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I don't want to think about it, and I dare not think about it.

For the past few years, I've called him Brother Gu, and he's treated me like a younger sister. There won't be anything else.

In recent years, the other side has started publishing magazines and newspapers. The newspapers contain the earliest and biggest news from the entire continent, collected by the other side, which can help people understand more deeply what the place where they live is really like.

The magazines are filled with the latest and most fashionable trends, all linked to the new products launched by Junjin Mountain Villa. This includes not only clothing, but also accessories, shoes, and trending colors. Recently, they've introduced cross-stitch kits for use as cushions, screens, wall hangings, and artwork…

The magazine covers all featured his four paintings. The accompanying text included the stories of these four stunningly beautiful women, which quickly became popular among commoners and nobles alike. Furthermore, four rare, identical garments representing the Four Beauties of Jin were also released, priced exorbitantly—very few could afford them, but the craftsmanship was superb, with the fabrics and embellishments of the finest quality, making them absolutely worthwhile. Moreover, it was implied that the person who possessed these four garments was one of the Four Beauties of Jin. Thus, it caused a sensation.

What's even more surprising is that, according to legend, there's another painting that hasn't been made public—the "Tea Sprouts" painting. I've always been curious about it too. But since he didn't want to talk about it, I didn't ask. Now, famous people all over the world are vying to collect these five classic works. However, he gave me four of them, to be collected by Junjin. I also gave him the compensation he deserved. We had agreed on this beforehand, because we didn't want to put each other in a difficult position or owe each other anything.

However, the fifth painting was something he came to buy and collect. But given his resolute words, it was clear he wouldn't hand it over.

It wasn't until later, when I saw that painting for the first and last time, that I understood why he cherished it so much, why it was unparalleled, and why it stood proudly above the other four paintings.

That painting is more than just an ordinary painting; it embodies the artist's deepest and most profound emotions. There is nothing more precious and priceless in the world than this. It carries so much weight on its shoulders.

However, there were indeed many people who wanted to collect this painting. Even though he had doubled the number of men guarding his manor, people still flocked to his door, some secretly plotting to rob or steal it. In short, the painting became a legend in the martial arts world. Although no one but him had ever seen the painting.

Unexpectedly, one of these people was him. Someone who was both familiar and unfamiliar to me.

Chapter 133 Two Old Friends (Part 1)

An inconspicuous place in Jiankang City. In front of a mountain villa.

Xie Yushi, who seemed to have aged overnight, looked at the man he had once used and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Who is it that has helped our Xie family? I, Xie Yushi, must personally pay them a visit." Since the Xie family's downfall four years ago, they had been living in a simple hut in the suburbs. Many of them had been exiled and lost their homes. Unexpectedly, this mysterious person who helped them had found all the scattered members of the Xie family and even bought them a villa that, while not luxurious, was as magnificent as those of other wealthy families in Jiankang City.

Qingci glanced at them and said indifferently, "An old acquaintance. He sent me here because he doesn't want to show his face. You don't need to investigate further, sir." Ever since the young master's master inadvertently mentioned the Xie family a few months ago, at the young master's request, Master Sang said that her identity before losing her memory was the fourth young lady of the Xie family, but the Xie family has already been dissolved.

So the young master ordered them to find all the members of the Xie family and escort them safely to the capital. They then bought this villa in the wealthy residential area and took good care of their lives.

Yunying remembered asking the young master before leaving, "Xie Weiying is dead, and he has no connection with the Xie family anymore. Why are you still helping them?" They also knew privately that before the young master lost his memory, when he planned to escape the palace, he decided to take the blame for everything, sacrificing his life to ensure the safety of the entire Xie family.

So in the end, the emperor pardoned the entire Xie family. They were simply demoted to commoners.

The young master has forgotten everything, and they cannot say anything about it. They are just getting angry for no reason.

Unexpectedly, upon seeing their expressions, the young master simply said, "Although I don't remember what happened, they are still family from the past. It is my duty to take care of them with my own strength. As long as they are living well, I owe them nothing."

