A Wandering Youth

Chapter 40

Those slender, pale hands gradually tightened their grip, his cold pupils narrowing into needles, his handsome face remaining perfectly unchanged. He clenched his fists inch by inch, his eyes fixed on Leng Shuangcheng: "Chu Yi, do you know you deserve to die?" (Regardless of my wavering, I've already fallen for him to some extent. How can you be so oblivious and still thinking about another man?)

Caught off guard, Leng Shuangcheng felt the pressure on her neck suddenly disappear, and she swayed and fell forward—crashing right into Qiu Yeyi's chest. Startled, she tried to get up, but the person in front of her pressed down on her hair. (Kill her? Definitely not, I can't bring myself to do it. Besides, I instinctively grabbed her to bring her back to her senses. I admit I was jealous; I wanted her close to me.)

Qiu Ye Yijian gave a cold laugh, it was hard to tell whether the laugh was an affirmation that he had guessed correctly or an indication of his overestimation of his abilities. (Congratulations, you guessed right, that's exactly what I meant.)

Qiu Yeyi stood up, her hands hanging at her sides, and said coldly, "If you can come out, I'll release those two. If you can't, you're not allowed to leave this building. I can only warn you, if you don't understand the meaning behind my words in the future, you'll suffer more." Without waiting for Leng Shuangcheng's silent, stunned gaze, she turned and left. (My ultimate goal)

In summary: Xiao Qiu has never been in a relationship, nor has she ever seen a pig walk. She is too self-centered and has a very conflicted mind. Please forgive the heartache of someone experiencing their first love being so indecisive. In short: she is an emotional idiot.

7. Silence

Qiu Yeyi, dressed in a white palace robe with slightly rolled-up sleeves, walked across the corridor without touching the ground. The setting sun of late winter and early spring shone on him, like drifting white clouds, showing the ethereal beauty after the fading of prosperity.

Leng Shuangcheng followed closely behind the shadow, keeping a distance of about three feet. With lowered eyes and a guarded expression, he silently and firmly trailed behind. More than ten days had passed since the incident at the council chamber. Fortunately, Qiu Yeyijian's behavior had returned to normal, and he had resumed his cold and noble demeanor as a young master from a prominent family.

The shadow fell in the pale yellow-red light, dappled and mottled, carried by the sound of wind and drifting clouds in the lingering afterglow of the sky. Leng Shuangcheng looked down at her feet, her expression calm, but her heart was heavy, feeling as if the hidden questions were suffocating her:

Where is Wu You? Is he alright?

What will happen to Ruan Ruan and Chu Xuan?

—Is Nan Jingqi in Jingxiang? How can I inform him of this news?

—Why is there no news of the triumphant return of the Lonely?

Is Tang Xiaoshou dead or alive?

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, sometimes finding herself ridiculous for being able to worry about others when she could barely take care of herself.

Although Qiu Yeyijian left that day, she couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she racked her brains. In the end, she actually fell asleep in her chair. The next day, she was awakened by Steward Bai's calls. At that time, she was suddenly startled: it seemed that her skills had deteriorated. She was completely unaware when someone came to her, even when she saved Ruan Ruan on the high platform that day! In the past few days, she had been experiencing slight throbbing pains in her body. She carefully examined her whole body but found nothing unusual. Qiu Yeyijian had mentioned that someone wanted to take her life. What exactly was going on? This was also the reason why she felt so heavy-hearted and couldn't relax.

Another point is the Silver Light Prince.

She seized an opportunity to approach Yin Guang, hoping to extract any information about the aforementioned individuals from him. Yin Guang was extremely vigilant this time, and instead of answering, he asked, "Chu Yi, what exactly does the young master want you to do? This is quite different from how he usually supervises Leng Qi, the guard!" In fact, this was also a point of confusion for Leng Shuangcheng. Faced with Yin Guang's curious gaze, she could only smile slightly and say, "I don't quite understand either. Your young master is quite fickle."

Yin Guang seemed quite at ease with Chu Yi's unrestrained speech in front of him, and didn't pursue the matter, responding with a smile instead.

Qiu Yeyi suddenly stopped and turned around to look at the person behind her: "What are you thinking about so intently!"

Leng Shuangcheng paused cautiously, looking up at him: "What are your orders, young master?"

