Compendio de hombres apuestos en el mundo de las artes marciales

Capítulo 48

Li Linke also walked in, first glancing at Duan Chen, then turning to Xiao Yiyi with a smile: "Yiyi, it's been so many years, you still have this quick temper."

Xiao Yiyi narrowed her eyes and glanced at Li Lingke, a somewhat sarcastic smile appearing on her bright and beautiful face: "Ake, don't think I don't know what you're up to! What did you take from my disciple? Give it back to me right now! You dare to covet my people? You're really asking for trouble!"

Li Lingke smiled mysteriously upon hearing this: "If you hadn't brought this person out, I wouldn't be so interested. Yiyi, you should be proud of it."

"Pah!" Xiao Yiyi snapped, hands on her hips, glaring at Li Lingke for a moment before suddenly breaking into a sweet smile. "Lingke, do you know what's most annoying about you? Your arrogant and conceited nature is unbearable for any woman with a shred of backbone. And yet you look down on those delicate beauties. I looked down on you back then, and now my disciple looks down on you just as much!"

Chapter Nineteen: Knots and Entanglements

Li Lingke raised an eyebrow and chuckled, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness. "I just like your personality. But your disciple is quite different from you in some ways." As he spoke, his azure eyes swept towards the bedside, a touch of wicked charm creeping into his smile. "I've always been curious how you, a fiery red rose, could have raised such a wondrous person, like a snow lotus in the glacier..."

Xiao Yiyi frowned slightly and stepped aside to block him, then reached out and pulled back the bed curtains, giving the man a fierce glare: "Li Lingke! You're already so old, can't you have some self-awareness as an elder?"

A white curtain hung down, just covering Duan Chen's knees. Last night, Xiao Yiyi, along with two maids, cleaned and bandaged Duan Chen's wounds, working for most of the night. Finally, they obtained a loose, soft silk robe from Liu Mandie for Duan Chen to wear as an undergarment. Therefore, when Duan Chen got up, her hair was disheveled, and her clothing was thin, though she was still covered by a quilt, so no one could see anything. Coincidentally, she was thirsty when she woke up and was in a hurry to get out of bed, so her feet were naturally bare, the robe covering her toes up to her insteps, with only a few toes vaguely visible.

Those outside naturally couldn't see such details. Liu Yichen was only concerned with Xiao Yiyi saying she was leaving, his eyes never leaving the beauty's face since he entered. Only Li Linke, from the moment he entered, glanced at Duan Chen and noticed the view from the hem of her skirt. While talking to someone, his azure eyes grew even darker, and the smile on his rosy lips deepened.

Xiao Yiyi had known this man for many years, and without even thinking, she knew where his eyes were wandering. She cursed under her breath as she reached out and untied the curtain, simultaneously blocking his view. Duan Chen, preoccupied with his thoughts since waking, and also somewhat uneasy about Xiao Yiyi's visit, hadn't noticed anyone else's expression. When Xiao Yiyi released the curtain, Duan Chen naturally reacted a little, bracing himself against the bed behind him to move further in, but this aggravated the wounds on his waist and shoulder, causing him to let out a muffled groan.

Upon hearing the snort, Xiao Yiyi's expression changed instantly. Pointing at the door, she yelled at the two men, "Get out of here, all of you! And those of you standing outside, go back to where you belong! What were you all doing all this time? Letting my disciple, a girl, suffer such serious injuries, you're all useless good-for-nothings!" Li Linke and Liu Yichen knew Xiao Yiyi's temper and knew they couldn't say another word at this critical moment. One by one, they obediently turned around and walked out of the house.

The people standing outside the door turned pale upon hearing the long string of curses. Xiao Changqing was about to speak when Zuo Xin covered his mouth, then grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the next room. Zhao Ting maintained a cold expression, his deep eyes fixed on the figure inside the bed. Zhan Yun's face remained calm, but his crescent-shaped eyes betrayed a hint of unease.

Zhou Yufei's smile was slightly stiff, but she still reached out and put her hands on Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun's shoulders, trying to ease the somewhat tense atmosphere: "Well, Duan Chen's master is indeed no ordinary woman..." The two of them didn't say a word and each stepped aside. Zhou Yufei stumbled and almost fell to the ground, rushing directly into the wide-open doorway.

Unexpectedly, just as Xiao Yiyi reached the doorway, she raised her foot and kicked Zhou Yufei in the chest. Before the others could even see her movement, Xiao Yiyi had already gracefully turned around, and the door slammed shut with a "bang." Zhou Yufei, who had been leaning forward, was sent staggering back several steps by Xiao Yiyi's kick. He steadied himself in the middle of the courtyard, clutching his chest and coughing several times in a pitiful manner. Then, he looked at the two men who were coldly staring at him with a resentful expression: "You heartless people! Why didn't you catch me? I've been kicked by my beautiful master and now I'm internally injured!"

Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun didn't even glance at him, and went straight into the next room side by side. Zhou Yufei was left rubbing his chest, looking at Liu Yichen and Li Linke with resentment, and without thinking, he blurted out, "Such a fierce woman, and you two fought to the death for her back then, and you even remained unmarried for her sake!"