This wasn't the first time they'd witnessed the young master's kindness, yet those present were still somewhat moved. They felt he seemed to have amnesia, yet it didn't quite seem so. After waking up, he didn't recognize any of them. He didn't even know his master. He was completely unfamiliar with Junjin Manor. But he understood everything about the designs, his works, his comics, everything about him. After they told him everything, he quickly understood. It was as if he hadn't lost his memory. But regarding people, the country, and everything he had done in Jin, he remembered nothing.

Moreover, he personally diagnosed him; he truly did suffer from amnesia. That couldn't be faked.

But when he cautiously asked the question that was on his mind, the young master simply smiled and said, "I have forgotten everything in this life, but I still remember the memories of my past life."

Whenever he recalled the expression on his face when he said those words, he couldn't tell if the young master was joking or serious. Moreover, he always had this illusion that he was all-knowing. He had seen through everything in the world, which was why he could be so detached, so free and open-minded.

He showed no panic upon waking up and realizing he had lost his memory, as if the person who had lost it was not him. He simply said calmly, "If you've forgotten, then forget."

His eyes didn't look like those of an eighteen-year-old boy at all. Instead, they seemed to belong to someone who had experienced the vicissitudes of life and was almost old.

Those eyes, seemingly capable of holding the entire sky, were deep and clear. They encompassed all things, embracing the warmth and coldness of the world. That's why he took in these people, almost abandoned and ignored by the world, and allowed them to do what they wanted.

“Chen Anyuan…” a low voice sounded.

This name, which seemed so distant that he had forgotten it, clearly startled Qingci.

He turned his head and looked at the woman he had once liked long ago, a woman he only now noticed. He noticed a little boy hiding behind her, very cute, but his big, bright eyes were full of timidity and fear. His features vaguely resembled Yi Jun's, but he lacked Yi Jun's spirit and intelligence, her mischievousness, her innate cleverness, and her maturity and insight that set her apart from other children.

He looked timid and somewhat dull. Was he that child? The illegitimate son of the Xie family's second young lady and the Su family's young master?

The woman before me bore the marks of time, her hair somewhat disheveled, no longer adorned with the gold and silver hairpins of years past. A delicate crabapple blossom adorned her temple, and dazzling jewels and ornaments graced her hair. Her dark hair, like black silk, gently shrunk into layers of dark clouds.

Now, under his gaze, she seemed somewhat flustered and uneasy. She was no longer the noble, elegant, beautiful, and virtuous second young lady, nor was she the dream lover he was willing to exploit. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

It turns out that many things in this world can change. Many things are changing.

She wore the most common coarse linen clothes among the common people, her face haggard, and her hands, hardened by life's hardships, had lost their former smooth, jade-like skin. Although her beauty was still faintly discernible, it was no longer the stunning beauty she once was. She was no longer the proud and precious little princess who was always surrounded by many wealthy young men.

Xie Nuanwei hesitated for a while, as if she didn't know what to say, before finally saying, "Thank you."

Qingci nodded slightly, her expression somewhat distant, and said softly, "No need. This is what my young master ordered."

Qingci glanced at them. These people were once high-ranking officials and nobles, renowned figures in the capital. But overnight, everything had changed. No one knew what the future held, or what awaited them.

Xie Yushi felt as if decades had passed in just a few years, and a few strands of white hair had appeared at his temples. A generation of court officials and nobles had become a thing of the past, and power was ultimately fleeting.

He bowed slightly to them and said softly, "Gentlemen, if you need anything, just tell the steward here, and they will do as you say. I'll take my leave now."

"Young master, please have a safe journey," the group said gratefully.

The Xie family was nearly wiped out. Xie Yushi's first wife died of illness not long after the rebellion. His fifth wife, still young, remarried, taking her son with her. The Xie family was now dwindling in number, no longer enjoying its former prosperity.

For some reason, when he heard him mention an old friend, Xie Yushi suddenly thought of his youngest daughter, who was unconventional and different from others since childhood, the fourth Miss Xie who never received his affection but still stubbornly and strongly lived a good life.

