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"Sigh... Lan... um... it says 'those who enter will die' here!" Ning Lang hurriedly called out and caught up with Lan Qi, fearing that there might be some danger.

"Do you believe everything others say?" Lan Qi glanced at Ning Lang with a smile in her green eyes, then flicked her jade fan and tapped it on his head. "You're so foolish, even I feel sorry for you."

"Hopefully, fools are blessed." Yuwen Luo murmured to himself as he looked at the two of them from behind.

The group walked deeper into the pear blossom grove. After walking for about two miles, they heard the sound of flowing water. After walking for a while longer, their eyes were suddenly opened to a bright and beautiful sight.

Half verdant, half snow-white.

The mountain walls and streams are lush and green, while the pear blossoms are snow-white.

The pear orchard leans against Qingzhong Mountain, its towering cliffs rising majestically. A mountain stream cascades down, flowing into a small pond at the foot of the cliffs. A layer of pear petals floats on the pond, and a swing sits beside it. An arched wooden bridge spans the surface of the pond, and to the left of the bridge stands a bamboo house. The pear trees encircle this graceful pavilion, and in the twilight, it resembles a painting, with verdant green, pale white, and bluish-yellow hues creating a serene and otherworldly atmosphere.

“This is the epitome of ‘a person placed within a painting,’” Ming Er exclaimed leisurely.

Yuwen Luo and Ning Lang nodded repeatedly, both deeply agreeing.

"Follow the old man!" Lan Qi called out loudly.

"Who dares to call me, the old man, the leader of this sect?!" A cold shout came from inside the bamboo building, and then a figure flew out and landed in front of the group in an instant.

Upon seeing the person clearly, Ming Er, Yuwen Luo, and Ning Lang were all taken aback.

This person was tall and slender, like a bamboo swaying in the wind. He had a handsome face but his temples were slightly gray. A bright red cinnabar mole between his eyebrows was particularly eye-catching. However, what stunned the three of them was not his appearance, but the fact that his facial features were somewhat similar to Lan Qi's. In particular, the willful and wicked look between his eyebrows was exactly the same!

Yuwen Luo looked at the man and then at Lan Qi. Suddenly, a thought popped into his head: Could this man be Seventh Young Master's father? Could Seventh Young Master be the child of this man and Dong Weiming? Could it be... No, no! Seventh Young Master is the head of the Lan family. He can't possibly not be a descendant of the Lan family. The position of head of the Lan family can't possibly be passed on to an outsider. Then... who is this man?

“Like an old man, you’ve aged quite a bit in the past few years. Look how much whiter your hair has become.” Lan Qiyu pointed to the man’s slightly graying temples and shook her head with a sigh. “In a few more years, I’m afraid this face will be too unsightly to show to anyone.”

"Damn it! Where am I old?! Where am I unpresentable?!" the man roared, his teeth clenched in fury. "No one in the entire world is more handsome than me!"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Luo couldn't help but burst out laughing. How could anyone be so arrogant? Although he was indeed exceptionally handsome, there were two of them standing in front of him.

"What are you laughing at?" The man turned and stared at Yuwen Luo.

That gaze was as sharp as a sword and as cold as a snake. Yuwen Luo's smile froze on his face, and he dared not move a muscle, let alone answer. Ning Lang moved to stand in front of Yuwen Luo, his lips pressed tightly together, his tiger-like eyes wide open, staring warily at the man. A hint of surprise flashed in the man's eyes as he watched Ning Lang's actions, then his gaze fixed on Ning Lang. After a long while, seeing that Ning Lang did not back down or move aside, he nodded and then looked away.

At this moment, Yuwen Luofang dared not take a breath, and wiped his forehead, which was covered in cold sweat.

Lan Qi watched silently until the man looked away, then sneered without restraint, "He's obviously laughing at you for being shameless in your old age. You've already grown white hair, yet you still dare to deny that you're old. How laughable and pathetic."

"Damn it! You're the one who caused all this gray hair on my head!" The man looked at Lan Qi with a look of hatred that made him want to tear her apart. "It's all because of this gray hair that Wei Ming has rarely come here this year. She must have disliked me!"

"Serves you right!" Lan Qi laughed gleefully, waving his jade fan. "I just thought that Master might be tired of your old face, so I brought a few friends to see her. If I can win her favor, perhaps Master will be willing to smile at me. Then I can witness firsthand the unparalleled beauty of 'a smile that could topple a city, a smile that could topple a nation'!"

