Schatzkammer von Jianghu

Kapitel 72

Leng Shuangcheng laughed in exasperation, her pupils reflecting Qiu Yeyijian's unusually bright dark eyes. She gasped, "Planning before acting, always with a purpose—truly the skill of Young Master Qiu Ye." She turned her face away, but seeing his handsome lips press against hers, she bit him in resentment. Qiu Yeyijian raised his head, giving her a cold glance. He slowly wiped away the blood with a finger, then his gaze deepened, and he began to ravage her body with even greater force.

"Stop!" Leng Shuangcheng was overwhelmed with shame, his voice trembling violently: "Shameless... You're supposed to be a noble young master... You..."

Inside the carriage, Qiu Yeyi's voice could not be heard, only his uneven breathing could be heard.

14.Look at the moon

A delicate painted boat is moored on the inland waterway of Qingzhou. Such a light boat, adorned with purple peony vines and tassels, should be enjoying its splendor amidst the sounds of oars and the flickering lights on the Qinhuai River and West Lake, but now it remains hidden and lonely in the majestic Qingzhou.

Under the candlelight, a face of unparalleled beauty was reflected, her long hair flowing like waves, its elegant fragrance as pure as the waters of Qingzhou under the moon, as soft and luminous as a thin veil.

Black hair burst open in the water, revealing a chubby face—it was Old Jin, who had escaped by submerging himself. Ignoring the water droplets, he immediately prostrated himself before the flower-covered cabin in the boat, saying, "Left Envoy Jin Xiaoyao greets the young master."

The person in the boat was dressed in white, her aura as ethereal as a banished immortal. She turned her face to look at the moonlight and smiled leisurely: "Shu Xue has met Young Master Qiu Ye. He is indeed dazzling and cunning. No wonder Bai Li is so infatuated with him. He must be the dream man of many young ladies."

Old Jin, not expecting his young master's thoughts, asked in astonishment, "Master, you insist on showing yourself, is it to meet Young Master Qiuye?"

Shu Xue raised the corner of her mouth, revealing a faint smile: "A man of such high reputation, I must come and see for myself. Wouldn't it be a pity if I didn't understand this evenly matched opponent?" After seeing the doubtful look on Lao Jin's face, she still smiled charmingly: "Only he is worthy of playing this game with me, with such a vicious mind and scheming step by step."

Her face was as white as jade, and her beauty shone in the moonlight. She exuded an innocent and pure radiance amidst her cool demeanor. If it weren't for the body of the woman who had died tragically in the Immortal Abode, and hearing her light and cheerful laughter, Old Jin would have thought she was an innocent child.

However, her master, who dared to feign death at the hands of Qiu Yeyijian, the number one martial artist, and calmly slaughtered all the living people in the Immortal Abode with resentment, was definitely not as simple as a child. A night breeze swept by, and Old Jin Ding shivered coldly: "Master, what makes you say such a thing?"

Shu Xue smiled again: "Do you think he's a fool? Although he didn't know my whole plan, he could predict that some things would happen, yet he let things develop and even gave half of Dark Night as compensation. Isn't that just trying to lure me into making a move?" She paused, then chuckled, "He clearly knew that Bai Li had escaped from Wu Fang, and that he remained calm after Lin Qingluan was exposed, deducing that you and I are from the Secret Sect. What else could he be but a clever person?"

Old Jin silently pondered her words. Two years ago, the Japanese esoteric sect heard of a legendary figure in the Central Plains named Qiu Ye Yi Jian, who destroyed the Tang Clan, lured the Three Apes to defeat them, and sank the ancient well city that had been submerged for five hundred years. His ruthless methods had captivated the young master, causing alarm among the countries bordering the Song Dynasty. At that time, the master was only twelve or thirteen years old. Little did she know that she had always kept this figure in her heart until she met Bai Li, which became the catalyst for their relationship.

Bai Li escaped and submitted to his master, giving a detailed account of Qiu Ye Yi Jian's life from childhood to adulthood. His master carefully studied his opponent before devising a plan. Previously, he had summoned Yuwen Xiaobai to steal the Golden Wheel and create chaos, but Qiu Ye Yi Jian forcefully suppressed it, presumably deducing Bai Li's hidden identity from this.

The painted boat slowly broke through the moonlight, stirring the still waters of the river. Shu Xue gazed at the gentle moonlight for a long time, then suddenly smiled faintly and said, "Let's launch the plan. I want to have a good fight with him. However, if we kill Leng Shuangcheng, he will definitely be thrown into chaos and lose without a doubt."

