Лучжоу Луна

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Qiu Ye's fingers were icy cold, her breath frosty, and a faint fragrance emanated from her chest. Leng Shuangcheng composed herself and asked calmly, "Is it ready?"

He slightly stretched out his arm, forming a full, rounded bow. Leng Shuangcheng felt a pang of shame. He then coldly uttered "Release," immediately releasing the feather. With a resounding "hum," the golden arrow pierced the tree trunk, tearing it apart into a funnel-shaped hole the size of an upside-down bowl.

Hearing the noise, Leng Shuangcheng's crutch struck Qiu Yeyijian's side as she broke free. Qiu Yeyijian frowned and let go. Leng Shuangcheng then leaped forward without leaving a trace and laughed, "It's done. We'll use this against the Sun and Moon Golden Wheel!"

Yin Guang looked at the tree trunk and understood Leng Shuangcheng's explanation: the arrow, coated with oil, was aimed at the top of the weapon and inserted. The inverted rings sealed off the gunpowder dispersion. The oil had been proven to store heat, and the arrow's flight and compression were effective, so the one wielding the golden wheel would inevitably suffer a backlash.

When it was time to go to bed, Qiu Yeyi urged Leng Shuangcheng to take another bath. Knowing his obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness, Leng Shuangcheng deliberately lingered in the bath for most of the time, guessing that he was already too tired to sleep, before staggering back to his bedroom.

The curtains inside billowed in the breeze, bringing a cool night air. The stars shone like bright eyes, gleaming with affection, and the fragrant flowers in the moonlit forest wafted their scent, their aroma drifting to the heavens. Leng Shuangcheng, confused and bewildered by Lin Qingluan's whereabouts, pondered silently for a long time without finding a clue, and finally fell asleep wearily on the brocade couch.

In the dead of night, she felt as if she were in the dense forest of Qingzhou, witnessing the rising sun, fresh and new, leaping from the water, like a baptism bestowed upon the earth by the heavens. She cried out in surprise, sitting up in a cold sweat.

Leng Shuangcheng snapped out of his daze and looked around. Qiu Yeyi was sleeping beside him. He slowly opened his eyes, and the momentary dullness disappeared. His eyes were as red as the rising sun, shining with a scorching light.

"Why did you call me?" He gently wiped away her cold sweat, a smug smile playing on his lips.

Leng Shuangcheng remained silent, unable to explain to him that her nightmares stemmed from her longing for Lin Qingluan. Seeing her cold indifference, Qiu Yeyijian suddenly chuckled wickedly, "So Leng Shuangcheng's longing is so deep that she even calls me 'husband' in her dreams."

Leng Shuangcheng wiped his face, then froze, stopping his hand in a daze, and angrily said, "Nonsense! I clearly called him Young Master!"

Qiu Yeyijian smiled and said slowly, "Considering your fondness for me today, I will not pursue your mistake of absconding."

Leng Shuangcheng sneered at him: "When have I ever run away without permission?"

Qiu Yeyi stroked her chin with her sword, her voice turning cold: "You forbid me from traveling to Jiangning, so it must be someone I can't see without you knowing who it is."

Leng Shuangcheng's heart skipped a beat, but he said gently, "You've misunderstood... I was just too tired from traveling all night and didn't realize what was happening for a moment."

Qiu Ye lay indifferently by the sword, his eyes closed. Leng Shuangcheng lay relaxed, then leaned closer, staring at his handsome features, and asked, "Qiu Ye, Yin Guang said you received Huang Yu's invitation. Are you really going?"

Qiu Yeyi closed his eyes and remained silent. Leng Shuangcheng nudged him and said loudly, "Inviting you to spar on the eve of a great battle is clearly ill-intentioned."

Qiu Ye remained motionless with her sword, only closing her eyes and coldly saying, "I've seen all of Huang Yu Shu Xue's tricks before, it's no problem."

After a moment of silence, Leng Shuangcheng couldn't help but ask, "Do you have some kind of plan?"

Qiu Yeyi opened her bright, dark eyes, which gleamed: "Can't sleep?"

Leng Shuangcheng quickly closed her eyes, calmed her breath, and lay down to rest. As she drifted off to sleep, Anxiang Meng's body was enveloped in a fragrance that was different from the usual floral scent. She couldn't help but inwardly groan, and her soft lips immediately kissed her brows, eyes, and cheeks: "I couldn't sleep a wink last night, but you slept soundly."

A light, clean kiss followed, fingers darting nimbly and skillfully beneath her thin garments, igniting a trembling, tingling heat within her. Leng Shuangcheng panicked, struggling to sit up: "Why? I was clearly asleep!"