Qiu Yeyi's face was as cold and indifferent as she said, "I won't say it a second time."

Leng Shuangcheng thought for a moment, and it seemed that the person in front of her had mentioned the word "Yuanxiao" when she was pondering it, but she was not very sure and dared not speak easily.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at him coldly, then turned and walked towards the study. Leng Shuangcheng had no choice but to silently follow him.

Along the way, numerous guards and maids prostrated themselves in greeting. Qiu Yeyi walked forward with a cold and indifferent gaze, while Leng Shuangcheng, behind him, could only dodge left and right, suffering greatly. Seeing their young master present, no one dared to be presumptuous, and their faces all wore expressions of intense repression.

In the study, Qiu Yeyi sat motionless at her desk for two hours, reading through case files, while Leng Shuangcheng stood motionless in the shadows, lost in thought.

The room was completely silent, seemingly devoid of any human presence, with only a faint, elegant fragrance of clothes lingering in the air.

Qiu Ye Yijian stared intently at the book in front of him, only turning a page after a long while. If it weren't for the faint medicinal fragrance he was trying to detect, he would have the illusion that no one was behind him. In this suffocating silence, Qiu Ye Yijian turned to look at the person behind him and said coldly, "Go and have your meal, and then come and serve me until I retire for the night."

Leng Shuangcheng's long-standing blank expression softened slightly, and upon hearing this, he readily replied, "Yes, young master."

Qiu Yeyi watched the jubilant figure step across the threshold, a hint of darkness flickering in her eyes.

Leng Shuangcheng hastily ate a meal in his humble abode, then bathed with a heavy heart. After checking the wound on his back and finding it to be no serious injury, he felt a little relieved. He blew out the lamp and slowly walked towards Qiu Yeyijian's bedroom.

Qiu Yeyi's long hair, flowing freely down his back, gleamed with a dark and alluring light, as if forged. Beneath his black hair and white robes, his skin was like ice, his eyebrows like distant peaks, like a sculpture, outlining his indifferent and aloof demeanor. He sat quietly on the brocade couch, awaiting Leng Shuangcheng's arrival.

The candlelight flickered, accompanied by a faint scent of jasmine, as a graceful figure in white entered.

Qiu Yeyijian knew who it was without even looking up. He sat indifferently on the table by the window, his gaze still fixed on the darkness of the room.

The newcomer silently walked up, knelt down, and focused his gaze on Qiu Yeyi's face, gently calling out, "Young Master."

"Get out." Qiu Yeyi uttered two words without even looking at Jian.

The woman's body trembled violently, and she leaned forward softly, saying, "I will serve you, young master, tonight."

Qiu Yeyi turned her gaze to the body on the ground and said coldly, "Bai Li, don't make me say it a second time."

Bai Li straightened up, her eyes filled with misty tears, and still biting her lip, she forced herself to say, "Why has Young Master changed? Why would you rather have everyone else wait than urge Guard Leng to get up? Why would you rather undress and bathe yourself than allow Bai Li to serve you?"

"Bai Li, you should know my habits. I may not lay a hand on a woman, but that doesn't mean I won't kill her." Qiu Yeyi's sword was as still as a statue, and her indifferent tone filled the room, causing the person at her feet to change their expression drastically.

Qiu Yeyijian pressed his thin lips together, his handsome features extending down to his collar, exuding a somber and awe-inspiring aura. He gazed into the darkness and slowly said, "Chu Yi is my man, and no one can touch him. You cast a dark curse on him and used the Soul Substitution Technique on him. It's already a great favor that I haven't killed you!"

"Hehe." Bai Li chuckled lightly, her smile as beautiful as a flower: "It really is her. If you don't kill me, you're afraid my true form will be scattered, and she will also be physically and mentally devastated. You're caught between a rock and a hard place, young master. Your thoughts are so unfathomable. Treating Bai Li is truly a great favor!"

Qiu Yeyi stared coldly at her face, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Bai Li raised her face, her eyes shimmering as she surveyed the handsome yet ruthless face before her. Her pupils overflowed with deep affection: "Young Master, I have been taught to be dignified and virtuous since I was ten years old, so that I could become your match when I grow up. How can you decide Bai Li's life or death with just a few words?"

"I don't care who you mess with, but not Chu Yi." Qiu Ye Yi Jian said coldly, without looking away.

