CHAPTER ONE (PART 1)

Sky and land blurring into one as the storm rages on, an entire air filled with rainy mist.

Torrents of rain piercing down on the human body as they fall, combined with the gales, even the trees are frantically swaying back and forth as they struggle to stand firm against the strong winds.

This is a sudden round of torrential rain, it is extremely common to have such thunderstorms here in the summer.

With this kind of weather, it is difficult for the people to predict when to make preparations in advance, therefore even if you end up as a drowned rat in this heavy rain, it is nothing to be surprised about nor is it worth fussing over.

Despite being aware of this, Qu Qing Yin is still unable to hold back her surprise.

Her surprise is due to the fact that when she ran into the rundown mountain temple completely drenched, there was already someone inside, a male who had not even a speck of rain on him, with handsome looks, a gentleman who carries himself in such a refined manner.

This menacing thunderstorm is just like a river flowing backwards, because before it started raining, she spotted this temple from afar, but the moment she runs in, she realises that she is in an situation as awkward as a fish who had been helplessly swept along by the strong water currents.

To get here before her and have the pleasure to put his foot up and rest, this man sure is lucky!

In this moment, Qu Qing Yin could feel a tinge of jealousy towards him.

Without even looking down, Qu Qing Yin herself knows that she is in as bad of a state as it could get. Her thin layers of summer clothes had been soaked through by the downpour of rain, the fabric sticking to her skin…in a situation like this, any woman in the same shoes as her would know it is inappropriate for an unfamiliar man to see her in such state.

Liu Feng had only just caught a glance of her when she ran out to the hall, then turned to look outside at the pouring rain.

Qu Qing Yin’s gaze swept around the deserted hall, her eyes resting inside the building where bits of gold paint can be seen crumbling off, looks like a worn out statue.

The bag on her shoulder may already be soaked through, but inside were some greaseproof packages, and somewhere amongst them she has a clean set of dry clothing. Therefore she quickly changes out of her wet attire in the fastest pace possible, and walks out from behind the Buddha statue, with her wet clothes in hand, she gently wrings out the water.

Looking out into the rain, Qu Qing Yin frowns, her eyes wanders around the hall, searching for some dry wood to start a fire and dry her clothes.

Liu Feng gently closes his paper fan, standing up, he makes the first move and breaks down the doors and windows, gathering the bits of wood in front of her.

“Thank you.” Qu Qing Yin spoke with such sincerity, looking at the person with a bright smile.

Liu Feng faintly smiles back, “You’re welcome.” He says as he starts the fire.

She searches all over herself, and from her waist side she takes out a string of ornaments with silver chains.

Liu Feng’s eyes flashes a hint of amazement, something he had seen that looked like ornaments, turned out to be a fine workmanship of the silver dart.

Qu Qing Yin throws out her right hand and a silver dart was nailed to the wall, trailing from it is a long thin silver chain, she flips her hand and throws again, another silver dart is driven into a pillar, a makeshift clothesline made on the spot just like that.

Liu Feng opens his fan smiling, he watches as she hangs up her wet clothing.

“This rain will last all night, has lady happened to bring anything to eat?”

Qu Qing Yin curtly asks back: “Gentleman hasn’t brought any?”

Liu Feng spreads out his hands, laughs and says: “You can tell just by looking that I am empty handed.”

Qu Qing Yin looks at him strangely, “How do you know it will rain all night?”

“I just know, would lady like to make a bet with me?”

Shaking her head, she speaks with a firm tone, “No.”

“Then lady believes me right?”

Qu Qing Yin does her clothes whilst looking out, disapprovingly saying: “I only believe the facts.” Summer thunderstorms have always been elusive, even though the rain is overwhelming right now, who knows, the wind can pick up and blow away the storm clouds within an instance.

Liu Feng sees her wordlessly hang up the last of her garments, her two pieces of underwear, this young lady really is a tad too shameless.

She looks back, and sees Liu Feng’s facial expression looking quite unnatural, following his eyes to the underwear that she had just hung up, she couldn’t help but to blink at him, “What’s wrong?”

