During the great war between the states of Yan and Yu, Leng Feiyan was still recovering from her injuries.
At a small inn beside the Jin-Ji Ancient Road, Yang Lianting had brought Leng Feiyan to rest. Seeing the severity of her wounds, he decided they would stay there for the time being. When Leng Feiyan finally woke, Yang Lianting was absent, and she found herself in an unfamiliar room.
Leng Feiyan shifted to sit up, accidentally pulling at her wound, which forced a sharp hiss of pain from her lips.
Such pain was nothing to her. Supporting her weight, she walked out of the room and saw quite a few people seated downstairs. It was lunchtime, and the inn’s business was thriving.
Just as Leng Feiyan was about to call for a waiter, the light from the doorway dimmed. A youth entered, a jade flute hanging from his waist and a precious sword gripped in his hand, his stride as swift as the wind. Sunlight bloomed behind him, yet he seemed more radiant than the sun itself. Leng Feiyan stared at him, feeling that his temperament and appearance were hauntingly familiar.
In the moment she dithered, the youth had already reached the counter and was speaking in low tones to the innkeeper.
Leng Feiyan hurried downstairs, though her injuries prevented her from moving as quickly as she wished. By the time she reached the ground floor, the youth had already departed. The innkeeper saw her and greeted her with a smile. "Oh, young miss, you’re finally awake. Master Yang is in the back brewing medicine for you."
Leng Feiyan asked, "Who was that person just now? Why did he leave without taking a room?"
The innkeeper blinked, then said, "That gentleman? Oh, you mean Master Cang Ge. He is a person of great status; he wouldn't stay in a small shop like ours..."
Leng Feiyan wanted to ask more, but someone caught her by the waist from behind, half-lifting and half-carrying her back toward the upstairs room. Leng Feiyan turned and saw Yang Lianting. She hurriedly swatted at his hand. "What are you doing? Don't you know men and women shouldn't be so familiar?"
Yang Lianting practically ground his teeth. "If you don't want to die, stop moving!"
After dragging her back into the room, Leng Feiyan said, "Yang Lianting, I just saw someone who felt like an old friend at first sight! People used to talk about love at first sight and I never believed them, but seeing him just now, I almost do!"
Yang Lianting was incensed. "Leng Feiyan! Can you use your brain for once? That was Cang Ge!"
Leng Feiyan lay down on the bed and asked, "So what?"
Yang Lianting hissed through clenched teeth, "The reason he feels like an 'old friend' is because just a few days ago, on the Jin-Ji Ancient Road, we used a rather dishonorable method to kill his older brother!"
Leng Feiyan was slightly startled. She raised her right hand and tapped her head. "No wonder he looked so familiar! So, is he here looking for his brother?"
Yang Lianting forced the medicine into her mouth, half-feeding and half-pouring it. "If he finds out the truth, he’ll be looking for you instead. What do you think of him?"
Leng Feiyan held the bitter liquid in her mouth, savoring the taste for a moment before saying, "I think he’s quite handsome, and his waist is..."
Yang Lianting’s face turned green. He nearly dumped the medicine bowl over her head. "Is that what I was asking you?!"
Leng Feiyan chuckled. "His martial arts are far inferior to that Cang Feng. Speaking of Cang Feng... you didn't leave any clues behind, did you?"
Yang Lianting replied, "No. However, I must rush back to Jinyang. Any later and I fear it will arouse suspicion. The people from the Swallow’s Nest are searching for you everywhere; you have a way to contact them, right?"
Leng Feiyan waved her hand as if shooing a fly. "Go, go. Don't stand around here getting in the way."
Feeling uneasy, Yang Lianting gave one last warning: "You’re injured. Don't go looking for trouble."
Leng Feiyan looked impatient and drove him out directly. Once Yang Lianting returned to Jinyang City, Leng Feiyan left the small inn and quickly made contact with the thugs of the Swallow’s Nest.
"Master! We haven't seen you for days; the brothers were worried sick!" A lackey knelt on the ground, appearing extremely respectful. Of course they were worried—they had all been poisoned, and the antidote was in Leng Feiyan's hands. If she never returned, who would they turn to?
Leng Feiyan lifted his chin and smiled. "Xiao Nan, do you think I’m beautiful?"
This Xiao Nan was no saint himself; he was known locally as the Tyrant of the Southern Sky. Hearing this, however, his face flushed red like a youth experiencing his first stirrings of love. "Master, I... I don't understand what you mean..." He stammered, backing away in terror.
