A group of women burst into laughter. Although Liu Qingdai was ignorant in the past, she would laugh along with them. This kind of rough humor had always been a spice in her life. But now, she lowered her head deeply.
Fu Jiuxin was about to disappear around the corner. Liu Qingdai, emboldened by some unknown source, suddenly decided to chase after him. However, she lacked the confidence to approach him and could only secretly follow behind the mother and son, watching as the mother gave Fu Jiuxin a few instructions before entering the town's tailor shop to choose fabric.
Fu Jiuxin stood guard at the shop entrance, and soon several boys from the town surrounded him.
Children from poor families often roam the streets from a young age, fighting tooth and nail over a piece of candy or a steamed bun, developing fierce skills even at a young age. They had long disliked Fu Jiuxin's quiet demeanor, initially out of envy for her beautiful mother and her always clean clothes. But envy turned into jealousy, and eventually, it fueled the malice between the children.
They threw stones at Fu Jiuxin, calling him a bookworm from the city. Then, one of them started a fight, and a group of children, taking advantage of their numbers, surrounded him, shoving and pushing him, spitting on his clean clothes. Fu's mother heard this and hurriedly came out of the shop, but she was helpless against these wild boys. She pulled the boys away and held Fu Jiuxin in her arms. The boys started to jeer, saying dirty and nonsensical things they had learned from their father. Fu's mother blushed with shame, but she didn't know what to do.
At that moment, Liu Qingdai rushed forward. Known for her fierce nature, she kicked each of the boys' backsides, spat in the face of the leader, and scratched at their faces with her unkempt nails. In terms of wildness, they were no match for Liu Qingdai's shrewishness, and immediately fled, crying and screaming.
That's how Liu Qingdai met Fu Jiuxin, and they gradually became acquainted. Fu's mother was grateful for her help that day and often invited her to their home. Even though this woman was in dire straits, she always kept everything in the house in perfect order. She would gently comb Liu Qingdai's tangled hair, mend her torn clothes, and make some delicate and light snacks.
In this home, there was no vulgar cursing from her parents, no endless tedium from the daily grind, but rather the faint scent of austerity emanating from Fu Jiuxin and the soft, gentle whispers of his mother. It was from that time that Liu Qingdai began to learn to be reserved, to be gentle, and to speak in the same soft, gentle voice as Fu's mother.
Liu Qingdai began to frequently follow Fu Jiuxin around, pestering him to teach her to write and read, and calling him "Brother Jiu" on her own.
Fu Jiuxin was never proactive or enthusiastic, but he never refused her either. If she wanted to cling to him, he would do as she pleased.
Liu Qingdai thought that this was what childhood sweethearts were like in the book, and that they would probably grow up together like this, and then... if... The little girl had countless romantic thoughts in her heart, but they were all shattered that winter because of the death of her mother.
Fu's mother coughed for a month and took countless doses of medicine, but in the end she couldn't withstand the cold and snow of that winter and passed away quietly in the middle of the night.
The neighbors helped with the funeral arrangements, but no one was willing to take care of an orphan. From then on, Fu Jiuxin had no home and barely survived on the few meals given to him by those around him. One day, Liu Qingdai stole some yellow steamed buns she had made at home, intending to take them to Fu Jiuxin on the street, when she saw a carriage stopped there. A middle-aged man dressed as a merchant took Fu Jiuxin's hand and got into the carriage together.
Liu Qingdai watched the carriage slowly drive out of Longfeng Town, and out of her world. Ten years later, when they met again, everything had changed.
The night breeze was a bit chilly, and Liu Qingdai shivered violently from the cold wind, snapping out of her reverie.
The news from Chantui is that he is getting married to Dou Akou tomorrow. I wonder what kind of deep affection he will have for Dou Akou.
She vividly remembered the day Dou Akou fell seriously ill. As he was leaving, he entrusted her with the jade register passed down through generations of the Siyou Kingdom, instructing her that if anything unexpected happened, she only needed to produce this jade register, and even Uncle Chen would be powerless against her. He trusted her so much that he gave her the jade register, hoping only that she could protect Dou Akou. But at that moment, she watched helplessly as Uncle Chen dragged Dou Akou away. She clutched the jade register tightly in her hand, her palm aching from the pressure. Several times she tried to speak, several times she tried to take out the jade register, but something choked her throat.
