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墨書 Inktalez
Outnumbered, she had no choice but to abandon the ship and flee.
The river water in the cold winter was icy and piercing.
Kuranami Miyako had to support Mei Shuang, who was half-conscious from seasickness and injury, making her struggle all the more difficult.
Fortunately, she had given Mei Shuang a few warming pills earlier; otherwise, even if Mei Shuang didn't die from her injuries, she would have frozen to death.
It wasn't until they were not far from the shore that Kuranami Miyako, despite her iron will, could no longer hold on. With her last ounce of strength, she pushed Mei Shuang toward the bank and then blacked out...
Thinking back to that perilous moment, Kuranami Miyako felt a lingering heartbeat of survival.
If it weren't for her prior understanding of Zhao Prince and her preparations, she might have already become a fish in his net.
This Zhao Prince truly lived up to his reputation; his movements were swift, and his nets were wide and intricate. Fortunately, she had acted contrary to his expectations, but this meant she would lose a few more trusted subordinates in the process.
Perched on the temple roof, gazing at the bleak night sky, Kuranami Miyako thought about the dwindling number of men in her family. She closed her eyes as a sharp pain pierced her heart.
For this operation, she had already sacrificed too many loyal warriors. Now, those who remained by her side were fewer than ever, while the future loomed uncertain like a ship lost in fog with no direction.
In an instant, an unprecedented sense of loneliness and desolation filled her heart. Kuranami Miyako felt her eyes heat up as warm liquid trickled down her cheeks...
Suddenly, she stiffened.
A slight tingling sensation at her waist snapped Kuranami Miyako back from her sorrowful thoughts.
Damn it!
Those who mingled in the underworld knew that once you donned the Night Cloak, you could never let your guard down for even a moment; danger could strike in an instant.
Yet, the one who prided herself on her keen hearing failed to notice the threat behind her, not even realizing when or where it had come from.
This could only mean that either the opponent's skills were too formidable, or she had been too lost in the sorrow of her family to maintain her basic sense of hearing...
Kuranami Miyako broke out in a cold sweat.
“May I ask you—” she steadied herself and cautiously inquired.
There was no response.
Instead, as if in jest, the hard object pressing against Kuranami Miyako's waist applied a bit more pressure, forcing her to lean slightly forward. At the same time, she instinctively deduced that what was pressed against her waist was likely not a weapon like a sword or knife.
She felt somewhat reassured; at least the other party had not taken any further action and seemed to have no intention of taking her life.
Thus, she silently waited for the other person to speak.
After a while, the voice finally spoke up, youthful yet surprisingly seasoned, “Pure Land of Buddhism, why has the practitioner sneaked here?”
Kuranami Miyako was momentarily stunned.
That voice was so familiar!
In disbelief, she turned around.
Under the moonlight, Peach wore a half-smile, holding a Wooden Fish, its handle pressing against Kuranami Miyako's waist.
This little girl, clearly still young and inexperienced, even younger than Kuranami Miyako herself, possessed such profound and unfathomable skills that Kuranami Miyako was truly taken aback.
This small temple is indeed not to be underestimated.
After quickly regaining her composure, Kuranami Miyako calmly spoke, "You must already know, so why ask again?"
In fact, ever since she woke up and hid behind the rocks to witness Mei Shuang being rescued, she had come to the temple "to visit" three times.
However, each time she hid in the shadows of Mei Shuang's residence, listening to the conversations inside while also hearing about Mei Shuang's injuries.
Earlier today, she pretended to be a passerby and entered the temple to ask for a bowl of water.
It was the kind-hearted Peach who poured her a cup of tea to quench her thirst.
Little did she expect that as soon as she appeared tonight, someone would notice her. It almost seemed as if the other party had already known her intentions and was waiting specifically for her.
Peach put away the Wooden Fish and played with it in her hands, asking Kuranami Miyako, "Your accent doesn't sound like someone from the Great Qin Empire. Are you here looking for Lin Benefactor?"
Kuranami Miyako was taken aback, thinking about when Mei Shuang had changed her name. "How did you know I came for her?"
Peach chuckled lightly, "You should take a look at where this is. Although it's near the riverbank, it's a long way from any village or inn, hidden away in a long-abandoned temple nestled in the mountains. The nearest village is ten miles away; ordinary people only know there's a dilapidated temple here. Plus, the roads are rugged and hard to traverse, especially in winter when it's icy and snowy. No one ever comes here. Yet you seem to have come more than once, haven't you?"
Kuranami Miyako felt a jolt in her heart and had to admit, "Indeed, I came for Miss Lin."
"It seems that if you were familiar with each other, you wouldn't be sneaking around like this. I suspect you have ulterior motives. I just wonder if Miss Lin encountered any ill-intentioned people on her way here that could have endangered her life."
Kuranami Miyako was greatly alarmed at this thought and wondered if Mei Shuang had told this Little Nun everything.
Her mind raced, and she firmly replied, "Of course not! If I hadn't saved her, she would have already sunk into the sea to feed the fish."
Peach was taken aback.
