Une demi-vie de musique et de maquillage

Chapitre 18

To ensure he wouldn't break the valley's rules, Ba Ying had sent a message back to the valley beforehand, mentioning that he would be bringing two people back. The Netherworld Valley's reply was unusually simple: as long as there was money to be made, it was fine. Moreover, the visitor was the Alliance Leader's beloved son, and maintaining good relations with the Pei family was essential. They readily agreed to Ba Ying bringing the guest back to the valley.

A month later, the three arrived at their destination.

Tan Huan initially only wanted to repair the Lonely Dust Sword, and at most, he might have had some impure thoughts, but it was nothing more than wanting to spend more time with Pei Jin and being reluctant to leave. However, he never expected to encounter an old friend when he arrived at the Netherworld Valley.

The surrounding area is steep mountains, and the land is lush and green.

With a smug smile on his face and dressed in loose white robes, Du Suizhi was discussing business with Youming Valley when he inadvertently turned around and suddenly saw Tan Huan and Pei Jin. His entire face froze in shock.

Tan Huan was stunned for a moment, then smiled with a hint of wickedness.

Pei Jin narrowed his eyes, considering whether it was appropriate to take action in the Netherworld Valley.

Du Sui acted swiftly and decisively, turning and running, but stopped abruptly halfway. He sighed, "Forget it, with my mediocre skills, I shouldn't embarrass myself in front of Young Master Pei. If someone from Young Master Pei wants to capture me, I won't be able to escape no matter how hard I try."

Greedy and mischievous, he asked, "Not running anymore?"

"Leaving my back to the beauty is not my style." Du Suizhi, still a womanizer, laughed, "Tanhuan, it's been a while, and you've become even more beautiful." Damn it, from now on he'll have to investigate every time he goes out. There are some people he should avoid, otherwise he'll be arrested and killed one day and have nowhere to seek justice.

Tan Huan didn't banter with him; her gaze was dangerous, yet a smile remained on her face. "Du Suizhi, do you have anything to say?"

"I heard your martial arts were crippled by Baili Liushang?" Du Suizhi said regretfully. "How pitiful. Is there anything I can help you with?"

It would have been better if she hadn't mentioned it, because just mentioning it made Tan Huan furious! How dare this guy bring up Baili Liushang in front of her? Wasn't it him who lured Baili Liushang into her life, causing this unexpected disaster? Tan Huan's teeth chattered. "What else do you have to say?"

Du Suizhi broke out in a cold sweat, but his expression remained calm. He looked at Pei Jin's unchanging face, carefully considered his words, hesitated for a moment, and then walked over to Ba Xiehuai, the third valley master of Youming Valley, the same person who had negotiated business with him earlier. "Third Valley Master, I'll pay Youming Valley to ensure my safety. Name your price."

Pei Jin laughed in exasperation, "Boss Du, is that necessary? What are you worried I might do?"

Du then retorted, "Life is unpredictable, so I'd better be cautious."

Bashehuai looked to be nearly fifty years old, with gray hair and a long beard. His eyes were shrewd, and his smile was enigmatic. "Mr. Du, how much do you think your life is worth?"

“Hahaha,” Du said shamelessly, “It’s worthless.”

“Is there any need to protect a worthless life?” Ba Xiehuai said. “If Boss Du dies here, then Youming Valley won’t have to settle accounts with you, saving a lot of money. Besides, you’ve offended Young Master Pei Jin…” Ba Xiehuai skillfully stopped speaking, cupped his hands and said, “It’s not appropriate for me to interfere in your private affairs. I’ll take my leave now.” After saying that, he really disappeared in an instant.

That old geezer actually abandoned him for a mere final payment! Du Suizhi was extremely nervous, but he pretended to be stupid and said, "Hehe, why would Young Master Pei come to Youming Valley?" If he had known that Pei Jin was coming, he would rather not accept the money than come to Youming Valley.

"It was the origin of the Thousand Mountains Dense Rain Needle that drew me here," Pei Jin said with a half-smile. "I wonder if Boss Du still has the Thousand Mountains Dense Rain Needle?"

