Feng Xiao walked alone.
After all, he was only attending a banquet at Prince Qin's manor and was not on his way to a dragon's chasm or a tiger's lair.
Cui Buqu had sent someone to deliver a message back.
Since he left the south of the city with Guan Shanhai, Zhangsun Bodhi has already been waiting at the city's gate.
Together with him was Qin Miaoyu.
Qin Miaoyu went forth to offer a greeting, "Commander Cui, Second Commander had ordered me to accompany you."
Cui Buqu nodded his head and accepted it without another word.
If he deemed it necessary, Cui Buqu would always unhesitantly bet his life on the line to secure the desired victory.
But when it was unnecessary, he wouldn't act rashly.
With Zhangsun, Qin Miaoyu, and the others present, they could at least escape with their lives if they ran into Xiao Lu, even if they wouldn't be able to escape completely unharmed.
All the more, Xiao Lu had similarly endured heavy injuries from the battle in the tavern the last time they fought. Feng Xiao had said before that if the opponent didn't show indications of having his martial arts improved from having endured through qi deviation, then his wounds might not have healed completely at this present moment.
Although an ailing tiger was still a tiger nonetheless, its lost three parts of might.
Groups of common people emerged across the city as if they were determined to party to their fullest throughout the night. On other days during this period of time, everyone would have already blown out their candles and turned in for the day in their homes. Yet at this moment, everyone remained elated. If one were to look down from the pavilions in the city, they would see a long wandering dragon made of people sauntering in the midst of lively firelight.
Cui Buqu and a few people dispatched from the city gate, and instead of blending into the wandering streams of people with lights, they turned into a different corner towards the Flowing-Light Pavilion.
Lanterns flickered outside the pavilion where a few shadows stood.
There was a single person sitting inside the pavilion, brewing tea with a waving fan, sparks of fire crackling.
The faint fragrance of the tea subtly reached him, carrying the savoury smell of little cuisines burning on the fire.
Cui Buqu wanted to head over, but Zhangsun Bodhi stopped him.
"That is not Yuwen Xuanzhu."
Naturally, it wasn't Yuwen Eying. That was obviously the silhouette of a man fussing over the tea in a manner similar to Feng Xiao.
Cui Buqu remained calm. "Let us go, we're going to meet Pavilion Lord Xiao of the Thirteen Pavillions of Yunhai."
Qin Miaoyu and Guan Shanhai were vastly taken back, afraid that it foreshadowed an impending, terrible event.
They didn't turn around to flee from fear. However, since all the consecutive waves of incidents that happened from the City of Six Crafts to Guangqian County were caused by the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai and almost caused them to lose their lives, both the members of the Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureau were incredibly wary of Xiao Lu.
Since they are neither deliberately being secretive nor keeping their voices low, how would they go unnoticed by people within the pavilion?
Promptly, someone exclaimed, "The weather is cold and the winds are strong, why don't Master Cui come into the pavilion and catch up with an old friend?"
Zhangsun aside, Qin Miaoyu and Guan Shanhai, though they had never fought Xiao Lu head-on during the battle of the tavern, they had seen with their own eyes the ferocious battle of life and death between Xiao Lu and Feng Xiao. Neither of them was beneath the other; their success rate levelled at fifty-to-fifty as the battle that night came to an end.
In spite of this, if Feng Xiao had not managed to narrowly escape death from the clutches of qi deviation, one wouldn't have known what would become of the Jiejian Bureau by now.
All the more, Yu Xiu almost succeeded in brewing a great disaster from disguising himself as Khan Apa. When Yuan Sansi made use of the identity of an old family friend to get close to Cui Buqu in Boling and lured him into a trap, it almost caused Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu their lives in Tiannian Mountain. So let alone the choleric events caused by Xiao Lu, the mastermind who orchestrated the conspiracy of the flood in Guangqian County.
Each time, when they all had thought that the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai were at the brink of exhausting all their resources and could no longer attempt another fear, Xiao Lu would once again give them a "surprise".
Guan Shanhai was forced to admit that had it not been for Cui Buqu, one of those schemes of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai would have succeeded by now.
