Bloodstained Kill

Chapter 38

Yun Ran's heart stirred. She knew that Wen Huaifeng's scheme to deceive her had failed, and he had decided to seize the jade seal. Since he was still seriously injured and unable to appear in person, he invited Su Rang, Qin Luo, and others to assassinate Huo Qingfeng, while secretly sending men to infiltrate the place and seize the jade seal. If she, Qi Mo, and Sima Liuyun hadn't arrived just in time, their treacherous scheme might have succeeded.

Huo Qingfeng remained silent, leading the three to the pavilion. Seeing that there was no one else around, he finally asked, "Junior Sister Yun, how did you come to know about the Imperial Seal of the State?"

Yun Ran made no attempt to conceal anything and recounted in detail to Huo Qingfeng everything that had happened a few days prior.

Huo Qingfeng listened silently. Although Long Yanzi had told him about the origin of the jade seal, this was the first time he had heard that the Yun family was a descendant of the Wu clan. He couldn't help but sigh, "So it turns out that Junior Sister has such a deep connection with our Jade Sword Sect. It seems that your taking over as the sect leader was indeed ordained by fate." He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then said, "Since Junior Sister is a descendant of the Wu clan and has now retrieved the Yi Guang Jade, it is most appropriate for you to complete the task entrusted to you by our ancestor."

As he spoke, he activated a mechanism, retrieved an ancient sandalwood box from a hidden compartment in the wall, unlocked the lock, and opened the lid. He said in a deep voice, "Junior Sister, although Wen Huaifeng told you about the events of the previous dynasty, there are many inaccuracies in what he said. This jade seal is not only a royal token of the previous dynasty, but it is also related to a secret treasure. Wen Huaifeng has tried every means to obtain the jade seal, and his purpose is to obtain the treasure left behind by the Wu Dynasty."

Qi Mo's eyes lit up. He had been an enemy of Wen Huaifeng for a long time and knew his nemesis's thoughts quite well. He pondered and said, "Wen Huaifeng's power in the court and the country is now stable. He has always been ambitious. If he can obtain the treasure of the previous dynasty, he will have the capital to stir up a storm in the court. It is possible that he intends to take this opportunity to change the dynasty."

Yun Ran let out a soft "Ah," utterly shocked. Qi Mo glanced at her and said, "If that weren't the case, why would he conceal the matter of the Wu family's descendants from the court? Do you think he's the kind of person who would consider the old friendships with his sect?"

Yun Ran slowly shook her head. Qi Mo grasped her hand, feeling its icy touch and his palm drenched in cold sweat. Looking up at her pale face, he frowned slightly, thinking to himself: Wen Huaifeng is so eager to obtain the Imperial Seal. Besides the treasure, he probably also intends to use the banner of the previous dynasty to start a rebellion. If he learns that Ranran is a descendant of the Wu clan, he will surely harbor even more wicked thoughts towards her. However, Ranran is a person of great loyalty and affection. Although she has seen through his sinister intentions, she wonders if she still harbors any feelings for him…

As he was secretly calculating, he suddenly saw Yun Ran sway slightly and lean softly towards him. He quickly reached out to support her and asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"

Yun Ran, supporting Qi Mo's arm, managed to stand up and whispered, "It's nothing, I just feel a little weak." As she spoke, everything went black before her eyes, and she lost consciousness.

※※※※

When Yun Ran woke up, it was already night. She felt the soft bedding beneath her but didn't know where she was. With a slight movement, she heard Qi Mo's deep voice sound right next to her ear: "Awake?" Then he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Yun Ran hadn't been this intimate with him for several days, and realizing she was only wearing a close-fitting undergarment, her face flushed slightly as her body touched his. Composing herself, she asked softly, "Where is this? How did I get here..."

Qi Mo gently stroked her long hair and said softly, "We're still on Mount Luwang. You've been traveling non-stop these past few days, and then you had a fierce battle with Gongye Yang. You must have been exhausted, which is why you fainted. Lord Huo has already given you the Black Clam Snow Lotus Pill from his Twilight Shadow Pavilion. You'll be fine after a rest..."

Yun Ran's skin was pressed against Qi Mo's, and she felt his warm breath brushing against her cheeks and ears as he spoke. The scene of their intimacy a few days ago floated into her mind, and she became more and more distracted. She only listened to half of what he said. Suddenly, she couldn't suppress her shyness and pushed Qi Mo's chest, hurriedly interrupting him, "I'm awake now. You, you can go back to your room and sleep."

Qi Mo was taken aback, then chuckled and said, "Back to my room? Lord Huo didn't arrange any other accommodations for me, so naturally I'll sleep with you."

