Lan Yin Bi Yue

Chapter 36

“Yes.” Li San sighed inwardly, his fingers gently tracing down his eyebrows, caressing those shimmering blue eyes. “Who could have known that those frightening eyes would be so captivating today, making one wish to drown in them?”

"Sister wants to too?" Lan Qi smiled faintly, her expression incredibly alluring.

“Yes, I wish so too.” Li San slowly leaned down. “When we meet again, the first thing I want to know is what it feels like to be captivated by those emerald eyes.” As she spoke, she lowered her body and leaned closer to Lan Qi.

Lan Qi didn't move, but just smiled faintly and said, "Third sister, you also know the rumors in the martial arts world that I was sometimes a man and sometimes a woman."

"Huh?" Li San paused. "So what?"

"If I were a woman, would you also want to get drunk?" Lan Qi looked at Li San with her emerald eyes, her allure captivating and enchanting.

Li San was taken aback, then smiled sweetly, "Even if you are a woman, this grandma will still get drunk!"

"Haha..." Lan Qi laughed loudly, "As expected of Third Sister! But..." Her laughter subsided, and she looked at her with deep blue eyes, "Sister, are you sure... you really want to get drunk?"

Li San looked at the man beneath her, and at the blue eyes beneath her.

That face was unparalleled in its handsomeness, and it also possessed an otherworldly, demonic charm. Those emerald eyes were unique in the world, clear as water yet so deep and unfathomable. These were the only things she had ever seen that she loved so much in her life, and she had cherished this feeling for many years. But now, even though he was within reach, she dared not get any closer.

After a long pause, Li San sighed deeply and stepped back. "This old lady longs to get drunk, but I'm even more afraid of falling into an abyss of despair."

"Haha...Sister really loves herself the most." Lan Qi laughed again.

"If you don't take care of yourself, who else will?" Li San glanced at him, her gaze filled with a thousand charms. "Tell me, what were you doing bringing those people here yesterday?"

"Speaking of this..." Lan Qi opened her jade fan, "Did you find anything last night, sister?"

"Sigh!" Li San sighed deeply, recalling last night. "Seventh Young Master, please don't bring friends like this again next time, or the reputation of my Li Fang Pavilion will really be ruined!"

"Oh?" Lan Qi's green eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled, a smile that was somewhat cunning.

"Because you said yesterday that you would take good care of your friend, I really did give him special treatment." Li San said through gritted teeth, "That youngest boy with round eyes, because he was so cute, I had the sweetest and most lively girl in the house, Lingdang'er, greet him. But from the moment Lingdang'er entered the door, the boy blushed and avoided her like a snake. Lingdang'er wouldn't give up, calling him 'brother' this and 'brother' that sweetly. Who knew that the whole night was just a game of chasing and hiding? In the end, the boy even jumped onto the roof beam and refused to come down, which made Lingdang'er so angry that her face turned blue."

"Hahaha..." Lan Qi couldn't help but laugh, "Just as I thought, it really is something Ning Lang would do."

Li San glared at him, annoyed, and said, "That Yuwen Luo with the tiger teeth and a handsome smile, because Yuwen Wan and I have some connection, specially chose the gentle and dignified Caiyin to be assigned to him. Who knew..." Li San suddenly chuckled, "Do you know what that kid did? First, he called Caiyin 'sister' this and 'sister' that, making her feel all sweet. Then he praised Caiyin from head to toe. And let me tell you, his words were quite vulgar, making Caiyin immediately accept him as her younger brother. Next, he chatted with Caiyin gently and softly, finding out almost everything about her background. Then he started asking about me, and he even took out a pen and a stack of paper to record everything in detail." As he spoke, Li San raised his hand and pretended to hit Lan Qi, "My goodness, my good Seventh Young Master, where did you find such a treasure?!"

“Yuwen Luo…he, hahaha…” Lan Qi also chuckled, “Don’t you know he aspires to be a historian of the martial arts world? I’ve already witnessed that along the way.”

Fifteen, Fading Beauty (Part Two)

"As for that Second Young Master Ming..." Li San's smile faded, his eyes filled with helplessness and powerlessness. "In one night, my aunt sent six young ladies to his room. They were all top-notch beauties, each with their own unique charm. But in the end, all six young ladies fell for him, felt ashamed of themselves, and left on their own."

"Oh?" Lan Qi raised an eyebrow and sat up. "Tell me what happened."

