Desert Eagle

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Good heavens, it's him! It really is him!

Standing frozen in the bustling streets of Chang'an, Du Nianqiu was completely immobilized. The man speaking to the man in black beside her through the crowd was indeed the man she had longed for for over a decade—no, the man she had utterly loathed.

My God! Why was that man in Chang'an? Wasn't he supposed to be living in the Western Regions all his life? As if sensing her gaze, he looked up in her direction. Their eyes met, and she paled, while his eyes blazed with fury.

His terrifying gaze finally snapped her out of her daze. She turned and immediately disappeared into the alleyways, running towards Fengyun Pavilion at top speed.

God help her, please don't let her get caught!

Helian Ying, disregarding being on the street, used his lightness skill to leap over the crowd, swooping down on his prey with the swiftness of a hawk. Unfortunately, no matter how fast he was, he couldn't match Du Nianqiu's familiarity with the area. She weaved left and right, throwing hidden weapons as she ran to block him, finally turning the houses into a main street, entering through the front door and exiting through the back, creating a game of hide-and-seek on Chang'an Street.

Finally, she spotted the gate of Fengyun Pavilion and rushed in frantically, ordering the servants, "Close the door! Close the door! Close it quickly!" But as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly saw Shi Tou's all-too-familiar face.

Her eyes widened as she stared at Shi Tou, a chill running down her spine. It was over; she couldn't let Shi Tou meet him, or she would surely die a horrible death.

Before she could even assess the situation in the hall, Du Nianqiu grabbed Shi Tou and pulled him along, saying, "Let's go, let's go home."

Chapter One:

Heavens, it's him! It really is him!

Standing frozen in the bustling streets of Chang'an, Du Nianqiu was completely immobilized. Through the crowd, she saw the man speaking to the black-clad figure beside her—the very man she had longed for for over a decade—no, the man she had utterly loathed.

Good heavens! Why was that man in Chang'an? Wasn't he supposed to be living in the Western Regions? As if sensing her gaze, he looked up. Their eyes met; she paled, while his eyes blazed with fury.

His terrifying gaze finally snapped her out of her daze. She turned and darted into the alleyways, running towards Fengyun Pavilion with lightning speed.

Heaven help her, please don't let her get caught!

Helian Ying, disregarding the fact that they were on the street, used his lightness skill to leap over the crowd, swooping down on his prey with the swiftness of a hawk. Unfortunately, no matter how fast he was, he couldn't match Du Nianqiu's familiarity with the area. She weaved left and right, throwing hidden weapons as she ran to block him, finally turning the houses into a makeshift street, entering through the front door and exiting through the back. The two of them played hide-and-seek on Chang'an Street, one after the other.

Finally, she spotted the gate of Fengyun Pavilion and rushed in frantically, ordering the servants, "Close the gate! Close the gate! Close it quickly!" But as soon as she finished speaking,

she suddenly saw Shi Tou's all-too-familiar face. Her eyes widened as she stared at Shi Tou, her scalp tingling. It was over; she couldn't let Shi Tou meet him, or she would surely die. Before she could even assess the situation in the hall, Du Nianqiu grabbed Shi Tou and said, "Let's go, let's go home!" "What's going on?!" Shi Tou was completely bewildered as she was pulled away.

Qin Dongyue, who was still holding her baby and trying to stop Qi Xiaolou's shrill screams, turned to Du Nianqiu and quickly said,

"Auntie, weren't you going to get medicine?" "Xiao Lou, stop fooling around! Little Mustache, please take good care of your fiancée!" She glared at the two men with a headache, then turned to see the old woman dragging Shi Tou towards the door.

"Auntie, where are you taking Shi Tou? Where's the medicine you got?" Du Nianqiu had no time to answer, pulling Shi Tou straight towards the gate.

Qi Xiaolou, however, upon hearing Qin Dongyue's words, retorted loudly, "I'm not his fiancée!" "Crazy woman, keep your voice down!" Leng Rufeng glared back at Qi Xiaolou with disgust, beginning to regret proposing to marry her.

"You...you...you're the big pervert! You old cow eating young grass!" Qi Xiaolou was

furious, her face flushed red. Before Leng Rufeng could retaliate, the door was kicked open with a bang.

Du Nianqiu, who had just arrived at the door with a stone in hand, gasped, her face drained of color, and sprang through the courtyard into the hall, instantly unleashing a barrage of darts.

A series of clanging sounds rang out as Helian Ying, standing at the door, easily deflected all the projectiles. Qin Dongyue was stunned by the scene. Lan'er, frightened, hid behind her, while Song Qingyun calmly stepped in front of them, blocking the incoming darts. The mustachioed Leng Rufeng protected the madwoman Qi Xiaolou, but Qi Xiaolou was ungrateful and even kicked him.

What a chaotic mess!

Qin Dongyue rolled her eyes and hurriedly called for her husband: "Meng Zhen! Meng Zhen!" But as soon as Meng Zhen arrived, Du Nianqiu pointed at the man in black at the door and exclaimed in shock: "Senior brother, he assaulted me!" Qin Dongyue had never heard such a lousy lie before, but Meng Zhen, Leng Rufeng, and Song Qingyun, those three "pigs," all turned pale upon hearing it. While the three men were blocking the man in black, Du Nianqiu grabbed Lan'er with her left hand and dragged Shi Tou with her right, slipping out the back door.

Qi Xiaolou, seeing the situation was bad, immediately followed. She didn't want to stay and marry that shameless little mustache; it was much more fun with her aunt! With those people gone, the hall became much quieter, but the atmosphere became heavy.

Helian Ying didn't chase after them; these three were not easy to deal with. However, he wasn't afraid she would run away, because it seemed these people had a deep connection with her. Besides, Meng Zhen wasn't an unreasonable person; he knew that as long as Meng Zhen didn't stop him, it wouldn't be difficult for him to find her.

Meng Zhen recognized Helian Ying at a glance, and immediately realized something was wrong. Helian Ying was the kind of person who wouldn't molest a woman on the street. He said solemnly, "Liu Lianyuan, my junior sister is naturally unconventional. If she has offended you, I sincerely apologize on this occasion." Surname Helian? Leng Rufeng's brows furrowed as he stared at the stern-faced man in black. Could he be the Desert King, Helian Ying? "Senior brother, who is this?"

"I am Helian Ying." Before Meng Zhen could answer, Helian Ying introduced himself.

It really was him! A glint flashed in Leng Rufeng's eyes, and he smiled slightly, "I am Leng Rufeng. May I ask what brings Brother Helian from the Western Regions?" This man had just broken off his engagement; how could he be involved with his junior sister now? "I've come to reclaim my wife," Helian Ying replied coldly.

His words startled everyone.

Qin Dongyue hurriedly said, "Didn't you agree to break off the engagement?" Could it be that he's changed his mind and wants to marry Lan'er? If so, that would be terrible. He saw Lan'er alive and well when he entered. If this reached the Emperor, Lan'er's faked death would be exposed.

Helian Ying curled his lip and said coldly, "I'm not looking for Princess Li Lan." The other three men, upon hearing this, suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. Song Qingyun asked, "Who are you looking for?" "Du, Nian, Qiu." A flame ignited in Helian Ying's icy eyes as he uttered each word, gritting his teeth, the name he had never forgotten in the past fourteen years.

