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The first goal has been achieved.
However, Shi Yan cannot be killed immediately.
If we kill Shi Yan, the young master will be very difficult to deal with.
Although she knew absolutely nothing about the young master's background, Xuezhi was well aware that confronting him was not as simple as completing a mission or setting a goal. This man held the lives of countless people in his hands: Shi Yan, Shangguan Tou, Liu Hua, Feng Cheng... and many other unknown figures, whose lives were almost entirely at his mercy.
Therefore, going against the young master is tantamount to risking one's life, or even losing one's life.
The young master's identity has always been a mystery. Xuezhi only knows two things: First, he has no intention of eliminating her for the time being. At least, after all these years, there has been no indication of this. Second, the young master manipulates Shaolin and Huashan through Shiyan. Because of Shaolin's status and style, Shiyan is quite cautious in his actions, and he usually entrusts any more outrageous matters to Liu Hua.
Although the young master's martial arts skills are likely superior to anyone Xuezhi knows, and there's absolutely no clue as to his whereabouts, as long as someone knows a person's location, that person isn't considered missing. And anything known to two people isn't considered a secret.
Shi Yan is the most likely person to know all of this.
The next thing to do is wait for the Heroes' Gathering.
The Nine Forms of the Lotus Goddess has a flaw that isn't really a flaw.
Those who practice this martial art can unleash its full potential under sunlight and when their bodies are warm. However, at the same time, they will find it more difficult to control their internal energy.
Shi Yan will definitely participate in the Heroes' Gathering. Although the Heroes' Gathering does not restrict the style of martial arts moves, he would not be foolish enough to use the "Nine Forms of the Lotus God" to defeat his opponent. He will also try his best to hide the fact that he has practiced the "Nine Forms of the Lotus God".
With Shi Yan's skill, it's not impossible for him.
However, anyone who engages in a prolonged battle will inevitably resort to their most proficient techniques. October is the season when the autumn sun shines brightly, and if the weather is good enough, it will be inevitable that Shi Yan will reveal his true internal strength.
Once Shi Yan reveals his internal strength, the entire martial arts world will surely attack him. At that time, it won't be hard to find out who the young master is.
However, even a top-tier expert would find it difficult to avoid mutual injury in a prolonged battle against his profound internal strength. The only possibility is that both sides are deliberately prolonging the fight. But Shi Yan isn't stupid; he won't let someone flatter him for nothing. Unless there's a deadly threat or temptation.
In Xuezhi's eyes, Shiyan was a pervert who didn't want anything—except for his own son.
To put it bluntly, he wants to have a child with a man, and he wants to be the mother.
She probably knew what to do.
After the Weaponry Tournament ended, Xuezhi and the others descended the mountain, preparing to board a carriage to return to Chonghuo Palace. However, just as Xuezhi stepped into the carriage, she suddenly saw two people walking towards the Guangming Cang River at the foot of the mountain.
She had only glanced at the two men casually, but couldn't help turning back again—one of them was dressed in blue with a black bamboo hat, and the other wore a cloak with a downy brim that covered half of his face, revealing only his straight nose and pointed chin.
People tend to glance at those wearing straw hats more than once. But Xuezhi's reason for looking at them wasn't the straw hats.
Instead, it's this kind of scenario.
Such spring scenery, such twilight, with cherry blossoms scattered everywhere at the foot of the mountain. It's as if a heavy snowfall of red and white has just passed, the cherry trees are covered with delicate, fragmented petals. And the bright, rushing waters of the Guangmingzang River swallow up all the footsteps of everyone.
He couldn't help but recall sitting with Zhong Tao on the banks of the Suzhou river, Shangguan Tou looking completely relaxed. Zhong Tao was never still; this was the most incongruous thing between them. Zhong Tao, like a hyperactive child, hovered around him, waiting for Qiu Hongxiu's dinner, while Shangguan Tou, fanning himself, urged him to sit down, enjoy the scenery, and have a drink. Zhong Tao retorted that he was hungry and there was nothing to see in the sun.
Shangguan Tou just smiled and said, "Brother Langya, in fact, when you have free time, forget about the affairs of the martial world, buy a small boat, half a cup of fine wine, travel all over the north of the river, and then return to the south of the river. Isn't that a joyful and carefree life?"
At that moment, Xuezhi sat next to Shangguan Tou with a longing look on her face, resting her chin on her hands as she looked at him: "You've traveled all over Jiangbei, and now you're back in Jiangnan?"
“Exactly.” Shangguan Tou closed his fan. “Amidst green hills, clear waters, and white clouds, a pot of wine floats on the stream, a carefree journey.”
She didn't know why that scene came back to her. Xuezhi came to her senses and held onto the car door, intending to get in.
At the same time, the man in blue stepped forward: "Palace Mistress Xue, please wait."
Xuezhi turned to look at him: "And who are you?"
The man in blue lifted his bamboo hat, revealing a young and clean face. He looked at Xuezhi, then at Zhusha and Haitang beside her, and smiled shyly: "Our young master has been paying attention to the Palace Master for a long time, and specially asked me to give this to the Palace Master."
After saying that, he handed a cherry blossom branch to Xuezhi.
Xuezhi took the cherry blossom branch with some surprise, but quickly regained her composure and returned the branch: "I am now a wife."
The man in blue did not accept the flowers: "Young Master knows that this is why he doesn't deliver the flowers personally. Young Master is merely a flower admirer, daring only to look at the beautiful flowers from afar and not to touch them. I hope Palace Mistress Xue will not mind."
Xuezhi held the flower branch and twirled it a few times, murmuring, "What's your young master's name?"
“Chang’an Yu Chu Zhi”.
Yu Chuzhi was very tall with broad shoulders. However, his attire was quite strange. Although it was already April, he was wearing a leopard-skin cloak trimmed with fox fur. The workmanship was exquisite but understated, and the pearls on the brim of his hat were almost the size of lychees, making it clear at a glance that he was wearing several thousand taels of silver.
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"Why is he wearing so many clothes?" Xuezhi asked.
"Young Master has a special constitution and has always been afraid of the cold."
Why did he give me cherry blossoms?
The man in blue glanced back uncertainly at Yu Chuzhi, and only after Yu Chuzhi nodded did he turn back and say, "After the plum blossoms fade, the cherry blossoms bloom, a delicate blush. A test of nature's artistry. The most beautiful flowers should be given to the most beautiful woman."
It was just another round of the same old praise. Xuezhi looked tired.
"Moreover, the young master said that the palace master always seems a little lost and sad whenever he sees a cherry tree. Since he has such a special connection with cherry blossoms, he should own one."
…………
Seven years ago, on that afternoon when the flowers were in full bloom.
In the sunlight, he was still dressed in white, with black hair and a blue belt, his pupils a pale amber. He looked up at her, he picked her up, and he called her name.