Лучжоу Луна

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The lush green bamboo, the bird claw marks, and the phrase "must be replaced with a powerful grappling technique"—connecting these three things, Leng Shuangcheng suddenly realized, her anger escalating. She struggled, saying, "Truly shameless! They've harbored this wicked intention for a long time!" Qiu Ye Yijian smiled slightly, not denying it, but her voice filled with admiration: "The bamboo of the Ye family can't compare to your suppleness." She then locked her lips tightly around his, enduring several blows to his back without letting go, mumbling incoherently, "Isn't the Purple Needle Tea very fragrant?"

Silverlight returned just in time.

Hearing the commotion, Leng Shuangcheng swiftly elbowed Qiu Ye in the chest, but he firmly gripped her wrist. Embarrassed, she dared not struggle. Qiu Ye concealed her wrist in his sleeve, his hands behind his back, and coldly asked, "What is it?"

Yin Guang looked at the two of them. Leng Shuangcheng's face was as red as dew and morning breeze, her fair cheeks flushed, tinged with the faint glow of the morning sun. Her eyes were chillingly cold. She stubbornly struggled to break free from behind the young master, but he grabbed her wrist tightly and turned his head to coldly shout: "Behave yourself!"

The wicked person files a lawsuit first.

Yin Guang opened his mouth, and it took him a long time to find his voice: "What Lin Qingluan said is exactly the same as what you said, and he admitted that he had previously instructed the Hu merchants to spread the news that the number of Tantric weapons that flowed into the Central Plains was only a little over one hundred."

Lin Qingluan's last message, while having little impact on Qiu Ye's plans, only strengthened his earlier deductions. He immediately summoned Zhao Yingcheng and the others, telling them unequivocally that the turmoil in the martial world caused by Wei Wuyi, Lin Qingluan, and others, and the leak of weapons on merchant ships, were indeed a smokescreen released by the Secret Sect. Such deception and manipulation to lure people in clearly indicated a larger intention behind it all.

"I also thought the numerous weapons would be divided into several routes passing through Song territory..." Qiu Yeyijian said coldly, "I almost fell for it... This person does have a brain." Zhao Yingcheng admired Qiu Yeyijian's insightful calmness. He replied in surprise, "It's like looking at flowers through fog, this method looks somewhat familiar to me..."

Leng Shuangcheng had this idea a long time ago, but she never showed it and instead calmly observed the game.

Qiu Ye Yijian still gave a cold, mocking laugh: "Has the young master forgotten the methods I used to subdue the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun?"

Like a thunderbolt from the sky, it ripped open everyone's minds. It turned out that the young master of the Tantric sect had imitated Qiu Yeyijian, using the same tactics against him. A few months ago, he had used the same enticements as at Three Ape Gorge and Ancient Well Platform to launch a silent challenge.

Outside the window, lush greenery abounded, and a warm breeze blew gently; inside, the people remained silent, exchanging bewildered glances. Qiu Ye Yijian glanced at everyone's faces, his handsome countenance unwavering, and said coldly, "This person seems to know me quite well, like a second Qiu Ye Yijian manipulating my hands... very interesting."

A chilling breeze swept through the room, making the air crisp and cold, and all sounds fell silent.

In the silence, Qiu Yeyijian made a chilling pronouncement: "The master of the Tantric sect abandoned Lin Qingluan very early on, so he must have already devised a plan, and he will definitely take action next. Since Japan only transported a hundred or so weapons, it must be due to a lack of iron ore." After a pause, he simply instructed everyone to accept the order and disperse.

As Zhao Yingcheng was leaving, he glanced at Leng Shuangcheng, whose face remained calm, and smiled at Qiu Yeyijian, saying, "Princess Linghui arrived at the camp early this morning. I have invited Cheng Xiang to accompany her, and she is probably still preparing and resting. I heard that the princess brought an imperial edict, so I think it would be best for you, young master, to receive her."

Upon hearing this, Leng Shuangcheng quickly stepped forward and smiled gently, "Young Master, you'd better go. I've been wanting to go out for a stroll, but the princess's arrival conveniently allowed me to decline my duty of serving you..."

Seeing her beaming face, Qiu Yeyijian's eyes narrowed into a cold, misty haze, and he stood silently, his face grim. Leng Shuangcheng was overjoyed to be free from Qiu Yeyijian, and without any hesitation, she kissed him on the cheek with delight, then strode away, grinning from ear to ear the whole way.