Yun Ran's cheeks burned, her mouth was dry, and she felt ashamed and angry. She reached out and grabbed the quilt, wrapped herself in it, and rolled to the corner of the bed, muttering, "I don't want to."

Qi Mo felt a chill; Yun Ran had already rolled up all the blankets. He felt a wave of helplessness, and hearing the strange sound in Yun Ran's voice, he couldn't help but worry. He jumped out of bed, lit the oil lamp, walked back to the bedside, and asked softly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?"

Seeing that Yun Ran had buried her head in the quilt, he became worried. He reached out and turned her shoulder, advising, "You are weak right now, and you will have difficulty breathing like this."

Seeing Yun Ran peek out from under the covers, her face flushed and her eyes brimming, stealing a glance at him before quickly looking away, revealing a conflicted and shy expression, he suddenly realized what was going on. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. He climbed into bed, snuggled under the covers, and kissed Yun Ran, whispering with a chuckle, "You're being naughty. Were you thinking something funny, trying to... have something with me..."

Yun Ran was so embarrassed that she stammered, "I...I didn't." Her face turned even redder, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him.

Qi Mo chuckled and pulled her into his arms. He reached inside her undergarments and gently caressed her body, slowly moving his fingers to the lower edge of her breasts. He felt Yun Ran tremble slightly and look down at him. He saw that she had buried her face in her chest and dared not look up. The back of her neck and earlobes that were exposed between her hair were tinged with red.

He and Yunran had been staying at inns all these days, and she had always insisted on having separate rooms to maintain proper decorum. He had been missing her terribly, and now seeing her display such a shy demeanor, his heart was filled with surging emotions. He placed his hand on her soft breasts, kneading and squeezing them gently, and whispered in her ear, "Ranran wants me, and I feel only joy. Besides, haven't we already... done it several times already? Why are you still so shy?"

Yun Ran felt as if Qi Mo's hand was setting her ablaze, her body trembling slightly with his movements. She also felt his erection, thick as a pillar, rubbing against her through the thin fabric of his clothes. She heard Qi Mo's hoarse voice coaxing, "Tell your brother, did you miss me, hmm?"

Her heart pounded like a deer, and she couldn't help but wrap her arms around Qi Mo's waist. She looked up at him and gave a barely audible reply.

When Qi Mo saw the woman in his arms panting softly and looking alluring with hazy eyes, his mind went blank and his blood surged even more. He pulled Yun Ran into his arms and rolled her down, pinning her beneath him. He lowered his head to kiss her and reached out to undo her underpants.

His lips met hers, but he suddenly remembered Yun Ran's fainting spell earlier. A sense of unease crept into his heart, and his movements faltered. Ultimately, he couldn't bear to part with the soft warmth in his arms. He held Yun Ran close, their lips pressed together, their tongues licking, and they kissed passionately until her body melted into water, limp and limp beneath him. Only then did he lower his voice and pant, "You're still weak, it's not advisable... Let's get some sleep, don't bother me anymore, understand?"

Yun Ran felt embarrassed and anxious, and said angrily, "Who upset you again? It was clearly you..." Suddenly she realized that her voice was slightly hoarse and extremely seductive, so she quickly stopped talking.

Qi Mo felt a tickle in his heart from her words, but he could only restrain himself, squinting his eyes and looking at her with a deep gaze, then chuckled in a hoarse voice, "Still saying you don't?"

Yun Ran couldn't argue, and turned away sullenly, only to feel Qi Mo leaning in from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist, his chin resting on the back of her neck, and whispering, "Go to sleep."

Yun Ran didn't move, letting him hold her as she slept for a while. Then, blushing, she complained, "You... I can't sleep with you like this on top of me."

Qi Mo coughed, inhaling the fragrance from Yun Ran's neck, lightly licked her earlobe, and mumbled, "Then what should we do?"

Seeing that Qi Mo had clearly told her not to provoke him, yet he was still trying to provoke her, Yun Ran turned around and angrily said, "Shrink back!"

Qi Mo chuckled and said, "Do you think I'm like Su Rang, that kid? You think I can just back down like that?"

Yun Ran's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "What's wrong with Su Rang? Is he still refusing to reveal Wanwan's whereabouts?"

Qi Mo shook his head and laughed, "I first gave him the Bone-Corroding and Heart-Eating Powder, making the kid suffer for most of the night. Then I told him that if he didn't reveal Wanwan's whereabouts, I would have him castrated. The kid was so scared that he told me everything on the spot. However, he really didn't know where Wanwan was. I guess Wanwan might not have been kidnapped. This girl is very cunning. She probably ran away on her own to avoid Sima Liuyun, but dragged this unlucky Su Rang down with her."

