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"?" Ye Xiao was completely stunned.

Her dark, bright eyes were so close, her slightly upturned nose and small mouth... even her dazed expression was so adorable. How could she already belong to someone else? A huge pang of heartache washed over him, and Luo Qingcheng couldn't help but reach out and touch her eyelids, saying sourly, "Aren't you already married?... Surely you don't even know what to do after marriage?"

"I know, I know!" Xiao Xun, who had rushed out, heard the last sentence and popped out from behind him with a grin, saying, "I'm not stupid... I've known this since I was little... Second brother, you're getting married? I can teach you... We're brothers, aren't we!"

"I don't need you to teach me! I'm just as good as you..." Luo Qingcheng was immediately furious. "You should focus on making Xiaoxiao happy..."

"The boss is unhappy? What does that have to do with me? I've always been obedient." Xiao Xun was somewhat taken aback.

"She's already suffered enough marrying a fool like you, how can you mistreat her and leave her to live here alone?"

"Marry...marry me?" Xiao Xun's eyes lit up, and he cheered, "Boss, you want to marry me? Didn't you like that peerless handsome man, Ge? Weren't you always hanging around him back then? And...oh!"

Ye Xiao was exasperated by their back-and-forth banter, her temper flaring, but she couldn't find a way to interject. She could only manage a tap on Xiao Xun's head before seizing the opportunity to stab him in the back: "Rumors! All rumors! I never wanted to marry Shuai Ge! I haven't married anyone! Second brother, you... you're bullying me! I'm clearly dressed as a girl..." Suddenly, she felt incredibly dejected. Was it because of what happened that day... Did he think she came here just to cling to him?

Rumors? Just rumors? The heavy shackles on my body suddenly loosened, and I could breathe much more easily. My dizziness subsided, but a sour feeling still welled up inside me. What really happened between me and that incredibly handsome guy? Oh well… I'll ask Xiao Xun about it later. Luckily, the third brother is straightforward and doesn't mince words, making it easier to get information out of him…

Luo Qingcheng slowly turned around, suppressing the urge to hug Ye Xiao and shout with laughter. He gave a faint "Oh," and said, "Really? It was just a rumor... I actually believed it. It's true what they say, 'three men make a tiger.' Xiao Xiao, you can stay here for now. I'll have someone send two servings of red bean soup over tonight, and I'll have someone move you to a different place tomorrow." Without waiting for Ye Xiao to react, he quickly took off and disappeared into the night.

Only Xiao Xunzhi was smug: "You don't like Shuai Ge? You really like me? I originally wanted to marry a stunning beauty like my mother... Let me think about it some more... Boss, although you're not pretty, you're still very smart. It wouldn't be bad if our future children were as pretty as me and as smart as you..."

"Dream on!" With a bang, Ye Xiao was extremely upset and could no longer hold back. He went inside and closed the door, leaving Ye Xiao alone at the door, lost in thought, weighing his options and unable to make a decision.

Feng Sihai was greatly relieved. Although Luo Qingcheng was still preoccupied during this period, he was noticeably more invigorated than before. He had already compiled the simple and easy-to-learn moves of the Eighteen Netherworld Styles and taught them to the Zhuang Ding followers, ordering them to practice diligently. At the same time, he instructed Yuan Ruxuan to recruit soldiers and horses outside and secretly build up his strength.

The peach blossoms had all fallen, yet Luo Qingcheng remained seated in the pavilion, lost in thought, bathed in the soft moonlight. A wine jar slammed heavily onto the stone table in the pavilion, and Feng Sihai's voice suddenly rang out: "Cheng'er! Don't think about anything! Let's have a drink and chat, grandfather and grandson!"

Luo Qingcheng gave a guilty "hmm," picked up his wine bowl, and downed it in one gulp. Feng Sihai laughed heartily, also downing his bowl, and said with a smile, "That's refreshing! The only thing you can match in drinking style is your grandfather! As for the rest, don't blame me for being blunt, you're not acting like a man at all!"

Luo Qingcheng was slightly taken aback, then gave a wry smile. This was indeed not an exaggeration; a rumor had almost cost him his life—it was hardly something a man would do! So he lowered his head and said, "Grandpa Feng's reprimand is absolutely right..."

Feng Sihai grunted and patted Luo Qingcheng on the shoulder: "To err is human, to forgive divine. Young man, it's normal to be hot-blooded sometimes! I was young once too, and I did my share of foolish things for women. Fortunately, I quickly came to my senses. A real man doesn't die for love or illness, but stands tall and upright, with the world in his heart, ready to die on the battlefield! How can you act like a child?"