Flinching as though he just received a burn, he immediately diverts his eyes away, using the fan to cover his face, he sounds a cough, “Nothing.”

His eyes falls upon the rock besides her where two greaseproof packages were, and tries to change the subject, “Do you have anything to eat there?”

Qu Qing Yin lets out a little laugh, this person must surely be really hungry, as she laughs, she opens one of the greaseproof packages.

Liu Feng watches as she opens the package, inside is a roasted chicken and some lu wei. (Lu wei / 滷味 – food braised in aromatic brine)

Qu Qing Yin hands over the greaseproof package, “If you are correct, then we will have to be neighbours for the night, and you also helped me with the fire, no matter what I cannot just leave you to starve yourself.”

Liu Feng did not hold back and took the whole chicken.

She laughs and places the greaseproof package on top of the rock beside her, and then opens the final greaseproof package, inside were more than a dozen of steamed buns (mantou).

Unable to hold back his laughter, “Lady you are indeed prepared.”

Qu Qing Yin throws him a few steamed buns, and also laughs, “I may not be able to read the heavens, but I do know the principle of never letting myself get hungry whenever I am on the go.”

“That truly is a golden principle.”

“Most definitely.”

The fire lights up Qu Qing Yin’s graceful face, she has a smile that brings warmth and comfort to people, yet her eyes reflects a hint of reckless nature, perhaps a crafty one. Liu Feng suddenly feels as though he has taken a liking to this not so predictable young lady.

Qu Qing Yin wraps up the greaseproof packages anew again, and returns her attention to drying the clothes.

Outside is booming with thunder, the rain showing no signs of stopping, and like a sharp cold knife, lightning would flash across the sky from time to time, dimly lighting the building when it does.

The two of them did not exchange any words since, inside the temple only the sounds of the crackling fire can be heard.

Outside, the sounds of thunder continues to rumble, the rain continues to pour down, and the sky grows darker and darker. In the end, evening falls with a moonless sky, everything generally dark, had they not lit the fire, right now they would have already been swallowed up in darkness, not even able to make out the outline of their own hands.

Liu Feng stands and walks to the doorway of the temple, his eyes looking far into the black wilderness, between the heavens and the earth there is only the sound of heavy rain and raging winds.

At a time like this, when everything is engulfed in darkness, the shadows are like a gigantic dormant beast, waiting to devour unaware lost souls.

He turns his head and glances back, the lady is still drying her clothes over the fire. Her semi-dried hair falls down to her chest, blocking his view as it covers the side of her face, making it difficult for him to see her expression.

Amidst the sound of the heavy rain, someone suddenly runs into the temple.

To perk up his senses twice in one night, Liu Feng felt rather surprised.

A timely lightning pierces through the dark skies, revealing the appearance of the new arrival.

“Hero Liu!”[1] Entering in the same ‘fish swept along by the water currents’ manner as Qu Qing Yin, is another young lady. To see someone standing by the doorway through the lightning, one cannot help but to gasp out loud.

The one who let out a sound is drying her clothes over the fire, she subconsciously glances over, before continuing to attend to her business.

Liu Feng politely nods at the person, “Lady Shui.”

Shui Su Yun is simply glad to see him, totally forgetting her awkward situation, she quickly runs up to his side, sweetly speaking: “To see Hero Liu here, it truly is a rare coincidence. Speaking of which, ever since our goodbyes at Fei Ying Bao (Soaring Eagle Guild) last year, we haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

“Lady has been well?” Liu Feng curtly asks, but advertently turns his body, his eyes casting onto the curtains of rain outside.

“Thanks for asking, I have been great…achoo!” The sound of a sneeze interrupts her words.

“Lady should go inside and warm yourself by the fire, inside is another lady, I am fine standing out here.”

Shui Su Yun only just realises her current situation, her face burning red as she clumsily speaks: “Then…then I’ll go dry myself inside.” Finishing, she turns her head and heads into the rundown temple.

When she got inside, Qu Qing Yin had already finished drying her clothes, just about to put it away in her bag.

“Hey, you have any dry clothes? Let me borrow them.”

