Translator: pucari @ dreamwidth

Editors: elliot and luca

[Chapter 23 - Let's all come together to capture someone!] Perhaps it was actually I who stole something treasured!

Qin Shao Yu flew up, carrying Shen Qian Ling firmly in his arms with one hand, the other unsheathing his sword with a flash of silver.

Some ten masked people rushed into the house, carrying polished long swords in their hands. Upon seeing the situation, the young lady paled in fright and stood up, wanting to run towards Shen Qian Ling, but with a raise of Qin Shao Yu's leg, she was kicked straight into the group of masked men.

"Hey!" Shen Qian Ling was in a panic.

"Such an old demon, and you dare to call yourself a twelve year old." Qin Shao Yu's tone was frigid.

Shen Qian Ling, bewildered, turned his head and looked over.

"Sect leader Qin really doesn’t hold any compa.s.sion for the fairer s.e.x." The young lady chuckled, then reached up and took down her mask, revealing a somewhat wrinkled face.

The real life version of Tian Shan Tong Lao(1)? A chill ran down Shen Qian Ling's spine. He s.h.i.+vered silently.  

"Where's Feng Jiu Ye?" Qin Shao Yu scorned, "There’s just this few of you, and you want to kidnap him from my hands?"

Kidnap? Shen Qian Ling was anxious. Could it be that they were here to kidnap him once again?

"How is it a kidnapping." The other party clicked her tongue, "My sect leader heard that Master Shen was hurt, and was basically so unsettled that he did not think of drinking or eating; he has already become thinner."

"Is that so?" Qin Shao Yu glanced unhappily at Shen Qian Ling.

Shen Xiao Shou's words were stuck in his mouth. He was simply implicated just by being there again.  

"Want to go with them to the demonic sect?" Qin Shao Yu asked.

Of course not! Shen Qian Ling shook his head fiercely.

"Good." Qin Shao Yu single-handedly hugged his waist tighter, the corners of his mouth raising slightly.

"Are we running away?" Shen Qian Ling asked softly by his ear.

"We will run away after we finish beating them." Qin Shao Yu chuckled.

"......I don't know how to fight." Shen Qian Ling said self-consciously.

"I will protect you." Qin Shao Yu spoke a cla.s.sic line from an idol drama.

"Truly in love." A voice came from outside the house, then following it a man floated in, clothed in a snow white long gown, cold and grand; cursive script was written over all the clothing, it was really quite stylish.

"Pfft." Shen Qian Ling didn't manage to hold it in and laughed out loud.

"What are you laughing about?" Qin Shao Yu asked.

Shen Qian Ling shook his head with all his might, and laughed even more.

The expression of the white clothed man instantly turned sour, "Mister Shen finds me funny?"

"How can it be, you're not funny at all." Shen Qian Ling laughed till his tears came out.

The white clothed man: "........"

"Your name is really unique." Shen Qian Ling stopped laughing with much difficulty, feeling that he should compliment him a little, and thus praised sincerely, 'No wonder you wrote it on your clothes."

The white clothed man snorted upon hearing this, the five words "This is Bai Lian Hua (2)" prominently shown on his lapel.

"Can I laugh some more?" Shen Qian Ling leaned in between Qin Shao Yu's shoulders; luckily the sky has cleared up outside, otherwise what should he do if the ink had dissolved?  

Bai Lian Hua's face was very, very dark.

"Of course." Qin Shao Yu smirked, "Fu-ren only needs to care about laughing, the matter of fighting can just be left to this husband."

Just as he finished, the white clothed man had already attacked. Shen Qian Ling only felt his waist tighten, and was brought out the door by Qin Shao Yu.

The sounds of swords clas.h.i.+ng was unceasing; Qin Shao Yu safely protected Shen Qian Ling with his left hand, and indeed made the white clothed man retreat little by little single-handedly, without any room for retaliation.

The Sun-Moon Hamlet guards protecting Shen Qian Ling had also rushed in upon hearing the sounds, and engaged the masked men.

"What are you still standing there for?" Bai Lian Hua was humiliated into anger, turning around and shouting angrily at the girl.

"It's of course to see you make a fool of yourself." The girl chuckled, her voice somewhat sharp and ear-piercing, as if it had originated from a deep abyss.

"Cover your ears." Qin Shao Yu instructed Shen Qian Ling quietly.

