289 Return to Heavenly Revelations Alone
By the time Xiao Se arrived, Long Er was sitting on the steps in front of the door. Her entire body was stained with blood, and her guqin was placed aside, all battered and broken. She detected the appearance of someone approaching her and she immediately raised her sword and looked up.
"Long Er, what happened?" Xiao Se said, facing her.
"It was Hidden River," Long Er said slowly. She couldn't speak too quickly, but that feeling of her voice being torn out of her throat gave others a guilty conscience.
"You’re living here in Snow Moon City, you’re very safe. But not everyone can be protected like you. For every one person who wants to help you, ten times as many people want them dead. Xiao Chuhe, you can’t hide!” Long Er cried angrily. "You must pick up arms and fight back. This is your fate! You can’t hide from it!"
Right then, the door was pushed open and Sikong Changfeng walked out with a sigh. "Your injuries are not light either. Raising your voice like this will cause your wounds to reopen." But, Long Er ignored him and only then did Sikong Changfeng remember that while Long Er could read lips, and had even learned to speak through effort and hardship, she still couldn't hear if he spoke behind her. So he stepped forward and patted Long Er’s shoulder.
Long Er turned around and saw Sikong Changfeng smiling at her as he said, "His life is not in danger now, but it’ll take a few months of recuperation before he can get out of bed. For now, you two shall have to stay in Snow Moon City." Long Er was stunned for a moment, then she mumbled a soft “thank you” before she went inside.
Sikong Qianluo had also rushed over and she saw Xiao Se standing there, indifferent and still.
"Actually, it’s not that you want to hide. It’s just that the time is not right yet." Sikong Changfeng obviously heard their conversation just now and said his words in consolation.
"Actually, she wasn’t wrong," Xiao Se said lightly. "For every one person who wants to help me, there are ten times as many people who want them dead. Back then, when I left Heavenly Revelations, many people already died for me. Some of them were study companions who grew up with me from childhood. Some were my classmates from the military academy. Some were my teachers in archery and horse riding. They all died when I left. Then this time, when I return to Heavenly Revelations, how many more people will die?"
"You’re different," Sikong Changfeng said.
Xiao Se shook his head, turned and left. "No, every person is the same."
Tang Clan.
Tang Lianyue was the current Grandmaster Tang, but he was neither old nor did he look like an old master. However, in terms of prestige, he was no weaker than the previous Grandmaster Tang.
Because when the Ye Banner Battalion came at him with a thousand men armed with twin blades, he alone forced them to retreat. Also because in Bai Xiao Hall’s latest Golden Lists, he was listed in the Ultimate Experts List and even ranked in the third tier. Just that alone had already relegated the Lei Clan. Thus, even though he had always appeared to be under house arrest in the Tang Clan, not a single Tang Clan disciple would dare to lack confidence in him.
Except for the disciple he was most proud of, the only one who stood by his side, Tang Lian.
"Shifu." Tang Lian sat opposite him, looking at the master whom he could never figure out, and slowly said, "I’ve been staying in Tang Clan for over a month now. But, you’re still not giving me the answer I want. Is the Tang Clan now standing on Snow Moon City’s side or continuing to support that White Prince in Heavenly Revelations City."
"The Tang Clan has never involved itself with disputes of the imperial court. This has been the rule for hundreds of years. Grandmaster refused to obey because he wanted to destroy Lei Clan Fort. He listened to the White Prince and did not hesitate to ally with the Hidden River. In the end, not only did Grandmaster die, Lei Clan Fort are also eyeing us like a tiger eyes its prey, Snow Moon City will not trust us again, and we have forged a blood feud with the Hidden River. Hearing your details of the event, we have also inadvertently offended the long-established Wen Clan and Sword Heart Tomb. Even though Tang Ze’s last gamble gave us, the Tang Clan, a way out so that we still have a place in the martial world, the present situation is still very bad," Tang Lianyue said. "Even if we wish to re-align ourselves with Snow Moon City, the Wen Clan and Lei Clan will not agree again. Even if the current Grandmaster is me, the Tang Clan is still the Tang Clan who plotted to kill them. As for the White Prince, we now have a blood feud with the Hidden River, so he can only make a choice between the two. But he will understand that I will not choose him because I’m an old friend of Langya Prince. And as I said, the Tang Clan will not involve ourselves with disputes of the imperial court. This has been the rule for hundreds of years. Grandmaster made a mistake and suffered the consequences. I will not make the same mistake again."
Tang Lian frowned and was lost in thought for a while. "So, shifu, you’re saying you won’t help either side?"
"We can barely protect ourselves, how can I think about helping or not helping?" Tang Lianyue shook his head.
"But…" Tang Lian hesitated. "I…"
"As I said, the Tang Clan does not involve ourselves with disputes of the imperial court. But, it’s not impossible for one or two Tang Clan members to get involved. Just like I did back then, and just like you’re going to now." Tang Lianyue smiled. "Just follow your heart. Don’t worry about Tang Clan. After all, back when I did what I wanted, I didn’t really care about Tang Clan either."
"If I go on alone…" Tang Lian whispered.
Tang Lianyue shook his head. "You will understand in the future. When you go to a place like Heavenly Revelations, having more people doesn’t mean they’re all useful. Besides, you won’t be alone. Back then, I had Langya Prince, Li Xinyue, Lei Mengsha and many other friends. You, too, have friends now. I’m sure you’ve heard the news from Heavenly Revelations City. It won’t be long now, before you will have to leave for that city."
"This disciple," Tang Lian bowed his head. "Received the order."
Snow Moon City.
Erhai Lake.
Erhai was not a sea, but a huge lake. Because its shape resembled a small ear, it was called "Er". And because the city folk in the old continent had never seen the sea, and based on what they imagined a sea to look like, they called this lake a "sea". Therefore, the name of the lake was Erhai.
According to legend, Cangshan Mountain was connected to Erhai Lake. In ancient times, the daughter of an emperor had just gotten married when her husband went to war. He was gone for over ten years. The soldiers who returned reported that the consort was dead, and the princess cried day and night over his death. Her tears eventually flowed into the river and became Erhai Lake. By then, the princess was already near death but right at that moment, the consort actually returned. The day they were reunited was also the day they were forever parted. The princess’s husband was so distressed that he made a vow to Heaven that he would become a mountain to guard the sea. Since then, the two became the mountain and lake to be together through the ages. Hence, Erhai and Cangshan were formed and to this day, they have remained with each other.
At this time, there was a full moon in the sky, as round as a mirror and on the surface of Erhai Lake, there was also a reflection of the huge golden moon. The sky, the clouds, the moonlight and the sea blended together, forming a harmonious and beautiful image.
"This is the moon of Erhai. It really is a beautiful scene," Xiao Se murmured. It had been over a year since he first stepped into Snow Moon City, but this was the first time he saw this magnificent scene.
"Wind, flowers, snow, and moon. I’ve seen them all so it’s time to leave." Xiao Se turned around and whistled. The yebei horse that had been following him since Fallen Snow Villa ran over and Xiao Se flipped onto the horse. He turned his head for one last look before he flicked the horse whip.
He departed in a cloud of dust.
He rode alone, leaving the city, heading straight for Heavenly Revelations.
From the beginning, this was my business and mine alone. Nobody needs to protect anyone else.
I am Xiao Se. I will return to Heavenly Revelations alone!