[Fantasy] The Harem is in Chaos (Complete) - Chapter 18

page views:1 Publication date:2023-08-20

Chapter 72. Unintentionally in the building...

The rain pattered, everything in the room was damp and gloomy, including one's mood.

Li Yue stripped naked and crawled into bed for a nap. When she woke up, it was already dark. She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and was about to get out of bed when she suddenly saw someone still sitting on the chair by the door.

Murong Juan, he hadn't left yet?

Li Yue stopped, hugging the blanket and looking at his silhouette in the darkness.

Ever since she asked, "Should I call you Murong Juan or cousin?" she hadn't looked at his expression before going to bed. She hadn't heard his answer until she fell asleep. She thought he would turn and leave as before, but he didn't.

She didn't know what he was thinking, but she felt genuinely sad. Their current relationship was undoubtedly awkward. Cousins, related by blood, had not only embraced and kissed, been naked together, but had even almost had a physical relationship.

No wonder they hit it off so well; was it because they both had the blood of the Murong family flowing in their veins?

Since learning that Murong Juan was still alive, she had imagined her meeting with the world's number one assassin countless times, but she never expected it to be like this.

She couldn't see his expression, but she knew he was looking at her, his gaze, unreadable in the darkness, making her uneasy.

So she calmly said, "Cousin, could you buy me a dress? My clothes are all wet."

"Don't call me cousin," he retorted almost instinctively.

"But you really are," Li Yue didn't want to avoid it.

"I'm not, I'm not!" He strode over, grabbing Li Yue's shoulders, his breathing heavy and his voice rapid: "You're joking, aren't you? Now I'm telling you, I don't like your joke, not at all! Especially not when you call me cousin!"

"But you really are," Li Yue repeated.

Murong Juan paused, then suddenly pushed her down onto the bed, looking down at her. He said, "Have I been too gentle with you? So you think you can mold me however you want? You want me to be your friend, and I'm your friend? You want me to be your cousin, and I'm your cousin? Now I'll tell you my thoughts. I don't want to be your friend, and I don't want to be your cousin. I want to be your man, no matter who you are!"

Li Yue stared at him intently. The fluctuations in his breathing proved that his heart wasn't as resolute and hardened as he appeared. He simply didn't want to passively accept a fact he didn't want to accept.

Realizing this, she smiled slightly and said, "I've never denied liking you, whether you're Qu Liushang or Murong Juan. I just can't completely give up my original way of life for you. It's you who harbors resentment and can't let go of it. All along, I've cared less than you. If you don't mind incest, I'm telling you, I mind even less."

In the tense air, only their deep and shallow breaths could be heard. Murong Juan looked at her for a long while, then finally gently released her.

He sat silently on the edge of the bed, like a statue.

Li Yue was actually his cousin? The woman he deeply loved was his cousin?

He knew Murong Xian was known for his womanizing ways, and Li Yue's mother was a renowned courtesan; it was possible, but… he just refused to believe it. Furthermore, if Murong Xian was truly her father, why would she kill him? And why?

He wanted to ask, to find out from her answer that things weren't as he'd heard, but he knew she wouldn't tell. He wasn't someone she could rely on completely; she wouldn't confide her innermost thoughts to him.

A tangled mess filled his chest, making it hard to breathe, and his heart sank to an unknown depths.

After a long silence, he suppressed his turbulent emotions, raised his head, and, with his back to Li Yue, said, "Leave here as soon as possible. It's not safe here." In just half a year, he had risen to the top position in the Murong family. The Murong family's principle for selecting a new leader was simple: the victor is king, the loser is an outlaw. But for him, who had offended the Empress Dowager and betrayed his family, things were not so simple.

Since learning that Li Yue was the murderer of Murong Xian, he had single-handedly suppressed the matter. Now, Li Yue had actually offered herself up. The Murong family's influence had permeated every corner of Yong'an. If Murong Peng and his group wanted to act secretly, or if they reported the matter to the Empress Dowager, the consequences would be unpredictable and irreversible.

Today, as soon as he received news of her appearance, he rushed to see her, firstly because he truly missed her, and secondly, to inform her to leave as soon as possible.

"I want to stay here," Li Yue said, looking at the tent ceiling, completely ignoring his good intentions.

He paused, turned to look at her, and asked, "Why?"

"I like it here." His presence here was unexpected, but it didn't diminish her fondness for the place.

"No, you must leave!" He stood up.

"No one can force me to do what I don't want to do." Li Yue glanced at him sideways.

He was speechless. Yes, how could he forget? She was this fearless type.

But on his turf, he didn't want to see her suffer any harm.

Knowing he couldn't change her mind, he thought for a moment and said, "Alright, if you want to stay, I'll arrange it for you. You can stay here for today. I'll send someone to bring you clothes later. If you need anything else, just tell the innkeeper."

*

The next morning, the rain stopped. There was no sun, but the air was very fresh.

Li Yue went outside, stretched, and suddenly noticed that the roses on the railing, which were all buds yesterday, had blossomed into a large patch today, their delicate pink against the clear green, a truly beautiful sight.

The courtyard was silent, and the doors to the surrounding guest rooms were all tightly shut, as if everyone was still asleep. This quiet was something Li Yue had never seen in other inns; those travelers were always in a hurry, making a ruckus before dawn.

She strolled leisurely downstairs with Tan Lang, and the innkeeper rushed up to greet her. Breakfast was, of course, exquisitely prepared, light and refined, just like the ancient city itself.

After breakfast, she left the courtyard, wanting to find a place she liked. Even after spending the entire night there, she still couldn't accept the fact that Qu Liushang was Murong Juan, her cousin. In her eyes, he was still the same person he always was; he loved her, and she couldn't be completely indifferent to him. In fact, knowing he was the number one assassin she had always admired and longed for only deepened her feelings for him.

She didn't want to wait for his arrangements; she just wanted to find a quiet place to sort out her thoughts. Incest and such—she had no concept of blood ties like siblings, nor did she think it was anything special. But Murong Juan probably wouldn't think that way…

She must have tormented him again, but was it her fault? If she was wrong, it was only for not questioning him properly at the beginning of their acquaintance. But even if she had known from the start that he was Murong Juan, could they not have liked each other? If she encountered Murong Xian again, could she have refrained from killing him?

It can only be said that everything is predestined, whether you know it beforehand or not, you cannot escape it. Unless she is not herself, and he is not him.

The ancient city in the morning light was immersed in peace and tranquility. Except for the babbling streams and the occasional old woman carrying vegetables emerging from the alley, everything remained in a state of slumber.

Li Yue believed that the people here lived an enviable, leisurely life. Every morning, all they had to do was prepare their three meals a day. And this didn't take much time, so they could sleep in as late as they wanted.

A breeze blew, and the wind chimes under the eaves tinkled. Li Yue's thoughts were carried far away by the sound of the wind chimes. She came to the tavern where she had bought wine yesterday. The simple wooden door was tightly closed, and only the blue wine flag fluttered in the breeze under the eaves.

She couldn't help but wonder: what kind of life would she have if she had been born like this wine-selling girl?

She couldn't imagine, because she had never experienced such a life even for a single day.

Lost in thought, she walked along the alleyway. After turning a few corners, she looked up and found herself in a square place. In one corner, near the irrigation ditch, grew a towering poplar tree, beneath which sat a stone table with a chessboard carved on it. The square place was surrounded by alleyways leading in different directions.

She looked around and was startled to find that she seemed to be lost.

The word "lost" made her laugh self-deprecatingly. From the beginning of her journey through the world, this word had basically never been associated with her. Her ability to read maps, remember routes, and determine directions seemed to be innate.

Now, however, she was lost in this small ancient town…

Without any annoyance, she even curled her lips into a smile, thinking that getting lost here, no matter where she ended up, she would like it.

Two young men, resembling scholars, suddenly emerged from a north-facing alley not far away. They chatted excitedly as they quickly turned into an east-facing alley. In a short time, Li Yue caught a few words: "Wuyi Building," "Passed the test," "Free room and board"...

Free room and board?

Li Yue glanced down at Tan Lang beside her and said, "How about it? Let's see if that place suits our taste? If it does, we can stay there and not have to cook for ourselves."

Upon hearing this, Tan Lang took off running towards the east-facing alley, and Li Yue followed closely behind with a smile.

Not far along, a courtyard surrounded by bamboo, weathered and old yet retaining its dignified charm, appeared before Li Yue.

The gate was wide open, and the wooden plaque bore the three large characters "Wuyi Building" in bold strokes. Li Yue looked into the courtyard; through the lush greenery, she could vaguely see a magnificent tall building.

There were no guards at the entrance, and Li Yue strode in confidently.