Qiu Yeyi's face was as radiant as the setting sun and the east wind, captivating all the red flowers and green grass in the courtyard, leaving behind a carpet of fallen petals.

He noticed how somewhat helpless and stifled Leng Shuangcheng was when she was around, but how light and natural she was after leaving. Just like that kite soaring in the clear sky yesterday, he dared not pull too hard, but only held firmly to the string in his hand.

He paused for a moment, then suddenly called out coldly, "Night, send men to follow her." He then pursed his lips and coldly ordered, "Take Lin Qingluan's chains."

Linghui, dressed in a light blue pleated skirt, tilted her head slightly to gaze at an elegant calligraphy and painting on the wall. Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a beautiful hair ornament, and after careful grooming, she appeared dignified and beautiful with fair and radiant skin.

She wasn't in a hurry. She waited patiently for a long time. When her eyes caught a glimpse of a handsome figure slowly walking past behind the carved window lattice, she was secretly delighted. Her red lips parted slightly, revealing her white teeth, and she couldn't help but smile.

Qiu Ye entered silently, landing directly on the main seat, his face cold and indifferent, like a shadow beneath the moon. Ling Hui, knowing his nature well, paid no heed and went straight to the point: "Ling Hui brings today the King's decree, and also some news to convey: of the marriage proposals the Crown Prince previously submitted, the King has only granted one..."

Qiu Yeyijian seemed to have foreseen this, and he coldly uttered two words: "It's alright."

Linghui felt a pang of sadness. With eyes full of tears, she tried her best to smile gently and ask, "What are your plans for the future, Your Highness?" Qiu Yeyi turned his gaze to the window and said coldly, "If the marriage proposal fails, the war of attack and defense will be my final deadline. After this war, regardless of whether His Majesty approves or not, I will definitely marry Leng Shuangcheng."

The unwavering certainty in his voice caused Linghui's beautiful face to wither, and she sighed in silence. Qiuye, leaning on his sword, rose and walked to the window, suddenly calling out, "Night."

A shadow guard emerged from behind a tree. Qiu Yeyijian said coldly, "Since you came back empty-handed, you must have lost my men." The guard bowed and said, "Young master is right. When Madam entered 'Yixianju,' she first looked out over the water and saw children picking lotus pods by the boat. After going downstairs, she bought one and then disappeared."

Qiu Yeyi put his hands behind his back, his knuckles clenching so tightly they turned white and cracked. After a moment, he loosened his grip and said in a deep voice, "Water escape, how did she come up with that... Fine, I'll let her have her way this once. All of you, withdraw."

Leng Shuangcheng emerged from the water, dried himself on the grass, and returned to the camp, but instead jumped in from the street corner and hid against the back wall of Lin Qingluan's cell.

Lin Qingluan was safe in the camp; on the contrary, it could prevent the Tantric sect from turning against her and silencing her—she was not unaware of this. So when she heard that Lin Qingluan had been freed from his shackles, she was overjoyed. She threw the healing medicine through the window, and without caring whether he knew or not, she decisively jumped over the wall and left.

The sun shone so brightly, the scenery so beautiful; if it weren't for the recent troubles weighing on her mind, Leng Shuangcheng would almost have flown away with the wind, doing a few somersaults in the air. Walking along the river for a while, gazing at the endless white lotuses and green water, the gentle murmur of the flowing water soothing her ears, she suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Life is but a dream, half a day of leisure. Since I couldn't let go of the promise I made, I have no choice but to accept my fate and turn back. But why am I so unwilling to accept this?"

Her doubts vanished the moment she saw Nan Jingqi standing on the hillside—she had followed the direction Xiaobai had flown her kite the day before, escaping the darkness to come and visit alone.

Nan Jingqi stood against the wind, his black robes fluttering in the breeze, still the handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. Amidst the red and green foliage, Leng Shuangcheng walked slowly, his expression calm and composed, his eyes scanning the surroundings, searching for Yuwen Xiaobai's figure in the grass and behind the trees.

Nan Jingqi glanced at her clothes and sighed inwardly.

Leng Shuangcheng's transformation from avoiding the meeting to being calm and generous is something he understands better than anyone. However, like the bright sun overhead, he will never let his guard down.

"Nan Jing, where's Xiao Bai?" Leng Shuangcheng had been searching for a long time, her fingers still clutching the lotus pods she had bought behind her back.

"Old Jin took him to play chess, and he's going to treat him to drinks tonight, saying they won't leave until they're drunk." Nan Jingqi smiled slightly at her.

