[An Orphan's Love Affair with a Beauty's Rivalry] (Volume 1, Chapter 009)

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Chapter 009 North Wind

Zhoujia Weichang, located in Yinan County, deep within the majestic Yimeng Mountains, is about 700-800 li from Jinan Prefecture

. It lies a vast river plain nestled between the Yi and Meng rivers, with their confluence in the southern part of Weichang. The

rolling Yi River and the meandering Meng River embrace Weichang on its east, west, and south sides, while the undulating Yi Mountains to the north are a picturesque and

elegant landscape. These two rivers and mountains form the natural boundary of Weichang, encompassing the rolling hills in the central region and the triangular plain in the south

.

The area is lush with vegetation and dense shrubs, boasting stunning scenery with its mountains and waters. Combined with the Meng Mountains to the west, it forms

a Feng Shui treasure land of two mountains and two rivers. Located more than ten miles south of the confluence of the two rivers, the ancient

city of Yangdu, situated at the junction of the ancient states of Qi, Lu, and Ju, has always been a land of outstanding people and

beautiful

scenery, surpassing even the beauty of Jiangnan. It is the birthplace of Zhuge Liang, the famous military strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, and the former residence of Yan Zhenqing, the Tang Dynasty calligrapher. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, ancestors lived and thrived on this land, creating the brilliant Dawenkou and

Longshan cultures, leaving behind numerous cultural relics from the Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Han dynasties. During the Xia Dynasty, Yinan belonged to the Dongyi people,

and during the Shang Dynasty, it belonged to the Renfang people. From the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period, it was the State of Yang. During the Qin Dynasty, Yangdu County was established, under the jurisdiction of Langya Commandery, a system that continued through the Han, Three Kingdoms, and Western

Jin Dynasties. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Five Barbarian Invasions led to years of war, and many Han people fled, leaving this Hetao Delta uninhabited and

gradually desolate. Yangdu, south of the river mouth, was also submerged in the smoke of history, becoming an ancient site for people to remember.

Later, Shi Hu of the Later Zhao dynasty designated this area as a royal hunting ground. The Former Yan state of the Murong Xianbei, the Later Yan established by Murong Chui, and the Southern Yan established by

Murong De all used this area as their royal hunting grounds. Over time, with the changing of dynasties, this land

frequently changed hands. Deep in the mountains, its inaccessibility made it unsuitable for agriculture, and it became a desolate wasteland. In the current dynasty, this vast

grassland belonged to the Zhou family and was converted into pasture.

Murong Ziyan was born into a Jurchen tribe that had traditionally relied on hunting. Like the Xianbei, she was skilled in archery and horsemanship and loved

hunting . In her sixth year of marriage to the Zhou family, she converted the pasture back into the Zhou family's hunting grounds for her to lead hunting expeditions in the autumn and winter.

At dawn, a long procession filed out of Jinan's west gate. At the center of the procession was a magnificent carriage

pulled by four tall, splendid, chestnut-red horses, all renowned breeds from beyond the Great Wall. The carriage was lavishly decorated, its grandeur rivaling

that of princes and nobles granted fiefdoms. Thirty agile and valiant knights led the way, followed by dozens more

, their spirited horses surrounding the carriage. The procession sped south along the official road, rounding the western foothills of Mount Tai,

passing through Xintai, Mengyin, and Zijing Pass, its destination Yinan Hunting Ground.

South of Jinan lay a vast mountainous region, the route passing through Lishan, Fangshan, Mount Tai, Guishan, Culaishan, and Mengshan

, the roads rugged and treacherous.

The left-side curtain was lifted, revealing a stunningly beautiful young man of about fourteen years old. He had a face as white as a silver vase, a nose as straight as a hanging gall bladder, and

lips as red as painted cinnabar. His large, clear eyes seemed to possess a powerful attraction, complementing his jade-like face and red lips,

bright eyes and delicate eyebrows. He resembled a celestial prince, far surpassing the mortal Zidu, a fairy from the Jade Pool, unparalleled in the world. This was none other than Wuyue.

He gazed at the mountains, thinking to himself, "Riding a horse is better than a carriage; at least I can enjoy the scenery along the way."

A lithe figure in white, masked, rode forward, saying reproachfully, "Wuyue, the madam instructed

you not to show your face along the way. Quickly lower the curtain!"

Every time he left the manor, he would reveal his true colors, becoming restless and speaking without restraint. Moreover, this time without Murong

Ziyan accompanying him, he felt quite relaxed. Hearing this, he said dismissively, "I say, Ice Beauty, '

A general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders.' Don't you understand this principle?"

Elsa laughed, "Yes, sister is slow-witted, only knowing how to obey orders. I see you, you've

become arrogant "Why are you calling me 'sister' instead of 'sister'?"

Wuyue chuckled. "I think this is more appropriate. Sister is an ice beauty, after all. Luckily

you're veiled, otherwise a lot of people would have fallen down along the way, and who knows how many passersby would have become idiots, hehe!"

Elsa's expression was unclear under her veil. After a long while, she spat out, "You should say that to the Grand Commander

."

Beifeng, who was focused on driving, turned around and said, "Little sister, why are you bothering me again?" Noticing Wuyue's head sticking

out, he frowned and said, "Wuyue, sit properly in the carriage and lower the curtain." His voice was gentle, like

an elder sister earnestly instructing her brother.

The same words, but when she said them, really worked. Wuyue reluctantly pulled back and lowered the curtain.

Elsa stuck out her tongue. "The Grand Commander is the Grand Commander. Do you think no one can control you just because the Lady isn't here

?" Although she and Beifeng were like sisters, their personalities were very different. Elsa was lively and cheerful, unlike Beifeng's

quiet reserved nature.

Wuyue called out from inside the carriage, "Hey, beautiful sister, I haven't been allowed to ride a horse or see

the scenery on this journey. It's so boring sitting alone in the carriage. Come in and chat with me for a while."

Elsa jumped onto the carriage shaft, annoyed, and said to Beifeng, "Grand Commander, why don't you come in and chat with him for a while?

I'll drive for you." She had always thought Wuyue and Beifeng were a perfect match, a match made in heaven, and she had also seen through Beifeng

's feelings. However, she was never good at expressing herself, and she was secretly worried for her.

Beifeng shook his head, took out an oil paper package from his pocket, and handed it to her. "I don't have much to say to Wuyue

even if I go in. You should go in and keep him company. You two are always chatting and laughing together." She still had some concerns and wanted to avoid

suspicion .

Elsa sighed, truly unsure of what she was thinking. She opened the front door, climbed into the carriage, and sat down

next to Xiao Wuyue, lost in thought.

Wuyue laughed, "Beautiful sister, why did you become mute as soon as you came in?"

Elsa glared at him, unwrapped the oil paper package, picked up an apricot and stuffed it into his mouth, frowning as she said,

"I feel the Commander-in-Chief has been acting strangely lately, as if he doesn't want to see you. What's wrong?"

Wuyue reached out and picked up a candied crabapple and stuffed it into her mouth, speaking indistinctly as he ate,

"I'm wondering the same thing. Recently, Sister Beifeng has rarely come to Qiushui Pavilion. If I run into her in the courtyard, she'll take a detour, deliberately

avoiding me. This time, I specifically asked Madam to go to the hunting grounds with Sister Beifeng, just to ask her what's going on

."

