"What are you looking at!" Yuwen Hongying shouted guiltily. After all, she was just a young woman in her early twenties. Although she didn't know her own limitations, she wasn't inherently evil. She felt somewhat uneasy about accidentally taking a life. However, she had been pampered since childhood and always got what she wanted. The lives of ordinary people were certainly not as valuable as her own.
The situation changed abruptly, and most people in the hall didn't have time to react. Even someone as skilled in martial arts as the young master in blue could only leap forward a few feet, but he was powerless to stop it. However, the young master in blue saw clearly that Yuwen Hongying had originally reached for the beggar named You'er, but Shui Wu'er was quick-witted and pushed him away in time, thus offering herself up in the process.
Seeing that a life had been lost in an instant, the martial arts figures who had previously sympathized with Yuwen Cuiyu or praised Yuwen Hongying all showed expressions of disapproval.
The old are arrogant and the young are reckless; it seems the Yuwen family's former glory has truly faded.
"Second Miss Yuwen, why did you hurt my disciple!" Elder Lu of the Beggars' Sect suddenly pushed the table aside and stood up.
Yuwen Hongying sneered, "This one was just a matter of convenience, as for the other one, it's just that he was blind and rushed up on his own."
"You brat, you're far too arrogant! You're showing no respect for the Beggars' Sect!" Elder Lu was about to lash out when a seven-bag disciple beside him cried out, "Elder, they're not my Beggars' Sect brothers!"
Elder Lu was taken aback. Upon closer inspection, the two little beggars were indeed not familiar faces. Were they spies? Or just ordinary beggars? Since the injured ones weren't Beggar Clan disciples, the situation changed again.
Elder Lu slowly sat down; logically speaking, it wasn't his place to take action.
Everyone in the room stared intently at the little beggar, but no one uttered a sound.
Seeing all this, the little beggar Shui Wu'er gradually quieted down.
No matter how much they boast about their righteousness and compassion in the martial world, the result is nothing more than this. Shui Wu'er sneered inwardly, her heart aching terribly.
At this moment, not one of the people present would lend a helping hand. They were not happy to see the death of a nobody beggar, but they would never risk offending the Yuwen family to save him.
It's ridiculous that martial arts practitioners, fighting and killing each other, would use the life of an innocent beggar as a bargaining chip!
Shui Wu'er's eyes were filled with sorrow, yet she didn't shed a tear. Her narrow eyes glared angrily at everyone present, finally landing on the young man in blue. The young man in blue's eyes flashed, and Shui Wu'er's gaze fell into his heart, which was as warm as a lake under the spring sun.
Shui Wu'er's heart skipped a beat. The man's eyes were gentle and vast, like... pity, but not pity, it was an equal, heart-wrenching kind of pity.
Yuwen Hongying's stern shout brought him back to his senses: "I don't care if he's a member of the Beggars' Sect or not, release my sister immediately, or I'll kill this little beggar right now!"
The sound echoed in the hall for a long time, and no one dared to stop it.
This is the world of martial arts.
Shui Wu'er suddenly smiled faintly and closed her eyes.
He accepted his fate.
His life should have ended three years ago; by dragging it out until today, he's already gained something. It's just a pity about Shui You'er. Why, why did she have to stay by his side? If Shui You'er hadn't stayed with him, she wouldn't have ended up like this. He was so stupid. He knew all along that he was an unlucky person, he knew it three years ago. So why did he still let Shui You'er stay by his side?
It was him who harmed Shui You'er; it was him.
"You..." Seeing that no one paid attention to her threat, Yuwen Hongying became timid. "I'm not joking, I really will do it!"
"Miss Hongying!" A gentle, helpless voice slowly spread out, "Don't make the same mistake again!"
The young man in blue actually spoke up.
Shui Wu'er's eyes snapped open.
"Brother Qingyi, are you going to stop me?" Yuwen Hongying never expected the young master in green to speak up and stop her. She felt that what she was doing was absolutely right, and someone like Baili Qingyi must admire her greatly, so why would he stop her?
However, judging from the serious expression on the young man in blue, there was not a trace of tenderness or indulgence.
Even the young man in blue didn't understand her good intentions? Since everyone was pressuring her so hard, she didn't need to be polite anymore! Yuwen Hongying was filled with resentment and raised her long sword to strike.
"I'm going to kill him!"
This time, the young man in blue was prepared. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a burst of internal energy, deflecting Yuwen Hongying's longsword. He leaped forward without pausing, accurately grabbing the little beggar's collar and gently pulling him into his arms before gracefully landing on the ground.
