Chapter 362: Zhang Xiaohua Visits the Heaven’s Way Alliance

Recalling how Nie Qianyu’s eyes had turned red like a little rabbit’s back then, a faint smile played on Zhang Xiaohua’s lips. “One misses their family all the more during festive times”, how true that saying is. Even though Nie Qianyu usually conducted herself with the composure of an adult, it was in moments like these that one could truly see she was just a young girl who had only recently turned twelve.

As for Nie Qianyu’s nickname, “Little Fish”, it was Zhang Xiaohua who had given it to her that day. Originally, he had wanted to call her “Little Rabbit,” but since her name bore no resemblance to that animal, he settled for “Little Fish”, a play on “Xiao(Little) Yu”, which Nie Qianyu herself had suggested. What did it matter to Zhang Xiaohua, after all? At first, Nie Qianyu was quite pleased, thinking Zhang Xiaohua was finally calling her by her childhood name. But upon listening more closely, she realized it wasn’t what she had imagined. Clinging to Zhang Xiaohua, she insisted he change it back, but look, even now, Zhang Xiaohua still called her “Little Fish”, didn’t he?

Thinking of Nie Qianyu’s tear-filled eyes, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but recall the time he celebrated her birthday. Back when the three of them had not yet entered Danhe City, they had once shared their ages. Nie Qianyu had mentioned that she would be turning twelve in exactly one month. At the time, Zhang Xiaohua merely marveled at how, despite not even being twelve, the little girl had already seen more of the world than he had. He couldn’t catch up to her, no matter how hard he tried. He hadn’t thought much of it then, but that day, on a sudden whim, the thought sprang to mind. Counting the days carefully, wasn’t it indeed the little girl’s twelfth birthday?

That day, as they passed through a small rural town, it seemed that both Nie Qianyu and Little Orange had long forgotten the occasion. So, Zhang Xiaohua made a stop at an inn and bought twelve red-boiled eggs for Nie Qianyu.

“Yes, I remember when I was in Guo Village, my mother would always cook eggs for me on my birthday. Since today is Nie Qianyu’s birthday, naturally, I had to buy her some red-boiled eggs.”

This was, in fact, the only thing Zhang Xiaohua had bought with his own money along the entire journey.

Thinking back to that moment, seeing Nie Qianyu’s face filled with astonishment and her eyes brimming with gratitude, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel delighted. And why not? He’d bargained the price of twelve copper coins down to eleven, earning a laugh from the young girl in the process. How could he not be pleased? That day, Nie Qianyu ate her eggs while tears streamed down her cheeks, as if those eggs were the most delicious delicacy in the world. Remembering how her eyes turned red, just like during the New Year, Zhang Xiaohua secretly pursed his lips. To eat six eggs in one sitting, wasn’t she afraid of choking? No wonder her eyes turned red when she cried; it really was a pity not to call her “Little Rabbit.”

As Zhang Xiaohua reminisced about the amusing events along their journey, the outline of Pingyang City gradually appeared before his eyes. Amidst the swirling snowflakes in the dusky twilight, Pingyang City stood as grand and imposing as ever. Yet, though the city remained unchanged, the people were not the same. Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes couldn’t help but redden as well.

Riding swiftly into the city, Zhang Xiaohua dared not be careless. He found an inn in a rather secluded part of Pingyang City. It was the New Year season, so business at the inn was slow. The innkeeper was overjoyed to see guests arrive. This was his first business of the new year, and they had even booked a private courtyard. Hearing from the “coachman” that they planned to stay for several days, the innkeeper became all the more attentive, showering the two young ladies with flattery. However, after a while, he noticed that both young ladies deferred to Zhang Xiaohua in all matters. Realizing he had misjudged the situation, the innkeeper quickly changed his attitude and began to cozy up to Zhang Xiaohua instead.

But Zhang Xiaohua had no patience for such antics. He drove the carriage into the courtyard, entrusted the Sibu Xiang and the black horse to the innkeeper’s care, and began unloading their belongings himself, placing them in one of the rooms. He didn’t bother asking for help, and seeing this, the innkeeper wisely called his staff to handle the necessary tasks and then quickly took his leave, not wishing to disturb the three travelers in their private courtyard.

Noticing that Zhang Xiaohua was unloading the carriage, unlike before when he would leave everything on board for an early morning departure, Nie Qianyu and Little Orange exchanged a glance, a faint suspicion arising in their hearts: “Could Pingyang City be the place where he has business to attend to?”

Sure enough, after Nie Qianyu and Little Orange had tidied themselves up and were waiting for dinner, Zhang Xiaohua pushed open the door and entered, smiling as he said: “Today is the fifth day of the New Year. I’ve already asked the inn to prepare dumplings for you both. In a little while, make sure to eat your fill.”

Nie Qianyu stood up and asked: “Big Brother Ren, from what you’re saying, does it mean you don’t plan to eat with us later?”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded. “I still have some matters to attend to. I’ll be heading out for a while. I might be back late tonight, so you two go ahead and eat without me.”

“You’ll be back tonight? Big Brother Ren, are you going to take care of some business?” Nie Qianyu asked nervously.　　

Zhang Xiaohua simply smiled and didn’t answer. Nie Qianyu blinked and said: “Big Brother Ren, then please be careful.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded, turned, and walked out of the room. In just a few steps, he disappeared into the swirling snow of the night.

