Chapter 103: A Brief Parting and Reunion

  Pine Hill, located ten miles northwest of Kyoto, is not a high mountain and its shape is not steep. However, because it was the central location of the "Tai Chi" diagram, it became famous throughout the country. After the founding of the Great Hong Empire, Emperor Taizu built the "Hao Tang Tai" here to worship heaven, and from then on this small hill became a place for imperial sacrifices.

  The north wind howls, the mountains are a deep yellow, and the "Hao Dang Tai" which rises from the waist of the mountain in a series of levels to the summit appears even more majestic in the bleak winter landscape.

  It was now the eighteenth of the twelfth month, and only a little more than a day remained before the trial at the Three Halls.

  This lawsuit was jointly tried by the First Heaven's Elder Council, Qian Shan Dao Zong and Da Hong Chao. The three parties worked together to ensure that the real culprit was brought to justice. Long before the trial began, rumors had been circulating throughout the land, and what shocked people even more was that the "Five Great and Three Vulgar" sects, which had long since gone into hiding, also sent their top masters to observe from the sidelines. Furthermore, the First Heaven's Elder Council issued a proclamation to the entire realm, inviting all cultivators and fellow practitioners to gather at Zhen Shan.

  The Five Greats and the Three Coarse have all sent people, and the various sects of the Small Door and the Scattered Repairs are also flocking to it like a swarm of birds. They set out early, rushing from all parts of Central Plains to Zhen Shan. In these few days, the surroundings of Zhen Shan have been filled with sword lights and treasure auras, and people have been descending from the sky from time to time.

  Langya still walked barefoot, holding in her arms the already awakened but still listless Yangjiao Cui, and accompanied by several scattered cultivators to climb the mountain. Others did not know her identity, thinking she was just an unknown cultivator, no one suspected anything.

  Just as they were chatting and laughing, Langya suddenly frowned. A few flashes of impatience flickered across her face, and then Xiao Cai appeared in a white dress like snow, walking slowly down the stone steps, her bright eyes fixed steadily on her.

  The goat let out two cries and jumped onto the ground, stumbling towards Xiao Yu.

  Xiao Hai still had that calm and collected demeanor, only her face was even paler than before, with her left hand still tucked into her sleeve. She didn't even glance at Yang Jiao Cui, but instead walked directly to Lang Ya's side.

  The goat ignored Xiaoyu's disregard, turned around and followed behind Xiaoyu, grabbed her skirt and started climbing up. Xiaoyu was frightened and quickly picked it up in her arms.

  Her eyebrows arched in a smile as she asked, "Is there something?"

  "What about Liang Xin?"

  "Dead Langya pouted and made an unhappy face."

  Xiao Hai's eyelashes drooped slightly, then lifted again, and her eyes became even clearer: "What did you do?"

  Langya waved his hand and scratched the back of his head casually, a hint of helplessness appearing on his delicate face: "It can't be calculated like that" But it's almost the same.

  Passersby who were originally early had nothing better to do and stopped to watch the two beautiful girls who seemed to be about to fight, their faces filled with smiles as they stared. Luoyang looked back and smiled, one by one, counting the number of people and remembering them in her heart.

  Xiao Sai fell silent for a moment before nodding slightly: "After the Third Hall's trial, I'll come find you."

  "Wait for me!"

  Xiao Hai turned around to leave, but Lang Ya's body swayed and blocked her way: "Give me back my monkey!" Just then, with a thud, the sheep horn pastry fell from Xiao Hai's arms, its two big eyes still staring straight ahead. After a moment, it let out a strange cry and rolled down the mountain, crawling as it went.

  At this moment, a loud laughter burst out: "Dry dad, this is the sheep horn crisp I told you about!"

  Another one. A hoarse and weak voice replied: "Wasn't it said that it was just a little monkey, how come it's a white-dressed girl doll?

  Amidst the loud laughter, Liang Xin had already leapt over and bent down to pick up Yangjiao Cui, who had begun to cry tears of joy, and was scratching the little monkey's head with all his might.

