Cang Lan Dao - Chapter 9.2

Chapter 9.2
Avoid Qin Jue and Befriend Jiu Shuang

“Because at that time, bandits and robbers were rampant. Each time my father had to fight to protect things to earn some money, my father thought that you have to rely on studying to make a living. Fighting and killing won’t work. But I don’t think so. I want to be a great master. So I can protect my father. But my father did not understand. When he saw me practicing martial arts, he would beat me. My mother told him, ‘You do not stop, so how can my daughter stop?’ So he stopped working and shut down our family agency.”

“Then what?”

“The agency closed. We don’t have money. When I was eighteen, I got a strange disease. My body became weak and bedridden. The consultation fee and the medicine are expensive. We sold the house, but I’m still sick. To raise money for me, my father went back to his old job, took a big order, and died on the road. That day, I was in better health and missed him too much, so I wanted to pick him up. I heard a voice from a distance that didn’t sound right, so I went to call someone, and when I went back, my father was already dead.”

Liu Xiniang spoke with a cold look on her face, “His body was still warm when he was dead, and he was carrying a broken blade in his stomach. I cut that broken blade out of his stomach. That was the first time that I had human blood on my hands. Then my mother came over with the officials, and when she saw my father’s body, she cried so hard that she almost broke, and my brother was terrified as well.”

“And after that?” Luo Wanqing was angry and shocked, “Has the murderer been found? Arrested?!”

“No.” Liu Xiniang’s tone was light, “The officials came and were frightened. I eavesdropped on them and heard they didn’t want to care at all, so I privately hid the broken blade. Later, they asked me if I had any clues, and I gave them a fake one. After a while, they passed a notice that they didn’t get evidence and couldn’t find the murderer. They didn’t even recognize the fake broken blade I gave them. On the contrary, the rich merchant who lost their shipments chased after me. They say even my father died, but we must pay the money. The government helped this rich merchant to occupy our mansion and drove me, my mother, and my brother out.”

“You were still sick back then, right?” Luo Wanqing was in disbelief, “That’s all they did?”

“Yes.” Liu Xiniang smiled bitterly, “I was sick, so I stayed on the street with my mother and brother, begging. I thought that this couldn’t work and we won’t survive. In any case, my sickness is incurable, so why don’t I sell myself for a way to live? Then, when my mother went to beg for gruel, I made a straw for myself, lying on the street. Soon, I met a man. He said he can buy me and give me medical treatment, but what can I give to him? What could I give? I said I can give him my life.”

“He was from the Feng Yu Pavilion?”

“Yes,” Liu Xiniang’s complexion was slightly cold, “Master of the Feng Yu Pavilion, Xiang Sizi.”

“That year, he bought me in the name of the Salt Gang’s master. He publicly placed me in the Salt Gang but brought me to the Feng Yu Pavilion. He told me that I wasn’t sick at all. It was because I had excellent talent, yet the martial arts I practiced were too poor, causing my body to be incompatible. He was able to turn me into the top assassin. He also found the enemy who killed my father. That person was a noble and had extraordinary ability. I can only kill him if I become the top assassin.”

“Who is that?” Luo Wanqing was curious.

Liu Xiniang didn’t answer. She pondered and laughed, “Actually, I don’t know. But I believe whatever the Pavilion Master says. If he said I must become the top assassin to take revenge, then I will. The Pavilion Master was very good to me. He told my mother he would take me to a prestigious school to learn, but I could not come down from the mountain for life and have further contact. My mother believed his words and had no choice but to let me go. Then the Pavilion Master put them in a good place and taught me to be an assassin by hand.”

“Then why do you still want to leave?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t understand. If Xiang Sizi was so good to Liu Xiniang, why was Liu Xiniang, in the dream, desperately wanted to leave?

“I don’t want to kill anyone.” Liu Xiniang turned her head. Her complexion looked fatigued. “Every New Year’s Eve, I stand in front of my house, watching my family from afar. They were eating, joking, and laughing. But I couldn’t go over there. My identity is too dangerous. It will drag them down. But I want to walk over there so badly. I want to have a meal with my mother and brother. I want to be able to walk down the street in peace, and I want to get a good night’s sleep. I do not want to kill anyone. I want to have something to offer.”

“He was right to save me, but that doesn’t mean he was right about everything. Wanqing, you are walking on a path similar to mine. I hope you don’t follow my old path.”

Liu Xiniang raised her eyes to look at her and said solemnly, “Hatred will fade over time. Don’t do things that go against your heart for revenge, or else, one day, you will regret it.”

