Chapter 122 - The Shadow of Falling Sands
As the saying goes, colorful clouds are easily scattered, and good times are fleeting. For those whose horoscopes are inherently ill-fated, this truth is doubly bitter.
A wave of sorrow washed over Qin Jiuye. She couldn't help but wonder: had she offended the heavens simply by earning a few scraps of silver from Wang Xiao earlier today? Was this her divine retribution? Taking a deep, steadying breath, she cautiously lifted her eyelids to observe the woman in white.
Judging by the woman's predatory posture, she wasn't here merely to enjoy the scenery. She was either a scavenger waiting to profit from the aftermath of the earlier conflict or a vengeful spirit seeking an opening. Though she and Li Qiao had stumbled into this mess by accident, to an outsider, there was no distinction. The woman was likely weighing whether Qin Jiuye was a participant in the night’s violence.
Regardless of the woman's intent, the most urgent priority was to leave. Qin Jiuye thickened her skin, cupped her hands, and offered a standard martial arts greeting.
"My younger brother and I lost our way in the dead of night. We only just found our bearings and did not mean to disturb your rest, Great Heroine. We shall take our leave now."
With that, she grabbed Li Qiao’s arm, intending to turn and vanish into the darkness.
Suddenly, a raspy, youthful male voice rang out. "You disturbed my Sect Leader’s cultivation. Do you truly think you can simply walk away?"
Only then did Qin Jiuye notice another figure standing behind the withered willow tree. A young man stepped into the moonlight. He, too, was dressed in pristine white. Though young, he was tall and slender, with a strikingly pale complexion and delicate, refined features. A small mole beneath his eye lent him a touch of bewitching elegance. By all accounts, he should have been a handsome youth, yet there was something fundamentally unsettling about him—an unnatural, jarring quality that made one’s skin crawl.
Qin Jiuye observed him discreetly. The boy in white had been staring in their direction since he emerged, but she soon realized his gaze wasn't fixed on her. It was fixed on the man beside her.
*As the saying goes, enemies meet on a narrow road,* she thought, her throat tightening. She nudged Li Qiao gently. "An acquaintance?"
"Unfamiliar," Li Qiao replied, shaking his head. He kept his head bowed low, never once glancing at the boy. "But that woman is Zhu Fuxue of the Falling Sands Sect."
Old Tang had once mentioned this sect. The Falling Sands Sect was a fringe power that had risen to prominence only in recent years. Its leader was a woman, yet its disciples were almost exclusively male. These disciples were scattered across various remote grottoes to practice secret arts, their chambers sealed with cinnabar. Some would never meet another soul for their entire lives; only the Sect Leader knew the location of every cave. Rumor had it that when a disciple reached the pinnacle of their training, the Sect Leader would appear on the day they emerged to drain their cultivation and claim it as her own. This was the true meaning of "Falling Sands." The entire organization was nothing short of sinister.
Naturally, the Sect Leader’s own martial prowess was unfathomable. Anyone capable of devising a technique to harvest the strength of others was a ruthless character one did not provoke lightly.
Qin Jiuye’s heart sank. Her mind raced with escape plans, so consumed by the immediate danger that she forgot to wonder how Li Qiao—supposedly a newcomer to the martial world—could identify such a niche figure as easily as a seasoned veteran like Old Tang.
In her years at Guoran Ju, she might not have mastered high-level martial arts, but her skills in survival and knowing when to bow were peerless. Since the opposition had already initiated the confrontation, playing dumb wouldn't work. She had to show weakness and feign goodwill to probe their intentions.
Rubbing her hands together, Qin Jiuye forced a look of sudden realization and let out a couple of fawning chuckles.
"So it is Sect Leader Zhu! The night is truly too dark; this lowly one was blind not to recognize you. My family runs a pharmacy, and I came to the lakeside tonight specifically to deliver medicine to the various heroes. Our Tianxu Pills are most famous—one pill is guaranteed to focus the spirit and clear the meridians. Every wandering warrior keeps a bottle on hand."
As she spoke, her small, weathered hands fumbled over her person until she actually produced a small porcelain bottle, which she offered up with both hands.
Generally, people of the martial world were lenient toward physicians. Travel inevitably led to injury, and offending a doctor was akin to cutting off one's own retreat.
However, Zhu Fuxue didn't even spare her a glance. She kept her eyes half-closed in a weary expression, then extended a foot from beneath the cloud-like folds of her silk skirts.
"Yu Xiao."
The boy in white immediately knelt. He carefully removed the woman’s left shoe and sock, cradling her bare foot in his palms to massage it.