The pressure Qin Miaoyu felt against Xiao Lu was even heavier.
She started out as a disciple of the Fuyu Sect, led by the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai. This also meant that Xiao Lu was the superior of her superior.
Although Xiao Lu might not recall an inconsequential lackey like her, Qin Miaoyu could not resist from being suspicious and anxious as she followed Cui Buqu into the pavilion.
Thankfully, Xiao Lu paid her no attention.
The other just leisurely swept past the few people who came with Cui Buqu before placing all of his attention on Cui Buqu alone.
As if he alone, was the only one worthy enough for Xiao Lu to regard him with special respect.
"On such a cold night, isn't it wonderful to be able to meet an old friend to chat over tea?"
Xiao Lu's voice reached him clearly from afar, his voice light and clear like branches that were exposed to the cold winds, prepared to bloom in spring. This easily drew out the drawl comfort in someone.
But other than Cui Buqu, no one else dared to let down their guard.
"Pavilion Lord Xiao made use of Yuwen Xuanzhu to lure us here; aren't you afraid that His Majesty would dispatch the Palace Guards of the capital here at a single order by me? Even with unsurpassed martial arts like yours, it would be difficult to escape."
Cui Buqu behaved like he was speaking about virtues, as he followed the beckoning of Xiao Lu's gesture to sit opposite of him. He reached out with a hand towards the cup filled with tea and raised it to his nose, holding back no compliments.
"This is a good tea."
Xiao Lu smiled at him with both eyes. "It is a good tea. I brought it from the South on purpose, knowing that you'd like it."
Time and time again he wanted to push Cui Buqu to his death, yet at his moment he was smiling, feeling no estranged gap.
Those who are unfamiliar with the situation would even think they are close friends who share a deep bond.
Qin Miaoyu was worried that Cui Buqu would be seduced by those gentle words and really drink from the cup.
But the truth proved that she had underestimated the other.
With a turn of his hand, Cui Buqu poured the tea next to himself.
"Paying respects, with tea instead of wine, to the people that fell to their deaths because of Pavilion Lord Xiao. One may hope that they will never be at peace beneath the grave. There is a cause to every wrong, and an owner to every debt, may they soon seek vengeance upon you."
Qin Miaoyu practically laughed out loud but managed to keep it in.
She stole a glance at Zhangsun Bodhi; this Vice Zuoyue Commander was as calm and composed as a wooden puppet, as if he hadn't heard the conversation of those two.
Cui Buqu coughed and said, "Pavilion Lord Xiao should know that my body has never been well. Since I am unable to withstand long in this cold, let us stop beating around the bush."
Xiao Lu smiled and said, "My apologies. Who gave you the right to remain alive even after so many punishing incidents? You almost made me forget that you are someone with ailing health."
Cui Buqu, "The death of all fifty members of the Lin Family of the Yandang Estate. Do you know about this?"
Xiao Lu, "I know."
Cui Buqu, "Have you received my message from Ning Shewo?"
Xiao Lu, "I have."
Cui Buqu's eyebrows furrowed and said, "But from the looks of Pavilion Lord Xiao's attitude today, you don't seem like you want an alliance."
Xiao Lu slowly finished the tea in his hand.
"It's true Lin Wei belonged to the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, but now he is in your hands. One may assume that he's revealed quite a lot of information. It does not matter who massacred the Yandang Estate, there is no need for me to defend it. So, what do you think?"
Cui Buqu, "If Pavilion Lord Xiao's wish is to strategize and rule an empire of this century, logically speaking, he shouldn't be saying such shallow words."
Xiao Lu smiled and said, "Then what should I be saying?"
The feeling that something was amiss surged up all of a sudden.
From the moment they began asking and answering questions, Cui Buqu had already sensed something was wrong about Xiao Lu.
The Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai and he wouldn't rest until one of them was dead, but under the pressure and threat of the Göktürks, it's not impossible for them to work together once against a common enemy.
But Xiao Lu's expression—
Cui Buqu thought of one possibility and his face paled. "Have you already allied with the Göktürks?!"
...
Feng Xiao was walking towards the manor of Prince Qin.