"That second young master comes from a prestigious family and has an elegant and refined demeanor. I thought that such a person would appreciate a pure and virtuous girl. Therefore, the first one sent was Qingxi. She was originally the daughter of an official, with a beautiful face and a wealth of knowledge. She always considered herself aloof and unworldly, and associated with only the most refined and elegant people. She was the most suitable person to serve the second young master. Who knew that the second young master would only glance at her and smile at her once, and Qingxi would lose control and fall in love with him. She didn't even have time to look at him a second time before she fled in panic. Do you know what she said to the old lady afterward?" Li San gave a slightly mocking smile.

"What did you say?" Lan Qi paused, shaking her jade fan.

“That girl said, ‘If I take one more look, I will marry no one but you. But we are destined to be apart, and Qingxi does not want to suffer the pain of unrequited love.’” Li San sighed. “This girl is indeed wise; she knows when to cut her losses quickly.”

"Heh... Is it really true that no one can resist the smile of a banished immortal?" Lan Qi closed her green eyes and lay down again.

"The second aunt sent Hongying, whose beauty surpasses even that of a peony, and who is also skilled in dancing. Her singing and dancing were personally taught by the aunt, and she has already surpassed her teacher. She danced a song called 'Playing with Mandarin Ducks' for the Second Young Master. Seventh Young Master knows what kind of dance that is." Li San smiled gently, raised her hand to touch her temple, her charm revealing a hint of regret.

"If Hongying were to dance that dance, no man could remain unmoved and infatuated. Yet, the second young master remained smiling and composed throughout. In the end, he played an ancient melody, 'The Phoenix,' on the zither in his room. He glanced at Hongying only once while playing, and that one glance was enough to make her completely fall for him. Later, she told me that she didn't even know how she left that room. She only knew that after regaining her senses, she was in front of her aunt, and then she hugged her aunt and cried loudly, asking why she couldn't dance 'The Phoenix.' She said that even if she couldn't have this person and this love in this life, she should at least have danced and played the zither together once, so that she wouldn't die with regrets!"

"The Phoenix? He actually knows this song." Lan Qi exclaimed in surprise.

Li San smiled and said, "When I was holding Hongying, I was both amazed and unconvinced. I didn't believe that any man could stay sober in Li Fang Pavilion. So this time, I'm letting the four of you go together."

Lan Qi raised her long eyebrows upon hearing this.

"Shiwei is skilled in singing, and her delicate and charming demeanor is captivating; no man can resist her pity. She is also charming and witty, with a smile that makes everyone fall for her. Huantai is skilled in playing the zither; her rendition of 'Admiring Green Silk' is mesmerizing. Qing'ai is a true all-rounder, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, singing, and dancing, and possesses an elegant and refined air that inspires admiration in men. I thought that with four such beauties, even the Second Young Master would be smitten. But…" Li San clenched his fist and slammed it on the bamboo couch in anger, glaring at Lan Qi. "It's all your fault! What kind of people did you bring? They've all bewitched the young ladies of my family!"

"What's wrong?" Lan Qi reached out and patted Li San's face reassuringly. "What did this second young master do this time to bewitch the beauty?"

Li San ripped the hand off his face, brought it to his mouth, and bit it. Fortunately, Lan Qi reacted in time and escaped.

"The second young master didn't actually do anything unusual. When the four young ladies entered the room, he was writing. A sheet of white paper hung on the wall, and he held a purple brush in his hand, writing slowly and leisurely. Under the bright lamp and white wall, he stood alone in his blue robe. For some reason, at that moment, all the romantic thoughts that the four young ladies had were completely wiped away. They just watched him, sleeves rolled up, brush in hand, and writing with freehand strokes. He was clearly in motion, but he gave people a sense of tranquility and elegance. In his stillness, he also had a free and unrestrained spirit. Just his back view was enough to make people admire him."

Li San stared blankly at the window frame, as if the elegant, ethereal immortal in his blue robe was also there.

Lan Qi remained silent, a faint smile on her face as she looked at Li San.

"After he finished writing, he turned to face the four young ladies. How could their appearance and demeanor not be breathtaking? While the four ladies were stunned, he simply smiled back, laid out the paper on the table, dipped his brush in ink again, and then glanced at each of them without saying a word. But at that moment, the four ladies clearly understood the meaning in his eyes. So Huantai played the zither, Shiwei sang while pressing the strings, Shujiao danced upon hearing the song, and Zhangwai Qing'ao picked up the scroll and read it..." Li San sighed deeply, seemingly with both respect and regret, "In my life, I have met many men, many of whom are outstanding in both literature and martial arts and proficient in the six arts. But when I saw that painting, I had to admire it. The four women were all beautiful and had different charms, but the painting captured their essence perfectly, and the brushstrokes were light and elegant, untouched by worldly dust. The four women were lifelike within a small space. I just looked at them, but I felt as if I were there myself."

