Sept nuits de neige

Chapitre 97

This time, it wasn't the gentle and meticulous manner of before.

He pulled her into his arms with astonishing strength. His arms held her soft, delicate body tightly, as if afraid that if he loosened his grip even slightly, she would disappear. Before she could react, his lips were already on hers, fiercely covering hers and silencing her cry.

Tang Shijiu was startled and tried to struggle, but she couldn't muster any strength. His embrace seemed to possess a strange magic, urging and enticing her not to leave. Tianxiu had once used seduction on her, but it had no effect whatsoever.

Shen Yun's words were useless; he himself was a kind of poison, making her unable to control herself. Even though she knew that falling into his clutches would lead to eternal damnation, she still couldn't break free.

Chapter Sixty: Utter Hatred (Part Two)

He left. After that passionate kiss, Shen Yun gave Tang Shijiu a nonchalant smile, then turned and left as if he were just going outside to get a glass of hot water.

There was no turning back.

She thought that Shen Yuntan was just feeling guilty after the forced kiss, or running away after doing something shameful to Tianxiu, but she never expected that this time, he would completely disappear from Xiaoyao Manor.

He wasn't in the kitchen, nor in the training grounds. Tang Shijiu searched everywhere, but still couldn't find Shen Yuntan. Although she didn't know why she was searching like this—Shen Yuntan was an accomplice in Tianxiu's murder, an unforgivable crime—it was as if she were subconsciously searching every place Shen Yuntan might have gone.

Nothing was gained.

News of the retreat from the foot of the mountain spread. Master Buchen of the Buddha Stone Immortal Realm had three fingers severed overnight without anyone noticing, their bloody remains displayed in the most conspicuous spot in town, terrifying the town's children so much they dared not go out at night. Several superstitious old women claimed to have seen evil spirits that ate human fingers roaming the streets at night. Only Buchen himself knew the blood-written message, written in a flamboyant style, on the inn's wall—a warning from someone that if the troops didn't retreat, his disciples would decrease by one every hour.

When it comes to fighting alone, he may not be afraid of Shenyin.

He was completely helpless against such a sneak attack.

Master Buchen looked at his bloodied hands, sighed, and helplessly led his disciples to a village ten miles away. Although Abbess Ningyin cursed Buchen for being a coward, she ultimately followed. But as she left, she kept turning back, gazing at Xiaoyao Manor from afar with a wistful expression.

When the news arrived, Tang Shijiu sat silently in the guest room where Shen Yuntan had been sitting.

He left just like that, with a mocking smile, patting her hair as usual, and then departing without saying goodbye.

Upon careful reflection, it became clear that since they met, Shen Yuntan had never voluntarily left Tang Shijiu's side. No matter how many lies he told, he did his utmost to protect her.

Tang Shijiu suddenly felt a sense of panic. Perhaps, this time, Shen Yuntan really wouldn't come back.

Tianxiu is dead. She died because of Shen Yuntan. What reason does she have to continue to face this man without resentment?

But when he left, her heart felt empty, as if something was missing.

Actually, she had always wanted to find an opportunity to tell Shen Yuntan that she had finally discovered the secret of the Tuanfu Heart Sutra. However, every time the words were about to come out, she would hesitate and swallow them back.

Shen Yun said, "Nineteen, you have to believe me."

However, Tang Shijiu was no longer the naive young girl she once was, someone who believed everything others said and was easily fooled by kindness. She had become paranoid, even fearful of being deceived and hurt again.

Tang Shijiu tried to believe, but sadly discovered that no matter how hard she tried, she could not dispel the doubts in her heart.

She still couldn't trust him like she used to.

Moreover, Shen Yuntan's appearance following Tianxiu's death was far too "timely".

However, Tang Shijiu didn't have much time to think about these things. Her master had clearly stated that she was to shoulder the heavy responsibility of Xiaoyao Manor and protect it in this turbulent world.

"Senior sister, senior sister!" Tian Man suddenly appeared out of nowhere, looking unhappy. "Xu Ziqing..."

Seeing Tang Shijiu glare at him, he quickly changed his words, while secretly watching Shijiu's expression, "Senior Brother Xu and Senior Sister Gu Yan are back!"

"Oh..." Tang Shijiu's reaction was indifferent. Whether those two people lived or died was none of her business. Seeing them happy didn't make her particularly happy. Seeing them unhappy didn't make her particularly gloat. Letting unimportant people sway her emotions was the most wasteful thing she could do. In Tang Shijiu's life, these two people no longer held any place.

"Senior sister... they also brought someone back. It's said that the person's master is our senior uncle." Tian Man said mysteriously, "That person went to see the master."

Nineteen's head throbbed, and he jumped up, grabbing Tian Man's shoulder: "What did you say? Who's here?"

"Uh, it's...it's someone who seems to be a senior brother...what's his name, Sang Tian...Tian..." Tian Man was startled by her and couldn't finish her sentence.

Nineteen's expression had never been so serious. He said, enunciating each word clearly, "Stay far away from that person. Remember this: no matter what that person asks you, don't say a word. No matter what that person says to you, don't believe it."

"But...but..."

"No buts! That man is a devil, his conscience has been eaten away by dogs. Never, ever say anything to him, no, never go near him! If you see him, stay as far away as possible, do you hear me!" Her tone was so sharp it was frightening.

"Oh, my beauty Nineteen, am I really that annoying?" A lazy, amused voice rang in her ears. Nineteen was stunned, staring in disbelief, but dared not turn around.

"My heart wasn't chewed up by a dog. My heart has already flown to you. Don't you know that?" The owner of the voice was wearing a long robe with a bright red background and dark gold patterns. The wide collar was slightly open, revealing her delicate and beautiful collarbone, which was very alluring.

"Nineteen beauties, do you miss me?"

The man stood outside the door, the wind blowing his long robe, the afterglow of the setting sun shining on his slightly upturned peach blossom eyes, which were full of smiles.

Tang Shijiu slowly straightened up, as if he couldn't believe it, and whispered, "Tian...Tianxiu."

"Hey." The man's smile was so thick it seemed to melt away. "Speak louder, I can't hear you."

"Tianxiu!" she shouted, her voice trembling with joy and tears, and hugged him tightly, as if afraid he would suddenly disappear. She called out again, "Tianxiu!"

Tianxiu looked at her with a smile and reached out to pinch her rosy cheeks: "That brat Shen Yuntan is abusing my beauty. She's gotten so thin, she doesn't feel like a thing anymore."

Tang Shijiu laughed heartily and pinched his pectoral muscles hard: "You don't practice your skills properly again, you're so weak and have no manliness at all. You deserve to be married by Tiger Earth Lord."

Tianxiu feigned shyness: "You're so annoying! I belong to Nineteen Beauty, I'll follow you for life!"

Tang Shijiu pretended to be serious: "Men should marry when they are of age and women should marry when they are of age. Why be shy, Xiu-meimei? That Hu Tu Jun has thousands of acres of fertile land, no parents or wives. Marrying him will be a comfortable life."

As soon as Tianxiu arrived, she became lively, spouting nonsense without thinking and without any restraint or shyness. Tian Man had never seen his senior sister flirt with someone like this before, and was a little stunned. After a while, he cautiously interjected, "Senior sister, is this the one whose conscience has been eaten by dogs... uh... Senior Brother Sang?"

Tianxiu leaned down, smiling, "My conscience has been eaten by the Nineteen Beauties."

Tian Man reacted quickly: "Senior sister...he called you a dog."