Chapter 51
Chapter 51 – Ta Ge [1]
Yun Xie looked at the silver needle still in his hand . “I’m sure that this had never touched him . ”
“Show me . ” Jiang Xunyi reached out and tried to pick it up, but he was stopped by Yun Xie .
“Don’t move . It’s smeared with Upas tree poison . What if it accidentally hurt you?”
He tore off the corner of his clothes and wrapped the needle in his arms, afraid that Jiang Xunyi would snatch it away . A person in the crowd shouted, “Sect Master Yun, how did a human heart disappear into thin air? Maybe this place is dangerous!”
Yun Xie glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes and saw that he was a Chan Sect disciple . He said unkindly, “How would I know? What does this have to do with me? Even if there is danger, I will only be protecting myself . It has nothing to do with me whether or not you live or die . Since you are here to watch our drama for fun, even if you mysteriously die, you can’t blame anyone but yourself . ”
Chen Li’s strange method of death came first, as Jiang Xunyi’s matter had already been taken care of . Yun Xie’s words really served as a deterrent . The crowd immediately began to retreat, although some came up to greet Yun Xie . He ignored them, giving the others no face at all . It was only when he saw Feng Xue and Wanderer Zihui also get up and walk away that he hesitated for a moment . In the end, he did not stop them .
Although the two of them were deeply involved in framing Jiang Xunyi, it was obvious that neither of them were the mastermind behind the scene . Based on the fact that they were still alive, they probably didn’t even know as much as Chen Li . It was useless to ask . Instead, it‘s worth more to use them as bait for the long line he was casting out to catch big fish .
Feng Qiu was following Feng Xue, but she couldn’t help but look back at Yun Xie . Their eyes met and Yun Xie calmly said, “Sister Qiu . ”
Seeing that Yun Xie was unexpectedly still willing to acknowledge her, Feng Qiu felt both surprised and happy, and she responded quickly .
Yun Xie stared directly at her and spoke one word at a time . “I have never liked you, and I will never like you in the future . Before dreaming, you should first think of exactly what quality of yours would make me like you, right?”
Feng Qiu’s face suddenly paled, her lips trembled, and she was speechless for a while . Yun Xie had no intention to talk to her again . He turned to see Jiang Xunyi talking to Wei Xiuqi and Nie Yan . He didn’t walk to him but instead quickly moved to Huang Yan, who was about to secretly leave .
Huang Yan looked at him as if he had seen a ghost and quickly said, “Martial Aunt Zihui! Martial Aunt Zihui save me!”
Yun Xie was too lazy to even say anything . He casually stretched out his hand and snatched Huang Yan’s saber away from him . With one stroke, he cut off the other’s head .
The blood scattered everywhere, and the nearby West Hidden Spirit disciples were stunned . Not only did they never see a murderer, they had never seen such an arrogant murderer – this was done right in front of their sect master .
Wanderer Zihui originally didn’t want to bother, but Yun Xie‘s actions embarrassed her right to her face . She furiously said, “Yun Xie, don’t meddle with our Hidden Spirit Sect matters!”
Yun Xie threw the sword on Huang Yan and replied coldly . “The name “Zihui” was really well-chosen – you think you are so smart but you are extremely stupid . Let me tell you, if you‘re still going to act recklessly, the next one to die will be you . ”
After he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and walked away, ignoring Wanderer Zihui’s ugly expression .
At this time, Jiang Xunyi had already sent away his two martial nephews . He greeted Yun Xie and looked at the blood drop on his sleeve . “Oh, you killed Huang Yan . I almost forgot about him . ”
Yun Xie smiled . “You are always soft-hearted . Every time you kill someone, you hesitate . I decided to help you deal with it . Well, actually, by my logic, Feng Xue and Zihui cannot be let go either, but our hands are full, so whatever . ”
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Jiang Xunyi thought that Yun Xie was right . This matter was indeed because caused by his own mistake . If he had killed Huang Yan earlier, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble .
Suddenly, Jiang Xunyi had a fleeting feeling . He suddenly felt as if he was lying somewhere without light, his vision completely dark besides a bright red light directly to the upper right of his head . When Yun Xie said this sentence, the light bar flashed for a moment and appeared to be a little shorter .
Cultivators have excellent eyesight . Even an single inch of difference was visible . Jiang Xunyi was shocked for a moment before he registered what happened . This was probably a sign that the system was weakened . The original plot involved romantic feelings between Yun Xie and Feng Qiu, and although the length of their encounters were not long, they still were together for a time . However, with his current attitude, it was obviously impossible for him to be with Feng Qiu, so this plotline was destroyed . Since Jiang Xunyi did not interfere between the two, he would obviously not be punished by the system .
After proving the conjecture he said to He Deng, Jiang Xunyi felt a little excited . Fortunately, was used to being expressionless and didn’t show any emotion this time either .
