L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 108

Unfortunately, he was disappointed. The man in white remained relaxed, not even blinking.

"How heartless." The orange-clad man's expectant expression turned to disappointment, and he pouted in dissatisfaction, muttering to himself.

"Who's heartless?" a loud voice rang out.

"Shengqing, what are you doing here?" The man in orange stared warily at the girl in green, his voice trembling slightly, unlike his previous flippant and indifferent tone.

"Oh dear, what are you saying? You're allowed to come, but I can't? What's with all the fear? Did you do something wrong?" The woman in green, known as Sheng Qing, playfully nudged Sheng Cheng with her clear, innocent eyes.

"Who...who did something wrong? You cheated me out of a thousand-year-old pearl the moment you came last time. Who did something wrong?" Saint Orange retorted aggrievedly, seemingly still heartbroken over his thousand-year-old pearl, but his words lacked any real force.

"What scam? You put it so harshly. According to the sect leader, it's called... investment. Yes, investment. Do you understand? Investment failures are common. You're just unlucky. You'll definitely make a fortune next time." Sheng Qing looked at Sheng Cheng with an air of superiority, completely absolving himself of responsibility, and then tried to entice him again.

"Investment? How can you not call me cunning? You truly have the nature of a businessman. You want a next time? I've learned my lesson. Don't try to take advantage of me again. I won't be fooled by you again." Sheng Cheng scoffed at Sheng Qing's words, his face full of vigilance. He swore he would never be fooled by her again. Doing business with the cunning Sheng Qing was definitely a one-way trip.

"Tch, you always say the same thing. Can't you come up with something new?" Sheng Qing said dismissively, sitting across from Sheng Cheng. She clearly didn't believe Sheng Cheng's 'firm' vow, because the clever Sheng Cheng would say this every time she found out he'd been fooled. But next time, he still couldn't resist her sharp tongue and would fall for her tricks again.

“You…” Sheng Cheng angrily pointed at Sheng Qing, but couldn’t say a word. What could she do when what he said was true? What a sly fox, Qing.

Sheng Qing looked smugly at the defeated Sheng Cheng. Who told him to always look like a demon? It was just not a pleasant sight. Humph.

Finally, things quieted down, and the sect leader on the couch said leisurely, "Is there something you need?" He remained motionless, unchanged.

"Hehe, as usual, the Seven-Colored Lotus is here." Shengqing knew that the sect leader was talking to her, so she immediately took out a box as if presenting a treasure and brought it close to the sect leader, saying ambiguously.

The white-robed sect leader suddenly opened his dozing eyes, his calm gaze captivating. He reached out and took the box, ignoring Sheng Qing's winks and gesturing. He opened the box, and immediately, a seven-colored light emanated from it, like a rainbow, so beautiful that it drew everyone's attention.

Sheng Qing glanced at Sheng Cheng smugly: See! I only need to say one word to get the sect leader to react. What about you? Hmph, useless.

Sheng Cheng glared back: What are you so arrogant about? This is all because of Dongfang, not because of you.

"Where is he?" Just as Sheng Cheng and Sheng Qing were exchanging glances, the white-robed sect leader's calm and collected voice drifted over.

"To find another seven-colored lotus for the sect leader," Sheng Qing said with a smile, but his tone was filled with emotion and helplessness. The sect leader is really heartless! They've done so much for him, yet he still refuses to see them.

The white-robed sect leader lowered his eyes, remaining silent. His unfathomable eyes revealed no emotion, as if the matter at hand had nothing to do with him. However, the fact that he tightened his grip on the brocade box indicated that he was listening to Sheng Qing's words.

Saint Orange and Saint Green were unknowingly drawn to their sect leader's magnetic eyes once again, completely stunned. No wonder that young man from the East was so captivated by such a person. Looking at the few strands of snow-white hair falling across their sect leader's forehead, they couldn't help but sigh: If it weren't for that young man from the East sparing no expense, risking his own life, to search for the rare Seven-Colored Lotus atop the snow-capped mountains every month for their sect leader to consume, his once black hair would probably have turned completely white long ago… Alas, the Seven-Colored Lotus is limited. If they can't find a way to obtain it, their sect leader might…

A white pigeon with orange markings swirled in the sky, breaking the silence of the room. Saint Orange smiled seductively, swayed her hips, and walked out. She took out a small flute and blew it at the pigeon. The pigeon immediately flew down onto her arm. Saint Orange teased the pigeon, removed the letter from its leg, and the pigeon flew away.

