This chapter was translated for only. And only for those people who don’t mind reading unprofessional translation that was being translated FREELY at the translator’s and editor’s own free times. So rude & ent.i.tled people aren’t welcome to read this translation!!! So GO AWAY….
By Qian Lu
Chapter 77
Burnt Army Provisions
After returning from Ling Shan mountain yesterday, Jing Shui’s spirit was better by a lot, it was not like those two days when she did not eat nor slept and only foolishly sat down. She did not avoid seeing Qi Rui anymore when he came everyday, and she could even chat and laugh with him occasionally. This made Qi Rui feel very happy, and he always questioned Murong Shu Qing about what she said to Jing Shui and made her able to accept the situation and move on.
Murong Shu Qing only faintly smiled and remained silent, and did not say anything, it was Jing Shui who was actually moved by those elderly couple on her own, their old appearances and interdependent towards each other when they were walking, made her understand what love was. Even though the barrier between her and Qi Rui was not simple like this, but their happiness seemed to be one step closer.
Looking at the two people’s eyes that showed complete affections toward each other, they seemed to be surrounded by a sweet atmosphere, so Murong Shu Qing smilingly and secretly withdrew out of this quiet small courtyard.
She pa.s.sed through the fig tree forest again to arrive at this plum forest in front of her, Murong Shu Qing looked at this stunning scenery in front of her. It was only 3-4 days, but it was actually not the same anymore, the forest was filled with the colorful plum flowers that started to bloom enthusiastically. Looking far away, there appeared to be the same red cloud, was it already midwinter? There was no snow on the ground, that red colors recklessly were standing up more and more, with proud posture, they seemed to be declaring a war with the cold wind and late snow arrival.
She originally thought that this courtyard that was filled with dark red color, would cover up that arrogant colorful reflection, but she was mistaken, the wind was freely waving the red clothing, his black hair was frantically dancing, it made him look even more arrogant and elegant within that plum flowers. His estranged personality was similar to a body within a mortal life, but his heart seemed to be in a faraway place.
Murong Shu Qing slowly walked until she was behind him, just standing quietly and she did not want to disturb this beautiful scene. But just when she was standing, Chu Yin’s clear and light voice that carried a smile, echoed: “Long time now see.”
Was it a long time? It was only three days. Murong Shu Qing smilingly answered: “Yes ah, long time no see.”
Chu Yin turned his body around, his black hair that was not bound, raised a beautiful arc, Murong Shu Qing praisingly sighed, a beauty should be like this. No matter what movement one made, it had to be this graceful and charming, it had nothing to do with any gender, nor ident.i.ty. Murong Shu Qing smilingly gazed at the view, so Chu Yin unconsciously raised his eyebrows, this woman was very unusual like this. When she concentrated her line of sight, not only it did not make people to loathe on her, but it actually made you to be enchanted with that tranquil and carefree like spring water’s eyes.
“You came because you wanted to tell me, you guys had already discussed this properly to not do the medical procedure.” From the moment she asked last time, he had already guessed that girl would not exchange her face with another person. Chu Yin slightly halted his words, and when he started to speak again, his face showed a restrained smiling expression, and he said with a m.u.f.fled and oppressed voice: “I can help if you want me to help her reduce her birthmark, but you have to promise me one thing.”
“Say it so I can hear it.” Murong Shu Qing was somewhat curious, Chu Yin, what matter did this person want her to do?
Chu Yin fished out a jade-like fan from his bosom, the sunshine was shining on it, so it was sparkling and pure, just like it was transparent. Striking the body of the jade lightly, he fiddled it with his hand, for a long time, Chu Yin finally said quietly: “Find the other part of this exquisite jade.”
Looking that he treasured and always carried it on his body like this, this exquisite jade surely had a special meaning for him. Murong Shu Qing asked: “Except for this, is there another clue?”
Hearing her question made Chu Yin to stop stroking the jade, and gave the exquisite jade to Murong Shu Qing. Chu Yin turned around and stood near the plum forest, he did not speak for a long time.
Murong Shu Qing had seen his back for countless of times, before she entered the plum forest, she was always looking at his back. Sometimes it looked proud and aloof, sometimes it looked n.o.ble and virtuous, sometimes it looked casual, sometimes it looked cold and indifferent, but it had never looked so desolate like today, it changed greatly. It actually made people unable to ask anymore.
Murong Shu Qing lowered her head to look at exquisite jade that was stuffed in her hand, the surface of the jade was carved with a full blooming plum flower, the work of the carving did not have any special nor meticulous. There were a few simple strokes, that were already engraved in perfection to show the spirituality and unyielding character of the plum blossom, it could be seen that the person who carved it, certainly loved the plum flower. The simple carving already had its own style. There were a couple of small letters that were carved on the other side, ‘Desolate White Rabbit (qiong bai tu), walking east and look after west (dong zou xi gu)’. The writing used a vigorous and flying free in calligraphy style, and it was within its own group.
Because it had been gently caressed and stroke for a long time, the surface of the jade had already became mellow and glossy. Holding it within her hand, she could feel a faint and slight cold air, the texture was actually similar to her bracelet. But it was midwinter now, so she could not be certain that the slight cold air was actually emitted from the jade itself, or it was because of this cold wind.
Raising his head again, Chu Yin still had his back on her, so Murong Shu Qing lightly sighed, he must have carved this exquisite jade on his own. It showed his personal style everywhere on the jade. And he wholeheartedly wanted to look for the other part of the exquisite jade as ‘a new dress is the best, and so is an old friend’. (With clothing, a new clothes is the best, but with friend, an old friend is the best).