Leng Feiyan said, "I heard that your favorite hobby used to be harassing girls from good families." Xiao Nan didn't understand her point. Leng Feiyan gazed into his innocent-looking eyes and said with a seductive expression, "Now, come over here and harass me."
"Master, have mercy!" The Tyrant of the Southern Sky thudded to his knees, kowtowing like a woodpecker. Leng Feiyan grew angry and kicked him. "Did you hear me?!"
The Tyrant of the Southern Sky burst into tears of misery.
***
Under the scorching sun, the Jin-Ji Ancient Road was deserted. The Northern Yu army had already invaded Daji City, and beyond that lay the Yan capital, Jinyang. The commoners were all fleeing east; no one would head toward Daji City at a time like this.
The ancient road was desolate, yet one person was walking, leading a horse. Cang Ge, the second young master of Hidden Sword Villa, was only sixteen but already quite famous in the martial world. His fame did not stem from his martial arts, but from his bold, generous nature and his love for making friends.
Hidden Sword Villa usually kept to itself, but he alone traveled the rivers and lakes, boasting a wide circle of acquaintances. Cang Tianqi had pinned all his hopes on his eldest son, Cang Feng, and was relatively lenient with his youngest, rarely interfering in his affairs.
At this moment, Cang Ge was traveling along the Jin-Ji Ancient Road. He had agreed to meet his elder brother at the Natural Abode on the outskirts of Jinyang, but several days had passed with no sign of him. Cang Ge heard that his brother had been waiting for someone on the Jin-Ji Ancient Road, so he had come searching.
But he had found nothing. Now that Northern Yu and Great Yan were at war and the Yu army had penetrated deep into Daji City, could his brother have run into trouble?
Cang Ge’s brow was furrowed as he carefully inspected the path, moving slowly. Suddenly, a faint sound drifted from the dense woods by the roadside. He heard a man’s voice: "Li... little lady, today... you... you’re going to submit whether you want to or not..."
Cang Ge’s frown deepened, and he instinctively followed the sound. In the thick of the woods, he saw a man in a blue robe standing with his back to him. Facing the man was a girl of about sixteen or seventeen. She looked sickly and pale, retreating step by step with a face full of helplessness.
Anger flared in Cang Ge’s heart. He delivered a kick from behind, sending the thug flying. The thug was quick-witted; he turned around ready to shout abuse, but the moment he saw who it was, he said nothing, scrambled up, and bolted. Cang Ge intended to give chase, but seeing the beauty before him swaying as if she might collapse at any moment, he stepped forward to support her.
It was mid-May, the height of spring, and the brilliant light filtered into the forest. The green leaves cut the sunlight into patches of varying sizes. When a breeze passed, her figure seemed to flicker in and out of the light like a sunbeam. It was a face far too beautiful to forget after a single glance.
Cang Ge quickly lowered his head and said, "Do not be afraid, miss. The villain has fled. Let me help you out of here."
Leng Feiyan leaned against him. She was still running a fever, her cheeks flushed like dawn clouds, but her eyes were shimmering like water. "Thank you, young master. I shall never forget this life-saving grace."
Cang Ge replied, "Any person would lend a hand when seeing such a scoundrel bullying the weak. Please do not dwell on it."
His horse was still on the main road. He helped Leng Feiyan onto the horse and said softly, "Sit steady, miss." Then he led the horse forward. Sitting atop the noble steed, Leng Feiyan felt a bit like a young bride riding a donkey to the market with her husband.
Cang Ge took her all the way to the small inn by the road and asked the innkeeper to fetch a physician. He then turned to Leng Feiyan. "You are all alone, miss. Where were you headed?"
Leng Feiyan lowered her gaze. "I... I was originally going to Daji City to seek refuge with my aunt. I didn't expect the journey to be so taxing, and I fell ill. Fortunately, a kind physician treated me. I felt a bit better these past few days and thought to continue my journey, never imagining I would encounter such a villain. If not for your help, young master... I fear I would no longer be of this world. Please accept my bow."
As she spoke, she rose and gave Cang Ge a graceful, deep bow. Cang Ge hurried to support her. "There is no need for such formality. However, the chaos of war in Daji City has not yet settled. It is best if you do not go there alone."
Leng Feiyan’s beautiful eyes filled with tears. "But... but if I do not go to my aunt, I am alone with no kin to turn to. I..." She lowered her head. "Where else can I go?"
Cang Ge thought for a moment and said, "I still have some business to attend to here. If you do not mind, miss, could you wait for me here for a few days? Once my business is concluded, I will return to settle your affairs."