Saint Orange glanced at the letter, her smile growing even more alluring. Without saying a word, she said she would show it to their sect leader. Seeing a flicker of emotion in the sect leader's calm eyes, she thought smugly, "This time, he won't be able to escape unscathed!"

Seeing the sect leader's unusual expression, Sheng Qing tugged at Sheng Cheng's sleeve and asked in confusion, "What does the letter say?" Apart from Dongfang and a few others in Kyoto, nothing, no matter how big, could affect the sect leader. Even if the sky were to fall, the sect leader probably wouldn't even lift his eyes. Sometimes, one really suspects that he is a detached immortal.

“Hehe… It seems the peaceful days of Sacred Immortal Mountain are about to be disrupted.” Sheng Cheng flicked a non-existent speck of dust off his robe, smiled meaningfully, and seeing that Sheng Qing was even more confused, he blew on his finger triumphantly before saying, “I estimate that soon, all the sects of the martial arts world will gather at Sacred Immortal Mountain, and the imperial court will probably send people as well.”

"What are they trying to do?" Sheng Qing frowned at Sheng Cheng, disapproving of his smug look. So what if he's good at gathering intelligence?

"Heh... Several sects in the martial world have been brutally wiped out by the Seven Killings Tower, causing widespread panic. The Seven Killings Tower's actions are even worse than those of Saint Chi back then. Various sects have sent their elites to try and destroy the Seven Killings Tower, but none have survived. The Martial Arts Alliance Leader has just decided to unite all sects and go to Saint Immortal Mountain to ask the sect leader to come out of seclusion and rid the martial world of this scourge." Saint Orange raised an eyebrow and looked at Saint Qing smugly. See? He immediately knew what the Alliance Leader just said. Impressive, isn't he!

"Put away your flirtatious eyes! Hmph, although our Holy Immortal Mountain is the number one sect in the martial world, we've always stayed out of its affairs. Besides, after what happened with Holy Chi, haven't they already considered us a heretical sect? Now that they're in trouble, they want to come to the Holy Immortal Sect for help? How shameless of them!" Holy Qing glared at Holy Cheng, angrily saying. Those despicable people, Holy Chi wants to kill them, wants to dominate the martial world—what does it have to do with her? They caused her business to plummet; it infuriated her.

"Calm down, calm down. I know they're petty people, don't worry about them." Sheng Cheng offered a cup of tea with a smile, but the smile looked so gloating.

"Stop pretending to be kind... What about the imperial court? What business is it of theirs what the affairs of the martial world are?" Shizi rolled her eyes at Shengcheng, pushed away the tea he offered, and composed herself.

Saint Orange laughed even more heartily, seemingly unconcerned, and glanced intentionally or unintentionally at their sect leader, who remained as steady as Mount Tai, saying, "Besides the small number of officials killed because of Young Master Mo Jun, many other ministers in the imperial court have also been killed one after another. All of them held important positions, including the city's garrison general. Not only were their entire families wiped out, but most importantly, their tiger tallies were stolen. Just now, news came that the 100,000 taels of silver and over 100,000 dan of grain that the imperial court was transporting to the disaster area were robbed. None of the officers and soldiers transporting the grain survived. The method was exactly the same as that of the Seven Fiends Tower." The imperial court will definitely take action, and if they want to deal with the Seven Fiends Tower, they can only seek help from the Saint Immortal Sect. But I wonder who the imperial court will send?

"What exactly is the Seven Killings Tower trying to do? It seems that the Seven Killings Tower Master, Seven Killings, has ambitions beyond just dominating the martial arts world..." Sheng Qing frowned, lost in thought as she muttered to herself. Don't think she was worried about the world; she was worried about her business. If the world were in turmoil, her losses would be enormous.

The white-robed sect leader waved her pristine white robes and said calmly, "Go down!" Her heart, which had been calm for so long, was starting to race; she needed some peace and quiet.

"Yes." Sheng Cheng and Sheng Qing bowed in disappointment. They had said so much, but the sect leader still didn't react at all. Didn't he care who the court would send? Maybe it would be him! But that seemed unlikely, after all, that person was now... well, let's not talk about it.

Just as Sheng Cheng and Sheng Qing turned to leave, the calm, unwavering voice rang out again: "Send all the information on the Seven Killings Pavilion today."