Du Suizhi could hardly keep up the act anymore. Pei Jin was unlike his father. Pei Gumo might have shown kindness out of consideration for the position of martial arts alliance leader, but Pei Jin was unscrupulous. He had no intention of inheriting the position of alliance leader. Except for occasionally sparing people's lives out of consideration for the Pei family's reputation, he didn't care about anything else.

“You must be very disappointed to know I’m still alive, right?” Pei Jin said.

Du Suizhi couldn't laugh, so he simply stopped. "Young Master Pei's skills are unparalleled, how could he possibly take a mere Thousand Mountains Rain Needle seriously? I didn't want to provoke someone like Young Master Pei either, I had no choice back then." Businessmen are just shameless, especially someone with such a large business like his, his shamelessness is beyond compare.

“Alright, I can let bygones be bygones,” Pei Jin said decisively. “However, you have to answer my questions.”

"Really? So easy to talk to?" Du Suizhi's eyes widened. He thought he would be skinned alive today. "I'll answer any questions."

Why do you want the Lonely Dust Sword?

“Uh…” The first question stumped Du Suizhi. After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, “Because the Lonely Dust Sword is a peerless sword.”

Pei Jin laughed and said, "If you lie to me, the consequences will be severe."

Du remained silent for a long time before uttering two words, "Treasure."

Pei Jin's expression was serious. He glanced at Tan Huan, then turned his gaze back to Du Suizhi. "How did you know?"

"I'm a businessman, and I'm well-informed."

Pei Jinming remained unconvinced and sneered, "Where did you get this inside information from? I don't know anyone in the world who would know this."

"It concerns my secret agent," Du Suizhi said honestly. "I can't say."

Pei Jin fell into deep thought and remained silent for a long time.

Tan Huan couldn't help but speak up, "Du Suizhi, it was you who brought Baili Liushang to my side, wasn't it?"

Du blinked. "I warned you before that it would have been better to give me the Lonely Dust Sword. You refused, so of course you'll get yourself into trouble."

"So it was all my fault after all?" Tan Huan's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he sneered, "If word gets out that you colluded with Baili Liushang, do you think the Du family can still stand on its own two feet?"

"Hey, don't frame an innocent person. I didn't collude with Baili Liushang, I just made a deal with him." Seeing Pei Jin's gaze, Du Suizhi hurriedly clarified his position, "I'm just a businessman."

Tan Huan smiled coldly and remained silent.

"Sigh..." His luck was truly terrible. No matter how much he thought about it, he shouldn't have stayed in the Netherworld Valley, haggling with Ba Xiehuai over such a small gain. Now look what happened, he'd run into an enemy. Du Suizhi did indeed enjoy Tan Yao, at least he really liked her face. Seeing her face lacking vitality made him uncomfortable. "I can tell you something good, do you want to know?"

Greedy asked warily, "What is it?"

"I told you, I'm well-informed. I can only tell you this, so come closer."

Tan Huan stood there hesitantly, his eyes full of distrust.

Du Suizhi looked hurt. "Am I really that untrustworthy? You won't even let me get close?"

Tan Huan slowly raised her eyes and sighed, "The more you talk like that, the less I believe you." She paused, "Just say it out loud, there's no need to whisper. Anyway, there's nothing Pei Jin can't hear."

Du gave a sly smile. "Pei Jin mustn't know about this..." He looked at Pei Jin with a grin. "If he finds out, it will interfere with your relationship."

“No need to sow discord.” Pei Jin walked step by step to Du Suizhi’s side, placed his hand on Du’s shoulder, and restrained him in a firm but not soft way. “Du Suizhi, it’s not difficult to let you leave Youming Valley safely, but you have to tell the truth. Where did you learn the secret of the Lonely Dust Sword? Whether you want to or not, if you don’t tell, you will bear the consequences.”