The tension in Zhu Fuxue’s brow eased slightly. When she spoke, her voice was laced with an airy, intentional breathiness, sounding like a flute with a crack in its wood.
"The soles of these new Thousand-Thread Shoes are a bit thin; they make my feet ache. I wonder if Qionghu Island is carpeted. If not, I shall have to be carried onto the island in a palanquin the day after tomorrow."
Qin Jiuye kept her head down, the strange sounds of the pair's interaction reaching her ears. She felt her situation was becoming increasingly absurd. *Is the Falling Sands Sect truly practicing orthodox martial arts? This looks... wrong.*
She slowly placed the bottle of medicine on the ground and began to shuffle backward. "If the Sect Leader is fatigued, this lowly one shall take her leave."
As she retreated, she signaled Li Qiao with her eyes. Looking at his lowered head and calm, stoic expression, she suddenly found him incredibly pleasing to the eye. Compared to the boy named Yu Xiao, the difference was night and day.
Zhu Fuxue evidently shared the sentiment.
Just as Qin Jiuye and Li Qiao were about to turn away, Zhu Fuxue’s half-lidded eyes caught a glimpse of something. She suddenly perked up, leaning forward, her pupils locking onto the profile of the young man in black.
"Wait."
Qin Jiuye froze.
"I haven't seen this young man before," Zhu Fuxue purred. "His lightfoot technique is quite elegant, though he was too far away earlier, and he keeps his head so low I couldn't see his face."
Sensing the chilling intent in the woman's gaze, Qin Jiuye instinctively shifted to shield Li Qiao. "This is my younger brother. He's just a country boy; I fear he would only offend the Sect Leader's eyes."
*A country boy with no backing.*
The woman in white nodded with satisfaction. "Does he have a master?"
Qin Jiuye remained silent.
Zhu Fuxue laughed soundlessly. No sect, no master? That meant he had no protector.
She pulled her foot back from Yu Xiao’s grasp and crossed her legs. Her bare, jade-like toes twitched slightly, waving back and forth before the young man in black.
"The martial world is treacherous, and blades are heartless. Traveling alone is lonely, and without skills to protect yourself, you will only suffer. Why not follow me and join my sect? I will personally teach you the way to survive in this world."
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Qin Jiuye coughed loudly to remind them of her presence. "I thank the Sect Leader for her kindness, but my brother was born with a weak constitution and a dull mind. It's already a struggle for him to help with my business. I wouldn't dare trouble the Sect Leader. Perhaps you should look for other talents..."
Zhu Fuxue cut her off sharply. "That pill you mentioned—how much?"
Qin Jiuye blinked, momentarily stunned.
The next moment, a heavy pouch of silver was tossed at her feet.
"Forget it, no need to count. Take the silver and go fetch the medicine. Bring everything you have."
Qin Jiuye stared at the bulging pouch. It took every ounce of her willpower to keep her hands from reaching out. In business, a fair exchange was the rule. She hadn't encountered such a generous customer in years.
But she understood intuitively that this silver wasn't just for her meager medicine. If she took the money and left, would the young man behind her be abandoned to this woman? What would she do to him? Could he fight her if things turned ugly? Could he even escape?
Her fingers clenched. Qin Jiuye forced herself to look away from the silver and began to stammer excuses. "The Tianxu Pills are good, but one shouldn't take too many at once. And... my boat is moored quite far away. I fear I would delay the Sect Leader's important business..."
She rambled on with her head down, failing to notice the shift in the woman's expression. The snow-white beauty suddenly looked like a demon revealing its true form.
"I told you to go fetch it, so go! Why all this nonsense?!"
Qin Jiuye flinched involuntarily. Her throat felt as though an invisible hand were squeezing it, and her voice died in her throat.
Zhu Fuxue glanced at her and resumed a languid posture. "Look at me. My cultivation has made me irritable lately; I lose control of my emotions. I have no urgent business. I can wait."
With those words, Qin Jiuye knew there was no avoiding this ordeal. She deeply regretted not making Li Qiao change out of his black clothes before they met up. But she couldn't entirely blame herself; at Guoran Ju, he usually wore Jinbao’s ill-fitting hand-me-downs. She had never seen him in such sharp, form-fitting black attire. Had she known, she would have been more careful.
"Then... this lowly one shall go and return quickly."
She turned to leave, frantically signaling Li Qiao to take care and wait for her to return and save him. She knew the boy was usually flexible, but she couldn't shake the feeling that his expression was unusually dark, lacking even the faint, polite smile he usually wore.
Blinking hard one last time, Qin Jiuye didn't dare linger. She sprinted toward the distant reed marshes.
