"Alright, why are you crying? I'm fine." When Shanzhu was treating the wound, she was also shocked to see how serious it was. But Guiyao endured it and comforted me in a relaxed tone. Shanzhu really admired her endurance. She had no idea what this kind of pain was. When she found out that he was an abandoned child, the pain in her heart was many times greater than this.
After treating Gui Yao's wounds, Shan Zhu glanced at the young lady and the princess, sighed inwardly, and shook her head. Knowing that perhaps some things were inappropriate for them to hear, she turned to the princess, whose expression was curious but whose eyes held a clear sadness, and said, "Princess, I'll take you to eat pastries. Today, Shan Zhu made lots of delicious pastries!"
Jing'er was clever too. She nodded, happily took Mangosteen's hand, and kept saying, "Really? Mangosteen is so nice! Hurry, I can't wait!"
The door closed, and I was grateful for their thoughtfulness.
Chapter 1012
Once Jing'er and Shan's footsteps disappeared into the corridor of the cabin, I threw a tantrum. "Tell me what happened. Don't try to fool me with some nonsense."
"It's really nothing," Gui Yao said, his eyes flickering slightly, but I couldn't see it. Just because I couldn't see it didn't mean I believed him. From the way Shan Zhu applied the medicine to him earlier, his rapid breathing and the smell of blood made me realize that this was no ordinary wound; it could be quite serious.
"If you still won't tell me, then forget it, you can go. Anyway, you never considered me a friend. You didn't even tell me you were injured. Staying here will only make me angry." I started to act spoiled. It was my fault for not telling him. I was really upset. Now that I'm blind, I can't see his expression and I don't know what he's thinking. If he keeps anything from me in the future, I'll be completely kept in the dark by listening and smelling.
Gui Yao was particularly helpless; he had no way to deal with Zi Xue's obsession.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you leaving? Don't make me suffer here." I pouted and turned my head away. This guy still wouldn't say anything. He really wanted me to kick him out. Sometimes I'm just that short-tempered, especially today when I wasn't in a good mood to begin with.
"I'll talk, I'll talk," Gui Yao pulled my body closer, turned my head back, and looked me straight in the eyes, her eyes filled with pity as flowing and unyielding as the river in the valley.
"Go ahead and say it," I said, pulling his hand down. I felt a little overwhelmed by his doting affection. I was afraid that I might accidentally hurt him. I should keep my distance now to avoid further harm to each other in the future.
Faced with my aloofness, Gui Yao's eyes flashed with sadness, like rain falling silently in the night, giving people a sense of loneliness. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, making him look desolate and sad.
"How could that be? Why would I hit you for no reason?" I exclaimed in surprise, my mind racing with questions about why, but I dared not think it was my fault, because I had already rejected the idea and didn't want to leave myself any answer. Women sometimes protect their hearts in this way.
"He hit her. You don't quite understand because of you." Gui Yao heard the denial in my voice and the avoidance in my heart. He didn't want to take advantage of her. He wanted Xue'er to figure it out herself, so that she wouldn't hurt him for no reason. Only when she really let go one day could he openly have her.
"Impossible! You're talking nonsense! This is simply impossible!" I shouted rudely, brushing away Gui Yao's hand with a pleading expression, begging her to stop talking. This is simply impossible.
"Xue'er, face reality, Jue really loves you." Gui Yao's heart felt like a snowfall on a winter night, cold and chilly. He didn't know why he wanted her to realize this, because it would push her towards him. Even though he was unwilling, he didn't regret doing it.
"Love me, haha, love me, how ridiculous! You say he loves me? How could that be? And what about Xue'er?" The blinding sunlight didn't reach my eyes, much less my heart. In this sweltering season, I felt icy cold all over, shivering uncontrollably. In the darkness, I silently told myself to be strong. The sunlight stung my body.
