Girl in black

As Song Qingshu traversed the treacherous paths day and night, he finally arrived at the foot of Huashan Mountain. Weary and determined, he set his sights on his immediate objective.

"The Dugu Nine Swords must not be entrusted to me just yet. Before that, I must locate the Golden Snake Cave here in Huashan," Song Qingshu muttered to himself, his voice filled with determination. "The Golden Snake Langjun Xia Xueyi is a character I hold in high regard, far more endearing than Yuan Chengzhi ever was."

However, the vast expanse of Huashan posed a daunting challenge. Finding the elusive Golden Snake Cave would be no easy feat. Song Qingshu wracked his brain, attempting to recall the details from the original book, but his memory failed him when it came to the cave's precise location.

"Yuan Chengzhi was studying at Chaoyang Peak in Huashan. It was near that location that his pet orangutan stumbled upon the Golden Snake Cave," Song Qingshu reasoned, pacing back and forth. "Logically speaking, the cave should be in proximity to Chaoyang Peak. But Chaoyang Peak serves as the hub of Huashan School's sword-qi battles, overseen by Yue Buqun. It draws numerous swordmasters, including the renowned Mu Renqing. Chaoyang Peak is the epicenter of Huashan Sword Sect, teeming with formidable experts. The Golden Snake Langjun would have been wary of this. It's highly unlikely that the cave would be situated too close to Chaoyang Peak..."

In the days that followed, Song Qingshu embarked on a meticulous search, focusing his efforts within a ten-mile radius of Chaoyang Peak. He paid particular attention to the sheer cliffs, his heightened internal power and mastery of Wudang Tiyunzong allowing him to navigate the mountains with calculated leaps and bounds. While the endeavor held its fair share of thrills and dangers, Song Qingshu remained undeterred.

"Wow, haha! I've finally found it!" After days of relentless pursuit, a burst of exuberant laughter reverberated through the mountains. Song Qingshu gazed upon the secret cave before him, a triumphant smile gracing his lips. "That split-search technique the software engineer at our company mentioned proved quite efficient. Who would have thought I possessed such hidden talent? He merely mentioned it in passing, and I managed to remember it all."

But as he ventured into the cave and beheld the tomb already enshrouded in earth, a stone tablet atop it read, "The tomb of King Snake Langjun Xia Xueyi, Yuan Chengzhi Xia Qingqing will rise." Song Qingshu's laughter faded, replaced by a crestfallen expression.

Once again, he had arrived too late. Seated dejectedly on the ground, Song Qingshu lacked the motivation to continue scouring the surroundings. He knew all too well that the elusive Jin Snake Lang Jun had left behind a highly poisonous fake manual. It was now evident that Yuan Chengzhi had acquired the genuine cheats, leaving him with nothing but a futile search.

"There are moments in the tapestry of destiny where time stands still, and other moments where time seems to vanish altogether," Song Qingshu mused, his gaze fixed upon the tomb of Jin Snake Langjun. Reluctantly, he turned away and made his way towards the entrance of a nearby cave. A towering tree stood at the edge of a cliff, its sturdy branches providing a resting place for Song Qingshu. With his hands behind his head, he reclined on the thick boughs, his gaze lost in the expanse of the azure sky and drifting clouds.

"How foolish and naive I've been," Song Qingshu chuckled self-deprecatingly. "These ancient secrets were meant for the original protagonist, woven into the fabric of fate. Yet here I am, foolishly vying for the same fortunes... The harsh reality and hardships of life have become all too apparent..."

In that moment, Song Qingshu realized the futility of his search for Musashi in this world. Though destiny may be an ethereal concept, one could neither dismiss it entirely nor challenge its whims without consequence.

"I hope I won't become a villain destined to oppose the protagonist," Song Qingshu sighed, feeling a profound sense of powerlessness and uncertainty for what lay ahead.

"Crane in the cloud, even if I plunge off this cliff, I won't let you succeed!" Suddenly, a woman's voice filled with anger and panic resonated from beneath the tree. Despite her outcry, there was an indescribable clarity and determination in her voice.

