A Record of Pleasure

Chapter 16

Pei Jin nodded, then whispered in Tan Huan's ear, "Don't be afraid, I'll be right back." He was about to turn and leave when he saw Tan Huan still clutching the hem of his clothes, refusing to let go. Pei Jin's expression was complicated. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly called out, "Someone come here."

"exist."

"Immediately issue a notice to all sects and factions to search Lingfeng with all their might and find Baili Liushang!"

"Yes." The servant left immediately.

Pei Jin held Tan Huan in his arms, looked up to meet his father's disapproving gaze, and calmly said, "Tan Huan will be scared, I'll stay here with her."

The doors and windows were closed, and the room was quiet.

Tan Huan lay on the bed, her eyes fixed on Pei Jin. Pei Jin knelt down beside her, took her hand, and looked back into her eyes. Pei Gu Mo sat by the bed, solemnly taking Tan Huan's pulse. As time passed, his expression grew increasingly heavy.

"Father," Pei Jin sensed something and said softly, "Do you have a way?"

Tan Huan's gaze was fixed on Pei Gu Mo's face, straight on.

Pei Gu Mo asked, "Bai Li Liu Shang struck you with a palm? Where were you mainly injured?"

"He didn't do anything, he just patted me on the shoulder," Tan Huan said casually. "The other injuries were from sparring with his disciple."

How did you feel after he patted your shoulder?

"It hurts so much." It hurts so much, Tan Huan's voice was flat, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable, "Then my true energy became disordered."

Pei Gu Mo asked anxiously, "Have you circulated your energy and adjusted your breathing since then?"

Tan Huan nodded, then shook his head. "I had just started circulating my qi when it felt like my whole body was being pricked by needles. I was worried that I would go into qi deviation, so I stopped immediately."

“You did the right thing,” Pei Gu Mo said. “If you continue to force yourself to use your internal energy, you will become a cripple.”

Tan Huan stared into his eyes, a glimmer of hope hidden beneath her despair, "Then..." her voice trailed off, "Is there any hope?"

“As long as you don’t use your inner energy recklessly, you can live a healthy life,” Pei Gumo comforted him. “You’re already very lucky to have escaped unscathed from Baili Liushang.”

Tan Huan's eyes darkened, and he calmly asked, "What if I presumptuously use my true energy?"

"He will become a useless person."

"So, in other words, I can no longer learn martial arts or use martial arts skills?" Tan Huan pressed for an answer.

Pei Gu Mo nodded with pity, "Not bad."

Tan Huan said calmly, "For a martial artist, what's the difference between losing all their martial arts skills and becoming a cripple?"

“Many people without martial arts skills live well.” Pei Gu Mo sighed. “You are still young. You don’t necessarily have to choose the path of martial arts. You may be very sad now, but after a while, when you get used to it, you will find that there are many things worth cherishing besides martial arts skills.”

Beyond martial arts? What else is there to cherish? Tan Huan's gaze involuntarily drifted to Pei Jin's face, a bitter smile appearing on her small cheeks. "Alliance Leader Pei, can I still stay in the Pei family now?"

Pei Gumo paused for a moment, then said gently, "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. If you still wish to become my disciple, then you are welcome to come to the Pei family. However, since you cannot learn martial arts now, I do not know what else I can teach you."

Tan Huan's gaze was like a clear sky, pure enough to reflect everything. She wanted to see if Pei Gu Mo was telling the truth, and gradually, she smiled, "Thank you."

Pei Gumo also smiled.

“However, I’ll still go back to the Wu family.” Tan Huan clenched her fists, her body motionless. She smiled amicably at Pei Gu Mo, “It’s not good to stand in the toilet without doing your business. So many people want to become your disciples, Alliance Leader Pei, how can you let someone like me with no martial arts skills take advantage of them? That would be too ungrateful.”

Pei Gumo was stunned, unsure how to respond.

Pei Jin's gaze remained fixed on Tan Huan's face, watching her every reaction with worry. "Father, Tan Huan hasn't completely lost her martial arts skills, but rather she can't freely use her inner energy, right?"

"Um."

“Bai Li Liushang placed a restriction on her, Father, you can't break it, but perhaps Bai Li Liushang…”

“Even if Baili Liushang can break the seal, what can you do? Are you going to run to Zhengyang Palace to find him? Or fight Baili Liushang? Do you think you can win with your skills? You won’t even be able to see his face!” Pei Gumo said sternly, “Maybe that demon will release Tan Huan alive, just waiting for us to go to him so he can make exorbitant demands.”

