"Yi Chunjun!" She leaped forward and caught him around the waist the instant he was airborne. He was clearly taken aback. She lunged at him with all her might, and he stumbled and nearly fell backward. He had to use his sword to brace himself before he fell in a sorry state.
He was stunned. This was the first time she had ever hugged him on her own initiative! Her face was pressed so tightly against his chest, and her warmth filled his entire body.
"I won't let you get hurt!" she said angrily, both angry that he left so decisively—if she hadn't shamelessly grabbed him, he... would really have left! She was also angry at herself; she should have held her chin high and given him a cold snort as he walked away.
But……
"Don't get hurt!" She was even angrier. How embarrassing to do this in front of Xiao Juyuan and Nangong Zhan! But she... really didn't want to let him leave like that! She pinched his waist hard to vent her anger, but his strong waist muscles didn't have any extra fat. She could only twist his clothes to make a swirl.
"Xiao Yuan!" He didn't stop her, remaining frozen in that position, the sword still propped on the ground.
"Xiao Yuan!" he repeated softly.
She abruptly released her grip, turning her face away angrily, "I've said everything I needed to say, now you can leave!"
"But I haven't said what I wanted to say yet!" He finally lifted the sword from the ground.
She couldn't help but glare at him, and he... laughed, laughed like a child who had stolen candy, a naughty child!
"Say it!" She glared at his smiling face, and her mood suddenly improved.
"I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'll tell you when I get back!" His slightly curved eyes sparkled with a light brighter than the stars, causing her heart to stop abruptly.
Chapter 46 of "The Flower Smile": The Crazy Plan
The shouts of battle from below the mountain were carried far by the night wind. Xiao Yuan gripped his sword, his face pale. The shouts, like a tsunami or a collapsing mountain, seemed both near and far, interspersed with screams and wails, sending chills down one's spine.
Even standing beside the bonfire that illuminated half the sky, she still felt the darkness of the night was terrifying! She really couldn't understand why Yi Chunjun had to wait until they were all gathered before taking action. Wouldn't it have been better to deal with them one by one?
She could never guess what he was thinking!
The firewood crackled loudly, and she felt her face drying from the heat, but... in this lonely night, she instinctively moved closer to the light.
She didn't want to be with Xiao Juyuan and Nangong Zhan; they, like the boundless darkness, made her wary and fearful!
She saw a long shadow cast on the ground, swaying like a ghost in the firelight! Startled, she turned around abruptly. Xiao Juyuan stood behind her with a smile. Whether it was the light of the flames shining into her eyes or the burning fire in her heart, her half-closed eyes were so bright that Xiao Juyuan felt a chill run down her spine.
"What are you going to do?" Almost instinctively, she knew Xiao Juyuan was going to hurt her, and she subconsciously reached for the golden whistle on her chest.
"What do you think, Li Yuan'er?" Xiao Juyuan smiled happily. She had been waiting for this day for too long. She watched Xiao Yuan's actions but did not stop him.
"You can't kill me." Xiao Yuan steadied himself and looked at her coldly. "Even if I die, you won't escape responsibility! Pei Junwu will soon find out that you killed me, and he will never forgive you."
Xiao Juyuan shrugged. "Of course. You don't need to remind me, I know Brother Wu likes you. That's why you have to die." She smiled brightly. "No, no, no! I won't kill you. I have a more interesting way to do it."
Xiao Yuan's palms were sweaty, but she still looked at her with a calm, cold smile. Xiao Juyuan's ability to so openly display her ferocity meant she had already made up her mind and laid out her plan; there was no point in saying anything more to her.
But... isn't she afraid of falling out with Pei Junwu?
“I can call Yi Chunjun over.” Xiao Yuan’s tone became unsteady, vaguely realizing Xiao Juyuan’s plan. Perhaps she was hoping she would blow the whistle, and if Yi Chunjun came back to save her, Yamaguchi… Pei Fuchong alone wouldn’t be enough.
“Go ahead and call him. Even if you don’t call him, I’m going to call him anyway.” Xiao Juyuan chuckled. “Yi Chunjun gave you this whistle to keep an eye on me and Nangong. He just never expected I could go this far.” Xiao Juyuan gritted his teeth.
She hadn't originally intended to be so ruthless! But when Pei Fuchong helped his son get rid of her, she made up her mind! If they were heartless, they wouldn't blame her for being unjust.
She laughed triumphantly, "If you die in Pei Family Village before the enemy breaks in, the murderer will be either me or Nangong Zhan. But what if—the enemy does break in?"
Xiao Yuan shuddered, "Could it be... that you're going to destroy Pei Family Village?!" She's going to let the enemy in?
If she and Nangong Zhan had conspired together long ago, this is not impossible!
She stared at Xiao Juyuan in disbelief. "Are you crazy? Isn't this your home too? They've all been so good to you!"
Xiao Juyuan's face hardened, and she laughed through gritted teeth, "Good?! They're good to 'Xiao Juyuan,' not to me! If I weren't Xiao Juyuan, would Brother Wu even give me a second glance?" Her laughter was almost maniacal, "Even if I were Xiao Juyuan, wouldn't he still fall for you!"
Xiao Yuan remained silent; she understood her hatred, her resentment… “What do you plan to do?” She looked at her, this woman driven mad by the fear of losing everything.
Xiao Juyuan was taken aback by her overly calm reaction. She had originally wanted to enjoy the thrill of her fear, but she seemed to be simply asking a question without even being surprised.
"I'm not going to tell you." She sneered and slashed down with her palm.
The bright firelight grew dimmer and dimmer, eventually merging with the night sky... Xiaoyuan closed her eyes, and in her last moment she saw the brightest star in the sky, just like Yi Chunjun's eyes.
What does this taste like?
Xiao Yuan took a weak sniff; it smelled like flowers. The refreshing fragrance relaxed her completely, and her fear and anxiety temporarily disappeared.
She struggled to open her eyes; her head throbbed. Xiao Juyuan must have used considerable force to knock her unconscious. She was in a small stone house with no windows on any side, a dimly lit space illuminated by a small, greasy lamp.
She stared intently at the only door, but it was pitch black outside the crack. Where was she? How long had she been unconscious? Startled, she checked herself carefully; thankfully, her clothes were intact.
She tried to stand up, but found she had no strength at all. What was happening? She struggled to crawl to the door, but no wind blew in through the crack. The already dim light flickered, and she looked over in alarm. The lamp oil was gone, and before she could crawl over, the weak flame went out completely.
She shuddered violently. It was so dark! So dark that she wanted to cry and scream. "Ah—" That was the loudest sound she could make. Her groan-like cries only amplified her fear and loneliness in the darkness, and she bit her lip, silencing all further.
She reached for the golden whistle on her chest, but it wasn't there! Xiao Juyuan had taken it!
She leaned against the cold, hard stone wall in despair. If she had been captured by Xiao Juyuan and brought here... She closed her eyes tightly. Xiao Juyuan must have blown that whistle to lure Yi Chunjun away from the mountain pass, letting the enemy in so she could escape in the chaos.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet fragrance of flowers... How could such a cruel thing happen in such pleasant air?
After what seemed like an eternity, she finally heard the door open. The sudden brightness made her squint, unable to see her surroundings clearly. Slowly, she opened her eyes wide again.
Nangong Zhan stood behind Xiao Juyuan, holding a torch.