He still remembered the shock he felt when he first saw her. He was only nineteen that year, and she was sixteen.

Although only sixteen, she had already blossomed into a stunning beauty; she possessed a magical blend of youthful innocence and vibrant allure, captivating everyone who saw her, regardless of gender. Her arched willow-leaf eyebrows, mesmerizing phoenix eyes, cherry-pink lips, slender waist, and flawless skin caused a stir the moment she appeared on the platform.

It was a market held only once every few months by a nomadic tribe. Located on the Silk Road, it was commonplace for merchants of all kinds and races to gather there; blond hair and blue eyes were plentiful, and dark skin was not uncommon either; after a while, it became commonplace.

The market was filled with stalls displaying a dazzling array of goods, from antiques and jade carvings to silk brocades, cattle, sheep, horses, camels, and water—almost anything imaginable could be found there. The platform she stood on was a wooden platform erected by slave traders; she was a slave waiting to be sold.

Helian Ying was merely passing by when he was drawn by the commotion. Turning his head, he was captivated.

As a slave with an uncertain fate, she should have been afraid, but she wasn't. Instead, she smiled sweetly at the crowd.

Her smile was captivating, her eyes sparkling, her expression both charming and alluring.

Helian Ying froze, a burning desire quickly spreading through him. He suddenly felt an urge to hide her away. His

intense gaze caught her attention. Noticing his presence, she began to scrutinize him with interest.

What a handsome man! Black hair, black eyes, sharp eyebrows, and a straight nose—only his expression was a little cold. His dark complexion suggested he worked long hours under the scorching sun. He wore a heavy black cloak that made her feel unbearably hot, yet his face was devoid of sweat. At his waist was a long, jet-black sword; whether it was merely decorative or if he truly wielded it, she couldn't tell.

"Fifty taels!" "Sixty taels!" "Seventy taels!" The crowd below began bidding, the price rising higher and higher, while the slave trader hosting the event grinned from ear to ear.

She seemed uninterested in who would bid for her, her phoenix eyes still scrutinizing him.

A hint of interest appeared in Helian Ying's eyes; this woman was quite intriguing. Five years ago, few dared to openly scrutinize someone, let alone a woman; yet she could meet his gaze.

"One thousand taels of gold!" This price immediately drew attention, everyone turning to the bidder.

Du Nianqiu was no exception. She raised a delicate eyebrow, her watery black eyes glancing at Helian Ying.

The rocky mountain cast shadows in the desert, where several desert-specific plants grew.

"Where is this?" "Black Eagle Mountain." Xiao Jing dismounted and walked into the shadows of the mountain wall. He clapped his hands twice against the wall, and suddenly a clear whistle came from within. He whistled back, and then the seemingly ordinary rock face opened up into a doorway. "

My God!" Du Nianqiu's eyes widened, afraid she was seeing things.

"Come on, welcome to your future home." Xiao Jing smiled at her, took the reins, and walked through the stone doorway.

After passing through a long cave, the view suddenly opened up. Du Nianqiu stared in disbelief at the lush green grass, the babbling brooks, and the herds of cattle and sheep. So this was what "a hidden paradise" meant!

"Master Xiao, you're back." A strong man greeted Xiao Jing at the cave entrance, his eyes fixed on Du Nianqiu.

"Has your master returned?" Upon hearing the mention of Helian Ying, the strong man hurriedly replied, "Master returned long ago! He's at Old Madam Ziwan's." Perfect, he could take this girl to her godmother. With her godmother's support, would that ice block refuse his sworn brother's offer of a thousand taels of gold? The godmother was dying to see her husband.

Xiao Jing's lips curled into a cunning smile. As the saying goes, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. He was only thinking of Helian Ying, not wanting him to bear the stigma of unfilial piety, which was why he had come up with this best plan. Brother, don't blame me!

Leading the still dazed Du Nianqiu, Xiao Jing calmly walked towards Ziwan.

They crossed a large meadow, a forest, and the stream, passed several houses, and finally arrived at Ziwan. Only then did Du Nianqiu realize she needed to close her astonished mouth.

"Dear godmother, your godson has come to visit you!" Xiao Jing smiled broadly and led Du Nianqiu into the house.

Seeing him, the old lady couldn't help but smile. This boy was truly a treasure; he lived here every day and acted as if they hadn't seen each other for years; unlike her son, who always had a cold face, as if she, his mother, owed him money.

Looking at the girl beside her godson, the old lady's eyes lit up. What a beautiful young lady! So this boy had gotten married! Sigh, she wondered when Ying'er would find a girl willing to marry him. Helian Ying, standing nearby, was slightly taken aback when he saw Du Nianqiu. He thought Brother Xiao was joking, but he hadn't expected him to actually bring this girl back. Did Brother Xiao really want to marry her? Seeing his sworn brother holding her small hand, he frowned, a surge of annoyance rising in his heart.

"And who is this young lady?" the old lady asked kindly.

"The daughter-in-law of the Helian family!" Xiao Jing replied with a smile, leaving Helian Ying and the old lady stunned. He paused, then continued, "Have you forgotten that you asked me to keep an eye out for a good girl for my sworn brother? I saw that Miss Jiang was gentle, charming, kind-hearted, and had a pitiful background, so I used the gold you gave me to buy Miss Du back to be my sworn brother's wife!" As he spoke, he winked at the old lady.

Du Nianqiu found it amusing. Please! When had she ever been gentle, virtuous, or kind? She had only mentioned her pitiful background, yet he could concoct other stories. This man really lies without batting an eye.

"Mother?!" Helian Ying looked at his mother with displeasure.

"Ahem, yes, that's true." The old lady, receiving her godson's hint, quickly covered up the lie.

Her godson had finally found a wife for her son; if she didn't help, her hopes of having a grandson would be dashed again.

She and her husband had a son late in life; she was nearly forty when she gave birth to Ying'er. Her husband passed away a few years ago, and her son is all grown up. This secluded paradise is nice, but Ziwan feels rather deserted. She's desperately missing her grandson.

Helian Ying's face turned cold. He glared at Du Nianqiu and turned away unhappily.

What? He doesn't want to marry her? She wouldn't even consider marrying him. So what if he's handsome! Du Nianqiu thought to herself, her impression of him immediately diminishing.

"Don't argue with him, that's just how Ying'er is," the old lady beckoned her forward. "Good daughter-in-law, what's your name?" "She Nianqiu," she answered obediently, bowing her head.

"Is there anyone else in your family?" "No." Except for her master and senior brother. Du Nianqiu secretly stuck out her tongue. She didn't want to run away only to be caught and forced to become that ice-cold wife.

Only a fool would marry him! She'd return to the Central Plains as soon as she had the chance. This place is strange; who spends a thousand taels of gold to buy a wife from a slave trader? " Maybe that guy has some kind of problem, that's why he can't find a wife.

" "Alright, then I'll make the decision. Tomorrow is an auspicious day, you and Ying'er can have your wedding ceremony tomorrow night!" What? A wedding ceremony tomorrow night?!

Du Nianqiu was speechless, stunned.

※※※ From the moment the old lady announced the wedding ceremony tomorrow night, a group of women who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere were busy serving her; she ate dinner in a daze, and Du Nianqiu didn't wake up until the middle of the night. As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw that every household outside was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and everyone had a smile on their face.

