"That man beat me half to death back then, and tore my clothes to shreds. Luckily, Lan Wuxie arrived in time, otherwise what Qingling said today would all be true."
As she spoke, she slowly put down her teacup.
I still vaguely remember the scene from that day, but it's not as clear as I'd imagined. The longer time passes, the more I recall the good things about him—his tenderness, his lingering affection, those good days when we completely forgot about the grudges of the martial world—now that I think about it, that period was actually a good time.
63. Bo Hai...
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Hua Chongyang seemed lost in thought. Ye Laoqi and Lancao didn't know what to say. Bailu couldn't bear to hear Hua Chongyang speak well of Lan Wuxie, but she stubbornly refused to speak. After a long while, Lancao finally stroked her chin and nodded.
"So, it seems Qingling knows quite a bit."
Old Seven Ye pressed on with another question:
"How so?"
Orchid raises its eyebrows:
"Of those who tried to kill Hua Chongyang back then, one died on the spot, one was poisoned and left to rot in West Lake, and the other committed suicide when the guards weren't looking. Later, the Pavilion Master interrogated Lanxiang, but she refused to say a word—then the martial arts alliance members boarded the pleasure boat and took her away. So, the matter has never been clarified until now. But Qingling actually knows."
Bai Lu sneered and rolled her eyes:
"Everyone says Lan Wuxie is the best in the world, capable of anything. Who would have thought he couldn't even find the culprit after someone harmed his woman! Maybe, humph, he did it himself!"
Just as the orchid was about to bloom, Hua Chongyang stopped him at the last minute:
"We don't know where the people from Yanzu Valley are going. Our immediate priority is to send someone to follow them."
Just as they finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. The group fell silent. The door opened, and Chu San entered. After looking around, he looked at Hua Chongyang:
"Just now, Bo Feng sent another invitation, saying that he would do you the honor of attending."
"I'm not going." Hua Chongyang turned his face away impatiently. "This Bo Feng is really annoying."
"You might as well go," suggested the second manager, who was following behind Chu San. "Just now, I heard a few people from Yanzu Valley say they were also going to a banquet."
Hua Chongyang looked up, thought for a moment, and nodded:
"Then let's go take a look."
The group left the inn. Bai Lu, though still throwing a tantrum, was much better, following behind Ye Laoqi with a cold face. Just as the three were about to leave, Lan Cao glanced at Bai Lu, then stepped forward and approached Hua Chongyang:
"Hua Chongyang."
Hua Chongyang stopped in his tracks: "What?"
Lan Cao hesitated for a long time, then nodded:
"If you have time, go and visit the Pavilion Master."
Hua Chongyang was taken aback, then looked away, his expression slightly indifferent:
"I thought you were a sensible person, Orchid."
"I don't want to say much more," Lan Cao sighed softly. "This afternoon, after returning to Lan Ying Manor from the martial arts tournament, the Pavilion Master developed a fever. He wouldn't take any medicine or drink any water, and just sat alone by the lake in the backyard, lost in thought."
"His abuse of his body is none of my business."
"He's not wasting his body; he simply doesn't know the joy of living."
"……"
Hua Chongyang was slightly taken aback and immediately looked away.
"I don't want to hear this."
She turned her back on the orchids and walked away.
I wonder what joy there is in living.
Why does he go to such lengths to make a name for himself in the martial arts world?
The banquet at the villa of Nan Chu Mountain Villa appeared lively but was actually rather quiet. Bo Feng seemed solely focused on cultivating relationships with various sects, having invited almost everyone. Hua Chongyang and Bai Lu arrived early and casually sat in a corner, remaining silent. Although the candles were bright, it was still evening, and gradually the banquet hall filled with people. Some oblivious individuals, perhaps not noticing them, began whispering amongst themselves nearby:
"This year's martial arts tournament was really nothing to watch. In the end, Rong Chenfei was the one who fought to the very end."
"The martial arts world is lacking successors!"
"That's not entirely true. Rong Chenfei's martial arts are strange and fierce, and quite impressive. However, his cunning is far inferior to Rong Zaisheng's. Since Rong Zaisheng's death, Lake Moon Manor has declined significantly."
"Rong Chenfei is doing better than before. He's allied himself with Lan Wuxie, and now nobody dares to mess with him."
Hua Chongyang remained hidden behind a sheer curtain in the open pavilion, quietly sipping her tea. Outside, a shallow lake reflected the shimmering lights of candles. She glanced sideways at the scene beyond the corridor, her thick eyelashes gleaming like water, seemingly oblivious to the distant chatter.
"This so-called martial arts tournament sounds more like a drama of Lan Wuxie and Bai Lu vying for Bai Lu's affections!"
"Who knows if it's just jealousy or ulterior motives? There are still rumors that Lan Wuxie hasn't obtained the Azure Heaven Heart Sutra yet. Otherwise, with his martial arts skills and looks, what woman couldn't he have? Why would he be so obsessed with Hua Chongyang?!"
"And Bai Lu too! Her identity is unknown, I wonder what she sees in Hua Chongyang! Isn't she just Lan Wuxie's leftover woman? Sigh! Such youthful frivolity!"
"……"
Seeing Bai Lu's temples throbbing with veins and her about to slam her hand on the table, Hua Chongyang reached out and pressed down on the back of her hand, nonchalantly:
"Let them say what they want, it doesn't hurt or bother me."