"Bastard! Don't even dream about it! In all these years, Wei Ming has never even smiled at me!" The man's gaze swept over Yuwen Luo and Ning Lang. "These two brats are not even worth a second of my little finger. Hmph, Wei Ming wouldn't even give them a second glance!"

"See, you're feeling guilty now." Lan Qi laughed gleefully. "What's the point of comparing yourself to two greenhorns? Didn't you see this Young Master Ming?" She raised her jade fan and pointed at Ming Er. "Look at his looks, his figure, his demeanor... and most importantly, he's a whole lot younger than you!"

Ning Lang, standing to the side, found these words strange, while Yuwen Luo couldn't help but chuckle. It sounded like a brothel madam introducing girls to her customers.

Lan Qi, however, continued to exclaim, "This Second Young Master Ming is the most handsome man in the martial arts world, and he's even called a 'banished immortal.' His handsome face, noble demeanor, and otherworldly aura are absolutely unparalleled, far surpassing you, you old monster! Master will definitely like him!"

The man finally turned his gaze to Ming Er.

Ming Er, who had been standing quietly to the side, saw that the man turned his gaze to him and immediately clasped his hands in an elegant salute, "I am Ming Huayan of the Ming family, greetings to Master Sui."

Yuwen Luo's heart skipped a beat upon hearing Ming Er's address. He glanced at the man discreetly and suddenly realized who he was. He should have guessed sooner; Lan Qi called him "Old Man Sui," and he called himself "This Master." In all the world, only the leader of the Demonic Sect could be called "Master Sui"! He just hadn't expected that the leader of the number one sect in the world, the former "Lord of the Jade Moon," Sui Qinghan, would be like this! But… if not, he couldn't imagine what he could be. How could someone capable of setting up such extraordinary formations be an ordinary person? How many such geniuses were there in the martial world? If he wasn't Sui Qinghan, who could compare to someone like Kong?

Sui Qinghan sized up Ming Er for a moment, then said, "This leader really dislikes your appearance, and your smile is very much like that of one of my mortal enemies, which is extremely annoying."

Ming Er remained unmoved upon hearing this, merely offering a faint smile.

Sui Qinghan took out two items from her sleeve, a dagger and a porcelain bottle, and tossed them at Ming Er's feet, saying, "The medicine in the bottle will only blind you and cover your face with black spots, but it won't kill you. The dagger is a weapon capable of cutting hair in an instant; you won't feel any pain if you use it to slit your throat. Choose one: spare your life or spare your dignity." Her tone was casual, as if she were asking if you wanted tea or wine.

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Luo broke out in a cold sweat. He thought to himself that the people of the Demonic Sect always acted "as they pleased" without considering the consequences, and the leader of the Demonic Sect was even more willful and reckless.

Ning Lang was indignant upon hearing this and was about to argue with the so-called leader of the Sui sect when a jade fan pressed down on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw Lan Qi staring at Sui and Ming, her face bearing the same wicked smile, her bright blue eyes sparkling as if they held stars.

“I will not choose either of them,” Ming Er said calmly.

"Oh?" Sui Qinghan stared at Ming Er with eyes as dark as the night.

Yuwen Luo unconsciously clenched his hands, staring nervously at the two people in the twilight.

Ming Er remained calm, raising his eyes to meet Sui Qinghan's gaze with composure. Yet, at this moment, Yuwen Luo once again felt that vast, boundless aura, its calm surface concealing an unfathomable depth. As for Sui Qinghan… when his gaze fell upon that person, Yuwen Luo's teeth suddenly chattered, a wave of deathly fear washing over him, reaching his very feet, making his entire body feel as if it were immersed in an icy pool.

A gentle evening breeze swept by, and Ning Lang shivered from the chill.

“It’s been many years, many years since I’ve encountered someone like you,” Sui Qinghan suddenly sighed softly.

As soon as he spoke, the pressure and chill vanished instantly. Yuwen Luo and Ning Lang both breathed a sigh of relief. Lan Qi lowered his eyes to hide his thoughts, and a barely audible "What a pity" escaped his lips, but Ning Lang beside him heard it. He looked at him in confusion, but only saw a familiar, wicked smile on his face.

"Old man, we're all very hungry, it's time for dinner," Lan Qi said with a smile, waving his jade fan.

Sui Qinghan turned to look at him, her eyes filled with anger, but she forced herself to suppress it. "Didn't you come to see your master?"