It's the middle of the night! Don't these people sleep? Du Nianqiu muttered, secretly going around the woods from the other side, intending to follow the original route back to the cave and sneak back to the market. There should still be people there now; merchants usually wake up very early to make the most of the journey before the morning sun becomes too scorching.

Unexpectedly, just as she entered the woods and was about to cross the stream, she suddenly saw a flying monster descend from the sky. It was pitch black, and she couldn't see what it was. Startled, she stumbled and lost her balance, falling into the water with a splash.

Du Nianqiu scrambled to her feet in the knee-deep water and finally saw the monster clearly. It was perched on a large rock in front of her, its eyes fixed on her.

An eagle! She'd actually jumped into the water because of an eagle! If her senior brothers knew, they'd laugh themselves to death.

"In the middle of the night, instead of sleeping, you're out scaring people. Aren't you ashamed?" she said, standing up and pointing at it angrily. "Look how wet my clothes are! I'll pluck your feathers to use as a pillow! Stupid bird!" ※※※ "Then what are you doing in the water in the middle of the night?" Ha, the eagle can talk! Du Nianqiu recoiled, pulling her finger back and taking three steps back, only to bump into a solid chest. She quickly turned around and saw her future husband.

"So it was you. I thought..." "Thought the eagle could talk?" He lifted her chin, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"No, no, I didn't." She blushed deeply. "What are you doing here?" "What are you doing here again?" He pulled the crooked jade hairpin from her hair, and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

"What are you doing?!" Busy gathering her long hair, Du Nianqiu pouted unhappily, demanding the hairpin back. "Give me back my hairpin!" "Answer me first, what are you doing here?" Helian Ying examined the jade hairpin carved with a phoenix; the hairpin was entirely emerald green, with exquisite carving, unlike anything an ordinary merchant would possess.

She raised her phoenix eyes, her tone haughty, "Did I ask you first?" "I was taking a bath," he answered casually.

Du Nianqiu looked down and realized that he was completely naked from the waist up, only wearing trousers.

She quickly backed away—oh my god! She had almost pressed herself against him.

A blush crept onto her jade-like beard, and she hurriedly said, "Hurry up and put your clothes on!" "You haven't answered yet." "I..." Her right hand, which was holding her long hair, began to ache, and her mind was a complete mess. After a long while, she finally said, "I came out for a walk." "A walk to the stream?" "It's all that stupid bird's fault!" She glared at him, but seeing that he hadn't put his clothes on yet, she quickly lowered her head again.

Strangely, when she was a child, she never found it strange to see her senior brother shirtless, but now, seeing him with his chest and back exposed, her heart pounded, as if she had never seen a man before.

A night breeze blew by, and the damp clothes on her body brought a chill,

causing her to shiver suddenly. Helian Ying frowned as he watched, then swept her up in his arms and carried her to the stream.

Du Nianqiu was about to protest when a heavy cloak was draped over her, blocking the cold night wind.

The cloak carried the scent of yellow sand, sunlight, and his sweat. She stared at his hardened face with her phoenix eyes, immediately swallowing her protest, and her impression of him began to rise again.

Helian Ying carried her away from the crowd back to the guest room. As he was about to leave, he suddenly said, "Don't try to leave so easily again. There's quicksand everywhere outside Black Eagle Mountain. Even if you can cross the quicksand,

you can't cross the unpredictable sandstorms. Be careful you don't lose your life." So he knew her intentions! Du Nianqiu quickly grabbed him, "Since you don't want to marry me, why don't you take me with you? Just take me back to the market, and I won't bother you anymore." Helian Ying looked at her and suddenly smiled, "I've realized that marrying you might not be such a bad idea." Then he left.

His sudden smile stunned Du Nianqiu. Only after everyone had gone did she realize what he had said.

Heavens, this man really intends to marry her! This is truly terrible!

Du Nianqiu went into the room to change her clothes with a bitter face. When she saw her wet hair in the bronze mirror, she realized that the guy had forgotten to return the jade hairpin to her.

Helian Ying leaned against a tree, his eyes fixed on the figure inside the house. He didn't dislike the girl; in fact, he admired her courage. He figured she was the only girl within a ten-mile radius who dared to speak to him without fear.

He knew his own personality wasn't particularly appealing; girls in the desert preferred passionate and forthright lovers, and he wasn't that type. While he didn't intend to change himself, he also disliked that his wife was still afraid of him, constantly trembling with fear of upsetting him.

She was a decent prospect. Helian Ying played with the jade hairpin in his hand, thinking of her delicate features, smooth, fair skin, and alluring figure. A smile crept across his face. She'd have to do.

She was the first girl he was interested in.

He put the hairpin into his inner pocket, afraid she might try to run away again, so he stayed where he was until the lights in the house went out, and only returned to his own room much later.

Chapter Two.

After a thud as a wooden chair overturned, Du Nianqiu lifted her veil again. She saw Helian Ying swaying and clumsily adjusting the chair, making her wonder if the chair was actually supporting him.

"How much did you drink?" She jumped off the bed, went to his side, and helped him adjust the chair.

He sat down and held up five fingers.

"Only five bottles and you're already done!" Her second senior brother, Leng Rufeng, was usually a fierce drinker, always downing two or three jars before stopping, making her think everyone was like him.

"Five jars." He stared at her, still reeking of alcohol. The group outside seemed afraid he'd run away, each urging him to drink heavily.

It was just a marriage proposal; he was the only son of the Helian family, the continuation of the family line depended on him, and he'd have to get married sooner or later. He hadn't expected to get married so soon, but after his anger subsided last night, he thought that since he already had a woman, and he didn't particularly dislike her, he might as well make his mother happy and stop her from nagging him about being unfilial. "Huh?

Then why aren't you passed out yet?" Du Nianqiu stared at him wide-eyed. She wanted to pass out quickly, so she could run away. She, Du Nianqiu, was only sixteen, her prime years just beginning. She wanted to be a legendary femme fatale, how could she give her vibrant life to this ice-cold man?

The people outside would never imagine that the bride would run away on her wedding night, meaning she would have plenty of time to return to the market. As for the quicksand and sandstorm he mentioned, she didn't believe it. If they really existed, why hadn't she seen any when she arrived? Seeing her eagerness to be drunk, Helian Ying's lips curled into a wicked smile. Five jars of strong liquor were his limit, yet he wasn't drunk enough to be unable to consummate the marriage. It seemed he was going to disappoint the girl.

She herself lifted her red veil, removed her pearl-embroidered headdress, and even ate half of the food on the table; she was quite proactive. Helian Ying noticed pink peach blossom cake crumbs still on her lips and beckoned her over.

"What?" Du Nianqiu obediently moved forward, thinking he was going to say something.

The next second, she was sitting on his lap. Before she could figure out what was going on, his face suddenly loomed before her eyes, followed by a wave of alcohol fumes filling her mouth and nose. He licked away the cake crumbs, and his warm lips and tongue pressed against hers.

Du Nianqiu stared at him wide-eyed. Good heavens, how could he touch her lips?!

Ah—where was his hand touching? Ahh—her clothes! Ahhh—"No, no, no." Finally free of her lips, she could only utter these three words.

"It's our wedding night, what's there to say or not?" Helian Ying silenced his wife again, telling her to cut off her words at this time.

