Chapter Five: Flowers Have a Delicate Fragrance, the Moon Has a Shade (Part Four)
After leaving Baili Prefecture, Shui Wu'er suddenly felt somewhat lost.
She naturally dared not provoke that ghost, Yin Bitong, again. She didn't know whether Shui You'er was dead or alive; once again, she was all alone in the world.
She touched her clean, smooth face. Where she would go from now on was a mystery, one that even she herself couldn't unravel.
She was walking alone on the dark street when she couldn't help but stretch. As she stretched, something poked her waist. She quickly reached down and pulled out something.
It was the same thing that Yin Bitong had just gotten from Fang Yanzui.
Shui Wu'er was utterly speechless. What does it mean to be unable to extricate oneself from a situation, only to find it more chaotic than before? This is it!
If Yin Bitong had even a shred of conscience, he wouldn't have done such a thing! He even told her to leave first, but it turns out he was just trying to pin this bad luck on her; he really wanted this precious thing to go first!
This treasure is something that both the owner of "Traceless" and Baili Qingyi likely want. No matter how good something is, it will become deadly in her possession. But now that it's already in her possession, even if she can get rid of it, what will she give Yin Bitong if she asks for it back?
The only option now is to hide.
Thinking of this, she didn't have time to examine it closely before tucking the object back into her waistband, turning around, and heading out of the city in a different direction. Damn it, it's just wandering the world, isn't it?
However, some people are just born with bad luck.
As the saying goes, you can dodge the first day of the month, but not the fifteenth; you can dodge a treacherous wolf, but you can't dodge a big tiger.
Shui Wu'er avoided Yin Bitong, Yuwen Cuiyu, and Qin Qiyun, but she couldn't escape anyone.
She was walking quickly at night when she bumped into someone. The impact left her dazed, confused, and bruised, while the person remained completely still.
She covered her nose and looked up, then froze when she saw the person in front of her.
The man's pupils were as deep and still as an ancient well under the moonlight. She accidentally tumbled in and became a water ghost. She stared blankly for a long time, unable to come to her senses.
The man placed a distance between them, staring at her face without speaking, his eyes flashing with indescribable emotions. His breathing became rapid, as if he had asthma.
"Hehehe, young master in blue." She chuckled dryly. Was the young master in blue, panting like that, perhaps a widow with some ailment?
Baili Qingyi pursed her lips, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Does the young lady know me?" Her voice was like a footstep in an empty valley, or a mountain stream, soothing and comforting to the ear.
Shui Wu'er trembled.
"I once saw the young master in blue from afar, and I admire you greatly... cough cough, so I have long since memorized your appearance." To increase credibility, she suddenly grabbed Baili Qingyi's sleeve. "Young master in blue, please write a word for me, anywhere is fine!"
Baili Qingyi didn't struggle when her sleeve was grabbed; she just stared at her sleeve with a very complicated expression.
Shui Wu'er paused, still not satisfied, and added, "Young master, please wait a moment, I'll find a place to... uh... take off my undergarment."
Baili Qingyi's face finally couldn't take it anymore and twitched.
The next thing she'd say was that they were about to kick her out, Shui Wu'er thought to herself, presumptuously guessing the emperor's intentions. Knowing Baili Qingyi's temperament, she would definitely say: "It's so late, what kind of behavior is this, young lady, pulling and tugging like this? What kind of behavior is this?"
However, Baili Qingyi cleared her throat and said, "Alright. There's a small tavern up ahead that should still be open. Let's go there."
"..."
Shui Wu'er slipped and nearly fell. Fortunately, Baili Qingyi caught her in time.
"Young lady, be careful when you walk." Baili Qingyi's eyes were full of concern, sincerity, and a gentle smile.
Perhaps it was pride.
"No...no need, it's so late...Young Master in blue, you should go back to your residence soon, in case you run into some flower thief on the way...hehe, hehe."
"Even if there are flower thieves, I believe you would fight to protect them."
Protect your grandma's mouth.
"Um... when I passed by Baili Mansion just now, I heard a commotion inside, with people shouting 'Catch the thief!' Young master, aren't you going back to take a look?"
"It's alright, there are guards in the mansion, nothing serious will happen. Miss, you should take off your bodice as soon as possible and let Qingyi write the words."
"..."
Shui Wu'er lowered her head shyly.
Oh, fate, you can be bad, but you can't be this shameless.
The Baili Qingyi she remembered was definitely not like this.
The Baili Qingyi she remembered was serious and upright, unlike now, who dragged her to a small tavern and was in such a hurry to take off her undergarment.
"Young Master in Blue, it's so late, why are you still wandering around outside?" Shui Wu'er made conversation.
Baili Qingyi sighed: "I really have urgent business to attend to. Does the young lady know anything about the case at the Yin residence?"
"...I've heard a little about it."
"That girl must know that Madam Yun of the Yin family woke up three days ago."
"It seems so..."
"Qingyi is certain that there is something fishy about this case."
Isn't that obvious? If there were nothing suspicious, would we need you, Young Master in Blue, to investigate?
"Young lady, do you know what Madam Yun said to me after she woke up?"
With a clatter, the cup in Shui Wu'er's hand fell onto the table, spun around a few times, and finally came to rest.
Shui Wu'er stared wide-eyed, then chuckled, "...How would I know?"