The courtyard was large, elegantly and exquisitely laid out. Looking up, the tall, blue-brick building with its wooden doors, windows, and railings was almost entirely enveloped by lush green ivy, with only a few scattered yellow flowers growing on the eaves of the fourth floor.

The building was quite long, with wings on both sides; at first glance, it seemed capable of housing a hundred or so people.

The main door on the ground floor was open, but no one was seen entering or leaving, though faint whispers could be heard from inside.

Tanlang had already run up the steps and turned to look at Liyue.

After a quick look around, Liyue thought the place was quite nice; the building was tall and the environment was serene. Climbing to the top floor would offer a panoramic view of the ancient city.

Stepping onto the first floor, she looked up and saw nine tables and chairs in the hall, arranged in three rows. Each table and chair had writing implements on it, and the two scholars she had seen earlier were now sitting in their chairs, engrossed in writing.

Her gaze shifted, and she noticed another table against the east wall, with a thick book on it. Behind the table sat a boy of about ten years old, resting his chin on his hand, looking bored.

Seeing someone enter through the door, he subconsciously turned his head to look. Upon seeing Li Yue, he was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Miss, this establishment does not accept women. Please leave."

Li Yue smiled and walked towards him, saying, "Doesn't accept women? Why? Give me a reason."

The young man said, "This establishment recruits learned individuals, talented men who can compose poetry, paint, and write essays. A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, so please leave."

"Heh, let me tell you, I lack virtue but possess talent. Is that alright?" Li Yue said.

The young man was speechless, opened his mouth, and said, "Please don't try to argue. Not accepting women is the rule of this establishment."

"Is that so? Where is the rule? Let me see." Li Yue looked utterly shameless.

Seeing that she wouldn't leave, the young man got annoyed and said, "Why should I show it to you? I'm telling you, I won't accept it!"

Li Yue sat down on the table, crossed her arms, and glared at the young man, saying, "Utterly discriminating against women! Let me tell you, if you don't give me a straight answer today, not only will I not leave, but you might also lose those two front teeth!"

"Are you being unreasonable? This place is full of men. How can you, a woman, come in like this?" The young man jumped up.

"Full of men? Is this a place of homosexuality? If so, fine, I'm here to solicit prostitutes, so what?" Li Yue smiled, enjoying the young man's outburst.

Their argument was particularly jarring in the originally quiet building. Before long, guests from upstairs came down to watch. With Li Yue's roguish nature, the more people there were, the fiercer she became. So, soon after, the

next afternoon, a light drizzle began to fall.

In the rightmost room on the third floor of Wuyi Tower, the palace lantern on the corner of the table was already lit, and the fragrance of fresh tea slowly permeated the air.

Yan Huang lowered his eyes, flipping through the torn album. After a moment, he smiled and looked up. His face, adorned with a dark blue brocade robe with a sunflower pattern, was as beautiful as jade. His eyes were gentle as he said, “After being torn like this, it does look much better. Since its establishment over a year ago, Wuyi Tower has attracted hundreds of scholars to take the exam. Without exception, they all used this album to write, either satirizing the world or criticizing current politics. Although their works are exquisite, none have left a deep impression. This person has taken a different approach, not bound by convention. He sees ugliness and filth and tears it up without saying a word. He has a truly fearless spirit, which pleases me greatly. Shuge, go and bring him to me.”

Shuge (the middle-aged man) bowed and said, “Lord, this person is a woman.”

"A woman?" Yan Huang's smile faltered slightly. "What kind of woman?"

Shu Ge replied, "A young girl in her prime. Judging from her words and actions, she seems to know martial arts."

Yan Huang frowned.

The Empress Dowager disliked his martial arts training, preferring him to study literature. He had bought this garden and named it "Wuyi Lou" (Unintentional Pavilion), inviting scholars and writers from all over the world to gather here to compose poems and discuss literature. The Empress Dowager knew about this, and he visited every few days without her objection. Now, this woman had suddenly appeared. Could it be a test from the Empress Dowager?

Had she finally become suspicious of this place?

But this woman's behavior was so unusual and eye-catching. If she were sent as an informant, it would be inappropriate...

Thinking of this, a thought flashed through his mind: Perhaps, this inappropriateness was exactly what the Empress Dowager wanted.

Closing the album, he asked, "Where is she now?"

Shuge replied, "Yesterday she said she had nowhere to go, so I arranged a guest room for her in the building. She met Wei Xilong at dinner, and the two went out together this morning."

Wei Xilong was a learned and insightful scholar, the most talented and favored by Yan Huang in Wuyi Tower. However, due to his aloofness and reclusiveness, he had been alone for over half a year in Wuyi Tower. Hearing that the woman had become friends with him in one night, Yan Huang frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Let's hold a tea and poetry gathering in Zangjia Hall tonight. Inform everyone that I will also be attending."

Shuge accepted the order.

Chapter 73: Rivals Gather...

Wuyi Tower, Zangjia Hall, brightly lit.

Li Yue sat in a corner by the window in the hall, glancing at the forty or fifty talented men in the room. Not finding any handsome ones, she turned her face to Wei Xilong opposite her, a thin-faced man with a serious expression, holding a book and reading it as if no one else was there.

This man, at first glance, seemed unapproachable, his words capable of leaving one speechless. But if you could retort, he would instantly become amiable. Li Yue had never liked pedantic, stubborn scholars, but this man had surprised her. Firstly, his conversation was witty and humorous; secondly, when they discussed the male prostitutes despised in Dongyi Yong'an, he remarked, "If it's their own choice, who cares what others say?" This remark greatly pleased Li Yue.

Outside the courtyard gate, he was all smiles and laughter, but once inside, he became unapproachable again—his mood was as unpredictable as the weather.

There were fruits and snacks on the table, among which a plate of fresh cherries surprised Li Yue. These cherries came from the deep mountains of Nanfo, a rare fruit rarely sold in markets; only a select few nobles and royalty in the Three Kingdoms period had the privilege of tasting them. To see such fresh cherries here seemed to indicate the owner of this place was no ordinary person.

Li Yue rested her chin on her hand, picking through the fruit while asking Wei Xilong, "Longlong, who is this owner?"

Someone at a nearby table overheard Li Yue's address to Wei Xilong and couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of tea, chuckling amongst themselves.

Wei Xilong, without raising an eyebrow, calmly replied, "A man."

"Cough!" Li Yue, who had just eaten a cherry, choked again upon hearing this, rubbing her neck for a while, secretly resolving never to talk to him while eating again, and never to eat while talking to him.

After waiting a while longer, Li Yue grew bored and complained, "Why aren't they here yet? You guys are so patient."

"Worth it," Wei Xilong said slowly, turning a page.

"Alright, if you think it's worth it, you can wait your turn. This grandma's going out for a bit." Li Yue removed Tan Lang's head from her feet, grabbed a handful of cherries, and was about to get up and leave when the hall door suddenly opened, and three people walked in.

Seeing the man at the front, Li Yue was stunned. Her first thought: So handsome! Her second thought: So expensive! Her third thought: So…familiar?

Before she could get a better look, the surrounding scholars had already excitedly surrounded him, completely obscuring the handsome man. Then Li Yue saw the two people behind him: one was Shu Ge, and the other…

seeing Long Nu, Li Yue suddenly remembered who he was. Yan Huang, the young emperor of Dongyi.

As this name surfaced in her mind, she rubbed her temples and sighed: Am I really getting old? Back then, she clearly planned to seduce him in Dongyi when he was older, but today she's met someone she doesn't even recognize? What went wrong?

Long Nu had clearly seen her too, a slight look of confusion on his face. His gaze shifted to Tan Lang kneeling at her feet, and his expression darkened instantly.

Seeing that it was Yan Huang, Li Yue became interested and sat back down in her chair.

"Was it worth it?" the man opposite her suddenly asked.

Li Yue smiled and replied, "Absolutely worth it." Turning her head, she saw the group still fawning over him and asked, "Do you all know his identity?"

Wei Xilong: "No."

Li Yue was puzzled: "If you don't know, why are they so obsequious?"

"Admiration," Wei Xilong said succinctly.

Li Yue realized that piecing together the information she wanted from him would take at least a night, so she wisely kept quiet, preparing to use her discerning eyes to seek the truth.

After vying to greet Yan Huang, the scholars returned to their seats, and Yan Huang finally had a chance to glance at Li Yue and Wei Xilong.

When his clear, bright eyes swept across Li Yue's face, he was clearly taken aback for a moment, but only for a moment. Soon, a perfect smile curved his lips, and he nodded gently to Li Yue.

Li Yue didn't respond, because she was busy admiring this man.

She thought she had figured out why she hadn't recognized him at first glance. A year had passed, and he had changed.

When she met him last year at the Idle Pond Pavilion in Peach Blossom Town, he was a boy about her age, lively, easygoing, and innocently charming in every smile and gesture—very approachable.

