Chapter 12: Both are Heart-Broken People
Original novel written by Gu Long
Fan translation by Meh (Send an email)
Although it抯 still noon, the sky is as cloudy as dusk.
Ah Fei walked calmly, just as the way he walked when Tie Chuan Jia first saw him. Still so lonely, so worn out.
But now Tie Chuan Jia knows. If there was danger, this youngster would immediately become alert. Walking besides him, Tie Chuan Jia wanted to say so many things, but doesn抰 know where to start. Li Xun Huan never talked much. And being with Li Xun Huan for so many years, he knows how to use silence to replace words. He only said two words, 揟hank you.�
He immediately realized that even these two words aren抰 necessary. Because Ah Fei and Li Xun Huan are the same. One never has to use the words 慣hank you� in front of them.
There抯 a pavilion here. Ah Fei walked over to it, then suddenly asked, 揥hy didn抰 you tell them the truth?�
Tie Chuan Jia thought for a long time, then sighed, 揟here are some things I would rather die than say.�
Ah Fei said, 揧ou really are a great friend, but you抮e wrong about one thing.�
揥hat抯 that?�
Ah Fei said, 揧ou think that since life is your own抯, you have the right to die!�
揝o am I wrong?�
Ah Fei said, 揙f course it抯 wrong.�
He suddenly turned around, staring at Tie Chuan Jia, then said, 揥hen someone is born, it抯 not to die.�
Tie Chuan Jia said, 揧ou抮e right. If it weren抰 for dire circ.u.mstances...�
Ah Fei said, 揈ven if you must die, you still have to do anything you can to live.�
He continued to stare at Tie Chuan Jia, said crisply, 揋od has done much for you. What have you done for him?�
揘othing.�
揑n order to raise you, your mother and father must have given so much. What have you done for them?�
Tie Chuan Jia can only lower his head.
Ah Fei said, 揧ou know that some things can never be spoken. If you say it, then you抣l be betraying a friend. But if you simply die like this, aren抰 you betraying your parents, betraying G.o.d?�
Tie Chuan Just stared into the sky, then said, 揑 was wrong. I was wrong...�
He looks as if he suddenly made a big decision. 揑 didn抰 want to say it, because...�
Ah Fei cut him off, 揑 trust you. You don抰 have to explain.�
Tie Chuan Jia could not help asking, 揃ut how can you be sure that I did not do what they claimed?�
Ah Fei said, 揑 just know.�
His eyes very bright, filled with confidence. Then he continued, 揟his might be because I grew up in the wild. So like beasts, I have a knack for distinguishing between good and evil.�
In Li Xun Huan抯 mind, if there抯 one thing worse than not being able to drink, it抯 to drink with annoying people.
He feels that of the people here, all are extremely annoying. Comparatively speaking, You Long Sheng is actually the best of the bunch. At least he doesn抰 kiss up to others.
So all he can do is pretend to be sick.
Long Xiao4 Yun knows his temper, so he did not say anything. Therefore, Li Xun Huan simply lied on his bed, waiting for night to fall.
He knows that lots of interesting things will happen tonight.
When he thought of the date with Lin Xin Er tonight, his eyes brightened. But when he thought of Tie Chuan Jia, he became gloomy again.
It抯 finally dark.
Just as Li Xun Huan got up, he heard light footsteps in the snow outside. So he immediately lied back down again.
Just at this moment, the footsteps have reached the window.
Li Xun Huan did not do anything. He didn抰 ask who it is. Since the person was afraid to come in, he can抰 be Long Xiao4 Yun. Long Xiao4 Yun would never pace outside the room.
So who could it be?
Shi Yin?
All the blood in his body shot up to his head. He couldn抰 help but shiver. But then the person outside lightly coughed.
揑s brother Li already asleep?�
This is the voice of You Long Sheng. Li Xun Huan let out a sigh of relief. He doesn抰 know whether to be happy or sad.
You Long Sheng came in and sat down. His eyes never looking once at Li Xun Huan. Li Xun Huan lit up the candle, and suddenly saw that the youngster抯 face is pale.
