Chapter 19: Conversations by Lamplight
The night was quiet, the small room silent.
Ning Qingye’s eyes held a hint of wariness, but mostly confusion. She pursed her lips, easing the dryness in her throat, and spoke weakly:
“Why didn’t you leave?”
Xu Buling, still patching the window, replied casually:
“I hadn’t gone far when I saw you collapse. It’s freezing tonight. You would have gotten frostbite if you stayed out there until morning. So I brought you here… This courtyard seems abandoned. I didn’t want to start a fire and risk attracting the owner. Besides, there’s no firewood…”
His voice was calm and magnetic, like an old friend catching up, lacking the usual arrogance of a wealthy young master.
Ning Qingye closed her eyes for a moment, her complexion gradually improving as her breathing steadied. Her mind cleared, and she looked at Xu Buling, who was still talking. After a long silence, she asked:
“Why did you save me?”
Xu Buling blinked, a hint of amusement in his eyes:
“I couldn’t just leave you to die, could I? Um… You said I was a good person who wouldn’t kill. I thought you were a chivalrous heroine, the honorable kind…”
Ning Qingye sat up with difficulty, clutching the fluffy fox fur cloak, still wary:
“Turning me in to the authorities would be a great achievement… If you save me, the Investigation Bureau’s assassins will surely come after you…”
Xu Buling chuckled and shook his head:
“I’m Xu You’s son, the Prince of Su. You dared to abduct me. I’m doing the Investigation Bureau a favor by not reporting this incident. What trouble could they possibly cause me?”
Ning Qingye was stunned. She had forgotten Xu Buling’s extraordinary status. The Investigation Bureau wouldn’t dare to offend a heteronymous prince. She thought for a moment:
“I’ve heard of General Xu’s reputation. I was desperate. Please forgive my offense, Young Master… My name is Ning Qingye. I owe you a debt of gratitude and will repay you someday…”
Xu Buling shook his head, took his wine gourd from his waist, and offered it to her:
“Killing an official is treason. I saved you because I didn’t want to see you freeze to death. If you’re a rebel, it’s best to distance yourself from me. Let’s pretend this never happened.”
Ning Qingye took the gourd and nodded slightly:
“I tried to assassinate Zhang Xiang for personal revenge. He killed my mother ten years ago. Martial artists avenge their loved ones and repay kindness. It’s not rebellion…” She raised the gourd to her lips, then hesitated, remembering it belonged to Xu Buling. She tilted her head back and took a large gulp. Her unsteady hand poured more than she intended. The Jade Breaker liquor was potent, and her weakened body couldn’t handle it. She coughed violently before regaining her breath.
Xu Buling smiled:
“You’re very beautiful, Miss.”
“…”
Perhaps she had never encountered such a straightforward attempt at flirting. Ning Qingye raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. Normally, she would have retorted, but given his kindness, she simply smiled and changed the subject:
“Your name is Xu Buling?”
“Yes. Have you heard of me, Miss?”
Ning Qingye thought for a moment and nodded:
“I heard some martial arts experts talking about a prodigy from the Western Liang region. They called him a ‘once-in-a-century talent with the strength of a dragon, the bones of a tiger, and the spirit of a qilin’… Many martial artists wanted to take him as a disciple, but he was too high-ranking and looked down on those who wandered the martial world. He turned them all away… Is that you?”
Xu Buling nodded. In his younger, more arrogant days, he had indeed dismissed many renowned martial artists.
“I was young and foolish back then. If those martial arts experts were to visit me now…”
“You would accept them as your masters?”
“I would give them some travel expenses so they wouldn’t leave empty-handed.”
“…”
Ning Qingye blinked, wanting to say something but ultimately choosing to smile and shake her head. Her natural coldness made the smile even more striking, like a snow lotus blooming in the moonlight.
After resting for a while, her strength returned. She pushed aside the fox fur cloak, sat up on the edge of the bed, picked up her sword, and looked at Xu Buling:
“You’re poisoned?”
Xu Buling nodded, a hint of resignation in his voice:
“You have sharp eyes, Miss.”