Qi Baifeng was a good teacher, truly. It's just a pity he taught her everything except what a wedding night is all about; no wonder she was so foolish as to be taken advantage of. Du Nianqiu slept until midday, her whole body aching terribly. With each ache she felt as she got out of bed, she cursed her teacher and that shameless lecher. "He's long gone," she thought. Hearing her get up, the maid outside brought in a basin of water to help her with her hair. Du Nianqiu stopped the maid who wanted to comb her hair, because her hair was always tangled, and she had always done it herself to avoid getting her teeth pulled out.

"What's your name? How old are you?" she asked the uneasy maid, sitting before the bronze mirror, letting her hair flow. "Madam, my name is Yueya'er, and I'm thirteen." “She Nianqiu frowned, unhappily combing through her tangled hair. “Don’t call me Madam. I’m only sixteen, three years older than you. Just call me Sister Nianqiu from now on.” “But Madam?” Yueya’er looked uneasy. “

What’s there to say but? You’re with me, aren’t you?” She turned to look at Yueya’er.

"Yes, yes." "Since that's the case, I'll keep my word." Du Nianqiu looked like she had no room for negotiation, continuing her battle with the bronze mirror and her tangled hair. "But what about Master?" "He won't get involved in such trivial matters." Du Jinqiu waved her hand to shut her up. She then asked, "By the way, I've never heard anyone mention Black Eagle Mountain. Don't people outside know about this place?" "They don't know. Black Eagle Mountain was built by Grandpa Helian during the war. All the people here were rescued by Grandpa Helian and Grandma. There is only peace and no war in this place, so Yueya'er's parents settled here and decided to serve the Helian family for life." Du Nianqiu was a little surprised, "Are all the people here grateful to the Helian family?" "Yes." Yueya'er nodded obediently, her eyes filled with admiration. "I heard from my parents that Grandpa Helian was a truly benevolent and righteous hero. If it weren't for him, most of the people here would have died on the battlefield.

" "That ice block, I mean, what about my husband? What's he like?" One plus one doesn't necessarily equal two. Having a heroic father doesn't mean the son is a hero too. "Grandpa is a very good person. He personally helps build houses, dig ditches, plant grapes, cantaloupes, and so on. It's just that Grandpa doesn't talk much and doesn't smile much. But Father says that's just his personality. Last time, Brother Li next door accidentally got stuck in quicksand, and it was Grandpa who risked his life to save him." Crescent Moon was busy speaking well of her master. Grandpa was indeed a good person, but his face never showed a gentle expression. He was a good master, that's true, but if she wanted to be her husband and spend her life with him, then forget it!

Really? I really didn't realize he was such a good person—wait, there really is quicksand outside! "Crescent Moon, are there really quicksand and sandstorms outside Black Eagle Mountain?" "Du Nianqiu opened her eyes wide and asked.

"Yes." Yueya nodded.

Now she would have to reconsider her escape plan. Du Nianqiu bit her lower lip and thought for a while, then remembered the two words she hadn't understood earlier: "By the way, what are those grapes and cantaloupes you mentioned?" Yueya heard her pronunciation and said with a smile: "Madam, no, Sister Nianqiu, they are grapes and cantaloupes. They are two kinds of fruits, and they are very delicious." "Grapes and cantaloupes?" Du Nianqiu turned around and asked curiously.

"Yes. I heard that they were introduced from the west, and they taste very sweet." "What do they look like? Are they grown

here? Why don't you take me to see them?" Du Nianqiu quickly put up her combed hair, took Yueya's hand and ran outside, eager to see the strange fruits she had never seen before.

"Sister Nianqiu, slow down, you have to go and pay your respects to the old lady first." "Crescent Moon hurriedly reminded her.

Oh right, she almost forgot. It wasn't her fault; she hadn't quite grasped the feeling of being married yet, so she'd forgotten the proper etiquette.

Du Nianqiu abruptly stopped, causing Crescent Moon to bump into her.

"Grandma, uh, I mean, where's Grandma?" "In the main hall," Crescent Moon replied, rubbing her bumped nose.

"Alright, let's go pay our respects first, then go see Uncle Grape!" "It's Grape," Crescent Moon corrected her.

"Grape, Grape. Right?" she repeated with a smile.

"Mm," Crescent Moon smiled timidly back. Although some people said this lady was bought from slave traders by Master Xiao, she thought she liked this cheerful lady.

※※※ "Wow, this is so much fun!"

Du Nianqiu, gazing at the vast cantaloupe field, excitedly dragged Yueya'er from one end to the other, bombarding the strong men working in the field with questions. She acted completely unlike a proper lady, leaving the men bewildered and hesitant to answer her questions for a long time.

However, after a while, everyone got used to it. Some even offered her pieces of wood to shield her from the sun, worried that the new lady might get sunburned.

Du Nianqiu's arms ached from holding the wood for so long, but she couldn't refuse their kindness. In a flash of inspiration, she pierced a hole in the wood, threaded a stick through it, and tied it tightly with rope, making it much easier to hold.

Those nearby couldn't help but admire her.

"Sister Nianqiu, you're so clever!" "It's nothing. People use umbrellas to block the rain; I just turned this into a sunshade." Du Nianqiu smiled at Yueya'er, not forgetting to take a bite of the cantaloupe the people had just given her.

"Sister Nianqiu, let me help you carry this." Seeing her carrying an umbrella in one hand and a melon in the other, Yueya'er offered to help. "Alright." Du Nianqiu handed her the umbrella. "By the way, Yueya'er, this is a cantaloupe field, what about the grapes?" "We'll see the grapes further on." "Then let's hurry over and take a look!" Du Nianqiu excitedly pulled Yueya'er forward, and soon a long corridor appeared before them. The wooden corridor was covered with green vines, and golden sunlight pierced through clusters of small, cute, green fruits, hanging like crystal-clear jewels.

How adorable! She had never imagined that fruit could grow so cute. Du Nianqiu happily rushed to the grape trellis, looking here and there. The air was filled with the fragrance of grapes. She took a deep breath; this fruit was truly wonderful.

"Yueya'er, are these grapes ripe? Can we eat them?" Her mouth was practically watering.

"Sure!" Crescent Moon had already prepared a basket, just waiting to pick some grapes to take back.

"Wow, that's great!" Du Nianqiu was so happy she danced around, but when she turned around, she bumped into someone.

Hmm, that familiar scent! She moved her head back a little and saw the black clothes, then raised her gaze a bit higher, and sure enough, she saw that icy face, and her smile vanished. "It's you." What kind of tone and expression was that? Did she not want to see him? Helian Ying's face was cold and displeased. "What are you doing here?" "Picking grapes." Du Nianqiu rolled her eyes at him. It was all because of this guy that her back was still sore, and her neck and arms were covered in red and purple marks from him. She had to cover up those places in this hot weather, it was so hot!

Thinking of this, she fanned her cheeks with her hand and glared at him again.

Seeing her sweating profusely, her little hands constantly fanning herself, she wondered why she was wearing so much. Helian Ying reached out and pulled down her collar. "Why are you wearing so many clothes?" "Hey!" She hurriedly pulled his hand away. How could this man be like this, touching her in broad daylight? She glanced nervously in the direction of Yueya'er, but saw no one. "I told her to go back." He moved his right hand away, then reached out with his left; as soon as he pulled down her collar, he saw the bruise on her neck, which made him pause for a moment.

