XIAO SHUXIANG'S
314 - The Skull Sword Party
Coinciding when the masked fox youth let out his blue flame - somewhere else, on a paper-drawn boat made by Xiao Shuxiang - disappeared from inside the wooden box.
The paper stork was the introduction of the letter given to Yang Shu, Xiao Shuxiang's grandfather. But without realizing it, the stork disappeared somewhere.
Right now, Yang Shu was traveling towards the Northern Continent. He was together with Yang Hao, Yang Fu, Xiao WeiWei, Zhi Shu, and Hai Feng.
They boarded a large ship and had traveled for three more months. There was a feeling of longing that appeared on Yang Shu's face during her trip to the Northern Continent. His father must be very old by now.
"Sister.. What do you think of our current home..?"
Yang Shu turned his head towards his sister, Yang Fu. They are both in a cabin on the ship.
There were two beds, a set of chairs, a wooden bulkhead, and also a window that looked in that direction.. We can see how vast the ocean and beautiful the cloudless starry sky is.
"What I can assure you, Brother's room never changes. Dad would always look after her, he would tell the waiter to clean the room every day. I love you so much.."
Yang Fu drank the tea in front of him and started back saying Emperor Yang would always make his brother his favorite son, and that would never change.
"Fu'Er, you're wrong. I was never his favorite son. You could say, I was the one who spent the least time with Dad. Among her children, I'm the only one who never cared about her.."
Yang Shu still clearly remembered how much she preferred to hang out with ordinary people. He often even mispronounced the names of each of his brothers, and worst of all.. When the Emperor was sick, it was only him who was nowhere to simply ask about his condition.
".. I always give him trouble. When other people want a father's love, I choose to throw it away. I'm a really bad son,"
"Sister, you prefer ordinary people and I think that's good. If you want to know, I'm always watching you. He's happy because you did what he always wanted to do. Father also wanted to greet each of his subjects with his own hands. He wanted to be considered a friend and brother by his people. But you know.. The Emperor was not allowed to do all that. I can't be as free as you.."
Yang Shu rubbed his beard and long mustache upon hearing his sister's words. He had many regrets but his sister always gave him advice not to regret anything.
"Fu'Er, you've been so loyal and always helped me. I've given you a lot of trouble, and because of our escape.. You're parting ways with your lover,"
!!
Yang Fu spouted out the tea he drank upon hearing the last words his older brother made. It was already in the past and he himself had even forgotten about it.
"Sister, I don't have a lover. Being with you is always my dream. After all, I actually don't like the atmosphere of the imperial palace. Many people are thirsty for the throne, they can kill their own brother to be able to occupy the throne. If I want to vote, I'd rather be born among the common people,"
"Fu 'Er.. Try to find another dream. See me? Your brother already has a grandson, you're still a bachelor yourself. You are ninety years old. Don't just look at your mustache, watch your age. Married is a gift Fu'Er.. Your life will be more colorful,"
Yang Fu shook his head slowly when he heard his brother's words. For him, marriage is an easy matter. He only needs to mention his price to a girl and he is impossible to resist.
".. I am a prince, and any girl will fall for me. Age and looks are about second only to Brother's treasure.. This is what is called 'Power',"
Yang Shu did not know what to say when he saw his sister's behavior. Especially that narrow thinking. Not all women are crazy about wealth and power, but her sister says only five percent of women don't want it, but it's shrouded in lies.
".. Brother, no parent wants his daughter to be taken by hardships. They obviously want their daughter to have a good married life. Many treasures do not guarantee happiness, but not having possessions you will be more miserable.."
"Fu 'Er.. You haven't changed at all. Fortunately, my wife was a woman who wanted to be difficult. My daughter-in-law is also a woman who does not demand much. I wish my grandson could find a good girl who has a motherlike nature.."
Yang Shu was so reminded of his favorite grandchildren, Xiao Shuxiang and Xiao Lu. I don't know what they're doing right now, he hasn't sent a message in a long time. He missed his grandson.
".. I'd better send them a message,"
Yang Shu stood up from her seat and started walking towards the medium-sized wooden box, where she placed the paper crane Xiao Shuxiang had made.
When opening the box.. The sound of knocking on the door, it was Zhi Shu who called her Master to dinner together.
Yang Shu so undoes the intention of opening the wooden box and says slowly that he will send a message to his grandson later, after he eats.
Cultivators could indeed endure hunger for days, but Xiao WeiWei always had a habit of cooking food.
On this ship alone, his son-in-law took over the kitchen. Not only cook for her husband, but she also cook for all passengers including the crew.
Xiao WeiWei could get angry when there was one person who refused to eat his homemade cooking, and that was also true for cultivators like Yang Shu.
At that moment Grandpa Xiao Shuxiang was walking out of his room together with Yang Fu.. At the same time he was in Lan Guan Zhi's room.
Xiao Shuxiang did not know his Grandfather was now traveling to the Northern Continent, including his artificial paper stork that disappeared suddenly.
He was currently meeting Lan Guan Zhi to give the Guqin he had obtained from the Siren World to his friend.
The five-stringed guqin was jade white, had a slender, convex shape to the top. He got it from a Siren named Man Yue as a form of friendship.
"You should keep it," Lan Guan Zhi refused to accept this Guqin that was on her sitting table. The musical instrument was intended for Xiao Shuxiang, and this friend was not supposed to give Guqin the gift to her.
