CH 22

Jiang Ling was young, afterall; once the fever receded, she started to get better. Before even a few days had passed, she was able to rise. Na Xin helped her wrap her injuries and brought her the turquoise robes she had been wearing prior, as well as two sets of clothing for central plains’ men.

After Na Xin helped her put on her clothing, Jiang Ling resumed the appearance of a handsome youth.

While she may have had no way of communicating with Na Xin, with arms gestures, she taught Na Xin her name and learned Na Xin’s name in turn. However, this was clearly inadequate. The witch doctor did not come again, and Jiang Ling could not find someone with whom she could communicate. She did not know where she was; everything was unknown to her. Jiang Ling completely lacked a sense of grounding.

After another half a month had passed and Jiang Ling had confirmed that she could move about without issue, she thought to go out for a walk. She had to figure out where, exactly, she was and how she could go back.

Shangguan Qing and the others must be anxious about her since they could not find her. She always made others worry. It was just that, once Na Xin found out about her intentions, she shook her head in alarm, indicating that Jiang Ling should not go out, that she had better remain in the courtyard.

When He Xi learned of this matter and checked in on Jiang Ling herself, she descended the mountain and found a reliable trade caravan, planning to have Jiang Ling travel with them back to the central plains.

That day, entrusted with He Xi’s instructions, Na Xin went to Grandmother A Xi to grab the scar dispersing ointment for Jiang Ling.

“Na Xin, where are you going?” Na Cuo rounded a corner, hugging his blade close to his chest as he blocked Na Xin’s way.

“Lord Protector, I…I’m not going anywhere.” Na Cuo’s appearance was fierce. Na Xin was frightened, so she stuttered when responding.

“Not going anywhere? Why did I often see you at the Saintess’ spare courtyard, then. I recall that the Saintess’ Palace is empty except for you.” Na Cuo walked closer to Na Xin, “I heard that the Saintess is hiding a central plains person that she brought back. Is that true?”

Na Xin shook her head in alarm, then gathered her courage and said, “Lord Protector, please remember your dignity. This is the Saintess’ place.”

“You are quite loyal to the Saintess. Speak. Did the Saintess bring a central plains person back?” Na Cuo suddenly reached forward and grabbed Na Xin’s arm, the bruising force behind his grip making Na Xin break out in a cold sweat.

Na Cuo tightened his grip even further. Na Xin bit her lip and continued to shake her head.

All of a sudden, a sword glare flashed. Na Cuo pushed Na Xin away to avoid the blow.

Jiang Ling had been sitting beside the bed, circulating her breath and waiting for Na Xin. During the short span of being injured, Jiang Ling had not been practicing her heart calming exercises. However, when she saw that Na Xin was late returning, she grew anxious, grabbed her sword, and went out to look for her.

Once she left the courtyard, she heard Na Xin’s voice and the voice of a man not too far away. Jiang Ling heard that the man’s voice was none too kind and went over to get a clearer picture.

She then saw the man grab Na Xin’s arm in a philandering way, as well as Na Xin’s uncomfortable expression; she was clearly unwilling.

Jiang Ling immediately unsheathed her sword and went to save her.

After evading the blow, Na Cuo saw a central plains youth in turquoise robes slicing through the space between him and Na Xin.

“So there is a central plains person, after all. The Saintess is growing more and more outrageous. Having a central plains disciple by her side is one thing, but now she’s directly bringing back central plains people. The lord has said nothing, so you subordinates say nothing of it as well?”

Na Cuo was not fond of central plains people and, even more so, disapproved of Ge Lan’s actions. The Saintess was wanton and ignored the majesty of the holy teachings. Once the founder left the pass, he would definitely take care of those who had fanciful ideas about the central plains.

Jiang Ling did not understand what Na Cuo said, but when she saw that his expression bode ill, she completely raised her guard.

Burning with anger, Na Cuo pulled out his sword and slashed toward Jiang Ling, “After I catch you today, I’ll rectify our teachings!”

