Their boat moved with the flow of the river until the day was over, and they could have some rest in it. In the next morning the weather was clear, and when Jinshui woke up he found Xu Qiao still asleep. The girl sat against the boat's wall and her eyes tightly closed. Jinshui didn't want to wake her up and he carefully covered her with his robe, stroked her hair once.
He moved to sit at the back of the boat and looked around. His current place was a valley different from the one in Wansui Gu, the stream surrounded by mountainous cliffs in the distance. Up on the cliff was a wide road, presumably leading to a village or small town not far away.
The boat moved slowly and the river flow was calm. The wind was not too strong. Jinshui saw that there was a rocky plain on the bank of the river, he mustered deep strength and tapped into the water, brought the boat ashore to the plain, mooring there. Both of his legs had not healed yet, in fact, they still hurt when he walked, but he didn't want to wake Xu Qiao up and preferred to do everything himself.
He built a fireplace on the rocky plains, then also caught a partridge and roasted it. Xu Qiao didn't wake up either, worrying him a bit. He then tried to get back on the boat and wake the girl. Xu Qiao was still breathing, but she was very weak. Jinshui transferred some inner energy to her and helped her gain some strength.
"Qiao-er, how did you sleep so soundly?" Jinshui asked gently.
"Pill," Xu Qiao almost whispered, her hands reaching for the porcelain bottle from her pocket, nearly dropping it on the floor of the boat. Jinshui took the bottle from her and handed over a pill.
"What is this pill?" he asked.
"Yanzi gave them to me, I don't ask for the ingredients," Xu Qiao replied weakly, "she said I have to take one pill every day, and cannot skip once."
"Medicines made by Wansui Gu are not necessarily good," said Jinshui.
"Since we cured the leiying hua poison that day, I often feel tired and sleep more, this medicine can make me feel better," Xu Qiao said. "Yanzi says I should take one pill a day, but sometimes I forget and then I have two pills at once."
"Leiying hua poison?" asked Jinshui. "But you didn't expose to that poison." He tried to check Xu Qiao's pulse and body temperature, totally in doubt now.
"I'm just tired," Xu Qiao said smilingly. "We saved a lot that day, and then I didn't get enough rest because I worried about you."
"Later when passing through a city or settlement, we can find a healer and ask about this medicine," Jinshui said, then put away the porcelain bottle in his own pocket.
"I trust Yanzi," said Xu Qiao, "she would not prescribe me a bad drug."
Jinshui took her off the boat to the rocky plains on the bank of the river, divided the partridge he had just roasted, and they equally filled their stomachs as needed. They were not in a hurry, even though the appointed day for the Yumen descendants to gather was not far off. Jinshui had his own thoughts and wish to leave everything behind, so he had no intention of heading directly to Chen-an City.
They spent half the day dwelling on the rocky plains. Jinshui tried to recover both legs using his inner energy, only in the afternoon he let Xu Qiao help him learn to walk again. But the injuries on the two legs hadn't healed properly, and he knew he can't put too much pressure on them.
It was late in the afternoon when the two returned to the boat, again following the flow of the river. Xu Qiao had already gathered some fruits, and she felt tired again, allowing Jinshui to once again share her some pure energy.
Jinshui felt a little suspicious, but he didn't want to think too much and hoped that his suspicions wouldn't come true. He didn't find any signs of poisoning in Xu Qiao, her pulse was normal and also didn't seem to be anything unusual, it was possible that her current situation was only temporary due to long journeys and often not resting properly.
On the next day, the boat came out of the valley and continued to follow the flow of a tributary that turned and joined another, wider river. Jinshui and Xu Qiao saw that there were several other boats as well as ships, some belonged to the merchants, the rest were boats and fishing boats, then there was also a ship bearing the Yongjun Hui flag.
"Yongjun Hui," Xu Qiao recognized the flag on the ship and looked at Jinshui.
"There's no need to mind them," Jinshui said, "Huan Jiaozheng doesn't know me, nor would he recognize us here."
Jinshui had cleaned himself up properly since meeting Xu Qiao, his appearance was slightly better compared to when he and Ma Yongtao and Ma Yaolun were taken by Huan Jiaozheng and his guards from Wansui Gu a while ago. However, the xuanlong sword was not in his possession, one would not suspect that this ordinary-looking crippled young man was the primary descendant of the Yumen.
