Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 33 It's a Bit Cold

Before Jiang Xun could even feel happy, another Golden Feather Guard pounced on him, his sword flashing like lightning, heading straight for his face.

This time he saw it clearly—the man's sword was thrusting from the right, at an upward angle, leaving his side wide open.

Suddenly, a move from the Spring Water Sword Technique popped into my mind.

Spring waters flow eastward.

He thrust the cleaver forward with the same stance he used.

It was clearly a kitchen knife, but when it was swung out, it had an indescribable fluidity, like flowing water, sliding past the man's sword and heading straight for his waist.

"Bang!"

The man was slashed, let out a muffled groan, and collapsed, clutching his waist.

Jiang Xun was completely dumbfounded.

He looked down at his hands, then at the chipped kitchen knife, and remained stunned for a long time.

That's it...? They won?

He clearly used the Spring Water Sword Technique just now, but the feeling it gave was completely different from what Lin Nan used on the arena.

His sword was faster and smoother than Lin Nan's.

Just like... just like that's how it's supposed to be used.

Lü Qin's expression changed slightly.

He could tell that the kid was using swordsmanship, and it was a very sophisticated swordsmanship.

But this kid was using a kitchen knife, and his movements weren't quite standard; he seemed like a self-taught amateur.

Can't delay any longer.

Lu Qin pushed off with his feet, his figure swooping down like a hawk to pounce on a rabbit, heading straight for Jiang Xun—he'd deal with this kid first.

A glint of light flashed in Liu Qing's eyes, who was not far away—this was the moment he had been waiting for.

Just now, Lü Qin remained motionless, blocking the way like a stone, leaving him with no way to make a move.

Now that Lü Qin has made a move, the sealed opening has cracked open.

With a flick of her wrist, Liu Qing revealed a black bead the size of a longan in her palm.

Without hesitation, he slammed his fist to the ground.

"boom--"

With a muffled thud, thick smoke billowed up, instantly engulfing the entire alley.

The pungent smell went straight down into my throat and made it impossible to open my eyes.

Jiang Xun's vision went black, and he could see nothing at all.

The smoke stung his throat, making it itch. He gritted his teeth and forced back a cough.

Suddenly, footsteps approached from the side.

He instinctively gripped the cleaver, about to chop down—

"it's me."

Liu Qing's voice was very low, but it reached my ears steadily.

The next instant, a hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him sharply.

Liu Qing touched the ground with her toes, lifted him up, and sped off into the depths of the alley.

The wind whistled past my ears, and behind me only a short, low shout remained:

"Run!"

The two ran wildly all the way to the city gate.

It was still dark, and the city gates were tightly shut.

But Liu Qing didn't stop at all. He grabbed Jiang Xun and rushed straight up the city wall. The city wall was three zhang high. He stepped on the cracks between the bricks and jumped up in a few steps.

Jiang Xun was being pulled along, and he felt like he was about to fly away, with the wind whistling in his ears.

After scaling the city wall, Jiang Xun's legs went weak when he landed, and he knelt down, panting heavily, his chest heaving like a bellows.

Liu Qing wasn't in much better shape; she leaned against the wall, clutching the wound on her shoulder, her face deathly pale.

But he dared not linger. After catching his breath, he led Jiang Xun and continued running out of the city.

They didn't dare stop until they had run for several miles and entered a rocky area.

Jiang Xun leaned against a large rock, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath, his throat dry.

Liu Qing leaned against the side, her breathing unsteady, but her eyes warily scanned the way they came, like an old fox.

The sky was beginning to lighten, and the morning light was gradually spreading.

Liu Qing suddenly spoke up: "Boy, what kind of martial arts did you use just now?"

Jiang Xun was taken aback: "Spring Water Sword Technique."

"Spring Water Swordplay?" Liu Qing frowned. "Which Spring Water Swordplay from the Spring Water Sect?"

Jiang Xun nodded.

Liu Qing stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled. He naturally knew about Jiang Xun's three months in the mountains.

"Kid," Liu Qing said with a hint of amusement, "I didn't expect you to be such a martial arts prodigy."

Hearing his praise, Jiang Xun couldn't help but recall the battle they had just fought.

He held his own against the longsword with a kitchen knife.

The tension from the clash of swords has passed, and now, reflecting on it, there's an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

That felt great.

But before the exhilaration could fully settle in his mind, the smile on his face vanished.

Seeing his sudden change in expression, Liu Qing thought he had noticed something, and her eyes sharpened as she warily scanned her surroundings.

"What's wrong?"

"Waaah—"

Jiang Xun squatted down on the ground, hugged his head, and burst into tears.

"My house...my money...it's all gone..."

Liu Qing stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

"Alright, alright, stop crying." He pulled a thin booklet from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Xun. "Take this, consider it compensation for the house."

Jiang Xun looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, at the booklet. Four words were written on it: "The Azure Lotus Divine Journey".

"Master, is this all you're going to give me in return? This is a house worth 180 taels of silver, with an attic!"

Liu Qing was so angry she laughed.

"One hundred and eighty taels? With my lightness skill, I'd be worth eighteen thousand taels in the martial arts world!"