His heart wasn't present, still thinking about whether Cui Buqu would throw that fan away.
As he thought until this point, his lips curled up into a smile.
He wouldn't throw it away. Feng Xiao knew that man surnamed Cui too well.
That person may look as light and calm as the wind on the surface, but in reality, he still fell to the charms of his beauty, finding it hard to restrain himself.
As he tossed the Immortal Salve into the air and let it fall back into his hand, Feng Xiao lightly snorted.
How pretentious!
Then, someone appeared in front of him.
This person was standing not far off in front of him.
He stood apart from the streams of people heading either North or South as he looked at Feng Xiao quietly.
He obviously didn't move, but no one around him stopped to tell him off. As if they've gone blind and could not tell that someone was standing there.
To successfully conceal his presence within a rowdy city this wasn't something just any common top martial artist could achieve.
Feng Xiao paused his steps and narrowed his eyes.
He leapt into the air, heading towards the nearest roof. After leaping onto a few roofs into the North, he finally came to a desolated little alley.
He stood firmly and turned around, only to notice that that person indeed came for him. The other followed closely behind him without a sound.
"Who is there?"
"Tuan Qinghe."
"Not something I've heard before."
"Because I have never been to the Central Plains."
When Feng Xiao was carefully studying Tuan Qinghe, Tuan Qinghe was also closely studying him.
Someone like Feng Xiao was fated to be eye-catching regardless of where he went.
The opponent Tuan Qinghe originally chose wasn't Feng Xiao.
Because Feng Xiao had never left behind a name for himself in the Jianghu. The Imperial Court was his Jianghu.
Those opponents Tuan Qinghe chose were top martial artists from the manuscripts of the Wulin.
But after seeing Feng Xiao, Tuan Qinghe's thoughts changed.
The martial skills of this patriarch of the Jiejian Bureau is not beneath any number one top martial artist roaming the Jianghu.
Tuan Qinghe could even tell that Feng Xiao's true strength would very possibly surpass his ambit of calculations.
This person may look like a phoenix flaunting its feathers, wrangling for attention on the surface.
Even so, those beautiful and brilliant feathers weren't just for show. They truly hid an unfathomable amount of strength.
When one is attracted to his flashy and unbridled exterior, it's easy to underestimate his martial skill.
The sound of crowds reached them from a few allies away.
The lanterns were bright within the capital that night.
Only in this place alone, swords were drawn.
The cold wind froze, turning into ice rings all around them across two sides of the wall until their breaths were frosty.
All of a sudden, Feng Xiao coldly snorted.
The snort was like an invisible force that could split open an icy river, breaking through the cold and surging towards the other!
Tuan Qinghe was slightly shaken, he couldn't help taking half a step back.
This half a step was like giving Feng Xiao the space of a moat to attack more freely.
He coldly smiled, "I won't fight with some nameless fellow!"
Following his words, a palm shot out!
Tuan Qinghe's expression was calm, not angered by those words as he lightly moved backwards.
Feng Xiao came up close in imposing steps, forcing Tuan Qinghe to step backwards.
However, retreating doesn't mean admitting defeat, but rather to strategize later moves.
Once there was no room left for him to retreat, a striking glare flashed from within his sleeves. Tuan Qinghe borrowed speed from swiftly turning his body, and a long knife appeared.
The knife was very special; it was long and narrow like a sword, but still a knife nonetheless.
"It appears to be the remnants of Hulugu!"
Feng Xiao saw through his background with a single look.
There was no other reason for other martial skills than Hulugu's line, because they were extraordinary and easy to spot. More than that, Feng Xiao had fought before with Fo Er, so, naturally, he was well-informed.
But compared to Fo Er, Tuan Qinghe's martial arts were obviously much more genuine and pure, and much stronger, like snow at the peak of Immortal Mountains unsullied in any way.
Tuan Qinghe said that he had never stepped into the Central Plains before, let alone the Wulin of the Central Plains. Now, Feng Xiao believed him.
Because the enemy's eyes were as pure and genuine as his martial skills.
As if between the Heavens and the Earth, he could only see Feng Xiao. Even if the sky shattered and the earth cracked, even if horrendous winds billowed and the tides rose, Tuan Qinghe's heart wouldn't be swayed for even half an inch.
