Forgotten Tale of Jianghu

"Dong… Dong… Dong…"

The twelve chimes of the clock echoed just as he finished his task. Everything had unfolded precisely as planned—not a second out of place. With a satisfied smirk, he left the corpse where it lay and calmly cleaned himself.

Then, he returned to the bedside of Sangguan Yun'er. Her breathing was soft and steady, her face serene, untouched by the horrors that had transpired mere moments ago. With care, Xin Long redressed her, ensuring every piece of fabric was neatly restored to its proper place.

Xin Long walked over to a nearby table, picking up a piece of paper and a brush. He quickly wrote a few words before slipping the note into the soft valley of Yun'er's chest. As he did, he briefly felt the warm, delicate sensation of her skin against his fingers.

"Tsk… What a troublesome woman..." he muttered to himself before turning away.

He made his way back to the dining table and picked up the dagger Yun'er had brought with her. Though it was wrapped in cloth, he could tell by its weight and balance that it was a fine weapon. He took it with him—not just because it was useful, but because when he returned, he intended to use it as evidence. He had unfinished business yet to attend to.

Slipping the dagger onto his back, he knelt down, hoisting the lifeless body onto his shoulder. His gaze flicked to the blood splattered across the floor. Pulling out a black cloth from within his robes, he wiped away the stains before using the same cloth to cover his own face.

Rising to his feet, he carried the body over to the window and pushed it open. A rush of cool night air met him. He glanced outside, scanning for any movement. Seeing nothing unusual, he leaped out, vanishing into the darkness.

Using his body-lightening technique, he moved swiftly, weaving through the night toward a small grove near Golden Tiger Fortress on the eastern side of Nan Hai City.

Behind him, the faint sounds of chatter and laughter from gambling dens and brothels gradually faded into the distance.

There, within the shadows of the grove, a horse awaited him—just as he had planned.

…

Xin Long… After burying the body deep within the forest, he retrieved his hidden horse and set off along the woodland path toward Kunming City.

Even as he rode, he suddenly recalled the letter he had written for Sangguan Yun'er.

"There are people chasing after me, trying to kill me... I have to run for now… I don't want to drag you into danger, and I don't want your father to suffer because of me either... No matter what happened last night, I will come back once I've settled everything… Keep waiting for me… I will never forget you.

—Xin Long"

As soon as the memory of his letter resurfaced, Xin Long couldn't help but laugh in satisfaction. When she woke up, she would likely believe that everything she had dreamt last night had truly happened. And no matter how deeply she had slept, she would immediately realize that her purity had been taken from her.

Yet, she would never blame him for running away. His sudden disappearance, along with the words he had spoken and written, aligned perfectly with the image of a man forced into hiding.

Moreover, since she had taken the Dreambinding Elixir, she would continue to encounter him in her dreams for an entire month. That alone would make her convinced that everything from the previous night was real.

This was not a case of killing two birds with one stone—he had aimed for two and struck three.

As he reviewed his own plans, satisfaction washed over him, and he burst into triumphant laughter.

"Hahaha…!"

His laughter echoed loudly through the dense forest, spreading in all directions.

After his triumphant laughter faded into the night, he loosened the reins of his horse, setting off like an arrow released from a taut bowstring. The towering trees on either side seemed to blur into shadows as he rode through the darkness.

In the distance, Golden Tiger Fortress stood firm, and beyond it, Cherry Mountain, located south of Nan Hai City, seemed to wave him farewell. In Nan Hai, he had settled some lingering grudges, leaving behind the burdens that had once weighed on him. At the same time, he had woven a dreamworld for Sangguan Yun'er, ensuring that she would long for his return.

Compared to the suffering he had endured, what he had done was nothing. And yet, he was satisfied.

As he continued his journey, fate had worked in his favor, allowing him to settle old scores. This only strengthened his confidence.

Yes… he believed in himself more than ever.

Loosening the reins further, he felt the night air press against his body. Dressed in deep black, the chill seeped into his very bones. The cold wind rushed against his face and chest, sending an even sharper shiver through him.

To counter the creeping cold, he activated his Fire energy, channeling inner strength into his palms to warm his body.

"Clip-clop… Clip-clop…"

The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed in his ears as his horse galloped alongside his shadow.

As the sky began to glow red with the coming dawn, a new thought entered his mind—Chang Hai City.

A place where, once upon a time, he had witnessed a grand martial arts tournament…

End – 25