Yun Qing knew a little about the feud between the two generations, but he didn't feel comfortable interfering. He recalled the venomous look in Banmei's eyes when he saw her that morning, and his brow furrowed involuntarily. He gave Mo Liyuan a deep look, but said nothing more.
The wind was gentle and light, rustling softly.
Mo Liyuan lay down on the recliner and closed his eyes to rest. Yun Qing slowly left, and only after his figure disappeared into the distance did Mo Liyuan slightly open his eyes. He was somewhat lost in thought for a moment.
"Yesterday... that person actually thanked me, ha..." He shook his head with a self-deprecating laugh, recalling the events of last night. He said he would destroy the One Leaf Alliance, would he really? Or was he just warning that person to be careful...?
"So... I still can't let go of that place?" he mumbled, his voice barely audible even to himself. Mo Liyuan stared silently at the hazy sky before him. The Liuyun Manor remained quiet, only the faint sound of rolling wheels could be heard through the walls.
A carriage was slowly moving along the road leading down from Liuyun Manor.
There were two people sitting in the carriage, but neither of them spoke.
Zhuang Su sat to one side, observing the person resting with their eyes closed. Her throat felt dry, but she couldn't find the words to begin. She had heard many people speak of the Wine Envoy, the owner of the Silver Hall, a cold-blooded and ruthless man. She secretly swallowed, and seeing the carriage about to leave the foot of the mountain and approach a fork in the road, she mustered her courage and asked, "Um...where are we going?"
Upon hearing this, Qingchen opened her eyes, glanced at the scenery outside, and replied, "Let's pick up Liusu and return to Yiye Alliance."
As expected, Zhuang Su looked distressed. Although he knew that such an important person probably didn't take him seriously, he still tried to say, "I don't want to go back."
"Don't you want to go back?" Qingchen's eyes narrowed slightly beneath his mask, and he felt a chill run down Dizhuangsu's spine. "That's not up to you." His tone was calm and even, but there was a hint of worry in his expression beneath the mask.
"I..." Zhuang Su felt a thin layer of sweat on her back, but she was still prepared to try again. However, she saw Qing Chen close her eyes again, ignoring her. Her lips tingled slightly, and she suppressed the resentment in her heart. Oh well, even if she went, she would probably be a troublemaker anyway. Fortunately, Liu Su was alright this time, otherwise she probably would never forgive herself.
The carriage arrived at the inn, and Zhuang Su was surprised to find that it wasn't one of the One Leaf Alliance's establishments. Qing Chen tossed a silver ingot to the driver to dismiss him, then glanced at Zhuang Su, who seemed lost in thought, and unconsciously pursed his lips. Zhuang Su noticed him watching her, felt a flush rise to her cheeks, and hurriedly went inside. Qing Chen followed behind.
This shop was inevitably a bit shabby compared to the one Zhuang Su and Liu Su had stayed at before. As the two walked in, passersby couldn't help but cast a few glances at them, before returning to their own business. After asking for the room number, Zhuang Su rushed upstairs, her heart pounding slightly at the thought of seeing Liu Su again.
The second floor was deserted at this time, with hardly anyone coming or going. Zhuang Su silently recited the room numbers, looking at the signs on each room's door, and found room number "Ren 2" (人字二). She reached out and knocked. There were no passersby, and the knocking sounded somewhat ethereal, but no one answered. Zhuang Su was surprised. She gently touched the door, and with a creak, she learned that the door was unlocked, revealing a sliver of light that was slightly glaring to her eyes.
At this moment, Qingchen had already gone up to the second floor. He was surprised to see Zhuangsu standing at the door in a daze, but he vaguely sensed that the atmosphere around him was a bit strange. When he saw Zhuangsu about to push the door open, his expression suddenly turned stern and he shouted, "Susu, don't go!" Zhuangsu was a little dazed when she heard this. She subconsciously looked back and saw a white dress flutter past her eyes. A gust of wind blew, and she was tightly held in his arms and leaned against the wall on the other side.
