Chapter 91: A Timeless Vigil

Heavenly light pierced the morning mist, striking the desolate ferry crossing like divine rays.

From the window of the Heaven-grade room where Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing were staying, they could clearly see the ferry where they had disembarked, gradually becoming bustling with the arrival of morning.

The daytime scenery of Fenggui Ferry was far livelier than its desolate appearance last night.

Cargo ships, fishing boats, and passenger boats gradually entered and exited the ferry, and even the cold winter couldn’t deter these sailors traversing the river.

“So this is what the ferry looks like in the morning.”

Xiu Qingcheng, her hangover dispelling any lingering sleepiness, was propping up her chin by the window, gazing at the scenery outside, just as she used to do in the disciple residence.

Amidst the peaceful scenery, a familiar figure suddenly appeared at the bustling ferry.

Xiu Qingcheng was startled. “Ah, it’s that woman we saw last night.”

Just like yesterday, the woman, seemingly in her thirties, wore the same white clothes, had the same hairstyle, and slowly walked to the riverside at the ferry. She sat on the same stone stool under the same withered willow tree.

Even her gaze and her expression were no different from yesterday.

And that uncomfortable feeling she gave Xiu Qingcheng was exactly the same.

The woman was like a female ghost lingering there, repeating the familiar shadows of her past.

At this thought, Xiu Qingcheng felt a chill down her spine.

She tugged at Meng Yingxing’s collar, pressing her bewildered disciple against the window frame, and pointed towards the woman at the ferry.

“Disciple, I’ll ask you again, can you see her?”

Meng Yingxing was puzzled by Xiu Qingcheng’s question but still honestly replied, “Is it the woman Master said made you uncomfortable yesterday? Of course, I can see her, why wouldn’t I?”

Xiu Qingcheng then told Meng Yingxing about her discovery of the exact same phenomenon.

Meng Yingxing gave a wry smile.

“What are you laughing at? Are you laughing at me for being afraid of ghosts?”

Xiu Qingcheng glared at him, puffing out her cheeks.

“No, Master, I thought sword spirits were a type of ghost.”

“Spirits are spirits, ghosts are ghosts! They’re completely different!” Xiu Qingcheng argued.

“Alright, Master, look beneath that woman. Doesn’t she have a shadow on the ground? Ghosts shouldn’t have shadows, right?”

Meng Yingxing’s finger pointed slightly downwards, indicating the blurry black shadow cast by the sun beneath the woman.

‘What if ghosts also have shadows?’

Xiu Qingcheng was still somewhat unconvinced, because if that woman wasn’t a ghost, why would she give her such an uncomfortable feeling?

Meng Yingxing closed the window, blocking Xiu Qingcheng’s view outside, fearing she might catch a chill, or see something she shouldn’t.

Meng Yingxing was conscious of time. Counting the hours, it was about time they set off to avoid making the Xu family wait and cause gossip within the Tianfeng Sect.

However, Xiu Qingcheng suddenly grabbed the waiter, specifically asking him about the woman at the ferry.

As soon as Xiu Qingcheng asked, the waiter immediately knew who she was talking about.

“That woman, ah, she’s quite famous in the surrounding towns now.”

The waiter skillfully recounted the woman’s story, as if he had told it to countless people before.

“Her name is He Xueluo, from Zhongyang Town. Sixteen years ago, Zhang Ning, her childhood sweetheart whom she grew up with, went to Bozhou to take the imperial examination. He Xueluo saw Zhang Ning off at Fenggui Ferry, and they made a pact that when Zhang Ning passed the examination, he would return to marry He Xueluo.”

Meng Yingxing, having never heard such a story, instinctively asked, “And then?”

“Do you even need to ask!” Xiu Qingcheng smacked Meng Yingxing. “Looking at her now, it’s obvious that Zhang Ning hasn’t returned in these sixteen years!”

Xiu Qingcheng had heard countless similar stories before.

A down-and-out scholar, after excelling in the imperial examination, transformed into a high-ranking official, long forgetting the person who had once stayed up late to grind ink for him!

“The young lady is right. However, He Xueluo is a devoted woman; she doesn’t believe it. Everyone says her Zhang-lang won’t come back, that he’s already forgotten her, but she doesn’t believe it.”

“All these years, every day after work, she comes to this ferry, waiting for her Zhang-lang, saying he will definitely return.”

“She says she’s afraid Zhang-lang will forget her, so she wears clothes similar to those of that year and styles her hair the same way, just waiting for Zhang-lang to return and see her at first glance.”

At this point, the waiter shook his head and sighed. “She’s been waiting bitterly for sixteen years! Even a while ago, she fell gravely ill and didn’t come for several days. We all thought she was going to die, but she actually pulled through!”

“That Zhang Ning is truly no man!”

The waiter waved the rag in his hand, not at all concealing his disdain for Zhang Ning. “If I had such a girl thinking of me, would I have thoughts of anyone else?”

“Recently, storytellers in the surrounding towns have even created historical narratives based on her as a prototype. The two of you can go listen if you have time.”

Xiu Qingcheng’s mood immediately brightened considerably after learning that He Xueluo was not a ghost or anything she had imagined.

Meng Yingxing also seized the opportunity to chat and inquire with the waiter about the Xu family and the disappearances of women in Zhongyang Town.

“Old Master Xu… how should I put it, he’s a womanizer? And Mrs. Xu has even played matchmaker for him several times when his mistresses came to visit.”

