Chapter 24

Dragon Flies, Phoenix Dances Chapter 24

24. The Mrs. Long San Who Once Again Encounters MysteriesTranslated by Ju Hua | Edited by Pu Er

Long San brought Feng Ning to a different inn, and only requested for one high class room. Feng Ning felt a faint feeling of being fulfilled in her heart, and happily entered to rest.

Long San from who knows where pulled out a pile of files and sat in the room going over them carefully. Feng Ning laid in bed restless for a while, and while clutching the blanket she looked at the person beneath the lantern. With some uncertainty she asked, “Long San, where did those things come from?” Besides carrying a sword, he clearly only had a bag on the horse’s back and nothing else.

“If you are constantly travelling, it’s important to know how to position things.”

“Oh.”

Feng Ning didn’t want to find out, and it seemed like it was a secret arrangement. She then asked, “Long San, will the family head blame me for what happened? If I go back with you, will they even give me any face?” She used her legs to kick off the blanket and said, “If that’s the case, I don’t want to go back. I’ve thought it over, if everyone dislikes me, then I don’t want to stay there. Since you guys want to send me back to my maternal home, then go ahead.”

Long San blanked for a moment. “I’ve sent a letter to them explaining the whole story. They won’t blame you for this.”

Feng Ning felt a bit relieved. “Then, will you still send me to my maternal home?”

Long San turned to look at her. She was holding onto the blanket staring wide-eyed at him, and her small face was illuminated by the candle light, revealing a bit of fragility. She knew martial arts, but even when she was faced with unfair accusations, she had never used brute force on them. When she fled, he questioned around and, besides the damage caused by the evil bandits chasing after her life, she did not hurt a single innocent person.

With this kind of temperament, how could he think of Feng Ning as unlovable in his mind? Long San couldn’t resist going over to the bed, and caressed her head. “If you want to go, then I will send you off. But if you are willing to stay at Long residence, then it will be your home.”

Feng Ning stared into his eyes, confirmed what he said was the truth, and the corners of her mouth couldn’t resist curving upwards. She rushed over and buried her head into his chest. “You’re the one who said it. I’m willing to stay. You guys can’t drive me out.”

“Yes.” Long San also couldn’t help but smile slightly. She was always so easy to cheer up.

“Then promise me again, when I return to my maternal home, you are going to personally send me there so if they don’t treat me well, you can also take me home, okay?”

“Ok.”

Feng Ning felt very satisfied with his reply, and after giggling enough, moved back to lay down on the pillow, closed her eyes and said, “You are good to me, so I will forgive you.”

Long San raised his eyebrows, and for the sake of playing along said, “Thank you, wife, for your generosity.”

Feng Ning was happy again, and wrinkled her nose. “That’s because, I am extremely magnanimous, much more than second brother-in-law by a hundred times.” She decided that Long Er was the pettiest person she’d ever seen.

Long San laughed. “Quickly sleep, tomorrow I’m bringing you to see someone.”

“See who?” Feng Ning opened her eyes, curious.

“The person you saw in your dreams that was trying to kill you; square face, down-cast eyes, wide mouth, big nose…” Long San didn’t finish speaking when Ning Feng suddenly sat up and nodded, “Yes, it’s this person. Have you found him?”

“When I arrived in Bai Qiao Cheng I barely received information that someone saw him coming and going in Jiang Ling. Jiang Ling is not far from here, we could arrive by tomorrow.

Feng Ning firmly grasped Long San’s hand. “We should head out now, in case he decides to escape.”

“Don’t worry, just rest well first. I would also like to make a few more arrangements. There will be someone in my place to hold him there, rest assured.”

Feng Ning looked at him for a long time, and finally nodded. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. Long San, we will definitely be able to capture him, right?” She laid down on the pillow, while her heart was beating chaotically. If this person was caught, and they ask about the truth, would she be able to find out who she is?