Jiang Ling had not yet healed. She clenched her jaw as she received Na Cuo’s series of strikes. Na Cuo’s internal force was strong, its power shaking Jiang Ling. Her chest tightened in pain, a familiar sense of restlessness rising up inside of her. Jiang Ling did not want to meet him head on again. Her silhouette flashed past, her wrist turning nimbly as the tip of her blade twisted Na Cuo’s sword in a circle. The hand gripping Na Cuo’s blade was forced to let go. Jiang Ling kicked the hilt of the blade, sending it flying into the wall.

“I did not expect such hidden skills ah.” Na Cuo had underestimated her, not thinking that this slender youth would be so skilled. In that moment when he had taken the threat she posed lightly, she had disarmed him. Na Cuo now had no one on whom to vent his anger. He saw Na Xin hiding behind a pillar. He turned toward her, one hand snatching her by the neck. Na Xin, scared by his sudden actions, went pale with fright.

“Let her go!” Jiang Ling yelled furiously.

“I could let her go, if you drop your sword and come over here.” Jiang Ling did not expect that Na Cuo could speak Han.

Jiang Ling looked at Na Xin’s pale face, then threw her sword to the side, “You can let her go now.”

“Come closer.” Na Cuo gripped Na Xin’s throat tighter, cutting off her breathing and making her choke.

Jiang Ling could only move closer.

Once Na Cuo saw Jiang Ling comply, he suddenly pushed Na Xin away into Jiang Ling’s arms. While she was distracted, Na Cuo’s ‘Winter’s Wind Palm’ had already arrived at Na Xin’s back.

“Despicable!” Jiang Ling heaved Na Xin away and met Na Cuo’s palm strike. The force from the four palms colliding created a burst of wind that blew out from the center. That ‘Winter’s Wind Palm’ poured coldness directly into Jiang Ling. The swirling qi within Jiang Ling’s chest burned away the icy coldness, locking her and Na Cuo in a stalemate. The two of them pushed each other away and retracted their strikes.

Na Cuo clenched both of his fists but kept his gaze still. This youth, who looked like they could be blown over in a strong wind, actually had internal skills this strong. His hands were red with a scalding burn which seemed to penetrate down to his bones.

Jiang Ling’s back carried a piercing pain, like her wound had reopened. Her chest felt stifled with the flare up of her old condition. She wanted to calm her breathing, but the scorching hot energy within her dantian seemed to have its own ideas. It kept pointing her toward Na Cuo, as if it wanted her to engage in a life-and-death struggle with him. Jiang Ling’s mind was burned away. She did not know what had occurred, but she felt a pain at the nape of her neck, then her consciousness was lost.

…

It was dark by the time He Xi returned to the city. Just as she entered, she was blocked by Zhu Li.

“The Saintess has been enjoying life. As it happens, you’ve been hiding a fair and slender central plains youth in your courtyard, a crime for someone of your status!”

He Xi raised an eyebrow, “My Lord Left Envoy. Your meaning?”

Zhu Li’s eyes went cold, “Who the Saintess chooses to keep does not concern me. But your little mistake has injured Na Cuo.”

Jiang Ling was still recovering from an injury, and in He Xi’s eyes, Jiang Ling did not have any internal force. She could flee, but she could not hurt others. If He Xi had discovered that Jiang Ling had escaped, she could believe it. However, hearing that she had hurt someone, especially a highly skilled person like Na Cuo, she did not believe it.

“…”

Seeing that He Xi kept silent, Zhu Li added: “Since the Saintess failed to discipline them properly, I’ve delivered a punishment in your place.”

“What?”

“Your dog is in the dungeon. Please take it away and discipline it.” Zhu Li left with a swish of his sleeves.

…

In the dark, damp dungeon, Jiang Ling had awoken. She was curled up sideways on the dry straw, the severe pain in her right wrist reminding her again and again that she had become a lowly prisoner.

What kind of place was this…

“Lady Saintess.” Jiang Ling did not understand the words spoken by the guard outside of her cell. A silhouette of a woman appeared as she walked toward her, gradually drawing near.

