The long night was boring, and my heart was empty. I was utterly listless and, unusually, I didn't object, letting Xiao Hebao tidy me up. Xiao Hebao took off my off-white robe and dressed me in a green dress with a cinched waist.
After fastening the belt, she exclaimed with delight, "Miss, you really are a beauty! Wearing this dress makes you look like a completely different person!"
She brought the mirror and candlestick in front of me so I could see for myself.
I glanced at myself in the mirror and said listlessly, "It's just that the cabbage has turned into a green onion."
The woman choked on her words and looked at me with disdain, saying, "Miss, you really have no taste. Look how flattering this dress is, it really accentuates your figure, making you look so shapely and beautiful. You should have dressed like this a long time ago."
I looked down at it. The green dress was perfectly tailored, tight where it should be tight, and loose where it should be loose. The fresh, vibrant green color and soft, supple fabric flowed like a clear spring cascading down a mountain, gently spreading across the plain. It hugged my body perfectly, making me look both full and slender. Even I thought to myself, "Hmm, it's quite exquisite."
The girl with the small purse stared at me intently, her eyes filled with envy. Even though that envious look came from a girl, I felt quite uncomfortable and really wanted to take my skirt off.
Suddenly, Jiang Chen's voice came from outside the door: "Xiao Mo, I'm here."
I was taken aback. When did I call him here?
Xiao Hebao turned around and opened the door, and Jiang Chen walked into the house leisurely.
He seemed to have been suddenly frozen in place, standing there blankly. However, although his body was stiff and motionless, his eyes were shimmering and sparkling, somewhat similar to Xiao Hebao's, yet not quite, with something more to them that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
I felt rather uncomfortable being stared at so intently. I was used to the loose-fitting clothes of the Xiaoyao Sect, and these clothes were too unreserved, too aggressive. I didn't feel at all dressed like a carefree person.
I coughed and asked, "What do you want?"
He seemed to be summoned back to his senses, paused for a moment, then walked over with a smile, holding a bamboo cup in his hand.
"Xiao Mo, I never imagined that you had been secretly admiring me all along."
I shuddered and quickly said, "No! Absolutely not!"
He smiled, his long, slender, fair fingers pointing to a line of poetry on the cup, and said softly, "Look, wine enters the sorrowful heart, turning into tears of longing."
I gasped; my tooth ached. What a coincidence that my tears of longing had been mistakenly delivered to him!
He looked as if he had irrefutable evidence, and added, "I was so surprised that I couldn't believe it, so I went to Yunzhou's room to ask him. It turns out that the bamboo cup you gave him was engraved with Wang Lun giving it to Li Bai."
I gasped again, gritting my teeth as I asked, "Did you ask Yunzhou?"
He nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, I also asked the other fellow disciples. It turns out that there is only one cup of this 'Tears of Longing,' and you gave it to me alone. I have no way to repay this sentiment, so I came here late at night..." He paused and didn't finish his sentence, looking at me tenderly, a gentle smile as soft as spring waves on his thin lips.
What are you doing here so late at night? My heart was pounding so hard I could barely move.
His smile lines widened, and his eyes became even more captivating.
I stared intently at his lips, terrified that he would utter a phrase like "I'll repay you with my body" if he opened them. Thankfully, he said "I'll express my feelings."
I breathed a long sigh of relief. Amitabha!
He adopted a tone of appealing to emotions and reason, and said quietly, "I think this elegant and subtle way of expressing myself is quite good. This morning, in front of all the senior brothers, you forced yourself on me. I really couldn't take it. As a man, how could I bear such a loss of face?"
He smiled so brightly, but when I thought of his chaste and virtuous appearance that morning, and then of him flaunting his "tears of longing" everywhere, I couldn't bear it any longer and kicked him with a swift and powerful kick.
To my utter surprise, this powerful side kick was truly impressive. With a crisp "rip," my green skirt was torn open, revealing my calf.
I was stunned. At that moment, I finally understood why the clothes of the Xiaoyao Sect were made so large.
Little Pupa clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Young Master Jiang, look! My young lady's skin is so white!"
I awkwardly covered my skirt, blushing and glaring at Xiao Hebao. Whose maid was she anyway?
Jiang Chen leaped back outside the door, looking at me with a half-smile: "Xiao Mo, you tease me during the day and seduce me at night, are you trying to test my willpower?"
I was dizzy and speechless. I slammed the door shut with lightning speed. Can't I just avoid you instead of testing you?
Seven Fairies, Pretty Night Demon
I was heartbroken for a long time because I could never find a match for Yunzhou. I comforted myself while waiting for an opportunity to act as a matchmaker for her. My sincerity moved the heavens, and soon the opportunity came.
Master Yuanzhao of Ci'en Hall, the current leader of the martial arts alliance, is about to celebrate his birthday. Speaking of Master Yuanzhao, he is truly a legend! At the age of twenty-six, he passed the imperial martial arts examination with top honors, leading troops to conquer the Jurchens with unstoppable momentum. The Jurchens spoke of his name with both respect and fear, privately calling him General Wei Hu (Tiger General). However, for every general's success, countless lives are lost. Although he achieved great military exploits, he deeply felt the weight of the bloodshed. Upon returning, he refused any rewards from the imperial court and went back to his hometown of Tai'an to establish Ci'en Hall, adopting orphans, teaching martial arts, and practicing at home. He is my master's maternal uncle, and we, his fellow disciples, all admire and respect him, affectionately calling him Grand Uncle.
Every year on his birthday, we would go to celebrate with him, and all the major sects of the martial arts world would also attend. The opportunity arose here: in the martial arts world, two sects are known for their beautiful women—the Emei Sect and the Yuanshan Sect. The Yuanshan Sect is a rising star, its name derived from the phrase "eyebrows like distant mountains," truly living up to its reputation of having a multitude of beauties.
I feel that Master Yuanzhao's birthday will be my chance to show my skills and do my best to atone for my sins for my senior brother Yunzhou.
My master led me and my six fellow disciples to Tai'an, just the day before Master Yuanzhao's birthday. The imperial court bestowed upon Master Yuanzhao the Shanyin Villa, the former Marquis of Tai'an. The vast estate was exquisitely constructed with its layers of courtyards. Master Yuanzhao chose the smallest courtyard, Yuxuan, for his residence, while the rest were either for his disciples from Ci'en Hall or reserved as guest courtyards.
When we arrived at Shanyin Villa, Yuxuan Courtyard was already filled with elites; the leaders of various martial arts sects had brought their prized disciples. We heard that the young prince and princess of Huai'an Prefecture had also come to join in the fun, bringing gifts.
Upon hearing that someone from the imperial court had arrived, Master immediately gathered us together for a small meeting.
The master sat up straight and said very seriously, "Our Xiaoyao Sect has always kept its distance from any conflicts of interest between the martial arts world and the imperial court. Everyone should keep this in mind and keep their distance from those in the imperial court."
The four senior brothers who came with them all said they would not deal with them, only Jiang Chen and Yun Zhou remained silent.
The master paused for a moment, then remembered that Yunzhou's father was a pillar of the imperial court. How could he possibly ask the father and son to keep their distance? So he excluded Yunzhou and looked at Jiang Chen: "What's your opinion?"
"Sect Leader, you're overthinking it. It's just your great-uncle's birthday and everyone's come to join in the fun. Why are you making such a fuss, seeing threats everywhere?"
"This is taking precautions."
Jiang Chen smiled, neither confirming nor denying.