Before he could speak, Jiang Xiaohu had already stepped aside and nodded repeatedly: "You drank it, you drank it. I was mistaken. That was tree urine."
Jin laughed in anger, snorted, and sat down again.
Jiang Xiaohu shook his head, picked up the wine jar, and drank. There was no other way; when a friend was in a bad mood, you had to be their punching bag, and you couldn't utter a single complaint, just as he did things for you without complaint. Actually, you could comfort yourself by thinking that at least others wouldn't have this honor, and not just anyone is qualified to be a punching bag.
Jin then got down to business: "Those people who were monitoring you have disappeared."
The wine jar crashed to the ground with a bang. Jiang Xiaohu wiped his mouth and said, "Good wine, good wine."
"They were sent by the Lan family."
"Good wine, good wine."
Jin retorted angrily, "I'm asking you a question!"
"Never seen someone drunk before?" Jiang Xiaohu glanced at him lazily. "Good wine, but too little. Do you have any more?"
Jin chuckled and cursed, "This cult leader saw you were poor and spent money to treat you, and you dare to complain it's not enough?"
Jiang Xiaohu said, "The more stingy a person is, the more you should complain about how little they have, just to make them angry."
Jin ignored him and asked, "Now that you know who it is, when do you plan to make your move?"
Jiang Xiaohu stopped laughing, remained silent for a moment, and did not answer: "Over the years, he has claimed to have retired from the martial world, but in fact he has been secretly building up his power. He has also built a hidden manor with many traps and formations, enough to withstand a thousand troops."
Jin Huanlai said, "Then let's find out his background before we take action."
Jiang Xiaohu nodded, her eyes dimming: "The Lan family and the Jiang family are old friends. I never expected it to be him."
Jin came to see him again: "Your wife is also from the Lan family, what are you going to do?"
Jiang Xiaohu sighed: "That depends on what she does."
Jin Huanlai said calmly, "I warned you before that the people around you may not be as good as they seem."
Jiang Xiaohu found his words strange, paused, frowned and sized him up for a moment, then shook her head: "To find a wife out of nowhere, beautiful and smart, I knew she wasn't simple, now..."
"She might not help you."
"On one side are her own father and sisters, how can they help me?" Jiang Xiaohu smiled. "As long as she doesn't interfere in this matter, that's fine. I've given her a chance." He looked at Jin Huanlai: "No matter what, if she's really willing to be the wife of a poor guy like me, I won't abandon her."
"I didn't expect you to be such a romantic. Whatever." Jin sneered, jumped down, and left.
A single, seemingly affectionate word can conceal a deadly trap.
As the weather grew colder, a letter arrived from the elders of the Yi family, officially announcing Qiu Lingling's marriage. The wedding date was set for next spring, and everything was being arranged by Yi Qinghan. Jin Huanlai frequently visited the council hall but never returned to Jin Garden, perhaps out of fear of going back. He did not respond to the betrothal gifts sent by the Yi family. Fortunately, he was busy with the Thousand Hands Sect and matters in Tianshui City, keeping him occupied and unable to think much about it.
The beauty lay wrapped in the quilt, a light sheen of sweat on her forehead.
After getting up and dressing, he suddenly said, "Are you blaming me?"
Qingsi was puzzled.
He turned around: "I haven't settled you in all this time."
Understanding his meaning, Qing Si lowered her head: "So it was you who bought me for the past six months. I did it willingly, so why would I blame you?"
After a long silence, he took a few steps and said, "I promised my master that I would find a disciple first, and then find a new leader for the Thousand Hands Sect."
Qing Si replied frankly, "I know."
He didn't look at her, and said indifferently, "If you really want to follow me, then wait a few years. After some time, I will redeem you from your servitude and find you a place to settle down. Remember, this all depends on your own willingness. You can back out if you want."
Qing Si's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled gently: "You don't like me, but you're willing to take me away from this place. What else can I say?"
Jin remained silent.
Qing thought of something: "Where do you live?"
Jin Huanlai said, "Jin Garden."
Qingsi bit her lip and whispered, "Qingsi, if I go out... won't I live with you?"
"There's not enough room in Jinyuan."
"I suppose that Miss Lingling also lives in Jin Garden?"
Jin glanced at her, his voice turning colder: "She is my junior sister. Her parents are both dead, and she has nowhere to go but Jin Garden."
“You don’t need to take it to heart. I was just asking casually and had no other intentions,” Qing Si smiled. “Since you are my junior sister, I should take care of you after Master’s passing. You underestimate me too much. How could I be such a petty person as to fight over such things?”
Like that woman, he was understanding and kind. Jin remained silent for a while before saying, "Thank you."
"When did you become so polite?" Qing Si smiled faintly.
.
As night fell and the weather grew colder, the number of pedestrians dwindled. A small figure walked back along the mountain path, wearing a white outer garment and a lilac-colored skirt with elegant yet lively purple butterfly patterns embroidered on the hem.
A palm strike came from behind.
Sensing danger, Qiu Lingling instinctively dodged: "Who are you?"
The newcomer did not answer, his every move sharp and fierce.
Although Qiu Lingling possessed the internal strength personally taught by Jin Yue, she had not seriously practiced many fist and palm techniques. After parrying a few times, she felt exhausted. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that the person was dressed in night clothes and even his eyes were almost covered.
As a palm struck towards her, Qiu Lingling immediately realized it was a woman's hand.
Unable to defeat him, she naturally had to run, but this man's martial arts skills far surpassed hers, leaving her no chance to escape. In desperation, she revealed a look of joy and looked behind the newcomer: "Jin, return!"