"Old Jin has come to Qingzhou?" Leng Shuangcheng was somewhat surprised and asked, "Why is he so leisurely following you all the way?"

Previously, it seemed that Lao Jin wanted to show off and bribed Xiao Bai to steal the Golden Wheel. This matter was suppressed by Qiu Ye Yi Jian. His purpose was to avoid causing more turmoil in the martial arts world. After all, the weapon was powerful, and once the news spread, it would inevitably attract various forces to pursue and even imitate it. Wouldn't that just add fuel to the fire? Leng Shuang Cheng only learned about these things recently. At present, she did not want to get too involved with Nan Jing Qi, so she still did not speak out.

Nan Jingqi laughed, "I heard they also received invitations to join the heroes, unlike us carefree wanderers." Leng Shuangcheng sighed inwardly, her expression calm as she said, "Your leisurely life is a freedom that others can only envy..." Then, thinking of Yuwen Xiaobai, she asked worriedly, "Xiaobai went drinking? Won't something happen to him?"

"It's alright. They drink all the time. Usually, whoever loses a game of chess has to drink as a penalty. Old Jin is always the one who suffers."

"I'll stop by tonight and see where they went."

"Yi Xian Ju".

12. Espionage

Under the blue sky and white clouds, after some hesitation, Leng Shuangcheng still inquired about Li Tianxiao's past from Nan Jingqi.

Nan Jingqi could see the suppressed pain in her eyes. He laughed heartily and said, "Shuangcheng, are you ready? Only if you're determined to abandon the past can I tell you!"

Leng Shuangcheng gazed at the drifting clouds on the horizon and nodded firmly. Nan Jingqi, with a broad mind, did not address his ancestor as such, but instead directly stated Li Tianxiao's name: "During the chaos of war in his lifetime, to stabilize the borders and quell the conflict, he married the princess of Jingxiang and went far away. Five years later, he died in exile, the cause unknown. It is said that he died from depression and overwork..."

Leng Shuangcheng suddenly turned around and ran towards the depths of the grassy forest. Her figure was as graceful as a dragon in flight. The wind blew through her light-colored clothes, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the corner of the forest.

Green waves flow joyfully, and fragrant grasses grow lushly.

Such suburban hillsides are truly the most beautiful. The wind rustles through the grass and willows, scattering petals and carrying fragrance. Across the water, the summer sun reflects on the lotus blossoms in the clear blue water, and the intense heat awakens Leng Shuangcheng's spirit.

After a long while, she slowly walked back, her forehead beaded with sweat, her eyes deep and dark red.

Leng Shuangcheng lay comfortably in the grass, her hands folded behind her head, gazing serenely at the sky. Fluffy white clouds spread out, so low and close, as if merging her with the entire sky.

"The Great Way is to act without acting, to follow the natural course of things." This was the prophecy that the Medicine King had passed on to her in the cave. Whenever she was confused or lost, this voice would always resonate in her heart like a tolling bell. However, she strived for naturalness and steadfastness, but did not want to live without acting.

“Nanjing.” Leng Shuangcheng smiled silently and spoke calmly: “Xiaobai’s ancestral home is Jiangning. If I’m not mistaken, the Dongying organization will soon attack from the East China Sea and take Hanzhong directly. Jiangning Prefecture is like a strategic choke point, and there will inevitably be a fierce battle. I implore you and Xiaobai to help the people of Jiangning.”

“Of course.” Nan Jingqi stood in the wind the whole time, and after saying this, he lay down next to Leng Shuangcheng as well.

"It's rare to see Nan Jing so understanding and righteous, setting aside personal prejudices, family feuds, and national hatred." Leng Shuangcheng looked at the clouds, which rose and fell like waves, vast and magnificent, with an extremely peaceful expression.

Nan Jingqi smiled slightly and closed his eyes: "Shuangcheng, stay with me a little longer. I like this atmosphere. I cherish this tranquility that comes after the storm."

Upon hearing this, Leng Shuangcheng slightly moved her right hand, took out a crystal whistle from her collared collar, put it in her mouth and began to play a soft whistle, then closed her eyes. —The whistle was given to Leng Shuangcheng by someone through Du Bing, the reason for which she still didn't know.

A gentle breeze caressed their faces, making them feel as if they were dancing. The melodious flute music drifted through the misty willows and echoed softly in the gentle breeze. Perhaps Li Tianxiao never imagined that many years later, two young men on the grassy slope would use a song called "Looking South of the Yangtze River" to commemorate the irretrievable years and the unrepeatable emotions.