"What are you doing!" Du Nianqiu blushed and quickly backed away. This super lecher!

He was too rough last night. Helian Ying suddenly realized what was happening, held her waist and pulled her close, gently touching the bruise. "Does it hurt?" "Of course!" Why was he suddenly so gentle?

Don't tell me he was worried about her, she didn't believe it. Du Nianqiu looked at him suspiciously, feeling very uncomfortable with his hand still on her neck.

Suddenly, he picked her up again and walked towards the other end of the corridor.

"Hey, hey, hey, where are you taking me? I want to eat grapes!" She wrapped her arms around his neck unhappily, turning his face towards her.

"You'll get some later." He said, then turned his face back to face her.

"Hmph!" What do you mean "later"? If you don't want her to eat, just say so! You stingy thing!

They passed through the grape arbor and soon entered the woods. Du Nianqiu, like a curious child, clung to Helian Ying's neck, looking around in his arms.

Before long, she suddenly noticed that the terrain was rising; he carried her without any effort, so she was happy to stay in his arms. It was just a bit hot.

"Hey, aren't you hot?" She tugged at his clothes.

"No, I'm used to it." Pervert. Du Nianqiu glanced at him, then looked around again. They had already gone quite a distance; where was he taking her? "Will it be a long time before we get there?" "We'll be there soon." He had barely finished speaking when a large mountain wall blocked their way.

Helian Ying pushed the stone door open in a place that seemed to leave no trace on the rock wall. Du Nianqiu looked at it and couldn't help but ask, "Do you have many of these mechanisms here?" The entrance was one, and this place was another; maybe there was even a tunnel under her bed. She'd have to check it when they got back.

"It's alright." He carried her into the cave, and the cool air inside immediately dispelled much of the heat they felt.

Alright? Did that mean there were many, or not many? Du Nianqiu was about to ask again when she noticed something strange

about the cave. After looking for a while, she finally figured it out: it wasn't dark at all; the entire cave had a faint blue glow. "What is this place?" "Cold Spring." "Cold Spring?" But she didn't see any water. Just as she thought this, she heard the soft sound of flowing water, and the cave widened, revealing a pool of azure water.

So their water was drawn from here! She had been wondering where the stream came from, since the area outside Black Eagle Mountain was all desert.

Helian Ying placed her on a smooth rock by the spring. Du Nianqiu playfully dipped her hand into the water, only to find it icy cold.

"So cold!" she exclaimed, looking up at him.

He pulled out a red pill. "Take this." "What's this?" he asked, taking it and smelling it.

"It's for improving blood circulation. Soak it in the water, and the bruises will fade quickly." Seeing the bruises on her elbows, he suddenly felt a pang of unease.

Seeing his furrowed brow as he stared at the bruises on her hand, Du Nianqiu suddenly spoke up: "Actually, it doesn't hurt anymore. I'm naturally prone to bruising." She used to use this to taunt her senior brother when they were children, trying to frame her second senior brother. Now, for some reason, she couldn't bear to see him troubled by it. Perhaps it was because he wasn't as cold as he appeared!

He seemed unconvinced and insisted she take the pill. She obediently swallowed the pill, and he gestured for her to go into the water.

"Turn around first." He was staring at her like that, how was he supposed to teach her how to undress? Helian Ying turned around, but as soon as she entered the water, he turned back and began to undress himself.

"What are you doing?" Du Nianqiu was startled and quickly swam to the other side. After taking the pill, her body felt hot, and once in the spring, the water no longer felt cold; instead, she felt completely refreshed. But why was he also taking off his clothes? Helian Ying jumped into the water with a splash, like a dragon wrestling in the water, and caught her in a few swift movements.

Du Nianqiu was pulled to the bottom, and when she tried to swim upwards, he blocked her mouth, preventing her from breathing. She almost became the first corpse to suffocate underwater with no water in her lungs.

With great difficulty, he finally brought her to the surface. She gasped for breath, angrily shouting at him, "Are you trying to kill me! You idiot!" "The spring is deep," he said, tilting his head back, a smile in his eyes.

Did he mean he was worried she would drown? Of course not! She thought he was doing it on purpose.

"Why didn't you take your pills?" The spring water was icy.

Helian Ying just smiled without answering. Didn't his little wife know that just looking at her made him hot and bothered? He didn't need any blood-activating pills.

Judging from his ambiguous expression, his head was full of erotic thoughts. Du Nianqiu blushed instantly. Was he thinking of doing what he did to her last night again? "What are you thinking about?" he replied calmly. "You ask too many questions." Although he really wanted to, now wasn't the time. He went into the water because he was genuinely worried about her. A normal person would feel overheated immediately after consuming Fire Dragon Nine, and would even feel uncomfortable in a cold spring, but she felt no discomfort, so she must know martial arts. He reached out and stroked the bruise on her snow-white neck, pleased that the mark had faded somewhat.

Hearing his words, Du Nianqiu thought carefully and realized that she did indeed have quite a few problems. Seeing his hand on her neck again, she anxiously reiterated, "It really doesn't hurt anymore!" "How do you know how to swim?" "I lived by the water when I was little, and I learned by soaking in it for a long time." Her master had taken in four disciples, and apart from her, the other three were all boys. Before she was ten years old, she was actually as mischievous as a little boy, so she could climb trees, swim, play with slingshots, catch grasshoppers, and so on. When she got older, her master found that this girl was even wilder than the boys, so he began to discipline her strictly.

"What happened to this scar?" She pointed to a white scar on his dark chest.

"A woman slashed me." What?! Du Nianqiu immediately glared at him and said, "What did you do to offend her?" Could this guy be as promiscuous as her second senior brother? Thinking of this, she quickly added domineeringly, "No matter what you did to offend her, I've already slashed her! You're not allowed to take her as a concubine!" Why did the situation suddenly turn sour? Helian Ying looked at her amusedly. What was going on in her head? She

arbitrarily assumed he had bullied that woman, and even said he would take that heartless female thief as a concubine. Heaven knows he was only caught off guard when subduing her; how could he take that woman as a concubine!

He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "She's at least twenty years older than me." Ah? Really? Du Nianqiu's ears turned red upon hearing this. Strange, she never intended to be his wife in the first place, so why did she blurt out that he couldn't take a concubine? Wouldn't it be better if he took a concubine? That way, he wouldn't be so concerned about escaping!

But, but, but he'd already stolen her virginity! How could she possibly marry a great man and cause trouble, becoming a legendary, long-lived femme fatale? It was all his fault, so he had to take responsibility; of course, he couldn't marry another woman! Du Nianqiu thought to herself, trying to justify her actions.

But did this mean she really had to stay and be his wife? She frowned at him, deciding to try him out first. If he was truly good, she'd write to her master and senior brother, telling them she'd married him; if he treated her badly, she'd divorce him and go back to her master and the others.

Yes, that's it. Du Nianqiu nodded, deciding not to run away now, but to try him out first. Where had she gone? He circled around Ziwan, but didn't see his little wife, only his mother looking at him with amusement.

Helian Ying wanted to ask but couldn't bring himself to, carrying the bunch of grapes, and continued searching for his wandering little wife.