Now, however, "man" seemed more fitting than "boy." His face was undoubtedly still youthful, but his magnanimity and composure perfectly masked his former immaturity. He was refined and dignified, the center of attention yet not overly dazzling—a kind of understated luxury.

His every move exuded natural nobility; before that composed elegance, any words or rhetoric seemed superfluous. Li Yue firmly believed that, setting aside his status as emperor, he was indeed a true nobleman, a perfection embodied in the accumulated qualities of generations.

This man was captivating.

Everything around her seemed distant and insignificant at this moment. Li Yue leaned back in her chair, gazing at him, her thoughts wandering.

In her life, she had encountered so many outstanding men, yet almost none of them had a happy ending. More than once, she had become ruthless, only toying with men without any appreciation.

But seeing such a beautiful man, she still felt an almost instinctive joy. Was this the very essence of being a moth drawn to a flame? Knowing it might burn her wings, yet still rushing forward recklessly?

But what is the purpose of wings if one cannot go where one wants to go?

His voice was deep and pleasant, but Li Yue couldn't concentrate on what he was saying. She looked at his hand resting on the table, its pale golden glow illuminated by the candlelight, and inexplicably felt that it must be very warm, and that it would be so comforting to touch her face.

He seemed to have posed a question, and the scholars argued endlessly, each offering their own opinions. The sudden noise around them snapped Li Yue out of her reverie. Looking up, she saw him had just taken a sip of tea. Seeing her gaze, his glistening lips curved into another impeccably perfect smile.

Li Yue felt a surge of resentment. She had been captivated by him, so why was he so unmoved?

With that thought, she returned a charming smile, then turned back to sip her tea, no longer looking at him.

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly lively. Some show-offs recited poems and read them aloud, inviting everyone to critique them. He occasionally offered a few comments, always concise and insightful, revealing his profound literary cultivation in just a few words. She now somewhat understood what Wei Xilong meant by "admiration."

Though she never turned around, her eyes were always on him out of the corner of her eye. Every now and then, he would glance at her, intentionally or unintentionally. After noticing the pattern, Li Yue smiled and picked up a cherry. When he looked at her again, she turned around, their eyes meeting. Her fingertips held the ripe red cherry, and under his gaze, she seemingly unintentionally and provocatively brushed it against her pink lower lip, then licked it with the tip of her tongue.

Sure enough, he was startled. Just then, a talented scholar next to them asked him to recite a poem. He turned his head, coughed lightly, and a faint blush rose on his cheeks.

Seeing him finally lose his composure, Li Yue was in high spirits. Just as a smile played on her lips, a soft snort reached her ears: "Seduction!"

Li Yue flicked a cherry at Wei Xilong's forehead, scolding him lightly, "Read your book! What are you glancing at for no reason?"

Yan Huang was about to compose a poem, and the scholars all gathered around to watch. Even the usually unmoved Wei Xilong couldn't sit still any longer and followed. Li Yue had no interest in poetry,

and seeing that everyone at the table beside her had left, she hastily gathered all their cherries. While they were eating, Shu Nan suddenly entered from outside and said something to Shu Ge, who had been standing by the door. Shu Ge glanced at Li Yue, then at Yan Huang, and followed Shu Nan out.

A moment later, someone burst into the hall. Li Yue was stunned.

Murong Juan—he had actually come looking for her.

Murong Juan's expression was tense, but upon entering the hall and seeing Li Yue sitting unharmed by the window, his expression relaxed.

Yesterday, he went to the palace. After finding a suitable house and arranging everything, it was already late at night. He thought he would go to the inn to find her today, but when he asked, he learned that she hadn't returned last night.

Thinking of her sudden disappearance in Yong'an without any relatives or friends, he was filled with worry. He searched for a whole day before finding out that she was at Wuyi Tower.

He rushed over, and the moment he entered, he saw her sitting there with her legs crossed, flicking a ripe cherry high into the air with her finger, then catching it with perfect accuracy with her small mouth. When she looked down and suddenly saw him, she puffed out her cheeks and stared blankly with wide, dark eyes.

Seeing her so relaxed and carefree, he felt a mix of emotions. He regretted his overprotective nature; with her personality, she didn't need any relatives or friends to help her. She could thrive anywhere. At the same time, he was also annoyed. He had promised to arrange things for her, yet she had come to Yan Huang without a word. What did that mean?

However, seeing Yan Huang gave him a new idea.

Yan Huang had already noticed his arrival, stopped writing, and looked at him. The other scholars followed him, looking towards Murong Juan by the door. Murong Juan exchanged a glance with Yan Huang, knowing that no one in the Wuyi Tower except Shu Ge knew his true identity. Therefore, he couldn't very well bow to him, and could only clasp his hands and say, "Sorry to disturb you." After speaking, he glanced at Li Yue, turned, and left the hall. (Advertisement: Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation!) Maintain the sensation of ejaculation for 30 minutes, experience the ultimate pleasure with fully automated masturbation with 12 different sexual positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter.

He came and went unexpectedly for Li Yue, who was unsure of his intentions. She turned to look at Yan Huang, but he nonchalantly resumed his literary pursuits.

His poem, completed in a single stroke, won thunderous applause, but Yan Huang seemed unwilling to linger, leaving the poem for the scholars to admire before leaving himself.

Seeing him leave, Li Yue lost interest in staying any longer and headed towards her room.

Shu Ge caught up with her in the corridor and said, "Miss Qin, may I speak with you in private?"

Li Yue followed him into the courtyard. The rain had stopped, and the air was moist. She saw Yan Huang standing under the lush green shade of the trees, his radiance undiminished by the night, looking at her with gentle elegance.

She walked over casually, ignoring the dragon servant behind him, and greeted him lazily, "Long time no see."

Yan Huang nodded and smiled, "Murong Juan must have told you my identity, right?"

Li Yue suddenly became alert, jumped back, and raised her chin, saying, "What? Do you want me to bow to you? Let me tell you, no way!"

Yan Huang laughed, his smile even more gentle than the rain-kissed magnolia on the tree beside him, and said, "What I mean is, I can't stay out overnight."

Li Yue scratched her forehead, wondering what he was trying to say.

Yan Huang leaned forward slightly, his eyes like the moon, and said, "So, could you please give me a ride?"

Li Yue rolled her eyes and muttered, "You're so stingy. I thought you were going to invite me to the palace."

Yan Huang's smile remained unchanged, and he said, "Sure, but it'll have to be another day."

The people of the ancient city liked to hang large red lanterns under the eaves. The warm red light reflected off the cold, hard, dark blue-black tones, dispelling the gloom and illuminating the warmth.

Yan Huang and Li Yue walked ahead, with Long Nu following at a distance, holding an umbrella.

After a while, Li Yue keenly sensed that someone was watching them. She wanted to confront one of them, but then thought better of it. As an emperor traveling incognito, he needed to ensure his safety while avoiding detection. It was only natural to have some imperial guards follow him in the shadows. So she gave up the idea.

Yan Huang walked alongside, seemingly oblivious, wondering if he should have been more affectionate.

Inviting Li Yue to accompany him was at someone's request. Although Murong Juan hadn't said anything, they were childhood friends, kindred spirits, and sometimes words weren't necessary.

His hasty visit to Wuyi Tower to find her showed his concern for her. Seeing him there, he turned and left without a word, which was tantamount to telling him that he could alleviate her worries.

Given Murong Juan's status, there weren't many people in Yong'an who could make him wary. He didn't need to guess who they were. Therefore, he specifically asked Li Yue to accompany him back to the palace. Once they completed this journey, he believed those people would realize that Li Yue was not someone they could easily harm.

Before meeting Li Yue, he had indeed suspected she might be a spy sent by the Empress Dowager, but after seeing her, that suspicion vanished.

She wasn't the kind of person willing to be a lackey of the powerful. Although this was only their second meeting, he was inexplicably certain of it.

A year later, he was somewhat surprised to find that the warmth he felt upon first meeting her hadn't changed; however, she seemed a little more silent than before.

"Do you still have the jade pendant I gave you last year?" Yan Huang suddenly asked.

Li Yue's brow twitched, and she looked up, saying, "What? Do you want to go back?"

Yan Huang smiled and said, "Of course not. I just wanted to tell you that you can come to the palace to find me."

Upon hearing this, Li Yue realized she had misjudged him and immediately said sheepishly, "I won't go. What if I accidentally wander into the harem? Your concubines would beat me to death."

Yan Huang didn't deny it, only smiling, "Alright, then I'll come find you."

"I don't have the patience to wait for you every day. How about we set a time? How about tomorrow?" Li Yue asked. Yan

Huang thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Okay, tomorrow afternoon."

The two walked for a while longer, and then Yan Huang suddenly reached out and took her hand.

