After downing several glasses of wine without any respite, Xue Qing felt as if there was a furnace roasting inside her body.
"Auntie, I'm so hot," Cocoon Butterfly groaned.
Xue Qing looked at Jian Die, who was taking off her clothes. Xue Qing was startled and wanted to stop her, but her body wouldn't obey her, she swayed, and her mind became dazed.
Jian Wuming told Jian Wuyi anecdotes from the martial world that would last for two incense sticks, and Jian Wuyi finally fell asleep, allowing Jian Wuxin to escape back to the banquet. Pushing open the door, Jian Wuming witnessed an indescribable scene: Liuying sat on the floor, her upper body slumped in a chair, fast asleep. Jiandie was still sitting obediently in her seat, though her clothes were disheveled; her outer garment had flown away, revealing half of her undergarment. Jian Wuxin lay sprawled on the floor, Xue Qing standing beside him, her feet on him, shouting, "Call me Queen! Call me Queen!"
Fortunately, Jian Wuming was a man who had seen his share of storms; if it were anyone else, they would have run straight to their ancestors' graves and wept. The three drunkards certainly couldn't imagine how much effort and manpower Jian Wuming had to expend to get them all to their respective rooms. Liu Ying was fine, completely asleep, while the one who had first gotten drunk and caused trouble now looked like a harmless lamb. Because Jian Die kept finding opportunities to undress, Jian Wuming had to have the maids escort her back. The maids' delicate physiques were no match for Jian Die, and they were beaten until they cried out in pain. In the end, he had to use the food bait method, using a piece of cured beef to slowly lure Jian Die back to her room. In contrast to Jian Die's tendency to attack people when drunk, Xue Qing liked to talk nonsense when drunk.
"Let me tell you, it's not that easy for me to die! I can't die! Neither can Liuying!" "Look how good you are! What's wrong with being a minor character? Just don't get the author's attention. Supporting characters who get the author's attention never have a good ending." "Waaah, I don't want to die, I'm not married yet." "Even if you're married, you don't want to die, you haven't had children yet." "Even if you have children, you don't want to die, your children aren't grown up yet." "Even if your children grow up, you don't want to die, you still have to hold your grandchildren." "Even if you hold your grandchildren, you don't want to die, what will happen to my husband if I die?"
Unlike Jian Die, Xue Qing didn't resist as strongly. Two maids each grabbed one of her arms, and another pushed her from behind, pulling her into the side room. Xue Qing was very obedient; she lay down on the bed as soon as she saw it. The maids worked together to help her change her clothes. Compared to Jian Die, Xue Qing was as easy to take care of as an angel.
Xue Qing had a good tolerance for alcohol; after a short nap in bed, she sobered up considerably, her heightened senses returning. In her sleep, she vaguely sensed someone in front of her. Xue Qing suddenly opened her eyes and found Liu Ying standing beside her bed. His eyes were still red and his gaze unfocused; he was clearly still drunk. Xue Qing stared intently at Liu Ying, wondering what he wanted. Liu Ying's current state resembled sleepwalking; he was completely absorbed in his own world, unresponsive to his surroundings.
Xue Qing stared at Liu Ying, and Liu Ying also stared at Xue Qing, but not at Xue Qing. His gaze lingered on Xue Qing's lips, which still had traces of rouge on them. Like a cheetah quietly observing its prey, he aimed and then, with lightning speed, leaned down and kissed her, gently wiping away the remaining rouge.
Luckily, Xue Qing was lying down, otherwise her eyeballs would definitely have popped out of their sockets. She was so shocked she couldn't make a sound. Was this stealing rouge? No, it should be called a forced kiss. After kissing Xue Qing, Liu Ying showed a satisfied expression and swayed out the door.
That night, Xue Qing couldn't fall asleep again. After lying in bed for a long time without success, she finally got out of bed, put on her clothes, and went for a walk in the courtyard. The Broken Sword Manor was quiet in the dead of night. Although there were servants on night watch, the security wasn't strict. Broken Sword Manor was different from places like the Lingyu Sect or the Wudang Sect; it wasn't a martial arts sect. The manor was staffed with hired laborers, and very few knew martial arts. Broken Sword Manor didn't need highly skilled servants. No one would harm Broken Sword Manor or steal anything. Every sword made at Broken Sword Manor was recorded. Who received the sword, whether it changed hands, was all documented. Swords without a record were considered invalid. Therefore, stealing a sword from Broken Sword Manor wasn't stealing; it was outright robbery.