That person was indeed a bit slow in making a move.
Seizing the opportunity, Qiu Lingling turned to escape, but just then, something fell from her arms and rolled to the side. Without thinking of anything else, she rushed over to pick it up.
A numbness shot through her waist, and she collapsed to the ground.
The newcomer bent down and picked up the fire toad, his gaze cold. He suddenly spoke, "Fire toad, where did you get such a treasure?" His voice was low and hoarse, clearly altered.
Qiu Lingling said urgently, "Someone gave it to me, give it back!"
"Gold, you're still giving it to me?" Hatred flashed in her eyes. She raised her foot to kick the person on the ground, but a figure suddenly flashed in front of her. Then, she was struck in the left shoulder. She couldn't help but groan in pain and staggered back several steps before she could stand still.
"My people are best left alone." With a calm voice, the young master bent down and picked up the person on the ground.
With the acupoints released, Qiu Lingling took the fire toad and breathed a sigh of relief: "You got it back!"
The young master smiled and said, "Since it's your dowry, of course we have to take it back."
Only then did the woman in black realize that the fire toad had been taken from her without her noticing. It was clear that the person had shown mercy and did not intend to take her life. With a sharp pain in her shoulder, she dared not linger any longer, gritted her teeth, and fled, disappearing in an instant.
The young master asked in surprise, "Why would she want to kill you?"
Qiu Lingling shook her head: "I don't know her. You don't know her?"
“I don’t know you,” the young master said with a stern face. “Why are you so disobedient? You’re running out even though it’s dark. If I hadn’t come looking for you, wouldn’t today have been dangerous?”
Seeing that he was angry, Qiu Lingling also felt guilty and pulled him: "Don't be angry, I... just want to get Jin back."
"Looking for gold again?" The young master looked at her for a long time, smiled, but his gaze turned cold. He raised his hand to stroke her little face: "Silly girl, you will be Brother Yi's wife in the future, you can't always be thinking about him."
Qiu Lingling lowered her head and said softly, "No, he hasn't been back for a long time. There's something going on in the sect."
The young master remained calm, pulled her along, and said, "Isn't Master Jin often at Miss Qingsi's place? I just heard that someone wants to redeem Miss Qingsi from her servitude. Is it him?"
Qiu Lingling's hand trembled. Jin Huanlai liked beautiful women, but he would never redeem anyone from their servitude.
The young master said, "Now that she's here, it will be inconvenient for you to stay at Jin Garden. Why don't you ask Brother Yi to find you a house?"
Qiu Lingling withdrew her hand: "I'll go back and check." She then quickly ran up the mountain.
In the cold wind, the smile on the young master's face seemed to have turned cold as well, carrying a chill. He turned around and slowly walked down the mountain.
.
Jin Huanlai rarely returned, and when he did, he mostly handled affairs in the hall, making Jin Garden increasingly deserted, while the mute servants were left with nothing to do.
The room was filled with dazzling light. Jin Huanlai stared blankly amidst a pile of treasures for a long time before finally reaching out and picking up a beautifully embroidered red brocade cloak, which he had taken from the tribute of the Dali Kingdom's royal palace four years ago.
According to his usual habits, he would never bother with such trivial matters. It was just a brothel, a place to spend money and have fun. Apart from the little girl, he had never thought of keeping anyone else by his side. But this time was different. He couldn't leave when he saw that face. She had become the embodiment of that woman. He couldn't ignore her. Fortunately, Qing Si was quite understanding. Keeping her by his side wasn't a bad thing.
"You're back." A soft voice came from behind.
Jin suddenly turned around.
Qiu Lingling leaned against the door frame, no longer dressed in a black robe, but in the most elegant girlish attire. After so long, she looked much thinner, perhaps because the wind at the door was too cold, or perhaps because of the lantern light, her face was a little pale.
Choosing Yi Qinghan was the right decision. At least, she wouldn't have to wear ugly black clothes for two years because of a prank. Jin smiled and said, "You're back."
The two gazed at each other from a distance, separated by a pile of jewels.
"Do you want to redeem Qingsi from her servitude?"
"kindness."
Qiu Lingling lowered her eyes: "Then... should I move out?"
Jin remained silent for a while before saying, "She won't stay here."
Qiu Lingling nodded, then looked up and smiled again: "I'm seventeen."
The little girl was only fourteen when she came, seventeen now. Nearly three years have passed just like that. Time flies so fast. Jin looked away and walked straight towards the door. Suddenly he remembered that she was sensitive to the cold. As he passed by her, he stopped and handed her the cloak: "Put this on."
Qiu Lingling refused, saying, "I already have the Fire Toad, I don't need anything else."
Jin didn't say much, and casually tossed the cloak onto her shoulder: "Go back to your room, it's cold here."
Qiu Lingling remained motionless, murmuring, "Jin Huanlai, you like me too."
The wound was suddenly torn open again, and there was only more and more intense pain. Jin began to wonder if he had contracted a heartache problem. He couldn't say anything and fled as if he were running away.
.
Upon entering the room, the young master did not sit down, but stood with his hands behind his back in front of the table. Qing Si remained silent, her expression somewhat uneasy.
"What you're looking for is Jin Huanlai."
"I didn't know she was one of yours."
"It's good that you know now," the young master turned around, his friendly smile returning. "I don't understand why, for whatever reason, you shouldn't have noticed her and wanted to harm her."
Qing Si remained silent.
The young master found it increasingly amusing: "Could it be that Miss Qingsi is too soft-hearted and has even forgotten her great grudge?"