"I want to see that Huan Jiaozheng," Xu Qiao said, "everyone knows he is a man of high self-esteem, always thinking himself to be a great leader of a reputable organization, and of high-skilled in martial arts, and no enemy can defeat him."
"I met him just a few days ago," Jinshui said. "He took a number of his men to leave Nanyang City, who knows what he up to." He didn't want to tell at length about the hunt for the white steel fan or Huan Jiaozheng's intentions against the Yumen descendants.
"My stepmother Bao Xinfei was tasked by her master to go to Nanyang City to meet Huan Jiaozheng after the meeting in Yiling District," said Xu Qiao, "I don't know if they already met and if Huan Jiaozheng is willing to join Haitang Jian Pai once more in order to prevent you and your friends to….."
She didn't finish the sentence, remembering Jinshui's request not to mention Huang Yu and other descendants.
"Yuan Wancui is dead, there will be no more alliances of the righteous parties to exterminate the demonic sect," said Jinshui. "Only a Huan Jiaozheng doesn't have enough ability."
At that time on board the ship belonging to Yongjun Hui something had happened and attracted their attention.
Two shadowy figures jumped from the land, landed directly on the deck, and beat up several men on guard. One of those two was carrying a large sack on his back, another one was hitting a person using a stick as a substitute for a missing leg.
Xu Qiao stood at the front of the boat, pretending to use bamboo poles to paddle. She recognized the two figures who had just arrived as the one-eyed Lao Guishou and the one-legged Lao Diaoyan, the two main bodyguards of Anning Hegu's owner who'd become Jinshui's followers.
She turned her head and was about to say something to Jinshui, but she saw that Jinshui was already meditating, she didn't want to interrupt. The Yongjun Hui ship was not far away, Xu Qiao could hear the conversation of the people on the deck quite clearly.
Huan Jiaozheng stepped out of the cabin, and the one-eyed man immediately threw the big black sack he was carrying, right in front of the leader of Yongjun Hui. Huan Jiaozheng called out for his guards, and a number of other guards soon surrounded Lao Diaoyan and Lao Guishou on the deck.
"Wait," Lao Diaoyan raised his hand. "Master Huan, we came only to collect your promises, not to fight. I also don't want to get my hands dirty by killing Yongjun Hui's lackeys."
"We can come here easily, it's also easy to leave." Lao Guishou said disdainfully. "Huan Jiaozheng, we managed to steal one precious item from you before the end of our promised three days. I hope you still remember your words the other day."
Lao Diaoyan and Lao Guishou suddenly appeared a few days ago when Huan Jiaozheng was about to snatch the white steel fan from Shen Xiru's hand. The two of them showed a scroll and succeeded in forcing Huan Jiaozheng to agree to a gamble, whoever loses may no longer participate in the struggle for the fan which was said to be the most wanted item in the martial world now.
"Huh! Not even a single fly came out of this place, what valuable things did you steal from me?" asked Huan Jiaozheng.
"We didn't say that the thing to be stolen came from here," Lao Diaoyan replied. "We can take your valuables from other places."
"Yongjun Hui's headquarters is in Nanyang, I think that no matter how good your qinggong is, you won't be able to go there and come back here within three days," Huan Jiaozheng also said. "What did you steal?"
"You may just open the sack," Lao Guishou pointed at the sack he had thrown in front of Huan Jiaozheng. "This precious item of yours is of no use to us, so I'll just return it to you. We've managed to steal it once, perhaps another day we will steal it the second time."
Huan Jiaozheng's expression drastically changed that instant. He made a sign and one of his men then opened the sack. The sack turned out to be filled with a young man. Huan Jiaozheng was even more shocked when he recognized the young man as his own son. Huan Chaoyu.
"You!" he glared at the two robbers.
"We knew Huan Shaoye was in Wansui Gu, trying to win the heart of a beautiful lady he had followed for days," Lao Diaoyan explained. "We also know that his father, you, are struggling to find a bride for him. Master Huan, we deliver him back to you to continue the matchmaking, you should be thanking us, shouldn't you?"
Huan Jiaozheng released the acupuncture blocks on his son's body.
