Jianghu Demolition Squad

Like a Fish Transforming into a Dragon (Part One)

Yu’er awoke seven days later, her mind still disoriented as her memories fought to realign. The moment her eyes opened, she stared blankly into space, her expression one of complete confusion.

Outside the house, voices could be heard discussing, “How is Yu’er?”

“She’s been seen by the best healers in town,” came the reply. “They say it’s extreme grief and anxiety leading to an excess of heat and damage to her internal organs. He prescribed medicine, and we’ve been feeding it to her, but she hasn’t woken up. That girl has always been closest to Qing Jiu. This whole situation, it’s… well…” Qi Tianzhu sighed deeply, reluctant to elaborate further, and changed the subject. “It’s good that you’re back now, Sister Mo Wen.”

The two walked to the doorway, where guards from both manors stood watch. Seeing them, the guards bowed respectfully.

“Who are they?” Mo Wen asked. After Wei Ran had recovered, Mo Wen had hurried back to Yangzhou. On the way, she received a letter from Yanyu Pavilion about a plot against Qing Jiu and immediately diverted to Hangzhou, only to arrive in Yong City and find it bustling with people from Yanyu Pavilion. After inquiring, she realized she was a step too late.

With Qing Jiu missing and Yu’er unconscious, she hurriedly found the courtyard where Yu’er’s group was staying. There were many details of the situation she still didn’t know.

“These are brothers from Mingjian Manor and Jiuxiao Manor,” Qi Tianzhu explained, promising to discuss the details later. “Let’s go inside and check on the girl.”

Though the two men didn’t recognize Mo Wen, they could tell from Qi Tianzhu’s relieved demeanor that she must be the renowned healer of their group, and they respectfully made way for her.

Upon entering, they found Yu’er awake, sitting up in bed.

Qi Tianzhu was overjoyed: “The girl has woken up!”

Yu’er’s voice was hoarse: “Uncle Qi, I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“It’s good that you’re awake! I’ll have someone prepare something for you to eat. What would you like?”

Yu’er was about to say ‘no need to trouble,’ as she really had no appetite.

Qi Tianzhu quickly said, “Ah, Sister Mo Wen has just come back, probably hasn’t had a good meal either. I’ll get something for both of you, eat whatever you like!” He hurried out, as if afraid of delaying even a moment longer and starving them.

Mo Wen set her travel bag on the table, as she usually did, and said softly, “I’m back.”

Yu’er bit her lower lip, clutching the brocade quilt in front of her, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Mo Wen sat down beside the bed, taking Yu’er’s hand.

“Mo Wen, I’m okay,” Yu’er said.

Mo Wen, seeing her almost tearful expression, responded, “Whether you’re okay or not, I’ll have to see for myself.” She held Yu’er’s wrist, checking her pulse with an expressionless face, her eyes closed, masking a myriad of emotions.

After examining her pulse, Mo Wen declared, “It’s distress affecting the heart, a heart condition. Medicine can heal the body, not the heart. You’ve been studying medicine with me for two years now; you should understand this.”

“I understand.”

But understanding didn’t change the reality…

Qi Tianzhu brought in some food, and Yang Chun also returned. The four of them sat around the table, but only Mo Wen picked up her chopsticks—the other three could barely eat.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Mo Wen asked.

Yu’er, pale and weak, held her chopsticks limply on the edge of the table.

Mo Wen served her some food, placing it in her bowl: “Yu’er, you’ve been unconscious for many days, you need to eat something to regain your strength.”

Yu’er lowered her eyelids: “I…”

Mo Wen remarked, “If Qing Jiu were here, she would certainly have something to say about you. ‘Food is the most important thing for people. You can endure anything, but you can’t neglect your stomach.’ That’s what she used to say.”

Yang Chun and Qi Tianzhu had never heard Qing Jiu say these words, but having experienced her culinary skills firsthand, they knew she always placed great importance on food.