Li Xun Huan asked with a smile, 揇o you want tea, or wine?�
You Long Sheng said, 揥ine.�
Li Xun Huan smiled. 揋ood. I never keep tea in my room.�
You Long Sheng immediately drank three cups. Then asked, 揇o you know why I抦 drinking wine?�
Li Xun Huan said, 揧ou probably don抰 have any to be sad about, so could it be to gain courage?�
You Long Sheng stared at him. Then suddenly burst out laughing.
At this moment, he pulled out the sword on his waist.
He suddenly stopped laughing. Then asked, 揇o you recognize this sword?�
Li Xun Huan lightly touched the side of the sword, then said, 揈xcellent sword!�
You Long Sheng抯 eyes flickered. 揝ince brother Li is also a sword expert, I抦 sure you know that this sword is one of the most famous in the world.�
He looked at the sword and said, 揟his is the 慙ove s.n.a.t.c.hing Sword� used by the famous Di Wu Zi 300 years ago. But I抦 sure brother Li has not heard of the story behind it, right?�
揚lease do tell.�
揇i Wu Zi was madly in love with his sword, so he did not fall in love with a woman until he抯 middle-aged. They planned on getting married. But a few days before the wedding, he found his fiancee and his good friend 慡abre G.o.d� Peng Qiong meet secretly. In his anger, he killed Peng Qiong with this sword. Then the sword became his sole companion, for he no longer cared for marriage.�
He looked at Li Xun Huan. 揧ou might think that this is a simple, straightforward, boring story. However, it is true story.�
Li Xun Huan smiled, then said, 揑 just feel that while this Di Wu Zi is an excellent swordsman, he抯 a bit narrow-minded. Why would a true man jeopardize friendship over a woman?�
You Long Sheng also smiled, then said, 揧et I seem to feel that he is a true man. Only a true man will fall so deeply in love.�
Li Xun Huan chuckled. 揑抦 thinking you want to emulate Di Wu Zi from 300 years ago, right?�
You Long Sheng stared at Li Xun Huan with icy cold eyes, then said coldly, 揟his depends on whether brother Li wants to emulate 慡abre G.o.d� Peng Qiong from 300 years ago!�
Li Xun Huan sighed. 揧ou know, the moon is very beautiful tonight. Why would you disrupt such a nice scenery with such words?�
You Long Sheng said, 揑n that case, I take it you抣l definitely go there tonight!�
Li Xun Huan said, 揑f I leave a girl like Ms. Lin to watch the moon alone tonight, I抎 feel like a criminal.�
You Long Sheng抯 pale face suddenly turned red. His anger readily apparent. The sword turned, aiming at the side of Li Xun Huan抯 neck.
Yet Li Xun Huan still kept his smile. 揥ith your swordsmanship, you抮e not quite good enough to emulate Di Wu Zi.�
You Long Sheng said angrily, 揑 don抰 even need to use my full abilities to kill you.�
Even as they speak You Long Sheng has attacked ten times.
Only to hear the sound of sword splitting the wind, quick and loud. The wine cups on the table have all been shattered the wind generated by the sword. Wine spilled all over the floor. Although his each sword stroke faster than the last, Li Xun Huan just seemingly stood there. As if nothing抯 happening. Every single stroke missed.
You Long Sheng bit his teeth. His strokes made with more and more urgency.
He saw that Li Xun Huan抯 hands are empty. So each sword stroke was made to keep Li Xun Huan from using his dagger.
Yet Li Xun Huan doesn抰 seem to any intention of using his dagger, instead waited for this set of attacks to end. Then he suddenly smiled, said, 揊or someone your age, your sword skills are amazing. However, for someone with a father and a teacher like you, if you were to travel around, your teacher and father抯 reputations would be shattered.�
Incredibly enough, he still talks freely even while under a barrage of attacks. You Long Sheng became more and more impatient and angry. Yet for some reason, his strokes always miss Li Xun Huan抯 clothes.
When he tried to attack Li Xun Huan抯 throat, Li Xun Huan would twist his body left. When he tried to change his aim to the left, he抎 find that Li Xun Huan did not really move.
So although all his attacks are some of the most deadly in the world, they could still not harm Li Xun Huan.
You Long Sheng bit his teeth tightly, his next stroke aimed directly at Li Xun Huan抯 chest. Thinking, 揘o matter what you do this time, I would not fall for your tricks anymore.�
After getting tricked by Li Xun Huan so many times, he determined that he will not change the direction of his attack anymore.