"Master, we'll see later. Eating is the most important thing." Lan Qi smiled strangely. "The old man must not have seen Master for a long time. He wants to take advantage of me, right? Then cook for me."

"You!" Sui Qinghan narrowed his eyes, his smile icy. He expected Sui Qinghan to erupt in fury, but instead, Sui Qinghan nodded. "Alright, this sect leader will cook for you. After you eat, you can see your master!" Chapter 49, Part 17: Unparalleled Beauty (Part 1)

Updated: [2008-11-28 14:07:27.0]

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The group followed Sui Qinghan into the bamboo house.

The bamboo house combines the opulence of gold and jade ornaments with the elegance of bamboo and wood, making it a very comfortable place to stay.

"The old man's jealousy and possessiveness are too strong. He's afraid that others will see his master, but he doesn't even have a servant. It's so boring and desolate." Lan Qi reached out and wiped a jade vase on the shelf, but there wasn't a speck of dust. "He hasn't changed his obsession with cleanliness."

"Seventh Young Master, doesn't your master live here?" Yuwen Luo asked. There's only this one bamboo house here.

“There’s a wooden building in the pear grove across the pond. My master lives there,” Lan Qi replied, a sly smile playing on his lips. “The pond is the boundary. The old man lives on this side, and my master lives on the other. He can’t cross the boundary, or he’ll never be able to stay here with my master again. So unless my master appears, he won’t be able to see him. You think it’s so easy to eat the food cooked by the Demonic Sect Leader? It’s all because of my master.”

"Oh." Yuwen Luo nodded, then asked cautiously, "Seventh Young Master, since the Sect Leader is so reluctant to let others see your master, could he be one of those third types of people?"

Lan Qi glanced at him and said, "I didn't ask. You can ask him yourself later."

"Then forget it." Yuwen Luo thought of his own life.

After glancing around at the furnishings inside, Ming Er sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea.

"What does the Second Young Master think of this bamboo house?" Lan Qi reached out and took a teacup, slowly sipping a mouthful.

Ming Er glanced at him, then picked up a teacup and poured tea while saying, "Master Sui is truly a genius of our time; no one can surpass his skill in mechanisms and formations."

"Oh?" Lan Qi glanced at him sideways with her emerald eyes.

“This bamboo house must have been built according to the ‘Taiyi Tiandu’ method,” Ming Er said slowly, sipping his tea.

Lan Qi looked at him, her blue eyes brimming with laughter, and said, "Second Young Master is indeed learned and erudite."

Ming Er smiled and said, "It's just a small part of it."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Sui Qinghan brought out a steaming hot meal. It was a simple meal of four dishes and a soup, but the aroma filled the room, and one could imagine how delicious it must be just by smelling it.

Yuwen Luo glanced at the delicious-looking dishes on the table, then at Sui Qinghan standing with his hands behind his back. His hand holding the chopsticks trembled uncontrollably. The leader of the number one sect in the world was actually cooking for him personally! How could he not be excited? Although he was benefiting from Lan Qi's influence, how many people in the world were fortunate enough to eat food prepared by someone as revered as the number one martial artist in the world as Kong Tong? The number one person in the world had actually cooked for an unknown nobody like him, so he was both excited and apprehensive, fearing he might bring bad luck upon himself!

While Yuwen Luo was still excited, Lan Qi, Ming Er, and Ning Lang had already started eating. After all, they hadn't eaten for most of the day and were very hungry. Seeing that half of the food on the plate had quickly disappeared, Yuwen Luo finally came to his senses and immediately threw away all his excitement. If he continued to daydream for a moment, there would be nothing left to eat.

After finishing his meal, Lan Qi was about to rest for a while with a cup of tea when Sui Qinghan grabbed him and said, "It's time to go see your master."

"No rush." Lan Qi waved his hand, freeing himself from Sui Qinghan's grasp. "A cup of tea won't take long. Besides, I came here for you. Whether I see my master or not is not important." He glanced at Sui Qinghan. "I heard you have something to give me?"

Sui Qinghan's brows twitched, unleashing a murderous aura. With a flick of his finger, something landed in Lan Qi's teacup, instantly turning the water black and emitting a strong, fishy stench. "If you keep this sect leader waiting any longer, I'll make all four of you vomit up everything you've eaten!" With a wave of his sleeve, the bamboo building's door swung open, and he strode out.

Lan Qi smiled faintly as she watched his retreating figure, discarded her teacup, and followed him out of the bamboo building, fanning herself with her jade fan. Ming Er, Ning Lang, and Yuwen Luo also followed. After all, not only was Ming Er somewhat looking forward to seeing Dong Weiming, the man who had captivated the world more than twenty years ago, but Yuwen Luo was also itching with excitement.