  Langya was taken aback for a moment, then let out a cheer and jumped in front of Liang Xin, almost face to face with him. Just as she was about to speak, her vision suddenly blurred, and Liang Xin's body shook strangely, dodging past her to approach Xiao Quan: "Are you okay?"

  Everything was too sudden and Xiao Qu couldn't hold it in. She laughed, then tried to hold it in again, but still couldn't, so she let her smile bloom completely!

  Jiang was laughing loudly, without any air of a sect master, and praised loudly: "This little girl looks good! Not smiling is good-looking, but when she smiles, it's even more beautiful!"

  Xiao Hai's face was filled with a joyful smile, and she didn't answer Liang Xin's question. Instead, she said softly: "It's good to be alive. If you have something to discuss, follow me."

  Liang Xin nodded in satisfaction: "Good! Wait for a moment." After finishing speaking, he turned back to Lang Ya's front again.

  Langya didn't bother to mind the fact that Liang Xin had ignored her after their meeting, but instead looked at him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, furrowing her brow as she asked: "What was that move you used just now? What's going on?"

  She had already reached the realm of four steps to greatness. However, relying on her spiritual awareness and eyesight, she surprisingly didn't notice how Liang Xin was exerting his strength, and he lightly dodged around her. If Liang Xin took advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack, Lang Ya might not have immediately fallen into disadvantage, but would certainly become extremely passive.

  Liuxinna's turn, in Langya's eyes, was strange and calm, as if it were impossible, yet somehow inevitable.

  Thinking of the two people who went to Qingliangbo, their purpose was to get rid of the insects in their stomachs, but they came back alive, which made Langya even more astonished.

  Langya only felt that his whole body had become hot and dry, took a deep breath, barely suppressed the shock in his heart, and asked in a low voice: "Were you found?"

  Liang Xin smiled and asked directly: "How's the preparation for rescuing people going?"

  Langya replied: "Master is still in the south, and he doesn't know anything about Qingliangpo. He's even more unaware of the arrangements that have been made afterwards. They've all been taken care of already. How about you instead?"

  Li Qingsong let out a sigh of relief and said: "After our two sworn brothers are exonerated, I will definitely tell the truth."

  Langya also smiled, slightly raising her eyebrows, revealing a hint of seductiveness and provocation:

  Don't worry, I won't go back on my word now that I've said it, so don't interfere with your affairs anymore.

  Li Qian shook his head, still smiling easily, and said: "This matter is not what you think it is. It can't be explained in just a few words. In short, I'll promise you that as long as you lend a hand to help, I will reveal the truth without hiding a single word."

  As he spoke, Liang Xin suddenly remembered something. He hurriedly searched his pockets and after a moment, he actually pulled out an apple and stuffed it into the sheep's horn crisp's bosom. The little monkey trembled with excitement as he received the apple and took a bite.

  Liuxin Cai looked at Langya again: "If you don't want to help, I'll rescue him myself. Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with you. You can forget about getting any news from the world outside."

  "This deal is very simple, as for those threatening words, don't mention them again in the future."

  Langya slightly furrowed her brow and stared into Liang Xin's eyes, but Liang Xin chuckled and turned to walk towards Sai.

  Xiao Hai turned around and left. As he was about to leave, he glanced at Lang Ya with a rare gleam of triumphant satisfaction in his eyes.

  Just a few steps away, Lang Ya suddenly shouted from behind with a smile: "Liang Xin, you have gone through life and death for me, I will naturally help you!"

  Liang Xin smiled without turning his head: "Thanks for your trouble, fairy! Thanks a lot, fairy!"

  Xiao Hai's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her eyes gazing down at the ground, yet she asked lightly, "How come you're not called Liang Mòdāo, but instead Liang Xīn?"

  Liáng Xīn took out an apple from his bosom and stuffed it into her palm without saying a word, smiling slyly: "Liáng Xīn or Liáng Mò Dāo are both fine, the first is my real name, the latter is my alias."

  Xiao Hai hesitated for a moment, then took a crunchy bite of the apple, a specialty of Northeast China, and savored its sweet flavor.

