At that moment, he didn't say anything more. He put his arm around my waist, pressed my head against his chest, and jumped down.
As Jue jumped off the cliff, my heart jumped with her. When I felt the real sensation of stepping onto the ground, I almost cried. This was so thrilling, even more thrilling than riding a roller coaster. If I went back and told Jia that I had jumped off a cliff, I'm sure she would call 120 (emergency services).
If it weren't for the incredible support, I would have collapsed to the ground, my legs giving way.
Emerging from Jue's embrace, I saw an open space. Looking up, I saw a vast expanse of white above, obscuring the cliff top. This was incredible! To jump down like that and come down without any injury.
"Hmph," Leng Qing walked up to me, looking at my dazed expression with disdain.
"Miss, it's alright now," Xiao Wu said softly, wiping away the tears that had welled up in my eyes with a handkerchief.
"It's okay, you all knew you wouldn't die if you jumped down, why didn't you tell me?" I burst into tears. It turns out I was the one worrying for nothing the whole time!
"If I told you, would you dare to play?" Leng Mei looked at me with a grin, seeing my still-shaken expression.
"I wouldn't dare, but I know I can do some things." I changed my slightly fearful tone and looked at the lovely, cold beauty in front of me with ill intent.
"What is it?" Leng Mei took three steps back in fear, but still looked at me with the curiosity of a child.
"Hehe, Leng Mei, seeing how submissive you are, I think I should find you a dominant partner to properly train you," I laughed brightly, my eyes sparkling as I sincerely told Leng Mei about my good intentions.
"The bottom? The top?" Leng Mei looked at me with a confused expression, her childish face making her even more adorable.
My eyes lit up as I looked at him. 'He's such a submissive guy, a true uke!' I patted his cold, alluring shoulder earnestly. 'Don't worry, I'll definitely turn you gay. Just wait for your wonderful life to begin.'
"Let's go," Jue said, carrying me towards the open space, his eyes sharply scanning the surroundings.
Everyone followed Jue forward, their eyes and expressions all very serious. Only Leng Mei murmured, "Shou? Gong? Turn him gay." Sigh, that silly boy still doesn't understand any of this. He's still wondering why Zi Xue let him off so easily, but he never imagined that his BL life would be manipulated by Zi Xue.
Leng Tian walked ahead, leading us to a stone in a stone forest. He placed a jade pendant on the stone and activated it. With a loud bang, the stones in the stone forest changed and all began to move.
After a while, a stone gate appeared before us, leading to a long road, and in the distance, we could vaguely see another gate.
As soon as we stepped inside, four boys appeared out of nowhere and knelt before Liao Jue.
"Master?" I murmured, but everyone here was skilled in martial arts, and my soft voice couldn't escape their ears.
Jue looked down at my dazed expression, then affectionately pinched the bridge of my nose and asked, "What's wrong?"
The people kneeling on the ground looked up in surprise. Looking at their expressions, it was as if Leng Tian and the others had seen me for the first time. No, it should be even more horrified. After glancing at me, they immediately lowered their heads again and knelt there motionless. No, their fingers were trembling slightly. Was it because of despair?
"No," I kept all my doubts to myself; now was not the time to ask.
Jue didn't say anything more, but took me and leaped into the air. Watching the scenery rushing past, I knew Jue was flying with me in her arms again. I held on tightly to Jue and watched excitedly.
A moment later, Jue put me down, and before me stood a solemn gate, predominantly gold and black, with ornate carvings on the left and right. A huge plaque above the gate read "Blood Tower," and two stone lions stood on either side of the gate. The two lions, one male and one female, were both majestic and imposing.
here it is?
Chapter 74
I remained silent. Jue harbored too many secrets. For so long, I had enjoyed his favor, never inquiring about his background, status, or the true secrets of his heart. I had told him about my incredible transmigration, hoping he would one day reveal it to me. However, Jue said nothing, not even about his identity in the palace, which he only told me because of the circumstances. I was confused. Was my decision to settle here and stay with Jue the right one? What exactly did Jue do in the palace and at Luozhuang? What was Jue's real name? What was Jue's Blood Tower? And why did he take me to the First Manor? I knew nothing. I always thought that my intelligence was high enough to survive in the palace. Now, I realized that without Jue, I might be a corpse in that mass grave. Jue had never said he loved me, nor had he ever said he liked me. In all these days, his favor gave me the illusion that I was his true love, but was that really true? I was lost.
