Jianghu Qimen Lu

Chapter 86 The Crescent Moon Like Blood

The imperial power was truly absolute and utterly domineering. Back then, to investigate the whereabouts of the *Complete Book of Jianghu*, you disregarded the traditional notion that Manchus and Han Chinese could not intermarry and forcibly ordered me to marry into the Xiang family in Jiangnan. Now, disregarding my and Xiangquan's personal feelings, you have made a hasty decision for us, forcibly separating a loving couple! Emperor Qianlong, what kind of enlightened ruler are you? You are clearly arbitrary, autocratic, and stubborn! What did that stinky-footed fellow do? You had his entire family executed, leaving no one alive! In the end, wasn't it just that the *Complete Book of Jianghu*, written by the Xiang family, was returned intact? You, Emperor Qianlong, only needed the first volume of the *Complete Book of Jianghu*, why were you so fixated on the second volume? When they refused, you turned on them faster than flipping a book, ruthlessly killing them and ordering the extermination of their entire clan! This is far too cruel and violent! How can the people of the world judge you? How can they respect you? You... have disappointed us greatly!

Bai Shandian was pondering in the shadows when he suddenly heard the Emperor shout, "Bai Shandian! Did you understand what I said?" He quickly bowed deeply and nodded in agreement, "Understood, Your Majesty!" Qianlong sneered and said, "Then let's get moving!" Bai Shandian said worriedly, "The terrain here is treacherous and the environment is complicated. We shouldn't stay here any longer! How about I escort Your Majesty back to the Lonely Mountain Palace before I go to handle this matter?" Qianlong waved his hand and smiled, "Minister Bai, the four guards, Qinglong and the others, are enough to protect me here, not to mention Zhang Kuang and the others. When the sedan chair arrives, I will return to the palace myself. You may go about your business!" Bai Shandian then remembered something else. The man said, "Your Majesty, Qi Caiyun has a close relationship with the two Japanese pirates imprisoned in the General's Mansion's water dungeon. Perhaps we should imprison them together and be on high alert!" Qianlong pondered and said, "Our Great Qing has always closed its coastlines and prohibited trade, except for establishing normal trade relations with the small country of Japan, because they have copper, a raw material for making coins that we desperately need! This alone brings in countless amounts of silver into our Great Qing's treasury every year! We shouldn't go too far with their people! If they haven't committed any capital crimes, just punish them and release them! That would be enough to avoid affecting diplomatic relations." Seeing him say this, Bai Shandian naturally couldn't say anything more, so he stood up and left.

Stepping out of Yue Fei Temple, a gentle breeze instantly calmed Bai Shandian's mind. His immediate priority was to find Xiang Quan and Chou Jiao as quickly as possible and inform them, along with the members of the Mo Qing Society, to flee to another place to escape the massive government manhunt! This situation was vastly different from before; it possessed a chilling, overwhelming aura, like the saying "When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken." Saving lives was urgent, and there was no time to lose! But the Mo Qing Society was always elusive, highly secretive in the martial world. Where was their hideout? Where did they usually stay? And where had Xiang Quan and Chou Jiao gone now?

Bai Shandian was momentarily bewildered and confused, unsure of what to do next. Suddenly, he thought of someone! Perhaps this person knew the whereabouts of the Mo Qing Society… He immediately turned back to Yue Wang Temple and had a monk secretly fetch the portly supervisor. The two went to a secret room, where the supervisor cautiously asked, “What brings you here, Lord Bai?” Bai Shandian saw that the supervisor was around forty years old. Although tall and stout, his resolute face and righteous aura made him a formidable figure. He smiled slightly and confidently told him the truth: “To be honest, the Emperor just gave me a secret decree that is very unfavorable to the Mo Qing Society! As a member of the Mo Qing Society, I hope you will quickly send a message to them so that they can prepare in advance and remain silent in the martial world for the time being, avoiding any unforeseen circumstances!” The supervisor put his hands together, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and said gratefully, “Bai…” "Your Excellency, rising above the mire yet remaining untainted, your noble character is truly moving. On behalf of all members of the Moqing Society, I express my deepest gratitude! This also shows the profound love between you and Master Xiang of the Southern Fist Sect, a love as deep as the sea, truly admirable. Master Bai, has Emperor Qianlong finally launched a massacre against the Moqing Society?" Bai Shandian closed his eyes in anguish, his lips trembling as he said, "This will be a catastrophe for the Moqing Society! The Emperor is truly enraged and will use the entire nation's power to completely eradicate the Moqing Society! Anyone even remotely connected to them will be implicated! Master, when you see Xiang Quan and Chou Jiao, tell them to flee as far away as possible! Ideally, they should be outside the territory of the Great Qing!" The abbot also sensed the seriousness of the situation and quickly put his hands together, saying, "Amitabha, Master Bai, I must take my leave now! I will go and deliver the message immediately!" The two parted hastily. Bai Shandian dared not linger and hurriedly rode to the General's Mansion.