Qiu Yeyi's eyes and brows were as cold as dew on a courtyard. He suddenly pressed down on Leng Shuangcheng's body, holding her hands tightly above her head: "You know I'm in pain, yet you can still sleep without a care in the world. It seems I haven't trained you well enough."

Leng Shuangcheng was startled. Qiu Yeyi's lips landed passionately on her neck, stroking downwards. Leng Shuangcheng trembled with heat all over. She remembered something and gasped, "How shameless! He deliberately waited until I was asleep!"

Qiu Ye Yijian chuckled coldly, saying, "This way you'll remember it more clearly in the future." His thin lips pressed against her chest, his body strong as a bow, pressing against her lower body. A surge of passion ignited, and after a few kisses on Leng Shuangcheng's cheeks and chest, he ignored a shy and angry look in her eyes and hastily began his assault.

The moonlight flowed like a gurgling spring stream, quietly receding, casting a soft, hazy glow. Leng Shuangcheng lay flat on the bed, her eyes clear as stars, silently watching the gauze curtains above her dance in the wind, their soft, alluring movements resembling the flowing black hair of a palace beauty.

After Qiu Yeyijian tossed and turned for a while, she finally couldn't fall asleep. Looking at his indifferent sleeping posture, her heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

He promised to let her take a chance, and he truly kept his word.

The improved gunpowder was something she learned from the Tang Dynasty. Since he ordered the Imperial Guards to supervise the study of this method overnight without any surprise, he must have had a plan in mind. Judging from his method of disassembling and assembling the glass fire, he probably already thought of this method. No wonder he gave her the hints and sent them out without any effort when she asked about the amount of hidden oil today.

As the white veil fluttered in the wind, she couldn't help but think of Huang Yu's snow-white hair, and a deep sorrow welled up in her heart.

Huang Yu's invitation before the battle was clearly a trap. This person's methods are unpredictable and cunning. Qiu Ye Yi Jian spoke of it casually and calmly, but she was not at ease with him.

She understood Qiuye's reasons for keeping the appointment, but seeing his calm demeanor and lack of any usual reaction, how could she not feel anxious?

Leng Shuangcheng pursed her lips and quietly shifted her arm, softly asking, "Are you asleep?"

Perhaps disturbed from her sleep, Qiu Yeyi coldly opened her eyes, and a rush of icy mist hit her in the face: "Not satisfied?"

Leng Shuangcheng was both embarrassed and angry. She could no longer hide her anger and silently raised her sleeve to slash at his arm. Qiu Yeyijian reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to his chest: "Speak, what is it now?"

His tone was indifferent, like the wind, yet it conveyed a sense of resignation and helplessness.

With red eyes, Leng Shuangcheng said coldly, "Tell me the truth, what are your plans for the Huangyu Shuxue agreement?"

Qiu Yeyijian looked into her eyes, stroked her black hair for a long time without answering. His dark eyes were cold and bright, reflecting a deep pool as steady and determined as a deep pool. After thinking silently, he spoke again: "To be honest, I don't know what tricks Huang Yushuxue has up her sleeve, but I'm sure I'll be fine."

Leng Shuangcheng's heart skipped a beat, and she was eager to speak. Qiu Yeyi kissed her lips and said, "Some things are better left unsaid... Go to sleep. If you wake me up again, I'll really get angry."

Leng Shuangcheng harbored doubts, recalling the carefree Yuwen Xiaobai, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Seeing Qiu Yeyi's confident words, she half-believed and drifted off to sleep.

Qiu Yeyi stroked her cool wrist, then casually pulled up a soft blanket to cover her, and suddenly said, "Since I've granted your request, I will definitely pave the way for you."

The moonlight was cool and still, and Leng Shuangcheng was already asleep.

29. Rally

The next day, the sun rose in the east, shining like a brocade, the clouds reflected the rosy clouds, the fallen leaves drifted leisurely in the wind, and the serene shadows of the trees were clearly visible.

The sun was blazing, and the wind was gentle.

Qingzhou, situated on a prosperous coastal location, attracts numerous martial arts masters who flock there like rivers flowing into the sea. Qiu Yeyi ordered eight thousand imperial guards to spread outwards to defend the outer perimeter of the headquarters, forming a protective barrier like a winding mountain range.

All the disciples of the sects waited outside the main hall, filling the courtyard like a swarm of crows. The noise was deafening and the crowd surged like a tide. The last group of young men from the Twelve Peaks of Lotus Platform (hereinafter referred to as Lotus Peak) to arrive found there was nowhere to stand and had to overflow the mansion like a flowing stream.

The crowd buzzed and chattered amongst themselves, their voices rising like muffled thunder both inside and outside the courtyard. Passersby stopped curiously to watch through the cold, steely guards. The guards' imposing figures and icy, unyielding brows gleamed in the red sun, startling the passersby who quickly lowered their heads and hurried away.