What choked her heart and lungs, in retrospect, was a seed of jealousy and malice that had been planted at some unknown time, which took root and sprouted, finally blossoming into the most shocking flower when she saw Dou Akou on her deathbed.
It turns out that when it comes to feelings, it's not a matter of who gets there first and who gets the advantage. Looking back, all those years she thought were intimate were just wishful thinking on her part.
Liu Qingdai had a bold idea: tomorrow, she would make a trip to Longfeng Town. Even if Fu Jiuxin didn't want her, he still needed to get back his Siyou Kingdom's jade register.
She gripped the jade tablet she kept close to her body, determined to fight for herself once more with it.
The ceremony is complete.
"Ninth Brother, you got married, but you didn't tell me."
A sudden commotion and a buzzing sound arose among the guests. Longfeng Town was small; people worked from sunrise to sunset every day, and there wasn't much to talk about after meals.
Now that a girl who seems to be trying to steal the bride has arrived, the women are all excited, clicking their tongues and waiting to see what's going on; the men, seemingly engrossed in their meals, are actually also listening intently, secretly envying Fu Jiuxin's good fortune with women.
Tang Xunzhen was furious. This Liu Qingdai didn't come the day before yesterday or tomorrow, but she had to choose this day to come. Isn't this just looking for trouble?
She had already realized that Liu Qingdai had no martial arts foundation, so she held down the whip, ready to roll her up and throw her into the river the moment she made a move. Gu Huaibi shook his head slightly at her and mouthed, "Don't worry, the real trouble is yet to come."
Tang Xunzhen endured it all, then sat down angrily.
"Ninth Brother." Liu Qingdai bit her lip and called out again.
With a whoosh, a sea of heads turned towards the groom in his wedding attire at the sound of that sweet cry, dozens of eyes fixed intently on him, waiting to see how he would react.
Dou Akou naturally heard it too. She froze, her half-bent back stiffening, standing there blankly, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, she felt Fu Jiuxin touch her hand and say, "Akou, what are you daydreaming about? After you've paid your respects to your parents, our ceremony will be complete."
Dou Akou was startled: "But Liu Qingdai..."
"I know," Fu Jiuxin said calmly. "Even the most important matters must wait until the ceremony is over before we can discuss them."
He then turned to the wedding officiant: "Sing your name."
The master of ceremonies was a man of many experience; he had seen men snatch brides, women snatch grooms, and even men snatch grooms at weddings... So after only a moment of stunned silence, he quickly regained his composure and continued the ceremony in an orderly manner.
Dou Jincai sat in the chair, his face looking very unpleasant.
He finally agreed to marry Dou Akou to Fu Jiuxin, but who knew that a woman of unknown origin would suddenly appear at the wedding, and judging from her demeanor, it seemed that she had an affair with Fu Jiuxin.
Master Dou was furious. He had already made up his mind that if Fu Jiuxin was really so clueless as to leave at the woman's call, he would immediately pick an honest man from among the guests. Perfect timing, the bride was there, the guests were there, and the wedding banquet was already set up. Everything would remain the same, except for a different groom.
Seeing that Fu Jiuxin was still quite polite, ignoring the woman and focusing only on Dou Akou, Dou Jincai's expression gradually softened. He coughed lightly and nodded to the two young children kneeling below.
Everyone was expecting a good show of two women fighting over one man, but when they saw that Fu Jiuxin didn't even glance at Liu Qingdai and was still inside the house, solemnly bowing to Dou Akou, kneeling and serving tea, performing each ritual with seriousness and dignity, they gave up their desire to watch the spectacle and became happy for them again.
Liu Qingdai stood alone in the shadows, like a clown who had been completely forgotten, as if her existence was the most burdensome and superfluous thing.
She bit her lower lip until it bled, looking at the two people in the room dressed in auspicious attire, the red candles flickering and shining brightly, the petite bride standing beside the groom, they were truly a perfect couple.
"The ceremony is complete!" the master of ceremonies shouted, signifying that the two had finally become husband and wife. The guests cheered and joked, urging the two to consummate their marriage and have children, and also urging Fu Jiuxin to give them a kiss. The atmosphere was filled with joy and happiness.
Fu Jiuxin also had a rare smile on his face. This was the first time Liu Qingdai had ever seen him smile so heartily; at least, he had never shown her such a smile before.