His hand was dry and clean, and as she had expected, it was very warm.

Li Yue was slightly taken aback and looked at him in confusion.

Yan Huang turned his head, showing no sign of unease, and said, "The ground is slippery, help me up."

Li Yue: "..."

*

The next afternoon, a light drizzle still fell.

Yan Huang arrived as promised. Li Yue said she would take him for drinks. He took the umbrella from Long Nu's hand, leaving Long Nu at Wuyi Tower, and went out with Li Yue. Murong

Juan happened to be visiting Li Yue. From afar, he saw Yan Huang holding an umbrella while Li Yue clung to his arm under it, the two disappearing together into the depths of the alley. He was stunned.

It had only been two days, and they were already... so familiar?

Annoyed, he wanted to rush up and separate them. That position was his, and he wouldn't allow anyone to take it, not even Yan Huang!

But before he could take a step, his heart sank. What if... she called him "cousin" again?

The umbrella fell to the side, and he leaned weakly against the wall. Every time he thought of that title, he felt a lump in his throat, a feeling of wanting to die but unable to.

He glanced sideways at the misty alleyway at the end of the rain-drenched path, then suddenly followed.

Li Yue walked along, pointing out the scenery around her—wildflowers growing naturally on the eaves, water lilies in pots under the eaves. Yan Huang would look up in the direction of her gestures, then turn and say something, making her chuckle. The scene was incredibly harmonious.

He followed silently from a distance, his heart aching with a mix of jealousy and heartbreak.

He knew he shouldn't have followed, but he couldn't help himself; even the pain was worth it.

He watched them finally enter a small tavern with a blue wine flag, then walked blankly to the stone bridge where he had met Li Yue.

Looking at the slowly turning waterwheel, his heart sank.

She was always moving forward, never stopping for anyone, never looking back. He couldn't help but like her for that, yet he worried that he too would become just another scene along her path, something she would leave behind, without any lingering affection. This inner conflict tormented him for a long time, but only now did he realize that this torment paled in comparison to the truth she had told him.

The knot in his heart might eventually melt away because of his love for her, but how could he possibly stand up for his cousin without any lingering regrets?

He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and let the rain wash over his face. If he could, he wished he could wash away even his memories.

After a moment of agony, he opened his eyes and suddenly found an umbrella above him, shielding him from the wind and rain.

He stiffened, his heart suddenly racing. Suppressing his excitement, he slowly turned around, but paused slightly when he saw who it was.

A girl of seventeen or eighteen, with a beautiful face and ethereal气质, her graceful figure silhouetted against the distant green walls and willows, a scene of poetic beauty.

Seeing him turn around, she showed no embarrassment or shyness, but smiled faintly, as if she had known him for many years, and greeted him naturally: "Hello, my name is Huangfu Shuhua."

This was clearly an irresistible beginning, especially since he was currently in such turmoil and needed an external force to distract him.

Composing himself, he was about to return the greeting when he caught a glimpse of a white figure flashing across the stone bridge out of the corner of his eye.

He looked up and saw Yu Wuchen, standing there in a snow-white robe, holding an umbrella, glancing in his direction for a moment, then turning and slowly walking towards the tavern.

His gaze followed his figure, wondering if he was also here to see Li Yue. The jealousy churning in his heart seemed to intensify.

"Young Master?" Huangfu Shuhua couldn't help but call out when she saw him staring blankly at Yu Wuchen. Murong Juan

snapped out of his reverie and was about to apologize when he caught a glimpse of a dark shadow out of the corner of his eye. He looked up again and saw Ye Qianxun striding over from a short distance away. As he passed under the bridge, he paused, glanced in his direction just like Yu Wuchen, and then continued walking towards the tavern without saying a word.

Murong Juan knew that this guy had arrived in Yong'an several days ago to meet the new head of the Murong family, which was him. To prevent him from discovering that Li Yue was also in Yong'an, he had been keeping him at arm's length, but unexpectedly, he still followed his scent like a dog.

He was already worried sick about Li Yue and Yan Huang chatting and laughing together, and now seeing Yu Wuchen and Ye Qianxun "whooshing" past him to look at Li Yue, how could he possibly remain calm?

Especially since the two of them stopped and glanced at him as they passed by, their eyes seemed to say, "So what? I'm going to find her. Why are you glaring at me? Come and bite me if you dare."

Regardless of whether that's what they meant, that's what he thought.

He felt a surge of anger rising within him, apologized to Huangfu Shuhua, and got up to follow.

Chapter 74: Persistent Pursuit...

"Cough cough cough..."

"Hahaha..."

The girl who had served wine to Li Yue that day was named Moling. At this moment, her face was flushed red. She looked helplessly at Yan Huang, who was sitting in the tavern coughing violently while covering his mouth with a handkerchief, and Li Yue, who was laughing loudly while slapping the table. She stammered, "I...I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to..."

Li Yue had drunk here with Wei Xilong yesterday, so this girl was acquainted with Li Yue. The guest she brought today was clearly wealthy and powerful, but now he was coughing incessantly because of her mistake. She looked at Li Yue in a panicked plea for help.

Li Yue knew very well how irresistible Yan Huang was to women. Even someone like her, who had strolled through countless handsome men, couldn't resist being attracted to him. Most women would only be dazzled by him. Therefore, when she saw Mo Ling's dazed expression upon entering the tavern today, she didn't pay much attention. But she never expected that Mo Ling would be so distracted as to pour wine into the teapot.

She had only encouraged Yan Huang to eat a small piece of pickled chicken feet, but he couldn't handle the spiciness and immediately coughed. So she asked Mo Ling to pour him a glass of water, but Mo Ling absentmindedly poured wine instead of tea. Then, without noticing, Yan Huang drank most of the glass in one gulp. The taste... must have been quite wonderful.

Seeing the little girl almost crying, Li Yue finally stopped laughing and waved her hand, saying, "It's alright, pour me another glass of water." Looking up at Yan Huang across from her, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes were watery from coughing, she smiled and said, "Just say you can't eat spicy food, why bother?"

Yan Huang barely stopped coughing and slowly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, saying, "How could I not eat what you put on my plate?"

Li Yue looked at his smooth, jade-like face and, upon hearing this, raised an eyebrow, pushing her luck further, "Then I'd like to pinch your cheek, will you allow it?"

Yan Huang's clear eyes glanced around, and seeing that Mo Ling hadn't come out yet, he smiled and said, "Only you would dare to make such a request." As he said this, he slightly turned his face away.

Li Yue absolutely adored his almost doting way of granting her every wish. Smiling, she propped herself up on the edge of the table with one hand and leaned over to pinch the fair cheek she had longed for, but then caught a glimpse of a figure flashing by out of the corner of her eye.

She glanced sideways and was startled when she saw Yu Wuchen standing outside the door with an umbrella.

Yu Wuchen looked up and saw her leaning forward, one hand seemingly reaching for Yan Huang's cheek, and he was also startled.

Noticing Li Yue's stiffness, Yan Huang turned around and, seeing Yu Wuchen standing outside the door staring at Li Yue, smiled without any awkwardness and said, "Young Master Yu, so you've already arrived. Yanxi said he would go to the city gate to welcome you today."

The reason Yan Huang went to Xiwu last year was because Pei Yanxi went to Jiuhua Mountain and stayed there for several months. No matter how many people the Empress Dowager and Pei Bangqing sent to call her, she refused to return. In the end, he had to make the trip himself, which is why he and Yu Wuchen had met.

Before Yu Wuchen could speak, Mo Ling came out with tea. Turning her head, she saw Yu Wuchen's extraordinary appearance and demeanor outside the door and was stunned again.

Hearing Yan Huang's words, Li Yue vaguely understood what was going on. She smiled faintly and sat back in her chair without saying a word. Yu Wuchen folded his umbrella and entered the slightly dimly lit tavern with an air of elegance, instantly making everyone feel what true grandeur meant.

A familiar, ethereal smile played on his lips as he nodded slightly to Yan Huang and said, "A pleasure to meet you." Then he turned his gaze to Li Yue.

It seemed that wherever she went, she was always accompanied by a different man, and each man had an extraordinary background. He regretted letting her go down the mountain in the first place.

But was it too late to mend things?

"Young Master Yu, are you here to propose or to formally marry? Are there any wedding candies?" Li Yue leaned back in her chair, lazily glancing at him with a smile, showing no sign of displeasure.

"So, Li Yue, you and Young Master Yu are old acquaintances?" Yan Huang asked, slightly surprised.

Before Li Yue could answer, another figure flashed at the door.

Mo Ling turned her head and saw Ye Qianxun, tall and aloof, standing outside the door. She instantly felt a heat in her nose and quickly turned back inside. What was going on today? Had all the handsome men in the world gathered at her tavern?