But now, she has taken the blame for his disrespect, a crime that could have led to the extermination of his entire family. She is now the deceased Empress Zejin of this dynasty.

That daughter he owed so much to, a debt he could never repay.

Chapter 134 Two Old Friends

"Young masters, is there anything I can help you with?" A quiet and reserved servant in gray opened the door.

A bewitching man with an almost masculine beauty stood there, his fox-like, captivating eyes now slightly smiling. Behind him followed a towering, giant-like man who was clearly impatient and wanted to rush over and settle things by force. However, the bewitching man stopped him and said to the doorman, whose expression had remained unchanged and who was as composed as ever, "Young man, please inform your master. We have come because of your reputation."

The doorman, with his indifferent expression and head bowed, remained unmoved by their threats and words, only nodding faintly: "Please wait, young master."

I saw him turn and leave.

The man, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly stopped smiling and said to the big man, "Let's go." With that, he leaped over the high wall, and the big man followed him.

After the fox-like man entered, a strange smile appeared on his face. He said to the burly man beside him, "Tamu, that person is no simpleton. You might not be his match. Did you see that? He didn't take your provocation to heart at all. Do you know the trick of luring the tiger away from the mountain? I reckon there are other experts around in this courtyard." Although the man spoke, his expression remained relaxed, as if nothing had happened. He didn't seem to care at all.

The burly man called Tamu hummed softly, saying nothing.

"I never imagined asking for a painting would be so troublesome. How could my father like his paintings? He even insists on that 'Rose of Tea' painting of the legendary fifth beauty. Judging from the situation, we're not the only ones here asking for paintings." The fox-like man gave a bewitching smile, causing the burly man beside him to be momentarily stunned.

They were walking and chatting happily in this secluded courtyard. Suddenly, the fox-like man's smile vanished like a vibrant flower. He stood there, stunned, staring at the person not far away.

It was as if it had lost its soul.

There is a type of woman who is like poison from birth; one look at her and you're already captivated.

Yuwen Ruojian finally believed this statement today.

A fleeting glimpse. A sudden stirring in my heart.

She wore a long white satin dress, the pristine white contrasted sharply with a striking red. Large, vibrant peonies bloomed against the stark white, creating an eerie effect. From afar, her somewhat hazy, slender figure resembled a delicate, fragrant wild hibiscus in full bloom. Her long hair cascaded down to her waist, its smooth, glossy strands like a bolt of black satin, casually draped over her body, shimmering in the soft sunlight, like seaweed drifting leisurely at the bottom of a clear, crescent-shaped lake.

Her face was fair and exquisitely beautiful, her expression serene and gentle. Her eyes were especially beautiful, as if they belonged to another world. A dewdrop clung to her warm, thick eyelashes, her eyes shimmering with a misty light. She was surrounded by a thin haze of flowers, as if she were a painting, a story.

Even from that distance, Yuwen Ruojian seemed to smell the fragrance of wild hibiscus flowers on her skirt even stronger, spreading through the air, fresh and sweet. Yuwen Ruojian took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart, which had been pounding wildly. But she remained bewildered.

His heart, which had been dormant for more than twenty years, was now beating wildly for a stranger!

Yuwen Ruojian almost thought that he, who had been silent in death, was about to come back to life.

He came back to life.

Just then, the woman seemed to sense their presence. She calmly rose from the flowerbed, giving them a dismissive glance. She didn't linger on his rare beauty for even a second. Petals fell like snowflakes onto her sleeves, her robes billowing in the wind, the trail of white silk on the ground exuding an indescribable aloofness. Like the wind, she quietly departed.

Just as Yuwen Ruojian was about to chase after her departing figure, suddenly, the male servant who should have appeared at the door appeared behind them. He still had a calm and numb face and said to them indifferently, "Young masters, the master is kind."

Gu Kaizhi sat cross-legged on the floor at the table. He calmly brewed tea for the two people who appeared before him, handed it to them, and went straight to the point: "May I ask what kind of painting you would like to request from me, sir?"