Then, ignoring the somewhat gloomy expressions on the faces of the two men, Young Master Zhou turned and left without any regard for his surroundings, muttering to himself, "What kind of judgment do these so-called senior figures of the martial world have! No wonder the martial world has become increasingly corrupt in the last twenty years..." Before he could finish speaking, Young Master Zhou stopped abruptly, standing in the courtyard with one hand pounding his chest and the other leg stepping forward. His peach blossom eyes were filled with regret, and his lips were slightly parted, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Liu Yichen frowned and glanced at Li Linke, who withdrew his finger, his eyes sparkling with a slight smile: "Not bad, your legwork has improved somewhat." After saying that, he turned and walked towards his room. Liu Yichen glanced at the pebbles lying not far away, then looked at the slightly torn fabric on Zhou Yufei's back, where there was an acupoint, and frowned as he entered the last empty room.

Inside the room, Xiao Yiyi pulled back the curtain, and upon seeing Duan Chen, she couldn't help but let out another string of low curses. She hugged Duan Chen around the waist and moved him a little further in, then reached out to tug at the belt at his waist.

“Master…” Duan Chen reached out and covered Xiao Yiyi’s hand, his face pale and bloodless.

"What's there to be ashamed of!" Xiao Yiyi spat lightly, then grabbed Duan Chen's cool hand and pulled it aside. With deft movements, she unbuttoned his robe and carefully peeled the blood-soaked fabric off his shoulders. Duan Chen gritted his teeth, still unable to suppress a gasp. Xiao Yiyi swiftly pulled the robe down to his waist, pulled another garment from a bundle at the head of the bed, and tucked it into Duan Chen's arms: "Cover yourself up, turn over."

Duan Chen, his hands trembling, covered his chest with his clothes, then half-lay down, exposing the wounds on his shoulder and side. He had several abrasions and scrapes on his back, but they weren't too serious; they only damaged the skin and flesh, and would scab over in a few days. However, the wounds on his shoulder and side had been caught on iron hooks, the flesh turned outwards, almost reaching the bone. Furthermore, the locations of the wounds were rather unusual, making them difficult to heal as they could be easily aggravated.

Xiao Yiyi took a handkerchief soaked in hot water and gently wiped the blood around the wound, sighing softly, "Silly girl, the person is dead, what does a painting matter? I don't even want to think about it, why are you so concerned about this?"

The wound, still wet with blood, tore slightly when the clothing was peeled back. Duan Chen clenched his teeth, a thin layer of mist gradually rising in his eyes: "Yes, once, you drank too much and cried... constantly calling out Liu Yixuan's name. I, I told Qingzi then... that if I had the chance, I would definitely help you get the painting back. He's dead, ouch!" Duan Chen tossed his neck, a tear falling onto the pillow, but he still smiled faintly through his clenched teeth: "It doesn't matter if someone dies. As long as there's something to hold onto. Like, this bracelet my parents left me, and... that white jade flute..."

Xiao Yiyi paused slightly as she applied the medicine, her eyes welling up with tears: "Luo'er..."

Duan Chen closed his eyes tightly, trying to hold back the hot tears, but his right hand, resting on his chest, trembled as he fumbled for the bracelet on his left arm: "That painting, you've wanted it for so many years. If I had known sooner, I would have come to get it for you long ago. From now on, whenever you miss Liu Yixuan, you can drink to the painting and stop bothering me and Qingzi..."

Xiao Yiyi quickly looked up, raised her hand and wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks, then smiled and said, "You brat, I knew you were disgusted with me! Every time we drink, you're the one who grabs the most, and you drink all the good wine without me feeling bad. Now you're criticizing me? From now on, if there's any fine wine, I'll only share it with Qing'er, so you'll be envious!"

As she spoke, Xiao Yiyi got up, took a new robe, carefully draped it over Duan Chen's shoulders, pulled the quilt over his back, and said softly, "Don't move yet, just lie here for a while. You can change your clothes around lunchtime."

Duan Chen, who had been smiling slightly, nodded gently upon hearing this and remained silent. Xiao Yiyi sat on the edge of the bed, gently gathering the strands of black hair she had previously brushed aside and spreading them across the blankets, while softly stroking Duan Chen's head: "It's been so many years, and you still have a knot in your heart, don't you?"

There was a long silence. Just when Xiao Yiyi thought she wouldn't answer, Duan Chen spoke softly: "There's no way to take revenge now, but you should at least remember something."

Xiao Yiyi sighed deeply, her fingers gently stroking Duan Chen's hair, warm and soft like a spring breeze, carrying a sense of peace that warms the heart: "Luo'er, the dead are gone. If your parents knew this in the afterlife, they would find it hard to rest in peace."

"Master." Duan Chen lay face down beside the pillow, his voice muffled, his clear, cold voice gradually becoming hoarse: "I no longer think about revenge. I haven't thought about it for seven years."