Yu’er slowly lifted her hand and started to eat. Seeing this, Yang Chun and Qi Tianzhu breathed a sigh of relief and silently praised Mo Wen.

After finishing their meal, and with Yu’er having only eaten half a bowl, she set down her chopsticks and asked Yang Chun, “Yang Chun, is there any news from Yanyu Pavilion?”

Before the meal, Yang Chun had avoided mentioning anything from there, fearing it would spoil everyone’s appetite.

Hesitantly, Yang Chun looked at the three of them and stuttered, “That Lingyun is very cunning. As soon as he saw the situation turning unfavorable, he withdrew. Yanyu Pavilion captured some people from Xuanji Tower who had hidden poison on themselves and took their own lives upon being captured. Despite the assistance from Palace Master Gong Shang, they ended up with nothing. As for Miss Qing Jiu, based on the timing, it seems unlikely she was taken by Lingyun and his group. However, Young Mistress Liu Xiu mentioned that if Xuanji Tower had set an ambush on the road beforehand, that would be a different matter entirely…”

Mo Wen glanced at Yu’er’s complexion, then asked, “Why haven’t we seen Yan Li, Linzhi, and Hua Lian? Where have those three gone?”

Yang Chun rubbed his hands, recalling the lively times before the New Year, and now seeing everyone scattered, he felt indescribably sad. “Brother Hua Lian was chasing Meiren Gu and wasn’t around when Miss Qing Jiu was taken. We’ve received news that he’s on his way back and should be arriving in Yong City soon. Miss Tang was the first to hear someone was plotting against Miss Qing Jiu. Yanyu Pavilion sent people to guide her, and she should have been the first to arrive. However… Yanyu Pavilion found the bodies of two of their own and dozens of others on the road, including Yan Jianyu, the second son of the Yan family. Miss Liu Xiu thinks those people might have been sent by Xuanji Tower…”

Qi Tianzhu and Yu’er were hearing this for the first time and tensed up, asking, “And what about Linzhi?”

Yang Chun replied, “There was no sign of Miss Tang. They searched the entire area but found no trace of her.”

Mo Wen asked, “What about Yan Li? I heard she was with Qing Jiu. Did she disappear with her?”

Yang Chun shook his head. “I don’t know.” He had no information on whether Yan Li had even encountered Qing Jiu.

A chill went through everyone in the room, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

Yang Chun forced a smile and said, “Not finding them might not be a bad thing. Perhaps Miss Tang just lost her way, and Miss Yan Li might have missed the meeting and gone to Hangzhou instead…”

For a moment, none of the four knew what to say, afraid that any word might touch someone’s sore spot.

The room fell silent for a long while until Yu’er stood up and declared, “We need to see the person alive or find the body if dead.”

But for three days, there was still no news, and even Xuanji Tower seemed to have vanished into thin air, nowhere to be found.

Though none wanted to consider it, they all knew deep down that Linzhi and Yan Li were not fools; if they were alright, they would have found a way to contact everyone. Given their already grim situation and the lack of any contact now, it was clear something had gone wrong.

And as for Qing Jiu, whether it was the main investigators from Yanyu Pavilion or the assisting forces from Qixian Palace and the two great manors, everyone had resigned themselves to ‘finding the body,’ because according to Yang Chun’s account, it seemed there was no chance Qing Jiu had survived.

On the fourth day, Hua Lian finally returned.

When Yu’er heard the news, she put down the medicine she was drinking and immediately headed to the hall.

When she saw Hua Lian, Yu’er nearly didn’t recognize him.

When together with others, Hua Lian always presented himself as a clean and handsome young man, sometimes frivolous and unrestrained, sometimes elegant and gentle. Yu’er, perhaps biased by familiarity, always believed that no man could surpass Hua Lian and Qi Tianzhu in this world.

However, the man sitting next to Mo Wen in the hall looked worn and weary. His chin sprouted an unkempt beard of dark stubble, and his eyes, once lively, now held a world-weary sadness.