Pei Jin insisted, "We should at least ask him what he thinks, even if there's only a sliver of hope..."

“Jin’er, don’t do anything foolish.” Pei Gu Mo frowned. “Are you out of your mind to say such things?” Pei Gu Mo knew his son too well. He was capable of anything he said. If he didn’t let him figure things out now, he might take Tan Huan to Zheng Yang Palace tomorrow.

"Forget it, I don't want martial arts anymore." Tan Huan squeezed Pei Jin's hand and laughed, "Anyway, I can still live like a normal person. It's not worth becoming a cripple for something like martial arts."

Pei Jinjun's handsome face was full of seriousness. "But you're very reluctant to part with it, aren't you?"

"I'm even more reluctant to leave you, but I still have to leave, don't I?" Tan Huan looked at him jokingly, her smile half-serious and half-fake. "Although I don't know what else is worth cherishing besides martial arts, at least the sun is shining brightly, and I like your smile." Tan Huan raised her hand and counted on her fingers, "That makes two now. You see, martial arts isn't so unique, is it?"

Pei Jin's heart pounded, but Tan Huan was laughing, and he didn't know what to say.

"So, forget it." Tan Huan blinked. "I was quite the star at the Lingfeng Sword Tournament before I even learned martial arts, so it wasn't a complete loss."

"...I will visit you at the Wu family's house often."

Tan Huan smiled slightly and turned her gaze to Pei Gu Mo, "Alliance Leader Pei, it seems that Bai Li Liu Shang came for the Lonely Dust Sword. Is there any secret inside the Lonely Dust Sword?"

Pei Gumo's eyes flickered with panic, but his expression remained calm. "What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything, only 'I can't find it.' He broke the Lonely Dust Sword as if he was looking for something." Tan Huan lied through his teeth, his eyes fixed on Pei Gu Mo. "Alliance Leader Pei, does the Lonely Dust Sword hold any secrets?"

“I don’t know about this either.” Pei Gu Mo turned and left. “You take good care of your injuries. I’ll go out and search for Baili Liushang with the others. Maybe we can find him on Ling Peak, and there will be hope that your restriction can be lifted.”

Tan Huan laughed, "Thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader Pei."

"I'll stay here with you a little longer..."

Warm hands, so warm, so very warm. Tan Huan smiled and looked at him, "No need, you go help Alliance Leader Pei too, come see me when you have time."

Pei Jin nodded. "Alright." He covered Tan Huan's eyes with his hands. "Get a good night's sleep and don't think too much."

"Um."

The door opened and closed again. Tan Huan lay motionless on the bed, his dark eyes fixed on the ceiling.

The broken Lonely Dust Sword still lay on the ground. In two pieces.

Tan Huan glanced downwards and gave a self-deprecating laugh, "It's just a treasure map, isn't it?"

After saying that, she closed her eyes, consciously closing them. Tan Huan reached out and covered her eyes, and clear liquid flowed from under her palm. "I don't want to... I don't want to... I'm scared..." Her voice trailed off for a while, but she still couldn't fall asleep.

As darkness fell, despite mobilizing everyone, they still couldn't find any trace of Baili Liushang on Lingfeng Peak.

It was late at night, and all was quiet outside.

Tan Huan climbed out of bed alone, picked up the two pieces of the Lonely Dust Sword and put them back in its sheath. She opened the door and walked out alone, tiptoeing. She had only taken one step when she froze on the spot, staring blankly at the peerless man in front of her.

Pei Jin looked up, her eyes filled with heartache, "Where are you going?"

Indulging in pleasure in silence.

"You want to go find Baili Liushang?"

Tan Huan glanced at him, then lowered her head and remained silent.

Pei Jin's chest heaved as he let out a long sigh. "I'll go with you."

As if struck by lightning, Tan Huan looked up abruptly, took three steps back, and exclaimed, "I'm not going!"

Pei Jin looked at her, "Didn't you really want your martial arts back?"

Tan Huan shook her head, "No! I'm not going!"

Pei Jin rubbed her head. "Are you worried about me?"

Tan Huan bit her lip, her eyes red-rimmed.

"I also want to help you get it back."

"I don't want it anymore," Tan Huan finally cried, hugging Pei Jin tightly. "Don't go, I won't go, I won't go, I don't want martial arts anymore."

Pei Jin was heartbroken.

Tan Huan clung tightly to his clothes, sobbing uncontrollably, "I won't lie to you this time, I really don't want martial arts anymore, I won't go to Baili Liushang, don't go, don't go, don't go, don't go, don't go!"

