Jianghu Demolition Squad

Moving Like the Stars (Part Two)

The group continued southward, and Zhu Ji had already returned to Yanyu Pavilion ahead of them. After crossing the river, Yu’er was to follow Gong Shang back to Qixian Palace, with Yan Li and Qi Tianzhu guarding her on either side.

Yang Chun had always been free to come and go, and the group never restrained him. He had intended to go to the World Martial Arts Competition, and thus he traveled with the group. Having grown fond of everyone’s company over time, he had no thoughts of leaving and decided to join Yu’er and the others on their trip to Qixian Palace.

However, Qing Jiu, Hua Lian, and Tang Linzhi were headed to Suzhou.

Qing Jiu had mentioned earlier that she and Hua Lian had a personal grudge against Meiren Gu, while Tang Linzhi had accepted the bounty offered from Yuan Wenliu and Meiren Gu. These three, being the most skilled fighters among the seven and each driven by their own reasons, were naturally the ones to pursue Meiren Gu, and no one raised any objections.

Yu’er knew from Qing Jiu that Meiren Gu was a formidable opponent, and even Qing Jiu wasn’t completely confident about capturing him. Though Yu’er wanted Qi Tianzhu and Yan Li to join the pursuit, she knew the others would not agree, so she refrained from pressing the issue.

Seeking Meiren Gu had always been the primary objective for Qing Jiu and her companions as they traveled through the jianghu. After finally uncovering a lead after much time, they were eager to act immediately to prevent the trail from going cold again.

Originally, they had planned to wait until Yu’er’s injuries were healed before searching for Meiren Gu together, but due to several unexpected events, they received news about Meiren Gu sooner than anticipated. Although Yu’er regretted that she couldn’t join Qing Jiu and the others in fulfilling their mission, there was nothing she could do but silently wish for their safety.

On the day of their parting, Yu’er pulled Qing Jiu aside and cautioned her, “Be careful, and don’t push yourself too hard.” She knew Qing Jiu had been injured in the battle at Mingjian Manor. Even though Qing Jiu’s martial arts skills were formidable, facing that group from Miaojiang alone meant she was still only human and could get hurt. Qing Jiu didn’t want Yu’er to take her pulse because she was afraid of worrying her.

Qing Jiu joked, “Yu’er, you’re getting quite assertive.”

Yu’er stiffened slightly and murmured, “Don’t you like it?” Since realizing her feelings, she had been cautious not to speak out, but her heart had already committed, and despite her best efforts to restrain her emotions and avoid showing too much, she was still very concerned about how Qing Jiu perceived her.

Qing Jiu smiled and said, “Silly Yu’er, it’s a good thing. Being capable allows you to be assertive. This just proves you’re getting better and better…”

Qing Jiu gently caressed Yu’er’s cheek with the back of her hand, her voice softening, “The dust will eventually be unable to hide your brilliance. Yu’er, one day you will surpass us. You are very good, very good… I like it very much.”

Yu’er knew Qing Jiu didn’t mean it in the way she hoped, but she couldn’t help feeling happy. She laughed, “I don’t need to surpass you all; being with you is enough. So, will you listen to me?”

Qing Jiu’s smile was softer than usual as she replied, “I understand, I won’t push myself.”

After talking to Qing Jiu, Yu’er pulled Tang Linzhi aside and whispered to her.

Qing Jiu and Hua Lian rode their horses, smiling at each other. Hua Lian said, “Little Yu’er has more thoughts now and even hides things from you.”

Qing Jiu laughed, “She’s growing up; everyone does.”

Hua Lian gazed at the overcast winter sky, a constant feature after the onset of winter. This year, blessed with frequent snowfalls about every ten days, was considered auspicious. Hua Lian sighed, “Yes, everyone grows up.”

Small snowflakes began to drift from the sky, looking almost like ash. Lost in thought, Hua Lian asked Qing Jiu, “How many years has it been?”

Qing Jiu’s smile faded as she replied, “I don’t know.”

The two fell silent, their quiet only interrupted when Tang Linzhi joined them, and the three set off together without further conversation.

Upon arriving in Suzhou, Yanyu Pavilion had already arranged everything for them. Yu Hei led them to a small inn in the east of the city.

The private room they scrolled had a window overlooking a secluded residence—a two-entry courtyard house that saw no visitors during the day, but where Meiren Gu was known to appear at night.

Settling into the room, they began to keep watch on the house from their window.

Yu Hei pulled out an item and presented it to Qing Jiu. It was an intricately carved white bone pendant with a red tassel hanging from it.

After a brief glance, Qing Jiu passed it to Hua Lian. Taking it, Hua Lian noted the pendant’s chilling whiteness and detailed carvings, which altogether lent it an eerie appearance.

With a somber look and without showing much emotion, Hua Lian ran his thumb over the bone carving, “It’s his. He loves to carve a notch at the end of the bones. The more perfect something is, the more he wants to make it imperfect.”

Qing Jiu turned back to Yu Hei and said, “You can go. Please convey my gratitude to Young Mistress Liu Xiu.”

Yu Hei acknowledged and left.

The three took turns watching the house from the window, vigilant and determined not to miss their chance. After years of chasing Meiren Gu, they finally felt they were close to grasping his tail and could not afford any slip-ups.

As soon as they entered the city, they immediately went to the inn, weary from days of continuous travel. Hua Lian insisted on taking the first watch, sending Qing Jiu and Tang Linzhi to rest.

Qing Jiu retired to her room to meditate and restore her energy. When she opened her eyes again, dusk had settled in. She then returned to the main room and gently pushed open the door.

