"It's me." A strange smile appeared on Shadow Blade's scarlet lips. Even with only half his face visible, he was breathtakingly beautiful, pale and stunning. Shen Mo couldn't help but reach out to remove his mask. She wanted to see what kind of person could call her by her childhood nickname, and what kind of person could have such a face.
His outstretched hand was suddenly grabbed. Shadowblade's hand was still icy cold. He said, "Not today." Then he vanished in an instant.
"Shadow Blade!" Shen Mo sat up abruptly, her mind now fully awake. The coldness in her hands seemed to still be there. She touched her forehead, which was covered in fine beads of sweat. She had never seen such a pale face before, even on the verge of death. Thinking of this, her heart tightened again, as if something was pressing down on it, making it hard to breathe.
She put on her coat and opened the door, feeling a little better; the tightness in her chest finally eased. But when she saw the situation at the door, she couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
Leaning against the wall, half-lying down, the weak and powerless person was none other than Shadow Blade from the dream! With a pale jaw and crimson lips, looking at this scene exactly like the one in the dream, Shen Mo stared at him for a long time.
"Have you seen enough?" His voice lacked confidence, clearly indicating that Shadow Blade was seriously injured.
"Who exactly are you?" I finally had the chance to ask him face to face.
"You probably already know who I am."
"I wanted to ask why you showed me mercy." Shen Mo squatted down and tried to help him up, but she couldn't help but shudder when she touched his body; this person seemed to be made of ice.
Shadowblade didn't refuse and followed her into the house without hesitation. "Shouldn't you ask me why I'm here so badly injured? Perhaps this is a good opportunity to avenge your young master, since I'm currently... powerless." His eyes shone brightly beneath the silver mask, and each word, though spoken with great effort, was exceptionally clear.
"I don't have such grand ambitions, and besides, you've let me go." Shen Mo put him down and went to get the medicine.
"I was injured because I tried to assassinate him."
Shen Mo's steps suddenly stopped.
“Yes, I came here to assassinate him,” Shadowblade repeated.
Originally heading to get the medicine, her steps suddenly changed direction, and she was about to rush out the door.
"No need to go!" Shadowblade suddenly shouted. "Dragon Scale arrived suddenly, his injuries can't be worse than mine."
"Who do you think you are!" Shen Mo suddenly roared back, "I'm just a little beggar I saved when I was young. Yes, I was the only one among so many people who falsely accused you of stealing your purse who believed you. I'm honored, but back then I believed in those righteous eyes, not in you now. If Rong Yue dies at your hands one day, I will hate you for the rest of my life!"
"You...remember me?" Shadowblade was taken aback by the shout, a rare occurrence.
"I haven't told anyone else the name 'Xiao Mo' except you." Shen Mo plopped down on the threshold. After thinking it over, she realized that she really couldn't go to Rong Yue's place, otherwise the person in front of her would surely die.
"Leave before I regret it." Shen Mo turned his back to him. "Remember, my surname is Shen and my given name is Mo. If there is a next time, the young master's enemy will be my enemy, Shen Mo's enemy."
"There won't be a next time." With a crash, a person suddenly burst through the window. Dressed in crimson robes and with long hair, it was Ying Wu. When he saw Ying Ren's injuries, the frost on his face deepened. "Master heard that your assassination attempt failed and has temporarily ordered the plan to be suspended."
Seeing the intermittent noise outside, it seemed that they had begun to check the assassins inside the mansion. Ying Ren glanced at Shen Mo, his deep eyes regaining their usual loneliness, and followed Ying Wu through the broken window.
"You were just moved at first." Having evaded the pursuit of the Rong family's men, Ying Wu stared at Ying Ren with a hint of confusion.
"Yes." At first, I was moved by Shen Mo's trust. Back then, I was locked in the poison room by my grandfather and watched helplessly as my younger sister suffered just like me, being scorned by people on the street. Shen Mo was like a ray of warmth that suddenly appeared in a cold world. How could I not be moved?
"But what about now?"
"Don't worry, I'll try my best to forget things that have no future," Shadowblade said with a hint of assurance.
Upon hearing this, that scholarly face reappeared in Ying Wu's mind. Shen Mo was to Ying Ren what Le Chang was to Ying Wu—both shared tragic fates and encountered the same fleeting warmth. But where would that warmth go...?
Ying Wu shook his head abruptly to clear away these chaotic thoughts. Remembering his master's instructions, he hurriedly said to Ying Ren, "Next month, in the Heavenly Dynasty's 'Battle Flag' competition, you must win against everyone else and lose to Rong Yue."
Shadow Blade thought for a moment and nodded, "In the treacherous land of the Celestial Empire, it is indeed not good for one person to be in charge. Master's consideration is correct. We should indeed find someone to weigh things for me."
They reached a consensus, but their hearts grew heavier. The real battle had only just begun, yet it was already filled with the smoke of conspiracy.
The next day, Shen Mo rushed to Rong Yue's Wuxuan Residence very early. The entire Rong residence had been searched last night, and everyone was forbidden from leaving their rooms. The ban was only lifted this morning, so he had to wait until now.
