The two girls picked up an iron shovel and a hoe, they went outside and started to dig up earth and move stones as they started to set up the formation. They had worked urgently for two hours when the faint calls of cockerels could be heard from faraway. Cheng Yingâs head was covered with sweat as she looked at her efforts. She saw that her formation was miles apart from the rock formation that Huang Rong had set up; she was slightly depressed as she thought, âMrs. Guoâs talents exceeds mine by a hundred times over. It really would be extremely difficult to try to fend off the Scarlet Serpent Deity with such a coarse earth formation.â She was afraid that her cousin and Yang Guo would get depressed about it so she did not tell them her thoughts.
Under the moonlight, Lu Wushuang saw something was wrong with her cousin and knew that her cousin wasnât completely confident. She took out a book from her pockets and returned to the hut and handed the book over to Yang Guo. She said, âSha Dan, this is my masterâs âFive Poison Codexâ.â
Yang Guo shivered slightly at the sight of the blood covered book.
Lu Wushuang said, âI lied to her about the book falling into the Beggar Clanâs hands; if she catches me she will definitely search me and discover the book. Take a good look and once youâve memorized it, burn it.â She had never talked in a serious manner with Yang Guo before, but she had no interest in joking around in this time of danger. Yang Guo saw her expression was bleak and just nodded and accepted the book.
Lu Wushuang also took out a handkerchief and quietly said to him, âIf youâre unlucky and fall into the hands of that witch, when she wants to take your life give this handkerchief to her.â
Yang Guo saw that one side of the handkerchief looked that it was torn from somewhere, the embroidered red flower on the handkerchief was torn in half, he didnât know what she meant by this and was startled, he did not take it and asked, âWhat is this?â
Lu Wushuang, âIâm asking you to give this to her, are you going to promise me?â
Yang Guo nodded and placed it by the side of the pillow. Lu Wushuang picked it up and put it in his pockets and whispered, âDonât let my cousin know.â She suddenly smelt the manly scent on him and remembered how he undressed her and helped her fix her broken rib in place on the Guanxia road. And how they slept on the same bed; her heart stirred and she stared at him in a trance before turning around and leaving the room.
Yang Guo saw that her eyes were filled with boundless love, his heart raced. He opened the âFive Poison Codexâ and flipped through a few pages and remembered the antidote to the âFive Poison Palmâ and the âSoul Freezing Silver Needlesâ. He thought, âThese two antidotes are both extremely hard to create but if I donât die today, these two antidotes will eventually have a use later.â
He heard the hutâs door creak as someone pushed opened the door. He raised his head and saw Cheng Ying with red cheeks, she came over to the bed and he could see pearls of sweat on her forehead. Her breathing was slightly fast. She said, âBrother Yang, the earth formation that I have set outside is not good enough to hold back the Scarlet Serpent Deity.â She then took out a handkerchief from her pockets and offered it to him. She continued, âIf she breaks through and enters the house, give this to her.â
Yang Guo saw that it was only half a handkerchief, the decoration and quality was the same as the one that Lu Wushuang gave him. He was surprised and raised his head, his eyes met hers and he saw eyes that glistened with tears, she was embarrassed and pleased at the same time. He was about to ask further when Cheng Ying suddenly blushed and whispered, âWhatever you do, donât let my cousin know about this.â When she finished, she swiftly exited.
Yang Guo took out the handkerchief that Lu Wushuang gave him and lifted it up. Indeed, the two pieces of handkerchief came from the same one; the handkerchief was old, the white silk was now a pale yellow colour, but the embroidered red flowers were still as beautiful as before. He looked at the handkerchiefs and knew that there was something behind this. Why did the two of them each give half the handkerchief to me? Why did they want me to give it to Li Mochou? Why did they want to keep the fact they gave the handkerchief to me away from each other? Why was it that when they handed the handkerchief over to me, their faces were filled with awkwardness and embarrassment?
He sat on the bed, thinking to himself in a trance. He heard the faraway faint calls of a cockerel followed by music from a flute, he knew that Cheng Ying had finished setting up the formation and was now playing the flute to comfort herself. She was playing the song âLiu Boâ (Flowing Waves). The flute was soft and gentle, there was no sorrow within the music, and instead there was a soothing feeling, like the feeling of being carefree. Yang Guo listened for a little while and quietly followed along with it.
Lu Wushuang sat behind the pile of earth and listened to her cousinâs flute and Yang Guo following along to it. Dawn was gradually approaching in the east. She thought, âMy master will be here very shortly, my life wonât be able to pass this hour. I hope that when master sees the handkerchief pieces, she will spare cousin and him, the two of themâŠâ
Lu Wushuang had always been sharp and astute; her cousin had always given her some degree of leeway ever since they were kids. But in the face of danger, she truly hoped that Yang Guo would be able to avoid harm. She loved him in her heart and secretly wished that he would be able to escape, even if he married her cousin, she would have no regrets in death.
Just as she was thinking about this, she raised her head suddenly and saw a Taoist priestess dressed in apricot yellow standing outside the earth formation. Her right hand held a fly whisk, her gown fluttering in the wind; it was her master Li Mochou.
Lu Wushuang trembled. She picked up her sword and stood up. Li Mochou stood there without moving, just listening with her ears.
When she heard the flute and song, she recalled events of years ago when she was playing music along with Lu Zhanyuan. One played a flute, the other a panpipe, this song âLiu Boâ was the song that they used to play.
This was twenty years ago; now the music was of old yet for her there was âno secret exchange of the lover under the moon and windâ. When she heard the soft and tender tune of the flute and song, she felt pain and sorrow and eventually couldnât stop herself from crying.
Lu Wushuang could not have expected this sorrowful crying by her master; she had always known her to be a ruthless killer, where did this gentle and tender side come from? She has come here to kill, how come sheâs crying? But her cries were extremely sorrowful and somber; she couldnât stop her heart from suffering the sadness.
Yang Guo and Cheng Ying were startled when they heard the crying of Li Mochou and the song became disorganized.
Li Mochou had a thought and suddenly started to sing, her voice graceful and mournful, she sang:
âO mortals, what is love? That binds beyond life on earth?
To all corners, as pair we fly⊠braving summer and winter, by and byâŠ