A blast of cold air greeted her as she entered. By the window, Hua Lian stood still as a statue, his silhouette blending into the grey world outside, almost as if he were becoming part of it.

Qing Jiu approached and sighed softly, “Hua Lian, go and rest.”

As she approached the window, Qing Jiu noticed a pot of wine on the windowsill, with three cups. Hua Lian was holding one cup, while the other two were empty.

Filling another cup, Hua Lian invited, “Qing Jiu, have a drink with me.”

Qing Jiu smiled silently, leisurely lifting the cup to her nose to smell the wine.

Still holding the white bone pendant, Hua Lian drained his cup in one go, poured another, and holding the refilled glass, he remarked, “Qing Jiu, you’ll be twenty-two after this year, right?”

Qing Jiu sipped her drink and responded softly, “Hmm.”

Hua Lian lowered his head, spinning the wine cup in his hand, and said, “If Xun’er were still here, she would be the same age as you now.”

Qing Jiu smiled at him and teased, “You sound like an old man. What’s with that tone?”

Hua Lian turned his gaze toward the house they were monitoring and said, “If I had listened to you back then and come back earlier, perhaps I would have already married Xun’er. I could have helped her avoid a disaster, and maybe today we would have had two chubby little boys.”

Qing Jiu’s smile faded, her expression tinged with melancholy due to the swirling snow, “You definitely wouldn’t have been a good father.”

Hua Lian’s eyes suddenly reddened, but his lips still curved into a smile, “Yes, such a life would be boring. I would definitely run out every two or three days. But now, I’m so envious, Qing Jiu. If she were here, I would stay in Hangzhou for the rest of my life.”

Hua Lian poured a third cup of wine. Qing Jiu grabbed his arm, advising, “Don’t drink too much. We have important matters tonight. Go rest in the room.”

Hua Lian twisted his wrist, pouring the third cup of wine out of the window, “How can I sleep at a time like this?”

Qing Jiu simply said, “Forget it,” and stopped persuading him.

The two remained by the window into the night. As the snow fell and the darkness deepened, accompanied by the howling wind, it created a perfect cover for moving unnoticed.

Tang Linzhi, hanging upside down outside the window, poked her head in and informed them, “Someone’s coming.”

Qing Jiu and Hua Lian’s expressions sharpened. Indeed, a figure approached rapidly from the west and swiftly entered the house.

Qing Jiu warned, “Meiren Gu was the previous Dao Gui of the Ghost Sect. You both know what his skills are like; don’t underestimate him.”

Tang Linzhi responded, “I know.” Hua Lian was staring intently at the house and didn’t make a sound.

Qing Jiu called out, “Hua Lian!”

Hua Lian didn’t respond. Qing Jiu placed her hand on his shoulder, and only then did Hua Lian turn to look at her. Qing Jiu solemnly instructed, “Hua Lian, he is cautious and cunning, skilled in killing, but his greatest expertise lies in manipulating the mind. Don’t underestimate him. Be mindful and don’t rashly charge in to face him alone.”

Hua Lian didn’t say anything but nodded.

The three moved stealthily and entered the courtyard without a sound.

Inside the main room, a dim light cast shadows on the walls. Unlike ordinary homes adorned with porcelain or antiques, this room was filled with bizarre and intricately carved bone sculptures, each positioned in a unique pose.

A man inside wore coarse clothes and was adorned with numerous white bone carvings, a long bone sword hung at his waist, and a white tooth necklace around his neck.

His appearance was quite ordinary, but his attire was bizarre. Moreover, there was a faint aura of evil emanating from him, making him eye-catching.

Meiren Gu cradled a skeleton in his arms, its bones secured together to prevent them from scattering. He hugged the eerie white skeleton as if embracing a lover, gazing at it with a crazed expression, creating a truly bizarre and unsettling sight.

Murmuring to himself, Meiren Gu said, “You are indeed most beautiful this way. Should I make you into a dagger, or perhaps a piece of jewelry? Then, we could never be apart…”

Suddenly, Meiren Gu looked up towards the door, his deep-set eyes gleaming with a sinister light, fixed intently on that entrance.

Qing Jiu boldly pushed the door open and entered, smiling, “It’s no wonder you were the Dao Gui of the Ghost Sect; you noticed a visitor so quickly.”

Meiren Gu’s voice was deeply gloomy, “Are you from the Ghost Sect?”

He stared at Qing Jiu, scrutinizing her. At first, his gaze held a chilling coldness, but it soon turned into a kind of fanaticism. His eyes gleamed with a fierce light: “Your bones must be very beautiful.

Qing Jiu responded, “I’m not sure if my bones are beautiful or not, but I can assure you that you won’t get them.”

Meiren Gu continued to hold the skeleton, stroking its skull, his demeanor softening significantly as he smiled, “Did the sect send you?”

Qing Jiu replied, “No, I admire your reputation, senior, so I came specifically to see you.”

“Oh, you wanted to see me,” Meiren Gu said, grinning to reveal a chilling set of white teeth. “Which ghost do you serve under?”

Qing Jiu answered, “I am a disciple of Qin Gui.”

“Not sent by the sect, but coming to see me alone,” Meiren Gu’s smile deepened, his voice becoming a low, raspy hiss like a venomous snake, “You want to learn from me how to remove the sect’s Gu poison, don’t you?”

Qing Jiu thought to herself, “This man is indeed clever,” and became even more cautious.

With her hand already on the hilt of her sword behind her, Qing Jiu smiled and said, “Your wisdom is commendable, senior. That makes this conversation much easier.”