Stepping out of the bamboo house, I discovered that the bright moon had risen early, its silvery light spilling down, reflecting off the pear blossoms, and the snow-covered landscape was incredibly beautiful yet filled with a sense of quiet chill.

Reaching the edge of the pond, Sui Qinghan stopped. "Here."

"Does the old man want me to summon my master to meet him?" Lan Qi looked puzzled, but his green eyes were full of mockery.

"My patience is limited."

Sui Qinghan turned around and spoke, his tone now more amiable, but the others instantly sensed an unbridled and arrogant killing intent. There was absolutely no doubt that this person would strike and kill someone immediately!

Only then did Yuwen Luo realize that, under the moonlight, a ring of emerald hue shone deep within those midnight-like pupils, sparkling yet unfathomably deep and awe-inspiring.

"Alright." Lan Qi shrugged helplessly.

"Wait!" Sui Qinghan suddenly called out again.

Lan Qi turned to look at him, this time genuinely puzzled.

"Go, change its appearance." Sui Qinghan pointed to the bamboo building.

Lan Qi was taken aback, then shook his head and sighed, "Just like the old man, just like the old man. There's no one else in the world as jealous as you!" He sighed as he walked towards the bamboo house.

Ming Er glanced at Lan Qi's departing figure, then at Sui Qinghan, and said casually, "So Seventh Young Master is a woman."

"Huh?" Sui Qinghan seemed taken aback for a moment. "Is that bastard a woman?"

This time, it was Ming Er, Yuwen Luo, and Ning Lang who were stunned.

"Could it be that the leader of the sect is unaware of this?" Ming Er raised one eyebrow in surprise.

"Whether the sect leader is male or female or not," Sui Qinghan said matter-of-factly, "in the eyes of this sect leader, there is only one woman in the world, Wei Ming!"

Yuwen Luo broke out in a sweat. "Having spent so many years with the Sect Leader and the Seventh Young Master, how could you not have figured out whether he was a man or a woman?"

"What do you mean by 'years of getting along'? From the very first day he arrived at Pear Blossom Tomb, I, the leader of this sect, have wished I could kill him as soon as possible. How could I allow him to keep appearing in front of me all the time!" Sui Qinghan said coldly.

Upon hearing Sui Qinghan's words, Ning Lang's anger flared up. "You! You..."

Sui Qinghan glanced at Ning Lang but ignored him. She just stared at the pear blossom grove across the pond and said quietly, "I dare not enter Wei Ming's residence easily, yet he can live there. I couldn't even kill him... Humph!" She finished with a mixture of resentment and helplessness.

These words sent a chill down the spines of others.

"Sure thing, old man, how could you possibly kill me?"

A clear, enchanting laugh drifted over, and the bamboo house door opened again. A slender, white-clad figure emerged gracefully, her long hair loosely tied back, her white robes lightly bound, utterly unadorned, like a fairy emerging from a pear blossom grove, possessing both the beauty of heaven and earth and a chillingly eerie quality.

That was the first time I saw Lan Qi in white. The white was a simple color, but she wore it and it was more radiant than gold or jade. She stood there in the distance. The bamboo house was simple, the pear blossoms were pale white, and the cold moon was like frost. The scene was elegant and refined, but because of her, it was all tinged with a layer of brilliance. When she looked around with her green eyes, even the moonlight seemed enchanting.

As Sui Qinghan's gaze swept over the three, Yuwen Luo's eyes showed astonishment and infatuation, Ning Lang's eyes showed infatuation and delusion, while Ming Er's... a fleeting light flashed in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant, revealing no emotion whatsoever. His eyes were clear yet empty, like a lake shrouded in morning mist. Looking at him again, it was nothing more than deceiving himself.

"Ning Lang." Lan Qi gracefully approached, a slight smile blooming on her face. She slowly opened her jade fan, gradually concealing her face, revealing only a pair of emerald eyes that shimmered like moonlight as she looked at Ning Lang. "Am I not the most beautiful woman in the world?"

Yuwen Luo snapped out of his daze and sighed inwardly: the autumn colors of Hengbo and the lush beauty of the sky seemed utterly colorless now.

Ning Lang stared at him intently, his face flushed, and nodded obediently.

"Ning Lang is still the best to me." Lan Qi smiled contentedly as she closed her jade fan.