He heard Yun Xie say besides him, “A’Xun, where are you going to go next? I want to go back to the village and take a look . I don’t know why, but I really feel that something is wrong . ”
Jiang Xunyi still had the task of “finding the truth”, so of course they would travel together . “Yeah, I’m going too . You’re not bringing your right-hand man Yan Qixin?”
“I asked him to follow the Feng family secretly – I have always been suspicious of the person Feng Qiu met . I had to find a task to give to Yan Qixin, or else he would have nothing to do and end up lazing around . ”
He looked at Jiang Xunyi’s profile and said in a half-joking tone, “You are so lustful that you can’t think straight . In the beginning, you were so good to Feng Qiu but you were still ruined by her . I tell you, lust makes you vulnerable . In the future, you will be the safest only with me . ”
Jiang Xunyi automatically ignored Yun Xie’s nonsense . “But in fact, she is right . When you think of it, it would really benefit you if I died . ” He used his elbow to nudge Yun Xie then teased, “I didn’t expect that your face, although it did not wreck the entire nation and its citizens, ended up indirectly harming me . Hello, compensation, compensation?”
Yun Xie didn’t get mad . “What compensation? I followed you ungrateful brat through wind and rain . I’ve paid with my entire person, and what do I have that is not also yours?”
Jiang Xunyi turned around and walked towards the village . “Alright brother, thank you . ”
His voice was soft, as if he didn’t want Yun Xie to hear such words . Yun Xie caught up with him and walked besides him, but he was somewhat absent-minded . After a while, he suddenly said, “A’Xun, when did you begin to suspect that Ning Fen was not your mother?”
Jiang Xunyi smiled . It was not unexpected for Yun Xie to ask . “I never thought she was . As a parent, when seeing your own flesh and blood, even if it’s too late to spoil them with affection and even if the tongue blames and complains, unconditional love can be seen in the eyes . But she stared at me with disgust and fear . This is definitely not the look of a mother . ”
Yun Xie let out a soft voice and said, “There are so many different types of people under the sky, there will always be exceptions…”
He originally wanted to comfort Jiang Xunyi, but he heard the other person say warmly, “Yun Xie, I know the logic of what you said . But I also believe that my mother must be the best woman in the world . ”
When he said this, what appeared before his eyes was the woman who secretly tucked in the quilt for him when he was a child, the woman who left work to be there for him on his birthday and make him longevity noodles, the woman who forced herself to smile even with red eyes in his final days when he couldn’t move on the hospital bed… but for him, his mother was in another world .
Yun Xie was involuntarily stunned, and he turned his head to look at Jiang Xunyi . In this season, leaves blanketed the sky above their heads . The wind blew past with a rustling noise . The scattered sunlight cast glimmering rays of light on Jiang Xunyi . After he died, Yun Xie couldn’t dissipate the guilt in his heart . He hadn’t looked at the other so seriously since Jiang Xunyi came back to life . He felt that Jiang Xunyi looked a few years younger, and his face was paler than before . His profile was still elegant and his silhouette was exceedingly beautiful .
When he looked at this person, he felt uncontrollable distress and pity . He couldn’t say anything in response to Jiang Xunyi’s words just now .
Because in this world, they were orphans without fathers and mothers .
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Because they were orphans, they can only become strong themselves . Because they were orphans, no matter how good they were, no one will show a smile of gratification and pride .
As they walked on shoulder to shoulder, neither Jiang Xunyi nor Yun Xie could have thought that they could master the sword . As the two talked, it didn’t feel like long before they were back at the rundown village .
When they first arrived here, although they could sense a strong death-qi, it was still a place full of the clamor of people, a lively place full of neatly arranged houses . At this moment, the houses had collapsed, the trees had fallen, and corpses were everywhere .
Where Yun Xie had destroyed earlier, the empty space was piled with dry branches and messy leaves . Jiang Xunyi walked forward a few steps before he suddenly paused, bent down, and picked up something . Yun Xie turned to the side to look and saw that it was a red head ribbon .
“It belongs to that little girl,” Jiang Xunyi said .
The little girl he mentioned was the Xu family’s little daughter . Jiang Xunyi even remembered that when she hugged his waist, the eyes directed at him were clear . He twisted the head ribbon in his hand and quietly said, “My Buddha is merciful . ”
Although Jiang Xunyi had already glimpsed through Rising Clouds, Billowing Skies at He Deng’s temple, the book was after all the original, and the current plot had been changed a lot by the added variable of his transmigration . The only reliable parts were the characters and the very significant plot points, so he knew nothing of what transpired in this town, as the book never mentioned it .
Yun Xie patted his shoulder . “I have an idea . I suspect that they were not living people at all . But, even they didn’t realize this until we were in the hall and I said the sentence, ‘If everyone was like this, everyone would be dead . ’ Once the villagers were awakened from this state, they disappeared in an instant . ”
Jiang Xunyi did not express his position and only asked, “Your basis?”