My absent-mindedness was noticed by Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu knew the doubts in her mistress's heart. Just because her mistress didn't say anything didn't mean she didn't care. Was it right or wrong for the master to be with the mistress like this?
"Miss, Miss," Xiao Wu whispered in my ear as I was deep in thought.
"Ah, what's wrong?" I snapped out of my daze and looked at Xiaowu a little embarrassed. I looked around and realized that I had unknowingly walked through that door and was now standing in a long corridor. What was wrong with me? Why was I starting to regret something I hadn't thought about for so long? I had chosen to trust Jue, so why was I still having these thoughts? Really.
"Miss, let me take you to your room to rest," Xiao Wu said, looking at her with a hint of worry.
"Ah, oh, yeah, where's Jue?" Jue, who was just next to me, has disappeared. I looked around.
"Miss, the master has something to do and instructed me to take you to your room to rest," Xiao Wu said softly, pointing to the seemingly endless corridor.
"Ah, let's go then." I was in a daze again. I didn't know what was wrong with me. Ever since I entered this Blood Tower, I started to feel panicked. I couldn't find the answer to why.
As I followed Xiaowu to the room prepared for me, I was greeted by a woman in a light red inner dress, embroidered with delicate peonies in a slightly darker shade of red. Over this, she wore a light orange, transparent gauze robe, also embroidered with elegant flowers in fine gold thread. She wore gold-embroidered shoes, each with a precious pearl dangling from the toe. Behind her head, she wore a jade ornament with a ruyi-shaped headdress inlaid with carved double dragon patterns, and on the sides, a gold phoenix hairpin inlaid with jewels and pearls, and a gold hairpin with bat patterns and inlaid glass beads. Her magnificent clothes surpassed even those of imperial concubines, but her eyes held no warmth like her clothes; instead, they were filled with a chilling coldness—no, hatred. That hatred startled me. I couldn't understand how someone I didn't know could despise me so much.
"Xuanwu!" The woman approaching from the opposite direction called out to Xiaowu in a calm and indifferent tone, devoid of any emotion, only coldness. After speaking, she glanced at me and asked Xiaowu, "Who is it?" I knew that her murderous intent was directed at me.
"She's not someone you can touch, Xuanqin," Xiaowu said protectively, standing in front of me with her eyes fixed on the woman named Xuanqin.
"Hehe, who is she that makes Xuanwu, one of the Ten Protectors, so nervous?" After saying that, she walked past Xiaowu and came in front of me. Her originally cold face had a wicked smile on it, and her cold eyes were full of mockery.
Xiao Wu didn't speak, but just watched her every move. The chill that hadn't been there in a long time suddenly reached its peak, and the killing intent didn't subside in front of me. Who was she? Why was Xiao Wu so wary of her?
"Hey, it's not that good-looking either. Did Master really have to bring it into the Blood Tower?" He lifted my chin, making it hurt a little. Although he said it was a question, his expression was a bit ferocious, as if he wanted to tear me to pieces, which made the pain in my chin even worse.
I brushed her hand away, looked at her calmly, and didn't say anything. I knew I had no martial arts skills. Modern Taekwondo was nothing but a rudimentary skill here. For Xuanqin in front of me, killing me would be easier than killing an ant.
"Xuanqin," Xiaowu called out to the woman in a warning tone.
The woman's face turned cold again. She gave me a disdainful look, then bumped into me and walked away.
"Xiao Wu, I suddenly feel very weak," I said hesitantly, watching the woman's retreating figure.
"Miss," Xiao Wu looked at me with some worry.
"Okay, I'm fine, I was just feeling sentimental." I gave a warm smile, even the curve of my lips was so perfect.
After walking along the corridor for an unknown amount of time, Xiao Wu stopped. A beautiful garden came into view. To the left were various kinds of precious flowers, and to the right was a shimmering lake, its surface reflecting a white light. Willow trees, like the flowing hair of a graceful young woman, cascaded down to the water's surface. It was a comfortable courtyard.
"Miss, Snow Pavilion is where you will live from now on," Xiao Wu said, and then led me through the courtyard and into the room.