This time, when He Xi’s beautiful face entered her sight, Jiang Ling was certain she had not been dreaming then.

She stood quietly outside of the cell, staring at her, and Jiang Ling continued to lay on her side. Her half-closed eyes were filled with the sight of He Xi.

After a moment, Jiang Ling slowly sat up and started cackling, “HAHAHAHA! So it’s like this, the land of the Manichaens!”

Her foe was standing so clearly in front of her eyes. She had become her prisoner, and even more laughably, she was the one who saved her, not Na Xin. It was her, it was He Xi! That woman she had seen in her dreams, enshrouded in fog and haze, was her.

She buried her face in her hands, tears leaking out from between her fingers as she sobbed, “Why do the heavens treat me so!”

Jiang Ling bit her lip, that stifled sensation in her chest rearing its head again.

He Xi saw her condition and did not say anything. She took out a key and opened the cell door, waiting to speak of their matters after she had taken her away.

Just as He Xi opened the door, Jiang Ling flung out a palm, using all of her strength to attack her.

“Jiang Ling!” He Xi grabbed Jiang Ling’s wrist to control her.

“Today, I will kill you to avenge my shixiong. Don’t worry, I’ll accompany you to the Yellow Springs[1] to repay your kindness.” Jiang Ling’s gaze was brimming with killing intent. With a twist of her wrist, she threw off He Xi’s grip, and she struck out again toward He Xi’s chest, her actions frenzied. He Xi reversed her momentum, pinning Jiang Ling against the wall with her arms behind her back.

As she had thought, there was something wrong with her. Na Xin had told her that that afternoon, Jiang Ling’s eyes had turned completely crimson. With a single palm strike, Na Cuo spit blood. Then, Jiang Ling had raised her sword to kill him, as if she was an entirely different person.

As she was now, she was entirely different. Aside from her shedding her immature appearance, her face was thinner and her body was taller. Her eyes had lost her purity, and now they were filled with viciousness. Had she truly been carried away by her hatred? She had become impulsive and unable to judge the situation because of her anger.

Jiang Ling struggled a few times but could not break free. As her face was pressed against the cool wall, she gradually calmed down. The stabbing pain in her right hand drew away her attention.

“Hurts!”

He Xi let her go. Jiang Ling covered her wrist and squatted down.

“What’s wrong with your hand?”

“…”

She waited for Jiang Ling’s strength to return.

“How did you injure Na Cuo?”

“I don’t know.” Jiang Ling was aware that Na Cuo was the person she had fought, but Jiang Ling did not know what He Xi was referring to, “I didn’t injure him. We only exchanged a few blows.”

“My subordinate saw you injure him with the intent to kill him.”

“Who?” Jiang Ling raised her head and looked up at He Xi.

“Na Xin.” Jiang Ling did not dare to believe Na Xin’s words, but she also had no reason not to believe them. She truly had no memory of such a thing.

“…”

“Are you still going to kill me?” He Xi gazed down at Jiang Ling from above. From Jiang Ling’s perspective, He Xi was looking down at her scornfully. Jiang Ling did not like this kind of relative position, so she stood up.

“I can’t beat you. Once I’m able to, we can talk.” Jiang Ling seemed to have freed herself, the previous weight in her heart scattered by He Xi. Revenge is easier said than done; He Xi had suppressed her in two moves, and now, within her territory, she could only bide her time.

He Xi did not continue to converse with her and left the dungeon.

Jiang Ling had no choice but to follow her.

Night had fallen. The nights in Xiyu were always bone-chillingly cold, freezing even if they had inner skills to protect their bodies. Both of them quickened their steps.

Other than a few followers patrolling the streets, Jiang Ling did not see anyone else out. Jiang Ling followed He Xi back to her residence. At first, Na Xin felt a surge of joy when she saw the two of them, but when she remembered the look on Jiang Ling’s face when she had lost control, she felt a twinge of fear.

Jiang Ling grew certain that she had genuinely committed those things once she saw Na Xin’s face. The return of her internal force had come with unknown dangers.