Just as the two were about to enter the bridal chamber, Liu Qingdai raised her voice and called out, "Ninth Brother!"
This abrupt intrusion abruptly cut off the lively atmosphere, and silence fell instantly.
Fu Jiuxin stopped and looked at her, asking, "Qingdai, are you here for the wedding?"
"No. I... Ninth Brother, may I speak to you in private?" She looked at him earnestly, hoping that he could give her a private opportunity, instead of exposing her shameful desires in front of everyone.
"Qingdai, I am married, and the woman standing beside me is my wife. I will never abandon her under any circumstances. Say what you have to say here."
Liu Qingdai was stunned. She felt all sorts of gazes directed at her from all directions.
He wouldn't even give her a chance; she was already defeated before she even declared war.
Liu Qingdai was extremely embarrassed. She heard some mean-spirited women mocking her and some frivolous men making jokes and saying things about her that were unbearable to hear.
She tilted her head back, then tilted it again, forcing back the tears welling in her eyes. She took out the jade tablet from her bosom and looked directly into Fu Jiuxin's eyes: "Ninth Brother, you don't want this either?"
In the outstretched palm was a piece of crystal-clear jade with unique patterns, its white surface tinged with a hint of red, shaped like a key.
Dou Akou strained her eyes to see what it was through the red veil hanging in front of her. She shook her head up and down and left and right until she finally found a suitable angle and saw the jade tablet in Liu Qingdai's hand.
She immediately understood that the strangely shaped jade tablet must be something important. Perhaps it was the key to the maze of Haohui City, which was buried underground by the yellow sand. This thing must be as important as life and fortune to Fu Jiuxin, but now it was in Liu Qingdai's hands.
Dou Akou panicked. What if Liu Qingdai offered this jade tablet in exchange for A Xin? Should she trade or not? Her Dou family had fallen on hard times, and they didn't have anything comparable to the jade tablet. What if Liu Qingdai used it to lure A Xin away...?
She was indulging in fantasies about her pessimistic future when she suddenly heard the man beside her, who had become her husband, say, "I gave you the jade tablet so that you could use it to protect Akou. Since it has not worked, it is of no use to me. Do with it as you see fit."
Liu Qingdai trembled. This was a tradition passed down through generations of the Siyou Kingdom! He was going to just give it all up for Akou?
Fu Jiuxin's gaze fell on her shocked face, and he sighed inwardly. She probably didn't know that Uncle Chen was following her. Uncle Chen had been searching for this jade tablet for a long time, but he couldn't take action because the jade tablet was on him. Now that Liu Qingdai was doing this, she was essentially exposing herself to Uncle Chen's watchful eye. Perhaps her days wouldn't be easy from now on.
When he first returned to Longfeng Town and met Liu Qingdai, she was being harassed by a local bully who wanted to take her as his eighteenth concubine. Liu Qingdai was desperate, and out of consideration for their childhood friendship, he saved her and let her stay by his side.
After so many things happened, he thought that although Liu Qingdai wasn't exactly naive as a child, she was still kind at heart. So he entrusted Dou Akou to her care, only to be so disappointed in the end. People, after all, do change.
Fu Jiuxin didn't consider himself a compassionate person. He had saved her once, but he couldn't save her for life. Besides, she had brought this situation upon herself.
He lowered his eyes, having figured it out, and coldly dismissed Liu Qingdai: "Qingdai, go back. If you'd like to stay for a drink at the wedding, you're welcome."
Liu Qingdai swayed precariously, her heart icy cold. She had come here only to humiliate herself in this way.
She forced a smile at Fu Jiuxin, then glanced at Dou Akou, who was being well protected by him, and said sullenly, "No, I'll go back now."
This incident, which everyone thought was about to escalate into a major uproar, ended quietly.
Gu Huaibi keenly sensed that as Liu Qingdai left in sorrow, the intense killing intent had also vanished. He felt relieved; even if he were to truly fight the person hidden in the shadows, he wasn't entirely confident of victory.
He nodded to Tang Xunzhen, who understood. The two breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully Fu Jiuxin had done a good job this time and hadn't left them to clean up the mess.
But that jade tablet... they all saw it clearly just now. That jade must be related to the treasure of Haohui City. I wonder how Fu Jiuxin will deal with it.
