Второстепенная женская героиня невинна

Глава 81

"I was born into poverty and had no one to rely on but two older brothers, both of whom were disabled. So, when I was young, I went to learn embroidery from the 'Needle Goddess' Xun Huiniang. Although I am a boy, I had to learn the embroidery skills of a woman to support my family. My master did not mind at all and loved me, her male disciple, even more... In my spare time, when no one was around, my master passed on to me a copy of the 'Returning Wind Manual' and the 'Returning Wind Gauze,' one of the three great weapons in the world. She said that these were left by her father, but my master was not fond of martial arts and did not know any of the martial arts in the 'Returning Wind Manual.'"

"Such peaceful and serene days... How wonderful it would be to live my whole life like this... Until one day, I walked into my master's embroidery room and was greeted by a vast expanse of blood!"

Upon hearing this, a fierce killing intent flashed across Chu Guanfeng's otherwise gentle face, making him appear completely different from before. Even I, with my limited knowledge, felt a chill run down my spine. Chu Guanfeng's expression changed several times before he finally calmly said:

"I saw my master lying in a pool of blood, his eyes were two bloody holes, as if someone had gouged them out!"

"What!" I exclaimed in surprise. Chu Guanfeng glanced at me and continued, "Although Master was in his early thirties back then, he was incredibly handsome, looking like he was in his twenties. His eyes were especially bright and beautiful. I only learned from Master's dying words that the 'gentle' leader, Lan Ye, upon learning of Master's beautiful eyes, ordered his gray-clad assassins to gouge them out!"

I exclaimed in surprise, "Just because her eyes are beautiful, she..." I thought of Lan Ye, whose beauty was unparalleled, yet who was extremely ruthless and vicious. Just because I was by Shang Shao Chang's side, she repeatedly tried to kill me. Her cruelty was evident. But perhaps she herself never imagined that, due to her carelessness and underestimation of me, she would have her martial arts crippled. It was truly a matter of justice, and retribution was inevitable. Chu Guanfeng, unaware of my thoughts, continued, "Back then, I was young and impetuous. Seeing my master, who was like a teacher and mother to me, die with such resentment, I swore an oath to tear Lan Ye to pieces and avenge my master. At that time, I had already achieved some success with the Returning Wind Gauze technique, so I searched for clues and feigned allegiance to Lan Ye, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But... at that time, due to various twists and turns, I was unable to achieve my goal. I won't go into details..." Seeing me listening intently, he chuckled and said:

"I've said too much... Let's get to the point... I didn't want to go back after leaving Wenrou's place, but Wenrou kept sending assassins to hunt me down, which annoyed me a lot... Until one day, I met Shang Shaochang."

Chu Guanfeng laughed as he said this, "Originally, I wanted to compete with him and see who would win between my Returning Wind Veil and his Autumn Water Blade. But I never expected that this so-called number one assassin in the world, Young Master Shang, would come to ask me to do something for him."

My eyes narrowed, and I said, "But...but it's for your..."

Chu Guanfeng nodded, a look of approval in his eyes, and said, "You guessed right. He came to me to ask me to be his shadow—to be Ye Zhiqiu, the head of Qiuye Pavilion!"

"At the time, I just found it incredibly funny. An assassin, actually having another identity, and that identity was a businessman who was richer than a country?! This was enough to make the whole world laugh their heads off!"

My face remained expressionless, my eyes fixed intently on Chu Guanfeng, for I knew that what he was about to reveal was likely a huge secret. Chu Guanfeng slowly began to speak:

"I never expected that this killer among killers would ask me to be his shadow, simply because he had fallen in love with a woman, the most beautiful woman in the world! He felt that in his decades of gray, blood-soaked world, there was finally hope. But he was also terrified, afraid that his identity as a killer would bring this woman not happiness, but endless danger and bloodshed."

"Therefore, he needs a second identity, because although a businessman has no power or influence, at least this identity is safe and secure, and can provide this woman with a safe life."