From the very first day of their marriage, he had never seen her settle down. She was either in the vineyard, in the fields, by the stream, or in the woods; he was constantly busy searching for her, wondering why she was always on the move. By the end of the day, everyone here had seen her except him. The moment

Helian Ying left Ziyuan, the first person he met greeted him with a smile, "Master, are you looking for Madam? We just saw her at Yueya'er's house." See, everyone knew he was looking for her, except her.

Helian Ying nodded, unable to manage a smile. Everyone knew where she was, except him, her husband—what kind of behavior was that? If they hadn't kindly pointed it out, he would have taken a long and unnecessary detour.

Helian Ying headed towards Yueya'er's house, displeased. This game of hide-and-seek had to stop; from now on, she had to let him know where she was. He hadn't considered why he cared so much about her whereabouts, but he simply disliked her behavior that seemed to exclude him.

"What is the Fire Festival?" He heard her charming question from afar. She really loved asking questions.

"The Fire Festival is a festival held on the day the harvest is finished, to thank the gods for the bountiful harvest. It's tomorrow night. There will be lots of food, fruit, and wine made from grapes. All the girls will dress up beautifully and dance and pray at the Fire Festival," Crescent Moon explained.

Upon hearing this, Du Nianqiu exclaimed excitedly, "So tomorrow night is the Fire Festival!" No wonder everyone seemed so busy, except for her. She had asked Crescent Moon because she heard people talking about the Fire Festival.

"Yes. Master has been helping everyone with the harvest these past few days, and he should be finished by tomorrow morning." "So that's what my husband's been busy with. No wonder I haven't seen him lately." Yueya almost died laughing. It was clearly because Sister Nianqiu was too good at running around; now everyone knew that Master spent half his day looking for her. Yet, every time Sister Nianqiu left, Master would arrive right after, always a step too late. And Sister Nianqiu actually thought he hadn't seen Master because he was too busy!

Helian Ying couldn't stand it anymore. He walked up behind his little wife with a cold face.

As soon as Yueya saw him, her smile vanished. "Master." Du Nianqiu turned around, looking surprised.

"It's you! Aren't you very busy?" Yes, he was very busy, busy looking for her! Helian Ying felt somewhat helpless at her slowness and could only ask, "Why didn't you stay at Ziyuan?" "Yueya'er's mother wasn't feeling well, so she asked me to bring some tonics." Seeing that she was still holding the tonics in her hand, Helian Ying frowned and asked, "How long have you been here?" "Just arrived. I met Zhang Ma hanging clothes on the way, and seeing that she wasn't feeling well, I helped her. After I helped her hang the clothes, I met Li Sao looking for Xiao Douzi, so I helped her find him to go back for dinner, and that's how I got here. Oh, by the way, I met Brother Xiao ahead, and he gave me flowers! Look, aren't they beautiful!" She proudly held the flowers up to him.

Hearing her itinerary, Helian Ying couldn't help but feel grateful that the kind person had only met her when she arrived at Yueya'er's house; otherwise, he would have had to search several more places to find her. But his relief was short-lived, as he saw her happily holding the flowers Xiao Jing had given her in her other hand, and his chest suddenly felt heavy. It was just a bouquet of flowers, what was she so happy about!

Not noticing his displeasure, Du Nianqiu saw the bunch of grapes he was carrying and quickly handed the tonics and bouquet to Yueya'er, happily taking the grapes. "Wow! Is this for me?

How wonderful!" she exclaimed, then kissed his cheek. "Thank you, I knew you were the best!" Her

kiss startled both of them. Yueya'er took a while to recover and quickly lowered her head, secretly admiring her boldness, while Helian Ying could only stare blankly at her.

Huh, what's wrong with this guy? Du Nianqiu waved her hand in front of his face twice. Had she done something wrong?

It didn't seem like she had! She often saw the girls who were with her second senior brother thank him like this when they received gifts from him! Besides, this man often kissed her in the room; she was just returning the kiss, so why was he so stunned? "Ying, are you alright?" she patted his cheek.

"It's nothing." Helian Ying finally came to his senses, feeling a sense of elation. Especially when he saw her cheerfully tossing the bouquet of flowers to Yueya'er and then holding his grapes, his previous resentment vanished.

"It's good that you're alright." Seeing that he had returned to normal, Du Nianqiu took his hand and led him to the stream. "Then come with me to wash the grapes." After taking a few steps, she didn't forget to turn back to Yueya'er, who was still looking down, and instructed, "Take good care of your mother, quickly take the tonic to her, don't waste my mother-in-law's good intentions." "I know." Yueya'er suppressed a smile and said yes, and only after the two had gone far away did she run into the house to tell her mother what had just happened. She never thought that even a calm and serious man like her could be absent-minded. She thought that daydreaming was something only a little girl like her would do.

Du Nianqiu had only gone halfway when she suddenly cried out, "Oh dear!" "What's wrong?" "I forgot the flowers Brother Xiao gave me. Wait here for a moment, I'll go back and get them." She was about to run back to Yueya'er's house when Helian Ying grabbed her arm.

"Forgot is fine." He didn't want to see her holding something given to her by another man.

"Those flowers are so pretty." She wanted to take them back and put them in her room.

"Those things wither quickly." He felt a pang of displeasure. He didn't understand why ancient people always liked those flowers and plants.

"Why are you saying such things? It's such a killjoy." Hmph, if you don't want to take them, then don't. He really didn't know what he was unhappy about.

Du Nianqiu pouted and continued towards the stream, carrying the grapes.

Helian Ying followed behind her sullenly. He wasn't wrong. Pick the flowers. The flowers would wither quickly and were completely useless, only creating garbage.

The two arrived at the stream one after the other. Du Nianqiu soaked the grapes in the water to wash them. Then she carefully placed the washed grapes under the hem of her robe, one by one, and even ate one herself.

"So sweet! Do you want some?" she asked, offering him one.

Helian Ying obediently opened his mouth and ate the grape she offered him.

Considering he still knew to offer her grapes, she decided not to be too bothered by his lack of romantic understanding. Nobody's perfect, after all.

Du Nianqiu happily watched him eat the grapes she fed him, then led him to sit under the shade of a tree.

"Ying, why did your father choose to live in seclusion on Black Eagle Mountain?" she asked, sitting on the grass, listening to the intermittent chirping of insects and birds, popping a grape into her mouth as she chatted with him. It was rare for this guy to have time to spend with her; enjoying a leisurely married life wasn't bad at all.

He reached out and stroked her soft, long hair. "The Helian Ying family originally traded in the Central Plains for generations, but due to the unstable situation, my great-grandfather accidentally discovered this place while traveling along the Silk Road, so the whole family retreated to the borderlands. It wasn't that Father sought refuge here; it was only from Father onwards that innocent people suffering from war came in from outside." "I see! No wonder, although there are people of various ethnicities here, their houses and lifestyles are similar to those of the Han people.

" Du Nianqiu nodded and fed him another grape. "I heard from Yueya'er that Father is a highly skilled martial arts master! Why haven't I heard of any martial arts master with the surname Helian?" Her master's friend, Uncle Liu, loved to tell stories of great heroes, but she had never heard him mention him.