Inside the room, two pairs of concerned eyes followed him until his figure vanished into the darkness.

Nie Qianyu turned to Little Orange and asked, “Little Orange, do you think Big Brother Ren is going to handle his business tonight?”

Little Orange smiled. “Miss, how would I know? But judging from the way he didn’t answer you, it probably is so.”

“But, from what he said, he’ll be back tonight. That means we can set out for Mochou City tomorrow, right? But if we’re leaving tomorrow, why did he unload everything from the carriage?”

Little Orange gave a wry smile. “These are things we needn’t worry about, Miss. Just focus on waiting for the dumplings. I’ve heard that the dumplings in the North are quite different from those in our Mochou City. You must try a few more later.”

Nie Qianyu looked a little forlorn and murmured: “No matter how delicious they are, can they really taste better than red-boiled eggs?”

If Zhang Xiaohua were here, he would surely retort: “Of course, braised pork is even tastier than red-boiled eggs.”

Unfortunately, he was already on the road to Piaomiao Manor, unaware of Nie Qianyu’s girlish thoughts.

Yes, Zhang Xiaohua was making his way to Piaomiao Manor on foot.

Night had fallen, and the snow was coming down thick and fast, endlessly, long since blotting out the sun. Now, there was little difference between day and night. The streets were nearly deserted, everyone dressed in new clothes and staying indoors to savor the rare New Year’s atmosphere. Zhang Xiaohua had no intention of using his levitation or Earth Escape techniques, for his thoughts were in turmoil. He was eager to see Piaomiao Manor and Huanxi Villa, yet also felt a faint sense of dread. This conflicting feeling could only be slowly calmed by wandering the empty streets and alleys, walking alone through the dark and silent night.

Accompanied only by the falling snow, Zhang Xiaohua walked out of Pingyang City. The night was dark, and there were few people in the city; even those who hurried by in the snow paid him little heed. Otherwise, seeing him with no umbrella and not a flake of snow on him would surely have caused a stir.

Once outside the city, the road was even more open and empty. Suddenly, Zhang Xiaohua stopped, as if he had come to some realization. He looked up at the pitch-black night sky and the drifting snowflakes, then turned to glance at the footprints he’d left in the snow, already half-covered by the swiftly falling flakes. Looking ahead at the unmarked, snowy road stretching out before him, a smile appeared on Zhang Xiaohua’s lips.

“The road behind me, I have walked it, leaving traces in my wake, but they cannot last. In this world, what truly endures? Existence is but a matter of time’s length.”

“The road ahead, I have yet to tread it. Whether I leave any trace upon it depends on my own will. It could be like the footprints behind me, or it could be…”

At this thought, Zhang Xiaohua’s body floated upward as he activated his levitation technique, soaring through the air like an immortal.

“…it could be different from before, leaving no trace upon the road.”

“Destruction begets creation, perhaps that is the way of things.”

“The Piaomiao Sect has long since declined in the martial world, barely managing to survive these many years, a miracle in itself. In this world of martial strife, the strong thrive while the weak perish; it’s only natural that the sect was destroyed by the combined forces of the three great factions. Yet, Dalin Temple and the Incense Spreading Sect actually allowed Hu Yunyi to escape Piaomiao Peak with the sect’s last heirs, truly an anomaly. Was it out of respect for their shared heritage as ancient cultivators? Or… was there some deeper scheme at play?”

“The Piaomiao Sect is now broken beyond repair, but the foundation of Piaomiao Manor still stands, only occupied by the Heaven’s Way Alliance. With both of the Alliance’s leaders having been abolished, who knows what the situation is now? They may not have the mind to bother with Piaomiao Manor. If the Piaomiao Sect could rally and rise again, it wouldn’t be impossible. Should that day come, the sect would surely flourish anew.”

“However, with Sect Master Ou having taken his own life, the Piaomiao Sect has lost its backbone. Of the Six Tigers of Piaomiao, only three remain; two have lost their martial arts, Hu Yunyi is gravely injured and his strength greatly diminished, and the chief disciple Zhang Chengyue also took his own life. Sigh… Now the sect is scattered and leaderless; to regroup and rise again would be harder than ever.”

“Enough. Once I’ve escorted Little Fish home, I’ll go to the Incense Spreading Sect to find Second Brother. After all, I’m not a disciple of the Piaomiao Sect, why should I trouble myself with their affairs?”

Though Piaomiao Manor was some distance from Pingyang City, with Zhang Xiaohua’s levitation technique, he soon arrived before the manor’s grand archway. Standing on the straight avenue leading up to it, he couldn’t help but recall the scene of his very first visit years ago.

“Alas, things remain, but people have changed.”

In the darkness, the smooth avenue was blanketed by pristine snow, reflecting a pale glow. Zhang Xiaohua sighed and stepped forward, as if seeking to relive the feelings of that distant day.

Step by step, Zhang Xiaohua made his way toward the archway of Piaomiao Manor, leaving footprints in the snow. At the same time, he released his divine sense. Perhaps because it was the New Year, or because many years had passed since the Piaomiao Sect’s destruction, the Alliance’s vigilance had slackened; there were no Heaven’s Way Alliance disciples guarding the archway that night.

As Zhang Xiaohua’s divine sense swept over the ancient arch and caught sight of the two bold characters, “Piaomiao”, he couldn’t help but utter a soft “Eh?” A trace of astonishment rose in his heart.