Chapter 639: Chapter 348: Always So, Close in Body and Heart. Li Xian of the Flower Cage, Unrivaled Through the Ages_3
Looking at Li Xian, his gaze was as soft as autumn water. That night, the two rested once more. The next day, at noon, as the blazing sun hung high, Li Xian barely awoke. Despite his avarice, he must choose wisely. While Wen Caishang was in a deep sleep, he applied several ropes upon her. Then he closed the carriage door, lit the heater, and burned the warm charcoal, leaving the carriage window slightly ajar.
He blew out the candle and neatly covered the bedding. In a corner of the carriage, he planted a strand of hair anew, with two more planted outside the carriage, ensuring no error in vision, with ears and eyes wide open, constantly aware of Wen Caishang’s state.
Then, he returned the jade nut to Wen Caishang’s mouth. With everything set, he pushed the carriage to a flat area. After ensuring Wen Caishang’s safety, he turned to escape. Running several miles away, he suddenly felt reluctant and jumped onto a tall tree, faintly able to overlook the carriage.
Li Xian thought: "With my incredibly limited strength, how dare I speak of fleeting affection? Li Xian, oh Li Xian, you need to work hard, diligently and tirelessly. When the day comes where I don’t rely on these cunning tricks, I can subdue the lady properly. Only then can I truly have her by my side, whether by capture or restraint, rather than live off her favor, endure her sharp blade, or be dominated by her. But after this parting, I wonder if her tenderness will allow us to meet again any time soon."
It was mid-February, deep in winter, a time of parting. Li Xian lingered for a moment longer and finally departed with a heavy heart. He ran along a nearby path, finding that white horse.
The white horse recognized Wen Caishang as its master, yet was exceptionally gentle with Li Xian. Li Xian softly stroked the horse’s mane and sighed, "I must leave today, but I cannot take you with me. Stay well here; someone will come to retrieve you eventually."
He channeled two strands of Inner Qi into the horse, fed it with dried vegetables, and tied it to a large tree. Turning away, with a few quick jumps, he departed the Snow Hidden Mountain and followed the road back to Flying Dragon City.
He rushed straight to the Fragrant Water Pavilion, observing Xiaotuan alone and happy, with no worries about money, her status rather high. With Wen Caishang away, she was quite at ease. Li Xian mused, "With the lady in this state, even without the Yin Yang Sword Momentum, escaping must be tough. Back then, when Qiuyue betrayed her, she asked for my help to break free. But once close, she resorted to bizarre moves against me. I’ll let her remain stuck for three more days, granting me more time."
Through ear and eye sensing, he realized Wen Caishang had now awoken, cursing with muffled sounds and fierce eyes. Clearly, she knew Li Xian had made his escape. Li Xian purchased paper and ink, hiding in an alley to write a letter: "Lady, if requested, bestow this opportunity upon you. Three days hence, proceed as the map illustrates. Too soon, fortune hasn’t arrived; too late, danger threatens. I earnestly hope you adhere to this letter."
The handwriting was firm and brisk, each stroke sharp, better than ever, his skill advancing rapidly. Li Xian folded the letter, sealed it in an envelope, worried Xiaotuan wouldn’t believe it, and added one of Wen Caishang’s gold hairpins acquired in passing. Lastly, he included a hand-painted map.
He then looked for a high spot, armed a bow and arrow, and shot the envelope directly into the Fragrant Water Pavilion. Xiaotuan, momentarily dazed, suddenly saw an arrow flying towards her, grazing past and striking a stone brick. She was frightened and pale, yet didn’t dodge or hide, huddling on the ground holding her head.
She kept muttering, "My life’s over, my life’s over. The lady’s so formidable, but I have no martial arts. If thieves break in, it’s bound to end poorly. This time enemies have finally tracked me down." She trembled for half an hour, seeing she was still alive, only then boldly examined around.
She saw the arrow less than half an inch from her, with a letter tied to the arrow’s tail. She took the letter to read, puzzled, "The lady grants me a chance? That’s oddly strange, if true, why wouldn’t the lady tell me directly, needing to send by arrow? If untrue... perhaps a thief wants to trick me out of the Fragrant Water Pavilion, wanting to deal with me?"
She sniffed the envelope’s scent, indeed catching Wen Caishang’s unique ’Orchid Fragrance.’ Plus, the gold hairpin was one the lady had worn. Xiaotuan frowned and said, "For the lady so formidable, even the City Lord of Flying Dragon City is no match, who could possibly harm her? If she wants to protect herself, seemingly any dire situation would be easily managed. She’s definitely unharmed. Yes, my lady, what persona, stirring the Jianghu, snapping swords with a flick. Incomparably beautiful, this pin must be her willing gift."
"Although I don’t know the mysteries within, just doing as instructed is enough. Moreover, if one wanted to harm me, that single arrow would suffice to kill me. Why go through this trouble? Or to capture me and coerce the lady? That’s completely absurd; the lady wouldn’t even flinch. Capturing me, Xiaotuan, serves no purpose at all."
She safely stowed the envelope, counting on her fingers. Three days, seemingly long yet short, surely letting Wen Caishang wait well.
Li Xian wickedly thought, "The lady in this state, were Xiaotuan to see it, wouldn’t it embarrass her terribly? I’m truly looking forward to this, and before leaving, I left a small gift for the lady. Anyway, if caught, the lady would never spare me, the torment inevitable. It’s better to offend deeply, no harm in that."
He thought everything through, perfectly arranging everything concerning Wen Caishang without any mistake, he then prepared to depart. At this moment, he still had ’seventeen taels’ of silver left, choosing a small restaurant on the street, ordering some plain porridge, vegetarian dishes, and braised meat, for a simple meal. Eating and drinking to satisfaction, then stocking some dry provisions, he left Flying Dragon City. As he passed the city gate, he looked back, seeing the towering buildings, the prosperity, feeling a myriad of emotions.
Li Xian headed southeast, traveling over dozens of miles, encountering various kinds of people along the way, merchants, Jianghu guests, noble scions, hiding amidst the vast sea of people, his trail disappeared entirely. By evening, he found a quiet place, purged the impurities, and practiced the [Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture].
The Martial Arts manifested uniquely, five clairs shimmering across his body, displaying extraordinary divinity. Li Xian borrowed the wondrous effects of Martial Arts, calming his breath, sensing his body’s condition. Discovering among the strands of hair, there were seventy-four strands of silk.