Bai Li finally couldn't bear it any longer. Her delicate body trembled, and large, crystal-clear tears rolled down her cheeks, reflecting the dim light. Suddenly, she let out a muffled cry and rushed forward to hug the indifferent person in front of her tightly.

Qiu Ye Yijian showed slight disgust, then decisively reached out and pushed aside Bai Li's soft body, rising to her feet with a cold indifference. —She still dared not harm her body.

Bai Li collapsed to the ground in tears, then suddenly pulled out a small dagger and plunged it fiercely into her heart. Qiu Yeyi heard the sound, but without turning around, she swept away the weapon with a flick of her sleeve, then flicked her finger in mid-air, striking Bai Li's pressure point.

He turned his face toward the door and coldly shouted, "Come out, Chu Yi!"

Leng Shuangcheng silently turned out from outside the door, her face pale and her expression uncertain. Bai Li raised her head and stared fiercely at the face that appeared in the room: "Does it hurt a lot? You can imagine how much it hurts me!"

Leng Shuangcheng remained silent, her face expressionless. She hadn't expected to encounter such a chaotic and strange situation. Her mind was blankly recalling Yang Wan's desperate face that night, and she randomly remembered many complicated past events. For a moment, she remained silent.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at the silent figure, seemingly used to her feigned deafness, and said coldly, "Keep an eye on her. I'll go find someone to prepare the antidote." With that, she vanished, leaving behind a gust of cold wind.

A surge of intense sorrow welled up in Leng Shuangcheng's heart, a sorrow she knew stemmed from the usually gentle and dignified young woman before her. She silently helped her up and placed her on her own brocade couch. Bai Li, unable to move, her eyes burning with a fierce, jealous light, roared at Leng Shuangcheng, "I don't know how much you heard, but tonight I will plunge you into an abyss of eternal damnation!"

Leng Shuangcheng stood frozen before Bai Li, watching her transform from a serene fairy into a ferocious, venomous beauty. She didn't know how to comfort her, her heart still in turmoil. However, she was well aware of her own selfish desires. What pained her most was unintentionally causing someone such excruciating torment, far surpassing her own nightly longing. As for Qiu Yeyijian's recent capricious behavior and his insistence on defending her earlier, she didn't want to think about it, nor did she have the time to consider it. —With her heart filled with the moon, how could she yearn for any other pool?

Bai Li carefully observed Leng Shuangcheng's silent expression, then chuckled and said, "Your name is A-Cheng, right?"

Leng Shuangcheng suddenly shuddered, looking at her in disbelief: "How does Steward Bai know my name?"

“I not only know you are Acheng, I also know you are a woman,” Bai Li said with a radiant smile, her face like a venomous snake, exuding a cold, fishy aura, “because Wu Sanshou is in your hands, young master.”

Leng Shuangcheng's eyes narrowed with a sharp light. She stood still and whispered, "It's true, it's true. How could Qiu Yeyijian not investigate the origins of strangers before keeping them around and using them?"

Bai Li stared intently at Leng Shuangcheng's face and sneered, "Want to know where Wu Sanshou is? Chu Yi, kneel down."

Leng Shuangcheng forced herself to calm down and resolutely knelt down in front of Bai Li. She then heard Bai Li's chilling smile and say, "Look up at me. This is what you owe me."

Leng Shuangcheng closed her eyes briefly, then her gaze returned to its usual cold and clear state. She quietly looked at Bai Li's grief-stricken and distorted face as instructed.

"A few years ago, the young master sent me to infiltrate Wu Sanshou's circle so that he could draw maps of the sixteen prefectures. Unexpectedly, he actually fell in love with me and willingly drew sixteen maps. A year ago, he ran into me in Yangzhou. He followed me absentmindedly and was discovered by the young master's shadow guards and brought before the young master. The young master was very surprised to see him. I still remember the expression on the young master's face that day. It was the first time I had seen the young master, whom I had known since childhood, show a different expression than his usual indifference. He stared at Wu Sanshou and asked, 'How are you still alive? Where is Chu Yi?' Wu Sanshou wanted to die as soon as he saw the young master, but the young master restrained him and ordered me to get all the information."

