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Kapitel 31

Su Xiao'e smiled gently, a barely perceptible glint in her eyes. She reached out and methodically unbuttoned the groom's shirt. Finally, the man on the bed slowly opened his eyes. His dark eyes were devoid of any emotion. He could neither speak nor move, and simply looked at her indifferently. For some reason, Su Xiao'e felt a tremor in her heart at that gaze. She knew that he was currently without martial arts skills and could not move at all, yet a sense of fear still arose within her.

After a pause, Su Xiao'e shook her head, raised her eyebrows, reached out and touched his cheek, then gently cupped his cold left hand to her lips, tenderly saying, "I've finally married you..."

She took off her last thin gauze dress, and her fair skin, reflected in the red candlelight, resembled a delicate orchid. Suddenly, she felt a surge of heat, brushed aside the man's hair, and carefully leaned down to place a kiss on his neck.

Suddenly, a soft "bang" came from behind her. Su Xiao'e was startled and immediately turned around to look back at the gate. The candlelight flickered, and a white shadow flashed—in an instant, her waist went numb, and she could no longer move.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—who is behind her?

Su Xiao'e lay helplessly on the man's chest on the bed, able to hear his heartbeat rising and falling... With some difficulty, Su Xiao'e raised her eyes and could only vaguely glimpse a pale moon shadow—the person was pacing back and forth in the room, talking to himself as if searching for something, like a thief. Su Xiao'e opened her mouth, only to find that she could no longer speak. Suddenly, the person entered, covered her with a cloth, and kindly helped her sit up, leaning her against the bedpost.

Su Xiao'e looked down and frowned. The cloth wrapped around her was clearly a scarlet tablecloth. She held her breath and looked up to examine this "uninvited guest"—to her surprise, the person in front of her was a very young woman with a kind face, smiling at her. Her hand gently brushed across Su Xiao'e's neck, releasing her speech acupoint—after a moment, Su Xiao'e's expression turned serious, and she slowly asked, "Who are you?"

The man smiled and replied, "I've come to your residence to offer my congratulations."

Su Xiao'e calmed down, and a smile gradually returned to her face as she regained her elegant and charming demeanor: "The main hall is outside; the guest has come to the wrong place."

The man smiled and said, "Yes."

"Then..." Su Xiao'e's eyes sparkled with a thousand lights as she said shyly, "Could you please let my husband and me be alone?"

The man shook his head and pointed to the person on the bed: "He doesn't seem willing to marry you."

"Nonsense—" Su Xiao'e's expression changed instantly, a deep killing intent flashing in her eyes, her fingertips trembling slightly, "I love him so much... how could he not want to marry me..."

The man seemed to have a headache, patted his forehead, and casually pressed Su Xiao'e's speech acupoint.

—The white-clad girl with a slight smile on her face, looking apologetic to Su Xiao'e for disturbing their wedding night, was none other than Ye Changsheng.

Under Su Xiao'e's burning gaze, which seemed to want to devour her, Ye Changsheng maintained a humble and polite smile. Sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing at Helan Ronghua's disheveled state within the bed curtains, she sighed softly and lowered her head to carefully dress him again—piece by piece, the warmth of his chest against her fingertips carrying the throbbing of his heart… The vibrant red wedding robes accentuated the blush on his cheeks. He gazed quietly at Ye Changsheng, his eyes shimmering with a gentle light, his dark pupils deep and unfathomable…

Ye Changsheng leaned down and said softly, "Master... I'll release your acupoints now..."

She reached down to Helan's spleen acupoint on his lower back, then slowly pushed down to the triple burner acupoint on his front, and gently helped him up again. Ye Changsheng didn't know what had happened to him, why he had come to such a remote and desolate town to become a live-in son-in-law after not seeing him for half a year—just as he might be wondering why she would suddenly appear on his wedding night.