Elsa said, "Did you ask? She's been in a very bad mood lately, and she doesn't often go to the training ground to supervise

the Elite Guard's training, leaving all eight hundred men of the Upper Yellow Banner to me. It's really difficult. I'm just

the captain of the Second Column, how can I have the nerve to command the other seven captains?"

Wuyue said, "The Upper Yellow Banner should have its own banner lord. Sister Beifeng is the commander of the elite guards,

with thousands of soldiers under her command. She already has enough miscellaneous duties, and on top of that, she's the banner lord

of the Upper Yellow Banner, and she also has to serve the Madam and me. How can she manage? I'm worried for her! In my opinion, Sister Ai is resourceful and decisive; she'll probably be promoted to

deputy banner lord of the Upper Yellow Banner soon, or even banner lord."

Elsa said, "I haven't thought that far ahead. I just want to do my job well under the commander."

Wuyue nodded and said, "Your thinking is certainly correct, but I can see that the Madam and Sister Beifeng both

admire you very much."

Elsa smiled slightly, "I've noticed that you're particularly fond of pondering things. You

seem carefree, but you're actually very perceptive.

" Yue sighed, "I was forced into this. Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger! I learned to read people's

faces . Knowing what to say in what situation is very important. If I didn't have this self-protection ability, sigh~"

Elsa laughed, "Look how serious you make it sound! In my opinion, every time Madam beats you, it's all bark and no

bite. She only goes all out because she knows someone will go in to protect you. Think about it carefully, when

neither are around, has Madam ever beaten you?"

Yue thought carefully and realized that she hadn't, but the terrifying scene still made him shudder,

and his heart tightened. "Miss is alright, she just pulled me away and I was fine, but Sister Beifeng always gets beaten

so badly !" His eyes reddened a little.

His deceased family members left him with no memory, but he

never . Of course, the two young ladies of the Zhou family were also good to him. These were practically all his relatives.

Elsa comforted her, "Don't think so much. Just don't forget Sister Beifeng's kindness. Her

life has been so difficult. She endured such cruel training from a young age, and after completing her training, she

fought ... So you must treat her well in the future and never let her suffer. A woman with Sister Beifeng's personality,

if she were to encounter a heartless man, she would never be able to overcome that hurdle!"

Wuyue said emotionally, "I will... When I have the ability in the future, I will definitely buy a large mansion for

Sister Beifeng and hire the best maids to serve her. She has worked hard for half her life, and I really want her to enjoy a peaceful and happy life!"

Elsa Elsa's eyes reddened as well. "She didn't expect that from you. For a woman, do you think living in a big

mansion and having a bunch of maids serving her is all that matters? Not necessarily. Didn't she...didn't she say anything to you?"

Wuyue asked curiously, "What did she say?"

Elsa shook her head. "Nothing...you can ask Sister Beifeng what she wants. I...I

'll go out and drive the carriage so Sister Beifeng can rest for a while."

On the carriage shaft, Elsa took the reins and gestured towards the carriage. Beifeng frowned and hesitated. Elsa

bit her lip and shook her head a few times, as if pleading. Only then did Beifeng enter the carriage and sit in a corner,

far away from Wuyue.

Wuyue sat down and leaned on her broad shoulder. Beifeng habitually raised his right hand, hesitated for a moment, slowly

lowered it , and then raised it again...After hesitating for a long time, he finally reached out and put his arm around her neck, stroking her hair...

The carriage was silent for a long time. Xiao Wuyue raised her head, and Beifeng stared blankly at her, his eyes filled with a complex

mix of affection, infatuation, and loneliness. She had never learned to fight for herself;

not only not taught her, but she had also deliberately downplayed her awareness in this regard, shaping her into someone who only knew how to give without expecting anything in return.

Wuyue sighed softly and asked, "Sister Beifeng, we grew up together. You

used to take me to the back garden and barracks to play hide-and-seek, taking care of me and loving me like an older sister.

Why have you been avoiding me lately? Every time we meet in the yard, you always take a detour, deliberately avoiding me. Do

you not want to see me?"

Beifeng bit her lip, not knowing how to answer. After a long silence, she finally said, as if she had made up her mind, "Yes

, I have indeed been avoiding you these days. I don't know how to explain it to you, but Wuyue, you just need

to remember , your sister will never... will never... not want to see you!" She had never felt so weak and powerless before. It

wasn't that her body was weak; there were probably no more than ten people in the world who could withstand her full force. What was weak was her heart.

She wanted to say, "If I don't see you for ten days or half a month, I feel uneasy, as if I have lost something

I cherish ." But in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

In truth, each time she dodged, she would follow Wuyue, her gaze fixed on his retreating figure, lingering there

until he disappeared through the arched gate of Qiushui Pavilion. Even then, she would stand there, stunned, for a long time… If

she didn't encounter him for several days in a row, she couldn't help but run to her secluded chamber and hide in the green-velvet side room. Wuyue would pass by that

door , rain or shine.

Like Murong Ziyan, she was strong and resilient, never crying from a young age, even when she was

captured and carried by Wuyase along muddy, arduous roads, amidst the cries of most infants.

As she grew older, she viewed tears as a sign of weakness; her tears, like Murong Ziyan's, were precious,

preferring to bleed rather than shed tears.

But everything changed in the past ten days or so. Every time she saw him pass by the green velvet window, she would hide in a corner

and silently weep, not wanting anyone to see her, especially not wanting him to see her. She had no choice but to hide in the green velvet room for several days without

going out, until her swollen eyes completely recovered...

************

When she was a child in Liaodong Jurchen, she was fostered by a noble family by a lady. The person responsible for taking care of her

and the four sisters, including Zhaiyue, was a female slave named Wuyase, who also came from the Yehe tribe

and

was one of the spoils of war captured by the Liaodong Jurchen. After being taken by the nobleman, Wuyase became pregnant and later gave birth to a son. The noble lady had never borne children, and when Wuyase's child was just a month old, she sent someone to take the child away and raise him

herself .

Wuyase missed her child terribly and would often secretly slip away to

the gate , to peek at her child. Each time, she couldn't help but burst into tears. When the noblewoman took her child for a walk,

Uya Se would always follow at a distance, staring longingly at the piece of her own flesh that had fallen from her body.

Whenever she heard a child crying next door, Uya Se would drop everything she was doing and rush to the next room,

peering inside with trepidation, but she dared not go in. If she saw her child being beaten, her heart would break.

After many visits, Beifeng innocently asked her, "Since you miss your child so much, why don't you go and bring him back?"

