Una sonrisa puede derribar una ciudad

Capítulo 41

"Oh?" Lan Qi turned her head, glancing sideways with her emerald eyes, and then smiled. "Don't worry, brother, I will treat him well, just as well as you treat me."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yi was struck dumb, his face turning ashen. He looked at Lan Qi with empty eyes, then gave a bitter smile. "I knew I could never escape my sins. I only hope you can forget them soon, forget the past, forget me, and treat yourself well. If you are doing well, I can go to hell in peace."

"Don't worry, brother." Lan Qi smiled brightly. "In this world, nothing is more important than myself. As for the rest, I can either hold them in my palm, trample them under my feet, or discard them behind me. They are all up to me!"

Feng Yi looked at her bright smile, but his eyes were filled with despair.

Lan Qi looked at him, at his pained expression, at the despair in his eyes, but why... was there no remorse?! Did he not regret what he had done? Had he not felt a single regret all these years? Hadn't he reappeared before her to repent? You... don't regret it at all?! Lan Qi clenched her teeth tightly, but her face only showed a wicked and bright smile.

"Forget it... Forget everything... It's better to forget everything..." Feng Yi murmured, his eyes empty, as if looking at Lan Qi but not seeing anything at all. He turned around blankly, took a step blankly, and slowly and dimly disappeared into the heavy pear blossoms.

Watching that frail, paper-thin figure gradually disappear from sight, Lan Qi finally loosened her grip on her sleeve. At that moment, a wave of weariness washed over her, and she felt so weak that she just wanted to collapse and sleep, never to wake up again!

He turned around and moved step by step, his mind blank, not knowing where to go, only knowing that he must never stay in the same place again... never stay there again, no matter how long he stayed there, no matter how much he waited and hoped, he never turned back!

Night has fallen, all things are at rest, and all sounds are still.

Ming Er sat up from the bamboo bed, put on his coat, and pushed open the bamboo window. Outside the window, a bright moon, as white as frost, poured out its silvery light across the sky and the ground. Under the moon, pear blossoms were everywhere, swaying like frost, their shadows dancing, their fragrance falling like snow.

This place is so beautiful, yet so dangerous.

Everywhere is shrouded in mystery, and everywhere is laid out with deadly formations. This leader of the demonic sect is indeed an extraordinary and eccentric figure.

Unable to fall asleep, he decided to step out of the bamboo house. He listened intently and could hear Ning Lang and Yuwen Luo breathing evenly inside. Feng Yi was nowhere to be seen, nor was Lan Qi, and there was no sound from Ming Kong or Sui Qinghan either. Those two must be over there.

The night breeze in the pear orchard is cool and refreshing, carrying the delicate fragrance of the blossoms. Strolling through it is a truly delightful experience.

As they walked, they arrived at the pond. The clear water reflected the bright moon, and snow-white petals floated on it. The wooden bridge stood quietly, and the stream murmured softly. In this scene, Ming Er couldn't help but feel relaxed.

Turning her head, she caught sight of a person sitting on a swing a few feet away. Dressed in white as snow, with long, ink-black hair, the white and ink intertwined and cascading beautifully to the ground, she leaned her head against the swing rope, seemingly lost in thought. Moonlight streamed down her body, making her as serene as Chang'e.

Ming Er looked at that profile and couldn't help but be surprised. Before this, he couldn't have imagined that she would be in such a situation.

The person on the swing seemed to sense it too, turning their head to look over. Their eyes met, and in that instant, Ming Er's heartstrings trembled.

At that moment, as their eyes met, he felt Lan Qi's reality with such certainty. In those emerald eyes, he clearly saw a desolate loneliness, and around her emanated a sense of despair and emptiness. Beneath the frosty moon and pear blossoms, she was a lonely soul adrift in a desolate wasteland.

But it was only for a moment. When those emerald eyes saw him clearly, and then blinked, a bewitching and demonic aura appeared around him.

Ming Er suddenly wished that moment was real, yet also hoped it was just an illusion. If it were real, then he would have discovered her weakness, increasing his chances of victory in the duel. But he also didn't want that weakness to be so easily exploited; if his opponent was defeated so easily, he would be disappointed.

Looking across the martial arts world, she is the only formidable rival he truly acknowledges.

"Second Young Master, are you here to admire the moon?" Lan Qi called out, and with a light step, the swing gently swayed. Instantly, her clothes fluttered and her long hair danced, against the backdrop of pear blossoms and silver moonlight, making her look like a celestial maiden descending to earth.