Huan Chaoyu quickly gained consciousness. Seeing his father in front of him, he was startled. This young man had already fallen madly in love with Liuxin. He had been following the princess for days although she still thought of Yue Songdai and ignored him. If his father knew what he was doing, he would probably be locked up in the Yongjun Hui headquarters forever.
"Father...."
"You are so useless," Huan Jiaozheng tried to hold back his emotions, "I will deal with you later."
"Master Huan, we still have some business to do, and we won't bother you father and son reunite," Lao Diaoyan spoke again. "According to the original agreement we succeeded in stealing valuables from you, then you Yongjun Hui people will not take part in the hunting of the white steel fan. Your son may not be a valuable object, but the arranged marriage I'm sure is of greater value."
"It's okay if we don't drink your son's wedding wine," his friend added, "as long as you keep your word is enough."
Huan Jiaozheng took a step forward. He was indeed planning to match his son with a daughter of an important figure. He could temporarily leave the hunting of the white steel fan. After the matchmaking was done, he still had a chance to step back in.
In dealing with those kidnappers, he could take advantage of his relationship with his in-laws later. Stepping back temporarily would not degrade his reputation anyway.
"I Huan Jiaozheng always keep my word," he said. "You want to join in the struggle for the white fan or whatever, go ahead, I won't interfere anymore."
Lao Diaoyan and Lao Guishou didn't say thank you, then darted back ashore and just left. Huan Jiaozheng made a signal and none of his bodyguards went after them. Huan Chaoyu stood up with a deathly pale face. When he got here, he didn't know if in this lifetime he could still leave his father and meet Liuxin again.
One slap landed on his cheek, instantly leaving a red mark. Huan Jiaozheng never hesitated to torture this son, and Huan Chaoyu had no idea what kind of punishment he would receive.
"You heard that yourself, I am working hard to arrange a match for you, success or failure will have a big impact on our Yongjun Hui," Huan Jiaozheng also said. "Other than the slap just now, for the time being, I won't impose physical punishment on you. You better wait for the time to pick up the bride."
"Father...." Huan Chaoyu wanted to explain about the Yumen descendant he secretly admired. He fell to his knees in front of his father. "I already have a loved one, I can't...."
"I don't care," Huan Jiaozheng immediately rejected him. "You've messed up enough, one more disobedience then I will not hesitate to take your life. It's fine if I have no son. Among the followers of Yongjun Hui there are still many talented youths who can replace you, do you know that?"
Huan Chaoyu could only lower his head, not daring to mention the girl he adored anymore.
"Don't worry," Huan Jiaozheng said more gently after. "I heard that Liuxin Junzhu is a beautiful and nice girl, even if she knows a little martial arts, I guarantee that she will not bully you. A candidate for a wife as good as this, where are you going to look for?"
"Liuxin?" Huan Chaoyu only knew Liuxin as one of the descendants of Yumen, and never thought that the beautiful and graceful girl he loved desperately was a junzhu. "Her name is Liuxin?"
"So what?" Huan Jiaozheng asked.
"Father... that girl... her name is also Liuxin," Huan Chaoyu replied in a low tone.
Xu Qiao knew that Huan Chaoyu was in Wansui Gu after Zhou Sangong's rebellion was over, followed Liuxin like a little puppy, and kept trying to get close to Liuxin when leiying hua's poison business was over. Xu Qiao knew Huan Chaoyu admired Liuxin deeply but she never expected that Huan Jiaozheng had plans to propose to a princess for his good-for-nothing son.
"I left Yongjun Hui headquarters, and spent several days in Wansui Gu, all for the sake of a girl also named Liuxin." Huan Chaoyu ventured to say more. "I don't know which family she is from, but… please let someone investigate, is this Liuxin Guniang really Liuxin Junzhu?"
Huan Jiaozheng sighed in annoyance. He wants to match his son with a princess, whether his son liked it or not, already had a girlfriend or not. He would not waste his energy to investigate.
"You want to know if your Liuxin is your future wife or not? What for? I'm telling you, know it or not would make no difference," he said sharply. "In time, you will see her for yourself."
The father and son both entered the cabin of the ship and their next conversation was no longer heard by Xu Qiao. It seems that Huan Jiaozheng also asked his men to anchor the ship with the Yongjun Hui flag then left its place and returned to Nanyang City.