Wuyase replied, "I am my master's slave. The child I bear should belong to my master. How can I

bring him back?" 　　　　　　　　　　　However

, Beifeng still vividly remembers the expression on her face every time she saw the child. 　　In Wuyase's view, it was only natural for her child to be raised by her master, but maternal instinct is not bound by status or position. At the time, Beifeng's young mind disagreed, but her current behavior was very similar to Wuyase's back then, and her feelings were probably similar as well. 　　What difference would it make if they were together now? Wuyue didn't belong to her; it was fate, just as Wuyase's child didn't belong to her. He was the lady's beloved, the object of her affections, not hers… She had never considered whether he should belong to her, much less take back what was rightfully hers, though she longed it, even more than the lady… 　　Wuyue picked up her calloused right hand, examined it closely, and a sense of vicissitude welled up within him. At his age, he shouldn't have felt this way. "I just told Sister Ai that when I grow up, I'll buy Sister Beifeng a big house and have the best maids serve you, so you can enjoy life to the fullest." "Qingfu," she said, "you might not like it, is that right?" 　　Beifeng said, moved, "I'm happy as long as you have the heart. Elsa is right , I really wouldn't be used to living alone in such a big house." 　　Wuyue smiled and said, "How could we let Sister Beifeng live there all alone? I'll keep you company. When you have a few children, the house will be lively, won't it? When you get old, you'll be surrounded by your children and grandchildren. What a !" 　　Beifeng's eyes showed a deep longing, and she said softly, "But who will have children with me? Will the children belong to me?" She couldn't help but think of Wuya Se again. 　　Wuyue scratched his head, "Well, I haven't thought about that. But I think, Sister, you can have children with whoever you like." He really hadn't thought about it. In his heart, Beifeng was the best sister, Aunt Lixiang and her husband were the most loving parents, and their children, Li'er and Amy, were his closest younger brothers and sisters. 　　Beifeng shook her head. "That's impossible. You know, I'm just a slave. How can I do whatever I want ?" 　　This was also what Wuyue couldn't understand the most. "Sister Beifeng, you've risked your life for the Madam for many years, braving swords and spears. Besides the Madam and the eldest young lady, you're the highest-ranking person in the manor. How can you still be a slave?" 　　Beifeng said, "In the Jurchen tribes, prisoners are slaves. I'm an orphan of the Yehe tribe during the Nine Tribes Rebellion. After the Nine Tribes Alliance was defeated, I was taken back to the Liaodong Jurchens. So no matter how high your rank is in the manor, you're still a slave. What you're saying is a luxury for me, and I don't expect it either. Just seeing you safe and happy is enough . These years have passed so quickly. Before I knew it, you were almost as tall as me." Her pink cheeks brushed against his hair, her heart overflowing with love and tenderness. 　　If heaven gave her another chance to choose, as long as she could be with him, she would still choose to be a slave for all eternity, devoted and without regret! 　　Wuyue whispered, "Everyone says the Yehe tribe is full of beauties, no wonder! I heard from Sister Ziyan that you were the number one beauty on the sixteenth beauty list two years ago ! Did you know that?" 　　Beifeng's heart skipped a beat. From the change in address, she sensitively sensed that their relationship had deepened. Although she knew this would be the outcome, she still felt a pang of pain and a sense of loss. After a long while, she absentmindedly asked, "Do you think I am, sister?" 　　Wuyue nodded vigorously, "Of course! I've never seen a more beautiful young woman than you, sister!" 　　A smile flickered across Bei Feng's jade-like face: "As long as you think so, that's all Madam is the true number one beauty; I can't compare to her." 　　Wu Yue asked curiously, "That's a different matter... Being ranked number one on the beauty list is such an honor! It lets the whole world know that you are the number one beauty, how can you not care?" 　　Bei Feng shrugged and said, "What does the whole world have to do with me? Does it matter ?" 　　Now it was Wu Yue's turn to feel a pang in her heart. Number one in the world! This was the glory that so many passionate young men and women dreamed of , yet Sister Bei Feng actually disdained it! 　　Another silence fell. Beifeng thought for a moment and then said, "I must remind you, don't anger Madam again. After Miss gets married, no one will be able to protect you." 　　Qingzhou and Laizhou, nearby areas, are kite-making centers. Although the autumn kite-flying season has passed, several , some in the shape of graceful beauties, others in the shape of long centipedes... from a distance, they look like a few ants floating in the sky. 　　He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and gazed at the kites. He loved playing with them when he was a child. "Speaking of my eldest sister, she recently wrote to me, complaining a lot. She said she wanted to go back to her parents' home to visit them, but Madam wouldn't allow it, and she's very unhappy about it! Alas, I wonder how she's doing at the Su family's house in Yangzhou lately?" His clear and bright eyes seemed to be covered with a thin mist. The Su family of 　　　　　　　　　　　Yangzhou 　　is the wealthiest family in the area, a scholarly family in Jiangnan with a history of over ten generations. Their wealth and influence are far beyond that of ordinary nouveau riche. The patriarch, Su Daheng, passed the imperial examination in his youth, and his only son, Su Yusheng, is one of the renowned "Four Gentlemen of Jiangnan," exceptionally talented and handsome. 　　Recently, the patriarch has been in a very bad mood. At the beginning of the year, he held a grand wedding banquet for his son, inviting all the prominent relatives and friends in the neighborhood, hoping to bring some joy to the Su family, which has always been short of descendants. Unexpectedly, the wedding was disrupted by the bride's dramatic outbursts, and was only hastily ended with the intervention of her mother-in-law, leaving the guests and hosts extremely embarrassed, and him utterly humiliated! He and his wife eagerly awaited the arrival of a grandchild, but more than half a year has passed, and his daughter-in-law's belly has not shown any signs of pregnancy; instead, her chest has become more prominent. 　　In the main hall, the family sat around a dark red rosewood octagonal table, having lunch, except for the young mistress, Zhou Yun. Every time she came, the family's eyes would linger on her belly, making her feel very awkward, so she simply stopped coming. 　　The Su family, Master and Madam, were somewhat helpless with this unruly young mistress; ever since she married into the Su family, the household...

On average, two serious assaults occur every day in the manor. Everyone in the household has been beaten twice on average by her;

the servants treat her like a plague! If you anger her, she'll even lay a hand on your husband, sister-in-law, or in-laws!

The two elders are already very satisfied that he comes to pay his respects to them in the evening.

Looking at his son, who was engrossed in eating, Su Daheng frowned and said, "Yusheng, I've urged you about having a child

many times . Our Su family has only had one son for three generations. When are you finally going to let your parents hold their grandson?"

Su Yusheng kept stuffing rice and vegetables into his mouth, looking like he hadn't eaten enough for breakfast, and stammered,

"I'm so young, and the family business is so busy. I haven't even been able to participate in the poetry club lately. How... how can I manage

..."

Su Daheng gritted his teeth in anger!

The kind and plump Madam Su chimed in, "What does having a baby have to do with how busy you are? Is there

something wrong with Yun'er's health? I think we should just find you a second wife!"

Su Yusheng retorted discontentedly, "Mother~ I'm so young, why would I need a second wife? Really!"

Su Daheng slammed his hand on the table, "I don't care! If there's still no sign of Yun'er after three months, it won't be up to

you!"

After finishing his meal, Su Yusheng returned to the inner quarters dejectedly. He habitually headed towards his study, but hesitated for a long time before turning back

and walking towards the north end, where the young mistress's inner quarters were. Since the marriage, he had been living alone in his study and hadn't entered the inner quarters for a long time.

He had instructed the maids serving him to keep this a strict secret and not let the master and madam

know.

Entering through the arched gate of the courtyard, he looked around. The large trees in the courtyard hadn't been pruned in a long time, their branches and leaves blocking out the sun

. The courtyard walls, which had been raised at some point, were covered with dark green moss, and all the flowers and plants had been pulled out, making it look particularly gloomy and oppressive,

like an abandoned house!