At that moment, the door swung open in the wind, and several silver needles emerged from the room and were nailed to the opposite wall. Instantly, a few dark streaks of black appeared on the wall.
It's poisonous! Zhuang Su's pupils widened slightly.
"Go!" Qingchen frowned and, with Zhuang Su in tow, jumped directly down the stairs from the second floor. His feet barely touched the ground, and he landed lightly, seemingly unaware of the height. Those below were startled by the sudden drop, but then several men with swords rushed out from the side.
It was obvious that this was nothing more than a trap. Qingchen chuckled lightly, casually kicking over several tables and chairs, sending everyone tumbling into a corner. Zhuang Su was tucked under his arm, spinning around a few times until she felt a little dizzy. When she came to her senses, Qingchen had already snatched a horse from somewhere, tossed her onto it, and then mounted himself.
"Giddy up—!" Qingchen yanked the reins, and the horse neighed loudly, galloping away. The road was crowded with pedestrians, and as they rode off, a chaotic scene of people and horses stumbling and falling was created. The bustling streets of Yangzhou were thrown into disarray as the two men and their horse galloped away, followed closely by a troop of cavalry that appeared out of nowhere.
The violent jolting made Zhuang Su feel like her very bones were about to break, but at that moment she was nestled in that person's arms, his chest pressed tightly against her back, their skin touching, and she could feel his body heat seeping through her clothes. Zhuang Su's heart pounded, and she could no longer see the chaotic scene around her clearly.
"Whoosh—!" Several arrows shot past from behind, grazing the hem of his clothes before falling to the ground beside him, kicking up a few specks of dust. They continued riding, having already left the outskirts of Yangzhou. The surrounding trees rustled in the wind, and the biting wind stung the ground slightly.
"Don't worry."
Hearing the words behind her, Zhuang Su felt a chill that was different from the usual coldness she had felt before, causing her heart to skip a beat. Just as she was about to speak, she felt something damp on her back. Turning around in confusion, she saw a shocking red stain on the white robes. She then realized that Qing Chen had also been wounded by an arrow, and the blood flowing from him had an unnatural dark hue. A sudden chill ran through her.
The pursuers behind him were getting closer and closer, and Zhuang Su felt the flying dust falling into his eyes, making him momentarily dizzy.
The light dust's breath fell on her ear and gradually became heavy.
She simply couldn't understand why things were like this. If Mo Liyuan hadn't intended to harm anyone that day, then these people seemed to have planned to kill them from the very beginning. Was their target the Wine Envoy, or her? And—where was Liu Su? Where had Liu Su gone?
My mind went completely blank.
Just then, an arrow struck the horse, causing it to let out a long, mournful neigh and throw both of them off. Dust billowed up, and beside them lay a steep slope. The fall made Zhuang Su dizzy, and in the whirlwind, she was pulled aside by someone. The jagged rocks around them seemed to lessen slightly as he held her protectively in his arms. In her dazed state, Zhuang Su saw a faint smile playing on his pale lips.
A pale smile. For a moment, however, she felt it was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen in her life.
This person actually shielded him from all the harm with their own body...
Zhuang Su felt a strange sensation welling up inside her, and the blood flowing from his chest gradually stained her clothes red.
Seeing the two tumble down the slope, the pursuers pulled on their reins, looked down from their vantage point, dismounted, and prepared to continue the chase. Suddenly, the sound of hooves filled the air, and amidst the rising dust, another group of horses appeared in the distance. Yun Qing, standing before his horse, saw the situation and his expression darkened: "Commander Zhao, this is Liuyun Manor territory. What is the meaning of your actions?"
His words were icy, and with a slight gesture, the men behind him dispersed, effectively blocking the pursuers' path.
"Aren't Liuyun Manor and the imperial court allies? I should be the one asking you what your intentions are." Zhao Li's expression darkened as he watched the two figures gradually disappear from sight.
Yun Qing sneered: "This is my master's idea. If Commander Zhao wants to make things difficult for the two guests of my humble manor, he will have to get past me first."