  Two young men walked quickly, Liang Xin sniffed the refreshing scent on Xiao Yu's body, and couldn't help but feel excited. He asked about her injury, then asked about her experiences after they parted ways. Although Xiao Yu still looked cold and icy, she was much more patient now, almost answering every question Liang Xin asked, even though none of her answers exceeded five words.

  They arrived at the middle of the mountain, where Xiao Quan led Liang Xin from a small path to the back of the mountain. After walking for a while, the pine trees became denser and denser. Suddenly, Song Mu burst out laughing and bluntly pointed out the situation around them: "Good guys, there are quite a few people hiding in ambush!"

  Liang Xin also sensed something and was afraid that his father would misunderstand, so he quickly explained: "It should be our own people, Da Hong has always been like this in Qingyi"

  The shore didn't care about the shaking head, and it wasn't a big deal at all. After walking for another segment, the surroundings became more and more quiet. Xiaoyu stretched out her hand and pointed, saying: "We're here."

  Li Xinxin followed the direction of her finger and looked over. All she saw was a tent, built among the withered branches of winter trees. At the entrance of the tent, a stout man with a water jar-like body sat on the ground, gnawing at a sheep's leg with big mouthfuls. Next to him were placed two short axes with blades as large as millstones.

  Xiao Hai walked up close and asked the stout man who was eating meat: "Is the master in?"

  Liang Xin felt a chill run up her forehead. Xiaoyu was a tomboy, and the only adult she respected was one person!

  The only person in the world who knows he's a fake knight besides himself!

  Fat Han nodded and said in a deep voice: "Inside, go on!"

  Xiao Hai reached out to Liang Xin, pulled open the tent and walked in first. Liang Xin hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth and followed Xiao Hai. As they passed by the fat man, Gan Die Jun suddenly spoke up: "Hey, is it delicious? Give me some!"

  Fat Han tore off a piece of fatty meat from the leg of lamb and threw it to the old man.

  Inside the tent, the furnishings were simple, with only a desk, a chair, and a bed. An old man with white hair sat at the desk, his head bowed as he read a book. Even when Xiaoting and Liangxin entered, he refused to look up.

  Xiao Hai stopped one zhang away from the desk and said in a low voice: "Sir, Liang Mo Dao has arrived."

  The grown-up seemed stunned for a moment, put down the book, raised his head and looked at Liang Xin; then nodded to Xiaotai: "Alright, take a good rest."

  This gentleman appears to be in his sixties, with an eagle nose and piercing eyes, a lean face, and many wrinkles on his face. Especially at the corners of his eyes, there are fine lines like a dense net.

  After Xiaotang left, the two of them sized each other up for a while. It was still Mr. Shi who spoke first: "My surname is Shi, Shi Lin. Dahong Jiulong Temple, 23rd Commander-in-Chief. If I calculate it correctly, I am your direct superior. I heard about you from Cheng Bulan and Xiaotang, and I was amazed. So when Xiaotang saw you again, I had him bring you over."

  Saying so, Lord Shilin suddenly smiled: "You can't be an ordinary position for a tour ride, I have to know it!"

  Liáng Xīn was a bit stunned, on this road. He had been thinking about his brother's safety and practicing his skills diligently, but he never thought that the fake Youyun Knight would encounter a real grandmaster!

  Shilin stretched out his hand towards Liang Xin and said: "Hand it over, I'll take a look."

  Liang Xin reluctantly handed over his own nameplate, and after Shi Lin verified it, he didn't hide his astonishment at all, muttering: "This plaque is actually real, where did you get it from?"

  Liang Xin's lips moved, and he choked back for a long time. Finally, he gritted his teeth, stared at Shi Lin with wide eyes, and said, "You gave it to me, you forgot?"

  Shilin couldn't have imagined that Liang Xin would be so shameless, first standing there in stunned silence, then bursting into loud laughter, without any hint of blame. After a while, he finally composed himself and asked slowly: "Liang Mo Dao, your real name is Liang Xin, isn't it?"

  Liang Xin was shocked in his heart. Xiao Quan had just learned Liang Xin's true name and didn't have the chance to report it to Shi Lin afterwards.