Luo Qingcheng felt even more ashamed and speechless, so he could only gulp down another large bowl of wine.

Feng Sihai downed another bowl, feeling incredibly energized. He laughed and said, "Back in the day, I followed my elder brother... that is, your grandfather, and roamed the martial world. It was the most exhilarating thing in my life! Although the Shimohe Sect truly flourished and became a force to be reckoned with in the martial world under your father, he was always hesitant and timid. He was nothing like my elder brother, who was decisive, brave, and unrestrained! That's what a real man is! Cheng'er, you mustn't be like your good-for-nothing father! Otherwise, wouldn't all the trouble Grandpa Feng went through to find you have been for nothing?"

Luo Qingcheng gulped down his drink in frustration. Feng Sihai patted him on the shoulder and said, "What are women! Back then, your grandfather took a fancy to a woman, but she didn't like him. He forced himself on her... and in the end, she became your grandmother! And they lived happily ever after! So you have to believe what Grandpa Feng says, women in this world are actually..."

Luo Qingcheng pricked up his ears in surprise, his eyes shining. He had never heard anyone mention this past event before. Could such a thing really have happened?

Feng Sihai continued his incessant lecture: "...So, Cheng'er, tell me, do you want to be a real man like your grandfather?"

Without hesitation, Luo Qingcheng shouted, "Yes!"

Feng Sihai laughed heartily: "Good lad! You've finally figured it out. Grandpa Feng is very pleased. When will you do something to prove you're a man!"

Luo Qingcheng grabbed the wine jar, tilted his head back, and gulped down the entire contents in one go. With a casual toss, the jar shattered on the ground with a clang, and Luo Qingcheng's voice was even more resounding: "Fine! I'll prove it to you! I'm going to force myself on you!" Emboldened by the wine, he leaped up and flew out of the garden gate.

"..." Feng Sihai was speechless for a long time. When he was finally able to speak, he shouted angrily, "You brat! How come you're still obsessed with love!"

Ye Xiao quickly concealed himself in the shade of the trees, revealing only one eye among the dense foliage. Shen Wan, graceful and elegant, carrying a food box, turned into a small, guarded hut. After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, she emerged gracefully, glanced around, and disappeared from Ye Xiao's sight.

Ye Xiao slowly peeked out from the shade of the tree, staring blankly at the place where Shen Wan had gone. For several days in a row, she had seen Shen Wan carrying a food box in and out of this small house. What was inside? After carefully surveying the surrounding terrain, she quietly returned to her residence.

The Mysterious Man in the Small House (Part 2)

The following night, Ye Xiao went to the kitchen. The cooks, seeing this always-greedy girl, smiled and offered her two kinds of pastries, packing them in a food box. Ye Xiao carried the food box to the small hut where Shen Wan frequented. Several men who looked like farmhands were guarding the door.

"Young lady, who are you? Didn't someone already send today's meal from the kitchen?" one of the servants asked, somewhat surprised.

"Um...it's a late-night snack..." Ye Xiao said politely, guessing the possible questions in his mind, and explained first, "Sister Shen Wan...had something to do at the young master's place, so she asked me to bring it over."

"Haha," the man laughed, "Miss Shen and the young master are a match made in heaven! You've worked so hard, Miss Shen. She's so eager for revenge that she often comes to deliver meals in person. Actually, the brothers all know she's using the pretext of delivering meals to try and get information out of that traitor. Alas, pitiful… But Miss Shen is truly soft-hearted, even having someone deliver midnight snacks. That damned traitor! What's there to pity about him!"

"What a perfect match!" Ye Xiao's mood immediately plummeted, and he vaguely followed the dry, snoring sound as he entered the room.

The small house was very dark and damp. A dim oil lamp was lit on the table by the door. In the corner of the wall opposite the door, where the light did not reach, a dark figure could be vaguely seen, but its face could not be seen.

"Who?" the man asked in a hoarse voice.

Ye Xiao mustered his courage, held up the oil lamp, and took a few steps into the corner. When he saw the person's appearance clearly, he finally couldn't help but gasp. The person raised his face from his disheveled hair; his entire face was a bloody mess, and his features were almost indistinguishable.

"Who are you?" Ye Xiao suppressed his intense nausea and asked in a low voice.

