Canción escarlata anti-hueso

Capítulo 11

Di Xiu picked up Yu Chi Mingyue and leaped onto the pile of rocks.

The group chased after them, but as they reached the pile of rubble, they suddenly felt their feet sink. There was a deep pit filled with sharpened branches. Many people, caught off guard, fell into the pit and were injured by the branches.

Seeing this, Di Xiu didn't hesitate and kicked several rocks down. The crowd hurriedly dodged, slowing their attack.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Di Xiu lifted Yu Chi Mingyue and leaped over the crowd. Just as he was about to find a way to leave, a red figure flickered and blocked his way.

Surprisingly, the person blocking his way was Yuchi Caiyao.

Di Xiu took a step back, his brows furrowed.

Yu Chi Caiyao laughed and praised, "As expected of 'Chief Steward Di'." She smiled and looked at the group of injured subordinates, "When the carriage was attacked, not only did you protect Mingyue and ensure her safe escape, but you also drove the horses in different directions to distract the assassins. You retrieved essential items, found hidden places, and after several detours, you bypassed the search. Knowing you were outnumbered, you set a trap and secured your escape route... If I hadn't verified it myself, I really wouldn't have believed you were so foolish."

After saying that, Yu Chi Caiyao shook her head and sighed, "It's a pity that you have an extra burden today."

The person she was referring to was naturally Yuchi Mingyue.

Hearing these words, Yu Chi Mingyue felt incredibly conflicted. She looked up at Di Xiu. His expression was tense, with a hint of fear.

“If it weren’t for my fourth sister’s delicate nature, you wouldn’t have needed to start a fire. If it weren’t for that fire, I might not have been able to find you at all. And now, if it weren’t for my fourth sister seeing through my lie, I wouldn’t have needed to use force…” Yu Chi Caiyao laughed, “Chief Steward Di, we are engaged, I’ll give you one last chance. Kill my fourth sister, come under my command, and I’ll spare your life.”

Yu Chi Mingyue was completely unable to think straight. Her gentle and kind second sister actually wanted to kill her?

At this moment, Di Xiu tightened his grip on her arm, his voice firm and cold: "Don't even think about it."

Chapter Thirteen

"Don't even think about it."

Yu Chi Caiyao frowned and said coldly, "Then don't blame me!" After saying that, she struck Yu Chi Mingyue with her palm.

Di Xiu retreated hastily to avoid the attack. At this moment, the group of maids and servants who had attacked earlier regrouped and surrounded them.

At this moment, the snowfall intensified, and the cold wind howled. Yu Chi Mingyue felt a desolation in her heart, even more so than the bitter cold of the weather.

Di Xiu glanced around at the situation, put down Yu Chi Mingyue, and shielded her behind him.

Seeing this, Yu Chi Caiyao laughed, "Chief Steward Di, are you perhaps planning to force your way out? Hehe." She smiled and slowly removed her cloak. "Normally, I wouldn't be your match. But now, are you really confident you can defeat me?"

Having said that, she tossed her cloak to a nearby maid, leaped forward, and grabbed Di Xiu's right arm. Di Xiu stepped back, changing his grip from palm to claw, and seized her wrist. Yu Chi Caiyao dodged to the side and kicked at Di Xiu's left leg. Di Xiu raised his right leg to block her attack, then, finding an opening, struck her shoulder with his palm. Yu Chi Caiyao retreated a few steps, not dodging, but instead raising her palm to parry.

With a clap of his palms, Di Xiu frowned and retreated several feet. He was panting heavily, unsteady on his feet, his whole body trembling slightly, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He was clearly at a disadvantage.

Yu Chi Mingyue's heart tightened. Everyone in Yu Chi Manor practiced martial arts, and this usually gentle and elegant second sister was also a skilled fighter. Just now, every move she made was aimed at Di Xiu's injuries. Such despicable and treacherous behavior was utterly contemptible.

Yu Chi Caiyao brushed the snowflakes off her clothes and laughed, "'Iron Eagle Claw,' 'Heart-Locking Leg,' 'Great Mighty Palm,' I've never seen you use these skills before. You've really gone mad, you don't even know how to conceal your abilities anymore." After saying that, she drew a long sword from the maid beside her and threw it in front of Di Xiu, "Why don't you use the 'Falling Cloud Sword Technique' that you secretly learned?"

The "Falling Cloud Sword Technique" is a unique martial art of the Yuchi Manor, traditionally passed down only within the manor. When Yuchi Mingyue first entered the manor, Yuchi Siguang had considered teaching her, but she had no interest in martial arts, so he gave up. Any outsider who steals this technique from the Yuchi Manor, regardless of their status, will have their tendons severed, their martial arts crippled, and be imprisoned within the manor forever. With such a harsh rule, this skill must be incredibly powerful. But why did Di Xiu, as the manor's steward, violate this law?

Di Xiu picked up the sword and, without saying a word, thrust it at Yuchi Caiyao.

Yuchi Caiyao was not to be outdone; she also drew her longsword and engaged him in combat.