Ye Qianxun had originally come to follow Yu Wuchen, but upon arriving at the tavern, he glanced at Li Yue and immediately ignored everyone else. He strode into the tavern, and before Li Yue could react, he grabbed her shoulder in surprise and delight, saying, "What are you doing here?"

Yan Huang and Yu Wuchen, outwardly calm, were both inwardly startled.

People are strange like that. If Li Yue hadn't been there to draw attention, given the relationship between Yu Wuchen and Ye Qianxun, they could never have been able to share a roof together peacefully like this.

Li Yue, suddenly pulled into his arms, looked at the man's surprised face and immediately felt a surge of anger.

She didn't care what Yu Wuchen thought, but Yan Huang, whom she had just hooked, was still watching!

She pushed him away, annoyed, "You're touching me! Are we that close?"

Ye Qianxun was at a loss, stammering, "I think we're incredibly close!"

Li Yue was furious, but before she could retort, Ye Qianxun suddenly seemed to remember something, his expression changing. His gaze locked onto her lower abdomen, and he asked somewhat exasperatedly, "Whose child is that? Huangfu Jue's?"

Upon hearing this, not only Li Yue's eyes widened, but even Yan Huang and Yu Wuchen's expressions changed slightly.

Li Yue was going crazy. Did this damned man not stop until he completely ruined her image?

Without offering any further explanation, she stood up, grabbed Ye Qianxun by the collar, dragged him to the door, threw him outside, and angrily shouted, "Get out!"

Just then, Murong Juan rushed in, catching him off guard and bumping into the expelled Ye Qianxun. Enraged, she reached out to grab his shoulder.

Ye Qianxun, however, refused to be caught, and the two, who had already fought twice to a draw, immediately began to fight.

Seeing that neither of them intended to draw their weapons, Li Yue didn't bother to stop them, watching them leap across rooftops and fight fiercely until they reached the roof ridge.

Turning around, Yu Wuchen stared at her blankly.

He rarely showed such an expression, but Ye Qianxun's words had truly shattered his thoughts. Although it sounded unbelievable, given Ye Qianxun's personality, she wouldn't have said it intentionally to provoke someone, so… he couldn't help but suspect that it was indeed true.

Li Yue ignored him and smiled at Yan Huang, saying, "Huang Huang, shall we go?"

Yan Huang nodded, stood up, and elegantly invited Yu Wuchen, "Young Master Yu, since we've met, why not come back with me? Yanxi has been waiting for you for quite some time."

For reasons unknown, Yu Wuchen nodded in agreement, "Alright."

Yan Huang went to the door, opened his umbrella, glanced outside, and said with an unspoken implication, "Why is the ground so wet again?"

Li Yue chuckled and took his arm, looking up at him, "Isn't it just that you want me to help you?"

Yan Huang smiled without saying a word, tacitly agreeing. The two walked outside together. Yan Huang turned back, looking at Yu Wuchen still standing in the tavern, and said, "Young Master Yu, let's go."

Yu Wuchen shifted his gaze from their intertwined arms, smiled slightly, and said, "I came with my cousin. You two go first. I'll take her to visit Prince Chen's residence tomorrow."

Yan Huang thought for a moment and said, "Very well." So he left with Li Yue.

On the rooftop, Ye Qianxun glanced around and saw Li Yue leaving with Yan Huang. His eyes blazed with fury, and he chased after them, shouting, "I'm not fighting anymore!"

Murong Juan blocked his way, attacking as he said, "You think you can just stop fighting like that? Who do you think you are?"

Ye Qianxun parried while angrily retorting, "Didn't you see they left? Get out of the way!"

Murong Juan had naturally seen Li Yue leave with Yan Huang, and feeling aggrieved, he wanted to vent his anger on someone. How could he possibly let Ye Qianxun leave?

"I'll talk after you beat me!" He tightly gripped Ye Qianxun, preventing him from escaping.

Ye Qianxun was both angry and annoyed. A short while later, he saw Yu Wuchen slowly walking away with Yan Huang and the others, and exclaimed anxiously, "Yu Wuchen is leaving too!"

Although Murong Juan also disliked Yu Wuchen, he knew that Yu Wuchen was invited by the Empress Dowager to the Prince Chen's residence. Injuring him would inevitably cause trouble, so he felt more at ease fighting Ye Qianxun. He said, "What does his leaving have to do with me? Beating you down is my business!"

Seeing his provocation, Ye Qianxun also became furious. "You're dreaming!" he shouted, and with a whoosh, he drew his crescent-shaped sword from behind his back.

*

Yu Wuchen's wishful thinking ultimately backfired. Yan Huang returned and told Pei Yanxi that he had arrived and was staying in the ancient city. With the manpower of the Prince Chen's residence, they found his and Huangfu Shuhua's lodging in less than an hour.

Pei Yanxi, overjoyed, personally came to welcome Yu Wuchen and Huangfu Shuhua into the Prince Chen's residence. He hosted a welcoming feast and chatted with them until midnight before Yu Wuchen finally had some peace and quiet.

Although somewhat tired, he was mostly irritated.

He had just learned that Qu Liushang, whom he had fought, was actually Murong Juan, the fourth young master of the Dongyi Murong family, once the world's most famous assassin. Although he wasn't afraid of his identity, it was still disappointing to learn that he wasn't so easy to kill.

Furthermore, he had originally thought that only Ye Qianxun and Murong Juan were targets he urgently needed to eliminate from Li Yue's side, but today two more had appeared.

Huangfu Jue… When he first heard Ye Qianxun say that Li Yue was carrying Huangfu Jue's child, he was indeed shocked, but after thinking about it carefully, could Li Yue possibly be interested in someone like Huangfu Jue? It seemed impossible. And looking at Li Yue now, she didn't seem pregnant at all; otherwise, why would she order something as greasy as braised pig's trotters?

Now, he was more concerned about Yan Huang. From the first moment he saw him last year, he knew this was someone special—his appearance, background, and demeanor were all of the upper class.

At that time, he secretly rejoiced that Li Yue had left; otherwise, would she have been tempted by him too?

But what he didn't expect was a blessing in disguise.

Even with the immense power of his Yuexiao Manor, he couldn't possibly contend with a royal family. If Yan Huang truly wanted her, and she was willing…

No, he would go mad if he thought about it any longer.

His initial purpose in coming to Dongyi was simply to escape Jiuhua Mountain and clear his head. Huangfu Shuhua seemed to be in a bad mood as well, so he brought her along.

Their unexpected encounter in the ancient city with Yan Huang and Li Yue, and Yan Huang's mention of the invitation from the Prince Chen's residence, was, he admitted, a test of her reaction. He hadn't expected her to be completely unresponsive, at least not outwardly.

This was causing him immense torment.

Back when they traveled the martial world together in fine clothes, she would threaten to gouge out the eyes of any woman who glanced at him even twice. And now, she could ask him for wedding candy with such a nonchalant smile. Did

she… not care about him at all?

Thinking this, he slumped onto the table, overwhelmed with sorrow.

He had known all along that Yu Jiuxiao feared him and tried every means to control and restrain him. Therefore, he dared not let anyone see his affection for Li Yue. Li Yue worked as an assassin for him, carrying out various dangerous missions. He had struggled with this, fearing that if she failed, he would be doomed. But… to keep her by his side, he selfishly allowed her to take risks.

He had intended to wait until Yu Jiuxiao succeeded as the leader of the martial arts alliance this year, then he would no longer worry about her vying for the position, and would no longer be so wary and suspicious of him. But, until Li Yue was nearly killed by the Thousand Faces Killing Formation, he realized that not everything would go according to his plan.

If he told Li Yue that everything was Yu Jiuxiao's scheme, she wouldn't choose to leave but would choose to kill him. Torn between his brother and the woman he loved, with his parents watching, he was caught in a dilemma.

So he could only acquiesce, letting Li Yue hate and resent him, thinking that when the time was right, he would come to atone for his sins. They had five years of relationship; she would forgive him.

But he hadn't expected that in just one year, she would have so many men around her. He was caught off guard and heartbroken.

His intuition told him that if he didn't fight for her now, he might lose her forever.

But… he was used to the consensual, one-on-one time with Li Yue. Now, to compete with a bunch of men…

he couldn't adapt. But he understood that if he still wanted to win her back, he had to!

Realizing this, he couldn't help but think with self-deprecation: was this the legendary case of reaping what you sow?

His gaze shifted, and he noticed several plates of fruit on the round table in the room, with a dish of cherries in the center. He remembered that back in Jiuhua Mountain, she loved eating cherries every May and June, and she would accept any amount he gave her.

Now? Did she still like them?

The Prince Chen's residence was heavily guarded, but for him, it was child's play.