Entering the hall, he felt a sense of unease. The changes inside were even greater. The eight-immortal table and chairs,

as well as all the furniture and decorations, were either painted black or an ugly lead gray. The heavy blue curtains

were not drawn even in broad daylight, separating the room from the orange-yellow sunlight outside, creating two completely different worlds. The air

was filled with a gloomy and desolate atmosphere. Looking at the white walls, he had a

feeling ...

He couldn't help but frown and hurried into the elegant hall as if he were escaping, feeling as if he were passing through a secret passage. Finally entering

the warm chamber, he breathed a sigh of relief. He saw his beloved wife, dressed in grey, her long black hair haphazardly piled on top of her head,

her face as pale as the wall, sitting alone at an iron-grey ebony table.

He couldn't help but think of the withered nuns in the Green Bamboo Nunnery. Even so, a surge of joy welled up within him.

He walked briskly forward. Zhou Yun seemed oblivious, her head bowed, staring intently at the table, occasionally calling softly,

"Nana," a brightly colored whistle emitting strange, eerie "squeak, squeak, squeak" sounds

that sent chills down his spine.

He stared at the table. Strange, why was the tabletop moving? Good heavens! It was a huge mass of grey, furry things

wriggling, making rustling, squeaking, and clattering sounds—a swarm of large rats!

He felt utterly disgusted and hurriedly fled outside. Even in the dark, elegant hall, rats seemed to materialize and crawl about, sending another shiver down

his spine !

He forced a smile, his scalp tingling, and called out, "Yun, Miss Zhou..." Although they had been married for over half a year, he

still felt very unfamiliar with her, and addressing her was awkward.

Zhou Yun frowned, still not looking up, and said casually, "Xiao Su, is something the matter?" It

was rare to see a young woman address her husband like that.

Su Yusheng stood far outside the door, briefly explaining his parents' eagerness to have a grandchild. Zhou Yun's

brows even more, and she said coldly, "You know my attitude. The embroidered couch is now a rat's den, and some snakes

have made their home here. If you're not afraid, come on over!"

With no point in arguing, he returned to his study, racking his brains, trying to figure

out how to appease his parents.

After Su Yusheng left, Zhou Yun went to the courtyard garden. Next door, someone was flying a kite. Looking up at the gray-blue sky,

a long, centipede-shaped kite flew high and far, becoming like a tiny earthworm, fluttering in the northern

sky . A flock of geese came into view, skimming past the kite and flying north…

Her gaze shifted to the northward-flying geese, lost in thought. The midday sun gilded the white geese with red edges, like the most magnificent cloud in

the sky , gradually disappearing into the northern horizon…

Earlier, she had been idly playing with a mouse, and her maid Zhenwen, who had come with her dowry, had been frightened and hid far away.

Now , she suddenly appeared beside her and sighed, “The young master came by earlier, but left quickly.”

Zhou Yun casually replied, “I know.”

Zhenwen looked at her envious expression and whispered, “You’ve read Madam’s letter…?”

A flash of anger suddenly appeared in Zhou Yun’s eyes. “Don’t mention that woman in front of me!” In the back garden of the Zhou family mansion in

Jinan

, the afternoon sun lazily shone on the plum grove in early winter, and all was quiet. In her

secluded meditation room, Murong Ziyan, dressed in a purple dress, sat cross-legged on a futon. Cultivating Qi was her daily practice, and she

had been sitting in meditation for nearly half an hour. However, ripples of unease kept stirring within her, preventing her from focusing on

her practice .

Earlier, she had passed by the Green Velvet room, where the maid had respectfully invited her in for a cup of tea. Finding it quite

pleasant , the maid had asked her to go to Qiushui Pavilion to ask Zhaiyue for some top-quality tea from Dongting Bifeng, to brew Biqiu Qingming for her.

"They say tea can purify the mind; I wonder if the maid has finished preparing it?" she thought to herself, slowly rising.

Upon arriving at the Green Velvet room, whether the maid had timed it perfectly or it was just a coincidence, a pot of

Biqiu Qingming, brewed to the perfect strength, was ready.

Green Velvet knelt on the ground, respectfully pouring her a cup. After tasting it, Murong Ziyan couldn't help but

exclaim in admiration, "This girl's tea skills are already on par with Hua Ying's!" She thought to herself, "It seems there are truly hidden talents in this manor

. Even an unremarkable little maid has mastered such skills. Since Hua Ying was imprisoned, Wu Yue has been complaining every day about the lack of

good tea. I also feel that something is missing from my life. Perhaps I should transfer Green Velvet to Qiu Shui Xuan to serve her?"

What she didn't know was that this girl had spent two whole years honing her tea skills, constantly pleading with

the second concubine to learn, which was how she reached such a level. The fact that she was able to have tea just as Murong Ziyan came out wasn't because the girl was particularly

shrewd or it was a coincidence, but because Green Velvet had been brewing tea the whole time. By the time Murong Ziyan came out, two pots had already cooled down.

The three pots just 　　arrived ...