"It seems Liuyun Manor is determined to get involved in this matter?" Zhao Li glanced at Yun Qing's expression, snorted coldly, and ordered, "Withdraw!"
"Commander, this..." A soldier next to him looked troubled upon hearing the order.
"It's alright." Zhao Li glanced meaningfully at Yun Qing and chuckled, "Even if we don't chase after them, the result will be the same..." He laughed loudly a few times and led his group away arrogantly.
His expression made Yun Qing feel slightly uneasy. After Zhao Li left, he instructed, "Chen Nan, take a team of men and go down the mountain to search. Make sure to bring the two of them back." He watched the small team leave in a hurry, looked at the steep hillside, and felt uneasy.
The hillside here is very steep, and the open space here carries a sense of desolation and barrenness.
The two figures were nowhere to be seen.
Chapter Fifteen: Fallen Petals, Heartless Things (Part Two)
The hillside below was covered with jagged rocks, and in the distance, some blades of grass, slightly loosened from the earlier crushing, lay scattered. Several plants bore thorns, faintly stained with blood, their dark green tinged with crimson, creating a disheveled and eerie scene.
As the two sides argued, the two who had rolled down the hillside came to a heavy stop. Zhuang Su, dazed and disoriented, vaguely felt herself still lying in the other man's arms, clearly hearing his steady heartbeat. Zhuang Su slowly turned around, feeling aches all over her body, but she didn't care much. She hurriedly crawled to the unconscious Qing Chen's side, her eyes filled with worry about the arrow wound.
Zhuang Su hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip and forcefully ripped open Qing Chen's clothes over his wound. Qing Chen let out a soft groan, seemingly feeling pain while unconscious. Zhuang Su was startled by his movement, feeling a slight flush on her face, but upon seeing his wound, she couldn't help but gasp.
The wound had begun to fester, and blood was slowly seeping out, mixed with an unusual tinge of black. But Qingchen "slept" very quietly, sunlight filtering through the high cliff above and falling on him.
Zhuang Su's eyes held a complex expression; she didn't understand why he was protecting her like this, but looking at the wound, she knew it needed immediate treatment. She touched her waist, and her expression softened slightly. Fortunately, she always carried the medicine pouch with her. Dragging Qingchen to a flatter spot, she gently loosened his belt and carefully removed his shirt, revealing his upper body.
The adult male's body was exposed, his clothes were like grease, but he did not look as thin as he usually did, and was exceptionally alluring.
Zhuang Su couldn't help but let out a soft "Ah!" before quickly covering her mouth to stop herself from shouting. She hurriedly turned her face away, blushing deeply for her bold actions. Her heart felt as if it didn't belong to her anymore, thumping and pounding like a drum.
The wind brushed against her warm cheeks, leaving them feeling cool. Zhuang Su gradually calmed down, and couldn't help but glance at Qing Chen again. The eyes beneath the mask were quietly closed. She was actually very curious about what the "Wine Envoy" looked like.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to calm down, and slowly reached out... getting closer and closer to the mask, his hand hovering above it before suddenly stopping. A moment of silence fell, broken only by the sound of the wind. Zhuang Su's eyes seemed somewhat vacant, lost in thought. After a brief silence, his hand subtly tightened, grasping the arrow at his chest.
She had no medical training and didn't know how to remove the arrow. Zhuang Su knew this was the time to fight to the death, and her expression gradually hardened. Her slightly trembling hands calmed down, and with a sudden burst of strength, the arrow slipped from Qing Chen's chest, splattering a few drops of black blood.
As Zhuang Su was pulled, she leaned back and almost fell. Bloodstains appeared on her clothes, but she didn't have time to pay attention to them. Seeing Qing Chen coughing slightly, she hurriedly crawled to his side and asked anxiously, "Wine Envoy, how are you? Are you alright?" As she spoke, she noticed a few drops of blood being coughed up amidst the crimson stains, and her heart became even more uneasy.