"Can you move?" Changsheng asked, looking up. "At first, it might feel a little numb, but after a while..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Helan Ronghua leaned down and hugged her tightly. His movements were so forceful that it felt as if he were embedding her into his body, making it hard for her to catch her breath... Changsheng stirred and felt Helan press his grip on her shoulders harder. His hand moved up her back, and he slowly pressed his cheek against her neck, whispering, "Don't move, just for a moment."

Ye Changsheng felt a warm, moist breath flowing over her neck, her chest pressed tightly against his heartbeat, and the fragrance of lotus lingering around her nose. That long-lost scent suddenly made her feel at ease.

After a moment, Helan Ronghua released his arm, raised his hand to stroke her cheek, and suddenly smiled. His dark eyes appeared hazy in the flickering candlelight. He was smiling, a smile that seemed to bring tears to his eyes...

The arising and ceasing of conditions are still within one's control.

Helan Ronghua reached out and gently stroked the face she remembered before her, remaining silent. They were always like this; the time they spent together was so short, yet the days apart felt so long: "I've been looking for you for half a year... do you know that..."

Ye Changsheng sighed softly and grasped Helan's hand: "Master..."

Helan Ronghua lowered his head, gripped Ye Changsheng's hand tightly, propped himself up, brushed Ye Changsheng's messy long hair aside with one hand, and said in a low voice, "We have to leave immediately."

Ye Changsheng nodded and helped Helan Ronghua to her feet. Just as they were about to leave, Ye Changsheng suddenly turned back and glanced at Su Xiao'e, who was leaning against the bed. Su Xiao'e's eyes were wide open, staring intently at her, filled with a deep-seated hatred that seemed to want to tear her to pieces. Ye Changsheng smiled apologetically at her. It was her wedding night, and no matter what, she had ruined their happy occasion. Interfering in such a joyous occasion was sure to shorten one's lifespan.

As they reached the door, Ye Changsheng pulled it open and exclaimed, "Ah..." She patted her chest, startled by the sight outside—standing outside was Su Xiao'e's ghostly brother, who was grinning sinisterly, his dark nostrils staring at them with yellowish-green pus oozing from them.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Helan Ronghua frowned and shielded Ye Changsheng behind her, clearly wary of this ugly man. Su Xing spoke gruffly, "Miss, you've disturbed my sister's wedding night, and you think you can just leave like that?" He seemed to remember something, and quickly peered behind the two of them. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he leaped to Su Xiao'e's side, pulling her tightly into his arms. He asked urgently, "Xiao'e, what happened to you? What did they do to you?"

Su Xiao'e was unable to speak, her delicate eyebrows furrowed to indicate that she could not move, but Su Xing seemed not to understand her meaning, and just held her and shook her. Ye Changsheng at the door exclaimed "Ah!" again, smiled slightly and kindly reminded her, "That girl has just been acupunctured, brother, there is no need to panic."

Upon hearing this, Su Xing suddenly realized what was happening and quickly pressed several acupoints on Su Xiao'e's body. Su Xiao'e caught her breath, pushed Su Xing away, and clutched her chest, looking at Ye Changsheng and Helan Ronghua with a cold smile: "It seems I was blind to your greatness. I didn't know you and Ronghua were old acquaintances..." Her gaze then shifted to Helan Ronghua, looking at him earnestly, her eyes brimming with tears: "We've spent so many days together, do you really have no affection for me at all, and are you determined to embarrass me on our wedding night?"

Helan Ronghua glanced at him indifferently; "I never truly wanted to marry you, so why bother with me?"

Upon hearing this, Su Xiao'e closed her eyes tightly, then suddenly burst into laughter. She stared intently at Ye Changsheng, her eyes filled with a mixture of envy and hatred. She looked at Ye Changsheng's eyes, his nose, his lips, his shoulders... Her eyes were filled with a strange emotion, as if she wanted to imprint Ye Changsheng's image into her mind. She trembled uncontrollably—this was the person he loved, the reason he rejected her... He treated Su Xiao'e like trash but cherished that woman like a treasure, he even shed tears in front of her!