A blood-stained package rested on the table while he cradled a porcelain cup, drinking with Mo Wen. Now that no one controlled her, Mo Wen could drink as much as she wanted, yet she set her cup down after just one.

Hua Lian held up a porcelain cup and declared, “I’ve killed Meiren Gu. While chasing him, I accidentally alerted Ghost Sect, so it took some effort and delayed me for a while.”

“He was talking nonsense, and I couldn’t be sure which of those bones was the one I needed, so I burned them all. I figured it was for the best. She was in there somewhere. And those poor girls, murdered by that monster, their bodies desecrated even in death… I couldn’t let them rest in such a state. I’m bringing them all back to Hangzhou to bury them properly, hoping to earn some good karma. I also chopped off Meiren Gu’s head to let him taste the agony of an incomplete death. I need to bring it back to Tiger Lady to complete the mission.”

At this point, Hua Lian stopped speaking.

Seeing Hua Lian so dispirited reminded Yu’er of the vibrant, spirited man he once was, filling her with profound sorrow.

For the three days he rested at the courtyard, Hua Lian remained silent about Qing Jiu and the others.

Yu’er learned from Yang Chun that Hua Lian had received a message from Yanyu Pavilion on his way back and was fully aware of the events that had unfolded.

Her unease grew, and on the fourth day, her fears were confirmed. Hua Lian announced his intention to return to Hangzhou, asking her: “Little Yu’er, will you come back with me?”

Hua Lian had become listless, a shadow of his usual self. The day before, he had taken some of Qing Jiu’s clothes, telling Yu’er, “Once, when I asked her where she hoped to settle down eventually, she just smiled and said she might not make it to that day. I think she wanted to go home… even though there’s nothing left there.” Intent on honoring her memory, Hua Lian planned to take these clothes back to Hangzhou to create a memorial for her.

The world seemed gray, and the relentless snow made everything feel colder, whether from the weather or the dampened spirits, it was hard to say.

Yu’er managed a weak smile, trying to send Hua Lian off with some semblance of cheer: “I need to return to Jiuxiao Manor. She wanted me to go back there.”

Perhaps her smile seemed too forced, because Hua Lian approached and gently touched her head, a gesture he hadn’t made since she came of age.

“If you ever feel uncomfortable living at Jiuxiao Manor, come find me in Hangzhou at the Hua family home,” he offered.

Mo Wen, Yu’er, and Qi Tianzhu stood in the snow, watching Hua Lian depart. Yu’er was reminded of the day they had sent Qing Jiu off to Hangzhou from Yangzhou. She took out her bamboo flute, the object a painful reminder of the person who was no longer there.

Hua Lian had also asked Mo Wen and Qi Tianzhu if they wanted to come to Hangzhou, but both had declined.

Qi Tianzhu, his lifelong vengeance now fulfilled, had no more obsessions. His only wish was to see Yu’er grow up well.

The next day, it was Mo Wen’s turn to leave. When she came to find Yu’er and Qi Tianzhu, her bags were already packed.

Neither Qing Jiu, Tang Linzhi, nor Yan Li had left any trace behind. But they couldn’t stay in Yong City waiting indefinitely for news.

Yu’er’s hands clenched and unclenched as she finally asked in a low voice, “Are you leaving too?”

Mo Wen replied, “I’m going to find a cure for Qing Jiu’s poison.” She had learned from Hua Lian the details of their pursuit of Meiren Gu. Meiren Gu did not know the antidote to the Heart-splitting Gu, and she guessed that even the Ghost Sect’s judge might not know it, so she had to start elsewhere.

Yu’er looked at her in astonishment. Mo Wen, understanding her thoughts, said, “Everyone thinks Qing Jiu is dead. There has to be someone who believes she is still alive.”

Yu’er’s eyes teared up, her lip quivering, unable to speak.