"Father doesn't like to use his name, but someone gave him a nickname, calling him Flying Eagle of the Frontier." "It's Uncle Flying Eagle!" Du Nianqiu recognized him now. Uncle Flying Eagle was a good friend of her master; she had even been held by him when she was little. She was so mischievous back then; she even chopped off the tail feathers of the baby bird Uncle Flying Eagle kept in his pocket with a single sword stroke.

Could it be the eagle that scared her that day?

Seeing her surprised expression, Helian Ying asked, "Have you seen him?" "No, no, I've only heard of him," Du Nianqiu quickly denied. She hadn't decided whether to stay here yet; if he found out who she was, she'd have nowhere to run. "By the way, has Father been dead for a long time?" "Five years." He looked at the black eagle soaring in the distant blue sky.

That meant he had been supporting Black Eagle Mountain on his own since he was fourteen. No wonder he looked like a twenty-nine-year-old man when he was only nineteen; this guy was so pitiful.

Du Nianqiu felt a surge of sympathy and put her arm around him, saying, "Don't be too sad. The ancients were right!

Early death is early rebirth. Maybe Father is already a handsome five-year-old boy now." Helian Ying was quite surprised by her unusual thoughts; he had never thought about death from this perspective. When his father passed away, all he remembered were his father's teachings: "A man doesn't easily shed tears!" So he suppressed his grief and shouldered all the affairs of Black Eagle Mountain. He felt responsible for the people here, and that was the only way he could still feel his father's presence.

Five years had passed, and the pain of losing his loved one hadn't healed. Now, her words suddenly made him realize that he had to let it go. Not forget it, but let it become a memory.

"Have another one?" She offered him another grape.

Helian Ying ate it, his arms firmly encircling her slender waist.

A gust of hot wind blew by, and Du Nianqiu wiped her sweat. It was so hot here; even eagles under the shade of trees couldn't escape the waves of heat. If it weren't for the fact that he treated her well, she would have run away long ago.

But despite the heat, she stayed in his arms, letting the sweat flow freely, not thinking of leaving him for some fresh air. She couldn't help but yawn, because she had been running around all morning, and now that she sat down, she couldn't help but feel sleepy.

Seeing her asleep with her head resting on his shoulder, Helian Ying adjusted her to a comfortable position and basked her in the sunlight filtering through the leaves until the sun set and the stars began to twinkle. Only then did he carry her back to Ziwan.

Chapter Three

A huge campfire was lit in the open space, sparks leaping into the night sky.

People gathered around the fire, playing various musical instruments and creating enchanting music. As the music began, beautiful young women in colorful costumes danced a dazzling dance around the fire. Their faces wore shy smiles, their slender figures swaying to the music.

Suddenly, a woman with a veiled face joined them.

She wore a completely red dress, the almost transparent skirt billowing with her movements, vaguely revealing her long, slender, white legs and serpentine waist, her black hair flying in the night air. Her appearance immediately drew everyone's attention, including Helian Ying's.

The music stopped abruptly, leaving only a lingering echo.

Helian Ying stood frozen, watching her dance towards him, a dagger gleaming red in her hand. Her dance was exquisite, every gesture captivating, like a celestial maiden from Dunhuang descending to earth—alluring yet refined, beautiful yet not gaudy. It was a dance that intoxicated, not the dancer, but the viewer. After the initial shock, Helian Ying swiftly enveloped her in a gust of wind, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and, seething with rage, dragged her out of the fire festival.

Seeing his expression, no one dared to stop him; they could only exchange glances before continuing with the main event of the fire festival—proposing to the girl he fancied!

The old woman sat in the highest seat, beaming. It seemed her grandson was in the works.

But who had caused her daughter-in-law to misunderstand the true meaning of the dance? Didn't her lively daughter-in-law know that only unmarried girls could dance at the fire festival? Regardless, she was quite pleased with the outcome! Just seeing her icy son's face burning with jealousy tonight was enough.

Meanwhile, Helian Ying, speeding through the fields and woods towards Ziyuan, was furious. Was she deliberately trying to embarrass him? She had already entered Helian Ying's house, yet she was still dancing so provocatively at the courtship fire ceremony! Look at her exposed arms and thighs, not to mention the exposed skin on her chest and her slender, fair waist—all of this that originally belonged only to him was now being seen by a whole host of men, women, and children.

Helian Ying, furious, kicked open the door and threw Du Nianqiu, who was struggling in her cloak, onto the bed.

Du Nianqiu, struggling to free herself from the cloak, found herself disheveled, her veil gone, her clothes and headdress in complete disarray; look at the mess this rude man had made, all her carefully chosen attire was ruined!

"What the hell are you doing? I've only danced halfway through!" She sat on the bed, furious, and threw the cloak back at him.

"Who told you to dance?" He easily knocked off the heavy cloak, his face looking like a demon from hell.

"I want to dance!" She had painstakingly studied with the palace's famous dancers, and now that she heard dancing was allowed during the fire ceremony, she wanted to show him she wasn't completely helpless. Who knew he wouldn't praise her, but instead, he tied her up halfway through, threw her on the bed, and yelled at her.

Du Nianqiu put her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and glared back. She could yell too, so what was a little hardship! Humph!

Seeing her lack of remorse, Helian Ying was furious; and seeing the barely covering fabric on her body, he was so angry he wanted to beat her up.

Seeing him just glaring at her without saying a word, Du Nianqiu, oblivious to the danger, blurted out again: "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful woman before?!" This woman really needed a lesson! Helian Ying grabbed her arm, his voice fierce. "I know you don't want to marry me, but you're already married, and that's an unchangeable fact.

This is my place, you're my woman. Even if you want to find another husband at the fire sacrifice, no one will dare to take you! If you dare try again, I'll lock you in the cellar!" He had thought that after all these days, things were irreversible, and she should have changed her mind. But she had openly insulted him at the fire sacrifice! Jealousy instantly filled his heart. Which man had she fallen for that daring woman to dance at the fire sacrifice? Who was she dancing for? For whom was her amorous smile hidden behind her veil? Had she been in love with that man, while he was heartbroken and searching for her everywhere?

Finding another husband at the fire sacrifice? What was this guy talking about?! Du Nianqiu was startled, frowning as she tried to pull her hand away from his grip, saying, "Let go! It hurts! I know I'm already married to you. One husband is enough trouble; why would I want to find another one at the fire sacrifice? I'm just dancing, why are you being so mean!

So many girls are dancing, why don't you yell at them too!" "They're not my wives!" Helian Ying roared angrily, only realizing her meaning a beat later.

Just dancing? He dared to ask his little wife to be completely unaware of the other meaning of dancing at the fire sacrifice? "Keep your voice down! I'm not deaf." With her hands held by him, she couldn't cover her ears, leaving echoes lingering in them. If he really made her deaf, she'd give him a piece of her mind! "Do you know the meaning of dancing at the fire sacrifice?" He suddenly calmed down.

"Of course I know, it's to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest!" Wasn't that obvious? Du Nianqiu looked at this man, whose attitude was so unpredictable, with suspicion. Could he really be mentally unstable? Did she really not know? Helian Ying looked at her with a mixture of surprise and delight. This meant that she hadn't taken a liking to any other man, and hadn't been in a romantic relationship with anyone? Helian Ying instantly breathed a sigh of relief, his temper immediately dropping from near zero.