"Yixianju" is a homophone for "Yixianju" (逸仙居), which is said to have been named after a poet who, after getting drunk, rode the wind and transformed into a graceful white crane. On summer nights, with the moon hanging high and countless stars in the sky, Yixianju stands firmly on the banks of the Qingzhou River, its bright lights highlighting its elegant and noble status.

As Qiu Yeyi and Zhao Yingcheng stepped down from Hualong, their faces caused the crowd in front of the pavilion to gasp for breath, and even dimmed the starry sky.

Tonight, the richest man in Bianjing sent a visiting card to invite the two noble young men to a banquet. Zhao Yingcheng wanted to decline, but Qiu Yeyijian coldly said "Go." When asked why, he revealed a few things when they were almost at the meeting place: Wu You had told him the whole story of Yuwen Xiaobai's nighttime robbery of the prefecture. Old Jin's background was not simple. If he didn't come and meet this hidden tumor himself, he would never be able to force Old Jin to reveal his true identity.

Welcomed by Lao Jin, the two entered Xianju, which revealed a completely different and enchanting landscape. Xianju faced the river reflecting the moon, its buildings and pavilions built around gurgling springs, enveloped in a warm mist. The perfect harmony between the two, a testament to nature, had undoubtedly brought the owner considerable wealth. Seeing Qiu Ye Yijian glance at the hot spring, Lao Jin quickly said, "This spring may seem hot and humid, but it's not. It springs from a deep underground spring, its water is clear and the temperature is just right..."

Qiu Ye turned away indifferently, her hands hanging down as she walked forward. Zhao Yingcheng smiled slightly after hearing this: "If Boss Jin continues, this spring water will not only breed confused emotions, but also cure all diseases." Old Jin smiled awkwardly: "To be honest, I specially invited some girls with both talents and skills. I wonder if they will suit the tastes of the two young masters."

Zhao Yingcheng understood his implication, his smile widened, and he said, "Wonderful, wonderful."

There weren't many people at the banquet; to be precise, there were only three men and nine women. The young men were handsome, and the women were beautiful as flowers. Old Jin couldn't stop smiling as he looked at the room filled with spring-like warmth.

Qiu Ye, resting his chin on his hand, sat aloof on a dark red carved chair. His long, satin-like hair was loosely fastened behind his head with a gold ring, the flowing strands giving him a cool yet elegant air. He stared intently at the girl playing the zither before him, his eyes unblinking. The other beauties, like jade butterflies flitting among flowers or shimmering sunset clouds, some graceful and reserved, others radiant and dazzling, accompanied him, their smiles as beautiful as flowers and their eyes sparkling.

The girl in white was named Shuxue. A woman with such an elegant name was surely not a vulgar person. Needless to say, she possessed the grace of Ban Jieyu continuing history or the elegance of Xie Ting composing poems about snow. Her jet-black hair alone, reaching to the ground and spreading out like a delicate black chrysanthemum, was enough to amaze anyone. Zhao Yingcheng's gaze also fell on her face and her jet-black hair.

Qiu Yeyi stood up behind Shu Xue, her hands behind her back, cold and silent. Shu Xue's slender hands touched the zither, but she played several wrong notes in succession.

As the music ended, Shuxue, not particularly shy, bowed and then stood aside. Qiuye approached, pinched her pointed chin with two fingers, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. He lowered his hand and said calmly, "Serve me while I bathe."

After the two left, the room regained its ambiguous and warm atmosphere. The fragrance of their clothes wafted in the breeze, and the golden and jade cups were passed from hand to hand. Zhao Yingcheng seemed to be enjoying himself so much that he forgot about home.

The night view of Xianju is as light as a cloud, her sleepy eyes half-open, half-closed. Leng Shuangcheng lies on her back on a tree branch, looking at the stars peeking through the leaves. Her figure is like a supple willow branch, lying gracefully, yet firmly rooted to the trunk.

The Immortal Abode had been booked by Lao Jin, and ordinary people couldn't enter, so she could only sneak in along the wall. Since she wasn't a mother hen protecting her chicks, when she saw Xiao Bai feasting in the room beside her, surrounded by a large group of courtesans laughing and munching, she could only patiently wait for him to come out.

Hua Long was parked outside, while Zhao Yingcheng was in the hall on the other side; she didn't want to cause any trouble.

It seems that everything should be left to its own devices.