The man didn't answer, but looked up and asked in return, "And who are you? Did that villain Pingjing send you?"

Ye Xiao sighed and said in a low voice, "My surname is Ye, and my name is Ye Xiao. I've come to bring you some late-night snacks."

The man paused slightly, then chuckled softly, "So it's Miss Ye! Hehe, it's truly a rare treat to have an old friend return after all the hardships!"

An old friend? Ye Xiao looked him up and down suspiciously, then quickly looked away, not daring to examine his hideous face closely: "Who... exactly are you?"

The man sneered, "Wan San. Heh, so you're in cahoots with Ping Jing and his gang? That doesn't make sense. I remember you were with that big guy. How come you're with that scheming villain Ping Jing now?"

Wan San? Ye Xiao was taken aback. He turned around, searching for Wan San's features on the man's face, but couldn't find a single familiar trace. The once plump and amiable face of the Maitreya Buddha was now thin, with only a layer of skin clinging to the bones. The area where his eyes were located was ulcerated, making it impossible to see his outline. His body was hunched over in a small ball, resembling a rat that had been casually crossing the street but had been accidentally beaten to a pulp.

"You're Boss Wan? Uh, how did you end up like this?"

"Heh... You don't know? It's all because of that villain Ping Jing's brutal torture. Villain! He wanted to do something wicked, so he went outside and found some unknown thief, claiming him as our young master, all he wanted was to seize power. If he hadn't rebelled against headquarters back then and taken most of our brothers with him, we wouldn't have been living like cowards in the martial world all these years, suffering humiliation!"

Ye Xiao carefully considered the meaning behind his words and asked, "He hit you because the death of the great hero Shen Rujun was related to you."

"Hahaha!" Wan San burst into laughter. "A great hero? Another charlatan! How laughable that Shen Wan actually thinks her father is some kind of saint! She keeps denouncing justice to me, demanding I name the person who killed her father! It's all a conspiracy by the Martial Alliance. Shen Rujun is a member of the Martial Alliance. Over the years, he's done countless heinous things for them, killing so many of our brothers. His attempt to seize the sacred artifact for Pingjing is merely a ploy to incite infighting among us, allowing the Martial Alliance to take advantage of the situation..."

Ye Xiao calmly pointed out the flaws in his words: "If that's really the case, why did the Martial Alliance order a manhunt to take back the sacred artifact after we obtained it? I witnessed all of this firsthand. They were determined to get the sacred artifact... and were willing to kill us to the death. If this was a conspiracy orchestrated by the Martial Alliance, they could have easily let the Heavenly King Pingjing obtain the sacred artifact. Why go through all that trouble?"

Wan San was slightly taken aback: "Really? ... But why should I believe you? You're in cahoots with them. Besides, it might just be the Martial Alliance trying to make the act more believable."

Ye Xiao sighed: "Who am I with? Qingcheng told me they're some kind of Maha sect, but I don't remember there being such a sect in the martial arts world. ... Boss Wan, who exactly are you people?"

Wan San was taken aback again, turning his head suspiciously: "What? He really said that? Little girl, don't deceive a blind man... How could you come here without knowing their true identities?"

Are you blind?

"Heh, my eyes are blind, and my hearing isn't very good either... But a true man should not be intimidated by power or corrupted by wealth. No matter how they try to coerce or threaten me, they won't get a single confession from me..."

Ye Xiao looked at Wan San with infinite sympathy and put down the food box: "These are the kitchen's pastries, jade buns and sweet fermented rice. Please enjoy them."

Wan San said, "Uh... Miss Ye, could you please bring the food out and place it in front of me? My legs have been crippled, and I can't move."

Ye Xiao timidly took out the bowls and plates and placed them in front of Wan San as instructed. After hearing Wan San thank her, she hesitated and said, "Boss Wan... I want to know who you are. Can you tell me? And Luo Qingcheng, who is he? What kind of young master is he?"

Wan San scoffed, "Luo Qingcheng? How would I know who he is? Anyway, he's some wild child that Ping Jing found somewhere. How would I know who he is? As for our identities, why should an outsider like you know?"

Ye Xiao looked dejected and walked toward the door, then suddenly stopped and said, "But... I heard Qingcheng say that he has a mark on his body... I've seen it, a blood-red divine brand. It's branded behind his ear."

Wan San paused for a moment and said in a low voice, "Really? You really saw it?" There was a hint of excitement in his voice.