Leng Feiyan’s face bloomed with a shy blush, as radiant as a peach blossom. "But... but we have only met by chance. How could I..."
Cang Ge went to the counter to pay the silver and instructed the innkeeper to take good care of her. "Do not worry, miss. I am not a bad person. Rest here and recover; wait for me for two days." Just as he was about to leave, he turned back. "May I ask your name?"
Leng Feiyan said softly, "This humble girl’s surname is Yan. Yan Yan."
Cang Ge nodded slightly and departed. Leng Feiyan followed him to the door—*Don't leave! You're not the bad one, I am!* But she had no reason to force him to stay, so she could only remain at the inn.
Inside the inn, the innkeeper clicked his tongue—these days, a beautiful girl would find a benefactor wherever she went. He quickly ordered the waiter to prepare a room for Leng Feiyan and serve her well.
Leng Feiyan lived in comfort for two days at the inn. She had assumed Cang Ge would never return, but to her surprise, he did. He said to her, "Miss Yan, please pack your things and come with me."
Though he was born into a prominent family like Hidden Sword Villa, he was remarkably considerate. Knowing she was weak, he had hired a carriage for her, and they traveled east into Jinyang City.
Cang Ge brought Leng Feiyan to a quiet courtyard. "This is a private villa of mine. You may stay here for the time being. Once our army reclaims Daji City, it won't be too late to seek your relatives."
Leng Feiyan snorted inwardly. *All men under heaven are the same. What good intentions could he have, bringing a girl to his private villa?* Though she thought this, she showed none of it on her face, remaining smiling and bright. "In that case, I thank you, young master."
Cang Ge cupped his hands. "You are too kind. I have matters to attend to and must return home. Please make yourself at home."
With that, he rose and left the villa. It seemed that having failed to find his brother, he was rushing back to Hidden Sword Villa.
Leng Feiyan saw him to the door, cursing him in her heart. She had only thought he looked pleasant and wanted to get her hands on him for a bit of fun; she hadn't expected it to be so time-consuming and laborious.
However, this place was absolutely safe. This was a villa of the Hidden Sword Villa; even if someone found traces of the Swallow’s Nest, they wouldn't dare investigate further once they reached this place.
Leng Feiyan was in no hurry to leave. In her spare time, she wandered around and discovered many martial arts techniques sketched casually in the study. Curious, she asked the villa’s steward, "Were these drawn by Master Cang?"
The steward had already been instructed by his master to treat her as an honored guest, so he answered readily. "In reply to the young miss, these are just the master’s casual doodles. Although he does not enjoy practicing martial arts, he has a peculiar interest in researching and analyzing techniques. However, I know nothing of martial arts, so I cannot say exactly what they are."
Leng Feiyan nodded, flipping through the pages as if disinterested.
These were counter-moves designed to break the techniques of various sects, and many of the points made were well-reasoned and grounded. Leng Feiyan couldn't look too closely in front of the steward, so she waited until nightfall to sneak back into the study and examine them by moonlight.
Cang Ge had traveled back and forth on the Jin-Ji Ancient Road several times, yet he never suspected her for a moment. No one would ever believe that Cang Feng’s death could be related to this sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. But she was Leng Feiyan—the Leng Feiyan whom no instructor dared to face alone after three years in the Orphan Camp.
If not for Zuo Canglang’s stroke of luck, she would have been the sole survivor, stepping over more than three hundred corpses.
She was the "strongest" that Murong Yan sought.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
晋蓟古道 | Jin-Ji Ancient Road | A road connecting Jinyang (Jin) and Daji (Ji).
大蓟城 | Daji City | A city currently under invasion by Northern Yu.
藏歌 | Cang Ge | Second young master of Hidden Sword Villa.
藏剑山庄 | Hidden Sword Villa | A prominent martial arts family/estate.
藏天齐 | Cang Tianqi | Master of Hidden Sword Villa, father of Cang Feng and Cang Ge.
燕子巢 | Swallow’s Nest | Leng Feiyan’s organization/hideout.
燕子楼 | Swallow Tower | Another name for Leng Feiyan's organization.
南天一霸 | Tyrant of the Southern Sky | The nickname of Xiao Nan, a thug.
小南 | Xiao Nan | A member of the Swallow's Nest.
颜妍 | Yan Yan | The alias used by Leng Feiyan.
天然居 | Natural Abode | A meeting place/inn on the outskirts of Jinyang.
孤儿营 | Orphan Camp | The brutal training ground where Leng Feiyan and Zuo Canglang were raised.
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