Noticing the change in the other person's expression, Kuranami Miyako continued, "I gave her a few pills; otherwise, would she still be alive? I saw with my own eyes how you rescued her from the water, so I came to see how she was doing..."
"Oh, why not come openly to check on her?" Peach asked again.
"Naturally, it has to do with Miss Lin and me..." Kuranami Miyako hesitated, as if she had made a significant decision. Finally, she stomped her foot and said softly, "Miss Lin and I both have feelings for the same man. Since I knew him first, Miss Lin is unaware of this. Later, when the three of us met together, it became awkward for the man, and Miss Lin was naturally displeased. Out of spite, she took a boat and left, and I could only chase after her. But unexpectedly, the boat encountered a storm on the river..."
After explaining herself, Kuranami Miyako admired her own imagination and quick thinking.
What a perfect excuse; it was absolutely reasonable.
It seemed that Mei Shuang wouldn’t be foolish enough to reveal her situation of being kidnapped in a foreign land to anyone.
"I suppose she is also unwilling to see me, while I just hope she will be alright..." Kuranami Miyako frowned slightly, appearing somewhat regretful. "If only we hadn't crossed paths back then. If something were to happen to Miss Lin, I would feel guilty for a lifetime... Uh, although she must not want to see me, I have to ask—has her condition improved?"
Sure enough, Peach fell silent for a moment before her expression softened slightly. "Much better."
Kuranami Miyako nodded, clasped her hands together in gratitude, and said sincerely, "Thank you for your compassion in saving her. I appreciate it deeply. Once I explain everything to her face-to-face, I will definitely return to express my gratitude properly."
In the deep of night, Mei Shuang could only resign herself to the visit from Peach and Kuranami Miyako.
She had always thought that Kuranami Miyako would surely drown, allowing her to rest easy. If she could just wait a few more days to recover and then leave this place under a new name, she could roam freely and escape from the turmoil surrounding Zhao Prince—fulfilling her long-suppressed desire for adventure...
Unexpectedly, fate had other plans; the other party's relentless pursuit had brought them here.
Thinking of Kuranami Miyako's formidable skills and cunning nature—someone who could kill without blinking—Mei Shuang felt there was no way to escape. Moreover, with Peach by her side who had once saved her life, she didn’t want to drag an innocent person into this mess. She could only say, "Peach, you should go out first..."
In the Buddha Hall.
Jinghui knelt before the statue with her eyes closed, lightly tapping the Wooden Fish with one hand while twisting the prayer beads with the other.
In the quiet night, only the crisp and rhythmic sound of the Wooden Fish echoed, each strike resonating like a heartbeat, keeping her mind alert.
With a creak, the door opened.
Peach entered and softly said, "Miss, it's midnight. Aren't you going to rest?"
Jinghui stopped tapping the Wooden Fish and replied calmly, "Why aren't you resting?"
"A stranger came to visit earlier, looking for Lin Benefactor..." Peach stepped forward and draped a thick garment over Jinghui's shoulders, then adjusted the candle flame, making the Buddha Hall a bit brighter.
Jinghui remained silent upon hearing this, simply closing her eyes and pressing her palms together in reverence as she knelt.
After a long while, she finally stood up and said, "Let things come and go as they will..."
"However..."
Peach hesitated for a moment. "I can't shake off this feeling... Although this Miss Lin doesn't seem to have the same temperament or speech as that person, her appearance is strikingly similar... Is it possible for someone to look so much alike?"
After a moment of silence,
Jinghui bowed to the Bodhisattva once more and said softly, "Since I have made a solemn vow to always accompany the Azure Lamp and Ancient Buddha in this life, I will no longer concern myself with worldly matters. Whether it is so or not, let it be..."
After saying that, Jinghui turned around and left Buddha Hall. Peach looked at Jinghui's back thoughtfully, then blew out the candles on the table, gently closed the door of Buddha Hall, and followed Jinghui to leave Buddha Hall. —— "We will set off immediately early tomorrow morning." Kuranami Miyako closed the door, took a closer look at the sky outside, and said to Mei Shuang without hesitation. Mei Shuang was stunned for a moment and sighed, "Look at me, covered in bruises, how can I withstand the long bumps on the road? I'm afraid I'll be dead before I even get to your Eastern Kingdom.... .Besides, I have to inform ZhaoPrince, otherwise, they will all think that I am dead..." When Mei Shuang mentioned ZhaoPrince, Kuranami looked calm at first. Miyako's expression suddenly collapsed. He flicked his sleeves unceremoniously and put a small scimitar directly on Mei Shuang's neck. He gritted his teeth and said, "Don't mention that unfaithful person! If you don't come with me, , then whether you want to die or live, you choose..." Ga? ! The same tragedy will happen again. In the cold light like snow, Mei Shuang felt the fine chill from his neck, and the moment when the driver fell to the ground quickly appeared in his mind. She tentatively raised her hand and gently pushed the knife away, and said as if she had made up her mind, "I can go, but if the curse can't be lifted, don't blame me..."
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