The sword's gleam was cold and sharp, reflecting a chilling killing intent. Its power was fierce, stirring up a flurry of snowflakes. It moved like a dragon soaring, and retreated as if swallowing clouds. The moves alone were breathtaking.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows. But after a moment, Di Xiu's strength began to wane. Yu Chi Caiyao smiled slightly, raised her sword, and thrust it straight at his throat. Di Xiu hurriedly retreated, but a strand of his hair was still severed. Yu Chi Caiyao did not sheath her sword, but instead lunged forward, striking again at his wrist.

Although Di Xiu wanted to dodge, he was hindered by his foot injury and was unable to avoid it. The sword sliced across his wrist, forcing him to release his grip on the longsword.

Seeing this, Yu Chi Mingyue could no longer contain herself and called out, "Di Xiu!" She took a step forward, but her left ankle was in excruciating pain. She stumbled and fell to the ground.

Upon seeing this, Di Xiu was filled with worry. Just then, Yu Chi Caiyao sheathed her sword and struck him squarely in the chest with her palm.

Di Xiu choked on a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground. He caught his breath and was about to grab the longsword beside him when Yu Chi Caiyao raised her foot and stepped on his hand.

Yu Chi Caiyao laughed, "Stealing the Yu Chi family's secret techniques is a crime, and Chief Steward Di should know the punishment, right?" Her sword tip pointed at Di Xiu's brow, "I'll sever your meridians one by one right now, shall I?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue angrily shouted, "Stop!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Caiyao turned around with a smile, "Fourth Sister, what's wrong with you? Didn't you say you were going to cripple his right arm? Now that Second Sister has done it for you, why are you unhappy?"

Yu Chi Mingyue struggled to her feet, glared at her, and said, "You are not allowed to hurt him!"

"Hehe, could it be that Fourth Sister really has feelings for him and feels sorry for him?" Yu Chi Caiyao laughed. "That won't do. He's my fiancé."

"Why?" Yu Chi Mingyue shouted, "Tell me why?!"

Yu Chi Caiyao lowered her eyes and smiled, a hint of desolation in her voice, "It's so good to know nothing..." She turned to Yu Chi Mingyue with a smile and said, "Fourth Sister, actually, I really envy you. Being pampered and protected, getting whatever you want..."

“I don’t understand what you’re saying!” Yu Chi Mingyue interrupted her.

Yu Chi Caiyao sighed softly and laughed, "Fool..." She thought for a moment, glanced at Di Xiu on the ground, increased the pressure on her foot, and said coldly, "Fine, I'll tell you the truth then."

Looking at the seriously injured Di Xiu, Yu Chi Mingyue felt even more heartbroken and anxious.

"Rumor has it that Yuchi Manor has gained its current power by raising 'celestial foxes'..." Yuchi Caiyao said.

Yu Chi Mingyue frowned, waiting for her to continue.

“This is absolutely true.” Yu Chi Caiyao’s expression showed disgust, but her voice still carried an arrogant laugh. “...and only a daughter of the Yu Chi family can suppress and control the ‘Heavenly Fox’.”

"Daughter?" Yu Chi Mingyue was astonished.

“That’s right. So all the previous Yuchi Manor Masters were just putting on an act.” Yuchi Caiyao said, “The head of our Yuchi family has always been our great-aunt Yuchi Linghui… You naturally don’t know her; she passed away long before you returned to the manor.”

After a moment's thought, Yu Chi Mingyue said, "...You want to become the master of the 'Heavenly Fox'?"

Yu Chi Caiyao smiled and nodded, "That's right."

Yu Chi Mingyue's voice trembled slightly as she said, "Then what about Third Sister..."

“She is too,” said Yuchi Caiyao.

Yu Chi Mingyue recalled the events that had transpired in the manor, and the horror in her heart deepened. She raised her eyes, looked at her now completely unfamiliar sister, and said, "I never intended to compete with you."

Yu Chi Caiyao nodded. "I know."

Yu Chi Mingyue was slightly startled and speechless.

Yu Chi Caiyao smiled helplessly, "Not only do I know, but the entire manor knows. So, nobody cares about you, and nobody bothers to deal with you. It's just that you chose the path to hell when there was one..." After saying that, she raised her sword and pointed it at Di Xiu, saying, "Didn't you hate him? Why did you save him?!"

Yu Chi Mingyue's mind was in turmoil. She realized that the seemingly harmonious Yu Chi Manor, with its loving fathers and filial sons, and fraternal sisters, was far more complex than she thought. Beneath its calm surface, however, turbulent currents and immense danger lurked beneath…

However, she stopped thinking and said, "I saved him, but how did that bother you?"

“Of course it’s an obstacle…” Yu Chi Caiyao said coldly, “Fourth Sister, let me tell you something else… The master of ‘Heavenly Fox’ must be a virgin.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and exclaimed in shock, "The Chen family was wiped out—you did it!"

Yu Chi Caiyao laughed, a laugh that was arrogant and unrestrained. "Yes! I did it! Father betrothed me to the Chen family, trying to undermine my power. Don't even think about it!" She glanced at Di Xiu, her eyes filled with deep hatred, and said, "But he still wouldn't give up, and chose another man for me..."

