Back to the Countryside

to arrive

Their group stayed in the small town for a few days. After continuing the medicated bath for several days, He Ling’s body had recovered as before. It was time to return to Qi Du Valley as soon as possible. The man behind the scene had not succeeded yet, so one knew if he would be driven to desperate action and do anything extreme 1.

The person was successfully handed over to Qi Yue. After spending so many days with them, it was time for Xiao Yu Heng to leave. He turned his head to look at the person Qi Yue was holding and teasingly said with a smile, “How sad! The beauty has got his husband, then cast me (dump) aside!”

In the past few days, after spending so much time together, He Ling has gotten to know him better. Although he did not look like a proper person, he was actually very meticulous and very good at taking care of people, “Thank you Xiao Gongzi for taking care of me before. If you are free in the future, you can come and see us in Gu Shui Village. Hope to see you again (后会有期)!” 

Xiao Yu Heng lowered his eyes and smiled but when he saw the warning look in Qi Yue’s eyes, he restrained himself a little. He grabbed the reins, turned his body around and got on the horse. In the end, he looked toward that person with a deep look, “I’ll see you later! (后会有期)”

Leaving behind these words, he pinned his horse’s belly and left, the silhouette of the one person and one horse gradually fading away, looking a little lonely.

“Xiao Ling, when all the matters in Qi Du Valley are settled, remember to look for me at Yu Long Fang.” Du Huashang reached out to hold his hand. Her eyes full of reluctance, only a few days of meeting with her nephew and then having to part, she was in a really depressed mood. However as the Sect Leader, she still had many things to deal with and could not be away for too long.

“I will come to see you.” He Ling also took her hand in his. The other party’s status was honourable and respectable, but she had been looking after him for the past few days. She was absolutely sincere in her love and care for him, made him who had never experienced a motherly love before feel so warm, “You too, take good care of yourself… Aunt.”

The body of Du Huashang shuddered and the corner of her eyes were gradually reddened. She blinked her eyes and showed a gratified smile, “Ay, you too, since you are also pregnant, you have to take good care of yourself.”

He Ling was also relieved as if a heavy burden was removed from him when he declared to call out to her. In the future, he would be counted as having an important real blood relative. Mother would also be relieved when she saw it in heaven ba! 

“You must take good care of him this time. If anything goes wrong again, I will make sure you hold the responsibility!” Du Huashang was not so polite when she spoke to the man who took her family nephew away. 

“Auntie, please do not worry! Your nephew’s husband will not let him get hurt again even for a bit.” Qi Yue didn’t care about her attitude. ‘Following what is right as a stream follows its course’, he also changed his form of address and went along with his little Fu Lang. 

“Who is your aunt?” Du Huashang gritted her teeth.This smiling tiger man (outwardly kind but inwardly cruel person), her eyes full of dislike. How did he attract her family’s nephew’s love?! 

As if to deliberately anger her, Qi Yue kissed the person in his embrace, on the side of his face and said, “Ah Ling’s aunt is my aunt. Is it possible that Sect Leader Du is unwilling to acknowledge this nephew of yours?”

“Don’t misinterpret my meaning here!” If not for the fact that He Ling was still here, Du Huashang would have wanted to hit him directly to relieve her anger, “Take good care of him!”

He Ling saw that they were having an interesting mutual exchange of words so he didn’t want to disturb them, but he had to be mindful of the time, “Auntie, if you leave now, it will be noon.”

After listening to his words, Du Huashang pulled her attention back. She dragged him and rambled on, reminding him about many things. Finally, she took one step and turned back three times and got into the carriage before she left with her heart full of unwillingness.                 

After sending off all those who should be sent away, the two of them did not stay here any longer. They got into the carriage that Xiao Yu Heng had given to them. Since the other party had left a man in black to help them drive the carriage so they did not replace the horse with Mu Yan, leaving Mu Yan to follow in silence as he had done before, as they slowly made their way out of the city.

By the time they reached the Qi Du Valley, it would be more than ten days later. The road here was extremely rugged. If an outsider were to break in, the person would definitely not be able to enter.