The long knife within his hand was as steady as Mount Tai; it had a body like a flowing rainbow, and whenever the rainbow went, ice would appear. Not long later, Feng Xiao was surrounded by icicles like a city of ice, and with every breath, he exhaled coldness.
Even Feng Xiao moved.
Without a sword in hand and with flowing wide sleeves, he leapt into the air.
Two zither strings shot out from his sleeve!
Where they went, the icicles shattered and the entire city of icicles fell apart.
The zither strings were like cutting wind and glaring swords. Within the blink of an eye, it had already arrived between Tuan Qinghe's brows!
Between the ancient zithers of Yu Yin and Rao Liang, Rao Liang was long destroyed and Yu Yin was left behind, but it was disassembled by Feng Xiao to use its strings for weapons.
Such a manner of abusing precious ethereal objects would make all zither lovers of the ancient spit out blood.
But Tuan Qinghe's expression suddenly turned stern.
To him, those aren't zither strings, but an object that could shatter his martial techniques.
This was a technique he'd developed for a whole five years, and deemed it nigh impenetrable. Once Feng Xiao's zither launched, although it could not penetrate through this fatal attack of his, it did serve the purpose of forcing the enemy to retreat to defend himself.
Tuan Qinghe didn't wish to suffer a pyrrhic victory, so he could only switch his techniques.
As zither strings and the long knife met, qi surrounded both of them. There was a thundering roar and the azure-green bricks cracked, creating fissures on the walls on both sides.
This was even under the circumstances that they kept some strength at bay. Otherwise, even the walls inside the buildings would have also been cracked.
Both of them obviously had no intention of perishing together, so they retreated the moment they came into contact, electing to retreat at the same time.
"Now Commander Feng should admit that I am a worthy opponent." Tuan Qinghe said.
"Only barely." It's impossible to make Feng Xiao's words synchronize with his heart.
Tuan Qinghe's expression was serious. "This is not a place to fight. Can you and I share another meeting? So we may fight to our heart's content."
Feng Xiao did not promise him. He indifferently said, "Go back and tell your Seventh Prince to learn his place, otherwise, even if the entire Göktürk is at his back, I will kill without hesitation."
He instinctively wanted to flip open his fan after he finished, but only then he recalled that he had given his fan to Cui Buqu, and couldn't resist from twitching his lips.
"I will take my leave, there is no need to see me away." He turned around and left, and when he spoke again, his figure was already a few zhang away. "Also, the walls that were broken just now are all onto you. Someone will go to the manor of the Seventh Prince for the debt soon."
"Commander Feng!"
Tuan Qinghe took a step forward as if he wanted to say something, but when those words reached the tip of his tongue, he could only see the other far away.
After standing there quietly for a while, he turned around and left, step by step he returned to the manor of the Seventh Prince.
After Kuhezhen entered the capital as a hostage, to prove his sincerity, the Sui Emperor made him a Prince and granted him a manor to live in. However, Kuhezhen was still a Göktürk by the end of the day and shared a different style of living compared to the nobilities within the capital. Tonight, he couldn't come to the banquet, nor was he able to watch the lanterns in the South of the city. He had instead remained in his own manor to read.
He was interested in the culture of the Central Plains. He rarely came out on usual days and even allowed someone to gather all the famous classics in the city. The Sui Emperor was delighted by his interest in the culture of the Central Plains and had even given him some books.
Upon seeing Tuan Qinghe's return, Kuhezhen faintly smiled.
"Is it done?"
Tuan Qinghe carried no smile, looking cold instead.
He refused to move, as if he was silently objecting to Kuhezhen.
Kuhezhen seemed to expect it and consoled him gently. "There are a countless number of top martial artists in the Central Plains. How much does one Feng Xiao worth? You will run into a better opponent."
Tuan Qinghe, "The favour I owed you has already been returned. Next time, I will no longer help you do such things."