The young men of Lotus Peak lived up to their name, each possessing a pure and clear appearance, their white robes fluttering in the wind like white plum blossoms blooming proudly in the snow. Even when pushed out onto the outer street, the group of over a hundred people stood calmly and composedly, showing no sign of displeasure.

Yuwen Xiaobai glanced down at his white clothes, then darted away like a fish towards the crowd. Nan Jingqi, preoccupied with something, was bored and alone every day. He had come to Qingzhou to join in the fun after hearing the news, hoping to run into his grandfather or Leng Shuangcheng.

Just now, groups of people walked along the official road, their clothing varied and indiscriminate, representing their respective sects. Yuwen Xiaobai mingled among the Lotus Peak group. The summer breeze brushed against the guards' eyebrows and eyes, and the young men's robes billowed like walls. He flashed through the gate in his white robes, and couldn't help but shout out in his heart, "Warm breeze, faces with different expressions!" He looked around at the crowd, his face constantly smiling.

"We've been inside for a long time, but we still don't know what the layout is like." The crowd murmured and discussed noisily, "Why won't they let us into the headquarters?"

A burly man with a long face laughed and said, "Don't you know the temperaments of the two young masters? Princes and nobles always put on airs. It's said that Young Master Qiuye doesn't see outsiders and is cold-hearted. Isn't this a perfect example?"

A man nearby quickly covered the burly man's mouth and said in a deep voice, "Watch your words! You know Young Master Yu Xue who just went in, right?"

"Yu Xue, one of the Four Young Masters? What happened?"

The man chuckled and said coldly, "A few days ago, Yu Xue sought treatment from Lord Gudu Town. Only after being repeatedly questioned by Young Master Gudu did he reveal that he had been injured by the young master's powerful acupoint in his chest with just one sentence, leaving him covered in wounds. The tea-serving servant was so surprised that he spread the news everywhere. Now, who doesn't know the young master's character?"

The burly man paused for a moment, then asked, "Then why does Young Master Yu Xue obey the orders of the two princes?"

"They must be guests invited by Prince Zhao. Young Master Xue has always been on good terms with him," Yuwen Xiaobai blurted out upon hearing this. Everyone turned to look and saw a handsome young man in white robes with a gentle smile, and couldn't help but click their tongues in admiration.

The man persisted, asking directly, "Young master, how do you know this?"

Yuwen Xiaobai scratched the back of his head, grabbed two strands of hair from his black hair, and said blankly, "I don't know either. I think I had a flash of inspiration just now, and those words just came out of my mouth."

The marble floor gleamed, reflecting light like jade. A few green gladioli adorned the corners, their leaves casting soft shadows against the sunlight, adding a touch of gentleness to the otherwise starkness of the room. Apart from that, the hall was brightly lit, containing only the necessary tables, chairs, and seats, with nothing else.

Light seeped in through the perforated, carved window lattice, illuminating the figures like candlelight. Although the main hall was warm and sunny, no one dared to speak.

Besides the extremely urgent situation, another reason was the white-robed young man on the main seat. His aura was colder than a blade, and he sat silently, like a sculpture with an icy, crystalline quality.

Silver light shone on the young master. Qiu Yeyi's eyes were cold and stern, his face pale and almost translucent in the sunlight. His flowing black hair was slightly tied back, showing no warmth in the wind, and his handsome, cold face beneath it only accentuated his aloofness.

Ever since the lonely young master entered the hall, Yin Guang noticed that he had been staring coldly into the air, with frost and silver dew between his brows that looked like a snow-covered mountain ridge and a mirror-like lake.

A few wisps of cool breeze drifted into the hall. Lonely Triumph, seated on the left, coughed softly. In the early summer, his body could not withstand the chill of the spring. He was still wearing a sky-blue brocade robe, which made his handsome features and the softness of his face even more apparent.

Seated on the left in order were the heads of the three major manors. Wu Suan, with a gaunt face, represented the Bixie Manor and occupied the first table. Dugu Kaixuan followed closely behind, with the stunningly beautiful Hua Bitou to his left. All three were assigned to mark out their respective territories. Dugu Kaixuan even signed a pledge at Zhao Yingcheng's invitation.

He knew the reason. Zhao Yingcheng never offended any faction, especially not a young master from a powerful family like himself. The only person who could make Zhao Yingcheng put aside his pride was Qiu Yeyijian.

The gold paint on the proclamation revealed two large characters: "郡马" (Junma).

As Gu Dukaixuan picked up his pen, he saw the fallen imperial seal and his wrist trembled violently. Signing this treaty would mean acknowledging his status as a member of the royal family and his responsibility to defend the country.