“I am the only direct disciple of the Miao Gu Master, skilled in using Gu and the art of bewitching and soul-capturing. I originally thought that Wu Sanshou would obediently tell me everything as soon as he saw me, but I didn’t expect him to refuse to speak and even refuse to eat. I took the initiative to tell him some of the little things we did together in the past, and Wu Sanshou fell for the trap and looked into my eyes. I immediately hypnotized him and fed him Gu poison. He became dependent on me to survive day by day, and gradually lost his resistance, and told me everything he knew about you.”

“Young Master came to my place every day to listen to Wu Sanshou’s ramblings. Those were the happiest times of my life, because with Young Master’s voluntary visits, I could see him every day, even though he didn’t come to see me. — Young Master stood under the screen wall, silently listening to Wu Sanshou’s incoherent ramblings. I secretly stood behind the corridor, silently watching Young Master’s back. But one day, I saw Young Master turn around and leave after hearing a sentence. Curious, I turned back to question Wu Sanshou, and I heard him repeat the same sentence over and over again: ‘Acheng… Chuyi… Master… As you can see, I am a woman.’ Only then did I learn that Chuyi’s name was Acheng, that she was Wu Sanshou’s master, and that she was a woman. But Wu Sanshou said that you met him in Yangzhou. Young Master sent shadow guards to guard the area around a place called Luoying Pavilion, and they searched for almost a year without any news of you. Who would have thought that you had changed your face? — Only then did I believe that you had sunk into the ancient city.”

"But, Young Master only attended the year-end banquet and brought you back. When I heard Yin Guang call you Chu Yi, I knew my nightmare had finally arrived—you really weren't dead. Since Young Master brought you back, he certainly won't kill you. Remember Leng Qi's clothes? The threads of the clothes I modified were stained with my blood. My blood contained the most potent Gu—a double-heart Gu that my master instructed me to plant upon seeing the man I love. If the man disobeys me, he will die a violent death. If planted on a woman, she will be separated from me. Whatever I do, the Gu will suffer double the consequences. I won't just hand over the Young Master I serve so devotedly to you. So I'm unwilling to accept this. Every few hours, I don't hesitate to harm my own body. You must have felt the pain, right? This Gu poison will slowly corrode your body and gradually strip away your power! Chu Yi, I won't let you be so smug and have it so easy. I want you to repay my pain tenfold!"

Bai Li's eyes held sharp, needle-like thorns. She spoke coldly and slowly, then sneered at Leng Shuangcheng. "Do you dare lift my clothes and look at my body? Do you dare look at those countless scars?"

Leng Shuangcheng lowered her head slightly, her body trembling uncontrollably. Bai Li, seeing her like this, revealed a cruel, slowly savoring look in her eyes. After a moment, in the cool, quiet night, Leng Shuangcheng's clothes fluttered without wind. She slowly rose and walked step by step to Bai Li.

Bai Li still smiled coldly at her, but when she met a gaze colder and fiercer than a leopard's, she was stunned and shocked.

Leng Shuangcheng lifted Bai Li's skirt and looked her in the eye, coldly saying each word: "Isn't she just Qiu Ye Yijian? Besides her pretty face, what else is there that's worth you hurting another innocent person?"

8. Undercurrents

Leng Shuangcheng's eyes were slightly red, and her whole body exuded a chilling aura. She felt an unventable anger in her heart and couldn't help but raise her right palm. After noticing the person in front of her flinch, she unleashed her cold and fierce palm strike, and with a loud bang, dust flew up from the window frame behind Bai Li.

Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were fixed on Bai Li: "Wu Sanshou must be living a life worse than death right now. Betraying his true feelings is excruciating, but now he's like a senile idiot, completely oblivious, and being used by others. What could be more painful than that!"

"After Wu You became my disciple, he pitied my loneliness and accompanied me on my wanderings. Sometimes he would stay up all night without closing his eyes, walking in the freezing snow. Now I know that he was hiding pain in his heart because he loved you but could not have you, so he humiliated himself like that!"

"You, Qiu Ye Yijian, and Zhao Yingcheng are all selfish and shallow people, who disregard human life and toy with emotions, and are vicious, cruel, and ruthless! You say I'm smug, you say I'm doing well, but did you see the innocent children swallowed by the sea? Did you see the rivers filled with the corpses of the people? Did you see the pain of losing loved ones? Did you see the true feelings of children being tormented? Did you see the screams of the dead all over the mountains and fields? Did you see the unpredictability of life and death on the battlefield? Did you see the entire ancient city collapse in an instant? Thanks to your young master, I saw it all! So many people want me dead, but Wu You and I, even though we were chased and killed by Qiu Ye Yijian like dogs, we still lived well!"