At this point, Li San paused slightly before continuing, "The four of them brought the painting back. Huantai, Shiwei, and Shujiao said, 'The music, song, and dance at that moment were the uncontrollable expression of the soul, the most wonderful thing in this life, and can never be obtained again.' Qing'ai said, 'At that moment, the music and dance were clearly around me, but my heart was as still as an abyss, and the flickering lamplight was clearly perceptible.' They said to their aunt, 'I do not wish to see such a person again; to see her would break my heart.'"

"It would break my heart to see it..." Lan Qi slowly repeated, her hand that was waving the jade fan still.

“I’ve only ever heard stories about him before, but today I’ve finally witnessed it firsthand.” Li San moved the teapot on the small table, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, “This man doesn’t need to say or do anything; his aura and spirit alone are enough to captivate hearts and souls. Such a person is one in a hundred years.”

"Heh..." Lan Qi chuckled softly, shook her jade fan again, and looked at Li San with her bright green eyes. "Sister should also like such a person. Why not try it yourself?"

"Haha..." Li San laughed, raising her slender finger to flick Lan Qi's forehead, "How could I be so foolish as to do something I know is impossible?"

"Alas, what a pity." Lan Qi shook her head. "I thought my sister could find a weakness, but who knew she was indestructible."

“Actually…” Li San leaned closer to Lan Qi, “Seventh Young Master should try it himself. I’m very curious, between immortals and demons, did the immortals guide the demons, or did the demons bewitch the immortals?”

"Hahaha..." Lan Qi laughed loudly. But deep down, the nightmare came to mind, and she felt conflicted.

"How long do you plan to stay at your great-aunt's place this time?" Li San asked after finishing his tea.

"I'm leaving tomorrow; I have important business to attend to," Lan Qi said. "Have you heard anything about what I asked you to inquire about?"

Li San shook his head, "This is the first time I've asked you to inquire about something and there are absolutely no clues."

"Is that so?" Lan Qi closed her jade fan, her smile fading. "Even Li Fang Pavilion couldn't find out anything. It seems they really went to Dongming Island."

Li San raised one of her eyebrows, her eyes sparkling with interest. "What exactly is this 'Lan Yin Bi Yue' that makes you so nervous?"

“That…” Lan Qi smiled, a captivating light flashing in her emerald eyes, “is the most beautiful thing in the world, representing everything in the world!”

"Hmm?" Li San scoffed. "Represents everything in the world?"

“Yes.” Lan Qi’s smile remained unchanged. “If you believe money is the most important thing in the world, then it represents money; if you believe power is the most important, then it represents power; if you believe status is the most important, then it makes everyone in the world bow down; if you believe love is the most important, then it makes men and women throw themselves into your arms…”

"Haha..." Li San laughed loudly, her hairpins swaying like flowers in the wind, exuding a charming and alluring air. "So what does it represent in Seventh Young Master's eyes?"

“In my eyes…” Lan Qi’s emerald eyes looked at the white jade fan in his hand, his eyelids lowered, “This is it!”

"Knock knock knock!" There was a sudden knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Li San asked loudly.

"Is Seventh Young Master here?" It was Yuwen Luo's voice from outside the door.

Li San raised an eyebrow at Lan Qi, who glanced at him and nodded slightly. Li San got up and opened the door. Yuwen Luo stood outside, with Ning Lang behind him.

As soon as the door opened, Yuwen Luo first looked at Li San, then shifted his gaze to Lan Qi leaning against the bamboo couch, and finally his eyes darted around the room, asking, "Seventh Young Master, when do we set off?"

Before Lan Qi could answer, Li San spoke up, "Why is Young Master Luo in such a hurry to leave? Has Li Fang Pavilion failed to provide adequate hospitality?"

“No.” Yuwen Luo waved his hands repeatedly.

"Then why is Young Master Luo in such a hurry to set off?" Li San pressed. Her beautiful eyes glanced at Ning Lang, but Ning Lang lowered his head and looked away, unable to understand.