He hadn't expected that Cheng Xiang's readily dissolved engagement would somehow become a reality thanks to Qiu Yeyijian. He put down his pen with a sullen face, but Qiu Yeyijian, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Nie Yousheng is getting old and has longed for this marriage. He is waiting for the country to settle down so that His Majesty can officiate the wedding for the princess."

Nie Yousheng was his father, who served as the Grand Secretary in the palace. Thinking about his father's situation when he was nearly sixty years old and had to stop writing, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow.

With one hand lightly touching his chest, he coughed softly and signed his name with his right hand: Lonely Triumph.

Born with the name of a puppet, a few pale red plum blossom marks were splashed on it, making everything seem so ridiculous and tragic.

Except for a very few people, no one in the world knows that Lone Triumph was also a pawn, floating and sinking into oblivion under another identity.

The air in the hall was cool, and everyone remained silent with solemn expressions.

Shui Qianmie, dressed in a pale yellow gauze dress, was bright and charming. When she saw Gu Dukaixuan coughing slightly, coughing up blood, she couldn't help but frown with concern and ask, "Young Master Gu Du, are you alright?"

Lonely Triumph looked at the girl opposite him. Now, under this unfamiliar face, she no longer recognized him as the Brother Nie who had always been with her since childhood.

He recalled the silent and resolute face of the first-year junior high school student. How did she maintain the composure and courage in her eyes despite all the hardships she faced back then?

Looking around the hall and courtyard, there was no sign of her anywhere. She must have been like the green leaves outside the window, blown away by the wind and drifting to someone else's home.

Alone and triumphant, she smiled and replied, "It's alright, Miss Water."

Shui Qianmie smiled shyly and turned away without saying a word. She was surrounded by leaders of various martial arts sects dressed in different colors, arranged in three rows. Apart from the Mountain Sect who had been kidnapped by Huang Yushuxue, there were more than a dozen other sect leaders.

Qiu Ye glanced at Zhao Yingcheng with her sword. Zhao Yingcheng stood up, his silk robe billowing in the wind. He coughed slightly, and everyone in the hall turned to look at him, awaiting his instructions.

"Young Master Qiuye's guards are without allegiance for the battle. The other heroes are requested to coordinate with Zhao Yingcheng. Young Master Gudu will lead the people of Qinglong Town, with assistance from the Qingcheng Sect, Hengshan Sect, and others. It is rumored that Young Master Wuyou is in seclusion and unable to oversee the battle. The battle of Qixing will be temporarily overseen by the Flower Maiden of Baihua Valley and the Water Maiden of Dongting Lake. We request the assistance of the Chang Le, Lotus, Tianlong, and other five sects..."

Having devised his plan, Zhao Yingcheng glanced at Qiu Yeyijian. If he hadn't witnessed Gu Dukaixuan sign the oath, he probably wouldn't have wanted to be in this situation. Very few people knew about Gu Dukaixuan's affairs, and he had seized upon this weakness, making it impossible for Gu Dukaixuan to coordinate his actions.

Although he didn't know the reason, he could vaguely guess at it.

Zhao Yingcheng silently looked at his palm; the sunlight shone on the lines, making them exceptionally clear and deep.

30. Cause and effect

Leng Shuangcheng, dressed in a light purple cloud-patterned robe, stood gracefully by the forest. With his narrow sleeves and hair tied with a ribbon, he leaned quietly against the green bamboo under the bright sun and flowing clouds, exuding a subtle and elegant beauty.

She frowned slightly, her brows furrowed like fallen petals, like the fragrant trees swaying in the breeze and the flowers blooming in vain in the courtyard, unable to conceal the emptiness and solitude in her heart. With a soft "snap," a flower branch broke, and in response, a figure in bright red appeared, her beauty surpassing even the sun, her countenance outshining the brilliance of the garden's flowers and fruits, making even the peaches and plums blush with shame.

"Cheng Xiang." Leng Shuangcheng's eyes lit up, and she called softly. Cheng Xiang, with her slender waist supported by flowers, approached and chuckled, "Leng Shuangcheng, were you waiting for me?"

Leng Shuangcheng nodded, her clear eyes focusing, her voice sincere: "I would like to ask you to help me arrange a meeting with Young Master Gudu. I have important matters to discuss with him." Once the gathering ends, Gudu Kaixuan will definitely lead his men directly back to Qinglong Town through the front hall. Qiu Yeyijian forbade her to appear in front of everyone, and she had only just managed to get rid of Bi Tou before arriving at Nanyuan.

After hearing the explanation, Cheng Xiang carefully examined her face and clothes, and chuckled: "Leng Shuangcheng, let alone Qiu Yeyijian not letting you see Gu Du, even I wouldn't dare let you see him."

Leng Shuangcheng responded with a gentle smile, like a forest flower or a swallow in the rain, with a layer of misty moisture: "It's alright. Just inform the princess of your purpose, and I'll go to the council hall myself."