“Have a good rest, I’m here. About those black-clothed men chasing after you, I am also investigating them and I’ll get to the bottom of this situation.” He gently touched her eyes, urging her to quickly sleep.

Feng Ning reached out and gripped his hand. “Long San, I’m afraid.”

“Afraid of what? Our Long Family won’t abandon you and not care.”

“If I’m worse than you think, will you still want to protect me?” Feng Ning opened her eyes. “If I really did do terrible things, would you still protect me?”

Long San was silent for a moment. “I guarantee, for as long as you continue to be the current Feng Ning, I will protect you.”

Feng Ning was a bit excited, got up, and forcefully clenched Long San’s hand. “Don’t lie to me. I don’t recognize anyone, and I can’t even remember what my father and mother look like. I don’t have any friends or relatives, I am really afraid.” She talked and talked and choked up a little. “No matter what I’ve done in the past, as long as I am who I am now, you will treat me well.”

Long San nodded, and Feng Ning held onto his arm. “Long San, don’t leave me.”

Long San sighed, “Today there was clearly someone trying to steal the horses and leave me behind.”

“Well I was angry at the time!” Feng Ning sniffed, and shifted her body, changing into a more comfortable position and leaned on Long San’s arm. “I’ve thought about it, if even you didn’t treat me well at Long house, then I would really leave. I’ve got a pair of good arms and legs, and I’m young and strong, I definitely won’t starve to death. I can wander from place to place, and maybe even get to know a few good friends, just like you. Having friends everywhere is a good thing. Once I’ve gathered enough strength, would there still be any fear in not being able to discover the truth? Perhaps even in the future, when you see me you might even pay your respects towards me, greeting me as female hero Feng[1].” She was speaking in such a manner, as if she already had a very high reputation.

Long San smilingly said, “Yes, yes, female hero Feng. I hear you have a rather lofty ambition, so why didn’t you go?”

“Well you’ve already apologized, and if I didn’t give you a chance, I’m afraid you would be upset.” Her tone was filled with forgiveness, but with her face buried underneath the blanket, Long San couldn’t help but laugh.

After laughing, the two were silent again, and the room was quiet for some time. Truthfully, the two people understood in their hearts. What wandering, and what fame, where can things be so easy? Especially since she’s a young woman, if she were to really live alone, being by herself would cause many to look down on her, and just how much suffering she would have, how much hardship she would endure.

“Don’t be afraid, Feng Ning, don’t be afraid.” This was the last sentence Feng Ning heard in such a warm and safe atmosphere before falling asleep.

That night she did not sleep well. That square-faced, down-cast eyes big man was again on the river bank, fighting with her, and she heard his husky voice saying to her, “Everything is your fault for being nosy.”

She felt like she was falling again, and knew that beneath her body was the river, and she struggled, shouting. There was someone calling her name, pulling her, and she didn’t fall in. Then she fell asleep.

Dazed and confused, with fragments constantly flashing through her mind, Feng Ning was not sure where she was. There was a voice who said to her, “The road forward is vast, and there may be no place to call home. If you treat others with sincerity, then you will not receive their enmity. You cannot do without wariness towards others, and you mustn’t harbor ill-intent towards others. This is the morality and justice of the Jiang Hu[2]”

Feng Ning couldn’t clearly hear the last words, and all around her was fog. She was really frightened and desperately moved forward, wanting to clearly see the person speaking to her. But as she continued walking, there was no one to be seen. She couldn’t see the road, and wanted to increase the pace of her steps, but she suddenly fell off a cliff. The fog dispersed, and the scenery suddenly transformed into the Cold River outside of the capital. She continued to fall, and with a plop fell into the river.

Feng Ning shrilly screamed, violently sitting up.

[3]Floral Fragrance Building; original text is 花香樓 (Hua Xiang Lou). Most brothels have flowery, elegant names. The lou part refers to a multi-story building in this case, so I just went with building.