Счастье совсем рядом, за следующим поворотом

Глава 37

It hurts just looking at it from my window.

But then Yan Shu said, "Say what you just said again."

Blood trickled from the corner of Ye Baizhi's lips, and red, swollen finger marks rose up on her fair face. She looked up in a daze, then hurriedly knelt down and said, "Baizhi is foolish and has misspoke. Please enlighten me, High Priest."

Author's Note: Writing conspiracies in the first person is so tedious... Did you understand Ye Baizhi's scheme? If not... never mind. == Basically, from the beginning, Ye Baizhi was constantly trying to sow discord between Su Xie and Ruan Bicheng, hoping to make them turn against each other. In the end, she orchestrated a much larger scheme. She was the one who leaked information about Yan Shu and the young master, and she was also the one who gave Ruan Bicheng advice. Ruan Bicheng was aware of this, but she went along with it, using Yan Shu to rescue Su Xie and such. Ye Baizhi and Ruan Bicheng were allies at that time... Did I explain it clearly? OTZ Kill me, please... Finally, guess what Ye Baizhi said wrong~ PS: I've never done the points-giving thing before. It's my first time, and I don't know how to do it. I've already left a message for the editor, and I'll try to do it when she replies to me on Monday. Please be patient~

Forty-three

Yan Shu leaned down to look at her, his eyes slightly narrowed with a smile, "Did I forget to tell you? Su Xie is mine now."

Ye Baizhi was shocked, and I was also somewhat taken aback. Lotus Sister asked in astonishment, "The High Priest means..."

Yan Shu frowned unhappily, "You don't need to understand what I mean. You just need to understand that she is mine, and her life and death are entirely up to me."

“But…” Ye Baizhi straightened up, “How can Baizhi take the position of protector and assist the high priest if she is not eliminated?”

"Did I say I would allow you to live through tonight?" Yan Shu raised an eyebrow and smiled. "As for the position of protector... give it to Su Xie as long as he's happy." His slender white fingers gently touched Ye Baizhi's forehead.

Ye Baizhi trembled uncontrollably, grabbed Yan Shu's leg, and said in a tearful voice, "Priest...Priest, please spare Baizhi! Baizhi only wanted to become a protector as soon as possible so that she could get rid of the young master for you! She had no intention of betraying you..."

"Oh?" Yan Shu kicked her hand away in disgust. "Is that so?"

"High Priest! The incident in Licheng was a complete accident! I originally only intended to use the Queen to get rid of the young master and Ruan Bicheng for you, but I never expected Ruan Bicheng to actually use military force..." Ye Baizhi explained quickly and clearly, tears streaming down her face, "Originally... I originally thought that Ruan Bicheng would at most use Su Xie to find you, and with your skills, you would never take him seriously. He was definitely no match for you..."

So she actually wanted to use Yan Shu to seriously injure Ruan Bicheng, huh? No wonder she trusted me so much that I could harm Ruan Bicheng...

“But that day, Ruan Bicheng deliberately lured me away. I don’t know what he said to the Queen in the palace. By the time I found out, he had already set off with a large army. When I rushed there, the Jin residence was already engulfed in flames, and the Lord had been captured…” Ye Baizhi explained urgently, tears streaming down her face. “My lord, you must believe me! Baizhi… Baizhi really didn’t expect Ruan Bicheng to use military force! That’s why I brought Ruan Bicheng back alive to avenge you!”

Yan Shu suddenly laughed, "As expected of a silver tongue, you actually wanted to capture Ruan Bicheng alive for me?"

Ye Baizhi frowned and said aggrievedly, "Otherwise what? The mission only said to take Ruan Bicheng's head. If it weren't for venting your anger, why would I have gone to such lengths to capture Ruan Bicheng alive?" She raised her eyes, looking pitiful, with tears welling up in her eyes. "Baizhi really only wanted to make amends. I hope you will forgive Baizhi."

Yan Shu's fingers slid down her cheek to her neck, and he whispered, "Do you know why I chose you out of so many people back then?"

Ye Baizhi shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes and falling down her cheeks.

“Because you are ruthless, wicked, and despicable.” Yan Shu slowly curled the corners of his mouth and said, “You are utterly despicable, willing to do anything to achieve your goals, and even willing to kill your own sister. You are like a woman, a very terrifying woman.”

With tears clinging to her eyelashes, Ye Baizhi asked, "Is it...the Queen?"

Yan Shu didn't answer, but instead tightened his grip on her neck and continued, "She also has a very deceptive face, and is always eloquent. She's willing to sacrifice anything and do anything for what she wants... See how alike you are?"

He tightened his grip, and blood instantly trickled from Ye Baizhi's lips. She didn't struggle, but simply looked at Yan Shu and said, "But I'm in your hands. My life and death, my destiny, are all in your control. If you're willing, I'll kneel at your feet for the rest of my life, obedient like a dog..."

Yan Shu squinted at her.

Ye Baizhi lowered her eyes, her submissiveness gone, "If you wish, I will submit to you like a dog, obeying your every command..."