During his conversation with Pei Yanxi earlier that day, he had specifically inquired about Yan Huang's situation and learned that he owned a building called Wuyi Tower in the ancient city. He secretly speculated that Li Yue probably lived there.

In the enchanting night, he sped across the rooftops like the wind, soon leaving the new city and arriving at the ancient city, heading straight for Wuyi Tower.

Just as he stood on the courtyard wall of Wuyi Tower, he saw two people wrestling in the dimly lit third-floor corridor. He heard Li Yue angrily yelling, "You bastard, are you addicted to breaking and entering? Have you no shame? Get out!" Before she finished speaking, a man was thrown from the third floor, but he landed steadily with a somersault.

He looked up, and just as he pitifully called out "Li Yue," he suddenly sensed someone on the wall. Turning his head, his face darkened instantly.

Yu Wuchen, seeing that the man he had been carelessly thrown was Ye Qianxun, was immediately in high spirits. Meeting his gaze, he gracefully floated towards Li Yue, landing lightly in front of her.

Seeing Yu Wuchen suddenly appear, Li Yue felt a headache coming on. She wasn't interested in any of these men anymore; she'd taken a liking to Yan Huang, after all. Why were these men like leeches, impossible to get rid of once they'd stuck to her?

It was a classic case of the unwanted always appearing!

She smoothed her long, disheveled hair and asked, "You need something too?"

Yu Wuchen didn't answer, but magically produced a plate of cherries from his sleeve.

Li Yue was taken aback, thinking to herself: Cherries? Did he think I was a child? She

initially hesitated, but then caught a glimpse of Ye Qianxun standing downstairs, craning her neck and looking on expectantly. She thought, "Fine, I'll deal with one while I can."

She took the plate of cherries, smiled sweetly, tiptoed, and kissed Yu Wuchen on the cheek, saying, "Thank you." She turned and went back to her room, closing the door behind her.

Ye Qianxun's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Just as he leaped up the stairs, Yu Wuchen flew back to the courtyard wall, turned to look at him, and deliberately stroked the cheek Li Yue had just kissed. With a flick of his sleeve, he disappeared into the night.

Ye Qianxun was furious, but he had no time to chase him away. He was just thinking: So a plate of cherries can be exchanged for a kiss? Why didn't I think of that? If that's the case, then two plates of cherries, three plates of cherries… or even a sack of them?

Thinking this, his eyes lit up. He felt he had finally figured it out. He glanced back at the tightly closed door and confidently left Wuyi Tower.

Inside the room, Li Yue sat on the edge of the bed, watching the figure reflected on the window paper. Seeing him suddenly disappear, she breathed a sigh of relief, flopped onto the bed, and thought: Now no one should come. I can finally get a good night's sleep.

Just as she slipped under the covers, she glanced at the window and was startled.

Another person stood outside the window, but it wasn't Ye Qianxun. Ye Qianxun had short hair, while this person had long hair tied up. It wasn't Yu Wuchen either; in terms of height, he was even taller than Yu Wuchen.

Judging from his build, it should be Murong Juan.

He didn't make any unnecessary movements, simply standing quietly by the window, seemingly lost in thought, or perhaps melancholy.

Li Yue watched him quietly. For the past two days, she had tried her best not to think about him, not to see him, not to get entangled with him, just so as not to torment him.

But he seemed unwilling to let himself go.

He already couldn't accept her lifestyle of flitting between men, and now, with the added constraint of being cousins, she truly couldn't imagine how he could convince himself to be with her.

She also felt regret, but life had already taught her that what isn't yours, you can't force. So even if her heart was tormented, when it was time to let go, she wouldn't hesitate.

This was true for Yu Wuchen, and it was also true for him.

He leaned against the windowsill, standing there for a long time. Li Yue looked at him for a long time too. Although they were only separated by a wall, that short distance now seemed as vast as a thousand mountains and rivers.

Now, besides sighing "If only life were as beautiful as our first meeting," Li Yue couldn't find a more suitable phrase to express her feelings. She wondered if he felt the same way.

*

Li Yue didn't know that on this very night, because of her love for cherries, she unintentionally created a group of heroes in the eyes of bandits.

That night, almost ninety percent of the mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles in Yong'an City were raided by a group of audacious bandits. They were skilled in martial arts, scaling walls and leaping across rooftops, kicking down doors and injuring people, barging into homes and shouting, "Hand over the cherries!"

Thus, that night, all the wealthy households who were robbed lost nothing, and all the cherries were looted.

Although this shocking robbery at the foot of the capital didn't cause much actual damage, the bandits' courage and skill became famous throughout Dongyi.

It is said that for a long time afterward, all the robbers in Dongyi, whether they were highwaymen or burglars, would stop talking and simply brandish their knives, saying imposingly, "Hand over the cherries!" They were considered experts in their line of work. If you said, "This road is mine, this tree is mine," or "Give me your money if you want to live," you would be utterly despised!

...

Just as dawn was breaking, Li Yue was awakened by a knock on the door. Rubbing her eyes, she reluctantly got up to open it. When she saw Ye Qianxun standing there with gleaming eyes, she immediately flew into a rage, saying, "Ye Qianxun, are you ever going to stop?" She then tried to slam the door shut.

Ye Qianxun quickly braced himself against the door, then pulled out a heavy sack with his other hand, as if presenting a treasure. Li Yue was jostled back a few steps by the weight of the sack, her eyes wide with disbelief: "What's this?"

Ye Qianxun entered the room with a mysterious air, placed the sack on the table, and untied it. Large, bright red cherries rolled out.

A sack of cherries? What… what does this mean?

Li Yue was still stunned when the man, who thought he was trying to please her, clung to her, hugging her tightly and saying, "I want a kiss too."

Li Yue snapped out of her daze. So this man saw her kiss Yu Wuchen after receiving the cherries last night and thought that giving her cherries would make him intimate with her?

Good heavens, what kind of brain does he have? How could he possibly hold onto the position of Blood Shadow Palace Master and be famous throughout the martial world?

She immediately pushed him away, yelling, "You're so stupid! Take your cherries and get out of here!" She turned and stormed off towards the dressing table.

Ye Qianxun was taken aback, looking at her retreating figure, and asked, "Why did you kiss Yu Wuchen when he gave you cherries?"

"Because I like him!" Seeing him standing there, Li Yue felt annoyed and thought: If I can't get rid of you, I'll make you leave!

There was no sound behind her, and Li Yue didn't turn around. She sat down at the dressing table, picked up a comb, and hadn't combed her hair twice when she heard a dull thud behind her.

She paused, turning around in confusion, only to see Ye Qianxun lying motionless on his back.

Ha, playing dead?

Li Yue ignored him and continued combing her hair. But after she finished combing her hair, changing her clothes, and washing up, the man was still lying there silently.

Li Yue began to ponder: This man fought with Murong Juan yesterday, and she didn't know who won or lost. Could it be… that he suffered internal injuries back then, and now her anger has triggered them?

She circled him once, took two cherries from the sack, and ate them. The sweet taste finally made her feel pity for this man who had betrayed her yet was now trying so hard to please her.

She squatted down and reached out to pat his face. "Hey..." Before she could finish speaking, the man who had been lying down pretending to be dead suddenly launched a counterattack, stretching out his long arm to pull her into his embrace and swiftly rolling her down to pin her beneath him.

(Chapter 75, Similar to impotence...)

Li Yue was caught off guard and had no time to resist before Ye Qianxun pinned her down. Realizing he had indeed been faking his death, she was both shocked and angry, cursing, "Ye Qianxun, have you no shame? You actually pretended to be dead to deceive me?"

Ye Qianxun held her tightly, looking aggrieved, and said, "Li Yue, I know I was wrong, please forgive me?"

Li Yue struggled, saying, "Let me go!"

Ye Qianxun pursed his lips, clinging to Li Yue like an octopus, writhing for a while before blushing and saying, "Li Yue, if you forgive me, I'll let you have me, okay?"

Li Yue was taken aback.

Seeing that she didn't understand, Ye Qianxun stammered, "That time in the woods, didn't you say you wanted me to be like in a cave..."

"Get lost! You're so vain! Who wants to have you? You'd better hold back!" Before he could finish, Li Yue struggled like a wildcat, but this damned man was quite strong, and she couldn't break free no matter what she did. Her hands were also restrained by him, and she really had no way to do anything.

"What do you want for me to forgive me? Just tell me, and I'll do whatever you say, okay?" Seeing that Li Yue's face was gloomy and seemed about to get angry, Ye Qianxun trembled but was unwilling to let go of this excellent opportunity, cautiously probing.

Li Yue looked up at his sincere and aggrieved face, her anger subsided slightly, and asked, "If I say you'll do whatever I say?"

Ye Qianxun nodded hastily.

"Alright, two choices. First, bring me Yu Lianqiu's head. Second, go and sleep with Jiang Hanyu. Choose whichever you prefer." A wicked smile played on her lips.