--
Jinshui and Xu Qiao arrived in a small town that morning. They left the boat and walked down the street, trying to find a doctor or drug store. And an old umbrella shop owner showed them the way to the drugstore. There was no doctor there, but the shopkeeper told Jinshui that the medicine in the porcelain bottle Yanzi gave was a mixture of various ingredients, its use was to increase energy and relieve pain, nothing more.
"Is it safe to have one pill every day for a long time?" Jinshui asked.
"Never tried it," the shopkeeper lazily answered him.
Jinshui then bought bone grafting medicine and left the shop with Xu Qiao, looking for an inn so they could rest well and he could heal his broken leg as soon as possible. The small town didn't have many inns, but they found one before the pain in Jinshui's legs became unbearable.
Xu Qiao gave some silver coins and asked for a quiet place so that no one would disturb Jinshui. The inn servant gave them a room on the second floor, and even helped Jinshui up there. At Xu Qiao's request, the servant then also delivered some rice and dishes, complete with a jar of rice wine, as well as two sets of new clothes for the two guests.
Jinshui didn't say anything. He picked up the jar of wine and gulped it down quickly. He had not tasted that intoxicating drink in a long time, and right now he needed it to wash away all the unpleasant memories.
"Jinshui Gege, what did Qingyi actually say to you, that you don't want to take part in reviving Yumen Jiao anymore?" Xu Qiao asked later after they had changed their clothes and finished the food provided. "That Ma Yongtao is definitely a member of Liangshan Liu Mo, how can you be with him?"
Xu Qiao followed Jinshui for two days without saying anything, giving Jinshui enough time to think for himself and calm his mind. However, there were no secrets between them, having been through all kinds of ups and downs together for so long, Xu Qiao knew it was time to ask for an explanation.
Jinshui didn't answer immediately. He finished his wine and then stepped onto the bed, adjusted his legs to sit cross-legged there, and arranged his pure energy to heal his internal injuries.
"Huang Erge is now on his way to Wuling City to take Lin Guniang back to her father," Xu Qiao continued, "the others are going straight to Chen-an City, waiting there, waiting for you there. You disappeared that day. They were worried about you but they didn't necessarily have to look for you. They know you can take care of yourself, never thought that you will… will be like this."
Jinshui was still trying to circulate his pure energy, overcoming the pain in his legs. Xu Qiao sat not far from him, waiting quietly. The girl knew it wasn't easy for Jinshui to admit his difficulties, to tell everything that happened.
Three years ago in the underground cave of Haitang Jian Pai, Jinshui was able to tell Xu Qiao a lot of things because at that time Xu Qiao was just a little girl, and Jinshui didn't care of her that much, especially since he already found out that Xu Qiao was poisoned and would probably die before can get out of the cave and tell anyone else.
The current situation was different. Jinshui and Xu Qiao had experienced many things together, and over the past few months, Jinshui had played more of a role as protector for her, as a high-skilled primary descendant of Yumen, the sole son of the previous leader of Yumen, and a respectable young man.
It was just a few days ago that Jinshui found out that he was not the son expected by his late father. Qingyi's words that Wu Youwei really hated his birth mother and did not want his presence was a big blow to Jinshui, destroying his pride as Wu Youwei's son he kept this entire time.
And then he met Ma Yaolun, both of his legs were easily broken without resistance. Now he even found it difficult to stand up straight. His pride was hurt even more, realizing that he couldn't protect Xu Qiao, nor was he able to lead his friends.
Jinshui was not ignorant. He knew the other Yumen descendants were taken from various families and that some had nothing to do with the Yumen Jiao. They were willing to carry out the duties of the descendant, all for the sake of paying the debts of gratitude to the guardians who had given their inner energy, the result of a lifetime of training.
Huang Yu and the others were willing to acknowledge him as the primary descendant because Jinshui was the son of the previous Yumen leader. But since it was never actually established by the guardians, the position as the primary descendant could also be taken by Huang Yu, or it could be Liao Xian, and the others wouldn't mind either.
"During the heyday of the previous Yumen Sect, the jiaozhu and his wife were childless, so jiaozhu furen then arranged for a maid of hers to… to take her place," Jinshui then said. "My father… he was very angry when he found out. My mother was asked to leave and never return."
"How did Qingyi know about this?" Xu Qiao asked softly. "She wasn't even born at that time. Who told her?"