"He has his own difficulties." Although Gui Yao and Jue are rivals in love, they have also known each other for many years, and Gui Yao understands Jue's thoughts to some extent. The martial world is currently in turmoil, with countries coercing each other. Even though Xingguo is militarily strong and prosperous, there are many power struggles within the country. Once war breaks out, Xingguo may be on the verge of collapse. No one wants to see such a scene, including Jue. Although Xue'er was part of the original plan, making things easier, since Xue'er disappeared, Jue actually came to him to change the plan. He knew that Jue was truly in love, and he didn't want Xue'er to be hurt. At this moment, the two of them tacitly canceled the original plan. In fact, Jue had been planning this plan for a long time, and Xue'er's arrival accelerated its implementation. Who knew it would hurt him so deeply? Jue didn't leave in the afternoon; he just watched over Xue'er from a dark place, protecting her. However, some people couldn't wait any longer, and Jue ordered him to protect her to prevent Xue'er's safety from being harmed. Gui Yao smiled bitterly and touched his wound. This is the price of loving Xue'er!
"What's the reason?" I calmed down, not because I believed in Jue Ai, but because I suddenly wanted to hear what the two of them were doing, what hatred made Jue risk her life.
"It's better if you don't know now. It's a complicated situation involving royal families from various countries and conflicts in the martial arts world. Telling you now will only put you in danger. I'll make sure you're protected." Gui Yao shook her head. He could agree to anything she asked for, and tell her anything, except for anything that might threaten her life. He would prevent it all for her. His devilish face was filled with a dark, gloomy light in his eyes, which made people's hearts tremble. If they dared to touch her, he would make sure they died without a burial place, without a doubt.
"Never mind, I won't ask anymore." I automatically ignored the last sentence, but I did take it to heart. A strange joy welled up inside me, which made me feel terrible. Sigh, she has her freedom now, and she doesn't want to lose it again. When the time comes, she will know what she needs to know. There's no need for me to keep dwelling on this.
"Alright, don't worry." Actually, Gui Yao knew that Xue'er was still worried about Jue's safety, but she stubbornly refused to admit it. It seemed that she was really going to make things difficult for herself. She couldn't get over the knot in her heart, and now she couldn't be forced to. She could only wait for Xue'er to figure it out herself.
A moment of silence fell, the setting sun began to glow red, a gentle breeze blew a long, melodious tune, and the leaves pushed each other, creating a soft, soothing sound. Everything was so peaceful yet so refreshingly cool.
"By the way, are you hungry?" I suddenly remembered that they hadn't eaten because I had spoken up earlier. Xiao Yao had lost so much blood, so we should give her something to help her recover.
"Fortunately," Gui Yao was actually a boy, and his body wasn't as weak as a girl's. Although he lost a lot of blood, he recovered quickly and wasn't too weak. Hearing Xue'er's concern for him, he felt as comfortable and happy as a spring breeze, and he no longer felt hungry.
I ignored Xiao Yao's delighted tone and made up my mind that I must replenish my blood.
"Yes, Miss." Mangosteen also knew martial arts. After I discovered her skills, she didn't hide them anymore and used them whenever she could.
"Quick, take out the Ganoderma lucidum and ginseng we brought from the palace and make soup for him," I said, pointing to Xiao Yao who was standing there in a daze, my tone a little anxious.
"Xue'er, no need." Gui Yao also sensed that Xue'er was about to give him a good nourishing drink. He felt a chill run down his spine and shivered. He quickly stopped her, but it was clear that he had no say in front of these two girls. He could only watch the figure of Shan Zhu leaving with a wronged expression and silently shed tears in his heart.
"You have to eat. You'd be letting me down if you didn't." I ignored Xiao Yao and shut him down with one sentence. These are all blood-nourishing foods. I'll make sure he's well-nourished and plump. (Author's note: This is like raising a pig.)
The author is lazy and updates are slow, I apologize for the inconvenience. I'll try my best, because I'm preparing another book, which is why it's a bit slow.
Chapter 1013
The matter passed just like that. Jing'er and Shanzhu were also sensible enough not to ask anything. I didn't get any truth out of Gui Yao either, but I wasn't angry. People will tell what they want to say. I would never go looking for trouble for no reason.