Baili Qingyi remained silent, twirling the white porcelain wine cup in his hand with one hand, his dark eyes fixed on the rim of the cup as if it contained a treasure.
His gaze didn't fall on Shui Wu'er, yet Shui Wu'er felt as if she were the cup in his hand, being examined from every angle, with nowhere to hide. Baili Qingyi looked at the cup, and she looked at Baili Qingyi, growing increasingly dazed. What was in Baili Qingyi's heart? Was he truly an upright and honest gentleman with a heart for the world? Or just another hypocrite, sanctimonious and virtuous man?
Baili Qingyi suddenly looked up and met Shui Wu'er's inquiring gaze. Their eyes met, and they were both taken aback.
Baili Qingyi was the one who lowered her head first.
Shui Wu'er couldn't see his expression, and couldn't help but touch her face. Had she become uglier over the years, or had she really aged? Was she so unbearable to look at?
"Young Master in Blue?" she called softly.
"Miss, the brush and ink are ready." Baili Qingyi looked up and stared intently at her, his expression both bright and upright.
Shui Wu'er hurriedly clutched her clothes, stammering for a long time before being unable to speak.
"I...I've changed my mind. I won't write this character anymore." She made up her mind.
Baili Qingyi blinked in shock: "How could you change your mind so suddenly, young lady?"
Shui Wu'er sneered: "Haven't you heard that a young girl's heart is as fleeting as clouds?"
"..." Baili Qingyi calmly picked up her pen and pondered for a moment, "Miss, you must be twenty this year, right?"
Twenty... can't I still be a young girl?!
Shui Wu'er's face turned pale and then flushed.
Baili Qingyi looked at her and said, "Miss, you said you fell in love with Qingyi at first sight. Where have we met before?"
"Yes... I saw you once a few months ago at Chuxiu Manor, squeezed into the crowd."
Baili Qingyi let out a long "oh": "Does the young lady think that I am handsome, of excellent character, and highly skilled in martial arts, which is why she has developed feelings for me?"
"..."
Shui Wu'er finally asked tremblingly, "Are you really Baili Qingyi? Could this person be Yin Zhangzhang in disguise?"
Baili Qingyi laughed loudly: "Absolutely genuine." He leaned a few inches closer and asked very sincerely: "Miss, is it really true that one can fall in love after just one meeting?"
“Well… that’s not entirely true. Some people you see every day, for ten or twenty years, and still can’t develop feelings for them,” Shui Wu’er replied instinctively, shrinking back slightly.
"So, what if the person you admire doesn't admire you back?"
Shui Wu'er glanced at him suspiciously, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and opened her mouth wide, saying, "Young Master in blue, could it be that you have someone you admire?"
Baili Qingyi tilted her head slightly and smiled shyly.
While others were embarrassed and ashamed, he remained so elegant and refined, as pure as a clear stream.
"To be honest, I did admire someone."
Shui Wu'er was so stunned by the thunder that she was completely disoriented.
The young man in blue actually has someone he admires. If all the heroines found out, wouldn't they all want to hang themselves? She sighed. If this news leaked out, should she join the masses in hanging herself, or should she just go somewhere cool and get lost?
Go somewhere cool and get lost. Such a beauty, as beautiful as she may be, it's not worth tearing yourself into a white silk noose for her.
Shui Wu'er swallowed hard: "Young master, you told me such a private matter. I'm really..." So unlucky.
“Miss, although I admire that person, she refused when I asked to go to her residence to propose marriage. Why do you think that is?” Baili Qingyi held Shui Wu’er’s hand earnestly, hoping she could enlighten her.
Shui Wu'er's heart skipped a beat.
"How could the girl refuse a marriage proposal from a young man in blue? He must be joking, hahaha, hahaha, how funny."
Baili Qingyi frowned in thought: "I also find it very strange. Miss, what should I do to get her to agree?"
Shui Wu'er pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Young Master Qingyi, admiration is something that cannot be forced. You may admire her, but she may not admire you in return. Even if she admires you, she may not believe that you truly admire her. Even if you yourself believe that you truly admire her, it's still hard to say whether you truly admire her. Besides, even if two people admire each other, as the saying goes, 'the weather is unpredictable,' and whether or not they can get married is not up to them."
Baili Qingyi remained silent.
“Young master, a hero like you, who fights for the weak and oppressed, upholds justice, dominates the martial arts world, kills and commits arson... cough cough... in short, there’s nothing wrong with doing this. Don’t you think it’s a loss of dignity to always be admiring others like this?” Shui Wu’er downed a cup of wine with a hearty laugh and said with a serious chest out.
Chapter Five: Flowers Have a Delicate Fragrance, the Moon Has a Shade (Part Five)
Upon hearing this, Baili Qingyi's expression revealed a hint of bewilderment.
"The girl's advice is very reasonable."
Mizuki then downed another large glass of strong liquor.
Seriously, it scared her so much that her heart was pounding.
However, Baili Qingyi's little romantic feelings were undoubtedly crushed by her. Hmm, very good. A young master in green robes, originally supposed to be an ethereal, ruthless figure, now that he has human warmth, he's no longer a rare find.
As the wine went down her throat, her mind became somewhat hazy, and she inadvertently blurted out what was on her mind.
Baili Qingyi looked at the woman drinking heavily in front of him with great melancholy, and after a long while said, "Does the young lady really think that ruthlessness is the mark of a true hero?"