the moonlight, quietly bidding farewell to its passing travelers.
Jiang Ling went along with He Xi as she skirted around the roadside hamlets and villages, only resting in a few scattered, deserted oases. After braving the elements on their way, they arrived at the Yumen Pass within a few days.
Na Cuo and Wu Ji were waiting by the Yumen Pass, hoping for an opportunity.
“The Guardian King is remarkably prophetic. They did decide to return to the central plains.” Na Cuo and his group were hidden behind two barren hills.
“They no longer have a safe haven in Xiyu. The Saintess is injured, as well. Returning to the central plains is a foregone conclusion.” He Xi had escaped under Wu Ji’s nose time and time again. Wu Ji could not let such a thing go; He Xi must be captured here and now, “Today, we will obtain a gift for my lord’s succession as leader.”
“Who is the person with the Saintess?” The central plains person was quite skilled, for she had taken someone away while dodging his arrows. All of He Xi’s close subordinantes had been killed, and no one else would answer to her. If she had not been there previously, He Xi would have already been captured.
Na Cuo was likewise unsure. He Xi had hidden a little toy boy then sent him back to the central plains. How could He Xi have another central plains woman with her so soon, “Who knew that the Saintess had so many friends from the central plains ah. Lord Guardian King, if we leave such a person in the sect, sooner or later, the central plains will rule over the Cult of Light.”
“Naturally, the sect will not suffer the yoke of the central plains.” Wu Ji’s gaze concealed a wrath as he notched an arrow, taking aim at them.
“He Xi, it’s too quiet.” They were about to enter the Pass, but the fortifications around them were unnaturally quiet. There was a problem for sure.
“Let’s stay vigilant.”
Just as she spoke, several arrows pierced the air like an eagle hurtling toward its prey.
Jiang Ling grabbed He Xi by the waist and kicked off from the stirrups, separating them from Little Donkey and dodging the arrows as they landed by the roadside.
Little Donkey cried out a long whinny before collapsing to the ground. Blood gushed out of its abdomen as it struggled to rise.
“Little Donkey!” Seeing Little Donkey’s struggles grow weaker and weaker, Jiang Ling’s heart tightened, “It’s him again!’ It was the hidden archer!
“Show yourselves if you’re so capable!” Jiang Ling howled into the barren hills around them.
“Just who are you? So the one the Saintess was concealing was a woman.” Na Cuo flew down and blocked their path. When he saw Jiang Ling’s appearance, he was even more irate. He had been injured by her when he had underestimated her. He scoffed, “I never thought that the Great Saintess of the Cult of Light would be into this sort of thing.”
Seeing Na Cuo ridicule He Xi, rage churned within Jiang Ling’s chest, “What did you say?!”
“So what if I am.” He Xi said calmly. Jiang Ling had not expected He Xi to be so transparent about their awkward relationship. She turned her head and glanced at He Xi. He Xi looked entirely at ease, as if everything were only a matter of course.
“The Saintess may rest assured. You will not be alone when I send you on your way.” The pebbles crunched under his feet; he was ready to strike.
“Watch out for the archer.” Jiang Ling reminded. As she pivoted her body, she saw dozens of Cult of Light followers cutting off their retreat and converging to surround them on both sides. They had lost their horse, so the only escape now was breaking through the encirclement and escaping through the Pass. However, with the archer hidden in the shadows, there was too much uncertainty in their current predicament.
“Jiang Ling, you escape first.” He Xi knew that the situation was fraught with ill tidings. Jiang Ling was skilled and removed from the conflict with the Cult of Light.
“No, we’re going back together.” Jiang Ling was unwilling to return on her own, “We agreed on it!”
Na Cuo’s lip twitched, “You can comfort each other in hell!” Dust whirling behind him, he launched toward them, his blade drawn.
He Xi reached around and grabbed the wooden case on her back. The case splintered apart under her palms. The Blades of Light flashed with a fiery light before everyone’s eyes.
The Cult of Light followers were all taken aback. Wu Ji lowered his bow, “How does she have the leader’s blades.”
“With the theft of the leader’s blades, He Xi adds an additional crime to her slate!” Na Cu shouted, “Catch the traitor!”
Hearing Na Cuo’s cry, Wu Ji again drew his bow and took aim. The other followers also advanced toward them.
Jiang Ling unsheathed ‘Qian Shui’ with her left hand and stood back-to-back with He Xi. It was still difficult for her to wield her sword in her right hand, and after carving stones for half a month, Jiang Ling’s left hand was now just as nimble as her right, just a bit weaker. With difficulty, she could go toe-to-toe with the enemy.
“Whoosh whoosh—” Along with the breaths of the followers, two arrows whizzed through the air. Jiang Ling flicked her hand with a deft movement, downing those two arrows. The others followed suit, meeting them in battle.
He Xi wielded both blades, clashing with Na Cuo. He Xi blocked Na Cuo’s strike with her left blade and slashed toward his waist with her right. Just as Na Cuo was about to be cut in half, he pulled a dagger at his waist and met He Xi’s blade. Sparks flew as the blades skitter across each other. Their internal forces collided, the force shaking them to their bones. They mutually retreated a few steps.
Jiang Ling was besieged by the followers. Even though she was swft in movement, she was surrounded on all sides and, as an arrow flew toward them, could do nothing but yell, “He Xi, look out!”
Halfway through! Also, the author has started a new novel over on gongzicp, so let’s remember to support them if we can!
Footnotes
| ↑1 | 往生湖, Wangsheng Lake |
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