********** ... 　　Below, on the mountain road to the north of the canyon, a long procession of carriages and horses appeared in the distance, slowly approaching from the south. The old man in purple robes narrowed his eyes and said to the middle-aged scholar, "Protector Zhang, according to intelligence gathered from our spies, this group comes from Jinan Prefecture. They've been sightseeing along the way, and all the members are highly skilled in martial arts, with strange attire. They don't seem like officials on a trip, but rather martial arts practitioners. Strangely, none of them are familiar faces. When did so many unknown masters appear in the martial arts world? We've been ordered to closely monitor their movements and act accordingly. In your opinion, who are they?" 　　The middle-aged scholar stroked his beard and pondered for a while, then coughed lightly and said, "Judging from their attire and style of behavior, they resemble Rakshasa." "A member of the sect." 　　The purple-robed elder pondered, "But the Rakshasa Queen has always preferred to scheme in secret, and in recent years she has become more low-key. Why would she be so ostentatious on this trip? It's not like her!" 　　The middle-aged scholar smiled, "This can only mean that she herself is not among them. However, judging from the sheer size , it shows that she attaches great importance to this trip. Obviously, there must be an important figure from the Rakshasa Sect among them, at least someone extremely important to her!" 　　The purple-robed elder nodded, "Protector Zhang's insight is unique; it seems that's exactly right!" 　　As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man dressed as a farmer hurriedly came to the two of them, bowed, and said, "Reporting to the sect leader, my subordinates have confirmed that this group is from the Rakshasa Sect, and the chief member is..." " The person she's escorting is Bei Feng, the Grand Commander of the Rakshasa Sect and the most valiant general under the Rakshasa Queen. The person she's escorting is named Xiao Wuyue, the adopted son of the Rakshasa Fairy." 　　The purple-robed elder nodded approvingly, "Well done! Go and rest." He then turned to the white-robed man standing behind him and said in a deep voice, "Immediately send this intelligence to the Master via carrier pigeon!" 　　The middle-aged scholar asked, "What are the Sect Master's plans?" 　　The purple-robed elder excitedly replied, "This is clearly a big fish! We must abduct him no matter what. With him as a hostage, the Master can use him to blackmail the Rakshasa Queen, forcing her to withdraw the Rakshasa Sect's influence from the Jianghuai region. This will also solve the major problem of the Long Shark Gang." 　　The middle-aged scholar nodded and sighed, "Yes! For over ten years, the Rakshasa Sect has firmly controlled..." "Having subdued the Northern Martial World, only the Southern Martial World remains under our control, and it's already being suffocated by the Rakshasa Sect. Although the two sides have divided their territories along the river, and the martial world has been somewhat calmer in recent years, fierce competition still exists in the Jianghuai region and the Guanzhong Plain, where their respective spheres of influence meet. Gangs under their control frequently engage in bloody battles for territory and business, resulting in heavy casualties. If this plan succeeds, we can reclaim the wealthy Jianghuai region without bloodshed —truly a great achievement!" 　　The purple-robed elder said with some confusion, "Protector Zhang, there's something I've always been puzzled by. You've always been incredibly insightful; could 　　you perhaps enlighten me?" The middle-aged scholar quickly cupped his hands and said, "Sect Leader, there's no need for such politeness. Please speak frankly." 　　The purple-robed elder... The man sighed and said, "Logically speaking, we have... as our backing, but for over ten years, we seem to have been suppressed by the Rakshasa Sect, especially our Earth Gate subordinates, who dare not even reveal their whereabouts! I've been thinking, although the Rakshasa Queen's martial arts are astonishing and her intelligence is extraordinary, and the Rakshasa Sect's strength is also formidable, even if we can't deal with them, couldn't our leader mobilize elite troops to besiege the Rakshasa Sect's stronghold in Jinan Prefecture and wipe out their main force in one fell swoop? In that case, why would we need to go through all this trouble?" 　　The middle-aged scholar pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Our leader has countless incarnations and her whereabouts are unpredictable; I have never had the honor of seeing her. I wonder if the sect leader has ever asked her about this matter?" 　　The purple-robed old man laughed and said, "You might not believe it, but even..." "I've never met the Elder. My wife, Ruowen, is close to her, and I only know she's an exceptionally talented woman, a remarkable heroine who puts men to shame. Ruowen once told me that the Elder is a woman of both literary and martial talents. Perhaps her martial arts are slightly inferior to the Rakshasa Queen, but her wisdom is by no means inferior to hers. The two are truly the most brilliant minds of their time. By the way, that young girl who came back with Ruowen this time is very close to the Elder. You must make sure to take good care of all the hidden agents nearby and protect her closely. If anything goes wrong, we'll all be in deep trouble!" 　　The middle-aged scholar was taken aback: "You mean, the Spirit?" 　　The purple-robed old man nodded solemnly, then asked, " What are your thoughts on the issue I just mentioned?" 　　The middle-aged scholar said in a deep voice, "Based on..." I believe there are three possible reasons. First, over the past decade, His Majesty has launched three consecutive wars, resulting in heavy casualties and an empty treasury. The treasury has been forced to rely on various tax increases and donations from the wealthy to barely sustain itself. These tax increases have sparked peasant uprisings across the country, overwhelming the court. The Rakshasa Sect's influence is deeply entrenched; a complete eradication would require a large-scale mobilization of elite troops, which the court lacks the resources for. Second, even if the court were to launch a large-scale campaign at great cost, forcing the Rakshasa Queen to rally support would likely lead to widespread peasant rebellions, jeopardizing the very foundation of the state. Therefore, the court is unwilling to undertake such a campaign. Take this year, for example: the Rakshasa Sect 's Yizhou branch went too far, prompting government troops to suppress it, which in turn triggered uprisings in Anqiu, Yizhou, Feixian, and other areas. Uprisings broke out in Jiyang and Changle, forcing the old emperor to issue an edict of amnesty and distribute silver to relieve the rioters . The suppression of the Yizhou branch was also left unresolved! But even so, the uprisings were not completely quelled. Zhou De, Zhang Ji, and others, subordinates of the Rakshasa Sect's Licheng branch, gathered a crowd to cause trouble again, which has not yet been suppressed. This shows the Rakshasa Sect's strong appeal! 　　The old man in purple robes sighed heavily, "This is already troublesome enough. Do you think there are any other reasons ?" 　　The middle-aged scholar nodded and said, "Thirdly, according to intelligence from various sources, the Rakshasa Sect has always received strong . In the past thirty years, the Liaodong Jurchens have gradually eroded other tribes and have now unified all the Jurchen tribes, making them unprecedentedly powerful. There is a saying, 'The Jurchens are invincible if they number less than ten thousand, and if they number ten thousand, no one can defeat them!' The emperor is quite wary of the Jurchens' strength."

"Fear, and the unwillingness to provoke a large-scale war between the two sides because of the Rakshasa Sect, is perhaps also a factor."

The old man in purple robes sighed, his face full of worry, and said, "Brother Zhang, your judgment has always been accurate, and

you may have really hit the nail on the head! That's why the leader adopted the strategy of using barbarians to control barbarians, using martial arts people to deal with martial arts people,

in order to restrain the Rakshasa Sect. But the more I hear, the heavier my heart becomes. Alas! The court is in complete chaos now, officials are corrupt,

natural disasters and plagues are constant, and the people are suffering. No wonder they are hesitant to do anything! Sigh! Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about the current

situation. In your opinion, how should we start to abduct Xiao Wuyue?"

The middle-aged scholar smiled and said, "The other side is in the open, and we are in the dark. Although this group is full of experts,

it is not difficult to abduct him by setting up an ambush. The difficulty lies in how to move him to a place where the Rakshasa Sect cannot find him after we have the hostage...

I have thought of a series of plans..." He then leaned close to the old man in purple robes and whispered.

Dozens of feet behind them, a middle-aged woman in a pink dress, hidden in the pine forest, leaned on

a branch , watching the two thoughtfully.

************

The long procession of carriages and horses drew closer, slowly traversing the mountain road below the canyon. In the center of the luxurious carriage,

the driver was a tall, beautiful woman in white, her face veiled. Her every movement was graceful and elegant, like a delicate orchid

swaying in the wind . Although her face was not visible, her unparalleled beauty was still palpable.

Wu Yue called out, "Sister Ai, come in and chat with me some more! It's so

boring !"

Before her departure, the lady had given so many instructions, and Elsa had to take care of everything, riding back and forth, giving orders and

reminders, keeping her dizzy with worry. Hearing Wu Yue calling her again, she was quite impatient, yet unwilling

to refuse his request too much. She spurred her horse to the carriage, hesitating.

Wuyue huffed, "Why don't you come in? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"

Elsa retorted irritably, "I'm not afraid of you, but I'm afraid of Madam. There are still so many things to take care of."

Wuyue smiled and said, "Come in, it's alright! Madam has given so many instructions, can you handle everything perfectly? She won't

blame you for these little things."

Elsa thought it made sense, jumped onto the carriage shaft, bent down and entered the carriage, saying reproachfully, "There

's still If you have nothing to do, just lie down in the carriage and get some sleep! Why

do you keep bothering others? Can't you be quiet for a while?"

Wuyue didn't seem to hear her and said to herself, "Sister Elsa, I want to eat a pear."

Elsa was speechless, she had no choice but to peel a big pear and hand it to her.

Wuyue shook his head and said, "This pear is too big for me to eat by myself. Sister, cut it in half, and we can each

have half."