Jiang Xun's eyes lit up: "Then shall we sell it and split the profits?"

"roll!"

The two laughed for a while.

As she laughed, Liu Qing suddenly sighed softly, as if she had remembered something.

"During this time we've spent together, I've been wary of you." He leaned against a rock, his gaze fixed on the distance, his tone indifferent. "I've observed your eyes, your movements, the tone of your voice—just to see if you have ulterior motives."

He paused.

"But you, kid, I just couldn't tell."

Jiang Xun blinked: "So what exactly am I thinking?"

Liu Qing turned her head to look at him and smiled, "I couldn't tell."

He turned his gaze away and looked towards the gradually brightening horizon.

"So I have to give it a try."

"Try what?"

"Just now," Liu Qing said, "the Golden Feather Guards surrounded us, and you rushed in. You grabbed a chipped kitchen knife and fought them to the death."

He turned his head and looked at Jiang Xun.

"That's true. You can't fake it."

Jiang Xun was taken aback for a moment before meeting his gaze.

For the first time, those eyes were devoid of wariness and amusement, leaving only a faint, indescribable layer of something.

Liu Qing smiled.

"Now, I believe you."

Jiang Xun stared at him blankly, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he couldn't say a word.

Liu Qing ignored his gaze and reached out to pat his shoulder.

Then he took something out of his pocket—wrapped in cloth—and handed it to Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun took it and touched it through the cloth. It felt like a mirror or something similar, and it was quite heavy.

"What is this?"

"Don't ask," Liu Qing said. "Keep it safe."

Jiang Xun weighed the object in his hand, his curiosity piqued, and decided to open it and take a look.

Liu Qing raised her hand and pressed it down on him.

"Don't look here." His voice suddenly lowered. "The fewer people who know about this, the better. Keep it. If we manage to escape this time, go to Yunzhou and wait for me. You'll find out when you get there."

Jiang Xun looked at him and suddenly felt a little nervous.

"Master, what do you mean by that? What do you mean by 'if we can escape this time'?"

Liu Qing didn't answer, but just looked in the direction she came from.

Jiang Xun followed his gaze—

In the distance, on the official road, a group of people was approaching. They were still far away, and it was impossible to see who they were, but their imposing presence could be felt even from miles away.

Jiang Xun's heart sank.

"Golden Feather Guard?"

Liu Qing nodded.

"If I'm not mistaken, it's Huang Hao, the commander of the Golden Feather Guard." He stood up, patted the dirt off his backside, and said, "That old bastard is smarter than a dog; he can't escape now."

Jiang Xun also stood up, his heart inexplicably tightening.

"I'll go with you—"

"No," Liu Qing interrupted him. "Go away."

"But--"

"You can't help." Liu Qing looked at him, her eyes calm and without a trace of emotion. "Going up there is just suicide. I'll hold him off, you run. Run out and wait for me in Yunzhou."

Jiang Xun opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word.

Liu Qing reached out and patted his shoulder, her palm warm, and pressed it firmly.

"Take this and look at it first. I'll teach you slowly when I get to Yunzhou."

Liu Qing withdrew his hand, his tone returning to its nonchalant manner.

"When you're running, remember that the first key to light-body skills isn't speed, it's saving energy. Don't run blindly like an idiot; you need to find a route, find places to hide, find places to go around."

He gave Jiang Xun a push.

"Go."

Jiang Xun stood rooted to the spot.

Liu Qing glared at him: "Aren't you leaving?"

"Master, you...you can catch up, right?"

Liu Qing was taken aback.

He then smiled. In the morning light, that smile had a touch of youthful spirit, like that little beggar who used to fight with stray dogs for food on the street.

"That's right," he said. "I've been running for twenty years, and no one has been able to catch me."

Jiang Xun glanced at him, turned around, and ran eastward.

After running a few steps, he turned back.

Liu Qing had already turned around, her back to him, and walked towards the approaching sound of horses' hooves.

The morning light fell on his shoulders, stretching his lonely shadow long and long, like an unbreakable thread.

Jiang Xun suddenly remembered that night when Liu Qing squatted in his yard, munching on a steamed bun and bragging.

"I've been hanging out on the streets since I was eight. What haven't I seen?"

"Those dogs from the Golden Feather Guard have been chasing me for so many years, and they haven't even managed to touch a hair on my head."

"Once I'm healed, I'll show you what real lightness skill is."

……

"Master—"

Jiang Xun called out.

Liu Qing did not turn around.

He simply raised his hand and waved it behind him, like shooing away a clingy puppy. The hand swayed in the air for a moment, then fell and hung at his side.

Jiang Xun gritted his teeth, turned around, and ran for his life.

All I could hear was the wind and my own heartbeat. The wind filled my mouth; it tasted salty.

The sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from behind.

This was followed by a loud shout—

"Liu Qing!"

Then came the crisp sound of swords clashing, and Liu Qing's nonchalant laughter—

"Old dog Huang, aren't you tired after chasing me for so long?"

Jiang Xun did not turn around.

He just kept running and running until tears streamed down his face, not knowing if it was the wind or something else.

The sun rose and shone on him, warm and comforting.

But he felt a chill down his spine.