Tsk tsk, bear the consequences yourself? How terrifying. Du Suizhi looked up at the sky helplessly. He couldn't fight back, and he couldn't escape either. At this point, he could only maximize his own interests. "Young Master Pei wouldn't do something like threatening or forcing a confession, would he? That would be too disgraceful to the Pei family's reputation."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

Du then said, "Could we speak in private? At least give me a chair to sit on?" He spread his hands, "I'm a businessman, and Young Master Pei shouldn't take advantage of me so openly. At least we should follow the rules of business negotiations, right?"

Pei Jin was silent for a moment, then thought for a moment, "Okay." He turned to Tan Huan and smiled, "Do you want to come along?"

Tan Huan had been thinking about her own things, and when she heard Pei Jin's question, she was taken aback. She shook her head repeatedly and said obediently, "No need, I'm a little tired and want to go and rest first."

Pei Jin nodded and left with Du Suizhi.

Tan Huan stood quietly, her gaze fixed on the two figures' retreating backs. A turbulent undercurrent churned in her bright eyes, and an unusual glint appeared in her dark pupils. She sighed and sat down on the grass. Being too clever wasn't always a good thing. What did Du Suizhi want to tell her? What good thing could he possibly want to say? Was that all the trivial stuff he could possibly tell her?

"Sigh, this is a headache." Tan Huan leaned back and shielded her eyes from the glaring sunlight. "I guessed it by accident." The matter must be related to Baili Liushang and her martial arts, but she would have to go and confirm with Du Suizhi later.

Tan Huan didn't want to go with Pei Jin because she wanted to find Du Suizhi alone later. She had promised Pei Jin that she wouldn't practice martial arts anymore, a promise she had made not long ago. If she wavered after hearing Du Suizhi's words, she would feel very guilty. She wouldn't actively seek out Baili Liushang, but if there was any other opportunity, Tan Huan was ultimately unwilling to give it up.

Martial arts, Pei Jin, martial arts, Pei Jin, martial arts, Pei Jin… Tan Huan thought to herself, conflicted. Although Pei Jin was a little more important, it would be best to get the martial arts back without harming Pei Jin.

Tan Huan casually broke off a blade of grass next to her head and put it in her mouth. "What should I do? I'm so untrustworthy, the truth will eventually come out. Will Pei Jin be angry and ignore me if he finds out?" Despite her worries and fears that Pei Jin would be angry, Tan Huan still secretly went to find Du Suizhi.

A large, dark cloud drifted across the sky, making it gloomy.

Tan Huan had been standing on the only way out of the valley for quite some time. She had done two things today that she felt sorry for Pei Jin: one was lying to him that she was tired and needed to rest, and the other was secretly coming to see Du Suizhi.

Du Sui walked out with a big smile on his face. He wasn't surprised when he saw Tan Huan. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Waiting for me?"

Tan Huan smiled, "I'm waiting for you to tell me that good news." If it weren't for this guy, Baili Liushang wouldn't have come looking for her, and she wouldn't have suffered this unexpected misfortune and lost her martial arts skills. She wanted to kill him and destroy him, but unfortunately, she had no martial arts skills, and she was afraid of angering Pei Jin.

Du Suizhi's smile took on a wicked glint in it. "Why don't you say it in front of Pei Jin?"

Tan Huan cut to the chase, "I'm worried it's related to Baili Liushang."

“That’s right, a very good intuition,” Du Suizhi said. “It is indeed related to him, and also to your martial arts.”

Having lost his martial arts skills and with his hearing not being as sharp, Tan Huan cautiously asked, "Was anyone with you when you came out?"

"Don't worry, Young Master Pei went to find you after finishing his business with me, and he won't be here for a while. How could he know that you, Wu Tanhuan, wouldn't be resting in your room, but instead came here to meet me in secret?"

Tan Huan tensed up for a moment, "Say what you have to say quickly, I'm going back to my room."

The last time I saw this girl, she was so arrogant. Seeing her like this now is truly satisfying. Du Sui said, "In your current state, you definitely won't find Baili Liushang if you try to go looking for him. You might even die before you step through the gates of Zhengyang Palace. So, you can only wait for Baili Liushang to come to you..."