Yu Chi Mingyue couldn't believe what she had heard. She looked at Di Xiu. At this moment, his eyes were dim, he had lost all his strength, and his condition was extremely miserable.

Yu Chi Mingyue recalled that night when Yu Chi Siguang announced his marriage to her second sister. She arrogantly accused him of murdering the entire Chen family for power, and even called him ruthless. Then, a sentence she blurted out caused him to slap her…

She finally understood why she had been slapped. At that moment of understanding, her heart ached with unbearable regret, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Seeing her like this, Yu Chi Caiyao's brows furrowed with sorrow. "He's a pitiful man too... Father cultivated him to eliminate dissidents, but he worried that his power would grow too strong and become uncontrollable. Making me marry him would not only ruin my plans but also restrain him. I wanted to cooperate with him, but he refused. So... in a fit of anger, I stole the 'Suppressing Pot'..."

“So it was you…” Yu Chi Mingyue said in a trembling voice.

Yu Chi Caiyao's hatred rekindled: "But I still failed... Although I escaped by sheer luck, he knows it was me who did it, and he has evidence that I murdered the entire Chen family. I really thought I was doomed." Suddenly, a smile appeared on her face, "I didn't expect him to be so foolish! Hahaha..."

After laughing, Yu Chi Caiyao looked at Yu Chi Mingyue again, "Now you know... I can't let you take him away, I can't let him live in this world!"

Looking at the woman before her, whose expression was ferocious and who resembled a demon, Yu Chi Mingyue felt a chill run through her body.

Yu Chi Caiyao sighed and said, "Good sister, now that you know all this, you can die knowing why."

Yu Chi Mingyue tried her best to calm herself down, holding back her tears, and said, "The assassin has been exposed. If anything happens to me, the Nanling Prince's Mansion will surely raze Yu Chi Manor to the ground."

Yu Chi Caiyao shook her head and said, "Don't worry, Fourth Sister. What I said earlier wasn't all a lie. Those assassins really were sent by Eldest Brother and Third Sister... They probably thought you were an eyesore, haha. But Third Sister is impatient and won't amount to much. Her rash actions have actually benefited me. When the Prince of Nanling investigates, I'll pin the blame on Eldest Brother and Third Sister. Father will naturally put family aside to protect the manor. Although the Prince has a fiery temper, he's also a reasonable man and won't really raze the manor. Then, I'll be the only daughter, the rightful 'Heavenly Fox' leader."

After saying this, Yu Chi Caiyao released her foot from Di Xiu and walked towards Yu Chi Mingyue with her sword in hand.

Yu Chi Mingyue wanted to retreat, but there was no way out behind her. The moment the cold blade pressed against her neck, she felt only despair.

"Fourth Sister, before I kill you, I need to ask you for a favor." Yu Chi Caiyao said with a smile, then turned to Di Xiu and said, "Chief Steward Di, could you tell me the whereabouts of the 'Suppressing Pot'?"

Di Xiu slowly propped herself up, frowning and remaining silent.

"Don't you want my fourth sister to die a quick death?" Yu Chi Caiyao advised with a smile.

Before Di Xiu could react, Yu Chi Mingyue said sternly, "Don't say it!"

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Caiyao frowned.

Yu Chi Mingyue's face was no longer filled with fear, her eyes gleaming coldly. She said to Yu Chi Caiyao in a cold voice, "I will not let you get the 'Heavenly Fox'."

Yu Chi Caiyao frowned and said, "Let's see how long you can stay hard!" After saying that, she swung her sword at Yu Chi Mingyue's face.

Yu Chi Mingyue did not dodge, but instead raised her hand and grabbed the sword's edge. The piercing pain did not make her even flinch.

"Even if I die, I will not let you succeed in harming others." Yu Chi Mingyue's voice was firm and resolute. After saying this, she gripped the sword and plunged it into her own throat.

Yu Chi Caiyao was shocked and hurriedly tried to pull her sword back. But Yu Chi Mingyue used all her strength to grip the blade, and she couldn't pull it out for a moment.

Just then, Di Xiu picked up the long sword from the ground and stood up.

Yu Chi Caiyao noticed and was about to react when Di Xiu suddenly turned his sword and plunged it into his own chest.

Seeing this scene, Yu Chi Mingyue felt as if she had been struck a heavy blow to the heart, experiencing excruciating pain. In an instant, her mind was filled with a deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing. She heard her own voice, heart-wrenchingly painful:

"Di Xiu!"

Chapter Fourteen

"Di Xiu!"

Yu Chi Mingyue watched him fall, her mind completely blank. She released Yu Chi Caiyao's sword and ran over in a few steps. The pain in her ankle was now completely gone.

She knelt down beside him, looking at him helplessly.

Blood gushed from the wound, staining his clothes red. Under the icy snow, the warm blood emitted a faint white mist, a truly shocking sight.

Yu Chi Mingyue felt her vision blur and was unable to make a sound for a moment.

Di Xiu raised his hand and grasped her wrist. He smiled weakly and said, "...I won't say..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue shook her head while crying. Just as she was about to speak, she saw him slowly close his eyes.