Девять песен

Глава 52

I looked at him curiously, only to see him walk to the side of the reeds, part them, and pull out a small covered boat that could seat three or four people, along with a pair of lovely wooden oars.

"Wow, how did you know there were boats here?" I exclaimed excitedly. Actually, I'd been itching to go boating on the lake for ages, but it's just too big, and rowing alone would be too tiring. I'd been hoping to find someone to help me out for free, and now this is perfect! The world's number one assassin! Putting everything else aside, his stamina is definitely top-notch. I'll just be a passenger, no one should complain, right? Hehe.

My eyes were sparkling as I heard Dark Night say, "Come on up, this is what I told someone to put here this morning."

"Oh." I quickly jumped up.

The boat rocked and I almost fell over, but an arm reached out and caught me.

"Thank you," I said with a sweet smile.

A faint smile appeared on the cold, dark face. It was like snow suddenly encountering a spring breeze; the coldness vanished, and a gentle tenderness appeared on her features, a beauty that was breathtaking in its fleeting moment.

I stared blankly for a moment, then felt embarrassed. "Dark Night, you really should smile more. You look so beautiful when you smile."

An Ye seemed somewhat embarrassed, but also clearly pleased.

Suddenly seized by a mischievous impulse, I deliberately added, "Um, if a woman saw this, she'd be absolutely smitten. Dark Night, you must have a lot of female confidantes, right? Why don't you come to Zhongfang Garden next time, and I'll introduce you to a few?"

Suddenly, An Ye withdrew his hand and turned his head away. When I peeked out, I was surprised to find a faint blush on the back of his ear.

Is this assassin still a virgin?

Suddenly, An Ye grabbed the long oar, annoyed. "Do you want to go boating? The boat's about to leave."

Is this guy actually shy?

I chuckled to myself and drawled out my reply, "Yes, Brother Dark Night."

This lake is incredibly beautiful. In the center of the lake, there are countless small pieces of land protruding above the water. Each of these protruding pieces has been utilized; some have become small islands, while others have been transformed into pavilions. With the sounds of traditional music, flowers everywhere, and willows gently brushing the water's surface, a boat trip through it truly evokes the feeling of a water town in southern China.

Everywhere you look, there are plaques or calligraphy and paintings pasted on the pillars of the pavilions. When you go to see them, you will find that they are all introductions to the lives of the people who donated to build the pavilions. Every word is full of praise. Along the way, we have already discovered a large number of people who are the best in the world in martial arts, unparalleled in literary talent, and whose charity is comparable to Guanyin.

I suddenly recalled some advertisements from my own time, so exaggerated they were astonishing. A bag of laundry detergent, a bottle of beverage, and they could boast without a doubt, "Look everyone, look at me! Let me tell you, with me, you won't need to pursue anything else in this life. I am everything!" I truly didn't expect that the people in this time, seemingly honest, could boast just as much as those advertisements.

I was so happy I couldn't stand up straight.

Chapter 114: Teasing

"What are you laughing at?" An Ye asked, glancing sideways.

"It's nothing." I wiped away the tears that had come out of my laughter, trying my best to remain calm. I put on a serious face and nodded. "Brother Dark Night, I was just thinking that Tianxing truly lives up to its reputation as a great nation. Look at them, their talents are springing up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, they just keep popping up."

An Ye's face remained expressionless, but a smile played in his eyes.

"Look at this, this Li Jinhuan, do you know him?"

Dark Night nodded. "I know."

"Then you really should read his biography carefully, and then go and pay your respects to him. Look, between the lines, this man is a man who could be a prime minister in literature, a general in martial arts, and the most charitable person in the world." I smiled. "But, as far as I know, this man was greedy for money and lustful, utterly shameless, oppressing the good and kind, buying and selling official positions, bribing court officials, and so on and so forth—he did all sorts of evil things. And yet, someone like that can have a memorial arch erected for him? The Tianxing royal family is truly tolerant."

Dark Night raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

"Dark Night, can you do me a favor?" I suddenly shouted.

"What?" Dark Night asked, puzzled.

"Come here, come here." I pushed An Ye to the small table in the pavilion. Paper and brushes had been prepared for the scholars on the table for today's lake tour. Whether they wanted to paint or sing praises to the builders of the pavilion, it was all convenient for them.

I shoved the brush into his hand while happily grabbing the inkstone to grind ink.

"Here, I'll read, you write."

An Ye brushed aside the Xuan paper on the table and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I thought for a moment, then spoke, "Snatching mud from a swallow's beak, shaving iron needles, scraping gold from a Buddha's face—searching meticulously, finding something from nothing. Searching for peas in a quail's crop, splitting lean meat from a heron's leg, extracting oil from a mosquito's belly—what a skillful old gentleman!"

Dark Night stared at me wide-eyed in disbelief. "You...you want me to write this?"

"What's wrong? Is it not allowed?" I blinked, looking at him innocently.

"Although those words were a bit harsh and full of sarcasm, wasn't what I said the truth?"

An Ye paused, his hand holding the pen, frozen in place.

A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, but when he met my disappointed gaze, he suddenly smiled and said, "Okay, I'll write it for you."

I laughed and nodded quickly.

An Ye's calligraphy was exceptionally beautiful, vigorous and unrestrained, with a grand and imposing style that leaped off the page. He finished writing in no time. When signing his name, he surprisingly added the character "恪" (Ke), and then took out a small seal from his pocket and stamped it on the paper with a snap.

I froze for a moment, then snapped angrily, "Hey, I want you to write my name down!"

He glanced at me and said calmly, "Do you know that this Li Jinhuan is a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and he wields considerable power in Huaicheng? Although you have subdued all the thugs in Huaicheng, you still cannot contend with his power. If your name is mentioned, I'm afraid you won't have any peace tonight."

So he had already investigated me? He even knew I was the rising leader of the Xiaoyao Gang, who had subdued all the thugs? I was stunned for a moment, then looked on with disdain.

"What's so great about him? Do you think this young master is afraid of him? I'll take care of one if he comes, or two if he comes." That's probably what the outlaws of the greenwood say, right?

"Besides, he's always been my mortal enemy. Before I even provoked him, he already attacked me, and I almost died at his hands. I've already broken ties with him. His Chu Yan Lou is almost completely squeezed out of business by me..."

It's so cold!

I shuddered and stopped speaking. I looked up and saw that An Ye's face was already dark, and he was exuding a murderous aura.

I was startled. What? I didn't say anything wrong, did I accidentally offend him?