Chapter 19 : Assassination Encounter

Chapter 19: Assassination Encounter

The carriage sped along the official road, with pedestrians and trees rapidly retreating into the distance.

Even so, Li Yunqing barely felt any jolting.

Before long, she saw a stretch of mountains covered in red, like a fire dragon coiled upon the earth, extending to the horizon with no end in sight.

“Dong!”

The resonant sound of a morning bell could still be clearly heard from several li away.

That was Lanshan Temple on Lanshan, situated halfway up the mountain. Ladies and young misses from the city often went there to worship.

Even today, Li Yunqing could see quite a few carriages heading toward Lanshan Temple.

Watching Li Yunqing attentively admire the scenery outside, occasional flickers of wonder appearing in her eyes—

Jiang Yu refrained from speaking further to disturb her. Yet his gaze still unconsciously fell upon her from time to time.

For a moment, these ordinary sights seemed exceptionally beautiful.

“Mother was right… the worldly sights and scenery are only truly beautiful and meaningful when shared with the one in your heart.”

Thinking of his mother’s words, Jiang Yu felt as though even the surrounding air had turned sweet.

Especially the faint, elegant fragrance from Li Yunqing—like milk mixed with a hint of apple—he could not get enough of it.

Sensing his gaze, Li Yunqing paid it little mind.

With a mindset of simply going through the motions, she only wanted to finish this quickly and return home to practice martial arts.

The carriage suddenly came to a stop before Lanshan Temple.

Just as Li Yunqing and Jiang Yu stepped down, several monks in kasaya robes had already approached.

“Amitabha. The guest rooms have been prepared. Benefactor Jiang, Benefactor Li, please rest briefly before heading into the mountains.”

“Many thanks, Abbot Xuanyuan!”

Jiang Yu cupped his fists slightly, then instructed the accompanying guards and servants to arrange the rooms before guiding Li Yunqing into the temple.

The air was filled with drifting incense, winding around the fiery red trees. The pagodas, temple halls, and guest quarters all carried an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere.

It was as if the moment one stepped through the gates, one had entered a sacred mountain of immortals.

“The scenery is indeed quite good.”

After touring Lanshan Temple, even Li Yunqing felt a bit of admiration and interest. “Let’s head into the mountains.”

“Alright!”

Jiang Yu nodded and beckoned toward a distance.

Soon, two servants led over horses.

“The mountain path is long—riding will be more convenient.” Jiang Yu spoke, taking the reins of a white horse and placing them into Li Yunqing’s hand.

“Riding through the mountains?”

Li Yunqing looked at the white horse before her, her eyes brightening slightly as she glanced at Jiang Yu in surprise.

This idea was quite good—it piqued her interest even more.

Although she had never ridden a horse before, who wouldn’t enjoy riding?

As long as it wasn’t galloping wildly, she should be able to adapt.

With that thought, Li Yunqing blinked her clear eyes, stroked the white horse’s neck, then stepped onto the stirrup and mounted in one smooth motion.

Grasping the reins and lightly pressing her legs against the horse’s belly, the white horse began to move forward at a steady pace.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu did not hesitate. He mounted as well and followed.

The mountain path was not wide, but it was enough for two horses to walk side by side.

The red leaves rustled in the wind, while melodious bird calls echoed through the valleys.

A gentle breeze brushed their faces, clothes and hair swaying together under the perfect sunlight.

Two figures rode leisurely along the path without a set destination, like a beautifully painted scene.

Yet the atmosphere remained somewhat quiet.

It was Li Yunqing’s first time riding. As she experienced it and admired the scenery, and with Jiang Yu not speaking, she found it rather comfortable.

Moreover, she had never been a talkative person.

Jiang Yu’s gaze frequently lingered on Li Yunqing. He wanted to speak, yet hesitated, unsure of where to begin.

Instead, he occasionally glanced up at the position of the sun.

Only when the sun began to tilt westward did Jiang Yu finally speak, “Junior Sister Yunqing, it’s already past noon. Shall we find a sheltered spot and have some refreshments?”

Li Yunqing turned her head, only then noticing that quite a number of items were hanging from Jiang Yu’s saddle.

There were food boxes, water flasks, a horizontal blade—even a long rectangular case.

Clearly, this had all been prepared in advance.