The previous graceful lady suddenly turns rude and spoilt, Qu Qing Yin could not help but to eye the girl, before she looks at the bag in her hands. Calmly smiling: “I am sorry lady, though I would love to help you, but the only extra set of clothes I have, I have just changed out of, right now they’re still hung up.”

Shui Su Yun spots the silver chains with clothes hung over it, annoyed, she frowns, “How could you not prepare two more sets of clothes?”

Qu Qing Yin sounds genuinely apologetic: “My family’s situation isn’t too well, even on the go I only have these two sets of clothes to change into, lady must find it funny.”

Hearing this, Shui Su Yun feels a slight choking sensation.

Outside at the porch, Liu Feng who is admiring the rain could not help but to sigh, who would have known she had such a bad temper? Wrongly throwing the blame onto others too.

Without any other ideas, Shui Su Yun could only sit by the fire and allow her clothes to slowly dry.

“Hey, you have anything to eat?”

Qu Qing Yin had just taken out a needle and thread from her bag, she hasn’t even picked up the piece of material to mend yet when she heard the other girl speak again, lifting her head to look at her, she shakes her head, “No, I did not expect it to start raining so heavily, so I did not prepare in advance.”

“How could you not prepare anything?”

“It’s not like I’ll starve myself by missing a meal or two, I’m already used to it.”

“You–”

“I am truly sorry, but I think it will better if lady, you bring a few attendants along the next time you go out, if not then just get used to it like me.” She sincerely advices.

Liu Feng holds his fan up against his smile, struggling to hold back the laughter in his chest, is she not afraid of someone exposing her lies? Though he has no intention to do so.

Things finally quietens down inside the temple, probably because Shui Sun Yun repeatedly got knocked down, and finally learnt how to restrain herself.

Liu Feng stands outside admiring the rain as he waits for the people inside to get ready.

“Hero Liu, my clothes have dried, you can come in now.”

When he walks in, his eyes lands on Qu Qing Yin, who is quietly focusing on mending her bag.

The bag already looks a bit washed out, but the material used to make it is strong, her sewing is done so accurately too, one cannot even spot the flaws.

This lady is clearly capable of the typical housekeeping skills, had he not seen how she threw the dart with such expertise, he surely would have seen her as an honest lady from a commoner’s background.

Looks truly are deceiving!

“Hero Liu, why do you not come to our Fei Ying Bao anymore?”

“I am drifting around the four seas, travelling with no fixed destination.” Shui Su Yun’s question pulled him out of his thoughts, he sits down by the fire, forming a circle with the girls.

Qu Qing Yin does not lift her head, only focusing on the job at hand, deep inside, she lets out a sigh, this mountain temple is a little too small, she feels like the unwanted third wheel here, this sure does not feel good.

Outside the temple, the winds are strong and the rain is heavy. Inside the temple, an attractive pair of young lady and young gentleman merrily chatting away. If not for her presence here, this weather, this timing, this location, is just like the situation Shi Fu (master) spoke of, the perfect chance for the good and bad to happen.

The needle in Qu Qing Ying’s hand is placed down, could it be that she really has to act like a fool in this weather, becoming a drowned rat in the rain, just to give them this perfect opportunity?

Of course not! Thinking about it this way, Qu Qing Yin’s guilty heart is finally put at ease.

The bag in her hand has finally been mended, she had yet to snap off the thread, when she hears noises coming from outside. The other two hears it too and looks out.

“Missy, it is great that we’ve found you.” Several people rushes in to avoid the rain, the moment they catch sight of Shui Su Yun by the fire, they were immediately overjoyed, not caring about the pitiful state they were in, they prioritise themselves with greeting her first.

Qu Qing Yin dismissively sweeps a glance at them, before she lowers her head to snap the thread with her teeth, using the mended bag, she wraps it over the other bag by her side to create an additional layer.

Liu Feng speaks to the people of Fei Ying Bao, whilst keeping watch on her movements, he smiles knowingly.

She is a person with great attention to details, those two layers of her bag, clearly the one on the outside looks worse than the one on the inside, but it is more durable. And even though the way she dresses is very simple, if you look closer you can see little details that shows she is not someone who lives a constraint life.