Elsa glared at him and said irritably, "Why are you so fussy! Let me tell you, you can't divide

a pear ."

Wuyue asked curiously, "Why can't I divide it?"

Elsa said seriously, "Think about it, 'dividing a pear' sounds like 'separation,' which is unlucky!"

Wuyue said "Oh," and asked, "Sister Elsa, do you think we'll separate in the future?"

Elsa said, "How would I know? A person's life is arranged by God.

Who knows what will happen in the future?"

Wuyue took two bites and then threw the pear out of the car window.

Elsa was furious. "Hey! Can't you please respect the fruits of other people's labor?"

Wuyue nodded and said, "Sister is right. Then sister, quickly get off the carriage, pick up the pears, wash them, and I'll finish the pears."

Elsa's fair face turned slightly pale, but Wuyue didn't look at her and continued, "Oh, right,

after washing them, slice them and put them in a crystal bowl before giving them to me."

Elsa was almost in a state of collapse and wanted to explode, but then she thought that she wasn't even qualified to be his maid, so she had no choice

but to swallow her anger, jump off the carriage, pick up the pears, wash them, slice them, put them in a bowl, and then hand them to him.

While eating, Wuyue stammered, "Sister Ai, I want to ask you a question..."

Elsa told herself in her heart, "Suppress it, suppress it! Don't get angry!" But she still couldn't help but scold him

, "Wuyue, can't you be quiet for a while while you're eating? You've been lying in the carriage the whole way, not caring

about anything , but I have to arrange the actions and accommodations for so many people, and I also have to be responsible for your safety with the Commander-in-Chief.

I feel a lot of pressure! Can't you let me rest quietly for a while?"

Wuyue seemed to automatically lose his hearing occasionally, and just asked, "Why do these people in the Jingwei Team call you the Ice and Snow

Beauty?"

Elsa glared at him, "It's simple, because I'm as cold as ice and snow, and anyone who touches me will freeze to death!"

Wuyue heard this, and grabbed her waist, "Is that really true? I'll try to see if I can

freeze to death."

Elsa blushed, "Do you know that what you're doing is harassing a respectable woman? Let go of me..."

But she didn't push him away seriously.

Wuyue laughed, "Sister, your body is warm and soft, and you smell so good, you're lying to me."

Elsa spat, "I think you should use that trick on Sister Beifeng...

How did it go with your morning chat?"

Wuyue stuck out her tongue, "Sister Beifeng? I wouldn't dare... Actually, we didn't talk much this morning, she barely

said anything."

Elsa was very unhappy, "Oh, I'm shameless, so you dare to do whatever you want!" Her eyes were a little

red .

Wuyue quickly said, "Who said that? Sister, you're so beautiful, I only do this because I like you!"

Laughter and banter filled the carriage; these two were like a pair of clowns whenever they were together!

Even the North Wind on

justthe carriage shaft couldn't

...

The southern part of the hunting grounds was flat, surrounded on three sides by the Meng River and the Yi River .

Various rare birds and animals brought from beyond the Great Wall and other places were kept in designated areas, enclosed by high fences. Among them were grizzly

bears and forest wolves brought by Murong Ziyan from her fiefdom, vultures from the Kunlun Mountains, talking parrots from the south, and many more. The golden eagles that

Murong Ziyan had mentioned to Xiao Wuyue, which could be ridden, were kept in the southeastern area along

the banks of the Yi River.

The central part of the hunting grounds is a vast hilly area with lush vegetation, interspersed with jungles and grasslands, streams everywhere, and dense shrubs

. It is home to a wide variety of wild animals, including numerous wild boars, antelopes, sika deer, rabbits, and pheasants

, and occasionally tigers, leopards, and black bears. This is the hunting

grounds where .

Wu Yue wasn't a stranger here, but no one had ever mentioned to him that such amazing,

enormous birds of prey were kept here. Upon arriving at the hunting grounds, his first action was to ask Bei Feng to take him to the eagle enclosure.

The eagle enclosure was a dense forest about ten miles in circumference, home to more than fifty giant golden eagles, managed by

eight eagle handlers. The handlers rarely needed to feed the eagles, as they were not caged and

spent most of their time in the dense forest, only flying down to the hunting grounds at dusk every five days or so to hunt herbivores such as wild boars,

goats , and rabbits. Each falconer carried a special whistle, using various

whistles to control and command the giant eagles. Each person was responsible for looking after about seven eagles.

It was already dusk, and the falconer leader specially used a specially made whistle to summon a giant eagle so that Wuyue could observe it

up close .

He had never seen such a huge bird of prey before! The giant eagle's body was almost the size of a tall,

fine horse, and its wingspan was nearly two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). Its curved talons were a foot long, and in both shape and size, they resembled a scimitar used by a

Jurchen hunter!

He was excited by the sight of the eagle and immediately wanted to ride on its back to experience the feeling of soaring through the blue sky, but Beifeng

dissuaded him for safety reasons...

In the hunting grounds, Wuyue, dressed in military attire, was galloping about, drawing his bow and arrow, occasionally shooting at the rabbits, pheasants, and wild boars that were driven out of the bushes

. Having spent a long time with Murong Ziyan, he too had

become , his arrows almost never missing their mark. By the end of the morning, he had reaped a rich harvest. Around him, in four directions,

there were anywhere from a dozen to thirty people in each direction, all setting up large nets in the dense bushes, using long sticks to drive their prey, and shouting

loudly to entice various wild animals into the hunting area for him to hunt.

A dozen or so tents had been erected around the perimeter, three or four tents linked together, with the largest tent in

the center . This was a custom of the Jurchen tribes during hunting; they hunted by day and slept in tents at night. A chieftain

led the able-bodied men of his tribe, divided into several small teams, to cooperate in the hunt. Murong Ziyan always

maintained and Wu Yue was no exception.

The Jurchen tribes, belonging to the Tungusic peoples, have historically lived in the forested

areas . For generations, they relied on hunting for survival, and the tribes frequently fought each other for food and resources

—a place of survival of the fittest. Over a century ago, the "wild" Jurchen drove the ancestors of the Liaodong Jurchens out of the Xing'an Mountains and

south to the region between the Changbai and Heilongjiang rivers.

Even in the present dynasty, the Jurchens retained a tribal organizational structure. Agricultural production was integrated into

Jurchen , forming a Jurchen slave system. This system combined the hunting lifestyle of the Jurchen

slave owners with the agricultural economy practiced by the Han Chinese, Koreans

,

and captured foreign peoples. Hunting peoples were even more ferocious and bloodthirsty than nomadic peoples, each possessing exceptional archery skills. Ten thousand Jurchens were essentially ten thousand hunters—imagine how terrifying that would be! This is one of the reasons why the Jurchens were able to rise to power repeatedly throughout history and establish powerful empires!

This powerful bloodline, nurtured by Murong Ziyan for years, was also evident in Wuyue. Astride a white horse

, falcon in hand, clad in white robes and silver armor, he galloped across the hunting grounds, leaping and soaring on horseback,

displaying a fierce and heroic spirit. Where was the trace of the refined scholar of the Han dynasty?