"Qingyi's mother is Menggui Shishu, one of the eight guardians, and happened to be another servant of jiaozhu furen at that time," said Jinshui, "perhaps, Menggui Shishu knew that and then told her daughter. I also know, my mother died when she gave birth to me, and I was taken care of by my external grandfather. He never said anything about my father. Everything I know about my father, it was Moying Shifu who told me. But he didn't tell me much, and I don't know why my father never came to us this entire time."
"When Qingyi said that, it answered the questions you had about your father," Xu Qiao whispered. "An answer that you never expected."
"Yes," said Jinshui.
"Jinhui Gege, she lied to you," Xu Qiao suddenly spoke in a louder voice.
"How so?" asked Jinshui.
"Your Menggui Shishu didn't even tell her good sister Shuiyao that she had a daughter with a prince until her last moment, it's unlikely that Menggui Shishu would tell her daughter about the household affairs of the former Yumen leader," Xu Qiao said. "I think that Qingyi is just making things up. She lied to you."
Jinshui looked at her, realizing that as a girl, Xu Qiao understood Qingyi's thoughts better than him.
"Why would she say something like that in the first place then?" asked Jinshui.
"You wouldn't understand that girl," Xu Qiao replied. She stood up and walked back and forth. "If you want to know the real thing about your birth parents, there is still that jiaozhu furen who can tell you. I can also tell you, Qingyi's words are unreliable. If she's someone who can be trusted, that day on top of the cliff in Wansui Gu, I also wouldn't have bothered to hurt myself so much to release you from her enchantment."
Jinshui caught her hand and saw the traces of the xuanlong sword's scratches on her palms that were still clearly visible there. The wound reminded him, Qingyi had practiced a kind of art called qian li xiang wei, and used a kind of poisonous fragrance xian nu xiang du. Jinshui knew this skill and fragrance as a combination to influence other people's minds. To a certain degree, it can even control someone.
"Lay down with me," he gently asked Xu Qiao. "That day in Wansui Gu, I should not leave you. I need you, Qiao-er."
They lay together on the bed, leaving the candles on the table burning. Jinshui held Xu Qiao's hand under the blanket, kissing her gently. Xu Qiao had untangled the knot in his mind, released him from the heaviest pressure, and woke him up from his worst nightmare. Jinshui realized he loved her more than anything now.
"That day at Wansui Gu, you just left, did you encounter enemies then?" Xu Qiao asked again. "Was it Ma Yongtao, that Liangshan Mojun, who injured you?"
"It was Liangshan Mojun who injured me," said Jinshui, "not Ma Yongtao, but his father, Ma Yaolun, the man you saw killing himself by hitting his head in front of that bamboo hut. He was the original second member of Liangshan Liu Mo."
Jinshui then told her about the real Liangshan Mojun, and also how Ma Yongtao replaced his father. He explained as necessary that both of his legs were broken by Ma Yaolun, but he didn't explain clearly about the cave filled with human corpses and about Ma Yaolun's terrible illness.
"I never expect Ma Yongtao to be a filial son," Xu Qiao said. "Too bad that he is now playing a role as Liangshan Mojun, it's also too bad that he has enmity with Zhu Guniang. If only everything is different, he will be a good friend to you."
Jinshui naturally did not forget about this matter. He was silent for a minute, trying to convince himself that Ma Yongtao had become a friend to him, and would not make things difficult for Zhu Baique again. However, he also realized that before he died, Ma Yaolun had written a final wish to Ma Yongtao, and he could guess that last wish.
"Jinshui Gege, we will go to Chen-an City together, and see Huang Erge and the others, what do you think?" Xu Qiao asked again. "They can help you heal your leg. I know they still want you as the next Yumen leader. I also know that giving up everything and leaving without saying goodbye to them is out of character for you."
"Qiao-er," Jinshui called, "I thought you didn't want me to become Yumen descendant or revive a demonic sect."
"That's right, I once wished that you wouldn't need to be the Yumen leader and could live quietly in Huofeng Lou with me," said Xu Qiao. "However, I know if you really want to leave everything, you have to settle things properly with them first so you would not have any regret."
"Chen-an City is still quite far from here, in my current condition will be very troublesome for you," Jinshui said after a while. "You said that Huang Yu is on his way to take Lin Guniang back to Lin Tongtian in Wuling City. Perhaps we can meet them there."