This series of movements was executed flawlessly, like flowing water, yet completed in an instant. In the world today, perhaps no one else could perform it so perfectly. Many present couldn't help but sigh inwardly: What profound internal strength! What graceful movements!
Baili Qingyi was slightly taken aback; the little beggar's body was surprisingly soft when he held him. He looked down at Shui Wu'er's lowered head and saw that Shui Wu'er's face was blank, showing no emotion, anger, fear, or terror; she was already resigned to her fate.
Seeing the situation, Old Madam Yuwen felt slightly relieved and said in a deep voice, "Have you all made enough of a scene? Let the wedding continue!"
"Brother Qingyi!" Yuwen Hongying's face flushed with shame and indignation as she shouted unwillingly, "Are you really not going to do anything about this?"
Baili Qingyi, Baili Qingyi—these four words are her only hope now. Could Baili Qingyi really just stand by and watch a frail woman be forced into marriage?
All eyes were on the young man in blue. Old Madam Yuwen inwardly cried out in alarm; if the young man in blue were to intervene, she feared…
The young man in blue hesitated for a moment, then politely said, "This matter concerns the Yuwen and Qin families, young man..."
"Bai Li Qingyi!" A sharp, clear shout suddenly pierced the air from the side. Everyone looked closely and saw it was Yuwen Cuiyu, who had been kneeling for so long, calmly observing the situation! No one had noticed her reaction. She was originally a drifting duckweed in the vast ocean, her fate entirely decided by others, with no say in her own destiny. But now, her sudden attack was as sharp as a cold blade, impossible to ignore.
The thin, pale-faced woman suddenly stood up, pulled a scroll of paper from her bosom, and deftly unfolded it for the young man in blue. The words she uttered shocked everyone present...
"Any woman in the martial world who can match the absolute beauty of Qingyi is destined to be yours, Young Master Qingyi. Baili Qingyi, do you still stand by your promise?!"
The young man in blue frowned, and at the same time noticed that the little beggar in his arms trembled slightly.
Yuwen Cuiyu was asking him for help. What right did she have to ask for help? What reason did she have to ask for help? She was using the "Azure Robe Absolute" as leverage; could the paper in her hand actually be the "Azure Robe Absolute"?
Yuwen Hongying couldn't believe her eyes: "How...could this be?" She looked at her older sister: "The person you were talking about, the one you insisted on marrying, is actually Brother Qingyi?"
All eyes were focused on the yellowed paper in Yuwen Cuiyu's hand.
There are two poems above. The first poem is the famous Qingyi poem, and the second poem is indeed a perfect match with the first poem.
—The moon departs and the wind returns, the mountains and rivers hold back the white silk, the door welcomes the red lips, and the flute player dances intimately.
—Tomorrow, in dreams and clouds, phoenix feathers flow with crimson, the courtyard sends forth the Green Maiden, and beautiful women share the same sentiment.
The atmosphere was tense; no one dared to breathe loudly. The bride, dressed in bright red and holding a scroll of poetry, instantly transformed from a victim of bullying into a lucky woman envied and resented by women all over the world.
The second young master, Baili Hanyi, rose from his seat, walked around to the front, and examined it carefully, clicking his tongue in admiration: "Wow, it's so neatly matched. Did you do this?"
Yuwen Cuiyu gave him a cold, sidelong glance, her sharp look causing Baili Hanyi to rub his nose and retreat in embarrassment. She turned her gaze back to the young man in blue: "I only ask you, do you still stand by your promise?"
The young man in blue remained expressionless. Everyone was wondering how Baili Qingyi would respond.
After a long while, the young man in blue showed a hint of surprise, as if he had pondered it with difficulty. Then, he slowly said, "Since it is a promise made by a man in blue, it naturally stands."
"Qingyi!" Qin Qiyun was shocked and then enraged. Even if everyone in the world looked down on him, Qin Qiyun, he didn't care. But he couldn't believe that even Qingyi would betray him.
Madam Yuwen was both surprised and delighted: "Young Master in blue... you want to marry Cuiyu?"
The young man in blue did not answer directly, but looked at the beggar's dirty face in his arms and said, "I must keep my promise, take into account the bond of brotherhood, and dare not violate the greater good. This matter... involves many aspects, please allow me to consider it carefully."
This statement was perfectly watertight, yet it was as if nothing had been said at all.
"But..." Although Madam Yuwen had reservations, she could not raise any objections to Baili Qingyi's words.