Knock knock! "Young Master" had just finished preparing the water when he knocked on Rong Yue's door. He hadn't slept all night and looked terrible.
"Ah Mo, you've arrived!" However, the person who opened the door was Jiang Suyi, dressed in a long, flowing robe that accentuated her exquisite figure. Perhaps it was a woman's innate jealousy, but Shen Mo took a second look; she was truly beautiful.
"Greetings to Miss. This servant is here to help the young master with his washing and grooming." Shen Mo carried the water and went in. There was no one else in the room except Rong Yue and Jiang Suyi. There was a stool next to the bed, and the bedding still had the marks of Jiang Suyi lying there, so she must have stayed there for half the night.
"You're here." Rong Yue was obviously awakened by the sound of Shen Mo coming in. Seeing that Jiang Suyi was still there, he said, "Suyi, I'm fine. You can go back now."
"What do you mean it's nothing serious? The wound on your shoulder is so deep!" Jiang Suyi said, tears of heartache streaming down her face.
"Miss, the young master needs to get up, wash, and change his clothes."
As expected, Shen Mo's reminder worked. Jiang Suying's pretty face flushed red, and she stammered, "Brother Yue, then... I'll go back and rest first, and I'll come see you later."
Watching Jiang Suying run off shyly, Shen Mo felt a surge of emotions. He handed the towel to Rong Yue and asked, "How are your injuries?"
Rong Yue didn't take the towel, but directly grabbed some fair little hand. It wasn't as soft as cotton as others said, but it was smooth and delicate, and it felt very comfortable to hold.
Are you jealous?
Unexpectedly, her little emotions were seen through in an instant, so Shen Mo simply dropped her inhibitions and said, "I don't like it, young master. I don't like this feeling."
She had heard rumors as soon as she entered the manor yesterday that Rong Yue would soon marry Jiang Suying, the daughter of the Prefect of Ningcheng, to bring honor to both families. After hearing it so many times, she herself began to believe it.
Actually, I don't like it either.
"Does the young master aspire to great achievements?"
"Yes, after achieving great things, I will look down upon the world with you."
Shen Mo smiled, "I believe you!"
As Ying Ren had said, Rong Yue's injuries were not very serious. With the careful care of everyone in the Rong family, he recovered completely in just a few days. Shen Mo stayed by his side the whole time. Although Madam Rong objected, she did not give a direct response, as if she was enduring something.
However, since the marriage had already been arranged by both families, Rong Yue's rebellion would surely cause great harm to Jiang Suying. While Jiang Suying could hide at home and grieve silently, Gu Buju could not.
On this day, Gu Bu stopped Rong Yue, even holding his sword, looking like he was about to challenge him.
“Rong Yue, think about Su Yi’s situation, and you’ll also have the urge to kill yourself.”
Jiang Suying had been betrothed to Rong Yue since childhood, which is why she was still unmarried at the age of eighteen. This was considered quite old for a woman in ancient times. Originally, they planned to hold the wedding when Rong Yue returned from his campaign, but he suddenly broke off the engagement. This not only offended Prefect Jiang, but also ruined Jiang Suying's life. No wonder Gu Buju was gritting his teeth at this moment.
“I will do my best to compensate you, and besides, you are not…” Rong Yue tried to stop him to explain.
But Gu Buju swung a large sword at her, and Rong Yue quickly grabbed his wrist. "What do you want to do! From childhood to adulthood, do you think I don't know your feelings for Su Yi? You also know that people's feelings cannot be forced. Since you can't force Su Yi, why are you forcing me here?"
Shen Mo stood there stunned, never having seen Gu Buju so out of control. In her memory, Young Master Gu had always been a refined and elegant gentleman, always with herbs in hand and a half-smile on his cheek. Even when his father forced him to practice martial arts, he had never touched a sword. This Gu Buju who had lost his composure at this moment truly shocked her.
"Is it because of her?" While pondering this, Shen Mo noticed that Gu Buju suddenly pointed at him, his attitude softening considerably, though he still couldn't hide his resentment.
“No one is at fault.” Rong Yue snatched the broadsword from his hand. “If it wasn’t A-Mo, it would have been someone else.”
Gu Buju lowered his arms, already in pain because his beloved was about to marry someone else, but now that the engagement was canceled, his pain only intensified.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
The three turned around and saw Abi running towards them in a panic, stammering, "Miss Jiang... she... she... drowned herself in the lake!"
"Explain yourself!" Gu Buju grabbed Abi's collar with all his might, making him tremble in fear.
"Don't worry, young master, she's...she's been saved, but her eyes are lifeless, she's probably suffocated."
"Let's go take a look first." Rong Yue was the first to calm down.
"Young Master..." Shen Mo spoke from behind, instantly feeling as if he had become the embodiment of evil.
"You stay in the manor, I will handle it myself."
Author's Note: Please leave a comment, everyone! I'm posting two chapters today, and I'll be heartbroken if I don't get one...