The first thing that caught the eye was a pale yellow curtain, the twilight air slightly cool. Above, tassels swayed gently in the breeze. Parting the curtains, white marble pillars stood at the four corners of the room, the walls entirely constructed of white stone bricks. Golden orchids bloomed alluringly among the white stones, and blue gauze curtains swayed in the wind. An exquisite triangular table, covered with fine brocade, held a delicate tea set. A screen divided the room in two, beyond which lay layers of gauze curtains, which fluttered gently in the breeze. Behind the screen stood a bed, its front panel made of small wooden blocks arranged in a four-section ruyi shape with a cross in the center, forming a large latticework panel. An oval moon gate was left in the center. The railings and the upper lintel were made in the same way. The bed frame was woven from palm rope and rattan into a pepper-eye shape. The four sides of the bed railings were decorated with reliefs of dragons and other motifs.
This room looks luxurious and noble yet elegant, showing the care put into its design.
"This room?" I'm a little curious about who designed it; they're truly talented!
"This pavilion was specially ordered to be built by the master," Xiao Wu said, helping me sit down on a chair in the room and pouring me a cup of tea, placing it in my palm.
She lowered her head shyly, looking at the ripples in the water in the cup, feeling an indescribable joy in her heart. At least now, Jue really cared about her.
Xiaoxue's QQ: 2468112196, interested parties please add +++++
Chapter Seventy-Five
In ancient times, someone as powerless as me would have been a burden to Jue. Although Jue never said it, he always said he would protect me. But I am a new human being, how can I rely on a man and pretend to be a weak woman? So I had an idea.
"Xiao Wu, teach me martial arts!" I suddenly raised my head and said firmly to Xiao Wu.
"What, Miss, why did you suddenly think of that?" After saying that, she paused for a moment, thinking of what her young lady had said to Xuanqin earlier. Although she said it was a sigh, I saw the loneliness and envy in her eyes. Her young lady really wanted to become stronger!
"Xiao Wu, I want to learn martial arts so that you and Jue won't always have to protect me, and I can protect myself too." After saying that, her determination to learn martial arts became even stronger. That's right, she must learn. In this world, she can't always rely on Xiao Wu and the others. As long as she becomes stronger, Xiao Wu and the others can fight enemies with peace of mind when they encounter danger, instead of being constantly thinking about her like they were when they encountered assassins before, which restricted their abilities.
"Alright, by the way, Miss, I've heard that Yue Ling herself seems to possess martial arts manuals, but no one knows where they're hidden." Xiao Wu saw the look in her mistress's eyes and knew she couldn't change her mind, so she agreed. Then, her eyes accidentally fell on Yue Ling, and she remembered reading a book about Yue Ling a long time ago, so she casually mentioned it.
"A martial arts manual?" I took off the moon shawl draped over my shoulders and began to study it carefully, not even noticing that Xiao Wu had gone out.
"Is it possible that this martial arts manual is on Yue Ling?" I picked up Yue Ling, which was as thin as paper, and rubbed it carefully, murmuring to myself.
"How could it possibly be thin? I'm such an idiot." After studying it for a long time without finding anything, he lightly punched his head with his fist and burst into laughter.
However, a thought suddenly occurred to me: could it be as magical as in fantasy novels, requiring some kind of slogan? But that seems impossible. The light that appeared when the Moon Mirror was stolen was already a miracle. How could we possibly need to chant such an absurd incantation now?
I glanced at the moonlight on the table, then turned back to meditate. I looked again, thought about it again, and concluded that it was probably impossible. But, why not give it a try? Perhaps there would be an unexpected result. Even if there was no reaction in the end, at least I wouldn't have any regrets.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" I stood up, closed my eyes, made a mudra with my hands, and chanted the incantation while stomping my feet.
When I opened my eyes, Yue Ling was still lying quietly on the table, without any reaction.
If Chinese spells don't work, then let's try "Mali Mali Hong, Mali Mali Hong." I closed my eyes again, pointed at the moon sill, and recited the most familiar foreign spell I remembered.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~ The wind whistled past, the moonlight swayed slightly, rippled in the air, and then lay back on the table. That gust of wind sent a chill down my spine. What does this mean? Is it impossible for me to have a mysterious weapon like the protagonists in those fantasy stories?