Kuhezhen did not take offense to it. Instead, he nodded his head in promise, "Naturally, I will no longer trouble you over such things. This time is enough. The Lantern Festival is a grand festive event for the people in the Central Plains. If you don't feel like walking around, why don't you remain here and have a meal? I have already allowed the kitchen to prepare lamb hotpot."
Tuan Qinghe didn't reply. He turned around and left, refusing to stay another second.
Kuhezhen did not stop him, a smile remaining on his expression, apparently in a happy mood.
His gaze turned to the book in his hand.
Liu Xiang from the Xihan Dynasty who wrote the "Garden of Stories" was opened on a page from the ninth chapter.
There was a tree in the garden and a cicada on the tree. The cicada was singing highly above the grounds, oblivious to the praying mantis at the back.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole at the back.
Kuhezhen's smile deepened.
...
Feng Xiao and Tuan Qinghe fought for a period not even as long as one burning incense.
As both of them went separate paths, Feng Xiao resumed his original plan to go to the manor of Prince Qin.
There were plenty of carriages at the gate and the inside was brimming full of people. Most of the guests have arrived, and Feng Xiao was considered late.
He always came alone, never once brought followers or servants, but as long as people saw the symbolic and eye-catching looks of his, it was impossible to forget him.
Very quickly, the butler came out to welcome him diligently with a face full of smiles.
The manor of Prince Qin was neither big nor small and had no restrictions. Yang Jun had even bought all the adjacent grand manors and made a courtyard. The Imperial Censor had delivered an impeachment before, saying this was not quite appropriate, but not exactly inappropriate either. The royal couple closed an eye and wasn't calculative with him.
Presently, the courtyard next door was being used to hold the banquet and it was most fitting for it.
It was unknown whether the inspiration was taken from the Thousand Lantern Banquet held by Princess Leping last time, this time lanterns big and small were also hung all over the manor of Prince Qin.
The only difference is that these lanterns used translucent paper in all varying colours, lighting the place up in all the colours of the rainbow.
"Commander Feng, this way please. The Third Prince knew you'd come and even asked me about it several times!"
The manager continuously looked back as he walked, but he saw Feng Xiao suddenly stop.
Feng Xiao looked at the back of his right hand.
On top of it was a green lantern.
Under its light, the back of his hand was smooth. There was nothing about it.
As if it was a wrong sensation.
"Commander Feng?" The manager of Prince Qin's manor curiously asked.
"Let us go." Feng Xiao relented and took a few steps forward.
There was no snow at the pavilion as light filled the eye.
There were a few dark shadows dancing within the pavilion.
Wearing clothes as red as blood, a golden pin fastened in her hair, sleeves like beckoning demons.
She leaped into the centre of the pond from inside the pavilion, the tips of her foot light and touching, skirt billowing wildly above the surface of the water.
A white fog came from the side, refusing to leave her alone, as one was floating in the midst of clouds pouring water.
Feng Xiao observed it closely and realized that there appeared to be rocks beneath the water. The beauty simply leaped across on its surface in light moves, so she'd looked like she was walking on water.
Beneath the walkway, next to the fake mountain, all the guests were engrossed in watching.
Yang Jun suddenly walked over and flashed a smile at him.
"How is it? I did tell you that there would be a surprise tonight. If you like that beauty, I can offer her to you!"
"There is no need." Feng Xiao unapologetically rejected it before greeting Princess Lanling who was next to Yang Jun. "Greetings to the Princess."
The princess returned his words with a smile, and asked curiously, "Commander Feng carries an enthusiastic and energetic air. Perhaps something good has happened. Care to share with us?"
Yang Jun winked at Feng Xiao. "The Crown Prince and Second Brother have also arrived. I will go pay them some respects. Please chat, both of you."
He turned around and left quickly, leaving Princess Lanling behind.
Feng Xiao slowly said, "The Princess has a sharp-eye. I was just thinking about my beloved."
The Princess' smile froze, suddenly feeling her breath become uneven.
She held on to her shivering hand and forced herself to smile. "Commander Feng is a man of striking appearance. His beloved must also be a national beauty."
Feng Xiao smiled, "The Princess is a dazzling beauty, he wouldn't be able to compare. The Princess is empathic and kind, he wouldn't be able to compare all the more."