Everything was so peaceful. Jing'er and Gui Yao bickered all day long. At first, I would sided with Jing'er, but I found that they both enjoyed it. I quickly decided to ignore them. Even when Jing'er asked for my help, I ignored her. Gui Yao was initially annoyed by my favoritism, but there was nothing he could do. When he saw that I was ignoring them, he was secretly pleased and teased Jing'er even more. He felt so comfortable. Shan Zhu took care of our daily life. Because I was blind, I couldn't do anything. Jing'er started to learn these chores. At first, it was a mess. Even Shan Zhu was afraid of her and dared not let her do anything. Later, perhaps because Jing'er was smart, she became somewhat proficient and managed to lighten Shan Zhu's burden. Gui Yao also had plenty of opportunities to tease Jing'er. Everything was so happy and comfortable, but I never expected that the happiness would disappear so quickly.
I've been living in the cabin for two months now. Autumn is approaching, and the wind still carries a chill. The leaves in the forest are beginning to wither and fall to the ground, only to be buried by the dust. During these two months, I've vaguely heard some rumors circulating in the martial arts world, saying that the Blood Tower has gone on a killing spree, causing various martial arts figures to want to punish the Blood Tower. People in various countries are also in a state of panic, since this involves the imperial court to some extent. This is why Xuebin agreed so easily to let Jing'er follow me.
"Sister, sister!" I was inside learning to wipe the table, because I couldn't let Shanzhu and Jing'er stay with me forever. There were some things I needed to learn to do myself. I startled everyone at first, and they insisted on making me sit and wouldn't let me do anything. Luckily, I threw a tantrum for a while, and they reluctantly let me learn to take care of myself. I snapped out of my thoughts and sat down. Jing'er's calls came from far away, and I smiled knowingly.
"What's wrong? I could hear your voice from far away." I took out my handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Jing'er's face, then smiled gently and teased her.
"Sister, Gui Yao bullied me!" Jing'er was very angry, really angry, but she couldn't do anything about that guy, so she had to ask her sister for help. Only her sister could keep him in check. Just thinking about how he looked so helpless made Jing'er feel better. Now she just had to act cute and beg her sister to help her.
"Why are you two arguing again? Tell me, what can I do? How come you don't get tired of arguing like this every time?" I playfully tapped her forehead. Jing'er has also learned to win them over. She's gotten used to their bickering, which adds fun to her life. Sometimes when I hear them arguing, I can't help but smile.
Now that "sister" Jing'er knows some of Zixue's thoughts and knows that she won't really be angry, she tries even harder to act coquettishly. Her sweet voice is sometimes so irresistible that even Gui Yao can't stand it.
"They're here to see Xue'er again." Sure enough, they always end up making a scene in front of me. One of them makes faces, and the other makes sarcastic remarks. They've managed to clear up all the previous annoyance. Gui Yao is annoyed by this little girl. She's always like this, taking advantage of Zi Xue without a care in the world. She's come to complain again when he's not looking.
"Alright, you two, sit down and eat." I waved my handkerchief, pinched Jing'er's forehead and nose, and then smiled and beckoned Gui Yao to sit down. I had a thought in my mind: could Jing'er like Gui Yao? Although Jing'er is sometimes quirky, she's not the kind of person who likes to hold grudges. She's said to be pure and kind because she always treats everyone with a tolerant heart. So why is she so uncomfortable with Gui Yao right now? Thinking of this, I smiled meaningfully. It seems that life is always full of miracles.
"Sister, why are you smiling like that?" Jing'er felt a shiver run down her spine when she saw her sister's smile. Something felt off, as if she were being tricked.
"It's okay, we'll eat it after the mangosteens come out." I covered my lips with a handkerchief. Oh ho ho ho, I almost got caught. Xue'er's mischievousness is at it again.
After waiting for quite a while, Shanzhu came in, looking a little strange. She looked at us, then spotted Guiyao with surprise, blinked nervously at him, and then quickly resumed arranging the dishes as usual.
Gui Yao was initially smiling as he watched Jing'er and me interact. But when he saw that Shan Zhu's expression was off, his face turned cold, like a piece of ancient black iron that had been hidden for thousands of years, emitting a chilling aura. Then, he looked around warily, fixed his gaze on a spot in the bamboo forest outside the small wooden house, and sneered.
He flew to Mangosteen, picked up a pill, and threw it into its mouth, saying, "Protect them."