Yuwen Ruojian picked up a steaming, fragrant cup of Longjing tea, took a sip, and said calmly, "The Five Beauties Painting."

Yuwen Ruojian carefully examined the painter whom her father had always favored. He was dressed in pristine white, his long hair casually tied back with a silver ribbon, and his refined features were striking. Indeed, he possessed an ethereal quality. It seemed her father's judgment was sometimes quite accurate.

Gu Kaizhi chuckled and said, "Young master, don't you know that all my paintings have been collected by Junjin Manor?"

"I know." It's that Junjin Manor again, that Young Master Jin. Yuwen Ruojian frowned slightly, but quickly calmed down and smiled like a gentle breeze: "But the fifth one is still here, in your hands, young master."

Gu Kaizhi feigned ignorance: "I don't understand what you're talking about, young master?"

Yuwen Ruojian didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I want 'Tea Fragrance'."

Gu Kaizhi sighed softly: "No one in the world will ever see that painting. It is simply my painting."

Yuwen Ruojian squinted at him. He took another sip of tea. This time, Tamu was much quieter. He just knelt there silently, without saying a word.

"Brother Gu, is anyone else curious about 'Tea Fragrance'?" The woman's voice was cool, but now it held a hint of amusement. "I asked you to show it to me, but you wouldn't. Now it's all so mysterious. I wonder how many people are curious about it every day? Brother Gu, why don't you let me see it, and then we can burn it? That way, only the two of us will know about it, and they won't be able to steal it." She spoke naively.

However, Yuwen Ruojian could sense the threat in his voice.

But he still smiled brightly, remaining composed. Yet, his heart compelled him to look up at her again.

She was absolutely stunning, with a captivating beauty and an unparalleled smile. He thought he would never find a woman more beautiful than himself. Yet, he had found her. Was this some kind of destiny?

Was it fate that my father insisted on sending him to the State of Jin to find the painting, so that he would meet her here?

Seeing her, Gu Kaizhi asked with a mixture of indulgence and helplessness, "What are you doing here?" She usually never bothered with people coming to her door seeking paintings; she had already hired so many top-tier experts to protect her, and she generally wouldn't show herself. Could this person be someone extraordinary?

For a moment, Gu Kaizhi's gaze shifted between the two. These two equally dazzling individuals, one a stunningly beautiful woman, the other a bewitching man. They seemed like the same kind of people, or perhaps like enemies, incapable of coexisting; coexistence would only result in mutual harm.

The woman didn't look at the fox-like man, but softly replied, "I've come to say goodbye. Brother Gu, I must go. You'll give me that painting someday." She said confidently. For some reason, she had this premonition.

Gu Kaizhi gazed at her intently, neither confirming nor denying. What an exceptionally intelligent woman. Yes, she was right. If there were anyone else in this world who could see that painting, that person could only be her.

Hearing that she was leaving, Gu Kaizhi was momentarily dazed, but quickly regained his composure and said with difficulty, "I can't see you off right now." Her arrivals and departures were always so casual; she never informed him in advance or said goodbye. Today seemed somewhat unusual. However, he soon understood what was going on. She was simply worried about him.

The woman smiled nonchalantly: "It's alright. Take care of yourself. I'll be back soon. I don't want to see you again in bad shape."

Gu Kaizhi nodded.

The woman drifted away, leaving behind the fragrance of wild hibiscus flowers filling the room. Yuwen Ruojian looked somewhat dazed.

Has he truly fallen into depravity?

If so, then what awaits him is a bottomless abyss. He will never be able to climb out, never be able to escape.

"Who is she?" Before Yuwen Ruojian could even react, the question had already slipped out of his mind. Tamu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, was also taken aback when his master asked such a question and opened his eyes in surprise.

In fact, even Yuwen Ruojian himself was confused.

Gu Kaizhi abruptly looked up at him, his eyes showing surprise, clearly not expecting him to ask that question.