Chapter Thirty-Op. Meeting an Acquaintance
That day, after Rong Yue went to the Prefect's Mansion to see Jiang Suyi, Madam Rong sent someone over and instructed Shen Mo to help in the kitchen. After all, she had done it before, so she wasn't so unfamiliar with it. The kitchen staff were still the same few people, but they were now more discerning. Even after Madam Rong spoke up, they still didn't dare to bully Shen Mo.
Seeing the large pile of firewood and bowls in front of him, and glancing up at the shivering kitchen staff, he knew this wasn't what they wanted. He didn't resist and silently buried himself in his work. After all, he felt guilty about Jiang Suying's matter and really wanted to borrow something to comfort himself.
For the next few days, it was like this every day, as if she had been treated by starving refugees, with large amounts of filthy dishes being made for her. Every time she wanted to see Rong Yue, someone would stop her, saying that the young master was at the prefect's residence with Miss Jiang and that she didn't need to go and serve him.
A few days later, she vaguely heard rumors that Miss Jiang's mind had become much clearer and she was gradually recovering. However, when she woke up the next day, she was told that Madam Rong had gone to Qingyou Mountain again and had set off before dawn, so she did not need to go to the kitchen anymore.
Shen Mo sat by the window with a bitter smile. This old lady probably couldn't persuade her son to go against her insistence and left in anger. She was a woman that no one could hate.
In fact, she knew the outcome of Rong Yue's choice from the beginning. He would definitely not follow Madam Rong's idea to choose Jiang Suying, not only because of himself, but also because of his future career and vision. Jiang Suying would inevitably be a burden.
As dusk fell, Shen Mo returned to her small house early to pack her things, because Rong Yue had told her that they would be setting off for Tiandu the next day to begin his ambitions.
But from a distance, he saw a person lurking suspiciously in front of his door. When the person suddenly returned, he didn't know how to cover himself and had no choice but to run away.
"What's going on?" Shen Mo stared at the key and lock in her hand, puzzled. Why couldn't she open them? Then she remembered the suspicious person from earlier—they had changed her lock!
She recognized the person from earlier; he used to work as a servant for Madam Rong. It was probably Madam Rong's way of giving her a warning before she left! She also considered going to Mo An's place, but if Madam Rong came back later and she was already gone, she would only be leaving Mo An with trouble.
Not wanting Rong Yue to argue with his own mother, he remained seated, his head gradually sinking down...
In her dream, she vaguely felt cold, then suddenly felt warm. Before she could fall into a deep sleep, she suddenly felt a breath approaching.
"Who?" He looked up but saw nothing but the bright moonlight.
With a slight movement, the thing on her back fell off. Shen Mo picked it up and saw that it was a large cloak! A flash of white light appeared in the corner of her eye. She pondered for a moment, then held the cloak and remained motionless.
Rong Yue kept a low profile on his trip the next day, telling no one except Gu Buju.
"Are you really not planning to come along?" Rong Yue asked Gu Buju formally, after all, becoming the imperial physician of the capital was the wish of every doctor, and Gu Buju was no exception.
"I'm not going!" Although Gu Buju's expression had returned to normal, he still looked depressed when he saw them together.
"I'm sorry." After holding it in for a long time, Shen Mo finally walked up to Gu Buju and said these three words. If a grudge and feud had just passed by like that, it would have been fine, but in the end, it turned out that things were never that simple.
The delicious food of Xiangcheng, the beautiful scenery of Jicheng, and the beautiful women of Yucheng—the two of them shed their usual gloom and enjoyed the pleasures of traveling far from home. This gave Shen Mo, who rarely left home, quite a lot to see...
"Esteemed guests, as the innkeeper here, I feel it necessary to remind you that there is a very powerful band of mountain bandits on the hill ahead. They have been entrenched there for a long time and have now grown in strength. They charge tolls to anyone who passes by. I advise you to drink this cup of wine in our shop and then quickly detour elsewhere." The innkeeper suddenly uttered these startling words while resting at an inn during the journey.
An uproar immediately erupted below. Some said they had indeed heard of the bandits' exploits, describing them as extremely fierce and ruthless. Others said that even the government officials couldn't subdue them, allowing them to run rampant. In any case, in the end, very few remained; those who stayed were mostly brave and forthright individuals.
"If we have to detour through Parrot Valley, it will probably take us two more days to travel. These cowards!" A burly man finished his drink with gusto and scoffed at the fleeing people.
“What you say is absolutely right, sir. You must be heading to the Celestial Empire like me to participate in the ‘Battle Flag’ competition. If we follow them and scatter, our opponents will look down on us.” A chivalrous man bowed respectfully.
"Now that you mention it, I really want to have a spar with you, brother, on the battle flag ramparts," the burly man said frankly.
"Brother, please accept!"
"Hey! Admit what? Show me your real skills and we'll see. I don't understand any of this 'giving way' nonsense."
...The chivalrous man felt ashamed; indeed, one cannot reason with a brute.
"Is Young Master confident?" Shen Mo couldn't help but laugh, and didn't forget to tease Rong Yue.
"What you're talking about is all fleeting," Rong Yue said seriously.
"Pfft..." Shen Mo almost spat out the tea in his mouth. Rong Yue remembered this kind of modern language very quickly ever since Shen Mo accidentally let it slip last time.