Chapter 7: Encounter (1/2)

Chapter 7: Encounter

The Su Clan’s main courtyard was located at the base of a mountain at the city’s western outskirts. There were large plots fertile land on either side of the mountain and winding rivers around its base. The center of the mountain was covered with dense forestry, making it an impressive scene.

Su Chen’s Dustsift Courtyard was located at the rear of the Su Residence. After walking out of the courtyard, a wall with a small door could be seen. Behind it, there was a bamboo forest. Continuing forwards through the bamboo forest, one would arrive at the mountain center.

During times of leisure, Su Chen would often come to the rear mountain and idly sit.

Tonight was the same. Su Chen sat down on a large rock at the rear mountain.

That night, the mountain forest was completely silent. Even the birds weren’t singing. Only the whistling of the wind could be heard in the forest.

However, Su Chen knew that the woods were never truly asleep.

Without the clamor of day, he was able to hear those few minute sounds even more clearly and train his sense of hearing.

It was quite difficult to come by a place without the noise of man. Accordingly, his heart grew serene.

This allowed him to hear even farther and distinguish different sounds even more distinctly.

The nearby sound of flowing water was from the flowing trickles of the mountain stream.

Although he couldn’t see, an image appeared in Su Chen’s mind: The splashes of spring water was flowing down the mountain. It arrived at a steep cliff and fell, creating a small waterfall. A pool had formed beneath the cliff after countless years of being battered by water. As the spring water continued to flow, the pool began to take form as a small stream and snaked through the thicket to a far away place.

……

Sitting to the side of a small creek, he attentively listened.

He suddenly extended his hand into the river, and picked up a small flower that was flowing downstream.

Su Chen slowly brought the flower to his nose and smelled its faint fragrance. His mouth formed a satisfied smile.

Not only was sense of hearing strengthened but his sense of smell has as well.

From that refreshing fragrance, Su Chen knew it was a Weeping Red Flower, a red mountain flower that carried a heavy aroma.

A trace fragrance of Weeping Red Flowers floated down from upstream of the brook.

Su Chen was somewhat curious. This was the season when the mountain flowers were flourishing. How could there be so many Weeping Red Flowers withering?

He followed the creek upstream.

He walked up along the stream until he reached the base of a cliff. Among the sounds of the falling waterfall, he could faintly hear something irregular stirring inside the river.

That’s…

Someone playing in the water?

Su Chen suddenly reacted.

“Who’s there?” A lovely voice shouted.

Without thinking time to think, Su Chen acted on instinct. He turned around and threw himself to the floor.

A strong wind blew past his face.

Su Chen fell to the floor and rolled. As he heard several hard objects continuously burying into the earth, he also heard the sound of storming waves from the pool. That person was using their hand to disturb the water and interfere with vision of their body. Naturally, this was of no significance to Su Chen.

As he rapidly rolled on the ground, he loudly shouted, “I’m blind!”

No other words could have the same effect as these.

The sound of the splashing water and the great clamor immediately stopped as silence returned to the forest.

Su Chen stopped his rolls and slowly sat up, feeling out the ground with his hands.

After a moment, he said, “Since you’ve already finished putting on your clothes, why don’t you come out?”

Shua!

It was the sound a sword leaving its scabbard.