“That works.” Li Yunqing had no objections.

Along the way, she could also tell that Jiang Yu was not like those idle young masters. On the contrary, he was well-mannered and had never shown any improper or overstepping behavior.

He was quite easy to get along with—even with few words, it wasn’t awkward.

The two dismounted, led their horses to a grassy patch, then carried their things through the forest into a secluded valley.

They stopped beside a large bluestone backed against the mountain.

Jiang Yu opened the food box, laying out pastries and fruits one by one, then poured two cups of water.

He even wiped the stone clean.

Throughout the entire process, he did not let Li Yunqing lift a finger, yet everything was done with great care and attentiveness.

“If she were an ordinary woman, a man like this would indeed be an excellent match.”

Watching Jiang Yu’s considerate behavior, even Li Yunqing couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

“Junior Sister Yunqing, please!”

Jiang Yu gestured politely before sitting down on the stone.

Li Yunqing did not stand on ceremony. Sitting opposite him, she took a sip of water to moisten her throat before eating the pastries.

They were all top-quality delicacies from Qingzhou City—sweet but not cloying, soft yet firm, including her favorite Horseshoe Cake.

It carried the faint fragrance of water chestnut, with a jelly-like smooth texture.

After Li Yunqing finished eating and lifted her head, she saw Jiang Yu holding that long rectangular case, placing it before her.

“This is the famous zither, Tingyou.”

Jiang Yu spoke softly, his tone carrying a trace of solemnity. “I know my father’s sudden visit to propose marriage caused you great trouble, Junior Sister Yunqing.”

“And when I rashly climbed over your wall before, I was quite rude. I offer this as an apology.”

Hearing this, Li Yunqing lowered her head to look at the box before her, suddenly understanding.

This was likely the true purpose of Jiang Yu inviting her out.

However, she also understood that she was already fifteen—approaching the age of marriage.

Even if she was unwilling, her father would eventually find ways to bring her into the open.

If not Jiang Yu, there would be others in the future.

“You don’t have to do this,” Li Yunqing said. “I don’t blame you.”

At first, she had indeed held some prejudice. But once she understood that this was the fate of women in this era, she had let it go.

Even so, she still resisted it in her heart—she would not fall in love, nor would she marry.

Jiang Yu’s presence, perhaps, was actually the reason she could remain undisturbed—like a shield blocking others.

Allowing her to focus on martial arts.

If anything, she should be grateful.

“Even if you don’t blame me, I am still at fault in this matter.”

Jiang Yu’s expression was sincere.

Back then, when his father went to propose marriage, he should have stopped him, gotten to know Li Yunqing better, and only acted after gaining her consent.

Moreover, from the moment Li Yunqing accepted the betrothal token, it had already been destined that she would be his future wife.

Naturally, he could not allow her to suffer even the slightest grievance, nor did he want this matter to leave an irreparable knot in her heart.

“I won’t accept the zither—but I can borrow the flowers to offer to the Buddha!”

Li Yunqing opened the case, took out the Tingyou zither, and said softly, “Today, I will play a piece for you.”

“Let everything from the past drift away with the wind.”

“Really?” Jiang Yu’s expression brightened with joy, unable to conceal the excitement in his eyes.

Li Yunqing nodded lightly. “Of course.”

Then she added inwardly, “Let the future drift away with the wind as well.”

“Ding…”

A melodious zither sound suddenly rose within the valley.

Like wind brushing over hills, like flowing water wandering freely.

The enchanting melody drew countless birds from the mountains, circling above them.

Their chirping harmonized with the music, creating an exceptionally pleasing sound.

With the trait Eight Tones Enter the Soul, her music could directly penetrate the heart, stirring emotions.

She even felt that, if she had magical power, she might be able to control people’s minds.

At this moment, hearing this beautiful melody once more, Jiang Yu was completely immersed.

Emotions flowed through his heart—joy, sorrow—like experiencing a vivid illusion of life’s highs and lows.

“Tap tap tap…”

Just as the melody neared its end, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed through the valley.

Fifteen or sixteen masked figures, wielding sharp blades, rushed swiftly into the ravine.

The leader’s gaze locked onto Li Yunqing from afar, filled with intense greed.

“As expected of a supreme spiritual prodigy—one piece of music and it draws a hundred birds in worship!”