Song of Adolescence

Chapter 83 Nan’an World of Rain

The rain in Nan’an had been falling continuously for the past seven nights. The raindrops were beating down on this fine yet fragile city, the moisture in the air was dense and rising, and the entire city looked almost ethereal. One umbrella after another opened like flowers in bloom, held in the hands of graceful and slender girls while they stepped on the bluestone slabs lining the streets. Handsome young men passed by on their horses, creating splashes of water in their wake.

It looked like a world that was peaceful beyond comparison, filled with an indescribable smell of moisture.

“Nan’an is truly a beautiful city.” A man spoke softly in a restaurant, while he looked at the street downstairs where a graceful-looking girl walked past holding an oil-paper umbrella embroidered with purple cuckoos. The man was extremely handsome, and although he had high praise for the beauty of Nan’an, his face seemed to be covered in a layer of frost, his expression severe and unreadable. You couldn’t tell if he was happy or angry.

A middle-aged man on the next table whose face was flushed with alcohol, heard the words and broke into loud laughter. He leaned on his chair, his fat and bloated face twisted with a vulgar smile. “This good sir only knows of one of the beauties of Nan’an, but he doesn’t know the other. This hazy world of rain, such beautiful scenery on earth, is indeed cultured. But, the real beauty of Nan’an, well…”

The man’s cold expression actually melted a little as he asked, “Which is?”

The middle-aged man was quite proud of himself as he downed another cup of wine. “It’s the ten miles of red brocade, naturally.”

The man looked at the wine in his hand and said, “I know that one of the most scenic views of Nan’an is the ten miles of red brocade. In autumn, you can take a boat ride down to appreciate the flowers, both sides of the river bank look like they’re on fire…”

The middle-aged man waved his hand, interrupting the other man. “We’re talking about different things. What’s there to see in the flowers and grass of the ten miles of red brocade?”

The man didn’t speak again, but the middle-aged man already stood up. His attendants hurried to help him into his coat. He didn’t pay further attention to the man next to him, and started walking downstairs.

One of the young attendants saw the man who still looked like he was in a daze, and couldn’t help but snicker in amusement. When the man looked over at him, he started to explain, “The ten miles of brocade refers to Nan’an City’s largest district of romance, the Rosa Multiflora Sea, and also refers to the Mansha Fairy’s room.”

The man picked up his cup of wine and laughed. “So, it’s a brothel…”

The young attendant noticed that his clothes were quite expensive, in addition to his elegant features and his untroubled attitude, and thought he must be a young master from an out-of-town aristocratic family. He thought that his words would interest the gentleman, and he could be a guide to bring him to that “ten miles of red brocade”. But, the gentleman didn’t seem interested at all. After saying his words, he continued to drink his wine slowly. He thought for a bit, then shook his head. “You can’t say that. The Rosa Multiflora Sea is really like a fairyland on earth, and the Mansha Fairy is…”

The attendant wanted to say more, but the man raised his head and gave him a look. The attendant felt a stab of chill in his heart, shut himself up immediately, and hurried down the stairs.

In the restaurant, a girl holding a pipa began to sing in a soft voice:

“Rouge like snow, intoxicated by worldly affairs. How many tears fall for the arabesque who falls from grace.

The white-haired lady, cries as she plays the strings. Drowning out a dynasty with her tears.”

The man drank another cup when suddenly, another person sat down in front of him. This person appeared much older. He held a pipe, inhaled a mouthful of smoke and slowly exhaled again. After a while, he said, “This rain has been falling for seven days.”

“This must be the rainy season in Nan’an.” The man spoke indifferently. He didn’t seem disturbed by this uninvited guest.

This uninvited guest was the owner of the restaurant. He’d lived in Nan’an City for tens of years. He loved to chat with customers who have come from far away. Since the aristocratic man replied to him, he felt a little joy in his heart. “That’s right. After all, this misty rain and the foggy air are the true beauties of Nan’an. This must be the first time the young master is visiting Nan’an.”

“I came once before, a long time ago. With a friend.” The man replied.

The owner glanced at the other man. “How old is this young master?”

“I’m twenty-eight. When I last came to Nan’an, I was not even seventeen.” The man drank a mouthful of wine.

“Oh, young master, what a coincidence. When I came to Nan’an, I was also seventeen years old. I thought it would only be a city I was passing through, but it just happened that I met a girl in this city. Not that I’m saying anything by it, but the girls of Nan’an City are really clingy. So, just like that, I never left.” The owner inhaled another breath of smoke.

The man laughed, but did not say anything.

“Young master, have you encountered the ladies of Nan’an City?” The owner leaned over suddenly and asked slyly.

The man nodded. “I know them. The friend I mentioned earlier was from Nan’an City.”

“Oh, the friend you mentioned is a woman, then.” The owner showed a degree of warmth in his smile. “Then, where is she now?”

The man replied softly, “She’s dead.”

The owner’s jaw dropped, not knowing how to continue. The man stood up then, left a silver ingot on the table, and slowly started to walk downstairs. The owner hurried after him, yet he rubbed his hands together, not knowing what to say. In his heart, he was berating himself for talking too much, causing others to remember their painful past.

The man walked out of the restaurant and opened the oil-paper umbrella that he had with him.

“That’s a fine umbrella.” The owner praised.

The man nodded. “I’ve had it for a long time.” With that, he stepped into the curtain of rain without another backward glance.

The owner sighed and couldn’t help but feel some regret. He called out, “Young master, stop by my shop again any time. The wine’s on me!”

The man didn’t reply and continued walking at a steady pace.

“The hazy fog, your chosen one far in the mountain. Separated by a thousand mountains, yet unable to overcome the myriad of feelings.” A child reciting a poem ran past his side.

The man continued walking until he was almost at the city gates before he stopped. He raised his head and looked up. On top of the gate was a scrawl that said “Nan’an City”. It was written by the senior provincial official, Xiao Mingli, when he was drunk.

Nan’an City. After all, it was a peaceful city in the south.

It was a city that secured its peace with difficulty.

The man snapped his head up. There was someone standing above the city gates. The person was dressed in white, standing with their back to the man. She did not hold an umbrella, yet there appeared to be some sort of barrier around her, and the rain water could not even touch her lapels. She seemed to sense the killing intent coming from behind her, and suddenly turned around.

A grey veil covered her face, and her eyes were biting cold. She was indeed the Snow Moon Sword Immortal of Cangshan, Li Hanyi.

The man reached out his right hand, and with a light slash of his fingertip, all of the water droplets around him were sucked towards him.

The sound of the surrounding rain diminished in an instant.

All of a sudden, the world became very quiet.

All that’s left was the sword of water in the man’s hand, growing larger and larger, containing an immeasurable sword power, and it seemed to emit a faint dragon’s roar.

Li Hanyi knitted her brows in a slight frown, as if she recognised the person in front of her. She asked hesitantly, “Kui?”

The man slowly raised his oil-paper umbrella, a faint smile on his face. With a light wave of his finger, that sword of water flew towards Li Hanyi.

“Hidden River Su House, Su Muyu,” the man said softly.

Li Hanyi drew her Armoured Glacier sword from her waist and returned a sword move. Her one strike split the water sword into two. Then, she leapt off and disintegrated the water sword, creating splashes of water everywhere.

Li Hanyi sheathed her sword and raised her head. “Snow Moon City, Li Hanyi.”