No matter how outstanding or exceptionally talented a woman may be, she longed for her prince charming to be a

revered hero, just like the classic line from "A Chinese Odyssey"—"My ideal husband

is a peerless hero; one day he will come to marry me, clad in golden armor and riding on a seven-colored cloud!"

This was especially true for Beifeng, whose blood flowed with the fierce Jurchen blood, and for Elsa as well.

The two women, while releasing their falcons and calling for the others to collect the prey Wuyue had shot,

watched him with rapt attention as he displayed his agile and heroic figure on horseback. At this moment, in Bei Feng's eyes, he was no longer a weak scholar, but a

handsome, dashing, and battle-hardened young general in silver armor, a valiant and skilled hero! Even

among , he would be considered a young hero!

A deep admiration gradually appeared in her exceptionally beautiful almond-shaped eyes… A man

should be like this! This is what a true man should be!

With Wu Yue's current skills, she was far from being a hero. The hero she saw was a product of her

imagination. This kind of independent and stubborn woman wouldn't fall in love easily, but once she had someone she loved, she would be deeply infatuated

, her steely resolve softening like silk.

Just then, with a series of howls, a large and

robust , fleeing rapidly in the northwest direction.

This was the largest prey Wuyue had seen that day. Overjoyed, he was eager to hunt it down, but the distance was too great, and

his powerful bow lacked the range. He quickly grabbed a long spear and spurred his horse in pursuit!

He followed the wild boar's tracks northwestward, gradually venturing deeper into the foothills of Changshan Mountain. Beifeng initially paid little attention,

but seeing Wuyue getting further and further away, he spurred his horse and shouted, "Wuyue, adult wild boars are very fast! If

you can't catch them , don't chase them too far! Come back!"

Wuyue ignored him and continued his relentless pursuit. By this time, he had entered a deep canyon and disappeared from

sight . Beifeng grew anxious and spurred his horse into the canyon path, ready to catch up and intercept him. Suddenly,

countless logs and table-sized rocks rained down from the cliffs on both sides, accompanied by deafening roars

, crashing down upon Beifeng!

The earth shook, and the canyon plunged into darkness!

Beifeng leaped from her horse, pushing her unparalleled lightness skill to its limit, dodging the relentless

falling logs and boulders as she charged forward!

She had only one thought in her mind: she had to reach Wuyue as quickly as possible, or he would be crushed

to pieces !

However, human strength is no match for the might of nature. Logs and boulders rained down relentlessly on Beifeng, their momentum

growing ever stronger and denser!

Even with her superb lightness skill and astonishing martial arts, she managed to dodge half of the logs and boulders hurtling towards her, and then strike with her palms and kicks...

The other half was knocked away, but she was still hit by smaller stones, leaving the stunning beauty covered in dust and grime, her clothes

torn to shreds, and her fair skin covered in wounds.

She seemed oblivious, still desperately charging forward, forward, forward!

In this life-or-death moment, she had only one thought: "If I really can't save Wuyue, I

'd rather die with him!"

Fortunately, Elsa and her Jingwei team arrived on horseback. Braving the falling logs and rocks, they

desperately pulled and dragged the frenzied leader out of this dangerous section of the canyon!

Looking at the canyon ahead, filled with logs and boulders to a height of over ten zhang and completely sealed off, remembering that he might

be buried inside, Beifeng felt a heart-wrenching pain, and her vision went black as she fainted!

Elsa and her team frantically pinched her philtrum and applied wet towels, finally reviving her after a long while.

Beifeng slightly opened her eyes, tears streaming down her face! This was the first time she had cried in front of others!

Elsa comforted her, "Commander, don't be sad. Saving him is the priority. You must keep your head

down ! You should know that there's an exit at the other end of this canyon leading to Tongjia Village. I think the other side

deliberately set up this trap, knowing they couldn't possibly trap you, so they're probably after Wuyue.

In that case , think about it, what good would killing Wuyue do them?"

Besides her excellent martial arts skills, Elsa was especially adept at strategy and was deeply trusted by Beifeng. Hearing her say this, Beifeng's

eyes lit up, and he suddenly realized, "That's right! They must want to kidnap Wuyue as a hostage to blackmail

you ! Sister, quickly summon the giant eagles. Let's fly across the canyon and block the exit there. We must rescue him!"

Thirty giant eagles took to the air, each carrying an elite swordsman on its back. Beifeng and Elsa

rode the eagles, leading the way in the northwest. The canyon was about twenty miles long, but the giant eagle flew swiftly, quickly

crossing the high ridge and reaching the vicinity of the canyon's northern exit. From its vantage point, its view was excellent, allowing it

to clearly see everything happening on the ground.

Bei Feng anxiously looked down, searching for Xiao Wuyue's whereabouts, only to be stunned.

Eight identical carriages simultaneously emerged from the canyon's exit below, speeding outwards along the mountain road in eight different directions!

This was the plan the middle-aged scholar had offered to the purple-robed elder: "After ambush and capture Xiao Wuyue,

our forces will split into eight identical carriages and flee out of the canyon in eight different directions to confuse the Rakshasa

Sect experts."

The middle-aged scholar had devised a meticulous plan to lure Xiao Wuyue into the canyon

for the abduction, but instead, he had been mistakenly led in by a wild boar in a panic, walking right into a trap!

Was this not fate?

Without hesitation, Bei Feng divided her forces into eight groups, each with three or four elite swordsmen, to pursue the eight

carriages . She personally chased them westward, and after about half an hour, finally intercepted

one of the carriages on the bank of the Meng River. She rushed forward, grabbed the driver from the carriage, and casually lifted the curtain—it was empty!

She was greatly disappointed. She carefully examined the driver and saw that he was about thirty years old, with a face tanned dark by the sun;

he really looked like an ordinary cart driver.

The driver, seeing four giant eagles he had never seen before descend from the sky, followed by four fierce-looking masked men in purple robes,

was terrified and was still trembling.

The North Wind demanded sharply, "Who are you? Why are you driving this carriage so recklessly through this desolate place

? Have you seen a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy in white robes and white armor?"

The coachman stammered, "What... what white-robed boy? I haven't seen him. Great hero, spare my life! I'm

just a coachman, I know nothing!"

The North Wind said impatiently, "Since you're just an ordinary coachman, why have you come to such a desolate place?

If you dare not tell the truth, hmph!..." He casually tossed the coachman to a member of the Jingwei Guard behind him, and the coachman

lost a finger on his right hand!

The coachman wailed, pleading, "Ouch! Ouch!... It hurts so much! I'm telling

the truth ! I'm a coachman from Tongjia Village up ahead. This morning, a scholar-looking man came and

offered me five taels of silver a day to pick up passengers at the valley entrance. Although this area is desolate, I was

happy to . When I got there, I saw several other carriages waiting at the valley entrance. Just half an hour ago, a

man in white gave me ten taels of silver and told me to drive in this direction, as fast as possible... the better.

That's the whole story. If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning!"

Beifeng was stunned! Judging from the coachman's appearance, he didn't seem to be lying; he truly

knew .

She had her subordinates apply the best wound medicine to the coachman's wound, bandage it, give him ten taels of silver, and send him

away. Just as she was racking her brains for a solution, the other seven groups of people arrived with reports, the situation exactly the same!