When the message was relayed to Hongchen, he unexpectedly received a wicked grin and coldly muttered, "Truly, the old saying applies: 'Retribution may be delayed, but it will surely come.' Heaven's justice is clear, and retribution is inevitable!" Bai Shandian, already troubled, was indignant at Hongchen's unreasonable behavior and roared angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting?!" Hongchen quickly smiled and said, "Nothing, nothing, Lord Bai! I will immediately send people throughout the country to convey the Emperor's secret decree to thoroughly investigate and arrest the remaining members of the Mo Qing Society!" With that, he left with a gloating expression. Bai Shandian, exhausted, staggered to the living room and sat down. Red Moon suddenly emerged from behind the screen, saying with concern, "Lightning, you've been working too hard these past few days, you're exhausted! I've arranged for the kitchen to prepare some delicious food for you, it'll be served in a little while." White Lightning buried his head in his hands, resting his elbows on the octagonal table, deeply immersed in grief… His wife, Xiang Quan, had just suffered the tragic deaths of her parents, was imprisoned, and now, having just escaped jail, had fallen into an abyss! Why was her life so miserable? First, she married me, a treacherous henchman of the court, then endured a life of bitter, lonely widowhood, finally ruined by her self-written "Complete Guide to the Martial World"—in this tragedy, from any perspective, I, as her husband, cannot escape the responsibility of being the culprit! If I hadn't deceived her into marriage back then, how could Quan'er have endured so many years of loneliness? If I hadn't investigated the discovery of "Complete Guide to the Martial World," how could I have uncovered the old case of the Xiang family in Jiangnan? If I hadn't led troops to besiege the mansion, how could Quan'er have suffered the tragic deaths of his parents, leaving his family devastated? If it weren't for... how many "if it weren't for" scenarios have caused me unbearable heartache and grief, yet I'm utterly helpless and at my wit's end! As the most favored minister of the current emperor, possessing supreme power second only to the emperor, how could I not even protect my own family? Isn't that a bizarre and absurd situation, worthy of ridicule and scorn?

Just then, a sweet, melodious voice drifted to his ear: "Lightning, the table is full of food, get up and eat something. Hmm?" Only then did Bai Lightning catch a whiff of the aroma of food and wine, and unconsciously raised his head, sitting up straight. Looking around, he saw the eight-immortal table laden with cups and plates, delicacies from land and sea, and fine wines, steaming hot and fragrant. Although he had been out in the wind and waves these past two days, teetering on the edge of swords, and was already starving with a rumbling stomach, he still had no appetite in his agony. At Red Moon's repeated urging, he picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of Dongpo pork, and put it in his mouth, but it tasted like wax.

Red Moon, understandingly, said, "Little sister knows the pain in Lightning Brother's heart, but as the old saying goes: 'Man cannot fight against fate; one must accept one's destiny.' Having ambitions higher than the sky but a life thinner than paper is a common human failing, and also a cruel twist of fate. Those who follow the will of Heaven prosper, those who defy it perish! Once fate is sealed, who can control it? Therefore, Lightning Brother, you must learn to let go. Let go of everything, and your heart will be as still as water. Water is a powerful tool to wash away the root of pain, and a miraculous elixir to cleanse the soul! Once you cast aside all things, your heart will be at peace, and with a peaceful heart, your eyes will be bright, and your body will be healthy." "Light as a swallow, when you look at the world again, you'll be surprised to find that the sky is so blue, the clouds so beautiful, and even people you used to dislike seem so approachable. Because the world is beautiful, the future is vast, and everything is captivating! In this way, you'll sweep away the gloom in your heart and become infinitely bright, filled with hope for life." Bai Shandian, seeing her rambling on and on, although somewhat confused, understood that she was trying her best to enlighten him! He said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, sister. I understand these principles, but I just can't control myself... Alas!" Red Moon smiled sweetly and said, "I'll play a tune for you on the zither, hoping it will help you resolve your inner conflict and cheer you up." She gracefully walked to the zither behind the screen and sat down. With her slender hands, she gently plucked the strings, and instantly, a tender and poignant seven-character quatrain, "The Setting Sun Like Blood," flowed forth, like a gushing jade spring, tinkling and melodious, like the song of a mountain oriole, clear and melodious. She sang softly:

A setting sun casts its rays upon the water.

Half the river is green, half is red.

The pitiful blood stained the Yangtze River.

The general vanished without a trace.

Two streams of hot tears flowed down her cheeks.

Pear blossoms glistening with raindrops are truly captivating.

Sleepless nights, eagerly awaiting...

When will we hold hands again?