Due to the nature of its master, Qi Du Valley usually didn’t pay attention to the matters of Jiang Hu. All the disciples in the valley dedicated their attention to the medicine, poison and venomous insect kind of art and technique, rarely went out.

Naturally, to put oneself outside the sphere of the others’ consideration, there were advantages and disadvantages in it. Many years ago, his son and his daughter-in-law were hunted down and killed outside the valley, one of the reasons for it was, of course, because of not fearing the name of the valley. 

It was only after Qi Yue fully demonstrated his competence or skills once that were likened to thunder-like power (or rage), the world came to understand the horror of Qi Du Valley. The reason for that was if his opponent couldn’t stand up to his varied and fast-changing tactics, once it was silently placed on the opponent’s body, he would become powerless and never be able to reverse the desperate situation.

As a man of Jiang Hu, you were in the glint and flash of daggers and swords all day long.Who can guarantee that you will not be seriously injured one day? And where was there a doctor who can do more than the doctor from this valley?

From that day onwards, the status of Qi Du Valley in Jiang Hu continued to rise!

Yun Valley Master also changed his methods of handling matters, becoming tougher and tougher. If people tried to mess with him, he would not stop until the opponent was dead (fight to his last gasp). 

Over time, many people came here to become disciples, but most were turned away. Those were the kinds of people who curry favour with the powerful; play up to those in power, so if they were admitted, they might become a hidden danger (snake in the grass). 

For so many years, the Qi Du Valley has not been disturbed by outsiders. However, this time he didn’t expect that The Master of the Valley would suffered misfortune from his own people murderous scheme. He also didn’t know how long the other side’s ambition of wild wolves had laid dormant? 

[狼子野心: wolf cub with a savage heart —have a wolfish nature; be full of wild and evil ambitions; wicked intention/ rapacious designs]

Following Qi Yue’s instructions, the carriage stopped at a certain point outside the mountain valley. Two disciples who were guarding the entrance to the valley stopped it and said in a clear loud voice, “Who is in the carriage? No outsiders are allowed to enter the valley without permission!”

He lifted the curtain of the carriage and peered out to see that the two men in front of him were fresh faces, probably new disciples, no wonder they didn’t know Mu Yan, “I am the disciple of the valley, Qi Yue. This time, I returned to the valley to visit Shi Fu. Make a way quickly!”

The two disciples looked at each other and turned their heads without moving even an inch, “We have never heard of this name. Please leave quickly!”

Was this to show one’s authority at the first encounter (begin with a show of strength)? Qi Yue’s lips curled into a cold smile. Had he not been back for too long, therefore he made those people think that these two mole crickets and ants (a nobody) could also jump in front of him?  

[蝼蚁lóu yǐ : lit. mole cricket and ants / fig. tiny individuals with no power]

“I’ll say it one last time, get out of the way!”

The hostility in his tone made the two men’s legs go weak. However the higher authority had told them to make things difficult for him if they saw him. They were new disciples, less than a month old. If they did well on this less important job, they might be able to get a high ranking Shi Fu.

The person in front of them, they didn’t know him at all. But since he was directly against the people of the valley, he must not be an important person ba! Thinking of this, their attitude hardened again, “Do you want to make trouble in the Valley of Qi Poison? Then you’d better think about the consequences!” 

Qi Yue laughed instead of being angry. Even such foolish trash could also be recruited into the valley so he could see that ‘that person’ was not much smarter. With a flick of his hand, he tried to put them down. But at that moment, a person hurriedly came out of the valley to meet him.

“Qi Shi Di, you’re finally back!” That person’s face was full of joy at the sight of him and he took a few steps to his carriage, “I’m relieved to see you.”

Qi Yue jumped out of the carriage and smiled at him with both of his hands cupped in greeting gesture, “San Shi Xiong, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Are you all (fellow disciples) doing well these days?”

“We are very good, it’s just that …” The other side said to this point and his eyes became gloomy, “The Master of the Valley has been unconscious for a long time. It really makes us feel uneasy.”

This man’s name was Han Yang. He was the disciple of the Great (Oldest) Elder in the valley. There were still two other Shi Xiong above him. He was already in his thirties, among many of fellow disciples, he had the most gentle temperament (disposition).