"But...who can say for sure what the future holds? All he can do now is stay by that woman's side, protect her from harm and happiness...He told me that he wants to take his beloved woman back to his second identity, but he's afraid that if she finds out the truth, she might not forgive him, or realize that this is all he can give her."

"I find it funny, and I feel sorry for him... Once an assassin falls in love, can he still be as calm and ruthless as before, and survive in this dangerous environment?... His life must be a hundred times more perilous than before, but it's his own choice! Once he makes up his mind, there's no turning back... I only acted as his shadow once. Even now, I don't know if I did the right thing or the wrong thing. But..." Chu Guanfeng put his hand on my shoulder and said, word by word, "But I know you can call that man stupid, you can call him cowardly, but he is the most manly man I've ever met! Just because what he did for that woman is something that a hundred so-called good men can't do!"

I nodded gently, wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes, and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you, Brother Su... I should have known this sooner... but I... I found out so late..."

Chu Guanfeng smiled gently and said, "Have you ever thought about this... if Shang Shaochang really jumped off the cliff and died, and you found out then that he and Ye Zhi Qiu were actually the same person, would you still hate and resent him so much?"

(This chapter is complete)

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Holding Hands

If Shang Shaochang really jumped off a cliff and died, would you still hate and resent him so much?

Can you do it? Can you do it? ...

I stood there, stunned, Chu Guanfeng's gentle words echoing in my ears. Countless thoughts churned in my mind: Not bad, not bad... Even if I knew that Shang Shaochang and Ye Zhiqiu were the same person, if Shang Shaochang really died, would I still hate him, resent him, be angry with him, and be annoyed with him as I am today? I'm afraid... I would fall into endless grief and resentment, unable to extricate myself.

Seeing that I remained silent for a long time, Chu Guanfeng laughed and said, "Since you are so deeply in love, you suffer so much. Sister Bai is exceptionally intelligent, and she will surely be able to sort out these matters. If you still have doubts, why not ask the person who started this in person, and you will know the truth."

I nodded gently, my heart filled with mixed emotions. Hearing these words at Zhu Xiaozhu's place today felt like a lifetime had passed. I bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Third Brother. Today's conversation has enlightened me greatly! It's getting late, and I dare not disturb your enjoyment any longer. I… I'll return to Yun Manor now. However…" I hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I've crippled Lan Ye's martial arts, but I haven't killed her. If Third Brother Su wishes to avenge his master, I will do everything in my power to help!"

Chu Guanfeng paused, his gaze sweeping over me a few times, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes, before he smiled slowly. It was the first time I'd seen such a gentle, relaxed smile on his handsome face. "No need..." he said. Chu Guanfeng waved his hand lightly, his long, slender, white hands behind his back. At that moment, I suddenly felt an indescribable ease and grace from this world's number one embroiderer, this legendary assassin. It was as if these few movements themselves brought him a sense of ease. A tender emotion filled Chu Guanfeng's eyes as he said, "I already have my Yue'er... all that fighting and revenge has been forgotten. Embroidering here at Tingzhu Xiaozhu is what Master most wanted me to do."

"Yue'er? Qin Louyue?" I blurted out, then it dawned on me. That day, Chu Guanfeng took Qin Louyue away in front of me and Shang Shaozhang with the Returning Wind Veil, which meant that Chu Guanfeng had long harbored feelings for her. Since Su Sanshou was Chu Guanfeng, then Qin Louyue must have been with him.

Unexpectedly, Chu Guanfeng shook his head and laughed, "Qin Louyue is already dead..." Seeing my shocked expression, he winked at me and said, "Qin Louyue, one of the Four Gentle Assassins, died back then." Regardless of whether I understood, he continued, "Qin Louyue, one of the Four Gentle Assassins, and Chu Guanfeng... are both no longer alive... Only Su Sanshou and his Yue'er remain. Embroidering, playing the zither... this is the peace we desire..."

I nodded slowly, my mood unconsciously lightening with the gentle tone of his voice. I smiled and said, "I understand... but I wonder if my sister-in-law could allow Baiyi to see me?"