If you're willing...

Yan Shu watched her smile slowly, then released his grip. Like a dog, she pressed her forehead against the tip of Yan Shu's shoe and whispered softly...

I suddenly felt a heavy, oppressive feeling in my chest, making it difficult to breathe. I didn't want to look down at it, so I carefully stepped back and got up.

As he turned around, he didn't see Yan Shu's gaze fixed on him under the bright lamplight.

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As I left Yan Shu's garden, I happened to run into a maid in white waiting under the archway. She wasn't surprised to see me; she simply bowed and said, "Miss Su, aren't you waiting for the High Priest?"

I said "Oh" and casually, "I'm not waiting anymore, I'm exhausted. I'll come another day."

The maid in white nodded and said to the two male slaves, "Take Miss Su back and keep a close watch on her."

The male slave responded, and as I followed him, I couldn't help but turn back and ask, "Why is the garden so quiet? Are you all alone?"

The maid in white smiled and said, "The high priest said that Miss Su might come at any time, so he removed all the guards and maids from the garden to make it easier for you to come and go."

I said "Oh" again, then turned and followed the male slave.

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I think I must be overthinking it. Everyone is so complicated that I can't see them clearly. Ruan Bicheng, Yan Shu, Ye Baizhi, and even the most innocent Ruan Lianhua sometimes makes me feel scared.

I can't figure it out, and I can't understand it.

I slumped over the table, sighing dejectedly. Changhuan brought in the medicine, looked down at me, and asked, "Where do you feel unwell, young lady?"

I leaned on the table and looked at him from the side. After thinking for a moment, I asked, "What do you think of Yan Shu?"

Chang Huan frowned slightly and asked, "Why did you suddenly ask that, young lady?"

Because I couldn't understand why he removed all the guards from his garden, allowing me to come and go freely, but then placed two male slaves at my door to monitor my every move.

He made me feel...timid. He was smiling at you, but he could kill you at any moment. Everyone seemed like his plaything.

Seeing that I didn't answer for a while, Changhuan looked me closely and asked, "Miss... have you fallen for the priest?"

"No!" I denied it categorically, sitting up abruptly. "How could that be! He almost strangled me. I was trying to get away from him, but..." I couldn't figure out what he wanted. Were we friends or enemies?

Chang Huan sat down beside me and said calmly, "Perhaps the High Priest just likes girls."

I sneered at him, "What a joke, you like me? Have you ever seen someone who likes another person so much that they would strangle them without hesitation? That's a bit too much."

Chang Huan looked at me calmly and asked, "Have you ever liked someone, young lady?"

I was suddenly stunned by his question, and a flood of memories surged through my mind. My feelings for him were humble and secretive, and I had never dared to proclaim them...

He turned to look at me, “Some affections are domineering and selfish, like a net that only wants to imprison the other person tightly, and will not let go even if it suffocates them… just like…” He thought for a moment and wanted to give an example.

I made an excuse: "Like Su Xie's past treatment of those male concubines and you?"

Changhuan stared at me blankly.

"This isn't liking, it's desire, the possessiveness of a toy." I didn't know how to explain it, and, feeling frustrated, I buried my head on the table and said, "If you love someone, you become cautious, their words are like imperial edicts to you, you become so humble that you don't even dare to utter their name... Love makes you timid, Chang Huan, do you understand?"

He looked at me but didn't say anything.

I was silent for a long time, and just as I got up to speak, I suddenly heard a low scream from the courtyard, the shadows of the trees swaying.

Changhuan also got up and looked at me, saying, "I'll go out and take a look."

I nodded and watched him leave. I waited for a long time but he didn't come back, and there was no sound. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and I didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

I heard footsteps, and a dusty, gray shadow moved in from outside the door. I looked up and my heart skipped a beat.

Gu Shaoting and Gu Biyun.

Gu Shaoting pressed the blade against Chang Huan's neck, covered his mouth with one hand, and said coldly, "Su Xie, we meet again."

I squinted at him and Gu Biyun. To be able to sneak into the Demonic Sect, it seems that his injuries have healed and he must have dealt with the male slave guarding me. Now that he has come to my door, he must be here to rescue Ruan Bicheng or to seek revenge on me. "Long time no see."

Gu Biyun couldn't contain herself any longer and rushed in, asking, "Where is my cousin locked up?"

I quickly stepped back and reached for the sword hanging by the bedside. It seemed to be there to rescue someone. They must have come to me to ask me to lead the way, so they probably wouldn't attack for the time being.

I pointed to the gleaming green sword and said, "Release my people, and everything will be fine."

"Take us to rescue my cousin!" Gu Biyun drew her sword and charged forward.

I swung my sword and slashed at the table beside me. With a loud crash, wood chips flew everywhere, teacups shattered, and the table broke into pieces on the ground.

Gu Biyun was startled and quickly took a few steps back, waving her sword to block the wood chips, staring straight at me.

I calmly raised my sword and repeated in a serious tone, "I said, release my people, and everything will be fine."