"If I may be so bold as to say this, the most important thing right now is to hand this injured child over to my second brother for treatment. We can discuss other matters later." He turned to Baili Hanyi and gestured.
Only then did everyone realize that the little beggar Shui You'er, who should have died lying on the ground, had miraculously started to move.
"You'er!" Shui Wu'er called softly, gently breaking free from Baili Qingyi's embrace and running over. You'er wasn't dead! He wasn't dead! Shui Wu'er's gratitude to Heaven surged like a tidal wave, relentlessly pounding against his heart.
In that instant, everything in the world seemed to become unimportant, and even Shui Wu'er's own life and death became unimportant.
"I ask all of you present to bear witness that I, in blue robes, will give the Yuwen family and the Qin family an explanation." The young man in blue robes stood tall and firm.
Qin Qiyun glanced at the young man in blue, then lowered his eyes again. This man had saved his life years ago; if he didn't trust him, who could he trust? "Enough! Enough!" He gritted his teeth, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the people below, and said, "Gentlemen, I am deeply grateful for your presence at my wedding today. I apologize for the change in circumstances. As for my marriage to the eldest daughter of the Yuwen family, it is hereby called off. From this day forward, we have no further connection!"
There was a moment of silence in the arena, then someone shouted "Bravo!" "These are true men of steel!"
Madam Yuwen's face was deathly pale.
Shui Wu'er knelt on the ground, looking down at the dying Shui You'er, and asked softly, "Is there any hope for him?"
As Baili Hanyi was diagnosing Shui You'er, he replied, "With my abilities, I can ensure his life is safe. However... I'm afraid he will spend the rest of his life bedridden."
To his surprise, the little beggar in front of him smiled and said, "It's good that you're safe and sound."
A pang of pity rose in Baili Hanyi's heart, and she asked, "Who is he?"
Shui Wu'er smiled and said, "He's not anyone."
Baili Hanyi frowned. Could this little beggar be a heartless and ungrateful person?
"If you don't mind, would you like to come with us to the capital? Your brother will have someone to look after him." Unless he was seeing things, this child... has no Adam's apple; she must be a woman. She appeared weak, but upon closer inspection, one could detect a certain authority in her words, a chilling calmness. What could have happened to turn such a perfectly normal girl into this?
Shui Wu'er looked at him and saw the searching look in his eyes.
He knew he was a woman. That's what she thought.
Shui Wu'er shook her head firmly: "Take my brother with you. If I want to see him, I will go to the capital to find you."
Baili Hanyi was even more surprised. How could she entrust her brother to the care of strangers?
"I trust you."
Shui Wu'er directly voiced his doubts.
"And you? Where are you going? Shall we escort you?" The young man in blue robes appeared quietly behind Shui Wu'er.
Shui Wu'er flinched.
“No…no need…” She looked up, took a deep breath, and stood up. “Thank you both for saving my life. My brother…I’m entrusting him to you both!” A slight pain appeared in her expression. At first, the young man in blue thought she was worried about Shui You’er’s injuries, but he soon realized he was wrong.
Shui Wu'er coughed, and a small mouthful of blood trickled from the corner of her lips! She clutched the front of her clothes tightly with both hands, curled up like a shrimp, and trembled slightly.
The young man in blue quickly used his wide sleeves to support her swaying body.
"Are you injured?" He frowned; the beggar seemed shrouded in mystery.
Shui Wu'er pushed the young man in blue away forcefully as if stung, taking two steps back, her pale lips tinged with blood: "It's an old ailment, please don't worry about it... Until we meet again!"
Watching her stumble and rush out the door, the young man in blue seemed lost in thought.
He didn't chase after them.
Shui Wu'er ran in the wind, her heart breaking. She had never experienced heartache before, only sadness and sorrow. Now she was used to it, but when a thousand arrows pierced her heart, she couldn't utter a single word of complaint.
She silently wondered why her heart ached. Was it because she couldn't bear to part with him? Was it because deep down she still clung to the hope of continuing to beg for a living with Shui You'er by her side?
She thought she would stop fantasizing. Three years ago, she lost the right to fantasize.
Chapter Three: The Swing Inside the Wall, the Path Outside (Part One)
Inside the wall, a swing; outside, a path; outside, passersby; inside, a beautiful woman laughs.
A silvery laugh came from inside the wall, and passersby couldn't help but peek inside.
That Miss Silver Bell, it's not her.
A brightly colored sedan chair passed by on the street, and a beautiful woman inside slightly lifted the curtain to survey the street scene, revealing a pair of bright eyes.