Ming Er looked at the person floating in mid-air, his mind was confused for a moment, but he quickly came to his senses and said, "The moon is very bright tonight, doesn't Seventh Young Master also have a refined interest?"

"Heh..." Lan Qi chuckled softly, the swing gradually came to a stop, and she turned to look at Ming Er, "Second Young Master, did you gain anything from your stroll under the moon?"

“This flower, this moon, this wind, this water, that is all I have.” Ming Er’s gaze fell on the pond opposite.

Chapter 17. Unparalleled Beauty (Part 2)

"Second Young Master is indeed a refined person." Lan Qi nodded, his gaze also falling on the pond. After a moment of silence, he said, "This pond is not natural either. When I first came here, there was a huge rock standing here. Old Man Sui didn't like me very much, but my master wanted him to carefully teach me martial arts. So he taught me a mental cultivation method and told me to practice in front of the huge rock. He said that when the rock disappeared, I would have mastered it. I practiced day and night... Then one day, the rock finally disappeared, and a big pit appeared on the ground. The water from the mountain wall stopped flowing and flowed into this pit, and that's how this pond came to be."

Lan Qi raised her hand, and in the moonlight, her hand was fair, slender, and beautifully proportioned. "This pond was dug out by me with a single finger, a single grab, and a single palm."

Ming Er turned to look at her.

Lan Qi raised her head, a mocking smile on her face, "Heh...did you really believe that?"

Ming Er smiled, turned his head to look at the moon reflected in the pond and the falling flowers, and said nothing.

Lan Qi didn't press further. She looked up, gazing at the distant icy moon in the sky. After a long while, she asked softly, "Second Young Master, do you believe in the existence of eternity?"

"Hmm?" Ming Er turned to look at her again, and after a moment said, "Even heaven and earth cannot remain unchanged forever, let alone a person who is only a hundred years old."

“Hehe…” Lan Qi laughed, “Second Young Master, this is not the kind of answer you should give. Given your status, you should say ‘I believe’.”

Ming Er raised his long eyebrows. "That's just what people say to deceive themselves. You and I both know that, so why bother with empty words?"

“You and I both know… indeed.” Lan Qi murmured, then turned her gaze to the pear blossom grove across the pond and said softly, “Looking at them, I feel that forever is a joke, but thinking about it, they seem to have really achieved another kind of forever.”

Ming Er looked at Lan Qi and then smiled slightly, "Young Master Qi seems to be quite sentimental tonight. Is something troubling you?"

Lan Qi turned and met Ming Er's gaze. A moment of wariness rose in her heart, but a smile bloomed on her face. Under the moonlight, it looked like a pear blossom, bewitching and alluring. "Such a beautiful moon and flowers, and seeing such a person as the Second Young Master, it's impossible not to feel a stirring of emotions."

Ming Er smiled dismissively upon hearing this.

But then she stepped down from the swing, her lotus-like steps light and graceful, her slender waist swaying in the breeze, treading on the water like a gentle breeze, drifting gracefully towards him. Her emerald eyes were filled with affection, her jade-like face radiant with life. She looked at him with undivided attention. The moonlight melted into the pool of spring water, and the pear blossoms seemed to embody the spirit in her emerald eyes. Thus, there was the ethereal beauty of the heavens and the allure of the three realms.

"Second Young Master, look at this beautiful time and scenery, isn't it specially prepared for you and me?" The voice was like silk, entangling and invisible, and it was so seductive that it could captivate the soul.

My heart skipped a beat.

Then Ming Er smiled, a smile that swept away all worldly concerns, a smile that cleansed the dust of the mortal world, ethereal and pure like a fairy. He reached out and took her hand, calm and gentle, “Since that is so, how can we fail to live up to the blessings bestowed upon us by Heaven? With the flowers and moon as our matchmaker and the azure sky as our witness, we pledge our vows to be bound together, to stay together for life, never to be apart.”

Her bright eyes were lightly misty, yet they held deep affection; her smile was gentle and understated, yet it revealed sincerity. For a moment, Lan Qi was also lost in thought.

The pear blossoms are pure white, the moonlight is like water, look at that person in white robes and green gown, with a jade-like face and celestial bearing.

Such a scene is as beautiful as a poem or a painting.

The viewer is bewildered, and even the people in the painting are confused.

But in the next instant, the two of them seemed to wake up from a dream, and at the same time they leaped up, instantly jumping several feet away.

One of them sighed and rubbed his forehead, "This is insane!"

One of them, wiping his hands, exclaimed repeatedly, "That's terrifying!"

It's all the fault of this night and this moon for bewitching people!

He turned around and walked towards the bamboo house.

