Chapter 3 (1/2)
Although the temperature was lower in the north area, the bleak and chilly mode was thinner there.
The Mirror Kingdom fought all its way from the north, where was more prosperous near Mirror City, the capital. The wars made those cities in the south more desolate than the north. Even the official road was not peaceful all the time.
”Yu!” A whinny of horse broke the peace. A face-covered man got in the way on his horse. Other people on the road stopped and did not know what to do. It is the only official road from Nine Song City to north cities. Most of people travelling on the road were in caravans for business, others were citizens migrating from the south to the north. Those businessmen who had gone through robberies like this looked calmer than migrants who took all of their wealth with them.
”What are they doing?” Yun Qing was in the crowd and asked curiously.
He knew there was the Flower City ahead, so he took A Mang to the official road to visit it. Unexpectedly, they just walked on the road, the robbery happened to them.
His sudden voice was clear in the silence. The family near him was scared and walked away from him. A pretty girl standing ahead of him turned around and answered with smile, ”It's called wors.h.i.+p the road.”
”Wors.h.i.+p the road?” Yun Qing was curious. Although he could not see the tall and graceful girl in blue silk dress with his eyes, he thought her voice was so beautiful.
The girl walked to him and explained, ”Wors.h.i.+ping the road was the ceremony before the army march. But now, robberies on this road are called wors.h.i.+p the road too. They are pretty the same. Pay money for safety.”
Yun Qing nodded, ”aren't you afraid?”
”Aren't you afraid?” the girl asked back smartly.
Yun Qing smiled, ”My name is Yun Qing. What about you?” he seemed to be fond of this girl.
”My name is Zhu Yu, style name Wu Xia. You may call me Sister Yu.”
”You have such a good name, Zhu Yu Wu Xia (flawless pearl and jade).” Yun Qing could feel the girl's eyesight even his eyes were closed.
Something happened in the front of the line when they were talking.
”The robber broke the rule here. He will be punished.” Zhu Yu smiled coldly.
In general, robbers on this road only took money and would not kill pa.s.sengers. But it seemed this one was a green hand. He was so nervous that he killed a man who wanted to escape subconsciously. When the robber was startled, screaming crowd rushed ahead and escaped. Seeing the situation was not good, the robber ride on his horse and wanted to run with money.
”You kill people, people kill you.” He was stopped by a voice and a blade. What he saw last was his body without head sitting on the horse.
People only saw a blue flash and the robber was dead. When the blue light moved back, they saw the pretty girl blowing the blade.
”Immortal!” One man dropped to his knees. Then other people followed him one by one.
”Haha! Immortal?” Zhu Yu sneered.
”Are they calling you?” Yun Qing was confused.
”Yup! Oh! You are blind.” Zhu Yu was surprised. She did not look at the boy carefully.
”Yes.” Yun Qing was not angry, ”Why do they call you immortal?”
”Hahaha, I am not them, how can I know why?” Zhu Yu laughed smartly and arrogantly.
She looked at those kneeling people and the north, then said, ”I am in a hurry so I will not go with you. See you in the Mirror City.”
Yun Qing nodded.
Zhu Yu stepped on her blue sword and flied to the north.
”Be careful, Sister Yu!” Yun Qing shouted.
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Autumn rains fell in the Flower City continuously.
In a remote alleyway, a burly man led a mule on which sit a boy.
”Do you know what Sister Yu is, A Mang? I heard from those businessmen that she could fly!” Yun Qing touched the mule and said with desire.
”A Mang, A Mang, will I fly to the sky if I have wings?”
The burly man who was mentally disabled smiled to him without response.
”Can you fly, A Mang?” Yun Qing touched A Mang's face, who nodded and shook head later.
”Hahaha, I don't ask you.” Yun Qing tapped his head gently, ”I want to fly like Sister Yu.”
”Flawless pearl and jade, Sister Yu must be great!”
Another voice broke the peace when Yun Qing was speaking to himself.
”Zhu Wuxia? Little kid, are you talking about Fairy Wuxia from the Destroying Devil's Sect?” The voice was weak but happy, with excitement.
Yun Qing was shocked. He went through the alleyway on his mule, not finding anyone except A Mang and himself.
”I am here! I am here! Little kid, no, little Sir, come here.”
A walnut was thrown out from a wall. Hearing the crack, Yun Qing turned to the direction of the wall. A Mang led the mule to the wall.
The stone wall was much solider than those brick walls. But there was a round hole on the wall now, where the voice came.
”Little Sir?” the person in the wall reached the hole and said, ”Have you met Fairy Wuxia?”
”If you are talking about Sister Yu who smiles sweetly, yes, I have met her.” Yun Qing answered. He wanted to touch the source of the voice but he could not see. So he nearly poked into the man's eye.
”Aiyo!” The man said, ”Don't move! Tell me something about her.”
”She killed a robber and flied away. I guess she is on her way now.” Yun Qing answered honestly.