"Let me tell you clearly, Master Dongge went to great lengths to save my life, expelling the cold poison from me while suffering excruciating pain himself. I must live well, otherwise how can I repay his kindness? I live not for your suffering, nor to win the heart of that selfish and cold-hearted young master you are so infatuated with! You are so crazy just because you don't have that man's favor, you shallow woman. I thought you were dignified and gentle, with the poise of a queen. Do you really understand what pain is? But I guess you'll be disappointed, because although I have lost my power, I haven't felt any pain in my body!"

Leng Shuangcheng lifted Bai Li with both hands, the hatred in her eyes sharp and piercing like a knife, blatantly bloodthirsty and cruel: "I can't defeat Qiu Yeyijian, otherwise I would have already questioned him like this! It's laughable that Mr. Dongge forced me to swear a poisonous oath not to disobey him, otherwise I would have fought him to the death long ago, why would I still be here enduring years of suffering? — The real pain is not being able to see the person you want to see, but having to face the person you deeply hate every day!"

Leng Shuangcheng let out a long, unrestrained roar, as if venting the deep-seated disgust he had been suppressing. Then, with a "bang," he slammed Bai Li's body down and turned away indignantly.

Bai Li's gaze was complex as she looked behind Leng Shuangcheng. The jealousy that had consumed her reason today had revealed the ruthlessness of someone who seemed so gentle and harmless. She frowned and muttered to herself, "Chu Yi, it's not that you're lucky, it's that the young master actually fed you a poison-repelling bead..."

After wandering aimlessly through several corridors, Leng Shuangcheng suddenly remembered that Wu Sanshou was still in their hands. Startled, she firmly controlled her impulsive anger and stopped in front of a vermilion pillar.

"Damn it!" Leng Shuangcheng suddenly cursed. Seeing that the pillar in front of him was intact, he was filled with hatred and slapped out a palm print.

…………

Bai Li stared at the tiny candle flame on the table, her eyes unfocused, her beautiful face drained of color, as withered as the setting sun at dusk.

A white figure walked silently towards me, slowly and quietly.

Bai Li looked up at the newcomer and was immediately taken aback. The color drained from her cheeks, and she stammered, "Young Master..."

Qiu Yeyi's clothes were disheveled, his long hair cascading down, and his eyes blazed with a fierce and ruthless light—even more ruthless and cruel than Leng Shuangcheng had been moments before. His handsome face was as pale as snow, and without a trace of hesitation or pity, he slowly raised his hand.

Bai Li was terrified. Seeing his bloodshot eyes, she knew he wasn't the cold and aloof young master she knew. Trembling, she cried out, "Young master... Bai Li knows she was wrong..."

Qiu Yeyijian stretched out a single palm and grabbed Bai Li's neck. His figure remained still, his fingers tightening and loosening, but his eyes were like raging fire, flickering with a fanatical and chaotic light: "Why force her to hate me? Do you know that even if everyone in the world hates me, it doesn't matter, but she just can't!"

…………

Qiu Yeyi heard every single word Leng Shuangcheng said.

"Disregarding human life and playing with emotions, vicious, cruel, and ruthless," he muttered to himself repeatedly, standing coldly under the eaves of the courtyard, not knowing how long he had been standing there.

He had already sensed Leng Shuangcheng's sudden arrival, but seeing her hiding outside the door without responding, and Bai Li embracing him intimately from inside, he was both surprised and angry. He made an excuse to leave, and at the same time, used Bai Li to tell her about Wu Sanshou, whom he had been worried about. — He had noticed her absent-mindedness and restlessness, or her feigned deafness and dumbness, but she would never speak unless he asked her to.

However, he did not expect that not all worldly events are as predictable as the rising and setting of the sun. For example, the pain of that poison, although it was Leng Shuangcheng's skill that eroded the earth, when it was applied to him, he felt as if he were in an ice cave, with his blood emitting a chill. Yet, the pulse in his veins was so vivid, and the alternation of cold and heat gradually drained his blood and bone.

It turns out that in Leng Shuangcheng's mind, he was not only worthless, but also extremely hated and despised by her.