For her to not conceal her real self, and at the same time, not give off the wrong impression to others, she is definitely no simple person.

The rain continues to pour down, and the sky never got the chance to brighten up.

That is because night has already fallen.

Strong winds buffeted the old door and windows of the mountain temple, creating an eerie sound like that of a ghostly cry shrilling through the darkest hours of night.

With the rain running rampant amidst the raging winds, this rundown temple which is their only shelter from the wind and rain, becomes more cramped.

Inside this temple, there are only two places that can provide shelter from the rain. Fei Ying Bao has many people, they occupied the majority of the s.p.a.ce, several guards stand together by an area that does not provide enough shelter from the wind and rain, just so that they do not violate their missy’s own s.p.a.ce.

The remaining s.p.a.ce was just enough for Liu Feng and Qu Qing Yin to keep a corner each, they were not exactly that close to one another, but had no chance of spreading out any further.

Qu Qing Yin hugs her bag, pulling her knees up to her chest as she sits on top of the platform, her heart feeling a bit uncomfortable – she’s hungry.

That Fei Ying Bao’s missy is indeed unlikeable, but to starve herself just because of her, then that would be such a pity.

With eyes showing no signs of drowsiness, Liu Feng inadvertently sweeps a glance towards the case, only to see Qu Qing Yin hugging her knees as she sits on top of the mountain temple’s platform, her whole body dry, held in her embrace is her bag, her head lying on top of it, looks like she has already fallen asleep.

“I’m going to starve to death soon, you lot quickly go and bring back something to eat.” The silence in the large hall was interrupted by Shui Su Yun’s voice.

Several Fei Ying Bao guards looks around at one another, amongst them, two decisively receives the order, reporting “Your subjects here shall go, may missy wait.”

“All of you go, quickly find me something to eat.”

“Yes.”

CHAPTER ONE (PART 2)

All the guards head out into the rain to look for food, and once again there are only the three of them in the temple.

Now that Shui Su Yun has sent all the guards away, she happily comes running up to Liu Feng’s side, “Hero Liu, go over there with me to shelter away from the rain, they have all gone now.”

“Here is good, in a while they will be back, the guards of Fei Ying Bao are all very capable, if lady Shui is afraid, why not ask that lady other there to join you.”

The lady mentioned, Qu Qing Yin, lifts her head and glances over at them.

“It is not like I know her, who knows if she is a good person.”

Qu Qing Yin slightly squint her eyes.

Liu Feng smiles, “That lady looks generous, she is not anyone bad.”

“I would rather believe in Hero Liu.”

“Since you believe me, I already said she is a good person, what are you still afraid of?”

“Well even if I’m willing, she may not be.”

“Then I shall go ask for you.”

He says and so he does, standing from his seat, he walks over to her, asking: “Will lady be willing to accompany lady Shui?”

Qu Qing Yin sits up straight on top of the platform, looking at him, she faintly speaks: “I’ve stopped being a good person a long time ago.”

“Hero Liu, see! Even she herself says she’s not a good person.” Shui Su Yun quickly grabs hold of the opportunity to reason.

Liu Feng laughs: “Normally, bad people typically wouldn’t say they’re bad, going by this logic, those who calls themselves a bad person, typically aren’t so bad at all.”

“That is where you are wrong. Bad people also have their own justification of what is bad, in that case, why wouldn’t bad people dare to admit it?”

“Lady……”

“I believe you and lady Shui over there have more in common, it’s late, right now I need to rest.”

At the side, Shui Su Yun angrily says: “You truly are an ill-mannered one, are you aware that Hero Liu is a reputable figure in the Jiang Hu? You actually dare to speak to him like this?!”

Qu Qing Yin dismissively states: “It is not like I know him.”

Liu Feng claps his hands, laughing, “Well said.”

“Hero Liu–“

He waves his hand, “She’s right. In this world there are many who do not know of me.”

Qu Qing Yin smiles, “You are considerably well aware of yourself and your own limitations.” [1]

“I am flattered.”

“Now can you go continue accompanying lady Shui, and let me take a good rest?

“But what to do?” Liu Feng lets out a little laugh, “I suddenly feel that speaking to lady you would be more meaningful.”