I covered my head with both hands and stared intently at Yue Ling, hoping that the pressure I was silently creating would elicit some reaction from her, but it was clearly far from satisfactory.
"What exactly is going on? Could it be that, as Xiao Wu said, the secret manual is just a legendary story, a story to add mystery to Yue Ling?" I muttered to myself, but I didn't feel like I could just study it and be done with it. I felt like I was going to fight Yue Ling. It was really unpleasant not being able to figure it out. It was like having a knot in my heart.
I suddenly remembered a very popular anime I watched a long time ago called "Cardcaptor Sakura". I think Sakura said something to that magic wand back then. I wonder if those words had any effect on Yue Ling.
"Moonlight, which hides the power of the stars, show me your true power! Purple Snow, who made a pact with you, commands you to release the seal!" I was imagining Sakura making Sakura's gestures. Although it would definitely look ridiculous, it was better to try anything than nothing!
After a while, I secretly opened one eye. The moonlight lying there seemed to be mocking my ignorance. Okay, I was deflated. What's wrong with me? I'm just making trouble for myself and torturing myself for no reason!
I picked up the Moon Frame and stared blankly at it. I whispered to the Moon Frame, "Moon Frame, are you playing a trick on me? Xiao Wu said you have spiritual energy and can recognize your master. But why haven't you given me any reaction after all this time? Move a little and let me know that there's a point in me continuing to be an idiot!"
The moonlight flashed, and a sentence flashed through my mind. I rubbed my eyes. Could I have seen wrong? This means the moonlight understood me. Amazing! I thought my time travel was already incredible, but to come here and see something so miraculous.
"Yue Ling, you understand what I'm saying. So tell me, how do I get your secret manual? Or do you not have one inside?" I spoke to a piece of white silk that looked like an inanimate object to others, like a fool. I'm sure if others saw me now, they would call me an idiot.
"Okay, let's try one more time. If it still doesn't work, then forget it and save yourself the trouble of losing a few more hairs." I carefully placed the Moon Frame on the table again and said to it, "Moon Frame, by the command of my lord, you have gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and absorbed the immortal energy of all things. Now, I command you to present the secret manual before me."
The moon spirit stirred slightly, then flew up and circled around me. When it reached above my head, it shone brightly. In the light, a book disintegrated from the moon spirit. I stretched out my hands, and the manual fell into them.
"Fluttering catkins," I read out the four big characters on the cover of the book. I opened the book and saw the martial arts manual that Xiao Wu had mentioned, which was a manual based on the combination of Yue Ling.
I was overjoyed, jumping around the room excitedly, "Great! Great! I've found the secret!"
As soon as Xiao Wu went to get the pastries, she heard her mistress laughing loudly in the room, and thought that her mistress had done something again.
"Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing." I hid the book in my sleeve. For some reason, I felt that it was best not to let anyone know about the Moon Spirit's appearance, not even Xiao Wu.
"Miss, what bad thing have you done again? Miss, this isn't outside, you can't do whatever you want here!" Xiao Wu thought that the young lady was playing a trick on me again, so she tried to persuade me earnestly.
"Oh dear, Xiao Wu, really! I didn't do anything wrong. Don't make it sound like I'm always causing trouble. I know this isn't the outside world, and I know my limits." Because of the strangeness of this Blood Tower, I wouldn't do anything reckless. (Author's note: How dare you act recklessly in that ghostly manor! Zi Xue said: You don't understand, after all, that manor isn't completely safe. Author's note: That's way too remote!)
Chapter Seventy-Six
"Alright, I understand, Miss." Xiao Wu put down the pastries in her hand, looked directly into my eyes, took my hand, and said seriously, "Miss, here, no matter what happens, don't pay attention to it, don't ask questions, just stay in this room."
"What do you mean? Does what you said sound like you're imprisoning me?" I frowned. Xiao Wu's words had completely ruined my pleasant mood. What did she mean by "don't worry about it" and "don't ask questions"? What did she mean by "stay obediently in this room"? Where exactly is this place? Why is Xiao Wu saying this to me?
"No, Miss, please listen to me this time," Xiao Wu pleaded, an expression she had never shown before. Xiao Wu was trying to protect me, but I couldn't just stay in this unfamiliar place, foolishly protecting someone like an idiot without doing anything.