Mo Wen gently patted her shoulder, and when Yu’er looked up, Mo Wen forced a stiff smile: “I’ll write regularly, and I’ll also look for any news of Yan Li and the others. When you get back to Jiuxiao Manor, eat well, rest well, continue your martial arts training. If they don’t treat you right, go find Hua Lian. Don’t worry about bothering him.”

Soon after their departure, both Yanyu and Qixian Palace also returned to their respective places.

Yu’er knew that Hao Yun and Gong Shang understood some of Qing Jiu’s past, at least partially. She had wanted to talk to them.

To this day, Yu’er knows little about Qing Jiu’s past, virtually nothing at all.

However, Hao Yun is someone who comes and goes as he pleases; she never knew when he arrived or when he left. As for Gong Shang, after receiving the jade flute from Yang Chun, he became despondently withdrawn and returned to the Qixian Palace.

The last to bid farewell to Yu’er was Yang Chun. He shouldered the Liangyi Sword and bowed deeply to both Yu’er and Qi Tianzhu.

Yu’er asked, “After you return the Liangyi Sword to Wuwei Palace, where do you plan to go?”

Yang Chun replied, “I have agreed with the Young Mistress Liu Xiu to assist the Yanyu Pavilion in searching for the whereabouts of Miss Qing Jiu and the other two.”

Determination shone in Yang Chun’s eyes as he assured her, “Miss Yu’er, I will find Miss Qing Jiu, even if all that remains is her skeleton. I promise to bring her back to you. In the meantime, Brother Qi, Miss Yu’er, take good care of yourselves.”

After Yang Chun left, Yu’er and the others set out for Jiuxiao Manor.

The journey was difficult, made worse by intermittent snowfall. The people from Mingjian Manor and Jiuxiao Manor, overjoyed to hear Yu’er wanted to return, were extra cautious. They had witnessed her seven-day coma and were taking no chances with her safety. They hired a carriage, refusing to let her ride a horse for fear she might catch a cold or suffer any shock.

On their arrival at Jiuxiao Manor, they passed through a peach orchard. Peach trees in the north typically sprouted leaves after their blossoms fell. The trees in this late winter orchard were bare, their dark branches stark against the snowy landscape, painting a bleak picture.

Qi Tianzhu, driving the carriage, looked out at the scene and reminisced about the vibrant peach blossoms that used to adorn the slopes of Yan Ling Mountain.

In the past, the sight of bare peach trees wouldn’t have evoked such melancholy. Back then, they were a lively group, their camaraderie brightening even the most desolate scenery. This time, it was only him and Yu’er. Perhaps it was his state of mind, but he found himself sighing like a lovesick youth experiencing his first separation.

Lost in contemplation, Qi Tianzhu was startled by a soft clatter from inside the carriage, like a dish of beans scattering across the floor.

Lifting the carriage curtain, he asked, “Girl, what happened?”

Yu’er was kneeling inside, gathering something in her hands. She lifted her tear-streaked face, each tear a glistening pearl. “Uncle Qi, the prayer beads… they broke.”

The prayer beads Qing Jiu had given her had snapped, scattering across the carriage floor. Yu’er wept silently, her hands clumsily gathering the beads.

Qi Tianzhu bent over to enter the carriage, helping her collect the beads.

He scooped them up into a handkerchief. There were one hundred and eight beads, all accounted for, yet the string that held them together was broken. They could no longer be strung back together.

Yu’er remained kneeling, clutching the beads, whispering, “Why…”

The sight of her, cloaked in despair, pierced his heart. He pulled her into a hug, “Girl, cry it out, it’s okay to cry.”

After a long while, Yu’er began to sob quietly in Qi Tianzhu’s chest, “She promised she’d be back soon. Why? Why did they all leave just like that…”

He stroked her hair, sighing, “There are many regrets in life, precisely because of these joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, which no one can predict.”

“We can’t hold onto those who are meant to leave. But as long as the bond endures through the long journey of life, girl, there will surely come a time when we meet again.”