Beifeng was completely dumbfounded! After leading his men back to the canyon exit and meeting up with Elsa, Beifeng

anxiously said to her, "We've checked all the carriages that left the canyon exit, and you even

led people to search inside the canyon, but there was no one there! Where did they take Wuyue?"

Elsa's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly said, "Could it be that they took a shortcut and left with Wuyue before we arrived

, using the eight carriages to distract us?"

Beifeng sighed, "It seems that's the only explanation for now!" Looking around, apart from the eight mountain paths,

the surrounding area was overgrown with bushes, and there were no viable paths at all. But then he thought, for a true master,

what kind of desolate wilderness couldn't they move freely, except for sheer cliffs?

Beifeng sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes slightly, held his breath and concentrated, silently circulating his profound energy to release his spiritual sense, probing within a radius of sixty or

seventy feet if anyone was still lurking. In this skill, Murong Ziyan was undoubtedly the best in the world, her

skill allowing her to probe an area within a hundred feet. Beifeng's skill was slightly weaker, able to probe

an area within sixty or seventy feet, which was still quite impressive!

However, their probes yielded nothing! Apart from their own people and some birds and beasts, there was

absolutely .

Even the usually calm and collected Elsa grew anxious, her brows furrowed as she said, "This is troublesome! Wuyue

is Madam's precious darling; now that she's lost, what can we do?"

Beifeng frowned, pondered for a long time, then personally wrote a letter and sent it to Madam via carrier pigeon to report the matter.

He declared, "The only course of action now is to command all the forces of the Rakshasa Sect in the Yimeng Mountains to search for Wuyue

's whereabouts with all their might. Rest assured, I will take full responsibility for Wuyue's disappearance. I have already told Madam in my letter that if

Wuyue is not found, I will commit suicide to atone for my sins!"

Thus, all the forces of the Taishan Sect, all the large and small escort agencies under the Rakshasa Sect in the area, and some smaller

gangs were mobilized

to launch a massive search operation across a vast region stretching from Taishan in the west to Yizhou in the south, from the Yellow Sea coast in the east to Qingzhou Prefecture in the north…

Meanwhile , Wuyue, having walked right into

the trap, realized that her escape route was blocked by a large number of rolling logs and boulders. Desperate for survival,

she spurred her horse forward with all her might, hoping to break through the canyon.

After riding for several dozen feet, ten white-clad men stood in a line ten feet ahead, firmly blocking her path.

Wu Yue roared, "Get out of the way!"

The man in white stood upright like a pine tree, motionless.

Without another word, he drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and fired it in rapid succession at the three people in the center. The arrows flew with great force and speed, heading towards the three like

lightning The man in white snorted coldly, his figure flashing, easily dodging the arrows that hurtled like thunder.

He knew he had encountered a master, so he spurred his horse and charged towards the wall of people. Just as he was about to reach them, the tip of his spear flicked out five

silver flowers as he attacked the two in front of him.

In terms of close combat skills, Murong Ziyan had practiced martial arts for many years. Although his talent limited him to master top-level martial arts, he

was still considered a second-rate fighter. He was no match for most martial arts masters in the martial arts world. But against these masters of internal energy, he

could only suffer defeat.

However, he enjoyed hunting, and in terms of archery, horsemanship, and charging into battle, he truly had the potential to become a great general.

The cavalry charge he was using at this moment was incredibly powerful. Man, horse, and spear tips, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, charged towards the two!

The men in white didn't dare underestimate him. They immediately lowered their stance, exhaled sharply, and rotated their upper bodies ninety degrees to avoid the spear tips.

Then, with a unified shout, they struck the horse's head with their palms, the force of which, accompanied by a powerful gust of wind, shattered the horse's skull!

Wu Yue quickly pushed off with his legs, leaping into the air like a peregrine falcon, intending to escape using his

superior lightness skill.

Of all the martial arts taught to him by Ye Bing and Murong Ziyan,

he had focused most on the "Shaoyang Heart Sutra," followed by lightness skill. The meaning was self-evident: given Wu Yue's agile and lively nature, he was excellent material for learning lightness skill, so his

lightness skill was not weak. This leap covered several meters, leaving all ten men in white behind!

The men in white were taken aback, seemingly not expecting his lightness skill to be so extraordinary, and turned to give chase.

Wu Yue was secretly delighted, confident in his lightness skill; he only needed to leave them several meters behind to catch up

.

Unexpectedly, from the side ahead, a tall, shapely middle-aged woman with ample breasts and a full bottom suddenly appeared. Her arms were

slightly outstretched, her eyes flashing with a seductive light. She flirted with him, giving him a captivating smile,

and said in a seductive voice, "My child, I've searched so hard for you! Come back to my arms and nurse..." Her voice

was sweet, alluring, and magnetic, possessing a uniquely captivating charm.

Wu Yue was terrified! With nowhere to gain leverage in mid-air and unable to change direction, seeing his momentum

inevitably leading him into her arms, he hurriedly shouted, "Get out of the way! Or I won't be polite!"

He then struck out with both palms towards the woman.

The middle-aged beauty remained unhurried, taking advantage of the moment to swing her full, high breasts a few times. With a wave of her right hand,

she alluringly and seductively laughed, "My little darling, come and nurse! Your mother has been waiting for you for so long!"

Wu Yue was instantly overwhelmed by a strange fragrance, his head spinning, all his strength gone. He involuntarily and

limply soft embrace.

The middle-aged beauty held him, lowered her head, and gently kissed his cheek. Without hesitation,

she gathered her strength and leaped towards the canyon exit, each leap covering over ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), her agility truly astonishing!

In no time, she emerged from the canyon. Without pausing, she leaped and soared towards the western mountains,

all the while leisurely lowering her head to kiss him repeatedly, her voice filled with wanton lust. "My son," she said, "

I've missed you so much since you disappeared. Today I've finally found you! I just gave birth less than a month ago and am still in

my postpartum period. My breasts are so engorged, I can breastfeed you now..."

She then actually tore open her bodice, revealing her large, plump, swollen breasts from her bulging bodice

, and placed the large, purplish nipple into Wuyue's mouth.

For some reason, Wuyue's heart skipped a beat, and he opened his mouth to suckle the large, purplish nipple

, drawing out mouthfuls of delicious milk! And the milk supply was plentiful, guaranteed to be enough! The beautiful woman's large

nipple grew even more purplish and hard, becoming as large as a thumb!

He was poisoned by aphrodisiacs, losing all his strength and only wanting to satisfy his desires. His mind, however, remained clear, and upon hearing this, he hurriedly said,

"Auntie, you've mistaken me for someone else! I'm not your son!"

The middle-aged woman's eyes showed sorrow. While breastfeeding, she lowered her head and kissed his forehead, eyes, and

cheeks passionately, sobbing, "My son! Since you got me pregnant at the beginning of the year, you were terrified, afraid

of taking responsibility, unwilling to become a father at such a young age, and suddenly disappeared, never to return. I searched for you for so long, through

countless hardships , and now that I've finally found you, you refuse to acknowledge me as your mother! Waaah…

I might as well jump off a cliff and commit suicide!"

Just then, she ran to the edge of a cliff and actually jumped off!

Had truly been driven mad by her beloved son?

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[An Orphan's Love Affair with a Beauty's Rivalry] (Volume 1, Chapter 009)

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