"Yes." Sheng Cheng perked up and said loudly. She exchanged a smile with Sheng Qing and left with light steps, looking forward to the days to come.

Watching the two figures depart, the white-robed sect leader sat up, closed the Seven-Colored Lotus, and sighed softly. What was the point? He was no longer the same person he once was, and he understood Dongfang's feelings very well.

It's raining again outside, like cow's hair, like flower needles, like fine silk, densely and obliquely weaving, pattering down into his heart. The rain scene was just like this back then, only the scenery remains the same, but the people are all different. Are you still there? Why didn't you let go back then?

A self-deprecating laugh. Letting go? How easy is that? Haven't I let go myself yet? 'Leaning against the railing, listening to the wind and rain, calmly observing the path of life,' when will I be able to calmly observe this path of life with you? Perhaps it will never come. Will you come back this time?

Longing for you, longing for you, if you ask when this will end, only when we meet again. Longing for you, longing for you, to whom can I express this longing? A shallow-hearted person would not understand.

The rain continued to fall, soaking a man lying in front of the grave. His hair was disheveled, rainwater streaming down his face. He was covered in a beard and dust, his clothes filthy and tattered, making him look no different from a beggar on the street. However, his focused gaze and long, perfectly slender fingers revealed that he was no ordinary man.

"The north wind howls, like a sword wound. Rustling yellow leaves accompany my sleep, a mournful wind blows against my pillow. The jade flute remains as warm as ever, but my beloved is no more. Swallows flutter about, but my love remains. Zhang Lang's wealth and honor are gone, I will not shed tears like Yingying. I want to sever our ties with my sword, but alas, longing has become a calamity." The 'beggar' pressed his dust-covered face against the tombstone, his slender fingers gently stroking it, his eyes fixed intently on the tombstone, as if his beloved were standing before him, and softly recited. This is the poem Jun left for him. When she wrote this poem, she must have been filled with despair and heartbreak!

Suddenly, she smiled faintly, a smile that sounded like a casual conversation mixed with a complaint: "Hehe... My love, are you still blaming me? That's why you haven't come into my dreams even once in the past six months, to see me! My love... you're so heartless! Do you know the pain of endless longing? Entering the gate of my longing, you know the bitterness of my longing. Long is the longing, short is the longing, endless is the longing. If I had known it would torment my heart so much, I would rather we had never met. But, my love, I don't regret meeting you, knowing you, loving you. I only ask that you come into my dreams, just once, so I can see you again. I really miss you, my love..." Her face was wet, whether from tears or rain, it was hard to tell.

That's right, this 'beggar' is none other than the current Prince Jin, Ouyang Jinxuan. The inscription on his tombstone reads: "Tomb of my beloved wife, Ling Aojun, erected by her husband, Ouyang Jinxuan."

The rain relentlessly lashed his face, but it couldn't erase the smile on his face, nor could it erase his heartfelt call...

Not far away, Yi Tian and Yi Han, their faces etched with emotion, tightened their grip on their swords. Rain lashed their faces and clothes, but they seemed oblivious, their eyes moist as they gazed at the dejected prince before the grave. If it weren't for the Empress's words, "If you were gone, who in this world would remember you, prove that she was ever here? As long as your heart beats, she is still alive," the prince would likely have already followed the strategist. But half a year has passed—not a long time, not a short time—and in these six months, the prince has refused to leave this place, refused to leave the strategist's side. Does the prince truly intend to live like this forever?

"Yi Tian, Yi Han..." Just as Yi Tian and Yi Han were grieving for their prince and strategist, a voice, both dignified and powerless, rang out.

"Your Majesty." Upon hearing the voice, Yi Tian and Yi Han turned around, took a deep breath, and knelt down.

"No need for formalities," Zhengxuan said calmly, waving his hand, but his eyes never left the person in front of the grave. Even though he had seen that scene so many times, it still deeply stung his eyes every time.

Passing Yi Tian and Yi Han, with heavy steps and a furrowed brow, he walked toward Jin Xuan. In the past six months, his brow had never relaxed... He didn't carry an umbrella, and even though he was the emperor, the rain still mercilessly pelted his body and face.

“Jin-di…” Zheng-xuan squatted down in front of Jin-xuan and called out, but Jin-xuan did not respond at all and continued to chat with the tombstone.