He buried his face in her neck and wept...

The woman couldn't see it, but she did...

Su Xiao'e quieted down, glanced resolutely at Helan Ronghua, smiled blankly, and parted her lips slightly: "None of you...can leave..."

Helan Ronghua's eyes narrowed, and she grabbed Ye Changsheng, whispering in her ear, "Go..." The two of them rushed out the door together and disappeared in no time.

Su Xing stared in the direction the two had disappeared, unsure whether to chase after them or not. He glanced at Su Xiao'e, whose clothes were disheveled and whose face was gloomy, and finally couldn't bear it any longer. He picked up the clothes on the ground, intending to dress her. Su Xiao'e took the outer robe, giving Su Xing a cold look: "What are you still keeping? Get out of here!"

Su Xing stared intently at Su Xiao'e's alabaster skin and slender, graceful body, wrapped in a scarlet tablecloth. A strange expression flickered across his ugly face. He paused for a moment, then turned and left. He stopped at the door, turned back, and asked, "Did you just let them get away like that?"

Su Xiao'e gently stroked her cheek, as if possessed, and smiled eerily: "He can't leave, he will definitely come back, I planted Shaoguang in him..."

"What?!" Su Xing was shocked and exclaimed, "You actually summoned Shao Guang for a man!"

Su Xiao'e smiled charmingly, gently stroking her heart as if caressing her lover. She smiled wistfully, "That's a Gu worm nurtured with my heart's blood... one for me, one for him... If he doesn't come to my side, time will devour his heart with its deep longing... What cannot be obtained must be destroyed! This is the daughter of the Miao people..."

Su Xing rushed back, knelt on the ground, and shook Su Xiao'e's shoulders vigorously, asking in a hoarse voice, "What about you? If he dies, you won't live either. Shaoguang will have a backlash, do you know that?"

Su Xiao'e snorted coldly, shaking off Su Xing's hand as if wiping away a bug. She glared at him fiercely, then went berserk: "Don't touch me with your filthy hands—if he dies, I die too. In the netherworld, we'll be together forever, forever together... Ahahahahaha..."

Laughing, she desperately clutched her heart—within which lay a Gu worm, the embodiment of all her hopes. She laughed maniacally, then ripped the hairpin from her hair and plunged it into Su Xing's shoulder. She stabbed with extreme force; not only was most of the hairpin completely embedded in his flesh, but her inch-long fingernails also dug deep into it. The gilded hairpins distorted her beautiful face, stained with the blood gushing from Su Xing's body, trembling sorrowfully, as if mourning Su Xiao'e's broken heart.

After a long while, her movements slowed down. She seemed tired, leaning against the bed and closing her eyes, coldly saying, "You may leave..."

Su Xing's face was pale, and he tightly covered the wound on his shoulder with one hand. He stared at Su Xiao'e's face and said, word by word, "Whatever you want, I will give it to you."

He gently raised his right hand, then forcefully ripped off his right ear, causing blood to gush out immediately. Su Xing remained unfazed, placing the severed ear in Su Xiao'e's hand and saying softly, "I swear on my right ear..."

Su Xiao'e opened her eyes, stared at the bloodstained ear in her hand, then looked up and asked softly, "Brother has lost a nose and an ear. What should Xiao'e ask for next time?"

Blood flowed continuously from Su Xing's ears. He tugged at the corners of his mouth, making it look like a smile, and said in his hoarse, knife-like voice as gently as possible, "Whatever Xiao'e wants, brother will give her."

Su Xiao'e nodded: "You can leave now." — Su Xing didn't linger for a moment, turned around and left.

That night in Gutuo Town was like Moling in full makeup, with alluring moonlight and a quiet night breeze, carrying a woman's dreams and resentments.