This time, the Master of the Valley was in a coma. The three eldest Shi Xiong have taken over the reins of the valley, instead of the elders. The reason why it was them, although they were not the elders was because the two elders in the valley were not available; the Eldest Elder had passed away a few years ago and the Second Elder who had been travelling for many years, his whereabouts was unknown so only those who were qualified to take over the position of the Master of the Valley were only these three Shi Xiong. 

“I also just now hurriedly came back when I received the news, but I didn’t expect to be refused directly at the front door.” Qi Yue gave the two disciples a meaningful glance, “The requirements for accepting disciples in the valley are getting lower and lower.”

“Such things really happened?” Han Yang was dumbfounded and with a sideways glance, he reprimanded the two men, “This is the only disciple that The Valley Master personally taught. How dare you guys even stop him? Don’t you guys want to live?”

The two disciples were instantly went bloodless, then they immediately kneeling to the ground,”Shi Shu (师叔) please spare our life, we have only been in the valley for a short time and have never seen the real face of our Shi Shu, we hope you show mercy!”

Qi Yue revealed between smiling yet also not a smiling expression, not knowing what was in his mind, “Stand up ba! Since you guys are also thinking about the safety of the valley, let’s forget it this time.”

After dismissing the two men, he also did not go back to the carriage, but gestured to the carriage driver to follow him. He walked ahead with Han Yang on foot. On the way, Han Yang told him a lot about the recent situation in the valley.

“You’ve been gone for more than half a year. The Valley Master, this venerable old man has often thought about you.” Han Yang sighed softly at the mention of the other party, “No matter how many disciples are accompanied by his side, he always cares about you the most. If only he was awake now, he would be very happy!”

“San Shi Xiong is joking, Shi Fu treats every disciple the same, but it is because I cannot always accompany him, therefore that is why I was mentioned more.” Qi Yue stopped in his tracks, turned his head and said to him,”I want to go and see him first.”

“You should, it just so happens that Shi Di’s medical skills are superb, so you can also try to diagnose The Master of the Valley once again.” Han Yang stopped as he did, looked at the carriage behind him and said, “Who is in the carriage? Shall I take it to rest first?”

“Wait a bit!” Qi Yue gave him a nod and went to the side of the carriage. He then helped He Ling to get down from the carriage and brought the person in front of him, “This is my Fu Lang, his name is He Ling.”

Han Yang was a little surprised as he looked him up and down before saying joyfully, “Shi Di unexpectedly has settled down and got married? Congratulations!”

“Many thanks to Shi Xiong” Qi Yue curled his lips into a smile as he looked at the person beside him, “You can just call him San Shi Xiong [The 3rd Senior Martial Brother].”

“San Shi Xiong.” He Ling obediently called out to him. This person’s face looked gentle so he should be a person that was easy to get along with. It made him feel less nervous. 

“Di Fu Lang has outstanding qualifications and looks, he is really a good match with Shi Di!” Han Yang highly praised him and then turned to Qi Yue and said, “Then you go and see The Master of the Valley, I will take Di Fu Lang to your residence first.”

“Shi Xiong, just take the carriage driver to rest first. Ah Ling will accompany me to Shi Fu’s place.” Qi Yue had learned his lesson previously so now he did not intend to let the person leave him even for a moment. 

“This …” Han Yang seemed a little hesitant, “The place where The Master of Valley lives, without permission…”

“Shi Xiong don’t need to worry, if anything happens, I will take the responsibility.” Qi Yue understood the meaning behind his words but he was not going to let go of this matter, “Moreover, since I marry a Fu Lang, it is what I should do to bring him and pay a visit to Shi Fu.”

“What Shi Di said is right, The Master of the Valley has always been tolerant of you. In the future, it is unlikely for him to blame you. It’s my fault for worrying too much!” Hearing him say this, Han Yang felt that there was some truth to it so he didn’t stop him (get in the way) anymore. 

He led the horse carriage to find a suitable place to settle it down. Qi Yue also took the person into the other direction, now it was not safe to be in the valley. He would not feel at ease if his little Fu Lang was not right before his eyes. 

[狗急跳墙: A cornered dog would jump over a wall.— A desperate man would risk anything.]