The moonlight, as serene and beautiful as gauze, is pure and flawless, surpassing even the pristine water of a white jade Guanyin statue. The moon is always a compassionate and merciful fairy, silently watching over the vast earth and observing the rise and fall of the world.

The moonlight, like water, resembled Li Tianxiao's smile—a subtle yet genuine elegance. Leng Shuangcheng leaned against the screen wall where Lin Qingluan was imprisoned, silently gazing at the moonlight for a long time. Whenever she recklessly and arduously traveled to various places to hunt down her enemies, this gentle and refined young man in white would always travel great distances to stop her, to accompany her, allowing her to immerse herself in appreciating each pure moonlit night after the dust had settled.

Compassionate and gentle people...

Leng Shuangcheng felt suffocated whenever she thought of his smile.

The moon's shadow dappled through the trees, the clouds shimmered with light, and a gentle, cool breeze stirred her ribbons and sleeve knots. The pale blue hue blended into the soft, hazy gauze, exuding a graceful and elegant beauty. This was still a court concubine's cloud-patterned robe, revealing all the hidden feelings of another man.

Hua Long was fast on his feet, and Qiu Ye had limited opportunities to take advantage of him. After he dragged her along the carriage, Qiu Ye ordered her maid, Bi Tou, to help her change and bathe, giving her a brief respite. Leng Shuangcheng sat blankly in the bathwater, staring at the sheer fabric, and finally broke down in tears.

The leaping green trees and the rugged path were her longest memories while she was underwater. It was the view of the morning meeting on the slope of Nan Jingqi Mountain. In a state of confusion, she ran wildly to the top of the mountain and shouted at the blue sky and white clouds: Tianxiao, Tianxiao... Only her lonely voice echoed back in the sky.

Things have changed, and before she can speak, tears flow. Nan Jingqi avoids her sorrow, letting her dance and grieve in the forest. But Qiu Yeyijian seems to sense something, giving her no chance to grieve, relentlessly harassing and assaulting her until he sees her eyes redden with uncontrollable rage, only then releasing her wrist.

The moonlight shone on her tall, graceful shadow.

The meticulous Bi Tou styled her hair into an elegant lily bun. Knowing she disliked elaborate decorations, she forgot the jade hairpins and ornaments, simply tying it with a matching ribbon, which was then placed on either side of her black hair—a style reminiscent of imperial concubines and princesses. Leng Shuangcheng walked out of the pavilion, the night breeze ruffling her eyebrows and hair. Bi Tou couldn't help but exclaim from behind, "No wonder the young master is so secretive, not wanting anyone to get close..."

Leng Shuangcheng didn't turn around, smiled calmly, and left in silence.

Qiu Yeyi did not restrict her whereabouts, except for visiting Lin Qingluan through the wall.

Leng Shuangcheng quietly recalled the past, stood under the screen wall, and looked up at the moon. Its calmness was not as great as Liang Yue, and its vastness was not as great as Tianshan, but it soothed her anxiety and sorrow.

Lin Qingluan sat cross-legged, breathing exercises and circulating her internal energy. Her complexion gradually returned to its clear and fair state, no longer pale and bloodless like a sickly person.

The medicine prescribed by Leng Shuangcheng was truly miraculous, as if Hua Tuo and Bian Que had been reborn, bringing about such a great change in just one day. Lin Qingluan was silently reflecting on the benefits of Leng Shuangcheng when there was a whooshing sound outside the window. Looking up, she saw a figure indeed swaying in the treetops.

The figure, dressed in a flowing blue robe and possessing a handsome and elegant appearance, was none other than Leng Shuangcheng, who sat leaning against a branch.

"Lin Qingluan, are you alright?" Leng Shuangcheng smiled slightly, her face showing no sign of distress. "I was worried about you, so I came to check on you." Lin Qingluan looked at her radiant smile and paused for a moment, "Miss Leng, has something happened?"

Leng Shuangcheng sighed inwardly, but said calmly, "I only just found out myself. The source of the information is still unconfirmed. The Tantric sect will probably make their move tonight, but we don't know where they'll start..."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Leng. I am now a useless person, and it would be pointless for the organization to kill me." Lin Qingluan immediately deduced her worries and comforted her.

Leng Shuangcheng remained silent for a while, listening to the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. After a long pause, she asked again, "Lin Qingluan, if you need me to do anything, just say the word." Lin Qingluan smiled gently, exuding charm and elegance, "Miss Leng, what's wrong with you? Why are you so unlike your usual carefree self? You're being so secretive and evasive..."