Gu Shaoting and Gu Biyun were both watching me from the threshold. I looked back at them without flinching, but my heart was pounding with fear. I knew I couldn't beat Gu Shaoting, and I might not even be able to resist Gu Biyun. Fortunately, Su Xie had internal strength, plus this precious sword, and the rumors of her formidable martial arts skills in the martial world. I should be able to put on a show and intimidate them. I just hoped they wouldn't charge at me...

Gu Shaoting stared at me for a long time, then raised his hand and knocked Chang Huan unconscious with a single slap, tossing him aside and saying, "Su Xie, you'd better know your place. I don't want to fight you right now."

“No problem.” I smiled at him, decisively tossed the sword aside, and said, “Let’s go.”

Gu Shaoting was clearly taken aback. He and Gu Biyun exchanged glances, then he frowned at me and said, "Su Xie, don't try anything funny."

I sighed. What a jerk. You won't rest easy even if I don't fight you anymore. I can't beat you, can't you just be pragmatic?

I knew I couldn't be too decisive. I hesitated for a moment, then said, "You're just asking me to lead the way, right? Do I have to fight to the death?"

Author's Note: The Gu siblings are back again~ stirring things up~ Regarding the comments that everyone found the priest's falling for the female lead a bit abrupt, I want to clarify: it has nothing to do with status or position; it's simply because someone genuinely cares for him and wants him to live. That's all he wants. The priest is a somewhat obsessive person; liking someone is just a fleeting thing~ PS: Did you guys guess that Lotus Sister would move the priest so much?! Haha PPS: I made some minor revisions to the previous chapters; please ignore them.

Forty-four

The Gu siblings are extremely suspicious. They always suspect that I have ulterior motives and am up to some trick, and they only feel at ease when they hold a sword to my back.

I was in front, and the brother and sister were right behind me, holding their swords to my sides, and every now and then they would threaten me, "You better not try anything funny!"

I sighed and comforted them, "Don't worry, if I wanted to escape, I could just shout along the way and the guards would rush out and kill you."

Gu Shaoting straightened the sword he had been holding against my back, and its cool touch pressed against my skin. "You can try it."

Fighting to the death or perishing together isn't my style. I won't stoop to their level. I led them along secluded paths, my mind preoccupied with the corpse of the male slave I'd seen at the gate when we left the courtyard...

There was only one body among the two men. It seems that the one went back and reported to Yan Shu. I thought that with Gu Shaoting's skills, it was impossible for him to deal with two male slaves so easily. Thinking about it, the person Yan Shu sent by my side was just a messenger. At our speed, he might have already laid an ambush, waiting to wipe them all out.

I thought for a moment and said, “You two should know that the Heavenly Punishment Prison is heavily guarded. With your weak and alone forces, to put it bluntly, you would only be walking into a trap. Why don’t you take today as a test and leave as soon as possible so that we can make further plans?”

"Shut up!" Gu Shaoting shouted irritably, "You witch, stop wasting your breath. Since we've gotten in, we naturally have a way."

Oh? I'm very curious. This is the headquarters of the Demonic Sect, after all. When Ruan Bicheng broke in at night, almost everyone was wiped out except for him, and he was seriously injured. Ruan Bicheng's skills should be comparable to Yan Shu's, and he should be one of the best in the martial arts world. But this Gu Shaoting...

How could they possibly get in unscathed?

As I led the way, I said calmly, "You can't enter the Heavenly Punishment Prison without a pass..."

Before I could finish speaking, Gu Biyun couldn't help but say, "We have a token!"

"Shut up, Biyun!" Gu Shaoting snapped at her.

She pursed her lips, looking a little aggrieved, and whispered, "What's there to be afraid of? She can't escape now."

I sighed, keeping my eyes down, and said, "Ordinary tokens won't let you in... I don't know what kind of tokens you have. If we're not careful, we might alert them and end up being arrested and thrown into the Heavenly Punishment Prison together."

The Gu siblings remained silent behind me for a long time, and I didn't say anything either. I led the way on my own, and after walking for a while, Gu Biyun finally spoke up clearly: "Our token will definitely work."

"Oh?" I smiled without saying a word.

She couldn't contain herself and said, "No one dares to stop this token from entering the Demonic Sect, so what's so special about the mere Heavenly Punishment Prison!"

"Biyun!" Gu Shaoting interrupted her again in a low voice, "Why waste your breath on this vixen?"

Gu Biyun said, "What are you afraid of, brother? This token was given to us by the Demonic Sect. It would be best if they killed each other and all of them died!"

This young lady's words are so vicious; she's truly a woman of the martial world...

I wondered how we got in so easily. It turns out someone was there to help us. But from what they were talking about, it must be the Azure Dragon Token that allows free entry and exit. I remember that this token was personally managed and distributed by the Left Protector. Besides Ye Baizhi and me, who else has it?

I gave a casual "oh" and chuckled, "Was the person who gave you the token Protector Leng? How's she been lately...?"