Yun Xie bent down and cut a piece of the shattered corpse on the ground with his dagger before beckoning Jiang Xunyi to come examine it . “The meat on this man’s body looks the same as the living, but after cutting it, we find that there is not much water nor blood inside . It looks like it has been specially dried . This would definitely not be the case for a person who has only died a few days ago . ”
Jiang Xunyi had seen him use this dagger several times . At this time, he finally made time to ask, “Hey, where’s your Bright River sword?”
Yun Xie froze for a while, then smiled lightly, casually responding, “I didn’t bring it out . It’s on the mountain . ”
Jiang Xunyi’s question appeared to be flippantly asked . He nodded indifferently and returned to the topic . “I agree with you . In fact, when Wang Xi began to talk about the case of his son Wang Yi’s body in the turtle, I began to have doubts – since he can survive for such a long time using that method, his body obviously has not lost vitality . It is strange to say why it will rot . ”
At the thought of Wang Yi’s appearance, he suddenly felt that his right hand was a little numb and couldn’t help rubbing it hard . He continued, “Now, according to your explanation, Wang Yi’s body has actually died long ago . Soaking in water is basically properly treating the corpse, and after soaking for a long time, the body would rot . This explanation can be reasonable . ”
Yun Xie nodded . “Then there are only two questions left, or you can say there is one . ”
Jiang Xunyi understood . “Who exactly stitched them like this, and why?”
“Why do I feel that this is becoming more and more complicated?” Yun Xie sighed . “Let’s go . There are so many people; we’re bound to find someone alive who can answer our question . ”
After he finished speaking, he found that Jiang Xunyi was looking at him very strangely . “What are you looking at?” he asked, confused .
Jiang Xunyi slowly said, “I remember the first time I heard you say, ‘There are many people so we should go out and catch up with the latest news’ was when I was just 16 years old . You said you wanted me to gain knowledge and took me to a brothel . “
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“…” Yun Xie spoke with disgust . “What brothel? So crude! When can a rough man like you be more refined? Do you know what it means to be romantic? Do you know what is small talk? Your thoughts are so dirty . ”
Jiang Xunyi said coolly, “I really don’t know . You said you wanted me to gain knowledge and yet after we went, you stole every girl from me . Whoever I took a liking to, you stole . You completely ignored them after you stole them from me . In the end, you were exposed by the procuress and even implicated me . Yun Xie, you know, I had never been so embarrassed in my life at that time…”
“…” Yun Xie was so shocked that he had a hard time speaking . He really couldn’t communicate with the wood pimple[2] in front of him . He had no choice but to surrender . “Okay, okay, okay, it’s all my fault – for real, why are the two of us fighting over these things . I didn’t say we were going to a brothel . Relax, we won’t go this time . ” He suddenly smirked and drew nearer to Jiang Xunyi . “A’Xun, don’t tell me you’re saying these things to excite me because you’re jealous and afraid that I will go find girls?”
Yun Xie’s mouth was already used to spilling out nonsense without inhibition, but after he finished this joke, his heart thumped, and he voluntarily stopped talking .
He used to joke with Jiang Xunyi like this all the time, but ever since his actions at the Heart Demon Sea, his guilt was so overwhelming that even his mouth became more honest . He originally wanted to find a chance to confess to Jiang Xunyi, but he didn’t expect so many twists and turns to happen . It was only now that the knot between the two was untied . When he was excited, he had no filter . It was only after the words left his mouth that he realized what he said and, fearing that Jiang Xunyi was angry, looked at him immediately .
Jiang Xunyi didn’t think what was wrong, and casually cursed back . “Nonsense . ”
He was about to leave right after he spoke, but when he turned his head, he saw that Yun Xie looked strange . “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, confused .
Yun Xie sighed softly . His expression slightly darkened, but his tone was suddenly soft . “Without realizing it, I found that I owe you so much . ”
Jiang Xunyi was shocked . “What‘s wrong with you!”
“…”
Yun Xie’s mood plummeted . “Sometimes, I really don’t know if you don’t understand or are just pretending not to understand . Both of us clearly already…how can you still…ah!”
Jiang Xunyi was confused when Yun Xie sighed, and even after listening to everything, he couldn’t understand what the other was saying . He could only sigh internally that Yun Xie was getting more and more insane, and he didn’t know if this sickness was curable .
Not far from the village was a small town . Not long after traveling, the two arrived . Jiang Xunyi looked around and felt that the town was normal, but there were very few people, and it looked depressing .
He looked at the clear sky . “This doesn’t make sense . The weather is so good today, so why is there no one on the street? Yun Xie, there isn’t a ghost here, right?”
“My magic weapon hasn’t…” Yun Xie replied .