Seeing his dashing and debonair appearance, Leng Shuangcheng sighed slightly: "You recover quickly... I was feeling very sad, so I took the opportunity of visiting you to bother you."

Lin Qingluan was surprised. Logically speaking, Leng Shuangcheng's status was already extremely high, and even if she had something to say, she should speak to Qiu Yeyijian, not to him, an outsider. But this was a perfect moment he could only dream of, so he suppressed his excitement and asked nervously, "What does Miss Leng want to say?"

Leng Shuangcheng chuckled self-deprecatingly, with a hint of resoluteness and decisiveness, and said, "It's nothing, I just want to hear you sing a song. Do you know it?" Lin Qingluan was greatly surprised and opened her eyes slightly, saying, "That's quite unusual. What song?"

"Looking towards the south of the Yangtze River".

The moonlight faded, casting a cold, clear shadow on the clouds. Leng Shuangcheng swayed in the shadows of the flowers and trees, silently making her way back to her quarters. Inside, gauze curtains fluttered gracefully, and the silvery moonlight was cool and refreshing. Only the soft glow of the palace lamps flickered. There was no sound of autumn leaves falling against swords; it seemed that everyone was already fast asleep.

After listening to a few renditions of "Looking South of the Yangtze River," Leng Shuangcheng gradually calmed down. She walked to the window and lay down, turning her head to look at the moonlight and drifting clouds. The room was unusually quiet, with only the soft rustling of leaves reaching her ears and nose, along with a faint, rich fragrance. She didn't know how long she had been watching when she suddenly remembered that Qiu Yeyijian was sound asleep. A surge of resentment rose in her heart, and she coldly walked into the bedchamber.

Bathed in the soft candlelight, Qiu Ye lay asleep with his eyes closed, his face as cold and handsome as snowflakes falling at dusk. A thin, white brocade blanket, like the surface of a lake, covered his chest, revealing his fair and smooth skin, its texture clearly visible. No matter when or where, Leng Shuangcheng had never seen such a refined and flustered young man. Her indignation surpassed the propriety her father had taught her. She stood by the magnificent bed, struggling for a long time, before finally swiftly slicing her palm against the bed curtains with a whooshing sound.

Qiu Ye slowly rose, knelt on one knee, and lowered her hands, looking at her with a leisurely air: "Can't hold it in anymore?"

Leng Shuangcheng's eyes were slightly red, filled with a barely concealed anger that threatened to bring her to tears. She said coldly, "Why? Why did you torture me? Why were you so vicious?"

"Leng Shuangcheng, think it over before you speak." Qiu Yeyijian stared at her face silently for a long time, then suddenly gave a cold laugh. "You treat me with great courtesy every day, yet you inexplicably create a sense of distance. Perhaps you are torturing me?"

Startled by his own confusion, Leng Shuangcheng immediately became alert and abruptly turned around and walked out of the inner room.

That night in Ruzhou, the young master of Bixie, with a mocking and cold gaze, also wickedly flaunted his robes, teasing the Hu woman with indifference and self-control. Even tonight, during her night bath at Qingquan, when she rushed in without thinking, it was still this man who plotted to take her body, ultimately turning the tables and questioning her for her faults.

Standing in the cool moonlight, Leng Shuangcheng asked herself a question. Although she was still troubled, she finally understood her own heart.

The person is gone, but the person who came after them, whether malicious or shameless, is the one I can love and cherish again.

Qiu Yeyi gazed at that elegant and profound figure from behind, her expression softening before she coldly called out, "Have you thought it through? Come here!"

He could guess Leng Shuangcheng's confusion with remarkable accuracy, but the tone of his voice was undeniably ambiguous, causing Leng Shuangcheng to sway and stand speechless. Qiu Yeyi slowly stood up, opened his robe, and embraced her waist. His cool, dewy chest pressed against her back, and even through the clothes, the deep, vast, and stable strength still conveyed a sense of comfort to her.

She was no longer like the dappled shadows of trees and the dim lights, but relaxed and hugged him back, wiping the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.

Qiu Yeyijian pulled her close, sat down on the side of the bed, and kissed her cheek: "Tell me the truth, why do you deliberately distance yourself from me all the time?"

How have I distanced myself from you?

"Leng Shuangcheng." Qiu Yeyi raised her hand, searching for a place to strike her, and finally could only grab a handful of her hair. "You deliberately ate your meal in front of me in a whirlwind, and called me 'Young Master' in front of others. Do you think I didn't know?"