Xue Qing wandered aimlessly along the cobblestone path of Broken Sword Manor when she heard strange sounds, clanging, clanging, clanging, clanging. Following the sound, Xue Qing discovered that it was coming from a small house with a wooden sign hanging on the door that read, "For Second Young Master's Use Only, Do Not Disturb."
Could it be Jian Wuxin in the room? What is he doing so late? Xue Qing wanted to go and see, but turned back at the door. She decided it was best not to disturb him; meeting Jian Wuxin so late at night seemed too dangerous. Leaving the small house, Xue Qing continued along the pebble path. When she reached the vicinity of the artificial hill, her mouth was suddenly covered, and she was violently pulled into the hillside.
"Waaah... Waaah..." Xue Qing tried her best to make a sound, hoping that a passing night watchman might hear her.
"Quiet! I'm here to deliver the Lord of the Underworld's orders." The person behind Xue Qing whispered in her ear, their voice still carrying the tone of a young girl.
By the moonlight, Xue Qing saw a small, lifelike, dark-colored butterfly on the wrist of the hand covering her mouth.
Mount Goulu
Judging from her age, it was Anluo. Xue Qing nodded quickly, indicating that she understood.
Anlu released her grip, letting go of Xue Qing. Xue Qing turned to face her. Standing before Xue Qing was a girl about the same age as Jian Die, but compared to Jian Die's stunning beauty, Anlu could only be described as pretty, and her expression was quite stiff, unlike Jian Die's cheerful smile. In the original novel, Anlu, out of jealousy, used various methods to deal with Nangong Luoluo, all of which Nangong Luoluo luckily evaded. Although Anluo seemed rather naive in the original work, Xue Qing knew she couldn't underestimate her, because Anluo was Yan Ming's disciple; her martial arts skills were undeniable, and ruthlessness was an essential skill.
Xue Qing really wanted to scream, hoping her scream would attract the guards on night watch. Of course, it was also possible that Anluo would sever her throat before the guards arrived. But she also knew that even if the guards came, it would be of no use. Those people were no match for Anluo; it would just mean sacrificing dozens more lives.
"Is Yan Ming alright?" Xue Qing asked, feigning concern as if she were constipated.
"The Domain Lord is fine, you don't need to worry about him." Anluo's tone was very cold.
"When...when will he return to the Central Plains?" This was the question Xue Qing truly cared about. She knew that sooner or later, Yan Ming would return, because Nangong Luoluo wanted to find her family! Even handcuffs, shackles, whips, and dripping candle wax couldn't stop Nangong Luoluo's steps! How could Yan Ming let Nangong Luoluo wander alone in the Central Plains? He would definitely follow her here eagerly.
"The situation in the Central Plains is very tense right now, so it's inconvenient for the Domain Lord to come over. You don't need to worry about this matter."
Anluo spoke as if she were the principal wife, and Xue Qing was merely a concubine who had asked, "Is Master coming home tonight?" Upon hearing that Yan Ming wouldn't be coming, Xue Qing felt relieved, and her expression softened.
"What are you laughing at?" Anlu noticed Xue Qing's expression keenly.
Xue Qing quickly covered her cheeks with her hands: "Huh? Did I smile? I'm happy to hear he's safe." Although in her heart she was thinking that it would be great if the alien landed high in the sky and landed right on Yan Ming.
Anlu snorted and muttered disdainfully, "Poor woman."
Xue Qing smiled amiably, but inwardly she was even more disdainful than Yan Ming. "Pity your sister!" she thought. "Once my second senior brother establishes the martial arts alliance, let's see how long Yan Ming can keep jumping around."
"You just said you were going to relay Yan Ming's orders? What are they?" Xue Qing asked, concerned.
"Is there a man named Xiao Guiying who has a very good reputation in the martial arts world recently? The Domain Lord is somewhat concerned about him and cannot let him develop further. If he unifies the Qilin Pavilion, he will pose a threat to the Underworld. The Domain Lord wants you to secretly help the Western Qilin Pavilion. If the Western Qilin Pavilion annexes the Eastern Qilin Pavilion, that would be even better."