The girl was named Chan Niang(3), and was infamous for her viciousness and mercilessness; no one knew just how old she was. She had originally vanished without a trace a few years ago, and yet suddenly joined the demonic sect out of nowhere, becoming Feng Jiu Ye's right hand.

Shen Qian Ling covered his ears as told, but still felt a little uncomfortable, his forehead creasing into a frown.

Qin Shao Yu swept away the masked men in front of them with his sword, soaring down the mountain while carrying him.

The people behind pursued relentlessly. Shen Qian Ling felt somewhat anxious, his hand also tightening more.

"Don't be afraid." Qin Shao Yu said by his ear, "I won't let the demonic sect bring you away."

"Will there be an ambush in front?" Shen Qian Ling asked, the enemy had clearly come prepared. There shouldn't only be this few people.

"Of course there is." Qin Shao Yu smiled, "But it's not their ambush."

Suddenly, a horse's neigh came from somewhere far away. Shen Qian Ling turned his head around, and saw Ta Xue Bai galloping towards them, its four hooves making countless water splashes, reflecting seven colored halos under the s.h.i.+ning sunlight.

Qin Shao Yu carried him and flew on to the horse; it was totally suave.

"Sect leader!" Hau Tang had also arrived on a horse, bringing people with her — gorgeously dressed, a fragrance a.s.sailing one's nose, a pink outfit with a very low collar — the visual effect was very stimulating.

Shen Qian Ling: ".........."

This sister, are you really here to have a serious fight.

"Want to go down the mountain to rest or enjoy what comes next?" Qin Shao Yu asked.

Shen Qian Ling instantly replied, "Enjoy what comes next."

Qin Shao Yu smirked, holding him even tighter.

They looked extremely loving.

Everyone from the demonic sect had also came in pursuit, but clearly didn't expect to get ambushed by the Dominion of Shadow Chasers.

Chan Niang smiled coldly, "The sect leader of the Dominion of Shadow Chasers is indeed famous for his excessive wariness."

"Can't do anything about it." Qin Shao Yu smirked, "I never asked for someone to keep l.u.s.ting after my fu-ren."

"Shorty." Hua Tang who hasn't spoke up, suddenly blurted out a word.

"Who are you talking about?" Chan Niang became furious upon hearing it.

"I'm calling whoever that is short, shorty." Hua Tang stuck out her chest; Shen Qian Ling can't help but say "wah" on the inside.

The effect is very worthy of praise.

"What are you looking at?" Qin Shao Yu knocked on his head.

Shen Qian Ling: "........"

Getting found out even when peeking, this warrior you truly have good eyesight.　

"Shameless!" Chan Niang said harshly.

"So what if I'm shameless, it's still better than being a certain someone who doesn't even have the ability to become shameless." Hua Tang said cleverly and eloquently, "Never mind that you had originally withdrawn from Jianghu, are you crazy, running to join the demonic sect, it couldn't be that you secretly like Feng Jiu Ye?"

"You're looking for death." Chan Niang sprang forward, a poisonous fog spreading from her hand.

Qin Shao Yu covered the mouth and nose of Shen Qian Ling. Ta Xue Bai neighed, turned and ran towards the bottom of the mountain.

"You aren’t helping?" Shen Qian Ling turned his head around and asked.

"Just let them handle it." Qin Shao Yu hugged him tight, "What Hua Tang has are ways to deal with Chan Niang."

"But there's still Bai Lian Hua!" Shen Qian Ling reminded him.

"You sure remember this name very well." Qin Shao Yu was unhappy.

Shen Qian Ling: ".........."

With such a name, it would be hard to not remember it!

"Don't worry, I have sent out people earlier." Qin Shao Yu raised his whip and urged the horse on, leaving the sounds of fighting far behind them.

At the entrance to the city, a large group of people were busy setting up a stage in preparation for the birthday of the government village officer in a few days' time when they suddenly saw a large white horse rush towards them from a distance away, and thus they all got a shock.   

"Stop quickly!" Seeing the clamoring crowd in front of them, Shen Qian Ling paled in fright.

A traffic accident must not happen!

Qin Shao Yu tightened the reins of the horse with a single hand; the forelegs of Ta Xue Bai's rose up high, successfully stopping at a place three meters away from the crowd.

"Scared me to death." Shen Qian Ling's heart was palpitating.

Qin Shao Yu couldn't hold in his laughter, and lightly caressed his neck.

The people's eyes were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears of excitement; not everyone has the chance to see such a scene alright.

Thus everyone enthusiastically clapped.