"Then—"
Princess Lanling bit the tip of her tongue, swallowing down those words that said, "Then why do you like her and not me?"
She still knew her place, and even if she couldn't get what she wanted, she couldn't disregard the pride of the royal family.
Feng Xiao appeared to know what she wanted to ask, so he continued, "And yet, regardless of how I look at him I feel pleased. Even when he is throwing a tantrum and scheming, I think it's cute and admirable. Without me, I fear he wouldn't be able to live for more than a few years. In order to let him live longer so he could taunt me, I need to watch over him."
The princess remained silent. After half a beat she lightly said, "I understand. There is love in this world that is difficult to ask for, and even more so for true love. Congratulations, Commander Feng."
Feng Xiao was not even worried about hurting the princess' heart. He smiled and said, "Your Highness is God's favoured daughter. How many outstanding suitors in this world are begging for your hand? This humble one surnamed Feng has no such fate."
Princess Lanling smiled bitterly. She was indeed God's favoured daughter, but because of this, it was even more difficult for her to seek true love. How many of those suitors wanted her for her, and how many of them came only for her status?
"May I know… the name of Commander Feng's beloved?"
By the end of the day, she still felt undeserved, and so she asked.
But she didn't hear Feng Xiao's answer.
The princess couldn't resist turning her head to the side.
Feng Xiao was looking at a certain place in front.
The princess followed his line of sight, yet didn't see anything strange.
"Commander Feng?"
"This humble one saw someone familiar. I will head over to offer him a greeting. Please pardon me, Your Highness."
As he spoke, he very quickly walked forward in large steps, quickly disappearing around the corner.
Feng Xiao saw Xiao Lu.
Although he'd caught him fleetingly at the corner of his eye, he would never recognize him wrongly.
After all, both of them had once fought a battle to the death.
But why would Xiao Lu blend into the night banquet of Prince Qin?
It was obvious that he came prepared, scheming for something.
There is no little amount of nobility in the capital gathered here tonight, even the Crown Prince, Prince Jin and the others came to attend.
So once something happened, the consequences would be grave.
Feng Xiao's footsteps quickened.
As the distance between himself and Xiao Lu drew near, the other realized that someone was onto him and moved quicker, practically using qinggong.
Just as Feng Xiao was about to catch up to him, Xiao Lu suddenly turned around and a sword came from his direction!
Feng Xiao slanted his body to avoid it, flickering his hand to grab his wrist.
But what sort of degree is Xiao Lu's martial arts? Even with injuries on him, he wouldn't easily be caught by Feng Xiao. At that moment, he turned his body and knocked against Feng Xiao.
Feng Xiao welcomed it with bended knees and tapped the other's meridians when he hit. He reached out with a hand to grab his sword and the piece thrust it into him.
At that moment, Xiao Lu flashed a strange smile at him.
Something's wrong!
It seems like something had gone wrong…
Everything felt like it'd gone really wrong!
He saw a lantern made from thin cloth from the corner of his eye, hung under the walkway with its light reflecting on the surface of the water. It was obviously yellow in colour, but the colour on the surface of the water reflected green.
Once that sword had skin contact, Feng Xiao didn't pierce it in, but Xiao Lu suddenly grabbed his sword and thrust it into his own body.
Feng Xiao bit his tongue until it bled. The scent of blood slowly spread out.
The sound of dances and songs from the corner of his ears drew back like low tides, and replacing it was an ear-piercing cry!
The scent of blood around him was even thicker than the ones in his mouth.
Feng Xiao raised his gaze.
Xiao Lu—
And 'Xiao Lu' was gone.
Blood pooled on the ground as the wounded victim fell down. Everyone was begging for help. Even Prince Jin and Prince Qin and the others were passed out on the ground, unknown whether they were dead or alive.
The Crown Prince, stained with blood, had fallen to the ground. Seeing Feng Xiao's faze, he immediately retreated and howled.
"Help! Men! Feng Xiao has gone mad! Help!"
Translator's Notes:
If you're familiar with Chinese, 'he' and 'she' sounds the same, so Princess Lanling does not know Feng Xiao's is referring to a man as his beloved.