Qingchen, having just recovered his composure, heard Zhuang Su's words and, slightly out of breath, immediately realized his surroundings, and was startled. But a faint chill still lingered on his face; the mask was still on, and Zhuang Su's attitude remained unchanged. His heart eased slightly, but the wound on his chest caused him excruciating pain even with breathing. He smiled slightly: "It's nothing."
Zhuang Su frowned: "Let me see the injuries. I don't know if I can cure this poison."
She reached out to check Qingchen's pulse, but her hand shifted slightly, avoiding his touch. Qingchen swayed as he forced himself to stand, rubbing his forehead to try and dispel the dizziness, and refused, saying, "No need to check." He already had one poison in his body; adding another wouldn't matter. A pulse is something that cannot be faked; letting Zhuang Su take his pulse would undoubtedly expose his identity.
"Let's go." His tone was calm and indifferent, feigning ignorance of Zhuang Su's gritted teeth. He walked forward unsteadily, a strong sense of dizziness washing over him. He shook his head violently, feeling a strange, inexplicable restlessness within him, his blood surging. His clothes were slightly disheveled, but he felt an odd heat.
Seeing him stagger along, Zhuang Su finally couldn't bear it any longer and went forward to help him.
"Stand there and don't move." Qingchen's voice suddenly became serious.
Zhuang Su was taken aback by his tone and stammered, "What's wrong?"
"You...walk by yourself." Qingchen stopped walking, using one hand to support himself against a tree. His head was drooping, his hair ribbon had come undone, and his flowing black hair swayed in the wind. His voice was slightly distorted, and his breathing seemed to carry a hint of—allure.
He looked extremely disheveled.
"What exactly happened?"
"I told you not to come any closer!" Zhuang Su sensed his strangeness and instinctively tried to approach him, but Qing Chen let out a muffled roar.
Qingchen's face flushed unnaturally, and his breathing grew heavier and heavier. It seemed as if all his strength was in his hands, which were propped against the tree. He forced himself to remain still, and his voice was almost squeezed out between his teeth: "If you want to leave, then... now. That poison... contains... a substance... If you don't want me to sleep with you, then leave!"
Zhuang Su felt a buzzing sound in her mind. She wasn't the Zhuang Su who had just arrived at the One Leaf Alliance; she knew what it meant to be poisoned. But... if she left, and the poison had nowhere to go, would the person die? Her feet felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and she couldn't take a single step.
Qingchen's thoughts began to wander. The original pain, combined with the surging desire, and the heat rising from the depths of his body, made him slowly slide down the tree trunk. All the nerves in his body were tense, and gradually even the slightest touch would arouse a vaguely shameful excitement.
A cold smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. "Meng Po Red," huh? An unsolvable mystery. The imperial court certainly thinks highly of him.
A leaf fell silently from the tree in the wind, brushing casually against his skin. Qingchen trembled and couldn't help but let out a soft moan. His body was limp and powerless, the indifference in his eyes replaced by an endless darkness. The last vestige of his reason prevented him from randomly grabbing something. Zhuang Su stood there at a distance. He felt the blood in his body flow backward due to his overly strong will. He forced his eyes away from her, but suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, bright red, which looked particularly eerie on his lips.
Zhuang Su hardened her heart and turned to leave, but when she saw his expression, she was momentarily dazed, with a sense of déjà vu. At that moment, the wide sleeves of his white robe suddenly drooped, and a flute fell from the cuff. It was made of jade. Crystal clear.
Zhuang Su's mind went blank, and she instinctively staggered back a few steps. She recognized it as Qing Chen's jade flute. The person before her was delirious, his eyes behind the mask filled with a thick mist. Zhuang Su felt a heavy weight in her chest, a vague sense of despair pressing down on her. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have associated the "Wine Envoy" with Qing Chen. The two were so different, giving off completely different vibes; she hadn't even recognized him.
If the "Wine Envoy" is Qingchen, then was Shen Jian's entry into the Silver Hall entirely a scheme orchestrated by her? Or perhaps, even she was merely a pawn?