Ta Xue Bai raised its head, and entered the city elegantly under the admiring eyes of everyone, feeling very good about itself.

As the two of them crossed the main entrance of the inn, Yao Qian rushed forward, "I heard from the guards that sect leader was ambushed?"

"It's only a small matter." Qin Shao Yu got down the horse, and carried Shen Qian Ling down.

"It's the demonic sect?" Yao Qian asked.

"Other than Feng Jiu Ye, who would be so idiotic so as to think of s.n.a.t.c.hing someone from my hands." Qin Shao Yu walked in, bringing Shen Qian Ling with him.

"Sect leader." Yao Qian said with a frown, "What this subordinate had said previously ---"

"Shut up." Qin Shao Yu coldly broke him off.   

"Achoo!" Shen Qian Ling sneezed.

"Get the errand boy to bring in two tubs of bathing water." Qin Shao Yu instructed Yao Qian.

The right chief's face turned unhappy in an instant, and glared at Shen Qian Ling. 　

Why are you looking at me like you're looking at Daji(4)! Shen Qian Ling was annoyed; I didn't say anything at all!

Is even sneezing illegal!

"What are you are still here for?" Qin Shao Yu turned around, looking at Yao Qian coldly.

The right chief stomped his feet, turned around and left angrily.

Shen Qian Ling looked at his back with complicated feelings.

Actually I don't want to marry your sect leader at all either okay!　

The bath water was very quickly sent into the bedroom. Shen Qian Ling submerged himself in the hot water, exhaling a large breath comfortably.

"You were drenched in the rain today, eat some food later and go sleep earlier." Qin Shao Yu stuffed a pill into his mouth. "Swallow this down, it can expel the cold qi."

"Why does the demonic sect want to kidnap me?" Shen Qian Ling leaned against the trim of the tub and asked him.

"What do you think?" Qin Shao Yu knocked his head.

Shen Qian Ling guessed, "It couldn't be that before I lost my memories I knew that Feng....er, Feng what?"

"Feng Jiu Ye." Qin Shao Yu smirked, "It doesn't just stop at knowing him."

"Could it be that we are even good friends?" Shen Qian Ling was shocked.

Qin Shao Yu looked at him with the eyes of one preparing to watch a good show.

"....it couldn't be that something happened, right?" Shen Qian Ling was in turmoil, "These things cannot be joked about."

"How do you know I'm joking?" Qin Shao Yu crouched in front of him, reaching out and pinching his cheeks, "Maybe you and him are really a couple, and I am the one who took this chance to s.n.a.t.c.h a treasure."

Shen Qian Ling asked, "Is his martial arts good?"

"On par with me." Qin Shao Yu said.

"Then that's not possible." Shen Qian Ling relaxed, and laid against the wall of the tub comfortably.

"Why?" Qin Shao Yu raised an eyebrow.

"Because if he's really my lover, then he wouldn't have just sent his subordinates here today." Shen Qian Ling wrung a handkerchief dry, "He clearly knows that he wouldn't be able to take me back and would also increase your vigilance; only a fool would do this."

Qin Shao Yu laughed, "You sure thought very clearly about this."

"Because the reasoning is very simple!" Shen Qian Ling slapped his hand away, "Stop it!"

"Stay in for a while more, or you may get a cold again." Qin Shao Yu added more hot water into the tub.

"Nothing will happen to the left chief, right?" Shen Qian Lin was still very worried about Hua Tang.

"Of course not." Qin Shao Yu untied his hair tie, "Those few repulsive people are not capable of hurting her at all."

"So the skills of those people are actually not high?" Shen Qian Ling was curious, "Then why did you run away just now?" And you even ran away so quickly.

Qin Shao Yu knocked on his head, "Because you have no internal energy at all, I was afraid that you would be hurt by her laughter."

Shen Qian Ling: "......."

Alright, actually this person is still....very kind.

(1) Tian Shan Tong Lao: 天山童姥 - A character from Jin Yong's books. (one of the most famous martial arts novelists). Appearance is that of an eight, nine year old but she's actually ninety six.

(2) Bai Lian Hua: 白蓮花 - white lotus flower.

(3) Chan Niang: 蟬娘 - lit. cicada lady

(4)Da Ji: 妲己 - lit. Supposed fox spirit and concubine of Shang Dynasty Emperor Zhou Xin (11th Century BCE). Her name is basically subst.i.tuted as a meaning for how beauty causes the downfall of a country.

Chapter 24