Three miles away, on the banks of the ancient Tuo River, Ye Changsheng and Helan Ronghua sat cross-legged against a large tree. Half a year had passed, and they seemed much more distant. Many things they wanted to say, but when they reached their lips, they found themselves speechless. The clear, melodious sound of the stream filled their ears, and a cold wind blew, sending chills down their spines. Ye Changsheng looked left and right, seeing no pursuers, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, looking up at Helan Ronghua. He seemed thinner than before, his brow always furrowed. He had barely spoken the entire journey, so Ye Changsheng remained silent, tilting his head back and counting the falling leaves in the moonlight.

Helan Ronghua's face appeared unusually pale under the bright moonlight. He was still wearing his dark red wedding robe, revealing his slender collarbone. The robe was disheveled, the long sleeves brushing the ground, and the loose fabric made him look somewhat empty. He lowered his head, the moonlight casting shadows on his profile, obscuring his expression. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "You won't ask me why I'm in the Su family, or why I married Su Xiao'e?"

"Ah..." Ye Changsheng withdrew his gaze from the pile of fallen leaves and smiled slightly, "Master Yu Rongtianyi and Miss Su are both very well-matched."

“No…” Helan Ronghua slowly raised his head. His face was pale, but his eyes were unusually bright. He spoke softly, his voice slightly hoarse, “No, Sheng’er, don’t smile at me… You know perfectly well, you clearly know… You never cry, but I don’t know if you’re really smiling… You’re not happy, even if you’re always smiling, even if you never shed a tear… I just don’t want to see you continue to wander, I just want you to live…”

“Master…” Ye Changsheng turned around with a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying. She looked at him earnestly, took his hand and pressed it to her cheek, and said softly, “Master, look, I’m alive, I’m really smiling, I’m not unwell…”

Helan Ronghua's heart trembled; his heart had already begun to ache. Ever since leaving the Su residence, it felt as if a worm was gnawing at his heart inch by inch—his face remained calm, except for a slight pallor. He stroked Ye Changsheng's cheek, shook his head, and a bitter smile played on his lips: "Don't lie to me, you won't live past three years..."

Ye Changsheng still smiled and comforted him, "Maybe it'll be more than three years... Perhaps, even if you die, it's just dust to dust, reincarnation and it's all over..."

"Do you really not care about anything?" Helan Ronghua raised his voice. He didn't know why he suddenly became angry. He had never spoken coldly to her before—not to Ye Sheng, and certainly not to Ye Changsheng.

Helan Ronghua felt waves of excruciating pain wash over him. He slowly closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Many things have happened in the past six months. Ye Junshan ostensibly resigned from his position as the leader of the martial arts alliance, but in reality, he was crippled by Abbot Liaowu and imprisoned in the Shaolin Temple's Sutra Pavilion. However, two months ago, all the monks guarding him died—and he disappeared. If he escaped, he will surely harbor resentment and want to make a comeback. If he wants to restore his inner strength, he either needs to gather the four greatest martial arts masters to protect and transfer his energy to him, or he needs to take Bo Xian—obviously the latter is much easier. A month ago, he sent someone to find me, telling me that the Miao Medicine King lives in this Gutuo Town. If I want to save you, I can only come here to find out the Medicine King's whereabouts..."

"You believe that?" Ye Changsheng turned his head and asked calmly.

"I don't believe it..." Helan Ronghua opened her eyes, her smile bleak, "...but I have no choice but to believe it. Besides this, I don't know how else to save you..."

Ye Changsheng looked at him: "So you're marrying Miss Su? Is Miss Su the Medicine King?"

Helan Ronghua shook his head: "I didn't. I initially suspected that Master Su was the Medicine King, so I stayed at the Su residence for a while. I didn't expect them to poison my tea every day!" At this point, he suddenly clenched his hands and frowned. "However, this incident also shows that there is someone in the Su residence who is skilled in poisoning, and he is a master in all sorts of ways—the medicine is colorless and odorless, and I was careless for a moment..." However, he did not mention that Su Xiao'e had poisoned him with Gu poison, not because he couldn't, but because he didn't want to.

