"He told you, didn't he? He likes you." He clenched his fist so tightly that it even made his wound hurt.
Xiao Yuan's face flushed red, and though he didn't say anything, his expression was clearer than if he had.
Looking at her flushed face and her charming, girlish expression, his heart ached as if it were being torn apart. Yi Chunjun had indeed spoken. How could he not? He had been holding back for so long, hadn't he? After confronting him, the first thing he did was confess his feelings to her, right?
“I…can’t trust him.” Xiao Yuan said with some distress, “He has too many secrets. He seems to know everything. He does everything with a purpose. He is too good at hiding his true intentions…sometimes I’m even a little afraid of him.”
It's so nice to have someone to confide in. And this person is actually Pei Junwu? She was somewhat moved.
"Even the most profound and complex man reacts with the simplest of emotions when he falls in love with a woman," Pei Junwu said softly, having experienced it all too deeply!
It may be difficult to love someone forever, but it is easy to start loving someone! Perhaps... all you need is to see them from afar, or even just a blurry silhouette under the shimmering light of the water.
The Flower Smile, Chapter 45: A Farewell Before the Battle
The crowd gathering at the foot of the mountain was growing larger and larger, openly blocking the roads and setting up camp. Xiao Yuan stood on the edge of the cliff, looking down. These people... not long ago, they were raising their cups in celebration, cheering for the Chrysanthemum Fairy Dance and the martial arts competition. Now, however, they held their weapons, wanting only to raze the place that had once hosted them to the ground!
This is the world of martial arts, these are the so-called heroes of the martial world. They taught her far more than "Xiao Juyuan" ever did! She increasingly understood what her parents had ended with their deaths, and how fortunate she was to be Li Yuan'er. Otherwise, these killings and conspiracies would have haunted her for the rest of her life.
Xiao Juyuan appeared behind her without her noticing. "What are you looking at?" She followed Xiao Yuan's gaze and looked down. The people below the mountain were already restless.
"Are you scared?" Xiao Yuan glanced at her. The men below, their faces contorted with murderous intent, were shouting slogans about seeking justice for the Murong family, but their bloodshot eyes were fixed on her. Capturing her was tantamount to seizing an immense fortune!
At this moment, Xiaoyuan actually felt sorry for her. She was just a girl about her age, and she had paid a heavy price to get everything she had!
For the first time, Xiao Yuan realized how difficult it was to lie and cover up every moment for the past ten years, always living in fear that his lies would be exposed!
She had been jealous of her daughter's opportunity to learn excellent martial arts, feeling that it was something her daughter had stolen. But... for someone like Xiao Juyuan, with no background, to have reached this point, she had to endure far more hardship and effort than her daughter! If having such excellent skills was only for defending against omnipresent conspiracies and those who created them, she would rather remain where she was!
It's probably just her girlish mentality... Everything that "Xiao Juyuan" painstakingly fought for and snatched was something she was trying hard to get rid of. Except for Pei Junwu.
Only Xiao Juyuan himself knows whether it was worth it or not!
Thinking of Pei Junwu, her heart was in turmoil again. For no reason at all, she was thinking of Yi Chunjun! In the past ten days or so, he had been setting up defenses, training and coordinating, he was busy, he was tired... and he was still angry with her. He didn't talk to her and wouldn't even look at her.
She was angry too… He kept pestering her, which made her suspicious, troubled, annoyed, and afraid. But when he ignored her, she felt lost, angry, and resentful. She wanted to stop thinking about it, to stop thinking about it altogether. Just thinking about him made her mind a complete mess! With a formidable enemy at hand, she shouldn't be thinking such things.
She shook her head, as if trying to shake the image of Yi Chunjun out of her mind. She looked at Xiao Juyuan, waiting for her answer.
Xiao Juyuan remained silent, too many thoughts weighing on her mind. Her eyes grew somewhat unfocused. "Afraid?...No!" she murmured to herself. She was no longer afraid of anything, but she was truly resentful! She tried her best to conceal her gaze, afraid that Li Yuan'er would notice and she wouldn't dare look into her eyes.
Why? What she had worked hard for ten years to achieve, this girl in front of her, who was nothing but pretty, could easily obtain? She was better than her in everything—reputation, family background, martial arts... but Li Yuan'er seemed to have knocked all of that down with just one finger!
Even... the feelings she and Brother Wu had built up over the past ten years! Even that senile old man Pei Fuchong was on Li Yuan'er's side!