I no longer have the leisure to argue over trivial matters.
Bai Lu snorted in annoyance:
"Who are these people? Even eating and drinking can't shut them up. So noisy."
The chattering in my ears was indeed quite noisy.
Hua Chongyang smiled, released Bailu's hand, picked up the teacup on the table, straightened his clothes, stood up, and slowly walked past the group of people who were whispering among themselves, smiling gently:
"Gentlemen, may I have a cup of tea?"
The people at the table were all stunned.
A year has passed, and even Hua Chongyang's smile is different now. Her former dazzling and flamboyant demeanor has turned into a peaceful one, with a dignified grace in her brightness. She adjusts the thick, black hair piled up at her temples, lifts her sleeve, reaches for the teapot on the table, pours a full bowl as if no one else is around, says "thank you," and turns away with her eyes lowered.
After a moment of silence in the open pavilion, everyone changed the subject without prior arrangement. Not only did no one mention Hua Chongyang or Bai Lu, but they also dared not bring up Lan Wuxie's name again.
Bai Lu glanced at it and whispered disdainfully:
"Spending time with Situ Qingliu has made you more good-tempered."
"What else?"
Bai Lu snorted coldly:
"Whoever makes me uncomfortable, I'll make them uncomfortable too. Whoever meddles in my business, I'll make them even more unhappy!"
Just then, the people from Yanzu Valley entered.
However, only Cheng Sheng and Xing Yanshui were there, and they kept a low profile, silently choosing another corner to sit down.
Hua Chongyang frowned slightly, and Bai Lu spoke first, asking in confusion:
"Where did that bitch surnamed Qing go? It's best she had the sense not to come. If I had to see her, I'd cut her tongue out tonight!"
Hua Chongyang had been watching Cheng Sheng and Xing Yanshui closely. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Lan Wuxie walk into the open pavilion.
She was slightly surprised.
When Lan Cao left the Pear Garden, she knew Lan Wuxie was coming to the Southern Chu Villa, but she didn't mention it. Or was Lan Wuxie's decision to come also a last-minute one?
But Lan Wuxie didn't even look up and walked straight to the guest of honor's seat.
If the guest of honor is in a pre-arranged position, then it must have been a last-minute decision rather than a spur-of-the-moment one.
Hua Chongyang held the teacup, slightly lost in thought.
Lan Cao, following behind Lan Wuxie, saw Hua Chongyang and Bai Lu in the distance. She raised an eyebrow at Bai Lu, subtly sending her a meaningful glance. Bai Lu turned her face away, glanced at Hua Chongyang, then glared at Lan Wuxie, who, draped in a dazzling deep green robe with gold trim, walked confidently to his seat amidst everyone's gaze. She muttered a curse under her breath:
"Dead peacock!"
Only after Lan Wuxie sat down did the host appear at the other end of the open pavilion. Bo Feng strode ahead, flanked by Bo Jiang, a petite woman in a bright red dress, and a tall, slender woman in a light blue gauze dress with a veil covering her face. Bo Feng and Bo Jiang exchanged pleasantries with the guests along the way, but the veiled woman behind them remained hidden until they were seated. Only then did Bo Feng, beaming, deliver his address:
"Distinguished guests, your presence here is an honor to our humble abode, Nan Chu Manor! Today we celebrate the victory of the martial arts tournament, so let us all drink until we are completely drunk!"
A chorus of responses, high and low, rose and fell. Bo Feng smiled, then turned around:
"To ensure everyone has a good time tonight, I've specially invited my two daughters to keep you company, haha! Come, Jiang'er, Hai'er, greet all the heroes!"
Hai'er?
Bo Jiang was already well-known to everyone, so all eyes turned to the tall, veiled woman standing behind Bo Feng. Even Bai Lu craned her neck and nudged Hua Chongyang unconsciously with her elbow.
"Is this the legendary second daughter Bo Feng has recently adopted, the one named Bo Hai?"
The thin breeze turned around, revealing the thin sea:
"Jiang'er goes without saying; this is my daughter, Bo Hai. This is her first time appearing in front of everyone, so please bear with her! Hahahaha!"
Amidst laughter and praise, Bo Hai stepped forward, bowed, and gave a very ladylike greeting.
Hua Chongyang was slightly distracted.
This woman's demeanor and bearing were extraordinary. Standing in the wind, she exuded boundless elegance, and even she couldn't take her eyes off her.
As he was observing, Bo Jiang stepped forward beside Bo Hai, smiling charmingly:
"My younger sister is venturing into the world for the first time. For the sake of my father and myself, I humbly request that all you heroes offer her your guidance! Hehe!"
After speaking, she glanced at Hua Chongyang across the crowd, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
Involuntarily, a chill ran through Hua Chongyang's heart.
Bai Lu rolled her eyes, chuckled, and coldly mocked:
"Oh, a newbie, huh? That's great! Tonight, we'll line them up and take them to bed one by one for a lesson!"
64． Chengsheng...
Hua Chongyang looked at Bo Feng again, shook his head, and said softly:
"wrong."
"What's wrong?"
"The banquet has begun, but where is Prince Situ?"
Bai Lu suddenly realized what was happening and turned to glare at Hua Chongyang:
"That's true! It's Lan Wuxie who's here!"