Curiosity piqued, Song Qingshu peered downward, his eyes falling upon a slender and graceful figure clad in black. Step by step, she retreated towards the precipice, her hair billowing in the strong wind, lending an air of ethereal beauty to her form.

Opposite her stood a thin middle-aged man donning azure robes, a decayed silver crane claw in his hand. He stroked his mustache at the corners of his mouth, a sly smile playing upon his lips. "Mu Wanqing, will you willingly become Duan Lang's?" Yun Zhonghe's eyes glimmered with a changed expression as he continued, "Ah, I almost forgot, my dear Qing has truly become my brother..."

"You!" Mu Wanqing, consumed by anguish, drew her sword and launched a furious attack, only to be intercepted by Yun Zhonghe's silver claw.

A triumphant smile crept across Yun Zhonghe's lips as he deftly parried her strikes. Song Qingshu watched the unfolding spectacle, witnessing Mu Wanqing's solid swordsmanship, yet lamenting that she was no match for the cloud-soaring crane. Moreover, Yun Zhonghe's underhanded tactics exploited every hidden weakness, further fueling her fury and constraining her at every turn.

Finally able to discern her face, Song Qingshu found himself captivated by her exquisite beauty. Her countenance was a delicate blend of elegance and allure, akin to a crescent moon shining upon a snowy landscape. Notably, her petite chin possessed a subtle charm, accentuated by a slender and agile cherry blossom mouth that spoke with an enchanting clarity. "Is Duan Yu truly a fool? Mu Wanqing's beauty rivals that of Wang Yuyan!" This was Song Qingshu's immediate reaction upon beholding her visage.

Recalling his own ill-fated encounter at the Boundless Jade Cave, Song Qingshu felt a mischievous impulse surge within him. A wicked grin formed upon his lips as he thought, "Let's jest with the bride-to-be and alleviate some of this pent-up resentment!"

Yun Zhonghe's heart raced with anticipation as he neared the capture of Mu Wanqing. He refused to let her have her way... the thought of possessing such a breathtaking woman, untouched and unexplored, ignited an intense fire within him. But his ecstasy was abruptly shattered by a voice that echoed from the tree, jolting both Yun Zhonghe and Mu Wanqing from their tense standoff. They glanced upward to find a disheveled peasant boy, dressed in ragged garments and sporting untamed hair, lazily perched on a branch. The boy had been rudely awakened from a deep slumber.

"Move aside, you filthy boy, and quit disturbing your elders," Yun Zhonghe exclaimed, his fear palpable. It was now clear to him that Song Qingshu had been living a carefree existence, indulging in food and sleep throughout their entire ordeal. His clothes were soiled and disheveled, a consequence of his lackadaisical lifestyle. With the recent heat, Song Qingshu, accustomed to the comforts of air conditioning in his previous life, struggled to endure. As a result, he absentmindedly rolled up his trousers, resembling a rustic country lad.

Song Qingshu stared at Yun Zhonghe, dumbfounded, before blurting out, "So, you're Jin Yong's cousin."

"Who's Jin Yong?" Yun Zhonghe was perplexed, having failed to notice the presence of any other individuals until now. The details about this peculiar boy eluded him momentarily.

Unbeknownst to him, Yun Zhonghe was actually Jin Yong's cousin, Xu Zhimo. Recalling Xu Zhimo's ill-fated exploits in his previous life, Song Qingshu inwardly commended, "Old man Jin sure knows how to spin a tale!"

"Why do you wear a veil in broad daylight? It's rather peculiar," Mu Wanqing regarded Song Qingshu's attire with a quizzical expression.

"My ma thought I was too plain, so she's been hiding my face with a veil since I was a young 'un. She also said that the first gal to uncover it would become my wife... or rather, my daughter-in-law," Song Qingshu chuckled naively, his eyes darting between Mu Wanqing and his surroundings.

Yun Zhonghe, relieved by Song Qingshu's apparent foolishness, let out a sigh of relief.

Mu Wanqing, on the other hand, glared at Song Qingshu indignantly and snapped, "What're you starin' at?"

"Sis, oh sis, you're a sight to behold. Maybe you should be the one to unveil my veil, and in doin' so, become my esteemed daughter-in-law," Song Qingshu innocently proposed.