Author's note: Happy holidays everyone! \(o)/~

I feel like I'm becoming more and more sleazy... *cough* *looks up at the sky*

☆、62 Latest Chapter

The next morning, shortly after the two got up, Sima Liuyun came to visit. He said that he would leave the mountain immediately to continue searching for Wanwan's whereabouts. Yunran wanted to say goodbye to Huo Qingfeng and go with him, but Qi Mo insisted on not allowing it and insisted that she stay on the mountain to rest for a few more days before leaving.

Left with no other choice, Yun Ran could only escort Sima Liuyun to the foot of Mount Luwang and bid him a sorrowful farewell.

Qi Mo had been with Yun Ran the whole time. When he saw her about to use her lightness skill to go up the mountain, he quickly stopped her and advised, "You are not feeling well right now, you should not waste your energy."

Yun Ran felt that he was making a mountain out of a molehill. When she looked up, she saw his solemn expression and deep worry in his eyes, and she was slightly taken aback.

Qi Mo's expression quickly returned to normal. He smiled at her and said softly, "The scenery in these mountains is quite nice. We don't have anything else to do, so why don't we walk back slowly?"

Yun Ran's heart stirred, and she nodded. Walking slowly alongside Qi Mo, she asked, "Senior Brother Huo didn't finish his sentence last night. What exactly was the matter that the Ancestral Master entrusted to us? It seems to be related to a treasure?"

Qi Mo said indifferently, "Since your ancestor was also a subject of your Wu family, how can a master obey a subject? There's no need to pay any more attention to his damned dying wish."

Seeing that Qi Mo was indifferent to matters concerning the treasure, Yun Ran became even more suspicious. She suddenly stopped and lowered her eyes, saying, "I feel a little dizzy again."

Qi Mo's expression changed, and he quickly helped her sit down by the roadside. He placed one hand on her palm and continuously channeled his true energy into her palm. He then took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out a pill, and placed it to her lips, saying in a deep voice, "How do you feel?"

Seeing that the pill was dark brown and had a fragrant aroma, Yun Ran knew that it must be the Black Clam Snow Lotus Pill from Muying Tower. She then asked, "The Black Clam Snow Lotus Pill is made from rare ingredients and requires several years of effort to make even a few pills. Why did Senior Brother Huo give you the whole bottle?"

Qi Mo looked anxious, but forced a smile and said, "As the head of the Jade Sword Sect, what else would Master Huo be reluctant to give you? Hurry up and take it."

Yun Ran turned her head away from the pills he offered to her mouth and said slowly, "So the reason I fainted last night was because I was poisoned."

She had long harbored doubts. Having practiced martial arts for years, her internal energy cultivation had reached a certain level, and recently her skill had improved considerably. Although her fierce battle with Gongye Yang was intense, she shouldn't have collapsed from exhaustion. Furthermore, the Black Clam Snow Lotus Pill was hard to come by, rumored in the martial arts world to be a miraculous healing and detoxifying medicine capable of bringing the dead back to life. Why would Huo Qingfeng have given her this medicine yesterday? If she hadn't been poisoned and needed someone to care for her day and night, Huo Qingfeng certainly wouldn't have allowed Qi Mo to share a room with her.

Qi Mo was taken aback upon hearing this. He reached out and placed his hand on Yun Ran's wrist, feeling a steady and strong pulse. Seeing that her complexion was normal, he knew that she had not been poisoned. He breathed a sigh of relief, pulled her into his arms, and sighed, "Don't try to trick me with this kind of thing again."

Yun Ran knew Qi Mo was calm in the face of adversity, but hearing his slightly hoarse voice, still revealing his nervousness, she felt a pang of apology. Her heart sank, and she whispered, "What kind of poison is it that even the Black Clam Snow Lotus Pill can't cure?" A thought flashed through her mind, and she added, "Wen Huaifeng wasn't just talking nonsense that day; the pills he tricked me into taking were indeed poisoned... But why did you hide it from me? Is there no cure for this poison?"

Qi Mo's gaze sharpened, and he quickly said, "Don't overthink it. Wen Huaifeng is so cunning, how could he not take the opportunity to use the antidote to blackmail us? I have already sent someone to ask him what conditions he wants, but I was afraid that you are too proud and would not be coerced by him, so I kept this from you beforehand."

Yun Ran was stunned for a moment. She thought of Qi Mo, the leader of the Absolute Kill Sect, who stood proudly above the rest of the martial world and was always on par with Wen Huaifeng. He was also a proud and arrogant man; if it weren't for her, why would he easily bow down to Wen Huaifeng? And the fact that he concealed the poisoning was probably because he feared she still held onto their past relationship and that learning of the poisoning by Wen Huaifeng would affect her emotions and worsen her injury. Her thoughts were in turmoil, and she nestled silently against Qi Mo's chest.

