SS Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Stirring Waves

 

Three days later, the weather was bright and clear.

 

Since autumn began, it was rare to see such a fine day. The warm sunlight shone down, prompting Ye Fusheng to close his eyes, sit back with his legs crossed on the railing, and, with a smile, spew endless nonsense to his companion, Xie Li.

 

“What a pity that even under such a clear sky, the rivers and mountains can’t regain their clarity. It goes to show that humans are the best at harboring filth.”

 

Xie Li ignored him, anxiously rubbing a wooden practice sword with one hand while tightly clutching his collar with the other, tracing a square outline underneath.

 

He had known that today would bring a martial duel determining the fate of Duanshui Villa, and thus he’d spent a sleepless night. He got up right after midnight to practice in the backyard, only to find that someone had arrived even earlier.

 

Xie Wuyi, cloaked in his outer robe, was speaking with Ye Fusheng. When he noticed Xie Li’s approach, both fell silent. Ye Fusheng yawned and headed to the kitchen for food, while Xie Wuyi waved Xie Li over.

 

Feeling an inexplicable thrill of nerves, Xie Li hurried over, and before he could even greet him, he impulsively hugged Xie Wuyi’s leg, rubbing against it like a timid kitten.

 

Xie Wuyi had always been strict with him, especially over the past three years, barely offering him a smile. When he realized he’d acted impulsively, Xie Li’s shoulders tensed, bracing for a reprimand. Instead, he felt a cool hand pat his head.

 

Xie Wuyi said, “In seven days, you’ll turn eleven. So… here, take this.”

 

Xie Li looked up to see a square jade pendant hanging around his neck. He touched it and smiled, “Father, what is this?”

 

Xie Wuyi looked at him deeply, “…It’s nothing much. If you don’t like it, you may discard it.”

 

Xie Li opened his mouth, taken aback by his father’s seemingly casual words delivered with such weight. Even so, he nodded obediently, though his heart was tangled in a mess of emotions.

 

As the sun rose high, Ye Fusheng squinted under the blinding light and pulled a black cloth from his sleeve to cover his eyes, drawing curious glances from those around him. Someone asked, “Hey, brother, since you’re practically blind, why…”

 

Before the question finished, Ye Fusheng understood the implication—if he couldn’t see, why take up space?

 

The Duel for Glory was a best-of-three match, held at the Qianlong Pavilion of Duanshui Villa. This northern courtyard, facing the central yard and backed by the mountain, was large but could only hold a few hundred people.

 

“We at Duanshui Villa are no place for stray cats and dogs to just stroll in!”

 

This jab, issued by the head of the Xie family, left both righteous and unrighteous guests visibly offended. In the end, most remained outside the villa, peeking in from the outer streets, while only a select few entered. More than half of these were from the Palace of Souls.

 

Qianlong Pavilion, with its circular courtyard and water-filled center, was surrounded by suspended verandas where people could stand. The pond, now barren of blossoms, held only a few withering lotus leaves, and several plum blossom poles of varying heights rose from the water.

 

Inside the four verandas, people gathered, each group distinct: the western and southern sides held the Palace of Souls with Li Feng and Bu Xueyao at the helm, the eastern side held the righteous sects, and sandwiched in between were the seemingly lone people of Duanshui Villa.

 

Even Xie Zhongshan, who had remained silent in the inner courtyard for three years, was brought out for this event. He sat motionless in a wheelchair, looking emaciated but retaining a semblance of his former self, even as his voice was muted and his acupoints sealed.

 

“It seems the old Villa Master has lost some vigor over the years.” The voice came from a young man named Lu Mingyuan, refined and scholarly in appearance, holding a white paper fan. Though he looked easy to bully, he stood in the first position among the righteous sects, and no one dared challenge his place.

 

He closed his fan, bowing courteously, “I’ve heard of the Duanshui Villa’s renown since I was young. Today, seeing both Villa Masters in person, I feel my past perceptions fall short.”

 

This pretentious, vinegar-sour remark instantly pegged him in Ye Fusheng’s mind as a student of the ‘Sanmei Academy.’

 

Sanmei Academy, founded sixty years ago by the southern Confucian Ruan Qingxing, emphasized dual mastery of literary and martial arts. Many students ascended the ranks of the imperial exams, becoming officials or scholars with a profound influence in both court and society. This Lu, with his refined airs, was likely a distinguished successor of the Academy and might even become the next Dean.