Ye Qianxun froze.

"What? Didn't you just say you'd do whatever I said? I'm only giving you one choice, I haven't even asked you to do both yet." Li Yue smiled, but her eyes were cold and hard.

Ye Qianxun pondered for a moment, then said, "Okay, I choose the second one." Huangfu Jue had offended Li Yue, and he had wanted to teach him a lesson, even though it was a bit underhanded and not his style, but… to get Li Yue's forgiveness, he couldn't care less.

"Go yourself, no one else is allowed to do it for you." Li Yue added a condition.

"Why?" Ye Qianxun immediately reacted, releasing her and sitting up.

"If you can't do it, leave. I'm not forcing you." Li Yue also got up, slowly straightening her clothes.

Ye Qianxun grew anxious and grabbed her, saying, "Are you in such a hurry to push me to another woman?"

Li Yue scoffed, brushing his hand away, "It's just sleeping together. You wouldn't fall in love with whoever you sleep with, would you?"

"But I can't sleep with other women!" Ye Qianxun said seriously.

"Hmm?" Li Yue glanced at him sideways, not understanding what he meant.

"Besides you, no matter who it is, I'm... kind of impotent." His cheeks flushed red, his eyes darting away.

Li Yue was stunned for a moment, then, "Hahaha..." she burst into laughter, startling the sparrows perched on the railing outside the door.

*

After so many days in the ancient city, this was the first time Li Yue had seen the Dongyi sun, thin yet brilliant, its rays warm on her face.

Li Yue squinted, lazily strolling along the bustling streets of Yong'an New City, Ye Qianxun following like a tail.

Because of his phrase "kind of impotent," Li Yue was in a good mood, so she decided to have him stay by her side to observe him further.

Whenever she saw candied hawthorns, she would buy one, but today her luck was clearly not good. She took one bite and her teeth ached from the sourness. Just as she was about to throw it away, she remembered the man following behind her, and a mischievous idea popped into her head again.

She suddenly stopped and turned to look at Ye Qianxun. She found that the man who had looked like a wronged little wife in the room just moments before now possessed a cold and aloof air. Coupled with his handsome features and tall, slender figure, he had indeed attracted quite a few glances as they walked.

Glancing at the passersby who were staring at them, Li Yue smiled and held the candied hawthorn in front of him.

Ye Qianxun looked at the candied hawthorn she had already bitten off, and was immediately flattered. Although he was a little unaccustomed to it, he ignored the stares of others and took a bite of the second one. However, after just one bite, his handsome face turned pale with sourness.

"Here, you dare to spit it out and try?" Li Yue threatened, poking his nose with a bamboo skewer.

Ye Qianxun's dark eyes instantly became even more mournful than Tanlang's when he was aggrieved. He was torn between chewing and spitting, yet dared not spit it out. Fortunately, quick-thinking, he stretched out his neck and swallowed it whole.

Li Yue watched him finally breathe a sigh of relief, as if he had completed a task, and suddenly found this man incredibly adorable.

However, thinking of Yu Lianqiu behind him, someone who could rival her, she lost the will to continue arguing with him.

It wasn't that she was afraid of losing to Yu Lianqiu; she simply… hated trouble.

She tossed the candied hawthorn aside, turned around, and was startled again when she looked up.

Not far away, about ten feet, two people, with outstanding looks and extraordinary bearing, walked side by side, their expressions composed.

Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Murong Juan and Huangfu Shuhua.

Huangfu Shuhua was tall and slender, so standing next to Murong Juan, they appeared as a perfect match from afar.

Both wore indifferent expressions; though not intimate, there was a tacit understanding between them.

Li Yue didn't know why she froze for a moment when she saw this scene. Clearly, her loss of composure hadn't caught Murong Juan's eye, but he didn't hesitate; his gaze simply shifted to Ye Qianxun behind her.

As the two couples drew closer, Huangfu Shuhua also saw Li Yue. She nodded gently to her as a greeting, and Li Yue returned a slight smile. The scene was exactly the same as when they had met before at Jiuhua Mountain.

Murong Juan's gaze collided with Ye Qianxun's in the air, conveying a message she couldn't understand—in fact, she didn't want to understand. She tilted her head slightly, preparing to continue forward.

A yellow figure flashed in the corner of her eye. When she turned to look, she saw Tan Lang, who had been quietly following behind, hopping towards Murong Juan, raising his two front paws and landing on Murong Juan's legs, leaving several paw prints on his clean robes.

Li Yue was surprised. When she first arrived in the ancient city and encountered Murong Juan on the bridge, Tan Lang hadn't been this excited. Was this damned dog deliberately causing trouble today?

Sure enough, the four who were about to pass each other stopped because of this sudden scene. Ye Qianxun stared at Tan Lang, who was deliberately getting close to Murong Juan, with displeasure. Huangfu Shuhua's expression didn't change, but she glanced at Li Yue again. Murong Juan stiffened for a moment, then reached out and patted Tan Lang's head.

"Tan Lang, come here!" Li Yue called to it.

Tan Lang turned its head and rubbed against Murong Juan's leg, following him faithfully.

Li Yue understood; this damned dog was deliberately trying to cause trouble for her, but she didn't need it. She

immediately jumped up, kicked Tan Lang, and cursed, "Trying to rebel?"

Seeing that Li Yue was serious, Tan Lang was frightened and ran away. Li Yue was too lazy to chase it, dusted off her sleeves, and continued on with Ye Qianxun.

She walked a long way without looking back.

She had intended to ignore it, but for some reason her mood worsened, and she gradually lost even the desire to continue shopping.

"Let's go back," she said to Ye Qianxun with a light, graceful turn.

The man, who had never been interested in shopping, was overjoyed to hear this.

Li Yue looked around but didn't see Tanlang. She knew that he had gone with Murong Juan after all. She sighed inwardly and turned to walk towards the ancient city.

After a few steps, she faintly heard screams and cries. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw what appeared to be a beggar child being carried by two burly servants, with a ragged woman crying and chasing after them.

"Mother, Mother... save me..." The little girl was being held under the servants' arms, struggling with her hands and feet.

The woman finally caught up and frantically tried to pull at the servant's sleeve, but the servant turned around and kicked her several feet away, causing her to fall to the ground, unable to get up.

Passersby watched the scene indifferently, not one daring to step forward to help the mother and daughter beggars.

"Save my child...please...save my child..." The woman, blood trickling from her lips, struggled a few times but couldn't get up. She crawled on the ground, pleading for help from the passersby on either side, but no one paid her any attention.

"Hmph!" Li Yue's eyebrows shot up. She darted forward, kicking two servants flying, then caught the little girl who had been thrown into the air, landing her steadily on the ground.

"Mother, Mother..." As soon as she landed, the little girl cried and ran to her mother's side.

Meanwhile, the two servants, covered in dust, had just gotten up and were about to cause trouble for Li Yue when Ye Qianxun, who had followed them, kicked them both to Li Yue's feet.

Li Yue glanced at the ragged mother and daughter, then stepped on the chest of one of the servants, coldly asking, "Speak, why did you capture that girl?"

Despite being at a disadvantage, the servant's tone was defiant, shouting, "Who do you think you are? Mind your own business! Do you know who we are?"

Li Yue didn't waste words with him. She moved her foot from his chest and stomped hard on his crotch, grinding it twice.

"Ah—!" The servant screamed, his face instantly turning deathly pale, his head lolling to the side as he fainted from the pain.

Seeing this, the other servant shrank back in terror. Li Yue glanced at him sideways; before he could speak, he stammered, "I'll talk, I'll talk, our young master is good, we…we were just following orders."

"Good?" Li Yue frowned. This explanation was unfamiliar to her. She glanced at Ye Qianxun, noticing that he also looked completely bewildered.

Seeing her confusion and fearing a mishap, the servant hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, it's just that our young master likes to play with little girls who haven't reached marriageable age..."

Hearing this, Li Yue turned to look at the little girl, clearly not yet ten years old, and asked incredulously, "So young?"

The servant nodded, shrinking back, "There are...some even younger than her."

Li Yue, enraged, bent down, grabbed his collar, lifted him up, and shoved him onto the road, saying, "Take me to him!"

*

The Prime Minister's mansion in Yong'an, with its hundreds of servants, was emptied by Ye Qianxun in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. When Li Yue stepped into the courtyard, not a single person could stop her.

She moved with impunity, dragging out the supposedly "good" only son in front of the Prime Minister and his wife.

Ye Qianxun, carrying the man whose pressure points had been acupunctured, followed Li Yue, leaping across rooftops and walls, unsure how she intended to deal with him.

It was said that the Empress Dowager of Dongyi kept male favorites; therefore, male brothels in Dongyi were very open, with three in the new city alone.