Ning Qingye pondered for a moment, then reached out and took his wrist, checking his pulse.
Xu Buling didn’t resist, a smile playing on his lips.
After a while, Ning Qingye’s brows furrowed with concern. She looked at him carefully:
“I noticed your pale complexion and your habit of drinking strong alcohol at the Sun family’s shop. I suspected you might be poisoned, but I didn’t expect it to be the Dragon Locking Gu…”
Xu Buling withdrew his hand:
“Do you know how to cure it, Miss?”
Ning Qingye shook her head:
“The Dragon Locking Gu is a rare and potent poison. It cripples the victim’s martial arts skills. Any attempt to exert oneself will result in death or permanent injury. Even if one remains inactive, they rarely live past three years. There’s no known cure… The fact that you can move freely suggests your martial arts skills were once very high.”
Xu Buling smiled gently:
“I was only slightly less skilled than you, Miss. I was considered a hero. But now I’m practically useless.”
For a martial artist, losing their skills was akin to a wealthy merchant losing their fortune. Few could withstand such a blow.
Ning Qingye sighed, scooting over and patting the bed, inviting Xu Buling to sit down:
“It must be difficult for you. I heard the Dragon Locking Gu causes constant pain, like ants gnawing at your flesh. It’s a fate worse than death.”
Xu Buling sat down beside her:
“Strong alcohol can temporarily suppress the poison. It’s not that bad.”
“Who poisoned you?”
“Hmm…”
Xu Buling frowned, thinking for a moment, then shook his head:
“I don’t know. I’m investigating secretly. If it was a martial artist seeking revenge, it wouldn’t be so bad. But if it was…”
He trailed off, glancing towards the Imperial Palace, and sighed softly.
If his suspicions were correct, and the Emperor was behind this, either to eliminate the Prince of Su’s lineage or to weaken his power, then he might not make it out of Chang’an alive.
Ning Qingye sensed his worry and said hesitantly:
“You come from a wealthy and powerful family. Finding a cure shouldn’t be a problem. Illness often stems from the mind. Try to relax. It might prolong your life.”
She clearly wasn’t very good at offering comfort.
Xu Buling chuckled and turned his attention to her sword lying between them.
The blade was three feet and two inches long, its hilt wrapped in green cord. The scabbard seemed new and didn’t quite fit.
Xu Buling, a martial arts enthusiast in his previous life, knew more about weapons than he did about poetry or literature. He examined the sword for a moment, then picked it up, drawing the blade three inches. The flickering flame of the tinderbox revealed its sharp edge.
He ran his finger along the blade:
“A fine sword… Is this the Shangchun?”
Ning Qingye looked at the blade, a hint of sadness in her eyes:
“It was my mother’s sword. She was killed by Zhang Xiang ten years ago, and the sword was confiscated. I only managed to retrieve it today.”
Xu Buling sheathed the sword, at a loss for words.
Ning Qingye was naturally quiet, and Xu Buling wasn’t much of a talker either. Silence fell over the room.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and took a small sip from the wine gourd, perhaps feeling awkward and unsure how to interact with this powerful prince.
After a long night, dawn was approaching.
Xu Buling didn’t stay any longer. He picked up his wine gourd and stood up:
“I should go. The Imperial Guard will be searching the city for me soon. I’ll tell them you escaped. Stay here and rest for a few days.”
Having spared her while she was unconscious, Ning Qingye believed him. She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly:
“Why are you helping me?”
“Everyone appreciates beauty. It’s a man’s nature.”
Xu Buling replied casually, then left the room, closing the door behind him.
Ning Qingye was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant. Her face flushed with anger, and she muttered “Lecher!” before lying down.
But then she noticed the fox fur cloak still beside her. Remembering that Xu Buling was poisoned and susceptible to the cold, she quickly sat up. Her injuries made her unsteady, and she stumbled towards the door:
“Wait—”
She opened the door, but outside, the wind howled, and the snow-covered courtyard held only a set of footprints. Xu Buling was gone.
Ning Qingye blinked, clutching the luxurious cloak. She stood there for a moment, then chuckled softly. Perhaps this young prince was too naive, too kind…
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