 

This was indeed a case of resting easy under a giant tree, Ye Fusheng mused, reaching out to pat Xie Li on the head, only to have his hand slapped away by Xue Chanyi, who warned, “Behave yourself; it’s about to begin.”

 

Xie Wuyi, impatient with pomp, and Li Feng, a straightforward man, swiftly dispensed with fanfare. Apart from a brief speech from the wordy Lu Mingyuan, there were no drums or banners. Only an incense table at the entrance, where Xie Wuyi, Li Feng, and Lu Mingyuan each lit a stick of incense, signaled the start.

 

Following protocol, the Palace of Souls would send their combatants first, with Duanshui Villa then responding. The pavilion would serve as the battlefield, the plum blossom poles as the platform, and whoever fell into the water would lose.

 

With a stone-cold expression, Li Feng remained silent. Bu Xueyao held a red-feathered fan, smiling mysteriously, as a young girl with foreign attire stepped forward. Moving like a butterfly, she soon landed in the center of the water, her bare right foot poised on a plum blossom pole, golden bells on her ankles jingling.

 

The girl raised her snake-shaped sword and called out in a melodious voice, “Right Emissary Manzhu of the Azure Dragon Hall of the Palace of Souls, here to challenge!”

 

Xue Chanyi snorted, stepping forward lightly and landing a yard away from her. Today, she wore white, save for a blood-red sash at her waist—the ‘Scarlet Snow Sash’ she’d obtained from her mentor eight years ago, resistant to fire and water, and nearly unbreakable by conventional weapons. She rarely used it in fights, cherishing it too much.

 

Drawing out the Scarlet Snow Sash, her gaze turned sharp, “Xue Chanyi of Duanshui Villa, accepting the challenge!”

 

Before her words faded, the snake-shaped sword whipped out like a viper, striking toward her face. Xue Chanyi sidestepped, swiftly raising her hand. In an instant, their palms met, and both were forced back.

 

Still in midair, Manzhu barely steadied herself before the Scarlet Snow Sash lashed out. With nowhere to brace herself, she raised her hand, taking the blow directly, the exposed skin of her arm tearing open.

 

Miss Xue was never one for patience, and with the whip in hand, she was the most feared person in Guyang City.

 

Infused with inner strength, the Scarlet Snow Sash coiled into a snake-like whip, ready to strike. Manzhu, however, smiled.

 

Golden bells on her wrists and ankles chimed as they caught the fierce wind. Hearing this sound, Ye Fusheng frowned.

 

The ringing seeped into the ears like writhing poison, stabbing painfully into Xue Chanyi’s ears, leaving her disoriented. Losing her aim, her whip faltered, and Manzhu’s snake-sword coiled around the sash as she closed in, striking Xue Chanyi in the chest.

 

Blood surged up, but Xue Chanyi stifled it, regaining her composure. She released her hold, allowing the Scarlet Snow Sash to loop around Manzhu’s neck.

 

Simultaneously, she kicked Manzhu’s knee, destabilizing her just as she leaped up with inner force—

 

At the same time, Xue Chanyi landed a kick on Manzhu’s knee, seizing the moment as her opponent’s stance faltered. In an instant, she leapt into the air, channeling her inner strength into both hands. Gripping the Red Snow Whip tightly, she lifted Manzhu into the air. The lethal force constricted around her neck like a venomous dragon, tightening ruthlessly and immediately producing the sound of her windpipe straining under pressure.

 

Manzhu was choking, her delicate face flushed a deep red from lack of air. Yet, she continued to smile, forcefully shaking her arms and legs as the four bells chimed again!

 

Xie Wuyi’s fingers twitched, plucking a single peanut.

 

Xie Li, bewildered, asked, “What’s going on?”

 

Ye Fusheng smiled faintly, leaning over to whisper, “Your sister Xue is likely to lose this match.”

 

He couldn’t see what was happening, but he could hear it clearly.

 

This young girl’s martial arts skills were slightly weaker than Xue Chanyi’s, but her ability to seize opportunities through unconventional means gave her an advantage. The demonic sound of the Four Bells, capable of disturbing one’s mind, was as if adding wings to a tiger when wielded by her. Moreover, Xue Chanyi was somehow unsettled today. Although she seemed to gain the upper hand, her haste betrayed her, making her inevitable defeat clear.

 

The moment the bells rang, Xue Chanyi’s movements indeed paused. In that split second, Manzhu reversed her grip and locked Xue’s arms, swiftly flipping her body. With her legs clamped around Xue’s waist, she exerted force through her waist and legs, swinging Xue Chanyi downwards and pressing her straight toward the water!