Beautiful? Can a woman's appearance determine her fate? No! Xiao Juyuan sneered. No one understood the meaning of fate better than her! It's all about relying on yourself! It's about paying the price to change your situation!
What price?! No matter the sacrifice, she glanced at Li Yuan'er again out of the corner of her eye; she couldn't let her take away everything that belonged to her!
This woman, whose good fortune made her jealous, unconsciously stroked the whistle hanging around her neck again! This fueled her resentment! Why did they all like her?! Yi Chunjun too, Brother Wu… too! She glared at her, trembling with hatred, her hatred undisguised!
If she likes Yi Chunjun, why did she even bother with her Wu-ge? Fine, fine! Li Yuan'er, she'll definitely regret hurting her like this!
Yi Chunjun was definitely the biggest obstacle, but Xiao Juyuan smiled. Now she was no longer afraid of him because he also had a weakness!
"What are you laughing at?" Her smile sent a chill down Xiao Yuan's spine.
"Of course I should laugh." Xiao Juyuan laughed even more happily and adorably. "Senior Brother Yi's plan and deployment are too perfect. I really can't wait for Murong Mingji to make his move. After this battle is over... all the misfortunes will be over!"
Xiao Yuan nodded thoughtfully, feeling that Xiao Juyuan's words had a hidden meaning.
Everything was going wrong… Xiao Juyuan continued to smile, watching Yi Chunjun's meticulously planned offensive and manpower. No matter how thorough or meticulous the plan, it would all be ruined because of this woman!
These past few days, as soon as it gets dark, Xiao Yuan's heart races with anxiety, wondering when Murong Mingji will lead his men up the mountain. Especially tonight, the foot of the mountain is unusually quiet, with no light except for a few large bonfires.
Yi Chunjun and Pei Junwu also clearly sensed this. After a hearty dinner, they gathered their men in the main square to prepare for battle.
Xiao Yuan stood behind the hall door, from where she could see Yi Chunjun's back; in his hand, he held a gleaming black longsword. Her heart skipped a beat; this was the first time she had ever seen him wield a weapon. Tonight… it must be truly dangerous.
She listened silently in the shadows of the door as his pleasant voice made final arrangements. He and Pei Fuchong led their elite men to guard the key passage at the mountain pass, while Pei Junwu, still recovering from his injuries, and Gui Datong were responsible for guarding the retreat route at the back of the mountain. Nangong Zhan and Xiao Juyuan were in charge of the last line of defense for Pei Family Village.
The guards, having received their orders, took their positions with high morale. Xiao Yuan only emerged from the hall after everyone had left. Pei Junwu glanced at her longingly but said nothing, while Yi Chunjun still didn't even look at her.
“Senior Brother Pei,” she noticed Pei Junwu also carrying a longsword, and a surge of nervousness rose in her heart. “Be careful! Don’t get hurt again.” She solemnly instructed him. Pei Junwu’s eyes flickered with emotion, he pursed his lips, and nodded emphatically.
Xiao Juyuan saw all this, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. If only tonight would pass…
“Brother Wu,” she walked over and took his arm, her eyes glistening with worry. Pei Junwu looked at her tears and felt a pang of guilt. “Be very careful,” she said, gazing at him intently.
"Okay, be careful too." Pei Junwu took a deep breath, turned around and left decisively. He couldn't look at either of these two women, one who loved him and the other he loved. He couldn't look at either of them!
Xiao Yuan bit her lip as Yi Chunjun turned to go down the steps, holding his long sword. She took a quick step and grabbed his arm tightly. For some reason, this small movement made her slightly out of breath and her heart race.
He stopped, looked down at her, his eyes, though seemingly smiling, clearly still held anger. He pursed his lips. "What is it?"
She was taken aback, and his attitude angered her a little! She was worried about him!
"It's nothing." She let go of his hand, gritted her teeth, and said coldly.
He chuckled, "After you've finished worrying about your Senior Brother Pei, of course you're fine now."
She felt Xiao Juyuan's sharp gaze pierce her again. Damn Yi Chunjun! How could he say such things in front of her? Could he... be jealous? Xiao Yuan was startled by her own thought. A man like him wouldn't let anyone see even if he had murderous intent in his heart. How could he act like a child because of jealousy?
She looked at him carefully again, her face and eyes cold, her beautiful face filled with chill, making one's heart feel cold as well.
He moved with surprising agility; if he had leaped up, she would have been unable to stop him. In that instant, she desperately wanted to hold him back! She still had important things to say to him! She couldn't let him leave like this!