One of them walked back to the swing, sat down, and angrily kicked the swing high into the air.

In places where they can't see each other, they recall that brief moment together.

Ming Er had to admit that he was truly moved at that moment. The allure of the jade bewitching beauty was undeniable!

Lan Qi gritted her teeth: That damned fake immortal, is she made of stone?! This is the first time someone has been able to resist her allure. That damned fake immortal's smile is so… humph!

It's really late at night, time to sleep. Ming Er closes the window, takes off his clothes and gets into bed.

Lan Qi sat on the swing and swung back and forth, floating in mid-air.

What are you doing here?

A voice startled Lan Qi from her reverie. She looked up and saw Sui Qinghan walking across the wooden bridge.

"How could you bear to come here?" He finally got to see his master, how could he be willing to come back? Besides, there's Mingkong around, how could he leave him at ease?

"I was playing chess and didn't mention I wanted some 'pear blossom syrup,' so I came to get some," Sui Qinghan replied.

"Oh." Lan Qi stopped swinging and stood up. "You said you were going to give me something, are you really sure you're going to give it to me?"

Sui Qinghan reached into his sleeve, pulled out an object, and tossed it to Lan Qi, who caught it, glanced at it, and put it away.

“They should all be happy to have it, after all, I have almost disappeared from the martial world for the past twenty years.” Sui Qinghan’s expression was solemn. “Although our sect has always been indulgent, I still hope you will not ruin it.”

"Old man, do you still call yourself 'this leader'?" Lan Qi smiled brightly and wickedly, his eyebrows curving upwards. "From this moment on, the leader of the Sui Sect is none other than me. Now that it is in my hands, its future prosperity or decline is entirely up to me."

"That arrogance is certainly enough." Hearing this, Sui Qinghan was not angry. He moved towards the bamboo house, but after taking two steps, he turned back. "Does Ming Er have a grudge against you?"

"Hmm?" Lan Qi raised an eyebrow.

“You know that I hate that kind of person the most, so you brought him here, just to get rid of him through my hands, right?” Sui Qinghan understood perfectly. “I have killed many people in my life, and I don’t care about killing one more. But as for him, let me tell you clearly, I can kill him right now, but I will have to pay a very heavy price. I don’t need to go to that extent.”

"Heh... It's rare to hear you say something like that. You're even more arrogant in front of Mingkong." Lan Qi sneered.

"You don't need to provoke me." Sui Qinghan remained unmoved by Lan Qi's provocation. "I don't believe you didn't make a move during the Asura Formation?"

Lan Qi sighed and said, "I failed in the Asura Cave, and he saw through my plan in the Pear Blossom Forest, forcing me to join forces with him. Do you know how much effort I put into eliminating this person? I even sent out the 'Evil Soul,' and I was just short of going into battle myself. This opponent is the most formidable I have ever faced, and he will definitely be an obstacle to me obtaining the 'Lan Yin Bi Yue.' He must not be allowed to live!"

It was rare to hear Lan Qi speak with such helplessness and look so defeated. Sui Qinghan was somewhat surprised, but also somewhat understanding.

“In a few years, this Ming Er will surely surpass me. I have never seen such a person in my entire life of wandering the martial world. He has an elegant and humble appearance, but in reality…” He paused slightly before continuing, “‘Unfathomable and terrifying’ are my words of advice to you. You should know that even if Ming Kong has mastered the ‘Azure Sky Ode’, I am not afraid. But this young man, I feel that ‘the younger generation is to be feared’.”

“I know this better than you do.” Lan Qi’s eyes flashed with a cold light. “Since I mastered my skills and left the mountain, I’ve been injured less than five times. But thanks to this second young master, I’ve been injured by him twice!”

"Oh?" Sui Qinghan's brows furrowed. "Since you've already fought, he must know your intentions. Why did he come here with you knowing there was danger?"

"Because he's curious. My lineage and background in the martial arts world are a mystery, so of course he wants to know. He wants to understand everything clearly, then seize my weaknesses and defeat me in one fell swoop, so that I can never recover!" Lan Qi said coldly, narrowing his green eyes.

“This person is also extremely arrogant.” Sui Qinghan nodded. “However… your behavior reminds me of Ming Kong back then. We also hated each other so much that we wanted to kill each other. But so many years have passed… our anger, jealousy, and hatred have all become blurred.”

“Speaking of which…” Lan Qi turned to look at him, “I’m very curious, what’s the point of you two doing this? To know each other yet have to forget each other, to be together yet unable to be intimate, this only results in three people suffering for a lifetime, why bother?”