"Lan Zhi, I've told this Guqin owner that I'm going to give it to someone I believe can play it. And you should know, this musical instrument is very sacred and from what I hear its voice can kill bad-hearted humans. I have many sins.. Feeling unworthy to touch let alone play it,"
Xiao Shuxiang said he only knew how to play the flute, and that he was still a beginner. It would be much better if Lan Guan Zhi played this Guqin, so she had a musical instrument companion.
".. You better try Lan'Er first, than Guqin is unemployed inside my Semest Bracelet.. You better wear it,"
Lan Guan Zhi was intent on finding another weapon, as he felt uncomfortable wearing only Shanghai. But the weapon he sought was a sword, not a musical instrument.
"..."
Lan Guan Zhi was speechless as he looked at the jade-white Guqin in front of him. He had once learned to play this instrument, because his elder brother, the Second Patriarch of the Sky Sword Sect was an expert Guqin player.
But he only learned twice before he focused more on playing the flute. That too.. Only a flute made from ordinary bamboo had Xiao Shuxiang borrowed.
While breathing slowly.. He began to lay both hands on Guqin's strings. It felt completely foreign, this was probably because he had not touched a musical instrument for a very long time.
The color of the Guqin turned black, and a golden dragon-shaped carving formed on the arch of the Guqin board. This unexpected change made Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi flinch.
!!
"What's going on..? What are you doing, Guqin, Lan Zhi..?"
"Mrs.."
Xiao Shuxiang interpreted his friend's slow muttering as an expression of ignorance. He so remembered the message of Man Yue who said that it was not careless of people who could play this Guqin.
".. Don't-don't you're not actually a saint Lan'Er-!!"
Xiao Shuxiang instantly got a flick in the forehead from Lan Guan Zhi. His self whimpering reflexes and obviously the attack just now he couldn't avoid.
"You're outrageous.." Xiao Shuxiang rubbed his forehead and then stood up. He told Lan Guan Zhi to practice playing Guqin, himself going back to the room and resting.
Lan Xiao himself seemed to be fast asleep until he was unaware of Xiao Shuxiang's arrival until the young man returned to his room. Lan Xiao was clearly exhausted.
That night, Lan Guan Zhi began to practice playing Guqin given by his friend, while Xiao Shuxiang slept with a rope that stretched inside his room.
The Mad Beggar Boy was seen sleeping soundly, he was mastering Xiao Shuxiang's pillow and bed. His sleeping manner was so haphazard and his snoring was really loud.
Nevertheless, it did not disturb Xiao Shuxiang's sleep at all. Obviously because he is also a typical young man who likes to snore.
If that night was very quiet in the Sky Pagoda Sect.. Another case with the condition of the Skull Sword Party.
It had been several days that Saka Daksa, Barayuda, and their comrades had not returned to the Skull Sword Party. The search was conducted and until now has not found results.
The Skull Sword Party was a big party of the Black Stream, its location that people rarely knew made this party have quite high security.
[".. Have you not found them yet?! How'd you guys work all this time, huh?!"]
A well-built man, having a clean face with a sharp eye look seemed to scold one of the members of the Skull Sword Party.
This man looks 44 years old, has a little long hair and wears a brown uniform with a black vest. He was Raka Daksa, the older brother of Saka Daksa, the swordsman who had been killed by Xiao Shuxiang while in the Forest of Silent Land.
["Master..! Mister..?!"]
?!
Raka Daksa turned his head when he heard the call from one of his party members. It was a swordsman who was about 25 years old, he informed that he was getting shocking news.
["Say.. Quick Say..!"]
["Tu-Mr.. Your Sister.. Tu - Tuan Saka Daksa.. He's dead,"]
!!
Raka Daksa was shocked when she heard that, she did not believe that her sister could be killed that easily. This 25-year-old must have lied to him.
With anger.. He gripped firmly on the young man's collar and spoke with a dark look. [".. Try to repeat your words.. What have you said about my sister?!"]
["Tu-Mr.. What I said is true. I-I have the proof. Tu - Tuan Saka Daksa.. He had been killed with Barayuda in the Forest of the Silent Land,"]
!!
Two members of the Skull Sword Party seemed hesitant to bring a package made of cloth. When opening.. Both of their hands were so trembling.
Raka Daksa and the members of the Skull Sword Party were surprised instead of playing when they watched the package open.
!!
It was apparently the head of Saka Daksa and Barayuda who had let out a foul scent. This proves that the two owners of the head are long dead and the body has just been found, although in a state of ashes.
[".. All that remains of Mr. Saka Daksa is his head. Yeah-so we-"]
["AAADIIIK.!"].
!!
Raka Daksa seemed to not care about the explanation of the members of the Skull Sword Party. He was too shaken by the condition of his sister who died horribly. Who would be so willing to kill his sister in this cruel way?!
[".. Huh.. Huh.. Brother.?"] Raka Daksa was unable to touch her sister's head, her hands were trembling and as if she wanted to pull this off. He wished this was a dream, but..
[".. His face looks scared. My sister's.. What death have you been through.?"]
Raka Daksa tried to hold back her tears, but the mounting anger made her scream loudly. He made the ground where his party stood tremble violently.
[".. I'll kill whoever it is.. I'M GONNA KILL THAT GUY.!"]
When Raka Daksa shouted out loud.. Someone began to tread gracefully on the roof of one of the buildings of the Skull Sword Party.
The black robe that the person was wearing seemed to flutter, its shadow was clearly reflected by the moonlight and it seemed to be right in front of Raka Daksa. The person was none other than the fox masked young man.
!!
***