She remains calm and composed, “That’s easy.”

“How so?”

“You pay me money, then I shall allow you to stand here and speak to me, but I will not necessarily respond.”

“That truly is a good suggestion.”

“My suggestions are generally good.”

“But I have no money on me right now.”

“That really is a pity.”

Liu Feng persistently says, “But to pay lady to converse with me, I should have enough.”

She extends her hand out, “Give it.”

He places a gold ingot down, she inadvertently glances down at her hand, when the look in her eyes slightly changes.

Qu Qing Yin accepts the payment, and says: “Alright, you can say whatever you want now.”

Shui Su Yun watches on from the side, raging in anger, she points at her and says: “Have you gone crazy from deprivation? How could you just accept money from anyone? If news of this travels to the Jiang Hu, you wouldn’t even know if you died.”

Qu Qing Yin is unaffected by her words, “Jiang Hu people die in Jiang Hu. If I die then I died, is it possible for me to consider the meaning of my death at that point?”

“You……”

“I am simply speaking the truth.”

Liu Feng agrees, “She is indeed speaking the truth.”

Shui Su Yun looks at him, and then looks at her, within her big eyes, droplets of tears starts forming, annoyed, she stamps her feet, “Both of you are picking on me!”

Qu Qing Yin tilts her head at her, “Bad person picking on someone, isn’t that just a matter of course?”

Liu Feng nods, “Lady’s every word is indeed on point.”

“That is because in this world, words of truth are the best to say.”

“Makes sense.”

“Of course it makes sense.”

Shui Su Yun bites down on her bottom lip, spitefully glaring at Qu Qing Yin.

She faintly smiles, “There is no need for you to look at me like that, since you had already thought I am a bad person, to have me treating you like this, is it not normal? So right now you should not be feeling wronged, is that not right?”

Shui Su Yun is rendered absolutely speechless.

Liu Feng smiles knowingly, this lady really isn’t one to lose to others.

“You treating me like this, we Fei Ying Bao definitely won’t let you get away with it!”

Liu Feng’s eyes darken, looking as though he doesn’t agree with this course of action.

Qu Qing Yin sneers: “If people of Fei Ying Bao all do things your way, I believe the decline in business is but a matter of time, if it’s like that, then what’s there for me to be afraid of?”

Liu Feng lowers his head, averting his eyes down, the fan in his hand covering his mouth, just in time to hide his smile.

“You–“

“Lady Shui, we have spoke enough now, why don’t you return to your seat, just go wait for your guards to return with food, how’s that?”

“Hero Liu, let’s not speak to someone like that.” Shui Su Yun angrily says.

“But I have just spent some money, if I don’t converse with her is that not a waste?”

“Then I shall give you the money, you don’t need to speak to her now.”

Qu Qing Yin watches Liu Feng in amus.e.m.e.nt.

Liu Feng seriously speaks: “Lady Shui, you cannot say it like that, even if you give me the money, the money I spent has already been spent, this is a fact.”

“Even if you have wasted your money, it is better than speaking to someone like that.”

Qu Qing Yin nods in agreement, “She’s right, it is meaningless speaking to me.” She wasn’t planning to speak to begin with.

“The money I spent is real gold” [2]

“I’m definitely not going to return it to you.”

“That’s why it is only right that I speak to you lady, only then has this deal been conducted.”

“If that is what makes you happy.” She can no longer be bothered speaking to them anymore, she grabs her bag and lays her head on top of it, hoping to get some rest.

Liu Feng pretends he did not see this action of hers, doing as he pleases: “Say, do you think there are other people living within a ten li[3] radius around here?”

Qu Qing Yin responds with an ‘en’ sound, how is she supposed to know this.

“But with such heavy rain, even if they can hunt for food, there isn’t any dry wood to roast it with.”

Shui Su Yun thought about it this time, urgently asking, “If that is so then they wouldn’t be able to get anything to eat?”

Liu Feng honestly speaks the true facts, “The hunted livestock cannot be roasted to eat, if they have to find some form of housing, who knows when they will get back?”

She looks at him pitifully, “But I’m so hungry.”