“Of those three boys outside, apart from the one surnamed Zhou, the other two seem pretty good to me.” Xiao Yiyi gently stroked the hair beneath her hand, a thoughtful look in her bright eyes. “Luo’er, if you’ve truly figured things out, you shouldn’t keep rejecting others. I can see that Zhan Yun truly cares about you. When I rushed over last night, he was soaked to the bone, yet he still carefully helped you channel your inner energy and dried your clothes…”

"Master..." Duan Chen called softly, seemingly with a hint of reproach, "Don't say anymore. It's impossible for me to be with those three."

"Silly girl, don't be so sure about everything." Xiao Yiyi couldn't help but smile. She got up, went to the table, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to Duan Chen's lips, feeding her the water. "That guy surnamed Zhao, his identity is a bit troublesome. But given the relationship between your family and his family, it's not impossible."

Before Duan Chen could speak, Xiao Yiyi quickly added, "As long as you like it." Xiao Yiyi continued leisurely, "As long as you like it, what does it matter if his surname is Zhao? Luo'er, since you're no longer obsessed with hatred, open your heart. The martial world is beautiful; there's always a place for you. Don't let the past bind you. You're still young, and you have a long road ahead. Find a suitable person to accompany you, and walk well together. Then your master can rest easy, drinking and appreciating the moon while looking at your master's painting." As she finished speaking, Xiao Yiyi's voice became lighter, causing Duan Chen to purse his lips.

The two chatted for a while longer before Xiao Yiyi helped Duan Chen up and dressed. It was nearly noon, and Liu Yichen had set up a large round table in the largest room in the courtyard for everyone to sit around and have lunch. When Xiao Yiyi helped Duan Chen in, everyone was already seated inside. Two empty chairs were placed, one next to Liu Yichen and the other to Zhan Yun.

Xiao Yiyi found it amusing; after all these years, this person hadn't matured at all, still fixated on such trivial details. Duan Chen sat down in a chair, feeling somewhat impatient. Especially since his master had just told him about these two not long ago, his sudden reunion with them felt rather awkward.

Zhan Yun and Zhao Ting had been watching Duan Chen intently ever since he entered the room. Seeing Duan Chen clench his teeth, slowly sit down in the cushioned chair, his eyes shadowed with faint blue lines, his pale face devoid of color, they couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. Zhan Yun handed him a cup of weak tea, but Duan Chen didn't accept, only softly saying thank you.

Seeing this, Zhan Yun's smile remained, but his brows furrowed slightly. A thought flashed through his mind, and his crescent-shaped eyes involuntarily drifted to the beauty's lips. His heart began to race, and a faint blush rose to his cheeks. Was she angry because she remembered that scene?

Zhan Yun's mind was in turmoil at the thought of this possibility; he didn't know whether to be happy or worried. The situation was urgent, and he was afraid she wouldn't survive, so as soon as he picked her up, he pressed his lips to hers and breathed several breaths into her mouth. Later, fearing she would choke on the air when she came out of the water, he kept his lips tightly sealed until she reached the surface.

To be able to kiss her would be wonderful, but in that situation, all romantic feelings were gone. Instead, he was terrified by her wounds and her body temperature, as cold as lake water. In his twenty-four years of life, this was the first time Young Master Xingzhi had ever felt fear. But now, the more Zhan Yun thought about it, the more worried he became. What if this incident made her even colder towards him? If she didn't like him, he could slowly try to make her feel his affections. But if she grew tired of him from then on, he would be completely out of the running, with no chance left.

Zhan Yun felt a pang of panic, and Zhao Ting beside her also looked displeased. Just as they were about to speak, Mr. Xiao interrupted, "Girl, are you feeling any better? I heard you suffered some internal injuries. Here, take this." With that, he tossed a small bottle into Duan Chen's arms: "Take two pills a day, and you'll see results in less than three days."

Duan Chen's shoulder and lower back injuries were mainly on his left side, so his right hand was still relatively free to move. He tucked the medicine bottle into his sleeve and smiled slightly at the two people diagonally opposite him: "Thank you. And Master Zuo, thank you for saving me last night." Zhan Yun was just feeling delighted that Duan Chen hadn't treated him like an outsider when he saw Duan Chen slightly turn his head, his phoenix eyes half-closed, not looking at anyone, and softly say, "Thank you."

Zuo Xin waved his hand: "No need to thank me! Even if it wasn't you last night, it would have been someone else among us who fell for it. Who knows who would have saved whom then!"

Xiao Changqing, standing beside her, put away his smile and looked at Duan Chen with a serious expression: "Girl, this incident is a lesson. I told you before, don't be so kind-hearted and rush in whenever someone is in danger. Look, you've fallen into their trap! Last night's scene was definitely meant to kill them. Your kung fu isn't good, and you didn't have a weapon. It was far too risky."

As the people around him spoke, Liu Yichen's face grew paler and paler, his hands gripping the fabric tightly on his thighs, his eyes gradually reddening. Xiao Yiyi, sitting beside him, naturally saw everything clearly, reached out and patted his shoulder, smiling slightly, "Your father is your father, and you are you. There's a murderer sitting next to you, and nothing's happened yet, what kind of shame are you holding back!"