Xue Qing was dumbfounded: "This task is too difficult. I don't want Xiao Guiying to grow stronger, but Xilin Pavilion is obviously weaker than Dongqi Pavilion. You don't think I can get Lingyu Sect to intervene. I'm not the sect leader. I can't do this."
Anluo added, "The Domain Lord anticipated your difficulties long ago. Since the Lingyu Sect is unable to intervene, the Underworld will provide secret assistance. The Domain Lord will send capable generals to help you. I am only informing you in advance this time so that you are aware of the situation. I will contact you again later."
Yan Ming's capable generals are those six Dao Lords, right? I wonder if Bai Xichen will come. He only knows how to prepare medicine and doesn't know martial arts. He should only handle logistics and won't come. If Bai Xichen finds out that he has a relationship with his superior, I wonder if he will be very surprised, even more surprised than if he finds out that she is from the Lingyu Sect.
Before leaving, Anluo suddenly turned to Xue Qing and asked, "Do you... have any words to convey to the Domain Lord?"
“Tell him I love him.” Xue Qing blurted out. It’s not only Yan Ming who can use people under the guise of emotion; she, Xue Qing, can too. Let’s use Yan Ming’s people first. Xiao Guiying has already become Nangong Luoluo’s complete captive. Keeping him around will only cause endless trouble. It’s better to let Xilin Pavilion swallow Dongqi Pavilion.
Anlu glanced at Xue Qing with pity, then turned and disappeared into the night. Xue Qing stood alone among the artificial hill and smiled. Was she pitiful? She used to think she was pitiful, but now she didn't. She had a loving senior sister, she had the reputation of the heroine Lingyu, and... she also had Liuying. If things didn't work out in this martial world, she would quit and secretly live in seclusion with Liuying before disaster struck, just like the parents of the butterfly.
Xue Qing didn't fall asleep until just before the rooster crowed. In the early morning, three groups of maids arrived to wake her. Xue Qing slumped out of bed, her eyes heavy with dark circles, and was helped by the maids to wash and dress. After getting ready, she went to have breakfast, led by the maids. The others were already seated, and Xue Qing sat next to Liu Ying. The three drunken troublemakers had no recollection of what had happened while they were drunk. Only the two brothers from Broken Sword Manor sighed inwardly, thinking that each of them was worse than the last when drunk.
After exchanging pleasantries and silently finishing their breakfast, Jian Wuxin pulled out a hidden sword from his sleeve.
"My dear little Qingqing, this sword is fixed, take a look," Jian Wuxin said happily.
The newly inlaid gems have all been removed. The sword blade has been polished twice and is now even finer. Jian Wuxin polished it so finely that the blade is incredibly smooth, and you can't tell that anything was ever inlaid on it.
"You...you didn't change it overnight?"
Jian Wuxin nodded.
Was the knocking noise in the small house last night Jian Wuxin modifying his sword? Did he stay up all night just to help her remove the gemstone? Xue Qing was a little touched. She put away her sword and said gratefully, "Thank you."
"Thinking that this hidden sword, personally crafted by the Second Young Master, can stay in my adorable little Qingqing's arms in my place, I feel that I won't be lonely even when I'm alone in the sword-forging room during the long nights." Jian Wuxin was still happy.
Xue Qing was stunned. Looking at the hidden sword in her hand, she felt that it looked more and more like Jian Wuxin. Suddenly, she had an urge to throw this second young master's hidden sword far away.
After breakfast, Jian Wuming sent several servants to prepare a carriage and luggage for Xue Qing. Taking advantage of the break, Xue Qing asked Jian Wuming, "Is the Third Young Master's burn any better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Xue. I feel much better after taking your medicine. Miss Xue has orders to keep me here this time, so I can't insist. Next time you come to Broken Sword Manor, please let me treat you to a proper meal." There was a hint of sincerity in Jian Wuming's words this time.
"No, I'm very careful when I go out. I always carry some random medicines with me, so I'm glad they came in handy," Xue Qing said shyly. "Random medicines" was indeed true.
"Ouch!" Jian Wuxin, worried about the servants' clumsiness, went to tie up Xue Qing's horse himself, only to be kicked to the ground by the little white horse: "Goodness, little Qingqing, your horse has such a bad temper. How about I give you my divine horse?"