If this person is Qingchen... perhaps all the kindness she received before was just a fleeting illusion. This sudden realization sent a chill down her spine.
Is that so? Is that really so...?
Zhuang Su really wanted to ask Qing Chen, but things were like this now.
If things continue like this, will Qingchen die? As she thought this, her heart seemed to suddenly stop beating.
Zhuang Su felt the lingering warmth of Qing Chen carrying her as they rolled down the cliff. She watched the person in front of her take deep breaths, saw his white clothes stained with the drug, and looked at his lifeless eyes, which were about to lose their reason under the influence of the drug. Her fingers dug deeply into her palms.
Enough, enough, enough… Saving him now is merely repaying the debt of five years of raising him. As for the details of those events, that will at least be discussed after her poison is cured…
Zhuang Su approached Qing Chen step by step, her eyes suddenly becoming calm. She knelt down beside him, unbuttoning her clothes to reveal her jade-like skin. The wind chilled her skin. She gently embraced the man who was already delirious, feeling a force pull her close, and the man's scent suddenly intensified. Zhuang Su suppressed the fear in her heart, trying her best to remain calm.
She was saving lives. She was paying off a debt... She kept repeating these words to herself.
Qingchen's burning body swept over her, pulling her tightly into his arms. His breathing suddenly quickened in her ears, and she felt utterly ashamed in his presence. His hot breath lingered on her body, his lips slowly kissing every inch of her skin, leaving a mark on each spot. The bloodstains at the corner of his mouth reddened the surrounding sky, and his breath, too, began to quicken. Lost in passion, she was held in the arms of a bewitching man. His hands caressed her smooth back, the cool touch dissipating with each touch, leaving a lingering, sweet aftertaste.
The desire to live or die is nothing more than this.
She let out a soft groan, and a few drops of blood appeared amidst the lightly scattered dust. A shocking sight of red.
The pain made her brow furrow, and in a daze, she felt a gentle kiss on her forehead. His lips were a little dry, and the touch was rough as he kissed her. She saw that his eyes were misty, and she didn't know what he was thinking, what his mood was like. His long eyelashes were deep and narrow, and every time he kissed her, they would touch her skin, a tiny, ticklish, and imperceptible touch.
Zhuang Su recalled that ambiguous moment in Shengxiao Valley years ago. She had tried to forget it, but she still remembered it to this day.
The surrounding atmosphere was one of intoxication and confusion. In a hazy state, she felt Qingchen's hand lift her face, his tongue gently licking away the cool liquid. Her eyes barely closed before he held her tightly in his arms. His wantonness and debauchery seemed like nothing more than a dream, and only then did she realize that she had shed tears.
Zhuang Su's lips curled slightly in a bitter smile. He pressed his face against Qing Chen's chest, where she was breathing deeply, and closed his eyes tightly.
The person's chest was stained with blood, a glaring red stain that spread around them, making it impossible for her to tell whose blood it was.
Only that one captivating glance. The man's jawline possessed a bewitching, handsome curve, still alluring.
However, at this moment, she was the only one still rational, and after she woke up, no one knew how much she would remember...
Chapter Sixteen: The Healer's Footprints in the Deep Mountains (Part 1)
As dusk settled, a faint light began to appear again. Zhuang Su groggily awoke to find herself pressed against Qing Chen's chest. She slightly propped herself up to look; the unusual flush on Qing Chen's face had faded, and he no longer felt the initial heat, though his breathing remained deep, and there was a fine sheen of sweat on his face. He was still unconscious.
Zhuang Su felt a slight chill as she got up, surprised by the stubborn refusal of the poison to dissipate. She put on the clothes scattered around her; because of yesterday's rampage, the clothes still looked somewhat disheveled. Zhuang Su didn't recognize the way around, and with difficulty helped the unconscious Qing Chen to her feet, she groped her way to the exit.
The surrounding trees were dense and lush. Every now and then, a few birds flew by, leaving behind a faint murmur.