Ye Xiao was somewhat surprised: "Yes, didn't he let you see it?"

Wan San was silent for a moment before saying, "He said he did. But I was already blind when he said that... Miss Ye, please describe that pattern to me..."

Ye Xiao turned around and described in detail the brand behind Luo Qingcheng's ear, looking at Wan San with hope. But Wan San remained silent for a long time before saying, "Did that villain Ping Jing tell you this? You're all in cahoots, using both soft and hard tactics. You just want to get some information out of me."

Ye Xiao sighed in disappointment and walked out the door. Outside, the moonlight was like water, flowing across the ground. Ye Xiao let out a long sigh, then suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Fueled by alcohol, Luo Qingcheng rushed to Ye Xiao's residence. The moonlight was exceptionally alluring. He stopped at the door and gently knocked twice. There was no response. He grew anxious, his heart pounding in his chest, unable to find any peace. He pushed the door open with some effort. The room was dark and silent, but fortunately, his senses were sharp. He quickly spotted a woman sitting on the bed. His heart nearly leaped out of his mouth. He managed to catch his breath and said, "Xiaoxiao?"

The person didn't speak, so Luo Qingcheng continued, "Xiaoxiao. I came here to tell you that I actually like you a lot, I've always liked you, ever since Langjing Manor... even earlier. But I'm insecure. I lost my father at a young age, burdened with the responsibility of revenge and rebuilding the family business. I grew up in someone else's home, with nothing but a treacherous and uncertain future and endless responsibilities. So... I didn't dare to tell you my feelings directly. I always hoped to wait until everything settled down before telling you... But last time, when I heard the rumor that you married Lao San, I suddenly realized that I might lose you forever before that day came, so... so... I came here today because I wanted to... wanted to..." Suddenly, his mouth went dry, and he felt dizzy. He could no longer confess rationally. He stepped forward and hugged the person tightly, lowering his head to kiss her. The person gasped softly and struggled desperately. Hearing the gasp, Luo Qingcheng quickly withdrew, as if stung by a bee. After a long while, he hesitated and said, "Xiaowan?"

The lamp on the table slowly came on. Shen Wan, holding the lamp, blushed and looked somewhat embarrassed. Luo Qingcheng quickly glanced around the room to make sure he hadn't entered the wrong room before asking, "Xiao Wan, what are you doing here?"

Shen Wan was silent for a while, then said in a low voice, "I originally planned to come and talk to Miss Ye, but I didn't expect her to be here, so I'll wait for her here... Do you have something to do? Then I'll be going now..." With that, she left as if fleeing.

Luo Qingcheng was in a daze for a long time. He went out for a walk and even nervously ran to Xiao Xun's house to check, but he couldn't find Ye Xiao. He returned to Ye Xiao's place, waited for a while, and then, unable to resist the rising alcohol, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Ye Xiao returned to her lodgings and was surprised to find Luo Qingcheng, reeking of alcohol, fast asleep on her bed. Looking at his handsome sleeping face, and remembering the gatekeeper's words about him being a perfect match for Shen Wantian, she felt a surge of annoyance. She took a brush and drew a few strokes on his face, then ran to his feet and lay down to sleep. The night passed uneventfully.

The next morning, Luo Qingcheng woke up and was surprised to find Ye Xiao right at his feet, sleeping sweetly. However, he no longer had the courage he had the night before. He only dared to give her two light kisses on the face before quietly getting out of bed, ready to retreat.

Outside, Xiao Xun banged loudly on the door, calling out, "Boss! Get up and have breakfast. Today we have your favorite hibiscus pastry..." The door creaked open, and Luo Qingcheng came out, putting a finger to his lips to shush: "She came back late last night, let her sleep a little longer..."

Xiao Xun stared at him in shock, his face twitching. A moment later, he swayed and rolled to the ground, laughing so hard he could barely breathe: "Second brother... your face... why are you being so modest... actually... hahaha..."

Luo Qingcheng felt uneasy at his laughter and, not understanding why, went inside to get a bronze mirror. He looked at himself and immediately felt depressed. The man in the mirror had four big words written on his face: I am a pig's head.

Suddenly a commotion arose, and two servants rushed in from outside, whispering, "Young Master, something terrible has happened... that traitor Wan San is dead!"