Changsheng coughed lightly and looked away: "Actually, Master doesn't need to do so much for me... So what if Master marries Miss Su?"

Ye Changsheng felt a sudden tightness at the back of her head, and a handsome face was right in front of her. He Lan Ronghua's eyes, reflecting the clear moonlight, met hers in an instant. He gently pressed his hand on her neck, and a cool kiss landed on her lips, wet and mixed with the fragrance of lotus. His kiss was gentle and careful, with a kind of resoluteness after passing through many infatuations... Ye Changsheng opened her eyes wide, trying to see his expression at this moment. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and in his gentle and refined eyes, there was only a dazzling tenderness.

The night was dark and the forest was shrouded in darkness; all around was nothing but the thick night. It felt like a vast expanse of water and endless shifting sands.

Li Huangyin stood in the moonlight and wind, his long robes billowing on the ground—he had been following Ye Changsheng all night. He had long suspected that someone had deliberately led them to this ancient Miao town, and he had been playing along, letting them do as they pleased… He watched Ye Changsheng enter the Su residence, and then saw him escape with Helan Ronghua to this stream and riverbank… He watched them kiss under the moonlight…

Something seemed to flash through his mind. He remembered when he first met Ye Sheng at the age of fourteen, the sword he pierced her chest on Luoyang Cliff, and their reunion eight years later... He remembered many things, so many... that he suddenly realized that he had been entangled with that woman named Changsheng for half his life...

A wistful smile appeared on his lips, which vanished with a flick of his sleeve.

All phenomena arise from causes and conditions; when those causes and conditions cease, the phenomena cease as well. Causes arise from resentment; when those causes and conditions cease, liberation returns. After the people have dispersed, the moon shines bright. The night is cold and deep, and my heart is filled with endless thoughts.

Asura Ghost Palace

The moonlight was bright, and a gentle breeze caressed our faces.

Inside the only inn in Gutuo Town, a refined and elegant young man held a wine cup in one hand, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. The flickering oil lamp illuminated his shimmering eyes. Beside him stood a splendidly dressed young man and a maid in green, who was playfully tapping her wine cup with her chopsticks. Laughter and conversation filled the air, along with the aroma of wine, permeating the somewhat dilapidated inn.

Although it was just country wine, it had a certain potency. Everyone at the table drank until they were quite tipsy. While no one was sprawled out or lying on their backs, they were all a bit intoxicated. Jia Ling, usually the most talkative, was unusually quiet now, sipping her wine slowly, more obedient than anyone else. Pan Xijin watched Mudan, who was rambling incoherently and spouting vulgarities, chuckled softly, raised his cup, and recited in a low voice: "A cup of wine, ten thousand miles from home; the Yanran inscription uncarved, no plan for return; the Qiang flute plays softly, frost covers the ground. No one sleeps; the general's white hair, the soldier's tears..."

As Mudan listened to her young master's somewhat melancholy poem and watched him sigh softly, she felt extremely distressed. Pan Xijin had never traveled far from home since he was a child, and he was probably homesick at this moment. Half a month ago, they left Bianliang and headed south, but unexpectedly, the divine doctor Ye and his embroidery master brought their young master to such a poor and remote place. This inn was so simple that it was not even as good as the servants' rooms in the Pan family mansion, let alone the young master's west courtyard. As Mudan was thinking about this, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Pan Xijin seemed to notice Mudan's fixed gaze, glanced at her with a smile, and shook his head.

Peony still had tear stains at the corners of her eyes. She reached out and wiped them away, forcing a smile. "Young master, it's alright...it's alright...it's just that this wine is too strong and made my eyes water." As she spoke, she turned her back and grabbed her sleeve to wipe her face vigorously.