Luo Wanqing listened, and her chest tightened. She wanted to say something but didn’t even know how to start. Finally, she only nodded and softly said, “I’ll take note.”

Liu Xiniang looked at her and felt the atmosphere was too heavy. She hurriedly said, “Why are you becoming downhearted? It’s better to cheer up. I’ll talk to you about some key points lest you reveal yourself.”

With these words, Liu Xiniang regained her spirit. She drank wine with Luo Wanqing and then talked about the details of her past. They talked until the early morning of the second day. In the fifth period, the sound of the clock rang out.

Liu Xiniang finished the wine, shook the bottle, and threw it into the water.
“It’s time to go.” Liu Xiniang lamented, “These days go by so fast.”

“Hmm.” Luo Wanqing softly answered. She said, “After I go out, I’ll look for a chance to burn my face. Jiang Shaoyan instructed the jailers to keep me alive. They would send me to the medical office at the first opportunity.”

“After this, I’ll call the jailer, take the initiative to confess about Salt Gang, and use it to exchange for a chance to go to the medical office.” Liu Xiniang shook the bottle of wine in her hand, “The case has been dragging on because I refused to confess against my superiors. Originally, I wanted to be a steely helmsman. I didn’t expect these dog officials to burn my face,” Liu Xiniang sighed, “If it were in the past, I would have to kill those dog officials, but now I don’t want to kill them. I’ll do it later.”

“We’ll meet at the medical office then,” Luo Wanqing pondered, “They will probably be alarmed when I hit the fire pot, but these jailers will soon realize that if I die in prison, it’s the prison’s responsibility. If I die on the road to exile, then it’s the responsibility of the officials. It has nothing to do with them. So they will pronounce me with a minor injury and force me on my way.”

“I’ll switch identities with you and leave Yangzhou directly.” Liu Xiniang applauded happily, “Once I leave, the jailers will never find me again.”

“At that time, even if the jailers find out that I’m not Liu Xiniang, they won’t dare to say anything because they won’t be able to find you. If they make a big fuss, they will lose their heads.” Luo Wanqing laughed.

Liu Xiniang thought about the whole plan and couldn’t help but praise, “Perfect.”

“The only left is a bit of regret,” Luo Wanqing looked at the seemingly heartless woman in front of her with a restrained sadness in her complexion. When the other party looked puzzled, she finally said, “The time that I’ve known you, it’s too short.”

Liu Xiniang froze, and a moment later, she smiled awkwardly, “To be able to meet is our fate. You and I were fated.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t move. She looked at Liu Xiniang and asked, “Will you come back to see me in the future?”

Liu Xiniang was silent. After a few moments, she smiled, “No. When my father saw me for the last time, he told me that he would take me to the northwest to see a poplar tree.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. Liu Xiniang turned her head to the northwest and said happily, “I want to go to the northwest. I won’t come back.”

In the dream, northwest was the place where Liu Xiniang buried her bones. It turned out that she chose to die under the poplar tree for this reason.

Luo Wanqing froze and did not make a sound. Her heart was so disturbed.

Liu Xiniang thought before urging her: “You have to walk the road yourself after this. I will advise you on two things. The first thing is that Qin Jue did not die this time. If the news is trustworthy, he will leave for Dongdu and participate in the Inspection Department examination. Feng Yu Pavilion will certainly organize another attack. Perhaps the pavilion master will come over in person, but he will not contact you. Before taking the examination, Feng Yu Pavilion will not look for you. So, the only thing you need to do is stay away from Qin Jue.”

“I understand.” Luo Wanqing listened and nodded, “What about the second thing?”

“If my information is correct, the first exam of the Inspection Department is a group exam,” Liu Xiniang pondered, “There is an expert in Yangzhou’s death cell this time, named Jiu Shuang. I’ve heard that he was imprisoned and had heavy injuries. You can look for a chance to get close to him, and if you can team up with him, you’ll have a better chance of passing the examination. “

“Okay.”

“Then,” Liu Xiniang hesitated, raising her eyes to look at Luo Wanqing, smiling, “I’ll depart first?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t open her mouth. This time, she was slow to say the word ‘okay.’

Seeing this, Liu Xiniang sighed and only admonished, “Still weak-minded.”

With that, Liu Xiniang turned her head and started to slap the iron door while shouting, “I can’t stand it! Lord! I’ll confess! I’ll confess to everything! Let me stay in the death cell. I can’t stay in this dungeon anymore!”

“I’m dying. Let me go to the Medical Office to see a doctor! As long as I see a doctor, I’ll confess to anything.”

“Help, help, help me! My–Lord—ah! Save me!!!”