 

In the blink of an eye, Xue Chanyi plunged into the water. Manzhu bent her fingers to grip her serpent-shaped sword, ready to plunge it down onto Xue’s head!

 

“Ding—”

 

Ye Fusheng, using his sharp sense of hearing, flicked the peanut in his hand with perfect aim, striking the sword and causing it to tremble and veer off course. The blade narrowly brushed past Xue Chanyi’s ear, leaving a shallow cut.

 

Simultaneously, Xie Wuyi struck out with his palm, knocking the young girl into the water as well. His voice was icy as he said, “In this match, my disciple’s skills fell short, but the result is clear. Isn’t it excessive to pursue to the death?”

 

Xue Chanyi finally regained her senses, gripping the Red Snow Whip tightly and glaring at Manzhu with eyes almost red enough to bleed. Yet, the young girl leaped up from the water, disregarding her drenched, nearly exposed state, and humbly bowed, saying, “It was my lack of restraint. I hope the manor lord will forgive me.”

 

With the first match lost, the righteous faction’s faces were darkened, especially Xie Chongshan’s, which turned ashen, yet he had nothing to say.

 

At this moment, Bu Xueyao let out a gentle laugh, tossing a feathered fan to Manzhu. His wide sleeves flowed like wings as he stepped onto the water. With a light tap on a lotus leaf, he landed gracefully on a plum blossom pile in front of Manzhu.

 

“That was but the first match; I’m sure no one is satisfied just yet…” Bu Xueyao covered his mouth with a light laugh, his smile blossoming like a flower. “Since my gallant partner is reserved, I, Bu Xueyao, will humbly offer my skills as a mere distraction. I wonder if any hero from Duanshui Manor would care to join me in a dance?”

 

Though he was male, his every movement was more coy than a courtesan’s, arousing the righteous faction’s disdain. They regarded him as nothing more than a demonic sect’s pet plaything, unworthy of mention.

 

It wasn’t until he spoke these words that their expressions shifted.

 

“The line, ‘I knew from afar it wasn’t snow, but the red dust of mortal tribulation,’ refers to one of the four great palace lords of the Burial Soul Palace—the Lord of the Vermilion Bird Hall, Bu Xueyao, also known as the ‘Flying Rakshasa.’”

 

Bu Xueyao was not only unmatched in his light-footed skills, but his “Dust-Chasing Steps” was so elusive that no one could compare. Furthermore, he was raised in a dance house from a young age, his body supple like a celestial dancer’s, and his practice of the “Yin-Yang Rakshasa Hand” allowed him to sever tendons and dislocate bones within moments, slicing directly into flesh.

 

Most terrifyingly, he was a master of poisons, particularly fond of those that inflicted long, torturous deaths.

 

Bu Xueyao was not someone easy to deal with. Xue Chanyi was too young, Xie Li merely a child, Xie Chongshan was crippled… in that case…

 

Everyone knew that if Xie Wuyi accepted this fight, he could kill him, but he would have no chance of winning against Li Feng in the next round.

 

Xie Wuyi gave a cold, mocking laugh, gripping his Broken Water Blade and preparing to rise, but someone was faster than him.

 

Ye Fusheng, holding Xie Li’s wooden sword, relied on the layout of the plum blossom piles he had just inquired about from Xue Chanyi. He leapt over the railing.

 

The weather was warm, and his legs felt light. With a soft tap on the water’s surface, he barely stirred a ripple, gliding like a white egret skimming over water, and landed accurately on one of the plum blossom piles.

 

“Ye Fusheng of Duanshui Manor, here to challenge this beauty whose voice alone reveals her charms.”

 

Grinning, he cupped his hands in a salute. The black cloth tied over his eyes trailed loosely, fluttering in the wind, causing an instant uproar among the crowd.

 

This man was blind!

 

“Oh my, I do love sweet-talking lads the most. But alas, you’re blind and can’t see my beauty; how pitiful.” Bu Xueyao was momentarily surprised but then laughed softly. “Out of pity, I promise to go easy on you.”

 

Ye Fusheng responded sincerely, “Thank you, fair maiden.”

 

Bu Xueyao’s laughter rang out like swaying branches in spring, and amidst his laugh, his body floated up like willow fluff in the wind, a hand already reaching for Ye Fusheng’s throat!