The sound of horses' hooves rang out, and suddenly the inn's door was pushed open with a clatter. Two people entered, the leader a young woman in a bright red wedding robe. Her hands were as soft as jade, her skin as smooth as cream, and she possessed an unparalleled allure and a beauty like that of a celestial being—none other than Miss Su Xiao'e, the bride of the Su family, who was getting married today. The man behind her had a strange appearance; his face was covered in rotting flesh, almost twisted, and his turbid yellow eyes would occasionally twitch, making him appear ferocious and terrifying.

"Is anyone home?" Su Xiao'e approached with a seductive and alluring air, her beautiful eyes scanning the room. "I am Su Xiao'e, and I have come to find my husband who was lost today."

Pan Xijin smiled slightly upon hearing this and continued drinking his wine. Jia Ling, however, suddenly became lively, nimbly standing on the stool and snapping her folding fan open, teasingly saying, "How shameless you are, young lady! Who is your husband?" Su Xiao'e was not angry. She adjusted her water sleeves and said with a seductive look in her eyes, "A husband is a husband. Why should I be ashamed..."

Jia Ling nodded in satisfaction, closed her fan, and suddenly shouted loudly, "Shopkeeper, shopkeeper, shop—shop—keeper—!"

"Oh, coming, coming..." A shout came from the back room, and a short, brown-clad shopkeeper darted out. He was short-statured and had a short neck, and he strained to look at Jia Ling, who was standing on a stool. He chuckled and asked, "What can I do for you, sir?" Jia Ling pointed at Su Xiao'e and asked with a smile, "Is this young lady the shopkeeper's wife?" The shopkeeper was taken aback. He turned his head and glanced at the woman by the door. He thought she was alluring, with a beautiful figure and appearance. Her smile was captivating and made one's bones melt. He felt a strong itch in his heart.

Just as he was lost in his fantasies, the woman suddenly turned around. It was the man behind her who stepped forward, his pair of cloudy yellow eyes staring at him intently, startling him. The shopkeeper couldn't help but take a few steps back, leaning against Jia Ling, and said awkwardly, "How could this old man have such good fortune? Is this young lady perhaps from a wealthy family in town?"

Su Xiao'e smiled without saying a word, calmly walked past Su Xing and sat down next to Pan Xijin. She took the cup from Pan Xijin's hand, drank the rest in one gulp, and then laughed as she turned the cup upside down, saying, "This young master is so rude, how can he not even acknowledge me..."

Pan Xijin's eyes softened, and he stroked his forehead with a smile, saying, "Since you've come looking for your husband, then it must be none of my business..."

Su Xiao'e sighed softly and said gently, "Today was supposed to be my wedding day. Just as I was undressing and entering the bridal chamber—a girl suddenly appeared and kidnapped my husband without saying a word. There haven't been any strangers in this ancient town for half a month. A little inquiry will tell you where those strangers live..."

"So?" Pan Xijin's eyes softened, and he said gently.

“So that woman is probably traveling with you, young master…” Su Xiao’e continued.

"Is this woman here to see my young master?" Peony stared at Su Xiao'e's back in surprise. "She's really shameless! Look at how she sways her waist and gives me seductive glances, and there's a monster following her everywhere. Could it be that she's been eyeing my young master all along and has some kind of evil idea on her mind!"

“This person’s origins are unknown, and his behavior is strange…” Jia Ling narrowed her eyes, her dimples appearing and disappearing, “Especially that…”

"Monster!" Peony kindly warned.

"...Okay, that monster really looks terrifying—the conman's out, and Master Li isn't here either. If things get heated, we need to figure out how to escape..."

Having probably overheard their conversation—Jia Ling and Mudan hadn't intended to speak quietly anyway—Su Xing turned his head slowly, his cloudy eyes staring intently at Jia Ling. Whether it was anger or impending tears, yellowish-green liquid was bubbling from those eyes, which could hardly be called eyes.

Jia Ling swallowed hard, but glared back defiantly, her words flying: "What are you looking at? Do you know how beautiful my bright, clear, and dark eyes are? If you're envious and jealous, go back to your mother's womb and be reborn!"