5: Saving the Damsel in Distress

Chapter image (Chinese version)

Chapter image (English version)

## Summary

Nighttime has fallen, and there's silence in the Liu Mansion backyard at Peach Blossom Wharf. In a prison cell, Linglan apologizes for causing Lu Jiu trouble, and Lu Jiu responds that Liu Yuan's the one who should be dead. He then thinks to himself that he's been unlucky recently and didn't do anything that deserved bad karma, and that Little He must be worried sick.

He thinks back to Liu Jianghe and that since a life and death contract is unidirectional, nothing will happen to Liu Jianghe if he dies. Lu Jiu speculates that though Liu Jianghe is playing dumb, he probably came to Lu Jiu's medical hall because he knows who Lu Jiu is, as he remembers a sword with a black sheathe with silver bamboo patterns lying on top of pale blue and dark blue fabrics. He thinks that aside from two people at Jishi Hall, he's probably the only one who can heal him, and wonders if Liu Jianghe would save him because of that. He immediately discounts the thought, and unconsciously laughs at himself.

Linglan hears him laugh and questions him, but Lu Jiu wasn't aware that he'd laughed. Linglan continues their conversation and explains that Liu Yuan is backed by Nine Isles Ten Wharves, and that's why he and his men are so bold. He enjoys torturing people to death, and she doesn't know what will happen to the two of them tonight. As Linglan speaks, Liu Jianghe is in the Liu Mansion front yard, stepping over several dead bodies and carrying a sword dripping with blood.

Liu Yuan speaks to him from behind a curtain, saying that he heard they had an uninvited guest and he was wondering if it were someone important, but it was just a little bug. As he speaks, a pair of women draw the curtains back, revealing him sitting in a luxurious chair. Liu Yuan counts the number of people Liu Jianghe has killed, totaling seven. Liu Yuan then calls for his servants to bring him tea. He says Liu Jianghe must be tired and invites him to have some, but midway through his invitation, uses his qi to blast the teacup and lid towards Liu Jianghe. As the scene plays out, Lu Jiu wonders to himself what Liu Jianghe could even do with his injuries and inability to circulate qi.

Liu Jianghe breaks both the teacup and the lid with the sword, sustaining only a small scratch to his cheek from a shattered fragment, then asks why he would be tired from killing trash. He thinks to himself that the people are too weak and the saber itself is enough to beat them. Liu Yuan is shocked by Liu Jianghe stopping his attack. Liu Jianghe rushes him as Lu Jiu thinks to himself that Liu Jianghe is betting his life on the wrong horse. Liu Yuan smirks, revealing that his surprise was an act, as a number of cultivators suddenly appear. There's a splatter of blood as Liu Jianghe drops his sword.

Lu Jiu thinks to himself that he's completely useless and Liu Jianghe has probably left Peach Blossom Wharf by now to find the next unlucky physician.

Liu Jianghe falls to his knees, bleeding heavily, as Liu Yuan taunts Liu Jianghe for thinking there were only weak cultivators present. He calls him a rash young man and says he has to look before he leaps. He then wonders which damsel in distress he wanted to save, as Liu Jianghe is showed pierced completely through by several swords.

## Notes

* Liu Jianghe's "Liu" (柳) is different from Liu Yuan's (刘) and they have no relation.

## Prior Information

* The sword Lu Jiu reminisces on matches the description of the sword that Liu Jianghe gave in chapter 4, implying that Liu Jianghe does in fact know who Lu Jiu really is.

## Future Information

*The information detailed here comes from future chapters. If you're reading the comic for the first time, consider skipping this section!*

* Linglan calls Nine Isles Ten Wharves a major sect in the area, but there are a set of cultivation sects specifically referred to as "the major sects", and Nine Isles Ten Wharves is suppressed by them.
* The "two people at Jishi Hall" that Lu Jiu references are Xie Qingshuang and Xie Renyu.
* The sword Lu Jiu reminisces on is his Frosty Sword.
* The dark blue fabric matches the color of the outer robes that Lu Jiu and Xie Qingxuan wore when Lu Jiu was his disciple.
* The light blue fabric is less specific, but may be intended to match the robes of Siqin and Xie Qingxuan's other civilian servants.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 4: The Rising Wind Forebodes the Coming Storm (Part 2)
2. ↑ Chapter 62.5: Sect Settings
3. ↑ Chapter 94: Discord Between Siblings
4. ↑ Chapter 68: Happy Days
5. ↑ Chapter 67: The Difference Between Civilians and Cultivators