“Just wait, maybe they’ll be back very soon.”

“But didn’t you say, there’s no housing within ten li radius?”

“It is but a guess, maybe the situation isn’t so miserable.”

Shui Su Yun worriedly looks out, “They’ve been gone for half a day, how come they’re still not back?”

Qu Qing Yin throws in a comment, “It doesn’t seem to have been that long, you are just too impatient.”

Shui Su Yun replies: “You don’t speak to me, I don’t wish to bother with the likes of you.”

Qu Qing Yin purses her lips, thinking to herself, and he clearly doesn’t want to bother with you, yet you think I’m speaking out of hand, well you’re alone in this then.

Liu Feng shakes his head, looking helpless.

Having suffered several setbacks, Shui Su Yun loses the spirit to speak anymore, she alone, dully walks back to her spot and sits down, falling into a daze as she looks out.

Liu Feng does not leave, he leans against the platform, his left hand holding his right hand, both hands holding his fan as he supports his chin, he asks the person on top of the platform, “You really don’t intend to do anything?”

“Hero rescuing the beauty, that sort of thing is not suited for me.”

Liu Feng silently laughs, once again asking: “Then what is suited for you to do?”

“Right now all I want to do is sleep.”

“But you already accepted my money.”

“That is why I did not shoo you away.”

“You’re really planning to leave to me to speak alone?”

“Right now it is time for sleeping, must you be so energetic?”

He uses the fan to cover his mouth, letting out a little cough, “Lady sure doesn’t hold back your words.”

“Are we really familiar with one another?”

“……only met today.”

“Well since we’re not acquainted, then why should I show you any mercy?”

“I have yet to ask for lady’s name?”

“We’re not acquainted.” That was her reply.

Liu Feng could only smile, “It’s boring, I just wanted to start a conversation.”

“I have nothing to speak to you about.”

“Actually lady Shui isn’t the only one hungry, I’m a little hungry too.”

Qu Qing Yin finally lifts her head to face him, “I think you two have more in common to speak about.”

“Lady should watch your tongue.”

“You sure are hard to take care of. I don’t speak, you go on with your own monologue. I speak to you, yet you are reluctant.”

“Well it is hard making money.”

“That’s no lie.”

“It’s rare of lady to agree.”

“Why should I disagree with what’s right?”

“That is true.”

Qu Qing Yin covers her yawn with her hand, “From what I see those people from Fei Ying Bao wouldn’t be back for another hour and a half or so. You should go sleep first, once they return, if they manage to bring back food then you would definitely get a share.”

Liu Feng really wanted to knock her head with his fan, “Looks like you really are sleepy.”

“I was originally so.”

“In this situation you can still sleep?”

“What’s it to me? Since it’s got nothing to do with me, then why shouldn’t I be able to sleep?”

Liu Feng is knocked speechless by her, he could only say: “Then you go ahead and sleep.”

“En.” She drops her head onto her bag, then lifts it back up. This is strange, why is he still not leaving.

Liu Feng looks at the spot he was originally sat at, sighing, “It’s started leaking.”

Qu Qing Yin looks over, it is indeed so, “Lady Shui’s side is more s.p.a.cious.”

“Those people would be back in a while.”

She laughs but says nothing.

He gave her a look, playing with his fan, he says: “Those who does business should have morals.”

Qu Qing Yin continues to laugh, laughing silently but merrily.

Liu Feng could not hold it in any longer and laughs along, this situation is indeed somewhat amusing, he cannot blame her for laughing.

Whilst the two of them laugh amongst themselves, a few guards from Fei Ying Bao returns, some empty handed, some with livestock, also some with wild fruits, none with any cooked food, this made Shui Su Yun extremely unpleased.

There’s livestock but with no dry wood to start a fire they’re useless, and those wild fruits are too sour, she might as well continue starving.

Liu Feng looks at the bag in Qu Qing Yin’s embrace, letting out a sigh, “Lady sure is resistant.” Would much rather starve herself than take out her food.

“I’m already used to being hungry anyway.”

Lightly hitting his fan onto his forehead, he silently sighs, she really is determined to not take out her food.