"Let go first, I'll sit down and talk."

Qiu Yeyi thought for a moment and then let go as instructed. Leng Shuangcheng sat on the other side, gazing at the moon calmly, and said, "Your mind is so meticulous that you must have guessed my inner secrets. Indeed, I have been familiar with etiquette since childhood and know how to behave properly. Yet I acted presumptuously and rudely in front of you, just to make you back down, because I am somewhat unwilling."

Her voice grew softer and softer, the moonlight filtering through the gauze curtains, casting a faint glow on her entire body. Her tone, like flowing clouds through white gauze, carried the ethereal sound of dew on bamboo. Looking at Yin Yue and Leng Shuangcheng in blue robes, both were uniformly calm and serene.

Seeing this, Qiu Yeyi smiled and said, "It's really not easy to dig out what you're thinking. Are you willing to do it now?"

Leng Shuangcheng became dejected and lowered her head, saying, "No... and you can't let me go anyway."

Qiu Yeyi's smile widened slightly as she said, "It seems you still remember what I said." Seeing her still looking dejected, he gently stroked her hair with great pleasure. "Are you stupid? Do you think leaving me will make you happy?"

Leng Shuangcheng was stunned and speechless upon hearing this, her eyes shining with unwavering certainty. Qiu Yeyi chuckled inwardly, lay back, pulled the thin blanket up to her chest, and suddenly asked calmly, "Does your chest still hurt?"

Leng Shuangcheng was about to blurt out "What?" when she suddenly came to her senses, feeling ashamed and angry, and got up, intending to storm off. Qiu Yeyijian grabbed her wrist, pulled her to his chest, and then placed his hand on her: "Let me see."

Having learned from her previous experience, Leng Shuangcheng immediately lay quietly on the inside, neither dodging nor resisting, intending to make him lose interest and retreat. Unfortunately, she underestimated Qiu Yeyi's abilities. He lifted her clothes and looked at her for a long time, seeing the bluish-purple marks. His eyes darkened, and he said strangely, "What's with that look on your face? I'm not going to bite you, I'm just looking." He took out a crystal-clear mint ointment from somewhere and carefully applied it to her wounds.

My fingers were as smooth as silk as I carefully applied the ointment for a long time.

Leng Shuangcheng, smelling the faint fragrance of his sleeves, gradually relaxed and fell into a deep sleep. Qiu Yeyi tucked her clothes under his sword, propped his head up, turned to look at her soft features, and chuckled softly, "What a stubborn person."

After a moment of patience, his lips swiftly sought her out again, kissing her for a long time before finally settling down, satisfied, and pressing his body tightly against hers.

15. The Storm

The moon and people are reunited, and the Qingzhou headquarters is shrouded in a silent, silvery veil. Qiu Ye, leaning on her sword, turns her head to look at the moonlight seeping through the window, her eyes cold and her face expressionless.

The most important person is on his left; that's enough.

Leng Shuangcheng had only gone out to see Nan Jingqi once that morning, and upon returning, she was restless, her latent anxiety and urge to escape resurfacing, the reasons for which he understood perfectly. What comforted him was that Leng Shuangcheng had spontaneously approached him; little did he know that he had been waiting with his eyes closed and breath held for a long time for that one step.

“Li Tianxiao.” Qiu Yeyi coldly uttered a name, then closed her eyes.

In Leng Shuangcheng's eyes, the moon was as compassionate as a Bodhisattva, yet the bright moon remained silent, coldly shining upon the world. Even though it sympathized with the vicissitudes of human life, it never offered any help.

He was still waiting, waiting for the night to end and the dawn to break.

Just as Qiu Yeyijian had predicted, while he was taking a night bath in the hot springs of Yixianju, ripples occurred in the outside world. The first person to be attacked was An Jie, the head chef of the Ye family.

An Jie staggered out of the tavern, glanced back at the signboard, and snorted, "Jinling Tavern... Hu women press wine and urge customers to taste... Do you have any here?" He reeked of alcohol and mumbled as he walked toward the alley entrance.

After flying non-stop for two or three days, he felt his body was completely exhausted. Finally, he stopped outside a very impressive-looking restaurant, where drinking alcohol was said to replenish his energy.

The alley was deep and quiet, a place only frequented by heavy drinkers like An Jie, who would drink until late at night. The dim moonlight stretched his plump shadow long as he smacked his lips and remarked with a sigh, "Besides you, young master, who in the world can outdrink me? You little brats dare to gamble with me on drinking..."