Only to see Li Xun Huan抯 left shoulder moved slightly, twisting his body to the right. This time he really did move! You Long Sheng missed again.
At this moment, Li Xun Huan flicked his fingers at the side of the sword.
You Long Sheng suddenly felt a powerful vibration. His whole body instantly became paralyzed, unable to control his sword. The sword then suddenly shot out of his hand, out the window, and into the woods.
Li Xun Huan抯 still just standing there. His feet hasn抰 moved an inch all this time.
You Long felt all his blood rushing to his head, then all dropped back down to his feet. His whole body became cold. Li Xun Huan tapped his shoulder with a smile, then said, 揧our sword is very precious. You should go get it.�
You Long Sheng stomped his feet. Then turned around and rushed out. But suddenly stopped. He said, 揑f... if you have guts, wait a year. A year later I抣l come to seek my revenge.�
Li Xun Huan said, 揂 year? I抦 afraid a year won抰 be enough.�
He then added, 揧ou have nice potential. Your swordsmanship is also pretty good. The problem is your temper. You抮e too impatient and proud. So when you meet a foe stronger than you, you immediately fall apart. Actually, if you had patience today, it抯 quite possible for you to injure me.� You Long Sheng抯 eyes immediately brightened, but before he can say anything, Li Xun Huan continued, 揃ut patience is something easier said than done. So if you want to beat me, you need at least seven years!�
Li Xun Huan then said with a smile, 揧ou can go now. Go practice for seven years and then come to seek your revenge. Seven years is not a long time.�
The night resumed its peacefulness.
Li Xun Huan looked at the night sky through the window, stood there quietly for a long time. Then said into the distance, 揧oungster, you shouldn抰 hate me. Actually, I抦 trying to save you. If you stay with Lin Xian Er, she抣l ruin your life.�
He brushed off the dust on his clothes, then walked out the room.
He knows that Lin Xian Er is waiting for him, and that she also prepared another trick. He抯 quite intrigued as to what she has in mind.
When You Long Sheng left, he抯 no longer that proud, that cold. He told Li Xun Huan, 揑f you really like Lin Xian Er, you抣l regret it. She抯 already mine. We抳e already had...had... Why would you wear my old shoes?�
Yet Li Xun Huan just smiled. 揙ld shoes are always more comfortable than new ones.�
When he thought of You Long Sheng抯 expression as he left, he felt very sympathetic, yet also kind of funny. But is Lin Xian Er really that kind of a girl?
As he walked out the door, he suddenly saw light coming from the forest.
Two servants came, each with a lantern, and are whispering to each other, and secretly laughing. Yet when they saw Li Xun Huan, they stopped whispering and laughing.
Yet Li Xun Huan instead started to chuckle, he asked, 揇id Ms. Lin ask you to come get me?�
The servant on the left is a bit older and taller. She said, 揂ctually, it抯 our Lady who wants to meet Mr. Li.�
Li Xun Huan shockingly said, 揕ady?�
He then asked nervously, 揥hich lady?�
The younger servant could not help but chuckle. 揟here抯 only one Lady in this house.�
Li Xun Huan抯 body is still there, but his mind has already wondered outside the forest. Flew into that little building...
Ten years ago, he constantly went there. He remembers that the table there always has his favorite food.
As Li Xun Huan walk hastily, he抯 back at this little building again.
The light upstairs is very pleasant. The same as it was ten years ago. Even the snow on the ceiling are just as lovely as they were ten years ago.
However, ten years still pa.s.sed...
It抯 ten years that can never be taken back.
Li Xun Huan just couldn抰 get up his courage to go up the stairs.
Yet he has to go.
No matter why she asked him to come, he has no reason to reject her.
He froze immediately upon reaching the top of the stairs.
Ten long years, all seemed to have disappeared at this very instant. It抯 as if he just traveled back to ten years ago. His heart started pounding, like a youngster with his first love. The warmness of ten years ago... The dreams of ten years ago...
Li Xun Huan wouldn抰 dare to keep on thinking. To do so would be betraying Long Xiao4 Yun, as well as himself. He wanted to run away.