In front of a male brothel called "Deep in the Hundred Flowers," Li Yue stopped, pinned the Prime Minister's son against the wall, released his pressure points, and asked, "Tell me, how many have you violated? If you lie, you'll die immediately."

The man, relying on his father's position as Prime Minister and his close ties to the Prince Chen's mansion, had always been arrogant and domineering in Yong'an. He never expected to encounter two reckless thugs who not only broke into the Prime Minister's residence in broad daylight but also kidnapped him.

This unprecedented experience terrified him; he feared he would die at their hands before the authorities could rescue him. Trembling, he replied, "Thirty-odd."

"Really?" Li Yue's eyes blazed with fury as she gripped his throat.

"Really, really," the man hurriedly confirmed.

Li Yue silenced him, tore a large piece of brocade from his robe to cover his face, and dragged him into the brothel.

Ye Qianxun, seeing this, quickly followed.

"I've booked everyone here today," Li Yue declared loudly from the lobby.

The crowd in the building froze. The owner, hearing this, came up and chuckled, "Miss, we have over thirty handsome men in our establishment. Can you handle that?"

Li Yue glanced at him, pointed to the man she was dragging along, and said, "Go for him."

The owner hesitated, then said, "Miss, this isn't a brothel; we don't cater to male customers."

"It's the same thing, isn't it? Why be so fussy? Hurry up and make the arrangements. I'll pay five times the price. If you utter another word, I'll make sure you never speak again." Li Yue threatened and bribed him.

The Prime Minister's son, upon hearing this, nearly fainted from fright, but his acupoints were sealed, rendering him unable to even struggle.

The owner, looking at the faceless man in Li Yue's hand, hesitated, but Ye Qianxun's curved blade was already at his neck. His hair stood on end, and he hurriedly agreed. On the second floor of a building deep within

a

hundred flowers, Li Yue and Ye Qianxun sat in the corridor drinking tea and eating melon seeds. On the other side, over thirty male prostitutes were filing into rooms one after another. Half an hour had passed, and more than a dozen were still outside.

Ye Qianxun glanced at the men and asked doubtfully, "If they're not gay, how can they get hard in front of men?"

Li Yue glared at him and said, "Don't you understand? In places like this, aphrodisiacs are indispensable."

Hearing this, Ye Qianxun felt a pang of jealousy and asked, "How do you know?"

"Well, it's just that you're so ignorant. Everyone knows." Li Yue said.

"Is that so?" Ye Qianxun was embarrassed. Being teased about his ignorance by the woman he liked was extremely awkward for him.

Li Yue cracked open a melon seed, her eyes darting around, and said, "I'll go see how things are going."

"Dare?" Before she could even get up, Ye Qianxun had already turned and blocked her way, his face darkening.

Li Yue chuckled awkwardly and pushed him away, saying, "Just one look."

"No!" Ye Qianxun refused decisively, then added after a moment's thought, "If you want to see, I'll show you when we get back."

Li Yue rolled her eyes and turned away, ignoring him.

Half an hour later, it was finally over. Li Yue and Ye Qianxun entered the room and saw the Prime Minister's son lying face down on the bed, his buttocks covered in blood—a gruesome sight.

"See if he's dead?" Li Yue asked.

Ye Qianxun frowned, turned him over, pulled off the cloth covering his face, checked his pulse, and said, "He's still alive."

Li Yue turned and grabbed the teapot from the table, pouring it over his head. He slowly woke up.

Seeing that he was awake, Li Yue kicked him hard in the groin, and the man fainted again without a sound.

Ye Qianxun watched from the side, feeling a sharp pain in his groin, and thought to himself: Never offend this woman again.

"Hmph, let's see how you'll continue to wreak havoc on the world. I'll wipe out your offspring too!" Li Yue clapped her hands triumphantly and ordered Ye Qianxun, "Strip him naked and throw him out into the street."

*

It was already afternoon when they returned to Wuyi Tower. Li Yue flopped onto the bed, stretched, and sighed, "It feels so good to exercise."

Seeing this, Ye Qianxun lingered by the bedside and said, "Li Yue, I'm leaving Yong'an tonight."

Li Yue glanced at him and said, "Oh, then go ahead."

"Li Yue, I...I want to..." His tone softened as he rubbed against the edge of the bed, his thieving eyes scanning Li Yue's body, the meaning obvious.

Li Yue, however, was a little sleepy and yawned, asking, "What do you want to do?"

"I want to do this..." Before she could finish speaking, Li Yue felt a heavy weight pressing down on her. Turning her head, she saw the shameless man had pounced on her. Her cheek was pressed against his lips, and he kissed her without any hesitation.

“Hmm…” Li Yue stared wide-eyed, and without thinking, raised her knee.

"Ugh..." Ye Qianxun hadn't expected her to use this tactic on him, and caught off guard, he rolled to the edge of the bed.

Li Yue wasn't finished, though, kicking him off the bed and yelling, "Can't you think of anything else besides sleeping with me? Did I say I forgave you?"

"Then what will it take for you to forgive me?" Ye Qianxun struggled to his feet, lying on the edge of the bed with a resentful look.

Li Yue looked at him, thinking of him, the Night Demon, the dignified Lord of the Blood Shadow Palace, reduced to lying on the edge of the bed like Tan Lang in front of her. She felt both angry and amused, and said, "I haven't thought about it yet, we'll talk about it later."

*

Ye Qianxun left, looking unsatisfied. Li Yue flopped onto the bed and slept until evening. When she woke up, Tan Lang was lying on the floor, and there was a pattering sound outside the window, as if it was raining again.

Yan Huang didn't come to Wuyi Tower today. After dinner, Li Yue returned to her room. Even though she wasn't consciously thinking about it, images of Murong Juan and Huangfu Shuhua together kept swirling in her mind.

She felt she needed to do something to distract herself, and then realized she hadn't practiced her martial arts in a long time. She

immediately sat cross-legged on the bed, wondering if it was possible to break through to the sixth level of the Blood Demon Realm.

An hour later, wisps of light white mist slowly rose from her head, her true energy rapidly coursing through her body. Her complexion turned from white to red, her long hair billowed upwards, and her clothes, along with the bed curtains beside her, began to sway slightly.

Tan Lang sat on the floor below, staring at her intently.

Her meridians throbbed with pain. Usually, she would stop at this point knowing she couldn't force it, but today she was pushing herself. Murong Juan was a member of the Murong family, so she couldn't possibly steal the "Heart Forging Manual" from them again, nor would she ask him for it. Therefore, she could only try to overcome this hurdle on her own.

After a moment of perseverance, just as she felt she was nearing her breaking point, suddenly, her face turned pale, and she spat out a mouthful of blood with a "poof." Her body went limp and she collapsed onto the bed. A suffocating, tearing pain swept over her, rendering her unable to scream.

Seeing this, Tan Lang jumped up with a "whoosh," turned, and burst through the door.

Her true energy was scattered, and all her meridians seemed to have snapped. In the extreme pain, Li Yue's mind gradually became hazy. She vaguely thought: Have I gone into qi deviation again? This time, who can save me again…?

She didn't know how much time had passed when, in her dazed state, a hand pressed against her back, and powerful true energy flowed into her body like spring water, guiding her chaotic true energy back to its proper course. The throbbing pain in her chest gradually subsided, and the excruciating pain, exceeding her limits, eased considerably in the warmth.

She took a breath and began to cooperate fully with the person behind her, helping to gather her scattered internal energy and heal her injuries. Half an hour later, the person behind her stopped. She turned around, enduring the still-throbbing pain in her internal injuries. The room wasn't brightly lit, but it was enough for her to see the person beside the bed.

Murong Juan sat on the edge of the bed, his face expressionless, yet his eyes couldn't hide the concern.

"You…cough…" Li Yue tried to speak, but coughed up blood again. She took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth before tilting her head back, a smile on her face, and asked, "Why are you here?"

"My love." He looked at her, his voice as still and soft as the wind outside the window, not disturbing a wisp of the night.

Li Yue glanced at her lover, who was resting his front paws on the edge of the bed, and scolded, "Meddlesome."

Murong Juan lowered his eyes and, after a long while, said, "The martial arts you practice are powerful and domineering, but your internal organs and meridians are still too weak to bear such powerful martial arts. Before you continue to cultivate, you need to use medicine to strengthen your foundation and cultivate your vital energy. Otherwise, the backlash from your true energy next time will directly kill you."

"Thank you for reminding me," Li Yue said softly, leaning against the edge of the bed.

Murong Juan clenched his fists, trying his best to suppress the urge to hug her and scold her for not taking care of herself. After a long while, he looked up at the window and said, "Your injuries are very serious. Perhaps you can receive better care in a different place."

"Do you have any good suggestions?"

"The palace."

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