Sui Qinghan paused, then turned back to look at the pear blossom grove. His arrogant and wicked expression vanished, leaving his face expressionless. "Perhaps one day when you are moved, you will understand." He then turned to fetch the "pear blossom elixir" from the bamboo building, but after only a few steps, he stopped and looked back, a wicked glint in his eyes. He said maliciously, "Why don't you try seduction? Maybe it will work." Without waiting for Lan Qi's reaction, he walked away.

Lan Qi, who was behind him, froze upon hearing those words. Recalling the previous moment and then the nightmare that came before, he trembled all over and lost all sleepiness.

Early the next morning, Yuwen Luo and Ning Lang walked out of the bamboo house feeling refreshed, only to run into Lan Qi, who was yawning.

"I'm going to sleep now. You can do as you please, but don't make any noise, understand?" Bi Mou glanced at Yuwen Luo with special eyes, and then went upstairs.

"Didn't she sleep last night?" Yuwen Luo and Ning Lang looked at each other in bewilderment.

A little while later, Ming Er also got up. Sui Qinghan and Ming Kong did not appear, so they were presumably over there. Food is the most important thing for people, and since the host did not come out to entertain guests, the three of them had to cook for themselves. Fortunately, the bamboo house had everything they needed, but in the end, it was Ning Lang who started cooking.

All three came from prestigious families. The second young master of the Ming family could talk about famous dishes and delicacies from all over the world, but he could only talk about them. He had never actually cooked or made them before. Although Yuwen Luo was not the eldest son of the Yuwen family who was pampered by everyone, he was still a pampered young master who had never lifted a finger since childhood. He had never been exposed to any kind of domestic skills. Only Ning Lang grew up on Qianbi Mountain. There were only his master and senior brothers on the mountain, but no one treated him like a young master. Therefore, he often had to do small things like cooking and mending clothes by himself.

The three had just finished eating when Feng Yi appeared. His clothes were still damp with dew, suggesting he had been away all night. No one knew where he had been, but Pear Blossom Tomb was such a large place that anyone could stay anywhere. What was remarkable was that he had managed to return safely despite the dangers lurking around. Considering that he was a disciple of the Wind and Mist Sect and that Ming Kong valued him so much, he was certainly not an incompetent person.

In the afternoon, Lan Qi woke up and met Ming Er. They were both at ease with each other. When they saw Feng Yiyi, they affectionately called him "brother". After filling their stomachs, they led them to walk around the Pear Blossom Tomb and had a great time.

Several days passed in this way. Lan Qi did not mention leaving, Sui Qinghan did not chase them away, and Ming Kong did not appear. The group was happy to stay there. The climate was like spring, the scenery was picturesque, and there was no worldly noise. Since none of them were ordinary people, they chatted, drank tea, played chess, drank wine, and composed poems. They lived a carefree life and felt a sense of transcendence and seclusion from the world.

However, this carefree period only lasted for five days.

On the sixth day, when Sui Qinghan returned to the bamboo house to fetch wine with a cheerful smile, Lan Qi, feeling an itch to tease him, said, "Old Sui, I forgot to tell you, you should go and see the pear blossom forest over at the hot spring lake." She was referring to the pear blossom forest with the "Three Talents Return to Origin" and "Five Stars Align" formations.

Sure enough, after Sui Qinghan went to see it, he returned furious and flew into a rage.

The group wasn't surprised. They had already witnessed the tragic state of the pear blossom grove that day. As the owner who had worked so hard, it would be strange if Sui Qinghan didn't have a temper.

Then, the days that followed were rather tough. They were all forced by Sui Qinghan to plant pear trees, water the pear orchard, prune the pear trees, catch insects for the pear blossoms... Everything that Sui Qinghan could think of was added to their shoulders.

Yuwen Luo lamented that the days of peace and comfort were gone forever. Ning Lang diligently planted trees, Feng Yi silently buried himself in pruning, Ming Er used catching insects as practice for his lightness skills, eyesight, and speed, and Lan Qi was having a great time watering the plants. However, sometimes the water would accidentally fall on Yuwen Luo's speech acupoint, sometimes accidentally give Ning Lang a bath, and sometimes the water droplets would silently and swiftly hit Ming Er...

One day, Mingkong finally appeared. Yuwen Luo assumed he had come to rescue them, but the senior looked at him and simply said, "Young people should do more." Then he drifted away.

Overall, those days weren't too bad. So much so that years later, when the group recalled those times, they would sometimes feel a little dazed, then a smile would creep onto their lips, and they would murmur, "Back then..."