As the sound of her footsteps faded, silence returned to the lakeshore. The three figures by the withered tree remained still, engaged in a silent test of wills. Zhu Fuxue, despite her status, knew the martial world was deep and unpredictable. She was in no rush to strike, preferring to observe his reaction.
However, Yu Xiao was far less patient. The gaze he directed at the young man in black was laced with venom.
Zhu Fuxue chuckled. She understood Yu Xiao’s jealousy. The young man was indeed special. He wore nothing but the simplest coarse black cloth, yet the plainness only served to highlight his face. There was a quality of docility in his features, like a wild plant growing by the water—quiet, yet stirring a restless curiosity in the observer.
*Willow trees attract shadows; banana plants hide ghosts.*
*Ah, what a match made in heaven.*
Zhu Fuxue sighed softly and beckoned with her toe. "Come closer."
The young man did not move. He stood as straight as a spear.
Yu Xiao sneered, finally finding an excuse to act. He uncoiled a long whip from his waist and lashed out with lightning speed. But before the whip could even fully extend, the woman caught it with her bare hand. With her other hand, she delivered a stinging slap to Yu Xiao’s face.
"Who told you to strike?!"
The blow was so powerful it nearly sent Yu Xiao sprawling. But he was clearly accustomed to such rebukes; after a moment of shock, he adjusted himself and knelt back at her feet.
"Forgive me, Sect Leader. Yu Xiao only saw that this boy’s attitude was disrespectful and wished to teach him some manners..."
The woman gave him a cold look. "If I wish to discipline someone, do I need your help?"
Yu Xiao fell silent, casting a brooding glance at the young man in black, only to find the other youth staring back at him.
Li Qiao did not know Yu Xiao. But he recognized every nuance of the boy’s expression and every movement he made. He recognized them because they were a mirror of his own past. He simply stood there, as if nailed to the spot by something invisible. He didn't retreat, and his expression didn't flicker.
Zhu Fuxue took it all in, her interest in her new prey intensifying until it nearly overflowed. She loved stubborn, unyielding young men—especially when they showed a hint of fear while desperately trying not to compromise. It triggered a visceral urge to dominate.
Yu Xiao had been the same once. Now, he had become dull. It was time for a new toy.
The woman smiled even more seductively. "You are interesting. I wonder if your sister knows you have such a side to you, given how she tried to protect you?"
The young man finally looked up, his expression cold and numb. "She is just a physician."
"Isn't a physician perfect? If she were a sect leader like me, I'd worry this might be hard to settle." Zhu Fuxue savored the restraint in his voice. "She isn't here now. You needn't worry. What do you think of my proposal?"
Li Qiao spoke each word deliberately. "My sister’s answer is my answer."
"Can't bear to leave your dear sister?" The woman covered her red lips and giggled. "Am I not better than her? Come to me, and you shall wear the finest clothes, eat the most exquisite food, and sleep in the softest beds. I guarantee that within three days, you will forget her and only regret that we did not meet sooner."
The young man turned his light brown eyes toward her. Though they held no emotion, the gaze made her inexplicably excited.
A moment later, he looked away without a trace of lingering interest and gave a flat conclusion. "You are indeed inferior to her."
Zhu Fuxue had not expected such a blunt, uncompromising rejection. The demon hidden beneath her white robes instantly surged to the surface.
"I see you are blind!" she shrieked, before quickly regaining her composure. Only the pulsing vein at her temple betrayed her murderous rage. "I shall give you a chance to atone."
She slowly slipped her other foot out of its red embroidered shoe. "By the look of you, you might not be unskilled at serving others. Show me what you can do. If I am pleased, I may waive your punishment."
The young man’s hands, hanging at his sides, slowly clenched into fists. In that moment, as quiet as he appeared, he wanted nothing more than to draw his blade and carve bloody flowers into that pale, demonic face.
But he couldn't. He wasn't certain he could kill both of them at once. Yu Xiao might be negligible, but Zhu Fuxue’s power was unfathomable. Even in a life-or-death struggle, there was a chance he would fail. And he could not afford to fail.
Seeing his hesitation, Zhu Fuxue grew impatient. She gave Yu Xiao a look, and the boy immediately understood. He stepped toward Li Qiao.
Li Qiao remained standing in the night, his posture unchanged, unmoved by Yu Xiao’s approach. *She told me to wait,* he thought. *So I will wait until she returns for me.*
The threatening footsteps stopped three paces away. Yu Xiao observed the other's face for a moment before choosing to step to the right. He slowly reached out and placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder.