The Death of Wan San (Part 1)

"Dead?" Luo Qingcheng was slightly surprised. He turned to leave, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the two men's faces, which suddenly flushed red as they hesitated to speak. Thinking of the shocking words on his own face, he felt a little embarrassed. Feigning authority, he lowered his voice and said, "I know... You should inform the Heavenly King of Pingjing first. I'll be there soon." He then went back inside and poured some water to wash his face. Turning around, he saw Ye Xiao, who had been woken up, groggily getting out of bed, rubbing his clothes and muttering, "Second brother, what kind of dirty water did you put on my bed? It's all over me!"

Luo Qingcheng was worried that he might vomit at night, so he blushed slightly. He looked at her clothes and saw a yellow stain on her shoulder. He immediately became nervous and carefully walked over to sniff her. Fortunately, there was no smell, so it didn't seem to be filth.

Ye Xiao picked up an object from the bedside table and said, "Is this yours? What's inside? It must be something like this that got on me." It was a white porcelain bottle, the mouth of which was open, and sure enough, there was some pale yellow liquid at the bottom. What is this? He suspiciously sniffed it, and sure enough, like the puddle of water on Ye Xiao, it had no smell. So he carefully put the porcelain bottle away and said to Ye Xiao, "A traitor imprisoned in the manor has died, and I need to go and take care of it."

Ye Xiao exclaimed, "It's Boss Wan Sanwan!"

Luo Qingcheng nodded, somewhat surprised, and asked, "How did you know?"

Ye Xiao paused for a moment, then quickly pulled Luo Qingcheng towards the small house without answering.

Feng Sihai had arrived at the scene, his expression extremely displeased. Wan San's body was curled up in the same corner Ye Xuan had visited the previous night, already stiff. A man who looked like a doctor stood up beside the body, his tone grave: "Died of poisoning."

"What kind of poison?" Feng Sihai asked with a grim face.

The man shook his head: "I don't know. It's not the usual arsenic or poisonous herb. It should be a rare poison from the Western Regions. I am not knowledgeable enough to know anything about this kind of poison."

Feng Sihai waved for the man to leave, then beckoned the guards at the door to come in and asked, "Who was the person who delivered the food yesterday?"

The man glanced at Ye Xiao hesitantly and said, "Old Chen from the kitchen is here for lunch and dinner, but... this girl delivered a late-night snack last night. Uh... she said Miss Shen Wan asked her to deliver it..."

Feng Sihai's expression changed slightly. He glanced at Luo Qingcheng, his voice even colder: "Are you sure it's Miss Ye from Guyun Fortress? Why would she poison someone she doesn't even know?"

Ye Xiao smiled faintly: "King Pingjing, I only delivered food to Boss Wan, I didn't poison him."

Feng Sihai sneered: "At least there's suspicion. Old Chen has been with me for years, and he's been delivering food to that traitor Wan San for so many days. How come he was the only one poisoned to death last night after you brought him a midnight snack?"

Ye Xiao stared at him fearlessly: "This is also what I want to figure out. Heavenly King, there's something I don't understand: why did you deliberately blind Wan San?"

"Intentionally?" Feng Sihai suddenly flew into a rage, exclaiming, "How could I have done it on purpose? That bastard Wan San, after following me for so many years, actually betrayed me! He messed up such a crucial thing! Not only did he lose the sacred artifact and kill Master Shen, but he almost dragged the young master down with him! He even kept saying that the young master was a swindler! I was so angry that I fainted and beat him up, but who knew he was so useless, he was crippled in an instant... I..."

Ye laughed and said, "So even after all these years, you're not necessarily reliable. Besides, the Heavenly King doesn't seem to act rationally."

Feng Sihai's face darkened immediately, and after a long while he sneered, "Fine, then I'll treat them equally. Men! Lock up Miss Ye and Old Chen together... Find someone to investigate what the relationship is between Guyun Fortress and the Martial Alliance."

A voice whispered, "King Feng, Guyun Fortress should have no connection with the Martial Alliance. My Langjing Manor was spared thanks to Guyun Fortress's assistance. Although many of Langjing Manor's properties had to be sold to Guyun Fortress at a low price in the end, we managed to escape the clutches of the Martial Alliance..."

Feng Sihai glanced at Yuan Ruxuan and snorted: "Long Aotian is a despicable villain and a shameless swindler. He only cares about money and has no idea about the justice of the martial world. Then Miss Ye's motive for killing is even more suspicious! Maybe she is trying to provoke a conflict between us and the Martial Alliance so that she can reap the benefits and then buy Luoye Manor at a low price!"