But at this time, he heard someone say from behind the curtain, 揚lease sit down.�
The voice is just as beautiful as it was ten years ago. Yet now it抯 so distant, so cold. If it weren抰 for those familiar dishes on the table, he almost wouldn抰 believe that he抯 meeting a close friend.
He can only sit down and say, 揟hank you.�
Then a person came out from the back room.
Li Xun Huan almost stopped breathing. The person coming out is only a child. He抯 still wearing the same red clothes, yet his face as white as a sheet of paper.
The voice from behind the curtain said, 揇on抰 forget what mom just told you. Go pour a cup of wine for your uncle Li.�
The red child said, 揧es.�
Li Xun Huan doesn抰 know what do think or say. Even though he did nothing wrong, he could still not help but feel like a criminal in front of this child.
Shi Yin, Shi Yin. Is the purpose of your invitation to torture me?
How could he possibly drink this wine? Yet how could he not drink it?�
The red child said, 揂lthough your nephew can no longer practice kung fu anymore, a true man cannot live under his parents his whole life. So I hope uncle Li can teach me some defense skills. So your nephew will not be bullied later in his life.�
Li Xun Huan sighed inside, then took out his hand. The hand has a small dagger on it.
Lin Shi Yin said from behind the curtain, 揧our uncle has never taught anyone his dagger skills. If you learn it, you won抰 have to worry about others bullying you. Go thank your uncle Li.�
The red child really did kneel on the ground, said, 揟hank you uncle Li.�
Li Xun Huan smiled, but he thought, 揘othing beats the love a mother has for her child. Yet I wonder how a child treats his mother?�
The servant has taken away the child, yet Lin Shi Yin is still behind the curtain. She would not let Li Xun Huan leave.
Li Xun Huan has always been a very confident person. Yet for some strange reason, he could only sit there like an idiot.
The night becomes even darker.
Is Lin Xian Er still waiting for him?
Lin Shi Yin suddenly asked, 揇o you have something you need to do?�
Li Xun Huan replied, 揘...no.�
Lin Shi Yin paused for a second, then said, 揧ou must抳e seen Xian Er already.�
Li Xun Huan said, 揙ne or two times.�
Lin Shi Yin said, 揝he抯 a poor child. She grew up in a bad environment. If you抳e seen her dad, you抎 know what I mean.�
揑 know.�
Lin Shi Yin said, 揙ne year I went to the 慡acrifice Cliff� to pray, I saw her about to jump down the cliffs. So I saved her... Do you know why she wanted to jump off the cliff?�
Li Xun Huan replied, 揘o.�
Lin Shi Yin said, 揃ecause of her father抯 illness.�
Li Xun Huan could only sit there.
Lin Shi Yin continued, 揘ot only is she very smart and pretty, she抯 also very proud. She knows that she抯 from a poor family, and need to rely on others for many things. She抯 always afraid that others would look down on her.�
Li Xun Huan said, 揑抦 thinking no one would look down upon her today, right?�
Lin Shi Yin said, 揟his is due to her perseverance over the years. Unfortunately, she抯 still too young, her heart抯 too soft. I抦 always afraid that she would fall for other people抯 tricks.�
Li Xun Huan laughed bitterly. 揑f others won抰 fall for her tricks, I抎 be happy.�
Lin Shi Yin said, 揑 just want her to find a good husband, and not get duped without knowing what抯 going on. Then live in pain for the rest of her life.�
Li Xun Huan thought for a second, then asked, 揥hy are you saying this to me?�
Lin Shi Yin thought for a second, then said, 揥hy am I saying this to you, you don抰 know?�
He did indeed figured it all out.
The reason Lin Shi Yin kept him here is to prevent his meeting with Lin Xian Er. Obviously, You Long Sheng told her this.
Lin Shi Yin said, 揘o matter what, we抮e old friends. I want to ask you a favor.�
Li Xun Huan抯 heart felt cold, yet he still smiled. 揧ou don抰 want me to go see Lin Xian Er.�
揅orrect.�
Li Xun Huan took a deep breath, then said, 揧ou... you think I like her?�
Lin Shi Yin said, 揑 don抰 care how you feel about her. Just do me this favor.�
Li Xun Huan finished the whole cup of wine in front of him in one gulp, then said, 揧ou抮e right. I抦 an useless wanderer. If I were to see her, I抎 be hurting her...