Chapter 41:
Rescue
WHEN SHE NOTICED Shen Qiao keeping silent, Bai Rong turned to look at him. “Shen-lang, you couldn’t tell either?”
Shen Qiao shook his head but didn’t answer.
After a moment, Ruyan Kehui’s voice drifted over from afar, echoing across the distance, resounding loudly enough to shake the canyon. The eardrums of those assembled jolted as well.
“It’s been a long time since I dueled someone to the fullest,” he said. “Contending with Sect Leader Yan today has been a true joy. I’m deeply grateful for Sect Leader Yan’s wonderful guidance!”
“If you huddle in a corner for too long, you’ll lose sight of the wider world,” said Yan Wushi. “Just like a frog in a well or a leopard in a cage. You’re so accustomed to playing overlord in Southern Chen, Academy Master Ruyan, that when you finally met an equal opponent, you were taken by surprise. My venerable self understands this very well. Once you receive guidance a few more times, the surprise will wear off.”
As always, whenever Yan Wushi opened his mouth, sarcastic comments streamed out. Hearing them was enough to make any listener grit their teeth. But with the way he stood upon the cliff face, hands clasped behind his back and robes dancing, the assembled spectators simply had to look up to him as well. His achievements and martial arts, his incredible strength—many understood that they’d never reach such heights. It was human nature to admire those of great strength, and if anyone claimed they felt no trace of admiration for the egotistical Huanyue Sect Leader—who had the power to warrant such an ego—they’d be lying.
Ruyan Kehui, however, took this all in stride. He laughed. “All right, then someday, when the chance arises, I’ll personally seek out your guidance!”
There was nothing odd about Ruyan Kehui’s voice, and Yan Wushi seemed the same as always too. The spectators grew confused—they couldn’t detect any sign of injuries through the combatants’ words. The two of them had spent more than half a day’s worth of energy, yet neither of them was injured, and neither of them had won? They puzzled over it.
This once-in-a-lifetime duel between two martial experts was seriously ending in a draw?
Some of them had also been at Banbu Peak, where they’d witnessed Kunye throwing Shen Qiao off the cliff. Even though the Göktürk’s victory left them unhappy and made them mourn the defeat of one of their own, an intense battle warranted such an intense conclusion. Today’s duel between such martial greats as Ruyan Kehui and Yan Wushi should have been on an even higher level, and yet it’d ended like this. They couldn’t help but find it disappointing.
But neither Yan Wushi nor Ruyan Kehui needed to explain their actions to others. After a brief exchange of words, they floated down from the cliff. One landed by the creek, the other on a rocky beach not too far from Shen Qiao and Bai Rong.
Ruyan Kehui courteously cupped his hands at Yan Wushi. “As Sect Leader Yan has come from afar, I ought to do my part as host. How many days does Sect Leader intend to stay in Jiankang? Let me know and I can have Linchuan Academy send you an invitation to be our guest.”
“No need,” Yan Wushi said indifferently. “I can’t stomach the water at your Linchuan Academy—I fear I’ll come away with a belly full of your doctrines on virtues and morality. You should save those for fooling brainless men and witless women!”
Ruyan Kehui smiled and didn’t force the issue. “Then I shall take my leave now!”
With a flick of his sleeves, he turned and departed. His strides appeared ordinary, but he moved great distances in the blink of an eye. It was a truly profound technique, and even swift people could only stare tongue-tied at the dust he left behind.
“With a long sigh did I wipe my tears, at the lives of men weighed down by troubles and despair. Though self-discipline and moral purity I do adore, my morning advice begets naught but evening scorn. First they attacked the cymbidium I wear, then castigated my love for plucking orchids so fair. For the ideals I pursue within my heart, I’d not regret a thousand deaths to die!”
The sound of singing drifted in from afar—Ruyan Kehui was reciting “Li Sao.”15 The song flowed in his southern accent, resounding through the valley, and the sorrow of the original transformed into valor, rousing the spirits of every listener.
It seemed like Ruyan Kehui’s abilities hadn’t suffered from his match with Yan Wushi at all, many thought.
Not long ago, Dou Yanshan had issued a challenge to Yan Wushi in front of everyone, but after watching their match, he turned and left without a word.
A couple of troublemakers were displeased at how the Liuhe Guild dominated everything, and one of them shouted after him. “Didn’t Guild Leader Dou want to challenge Sect Leader Yan to a duel? Why are you leaving so soon?”
Dou Yanshan stopped in his tracks and turned back, shooting the man a glare that sent shivers through his heart.
“The Dragon Who Crosses Rivers, Li Yue. Perhaps I’m not a match for Sect Leader Yan, but I’m more than enough to handle you. Do you believe me?” said Dou Yanshan, the hint of a smile on his face.
Li Yue hadn’t thought Dou Yanshan would call him out by name. He didn’t dare say anything more and quickly scuttled away with his tail tucked between his legs.
Yan Wushi gazed at Ruyan Kehui’s silhouette as it glided off into the distance, then he flew straight to the treetops of the bamboo forest. Using the long, slim branches to spring forward, he finally landed on the sheer cliff wall where they’d fought and started to climb, his movements as graceful as a falcon’s. A couple of breaths later, he was already out of sight.
With the main characters gone, there was no point in lingering. One by one, the spectators all left, each still thinking that it was a pity, although it was difficult to say whether the pity was the draw, or the fact that they were unlikely to witness a duel of such caliber again.