Seeing that Yun Ran remained silent, Qi Mo assumed she was worried about the poisoning. He reached out and gently stroked her long hair, softly comforting her, "Don't be afraid. Although this poison is deeply hidden, it won't easily take effect as long as you don't recklessly use your true energy."

Yun Ran shook her head and said in a low voice, "After my father and brothers passed away, I felt that there was nothing in this world to be afraid of. At worst, I would just die. That's why I dared to sneak into the Jizhou government office alone to avenge them, and later I became an assassin."

Qi Mo recalled his first encounter with Yun Ran. Her calm and detached demeanor, which was incongruous with her age, was extremely eye-catching. Now, thinking back, he realized that she was a brave and resolute person who felt no desire to live and no fear of death. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her and tightened his arms around her.

Yun Ran looked up at him and smiled slightly: "But I am really afraid of dying now, because besides my father and brothers, there is another person in this world who is selfless and devoted to me, who tolerates my strange temperament, treats me like a treasure, and... makes me love and miss him. How can I bear to not be able to see him again in the future?"

Qi Mo was flattered and overwhelmed with emotion, staring at her speechlessly. Yun Ran leaned against his chest again and said softly, "Let's get married after the poison in my body is cured. Father has done so much for me, I should live well in the future so as not to let him down." She paused slightly, then smiled and said, "But he certainly won't like me marrying you, the leader of assassins."

She couldn't help but think to herself that although the Yun family had connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, her father had always admired chivalrous and righteous people. A son-in-law like Qi Mo probably wouldn't really suit his taste. However, her father doted on her, and if he was the husband she had chosen, he would be happy for her in heaven.

Qi Mo smiled and hugged her, saying, "Who said that? I had business dealings with Senior Yun back then, and he praised me for my youthful vigor and promising future. If he knew that the man you chose was me, he would definitely praise you for your excellent judgment."

He was overjoyed to finally hear Yun Ran confess her love to him and agree to the marriage. His heart was also filled with tenderness. He held Yun Ran tightly in his arms and thought to himself: No matter what, I must get the antidote to cure you of the poison. I will not allow you to suffer any more harm.

He heard Yun Ran ask in his ear, "Where is the black gold ring you gave me? It was in my hand before I fainted last night. Did you take it?" He hesitated slightly, then hummed in agreement and reluctantly took the ring out of his pocket.

Yun Ran smiled gently, lowered her eyelashes, and said, "Please put it on for me. I will wear it forever and never lose it again."

She waited shyly for a moment, but Qi Mo didn't move. Startled, she looked up at him. Qi Mo's expression was strange as he looked at the ring in his hand. He cleared his throat and slowly said, "This ring is old-fashioned and doesn't quite match my beautiful face. Perhaps I should give you another one..."

Yun Ran was annoyed. She snatched the ring away and said angrily, "You didn't say that when you gave it to me! Are you making excuses now because you're afraid I'll lose it again, or have you changed your mind and don't want to marry me anymore?"

Qi Mo coughed repeatedly, not daring to speak further. Yun Ran glared at him, about to put the ring around her neck herself, when suddenly she exclaimed "Huh?" and held the ring up to her eyes. After examining it carefully for a while, a look of confusion appeared on her face, and she murmured, "What, isn't this the one you gave me?"

She stared at the tiny characters on the inside of the ring, making sure it was indeed the character "珞", before turning to look at Qi Mo. "This ring truly belongs to Qin Luo."

Seeing Qi Mo's eyes flicker, she knew he already knew about this, which was why he refused to let her wear Qin Luo's ring. She said softly, "Since this was passed down from your mother, how could Qin Luo have an identical one, and... keep it close to his body?"

Suddenly recalling how Qi Mo had thwarted his assassination attempt on Qin Luo several times, he looked at Qi Mo again and realized that he and Qin Luo had many similarities in their appearances. Both of them had thin lips and straight noses, and both had an undisguised arrogance in their expressions. However, Qi Mo was more indifferent and unruly, while Qin Luo was more sinister.

She understood somewhat, and her expression changed slightly. She frowned and asked, "I've heard that Qin Changling's eldest son is born to the legitimate wife and is the true heir, but he rarely appears at the Marquis's residence, and few people have ever seen the eldest heir. Could it be...?"