Chu Guanfeng sighed softly, a look of shame on his face, and said, "It should be so... but my wife acted impulsively at the time and did many inappropriate things to Bai's sister. Although we can't entirely blame her for this, my wife is now living with me at Tingzhu Xiaozhu, but she feels ashamed in front of Minister Bai. Therefore, when the minister is unwell, she only asks me to visit him on her behalf and does not dare to see Bai's sister in person."

I nodded slightly, understanding his meaning. Although it was Lan Ye who instructed Qin Louyue to put me to death, if it weren't for the miraculous power of the Little Green Pill and the appearance of Shang Chu and the other two, I probably would have been in grave danger as well. Thinking of this, I smiled and said, "This matter has long been forgotten by Baiyi, so please don't worry about it, Madam. However, Madam's zither playing skills are unparalleled in the world. It would be a great pleasure for Baiyi to play a piece with Madam someday."

As soon as I finished speaking, a soft, melodious pipa tune drifted from the inner room, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, or the whispering of a spring oriole; the sound was delicate and almost inaudible, yet serene and clear, as if washing away all the dust. It was as if the player was performing solely for me. There was none of the initial melancholy I felt upon first hearing it, nor the later, chilling ruthlessness. The melody was calm and gentle, like a spring breeze. It warmed my ears and brought immense comfort.

I smiled and nodded, then walked to a white silk curtain in the inner chamber, bowed with my hands in my sleeves, and said, "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Within the hazy white curtains, I could only see a woman in white, carrying a zither, rise from the couch and return my deep bow. Although the white curtains obscured her view, the woman's figure, dressed in moon-white robes, was like the pale moon in the sky, possessing an indescribable beauty and serenity.

I turned to Su Sanshou and said with a smile, "I'm going back to Yun Manor."

Su Sanshou smiled and asked, "Have you thought it through?"

I nodded and said, "I've thought it through!" I bowed deeply and said, "Because I know that if I don't make up my mind this time, I'm afraid I'll regret it forever."

"Good!" Su Sanshou patted my shoulder and laughed, "That's the true white-robed prime minister. However, there's something I need to tell you—" Seeing the doubt in my eyes, he said, "When I visited you a few days ago, I saw that clumsy assassin surnamed Shang. Although he looked no different from an ordinary person, his lower body was weak and his vital energy was insufficient. It was obvious that he had suffered a very serious internal injury that had not yet healed. If I'm not mistaken, perhaps he was injured when he jumped off the cliff—" Before he could finish speaking, I saw my face change drastically! I hurriedly said, "Why didn't you say so sooner!" Amid Su Sanshou's mischievous laughter, I quickly turned around and ran towards Guiyun Manor.

The wind whistled in my ears. It had been more than half a year since I had run so fast and so easily! It felt as if the heavy stone in my heart was being blown away by the wind, blown far away and never to return!

Shang Shaochang, where are you? I know you haven't left; you're still at Guiyun Manor! Because every night, I hear your familiar flute music in my dreams!

This time, you definitely won't leave, right?

In the distance, the orange-red sun slowly sank behind the western mountains. By the time I ran back to Yunzhuang, the sky was already ablaze with the afterglow of sunset. I was out of breath, but I had no time to rest. I asked everyone I met, "Where is Young Master Shang?" After asking three people, I finally learned that Young Master Shang was by the lotus pond behind the manor, and I quickly ran there.

This is it, this is it!

A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying the unique fragrance of the lotus pond and the faint sound of a flute. It drifted softly to my ears on the breeze.

I have long silk threads, like the waves of Dongting Lake; your intentions are continuous, like the waters of the Yangtze River…

I never knew that a bamboo flute could produce such a melody, so heartbreakingly beautiful… In that familiar yet moving flute music, memories of the past twenty-odd years suddenly flooded my mind—

Zhenzhen, do you know that I, Baiyi, will never let such emotions affect my rationality?

Young Master Shang, you actually revealed my true identity as a woman to the world!

Shang Shaozhang, you are the biggest lecher in the world!

Young Master Shang...you won't leave me, will you?

Is it? Is it? ...