Before he could finish, an old man happened to pass Jiang Xunyi’s side . Hearing this sentence, he couldn’t help laughing and stopped walking . “These little juniors are really interesting . How can there be ghosts and gods in this world?” Well, you are young, so you believe that . Don’t be afraid, we don’t have ghosts in this town . ”
The spirits and wild ghosts who died under Jiang Xunyi’s sword numbered at least 800, if not 1,000 . This was the first time he heard someone tell him “Don’t be afraid” . He really felt that he was being laughed at, but traditional Chinese virtues said to respect elders and love the young, so when facing an elderly man, he had no choice but to smile bitterly . “If what you say is true, then may I ask why is there no one on this street?”
The old man looked at him then Yun Xie next to him, his expression one of joy . “Well, naturally, there is a reason . I’m guessing that the two young masters are not locals, so makes sense that you would not know . Today is our Ta Ge Festival . On the day of the Ta Ge Festival, men, women, and children must gather regardless of age in front of the Sangluo River to sing and play without leaving until midnight . There are many good girls here, and they like young men like you the most . If the two of you are free, you can go take a look . ”
Once he heard this, Yun Xie knew that this should be a festival similar to the Qixi[3] Festival, where young men and women expressed their affection for each other . He laughed and replied, “Thank you mister, but the two of us have been married for a long time . It is better for us not to partake in the festivities . ”
His words were quite ambiguous, and if the sentence was in the language section of the Chinese college entrance examination, it would be incorrect . However, ordinary people naturally don’t understand the hidden meaning . Although Jiang Xunyi felt that something was awkward, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly wasn’t right, so he doesn’t say anything . The old man seemed to be full of regret when he sighed . “Young people sure get married early . If so, I advise the two of you to put on masks to cover your faces . The woman here treat others – cough – very warmly . ”
Jiang Xunyi and Yun Xie both seduced women with their heroic airs[4] . They have always been well-received by women . They immediately understood the implications of the word “warmly” . After they comprehended what the old man was saying, they nodded their heads in thanks before saying goodbye .
Once Jiang Xunyi saw old man leave, he said, “Let’s still go check it out, otherwise we won’t be able to find anyone to ask . ”
Yun Xie said with excitement, “Of course, we must participate! But you wait, I will buy you a mask first . ”
“Cover yourself!”
Yun Xie blinked mysteriously while digging out money for the mask . “If both of us cover our faces, we wouldn’t be able to ask anything . I’ve never been led astray by women, unlike you, with your hard mouth and soft heart, so you should be the one to wear the mask . ”
He smiled and put a cat mask on Jiang Xunyi’s head, turned around and paid .
“How come when we wear a mask, we can’t-” Jiang Xunyi’s attention was diverted just as he was in the middle of asking a question . Shocked, he exclaimed, “Damn Yun Xie, you are actually so rich!”
Yun Xie smiled and said, “You think I became a sect master for no reason? How can the lord of a sect have no money? How about it, do you regret giving your position to Jiang Molou? A’Xun, if you want to be in charge of the Hidden Spirit Sect, with just one word, I’ll go up the mountain and kill Jiang Molou, and in the future, the one making money will be you . ”
Jiang Xunyi’s voice, carrying a false cheerfulness, came from behind the squinting cat . “Go to my Hidden Spirit Mountain and murder? I am afraid that it will be you who dies first, and Mo Lou and I will split the money in your purse . We’ll buy desserts every day and sit on your grave to eat . ”
“Your grandmother!” Yun Xie thought of the scene, and suddenly felt his heart half-freeze . “Too vicious!”
As soon as they talk, the two of them would swerve off topic, and after messing around for half a day, Yun Xie still ended up not wearing a mask . He swaggered to the banks of Sangluo River .
His handsome little white face really did stand out in the group of rough guys . As soon as he came out, he was pelted by various wildflowers . The strong smell caused him to sneeze twice, and he almost turned hostile on the spot .
Yun Xie had an honorable status since he was a child, and anyone who dared to offend him was buried in a grave . Therefore, as he himself said, he was indeed immune to the coquettishness of women . He never believed that girls should be excused . He had a really avant-garde sense of equality in this regard, and even Jiang Xunyi couldn’t complain . But there was something to be done, so he didn’t show annoyance . He unpleasantly picked a small flower off his coat and threw it to the ground, kicking it to the side .
[1] 踏歌 – a traditional type of Chinese dance, made popular in the Tang Dynasty
[2] 木头疙瘩 – people often use “wood pimples” or “stump-like” to describe people who are stupid, unintelligible, and satisfied .
[3] 七夕节 – Chinese Valentine’s day
[4] 骑马倚斜桥 满楼红袖招 – from a Tang dynasty poem, a man rides a horse and leans against a bridge . His heroic air attracts the attention of the women wearing red in a building nearby .