As night deepened, the guests dispersed, and the once lively courtyard gradually became deserted. Gu Huaibi turned back and gave Fu Jiuxin an ambiguous smile before leaving with Tang Xunzhen in his arms. Dou Jincai wanted to say something, but was also coaxed away by a few sweet words from his third aunt.
Only the two young children remained in the room. Dou Akou sat on the edge of the bed, still thinking about what had just happened with Liu Qingdai, when suddenly her face warmed. Before her was her husband's face, kissing her.
As gentle as a spring breeze, Dou Akou had never seen Fu Jiuxin so tender before. He was always passionate in matters of the heart, and this was the first time she had ever seen such a delicate and tender kiss.
She pushed Fu Jiuxin away: "Sir, I'm thinking..."
The more she talked, the more confused she became. She felt her body go weak, a feeling she was already very familiar with. She knew she was aroused, and her mind became increasingly unclear.
Dou Akou got angry: "Sir, I'm talking to you about serious business."
Fu Jiuxin buried his face in her chest, teasing her while replying indistinctly, "Mmm."
Dou Akou wondered, what was she trying to say just now?
Before she could figure it out, the two of them were already naked in front of each other in a daze. Fu Jiuxin leaned over her, his hands supporting her buttocks, and before she was ready, he suddenly thrust into her still somewhat dry body.
The slight stinging sensation jolted Dou Akou awake, and she gripped Fu Jiuxin's shoulders, earnestly discussing with him, "Sir, I remember now. I meant we still have to go to Siyou Kingdom. You can't just abandon those things, can you? Su Luoyang and the others are with you. And that weapon—um!"
She cried out in surprise, feeling Fu Jiuxin slowly rubbing and scraping, his eyes deep with a faint crimson, his voice surprisingly hoarse: "Akou, don't you want me?"
Dou Akou was almost swayed by his good looks and honestly nodded in agreement. However, she felt that things weren't clear yet and she couldn't let Fu Jiuxin let it go so unexplained. So she pushed his chest and said, "I'll tell you—"
Fu Jiuxin clearly didn't want to talk to her about these things at this time. He lifted her buttocks and pressed down hard, squeezing deeply, almost melting her into one place.
"Lightly—too deep! Ah Xin..." Dou Akou trembled as she felt him enter her solidly, each time with a deep and powerful force. She was no longer the inexperienced Dou Akou of her youth, and gradually she began to twist her waist, following Fu Jiuxin's rhythm.
Looking at Fu Jiuxin's face, which became even more breathtakingly handsome in the throes of passion, she vaguely wondered, Siyou Kingdom? Treasure? What the hell is that? At this moment, she only regretted that the spring night was too short, and before she knew it, the two pairs of red candles had burned out.
The journey begins
Logically, a newlywed wife should get up early on the second day to serve tea to her parents-in-law, and on the third day, she should be accompanied by her husband to return to her parents' home. However, due to the special circumstances of Dou Akou and Fu Jiuxin, these formalities were ignored.
So Fu Jiuxin naturally ended up spending his days with Dou Akou, sometimes the two of them would wrestle and make love in bed, and an afternoon would pass by in no time.
Tang Xunzhen looked at Dou Akou with a heavy heart, shook his head and sighed, "Tsk tsk, Akou, if you continue like this, what if you get pregnant? How will you go out and explore the world with me?"
Dou Akou blushed, feeling frustrated as she thought of Fu Jiuxin's lack of self-control over the past few days.
She always felt that the matter of Siyou Kingdom wouldn't just end like that, but every time she brought it up with Fu Jiuxin, it always ended in failure, and the two of them shamelessly rolled into bed.
She sighed. She really wanted to go to Siyou Kingdom and find the Chu Erosion Sword for Fu Jiuxin.
This seemingly peaceful but unsettling life has finally begun to change recently.
As usual, Dou Akou was tormented by Fu Jiuxin that night and fell into a deep sleep, but she suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. She reached out and touched the blankets next to her and found them empty and cold. Fu Jiuxin was not by her side.
Dou Akou stood up, held her breath, and quietly walked out of the courtyard. She was, after all, someone with some martial arts skills; in the cool, watery moonlight, she could vaguely see two blurry figures not far away.
She crouched down behind the bushes, straining her ears to listen to the corner of the wall.