Jing'er was completely confused. Actually, Jing'er also had some martial arts skills, but she wasn't very good at them. During the two months she spent with us, Jing'er suddenly wanted to learn martial arts. She clung to the bamboo shoots, begging them to teach her. Gui Yao teased her even more when he saw this. Perhaps he was later moved by Jing'er's perseverance, because sometimes he would give her some pointers. Although Jing'er's martial arts skills were no match for the masters in the martial arts world, she had improved very quickly. When she wielded the sword, she did it with precision and skill, which was enough to protect herself.
"How come?" Actually, since I went blind, my hearing and sense of smell have improved several times over. Perhaps it is a blessing from heaven. I also noticed the unusual situation outside the bamboo forest. When I heard Gui Yao's instructions to Shan Zhu, I stood up. Shan Zhu quickly stood in front of us to protect us, and I pulled Jing'er behind me.
With a 'whoosh,' several arrows pierced the sky and shot into the house. I used the Moon Lamp to shoot down two of them, and the rest were also shot down by Mangosteen. Jing'er had never seen such a scene before and was a little scared, but she quickly calmed herself down, hoping that she would not become a burden to Mangosteen and her sister.
"You wretch, why didn't you die two years ago?" After the arrow, Mangosteen told me that two women had appeared. At first, I didn't know who they were, but when I heard their voices, I recognized them. It was Baili Xinru, the prime minister's daughter, who was still speaking rudely.
"How did you know I was in trouble?" Baili Xinru is a young woman, how could she know that I was in trouble two years ago?
"Hehe, you'll know when you get to hell." As I said this, I heard the sound of a sharp sword stabbing towards me. It was so piercing, but it was stopped by the bamboo. Judging from the sound, Baili Xinru's martial arts skills were not bad. It seems that I really underestimated her. She is the one who is truly hiding her true abilities.
Baili Xinru probably also knew that Shanzhu was skilled in martial arts, but she didn't expect Shanzhu's skills to be so good. As the fight went on, she became a little annoyed and swung her sword even faster. She flew to the roof beam, looking at me with a ferocious expression. Then she laughed at the woman who had come in with her, "What, didn't you want to kill her too? Now that she's in front of you, go ahead and kill her. What, are you scared?" The mockery probably angered the woman, who also thrust her sword at me. I pushed Jing'er aside and used Yue Ling to block the sword.
Everyone in the room was astonished. Except for Jing'er, Shanzhu had wanted to help her master when she saw him in danger, but she was held back by the woman. She was anxious and her arm was stabbed by the woman. When she saw that her master was able to catch the woman's sword, she breathed a sigh of relief and became more serious about dealing with the woman in front of her.
Not to mention Mangosteen, Baili Xinru and the woman were also frightened. Zixue had never used martial arts in front of them, so they assumed that Zixue did not know martial arts and were inevitably a little careless. Now that things were like this, they became more cautious.
"Who are you?" I had no idea that I had made enemies with so many people. I smiled bitterly to myself. Those enemies were all ruthless. It seemed that I had a lot of rivals in love, and none of them were kind.
The woman didn't speak, she was stunned for a moment. Then she continued to thrust her sword, but faster than before. It seemed she didn't intend to let me go, and wanted to kill me. Clearly, she didn't know I was blind, and only now did she realize who she was.
Can you guess which woman is who? Xue'er's updates are irregular, which is a bit irresponsible, but I try my best to update. Thank you all for your support.
Chapter 114
I spent a few days at my uncle's place, and now I'm back to update my blog.
A faint scent of peony blossoms wafted in the air, so faint that if I weren't blind and had an exceptionally keen sense of smell, I probably wouldn't have been able to detect it. It was emanating from the woman, like her natural fragrance. I suddenly thought of Xuanqin from the Blood Tower. Back then, even when I wasn't blind, I vaguely seemed to have smelled a similar scent. Could it be someone from the Blood Tower? But I have no conflict of interest with the Blood Tower, otherwise, the elders there wouldn't have wanted to kill me so desperately. Whatever the reason, I need to test them.
The "Blood Tower" member twisted his hand, causing the moon lattice to reverse and tightly entangle the woman's sword. Petals flew out of the window, swirling like cherry blossom rain, scattering across the world. A woman dressed in white gracefully descended, petals dancing with her. Her empty eyes appeared even more ethereal, like a woman on the verge of becoming an immortal. The people in the small wooden house stared blankly at this scene, but a deadly glint flashed in the eyes of two of the women.