“That’s because…” Yuwen Luo turned to look at Ning Lang, his eyes darting around.

"I don't like staying here." Ning Lang suddenly spoke up, and his voice was quite loud. "I don't like it here, shall we leave?" Ning Lang looked straight at Lan Qi, without dodging or flinching, his face serious.

Li San was also taken aback, her eyes darted around, and then she laughed, "This is the first time I've heard such words in Li Fang Pavilion. You've got quite the nerve."

Ning Lang glanced at Li San, remained silent, and continued to look at Lan Qi.

Lan Qi got up and walked closer, looking at Ning Lang with concern, "Are you not comfortable staying here? Can't you stay until tomorrow?"

Ning Lang shook his head. "I don't like it here."

"I see... Then let's go to the city and find an inn to stay at." Lan Qi smiled faintly, then turned his head, "Li San, I'll think about how to handle the matter I asked you earlier. As for the rest... it seems we'll only have time to talk about it tonight. I'll be right back."

After saying this, he went out and said to Ning Lang and Yuwen Luo, "Let's go now."

Yuwen Luo turned around, but Ning Lang didn't move. He just looked at Lan Qi and said in a low voice after a moment, "Since you have something to do... then stay until tomorrow."

"Huh?" Lan Qi was stunned.

"Brother, let's go back." Ning Lang pulled Yuwen Luo, who was still staring intently at Li Sanxiang's boudoir, and turned to leave.

Li San watched their departing figures for a long time before saying, "This child is truly pitiful. Why not let him go?"

Lan Qi opened her jade fan, her emerald eyes sparkling with laughter, "Do you think I've caught him?"

“No.” Li San turned to look at him. “That’s why it’s so tragic.”

That day, Li Fang Pavilion was more lively than usual.

Many of the girls in the pavilion loved to run to the backyard, where they would all huddle together in one room, pointing at the round-eyed, red-faced boy on the roof beam, laughing and chattering. Or they would gather around a tree, looking up at the handsome boy curled up in the tall tree, sleeping.

Meanwhile, another handsome young man with two sharp canine teeth chased after the girls in the pavilion, holding a pen and paper in one hand, asking them one question after another. Some girls looked at him with delight, while others looked at him with fear.

There was also a quiet spot in the backyard where the girls would often gaze longingly for a long time, and then sigh softly before no one approached.

XVI. Pear Blossom Tomb (Part 1)

The next day, the four left Li Fang Pavilion and boarded the carriage again. The carriage traveled for another five days before stopping in front of a mountain. After getting off the carriage, Lan Qi told the driver to go back and not wait for them.

"Where is this place?" Yuwen Luo and Ning Lang looked around, but there was no one around. They had no idea that there was such a place in Huazhou.

Lan Qi stood before the mountain, gazing at it for a long time before finally speaking, "Second Young Master, what do you think of this mountain? Do you know its name?"

It was only late afternoon then, the sun was shining brightly, a clear and refreshing autumn day.

Ming Er surveyed the mountain range before him and said, "I have never been here before, nor have I heard anyone mention it. But looking at this mountain, it is shaped like a round hill, resembling a tomb for eternal rest."

The mountain wasn't very high, and the trees were dense and low, completely covering the hill. From a distance, it looked more like a round, green hill than a mountain, with nothing particularly special about it. Yet, it gave people a sense of cold melancholy and quietness, as if... as if this were the final resting place of the dead, a place of solemnity and gravity.

Upon hearing this, Lan Qi turned around and glanced at Ming Er, a smile playing on her lips.

Hearing Ming Er's words, Yuwen Luo did indeed feel a bit eerie, and his wandering steps unconsciously moved closer to Ming and Lan. "Seventh Young Master, your master wouldn't happen to live here, would he?"

“This mountain is called Green Tomb.” Lan Qi closed his jade fan. “Even I am afraid of this place. One wrong move and you’ll be dead without a trace. So…” He turned his head to look at the three of them, his face serious. “You can still turn back now and escape unscathed.”

The three of them were startled by Lan Qi's serious expression, and upon hearing his words, they immediately realized that this trip was extremely dangerous!

"Seventh Young Master, your master... how could you be in danger just for visiting your master?" Yuwen Luo asked. How could a disciple be in danger of dying a gruesome death just for visiting his master? What... what kind of master is this?

Lan Qi tapped her forehead with her jade fan, seemingly somewhat helpless, "If you are lucky enough to arrive, you will naturally find out then."