"He'll come looking for me?" Tan Huan laughed. "Even if he does, he won't restore my martial arts." She refused to be his disciple, and someone like Baili Liushang, having been rejected once, would never come looking for her a second time.

"He certainly won't come looking for you, but he will come to the Valley of the Underworld."

Tan Huan pondered for a while, then despised her own incompetence. "What does it matter to me whether he comes to Youming Valley or not?" Even if he did come, there would be nothing she could do. She couldn't even avoid him, let alone go to him.

“Bai Li Liushang came to Youming Valley to cause trouble for himself. If you choose the right time, you might be able to wait until he is seriously injured, and then you can blackmail him.” Du Suizhi chuckled. “Of course, whether you can recover your martial arts in the end depends on your own fate.”

A glimmer of hope rose in Tan Huan's heart, but he still feigned a serious expression. "Is this really a good thing?"

Du Sui couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to pinch her cheek. It was so nice; he hadn't dared touch her before because of her martial arts skills. He wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to get some more, otherwise he didn't know if he'd ever have another chance. Maybe she was dead, maybe she'd regained her martial arts. "However, I'm not sure when Baili Liushang will come to Youming Valley. Maybe a month later, maybe a year later. That person's actions are never predictable."

Tan Huan brushed his hand away, her face sour. "What exactly is your relationship with him? You're not from the Zhengyang Palace, are you?"

Du chuckled and continued, "So, if you want to seize this opportunity, use your shamelessness to stay in the Netherworld Valley."

Tan Huan glanced at him, expressionless, silently lowered her head, and then ran forward, saying, "I'm going back to my room."

Du then waved his hand and left the Valley of the Netherworld without looking back.

They ran and ran, indulging in pleasure.

Perhaps, she still needs to lie to Pei Jin about one more thing.

Tan Huan couldn't bear to lie to Pei Jin, so she stammered that she wanted to stay. Pei Jin stared at her intently, making Tan Huan's eyes dart back and forth, and her heart beat faster and faster.

"You don't want to tell me why, do you?"

Tan Huan lowered her head, "There's no reason..."

Pei Jin said helplessly, "Fine, if you want to stay, then stay. I'll talk to the Valley Master. As for whether Netherworld Valley will agree, that's still uncertain. I'll come to see you often."

Tan Huan suddenly looked up. That's it?

Pei Jin walked outside, saying, "Regardless of what Du Suizhi said, I just want to remind you not to believe him too much."

"...Pei Jin," Tan Huan suddenly hugged him from behind, her voice flustered, "Are you angry?"

Pei Jin let out a long sigh. Ever since he met Tan Huan, he had sighed much more often. "I'm not angry."

"Really?" Tan Huan asked in a sweet, delicate voice, though he was being very cautious.

"real."

"Really? You're really not angry?" Tan Huan asked. "You're not angry that I kept this from you?"

Pei Jin smiled helplessly, "Don't be angry."

Through Ba Ying's intercession, and considering the large sum of money Pei Jin spent repairing the Lonely Dust Sword, the Netherworld Valley agreed to let Tan Huan stay. They even claimed it was to give Pei Jin face, making the young master Pei owe a great favor.

The Lonely Dust Sword was reforged by the swordsmith Yuan Gu. Although Tan Huan did not know martial arts, he still carried the Lonely Dust Sword with him at all times, sometimes looking at it and sometimes touching it.

Yuan Gu was a heavy drinker who loved two things most in his life: sword forging and fine wine. Because of the Lonely Dust Sword, Tan Huan had a good relationship with him and would visit him almost every day. Yuan Gu would drink and chat with Tan Huan about all sorts of things, including some of his romantic escapades from his youth.

"I heard you even beat Ba Ying later?" Yuan Gu wiped the drop of wine from his lips. "Really?"

Greedy nodded.

"Wow, that's incredible! You're even younger than that kid Ba Ying, aren't you?" Yuan Gu said. "Ba Ying's martial arts skills are among the best of his age."