A soft, boneless hand slid down Li Qiao’s shoulder, like a snake gliding over his arm, elbow, and wrist, finally stopping at his pinky finger. To a martial artist, nothing was more precious than the hand that held the weapon.
"This is your last chance. The Sect Leader favors you; you should feel honored."
As Yu Xiao spoke, Li Qiao slowly turned his head. Yu Xiao saw a pair of light brown eyes so calm they were almost numb. They reflected his own distorted face as if it were a trivial insect. Such eyes were more insulting and humiliating than eyes filled with rage.
*You are just a stray dog with no master, waiting to be slaughtered. How dare you look at me like that?!*
Yu Xiao’s expression darkened. The next moment, a sickening crack of bone echoed in the night. The young man’s well-defined pinky finger was instantly snapped out of shape.
A suppressed gasp of pain sounded in the darkness, and the shadow that had been as straight as a banana tree finally bent. Under the weight of the abuser, the young man knelt in the dirt. Dust soiled his hem and trousers. He braced himself with one arm on the ground, his face pale and slick with cold sweat under the moonlight.
Zhu Fuxue drank in this "beautiful scenery" with a look of pure satisfaction. "You are quite resilient. But you have nine fingers left. We can play all night."
The figure on the ground made no further sound, as if the broken finger didn't belong to him. The more he endured, the more excited the woman in white became.
"Why don't you speak? What? Are you hoping that stick-thin sister of yours will come back to save you? Since she took my silver, she won't care about you anymore."
Zhu Fuxue flicked her white toe. Receiving the command, Yu Xiao smirked and applied pressure again, snapping the young man’s ring finger.
The sound of bone and sinew popping was loud in the silent night, yet aside from that, there was no other noise. This time, even Yu Xiao looked incredulous. He had used full force, and he had definitely broken the fingers, yet he hadn't heard a single plea for mercy, not even a groan. Was he breaking the fingers of a dead man?
Zhu Fuxue noted Yu Xiao’s confusion, and her gaze toward the young man became even more profound. If enduring the first break was a feat of will, remaining silent through the second was beyond the capacity of an ordinary person. In fact, most martial artists couldn't do it. Warriors cherished their hands and had a strong instinct to fight back, especially at such a hot-blooded age. They wouldn't remain so deathly still.
Unless... he had already experienced countless similar humiliations. He hadn't lacked the will to resist; rather, someone had used terrifying methods to systematically crush his instinct for rebellion, forcing him to accept such treatment as his natural state.
And in today’s martial world, there was only one place that produced such "talent."
"I knew it. Such exquisite lightfoot skills shouldn't be wasted on looking at scenery. They should be used for the wonderful business of killing." Zhu Fuxue paused for effect, her voice now filled with certainty. "You are from the Villa? How many years has it been since you came out? And why would you follow such a piece of trash?"
The young man, who hadn't made a sound through two broken fingers, suddenly looked up. His numb eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Zhu Fuxue laughed. She knew she had found something far more interesting than breaking fingers. "Di Mo is truly a man of taste. The people he raises always suit my appetite so well."
At her words, Yu Xiao could no longer hide his jealousy. He wished he had used his whip to lash the young man’s face. He stepped forward, feigning loyal concern. "Even if he is from the Villa, Master needn't offend the Villa Master for such a lowly creature..."
"What of Di Mo? He's just a sickly coward who hides in the shadows and dares not show his face."
Zhu Fuxue laughed wantonly, her previous lethargy replaced by a vibrant, predatory energy. She looked directly into the young man’s eyes, her voice a ghostly whisper. "If you were still in the Villa, I would simply ask for you. Since you have a new master, I shall simply kill her and take you for myself."
Her voice was soft, but to Li Qiao, it became a deafening, piercing cacophony. Something invisible crawled into his ears, swirling in his mind, forcing his head—which he had refused to bow—to collapse, to fall, to sink into the dust.
He thought he had left that abyss behind, but the monsters from the deep had never looked away. They watched him from the shadows, laughing as he struggled fruitlessly on the cliffside. Just as he was about to grasp the final stone at the top, they reached out with their long, vine-like tentacles to drag him back into the bottomless dark, where he would never see the light again...
"Sect Leader! Sect Leader Zhu! Sect Leader Zhu..."
A voice like a cracked gong shattered the night. Anyone addressed by such a voice would instinctively frown.
Zhu Fuxue’s expression soured, but the young man kneeling in the dust looked up. The stars of the clear night seemed to fall into his eyes in an instant. With a gaze suddenly filled with starlight, he watched the figure running toward him.
***
**Glossary**