The woman was unable to move because her sword was tightly bound. Upon hearing my words, she paused for a moment. Taking advantage of her distraction, I used my inner strength to fling away the Moon Shield. The Moon Shield was like a sharp sword piercing towards the woman's heart, but she regained her senses and dodged it, only piercing her shoulder. I did not let up, and used the Moon Shield to hook the sword and throw it towards Jing'er, controlling the force so as not to hurt Jing'er.
I heard the woman stagger backward. The twist on this side would also affect the other side. Baili Xinru saw that the woman had been defeated by me and looked at me in disbelief. Her eyes were wide as she stared intently at the moon scepter in my hand. She flew down and stood opposite me. Shanzhu also flew in front of me to protect me.
"You are the Lord of the Moonlit Sword?" Baili Xinru's eyes widened in disbelief. She screamed inwardly, "Why is that woman so lucky? Two years ago, she couldn't be killed in the palace, and she even received the protection of Young Master Jue. Yet, she became a woman despised by everyone in Xing Kingdom. What shamelessness in wanting Young Master Jue's love, what magnanimity and forgiveness in letting her go? She became a woman hated and condemned by everyone in Xing Kingdom, while she became a woman praised and sung by everyone in Xing Kingdom. How could this world be so unfair? Now she even possesses the Moonlit Sword!" Baili Xinru's emotions brewed in her eyes, her malevolence rising, her face becoming even more ferocious, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped the sword tightly, wanting to deliver a fatal blow and send me to hell. The current Baili Xinru completely lacked the air of a prime minister's daughter; she resembled a demon from hell, her body filled with yin energy.
Upon hearing Baili Xinru's affirmative answer, Shanzhu frowned. After a moment's thought, and witnessing Baili Xinru's sudden change in expression, her vigilance increased. She stood protectively in front, fearing that Baili Xinru might do something rash in a moment of madness.
The woman I injured hadn't expected the Moon Spirit Master to be involved. After Baili Xinru said that, a strange jealousy arose in her heart. Her eyes were fixed on the Moon Spirit in my hand, and the predatory look in her eyes was very obvious.
Although I'm blind, I could still sense the shift in the atmosphere around me. The murderous intent was even more intense than before, a menacing force coming straight at me. Even though I'd lived in ancient times for two years, experienced jealousy, been framed, and been betrayed, this was the first time I'd encountered such a strong atmosphere intent on killing me. I'd seen dead people, indirectly killed people, but I never imagined I'd kill someone directly. Strike that woman's heart with the Moonlight Sword was already my limit, because I knew that if I didn't kill her, I'd only be a burden to Mangkhut. I'm not a heartless woman, but I'm not one to be soft-hearted either. A person who knows that being soft-hearted for a moment might sow the seeds of future trouble, and some seeds of trouble must be eliminated. Just like Consort Rong, if I had spared Consort Rong's life back then and let her know that I was not a concubine in the palace, then I would not have been able to live peacefully for the past two months. Consort Rong is a vengeful person; she will not let go of anyone who has hurt her. Similarly, I now feel this threat, so I believe that this woman cannot be kept alive, even if she is a top-notch expert in the Blood Tower. Now, facing this situation, I know that I must not be afraid, nor can I be weak.
"It seems you're not so stupid after all. Now that you all know my secret, well, I'm sorry, you have to die." I tossed Yue Ling aside, a cold smile curling at the corner of my lips. My face was icy, my lips thin, and the sudden, palpable ferocity emanating from me made me look like a demon from hell, ready to slaughter everyone and cleanse myself with blood.
"Hahaha, what a joke! Zixue, do you still think I'm the Baili Xinru from two years ago? Your arrogance hasn't changed at all. I'd like to see who dies today!" Baili Xinru originally wanted to see my fearful face, to see my trembling and weak body, but she didn't expect my face to turn cold, my ferocity even stronger than theirs. That's right, the woman standing in front of them now had shed the naivety of two years ago. Her empty eyes made people tremble, and her murderous aura made her tremble with fear. This woman had transformed into a messenger of hell, demanding people's blood to bathe in. That's right, Baili Xinru's heart felt like it had fallen into darkness. She controlled her trembling body and used words to cover up her fear.