“I heard that when Mrs. Xu was young, she also had a lover, but he went to another region and never returned.”

‘They don’t even know how many concubines he’s taken. All I can say is, the world of the wealthy, we don’t understand.’

“As for the matter of the women… yes, there have been disappearances, and not just in Zhongyang Town, but also in the neighboring Yezhi City. That’s why everyone rarely lets their young women go out now.”

“Looking at the lady hero’s demeanor and attire, I presume she’s here to resolve this matter? It seems this area will be peaceful in a few days!”

Seeing the hopeful look on the waiter’s face, Meng Yingxing ultimately said nothing and left the inn with Xiu Qingcheng, heading straight for Zhongyang Town.

As they left Fenggui Ferry, they passed by the devoted woman named He Xueluo.

Xiu Qingcheng paused for a moment, glancing at her from a distance.

He Xueluo was like a wooden figure, oblivious to her surroundings, her somewhat vacant eyes fixed on the flowing river beside the ferry. She didn’t know what she saw in that water.

And the river flowed ceaselessly day and night. How many rushing waters had seen this suffering woman waiting for her beloved, seen her bright eyes and white teeth, kept for whom?

“Let’s go.”

Xiu Qingcheng averted her gaze, calling to Meng Yingxing as they walked towards Zhongyang Town.

Meng Yingxing caught up with Xiu Qingcheng in two steps, still unable to resist asking her:

“Master, you said… why didn’t that Zhang Ning return to see He Xueluo?”

“Just as those people guessed, he passed the imperial examination, changed his bedmate, and entered a realm of gentle comforts.”

“Or he died halfway, that’s also possible.”

Xiu Qingcheng’s words were cruel but factual.

Jintian Kyushu wasn’t as stable as it appeared. It was normal for ordinary people, demon races, monstrous beasts, and spiritual cultivators to die suddenly any day.

Life, ah, is so unpredictable. Don’t easily commit to the future; live each day you have well.

‘How much longer will that woman wait?’

‘And how many sixteen years are there in a lifetime to wait?’

From Fenggui Ferry to Zhongyang Town, Meng Yingxing and Xiu Qingcheng saw an extremely eerie sight along the way.

A vast plain along the river protruded at one corner, barren except for some scattered snow, without even a single weed. It was as if this soil was completely unsuitable for plant life.

However, in this very spot, stood a giant tree, whose existence was unknown for how long.

Its body soared into the clouds, its trunk as thick as a stone wall. Even from a distance, one could discern the rough and hard texture of its bark.

The giant tree’s branches crisscrossed into the sky, forming a massive net. There wasn’t a single leaf on its branches, only dry twigs swaying in the cold wind.

The wind passing through the giant tree made the branches emit a low creaking sound, like a malevolent ghost wailing in the wind.

“Such a large tree, it must be several hundred years old, right? If we have time, we can go and take a look.”

It was Xiu Qingcheng’s first time seeing a tree of this size. Xiu Qingcheng, who saw herself as a tourist of Jintian Kyushu, felt a desire to “check in” at this tree.

“Mm.”

Meng Yingxing nodded. Wherever his Master went, he would naturally follow.

After leaving the giant tree, Xiu Qingcheng, who had been walking in front of Meng Yingxing, suddenly turned around and jumped onto Meng Yingxing’s back.

Meng Yingxing instinctively supported Xiu Qingcheng, effortlessly carrying her on his back.

“I’m tired of walking; carry me for a bit.”

Xiu Qingcheng propped herself on Meng Yingxing’s shoulders, saying with utmost willfulness.

As a sword spirit, she actually didn’t get tired.

She was merely testing her disciple, to see if he would despise her.

Meng Yingxing pursed his lips, firmly securing his master’s legs with both hands.

Serving his master was what he ought to do. If his master was happy, he was happy.

Although Xiu Qingcheng was currently a head taller than Meng Yingxing, with Meng Yingxing carrying her, Xiu Qingcheng’s feet did not touch the ground.

“Run, run! Too slow!”

Xiu Qingcheng rested her hands on Meng Yingxing’s head, and with a wave of her slender hand, she commanded Meng Yingxing with great audacity.

She felt as if she were a general riding a warhorse.

“Yes, Master!”

Meng Yingxing carried her, quickening his pace, and sprinted all the way to Zhongyang Town.

Life was bitter and unpredictable, but if you ran, there was wind.

As the wind came, Xiu Qingcheng’s bell-like laughter carried far.

Meng Yingxing carried Xiu Qingcheng all the way and soon arrived at Zhongyang Town.

He asked a passerby for the location of the Xu family and intended to pay them a visit.

Xiu Qingcheng, knowing the situation, reverted to her sword state, obediently shrinking into the scabbard on Meng Yingxing’s back.

“The Xu family is acquainted with the Tianfeng Sect after all. To prevent them from exposing my existence, I won’t follow you in human form.”

“This is your first mission; exercise caution in all matters.”

Upon arriving at the Xu family’s extremely sprawling mansion in Zhongyang Town, the Xu family’s guards and servants first stepped forward to block Meng Yingxing at the gate.

“Tianfeng Sect disciple Meng Yingxing has come to pay his respects to Old Master Xu. Please inform Old Master Xu of my arrival.”

Meng Yingxing politely clasped his fists towards the two guards.