If you don't go, I'd rather give up martial arts.

Chapter Nine: Turning Point in Life

Tan Huan cried until she was dizzy. Pei Jin carried her to the bed. In her half-awake state, she still clung tightly to his clothes, with obvious tear stains on her cheeks and her brows slightly furrowed in her sleep.

Pei Jin sat beside her. Tan Huan's head rested on Pei Jin's lap. His hand gently rested on her back, and after a long while, he reached out and pressed her pressure point to help her fall asleep, his voice calm and even, "Father, such behavior as spying is detrimental to your dignity as the leader of the alliance."

As expected of his son, his intuition is getting sharper and sharper. Pei Gu Mo chuckled, "Jin'er, it seems you really like this girl."

Upon hearing this, Pei Jin slowly raised his head and remained silent for a while. "Tan Huan is a good child."

"Only for you, right?" Pei Gu Mo raised an eyebrow. "Would a good child cut off Tang Wei Yu's finger without saying a word? Would a good child kill with every move when fighting Ba Ying? Would a good child lie to others on the surface and secretly go to see Bai Li Liu Shang?"

Pei Jin gently smoothed away Tan Huan's furrowed brow with her fingers, her expression unchanged. "Tan Huan is just timid..."

Pei Gumo almost burst out laughing. Cowardly? Even favoritism shouldn't be this blatant! And this is no excuse! What coward would be like Wu Tanhuan? If it weren't for his beloved son's insistence, and if it weren't for this girl's talent, Pei Gumo wouldn't have wanted to take on such a disciple.

“Father, you don’t understand Tan Huan.” Pei Jin brushed her messy hair behind her ear. “If someone had stood in front of her and protected her all along, Tan Huan wouldn’t be the way she is now.”

Pei Gumo was taken aback.

Pei Jin raised his eyes, "Since Tan Huan was injured, has anyone from the Wu family come to see her? Father, have you ever seen anyone from the Wu family who is close to or friendly towards Tan Huan?"

Pei Gumo was speechless, "But perhaps the Wu family doesn't know she's injured..."

“I was the one who found the injured Tan Huan. In this kind of situation, it should have been her parents who found her first,” Pei Jin said firmly. “Half a day has passed since she was injured. No one has looked for her when she ate or slept. No matter how the Wu family treats her, at least her relatives have gotten used to her not being around.” At this point, Pei Jin sighed deeply. “She is only twelve years old.”

Pei Gumo's expression also darkened slightly. "This is someone else's family matter. Do we need to meddle so much?"

“…Just consider it as me liking her, and I want to meddle in this matter.” Pei Jin said frankly, “Whether or not she wants to stay in the Pei family will be decided by Tan Huan herself after she wakes up. If you don’t want to teach her, then I will teach her.” He paused, “One day I will surpass Baili Liushang and personally take back Tan Huan’s martial arts.”

Pei Gu Mo gazed intently at his beloved son. Was this the first stirrings of young love? Was it a good thing or a bad thing for him?

“Tang Weiyu framed Baili Liushang for this. The Tang family might be planning something soon. Also, you should keep a close eye on Shu Yunyao,” Pei Gumo warned.

"It's none of my business. Whether it's the Tang family or Shu Yunyao, as long as they don't provoke me, I won't take action." Pei Jin's gaze suddenly fell on the Lonely Dust Sword by the bedside, and he spoke slowly and calmly, "Father, what exactly is inside the Lonely Dust Sword? You've kept it from me, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Pei Gu Mo was caught off guard by the question and panicked for a moment before shaking his head helplessly. "It's a treasure map." A lot of money, enough to throw the whole world into chaos, or even buy an entire country.

Pei Jin said with remorse, "I really regret giving the Lonely Dust Sword to Tan Yuan."

“I thought that treating the Lonely Dust Sword casually would avoid attracting attention, so I gave it to you as a weapon,” Pei Gu Mo said. “No one should know about the treasure map, but I don’t know how it got out.”

Pei Jin nodded, "I understand." After a pause, she added, "It's getting late, Father. You should go back and rest. I'll stay here and keep Tan Huan company."

Pei Gumo glanced helplessly at his son, "Take care of yourself," and then walked away.

As dawn broke, Tan Huan woke up. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Pei Jin's face. She immediately broke into a bright smile and reached out to touch his face in an unruly manner. She touched it with her front hand, then her back, pinching and squeezing it, thoroughly enjoying herself.

"Is it fun?" Pei Jin sighed. "What am I going to tell others if my face gets red and swollen later?"