Compared to Baili Xinru's fear, the woman was quite calm. After all, everyone who survived in the Blood Tower had walked the line between life and death. She wasn't afraid of such intense killing intent; at worst, she would die. However, a figure flashed through her mind, sending a chill down her spine. She shook her head. Things had already come to this point; there was no turning back. Dragging her to death would be worthwhile. Touching her shoulder, she thought it was laughable—just one stab. Someone who had walked the line between life and death wasn't afraid of such a stab. Zixue had to die; otherwise, her death would be meaningless. (Reader's comment: Love it! This woman seems a bit twisted.)
"Sister" Jing'er was a little scared, but seeing that Shanzhu and her sister had tense faces, she also tried to tense her face. She wasn't stupid; she knew that these people were all coming for her sister. She had a sense of trust and security in herself. She gripped the sword tightly and nodded firmly. She held onto her sister's clothes tightly; she couldn't be a burden.
"It's alright, Jing'er. Stay behind me. If anything happens, run, understand?" I sensed Jing'er's fear. In the darkness, I'm very sensitive to people and things. I knew Jing'er was overcoming her fear so as not to be a burden to us. At this moment, Jing'er was a bit like my former self. Jing'er was innocent, and I'm afraid that what happened in front of her was something she had never experienced before. It was all my fault. If she hadn't followed Shanzhu to this bamboo forest, she wouldn't have been dragged into this vortex. I must protect her, even if it costs me my life, to return her to Xuebin. I whispered to Jing'er, in a tone that even someone with martial arts skills couldn't hear.
"No!" Jing'er was so stubborn that no one could persuade her. She didn't want to run away on her own; she wanted to live and die with her sister. Although she knew she might become a burden, she still didn't want to be a deserter.
I shook my head helplessly and said nothing more, because I knew Jing'er's temper better than anyone else, and I couldn't persuade her anymore, for fear that she might do something wrong.
The situation continued in this way, and no one wanted to make the first move, but I knew that time could not be delayed any longer, as further delay would be very disadvantageous for us.
Chapter 115
"Mangosteen, finish this quickly!" I don't know if we can win, but we have to fight now. In any case, it's better to deal with these two as soon as possible. I gave the order to Mangosteen. The determination in my tone made Mangosteen's eyes sharpen. She thought about the same thing as her master.
"What's the rush? Aren't you, Zixue, fearless of death?" Baili Xinru wasn't nervous because of my words. Instead, she relaxed and gently scraped the ground with her sword, making a piercing sound. Her slightly sinister laugh sounded terrifying.
"Yes, I, Zixue, am not afraid of death, but it depends on who I die at." A trace of unease flashed through my heart. Why hasn't Guiyao returned yet? What's going on? Or am I just overthinking things? Guiyao's martial arts are very powerful. Those small fry outside can't hold him back at all.
"Hehe, Zixue, you're still clinging to hope. Do you think the Ghost Manor Master will come to save you? Stop dreaming." Baili Xinru wanted to strike me down with her words, but it didn't work. For some reason, her words calmed me down, and my trust in Gui Yao increased by another ten percent.
I gently tugged at Shanzhu's sleeve from behind, and Yue Ling was flung out. This time, however, the target was Baili Xinru. This woman's words were infuriating, and she was always trying to sow discord. I felt that the woman from before didn't want to kill me, but Baili Xinru's words had provoked her to kill me. Now, I couldn't let Baili Xinru get away with it. The death of a prime minister's daughter was nothing, especially since the prime minister was busy dealing with the Xing Kingdom's emperor and probably didn't have the energy to care about his daughter.
The moonlight swayed and danced, appearing and disappearing, making it impossible for Baili Xinru to get close to me. Instead, she was injured by me, which made her very angry. She cut my white silk ribbon, but another one grew back, like an unbreakable lotus root thread, one after another. Baili Xinru felt powerless and anxious, and her swordsmanship began to become chaotic. At this moment, I was much calmer. In such a situation, one must remain calm, otherwise, others will take advantage of the situation. When Baili Xinru was slightly off guard, I slapped her to the ground with my palm, hooked the sword that Baili Xinru was about to drop with the moonlight sway, pointed it at Baili Xinru's neck, and then quietly listened to the movements from the other side of the bamboo.