Seeing the disbelief on her face, Qi Mo was afraid that the trust he had painstakingly built in her heart would be destroyed. He quickly hugged Yun Ran and said, "I didn't lie to you. I was abandoned by my parents when I was very young. Later, my master took me back to the Absolute Killing Sect and adopted me. Of course, I am not the heir of the Yongle Marquis. It's just that Qin Luo... is probably my brother from the same mother."

Seeing Yun Ran's uncertain expression, he was about to continue explaining to her when he suddenly heard faint breathing sounds coming from not far behind him. He quickly pulled Yun Ran behind him, turned around, and shouted in a low voice, "Who is it!"

With a clear cough, Huo Qingfeng emerged from the bushes by the roadside and nodded to the two, saying, "Junior Sister, Sect Leader Qi."

Yun Ran looked embarrassed, thinking to herself: Oh no, I wonder how much of what I said to Qi Mo just now was overheard by Senior Brother Huo.

Qi Mo was taken aback and greeted, "So it's Master Huo." But he was slightly surprised: Huo Qingfeng was not the type to meddle in other people's business, so why was he hiding nearby and eavesdropping on our conversation?

Huo Qingfeng seemed to have guessed what he was wary of, and said with a faint smile, "I was just curious when you mentioned the Yongle Marquis's Mansion, and I didn't show myself in time. This was ungentlemanly of me. Please forgive me." He paused and then said, "Sect Leader Qi, the envoy just sent a letter." As he spoke, he took out a letter.

Qi Mo knew that it was Wen Huaifeng's reply that had arrived, and all his thoughts immediately fell on this matter. He hurriedly took the letter, read it once, and couldn't help but change his expression slightly, and then sneered repeatedly.

Yun Ran asked, "What conditions does Wen Huaifeng want?"

Qi Mo put the letter back into his pocket and after a long while said, "Yes, he wants me to take the Imperial Seal of the State and go to the Marquis of Chang Le's residence to exchange for the antidote with him."

Huo Qingfeng said calmly, "The Imperial Seal of the State is a family heirloom of the Wu family, so Junior Sister can dispose of it as she pleases."

Yun Ran frowned slightly, thinking of Qi Mo's background, and lowered her eyes to think: But why did Wen Huaifeng insist on choosing the Chang Le Marquis's mansion for the exchange? She felt that this matter was very strange, and she glanced at Qi Mo, unable to help but worry.

Qi Mo turned to her with a smile, reached out and took Yun Ran's hand in his. He was calculating the other condition mentioned in Wen Huaifeng's letter, but his eyes turned sinister: in addition to the Imperial Seal, Wen Huaifeng also wanted Sima Liuyun's life.

Author's note: I'll stop here for now, and I might revise it later.

☆、63 Latest Chapter

The three-way intersection, more than ten miles north of Youzhou City, is a necessary route connecting the north, south, and west. Although it is located in a remote and desolate place, there are always a few travelers passing by every day. They drink some tea and rest their feet in a simple tea stall by the roadside before continuing their journey. The owner of the tea stall barely makes a living with these few coins for tea.

The teahouse was doing exceptionally well today. Several customers were already seated at the two dilapidated wooden tables inside. Several riders escorted a large cart along the path to the south. When the cart arrived, two riders stayed by the side of the cart while the others dismounted and entered the teahouse, ordering, "Quickly bring some tea and snacks."

Seeing that the newcomers were all dressed in martial arts attire, with weapons at their waists, the shopkeeper quickly consulted with the customers inside the stall, clearing out an empty table and setting out tea, but without selling any food. The group seemed tired from their journey and were not picky, so they asked the shopkeeper to bring tea to the two people next to the cart. They then took out their own dry rations and ate and chatted with the tea.

One of them whispered, "Our senior brothers got away with this for nothing, taking him back with them. That's quite a feat."

Another person said, "Hehe, who would have thought that this great achievement was actually thanks to our former enemy, that Sima Liuyun..."

Another person scolded, "If you've rested enough, go and bring your two junior brothers over. Don't be so talkative and cause trouble for yourselves!" As he spoke, he glanced at the table next to him and saw only a few merchants carrying satchels, an elderly couple dressed as farmers, and a man in a blue robe, all gathered around the table drinking tea and chatting idly. No one seemed to be paying attention to the conversation between his fellow disciples. Only then did he feel relieved.

The two men, seeing his caution, were somewhat dismissive. One of them laughed and said, "Senior Brother Lu is too timid. Sima Liuyun is no god or demon. Why can't we even mention his name? Besides, didn't we hear that the Absolute Killing Sect is hunting him down everywhere on our way here? This is a case of the wicked being punished by the wicked. Our sect was humiliated because of this kid. Now we'll let him taste what it's like to be hunted down."