The sky was gradually darkened, the original cold wind was blowing frantically even more, but within this plum forest, no matter if the red plum flowers were standing proud, or the colorful shadows that were standing to face the wind, they all appeared to want to compete with this strong wind. Only Murong Shu Qing who was already wearing a brocade cotton that was tightly wrapped on her body, was unable to bear the cold wind and lightly shivering.
Just when Murong Shu Qing prepared to depart, Chu Yin who had not spoken anything for a long time, finally spoke, but his clear voice contained a cold and sorrow feeling: “The original owner of the exquisite jade was my schoolmate younger sister (Shi Mei), who was Mo Can’s mother. She only left me with her dead body and this child 20 years ago.”
He and she were from the same Master, and could be regarded as childhood sweethearts, he specialized in practicing the five phases of the art of healing, and she learned the four arts. The two people’s feelings were good from childhood, they should be expected to become a couple. But she actually fell in love with another man, so he let her be. If she could be happy, he would not have any regrets, but why was the final words that she used before she pa.s.sed away, was for him to entrust and take care of himself.
He wanted to find that man who took her away, and the person who killed her, but it had been 20 years, he actually could not find any clue at all. Even the black ice jade carving of the exquisite jade that was given by their Master when she was ten years old, was also missing at the same time 20 years ago. He guessed that this exquisite jade that was famous in the world, might be related to her dead, so he must find that other part of the exquisite jade.
Even though she could not see his expression, Murong Shu Qing could still feel his pain. As it turned out, there was this kind of relationship between him and Mo Can. However, because of this relationship, it would not be easy for him to take care of Mo Can even more. One was his own beloved woman and the other one was another’s man child. She did not know whether or not this was a type of suffering for him.
But important thing like this, Chu Yin must have already been looking for it so many years, but he still could not find anything up to this day, then where could she start to look for? Having no choice, Murong Shu Qing quietly said: “You have been looking for 20 years and still have not found the stuff, so you think that I can find it?”
He seemed to be somewhat tired, so Chu Yin sighed with a whisper: “Many things depend on fate, just because I can not find it, it does not mean that you can not find it either.” Was he and she really destined to have no connection at all? He looked for it for 20 years, and there was no news at all.
Unable to refuse anymore, Murong Shu Qing answered plainly: “I will try my best.”
Walking behind Chu Yin, Murong Shu Qing lightly returned the exquisite jade back, but Chu Yin did not accept it. That pair of bewitching eyes were watching attentively ahead, it seemed like he was looking at the proud plum flowers not far away, but he seemed to be looking to a far away distant place even more. Finally, Chu Yin quietly and indifferently said: “You take it.” Finished speaking, he decided to go.
Murong Shu Qing was just staring blankly and still standing at the original place, was this not a real treasure that he had cherished for many years? Why did he give it to her in the end? The plum flower petals that were falling, were swept by the cold wind, and they were intermittently fluttering by Murong Shu Qing’s side. Murong Shu Qing reached out to take the plum flower petal and lightly shook it with her hand to spoil the plum flower, she lightly smiled and shook her head, with regards to this long term feeling that died, she still did not understand it ah!
The winter night was never particularly desolate, as the cold wind was blowing the dead leaves to make rustling sounds, even there was also squeaking sounds of the door from the blowing wind. Murong Shu Qing who had slept earlier, was woken up by a noise at the door. After listening carefully, it was not the blowing wind that made the sound at the door, but someone was actually knocking on the door. But it was really late, who would still knock on the door? Keeping her puzzled feeling under control, Murong Shu Qing asked: “Who is it?”
“Master.” Outside the door, it was a cold and firm’s man sound, it was Yan Yu, so Murong Shu Qing immediately got up, it must be an extremely important matter for him to come and find her at this time. Draping a heavy brocade coat, she lighted the lantern, and Murong Shu Qing opened the door for Yan Yu.
Through the candle light from her hand, she could see Yan Yu’s complexion that was not good at all, his face that was originally resolute and cold, filled with haziness now. Even though Yan Yu always had a grim and unfeeling face, but this kind of solemn and gloomy complexion like this, was actually very rare.
Just when he entered the room, Murong Shu Qing asked: “What happened?” Yan Yu came to look for her at this time, plus with his current complexion, it made Murong Shu Qing had this kind of bad premonition.
Yan Yu knitted his eyebrows, and coldly said: “The 80,000 worth of army provisions that Dong Yu sent out to Lin Feng Guan border, were burnt down early yesterday morning.”
“What?” As expected, Yan Yu’s simple statement confirmed her thoughts, and she almost dropped the candle that she was holding on her hand.
Sian"s notes:
The original raw actually had a lot more paragraphs in this chapter, but once I was done translating this chapter, I found that the additional paragraphs didn"t make any sense at all because it jumped back to the plum forest where MSQ met with Chu Yin. So I continued to translate Ch 78, as you"ll see on the next update, Ch 78 continued on this chapter as MSQ & Yan Yu were talking about the burnt army provisions. So I went back to Ch 71 when MSQ met with Chu Yin at his cabin to see if the additional paragraphs in this chapter actually belonged to that chapter. Truthfully, back when I was done translating Ch 71, I felt that there was something missing between the end of Ch 71 & the beginning of Ch 72. But at that time, I was just thinking that maybe the author was doing it intentionally & didn"t think about it anymore. Until I saw the additional paragraphs in this chapter so I was convinced that they actually belonged to Ch 71 & decided to add it in Ch 71 instead.
Not sure what the meaning about the words that Chu Yin put on the jade as we couldn"t find any reference on those words. The white rabbit might be a nick name that he used to call his Shimei (younger sis from the same school).
Didn"t I guarantee that Chu Yin is a straight guy?