Ugh, how long was he going to hold her like this? Her hands were almost numb! This guy was highly skilled in martial arts; she couldn't do anything about him. It was all because she hadn't liked practicing martial arts as a child; otherwise, she wouldn't always be caught by him and unable to escape. She might be better at throwing weapons than him, but now that both her hands were held, how could she use them? Besides, he didn't know she knew martial arts. If he found out, given how close his master and father were, he would definitely guess who she was, so it was best not to use them.

Du Nianqiu was still thinking about how to escape when a night breeze blew, lifting the thin veil and revealing her fair and shapely legs to Helian Ying. He saw her, his pupils darkening, and Du Nianqiu quickly pulled her legs away.

Did she think he wouldn't see her if she pulled away? What part of her body hadn't he seen and touched? Remembering the feeling of those beautiful legs wrapped around his waist, his lower body involuntarily hardened.

The most important thing about marrying a wife was to have her bear him a son. It seemed he had to work harder to get her pregnant, so she wouldn't always disappear.

Helian Ying, burning with lust, kissed the cornered Du Nianqiu, deciding to keep her so exhausted from tonight until she was pregnant.

"Hey, why is he doing this again!" Du Nianqiu pouted, secretly angry. She knew that nothing good ever came of sleeping with him!

This time, she was too lazy to even scold him. Since she let him have his way every night anyway, she might as well let him do whatever he wanted. "Where did you get this dagger?" Helian Ying toyed with the fiery red dagger he had taken from her. The handle was carved with a phoenix in the same style as the one on her jade hairpin, suggesting they were a pair, which piqued his curiosity.

A sleepy Du Nianqiu nestled in his arms, murmuring, "Given by Master." "Who is Master?" He knew she knew martial arts from the fact that she hadn't experienced the discomfort a normal person would when she took the Fire Dragon Nine (a blood-activating tonic), so he wasn't surprised by her answer; he was just trying to get information out of her.

"Master is Master! Don't bother me, I want to sleep!" Du Nianqiu pouted and complained, pulling the blanket over her head.

She still had the energy to complain; it seemed his little wife wasn't getting enough exercise. Helian Ying smirked, then burrowed under the covers, intending to exercise with her a little more.

The next morning, Du Nianqiu was too tired to get out of bed, and Helian Ying was happy to stay in bed with her. Anyway, the work in the fields was finished, and he had nothing to do these past few days. Usually, he would visit nearby tribes at this time, but this year he was content just looking at his little wife's unseemly sleeping posture.

Seeing her tossing and turning in her sleep, drenched in sweat, he took off the black jade heirloom he had worn since childhood and put it on her.

The black jade was cool to the touch, capable of relieving heat and warding off poison. Having grown up in the desert, he was accustomed to the scorching climate. He had wanted to give her the jade for a long time, but something always came up, or she would disappear in the blink of an eye, so it had been delayed until now.

Crescent Moon arrived at the door and, through the half-open door, saw the master gazing tenderly at his sleeping wife.

She withdrew her hand from the door, quietly closed it, and went to report to the old lady with a smile.

The old lady had been wondering why the master hadn't arrived yet, which was why she'd been called over. She hadn't expected to see him give the lady his personal black jade pendant; it seemed he must have fallen in love with her. This was wonderful; the old lady would surely be delighted.

※※※ Du Nianqiu stared blankly at the black eagle soaring in the sky. How had she managed to stay here for three months? If it weren't for the nausea she'd been feeling these past few days, forcing her to see a doctor, she wouldn't have known she was two months pregnant.

Nor would she have suddenly realized she'd been here so long.

When exactly did she stop thinking about returning to the Central Plains? Right, it seemed to have started after he gave her the black jade pendant. From that day on, his attitude towards her seemed somewhat different. He took her everywhere he went, making it impossible for her to wander off, but after a few days, she got used to it.

Actually, he was a really nice person, except for some quirks, such as not allowing her to dress too lightly, not allowing her to run around, and not allowing her to smile at men casually, etc. Aside from that, he was quite good to her. For example, every morning, he would personally comb her hair, and knowing what kind of food she liked to eat, he would subtly get it for her. One morning, she even found a potted plant on the table, and he said it was so the flowers wouldn't die, which surprised her but also warmed her heart.

When they walked together under the scorching sun, he would always walk in the direction of the sunlight, creating a shadow for her; she had only seen three such thoughtful men in her life, and he was the fourth—the other three being her master, her eldest brother, and her second brother. As for her third brother, if he weren't blind, she believed he would do the same.

Thinking of her master and her brothers, Du Nianqiu realized she should write a letter to inform them. She had been missing for almost half a year. She wondered if her eldest brother, Meng Zhen, was still on the battlefield, or if he was alright.

He would be very worried if he knew she was missing. As for her second brother, Leng Rufeng, she doubted he would even remember her, his adorable junior sister, given his daily life in brothels. But her third brother, Song Qingyun, always doted on her

, must be frantic with worry. And then there was her master; he would be furious if he knew what she had done.

Ah—she suddenly missed them so much! However, she couldn't bear to leave him. He seemed to be in a good mood lately, sometimes even smiling, which left a group of girls speechless, making her want to cover his smile.

He was her husband; how could she let others stare at him? Besides, she was pregnant now, and long-distance travel wasn't suitable, especially crossing the arid desert.

Right, she had to tell him the news. She wondered how he would react? He would definitely be very happy!

Du Nianqiu smiled broadly and happily walked through the woods back to Ziwan.

※※※Du Nianqiu entered the room with a joyful heart, unaware of the lingering stench of blood in the air, and rushed straight into the hall.

Inside, dishes and cups were scattered everywhere, and an old woman had a dagger stuck in her chest, blood flowing freely.

"Mother!" Du Nianqiu rushed forward. What had happened? How could this have occurred? In

a panic, she pulled out the life-saving pills her master had given her and gave them to her mother, while simultaneously pulling out the dagger and applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

Just then, a group of people burst in from outside.

"It's her! Brother Ying, I saw her arguing with Auntie. As soon as I saw her pull out a dagger, I ran to find you, but I was too late!" A pretty woman, arm in arm with Helian Ying, pointed at Du Nianqiu and yelled, "You heartless woman, how could you do such a heinous thing!" Who was she? What nonsense was she spouting? Du Nianqiu stared blankly at the woman she had never seen before, saying, "No, no, it wasn't me!" "You're still holding the murder weapon! How dare you lie!" Du Nianqiu looked down at the dagger in her hand, her grip loosening, and the dagger fell to the ground. She hurriedly looked up to explain to Helian Ying, only to see him grieving as he held his blood-soaked mother.

"Ying, I didn't do it! When I arrived, Mother was already lying on the ground. I didn't kill her!" she cried out.

Helian Ying's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the murder weapon on the ground. He had initially believed her, believed she wouldn't do such a thing, until he saw her hands covered in blood, holding the phoenix dagger. He gently put his mother down, slowly raising his eyes to stare directly at her seemingly innocent face. It was his fault. If he hadn't believed her, if he hadn't fallen in love with her, he wouldn't have left her and his mother in Ziwanli to fetch his distant cousin.

If he hadn't gone to the vineyard to please her, he wouldn't have only let his cousin return first, unable to stop the murder.

"I didn't do it!" Du Nianqiu looked at him with clear eyes.

The irrational Helian Ying wouldn't listen. He suddenly grabbed her neck, gritting his teeth, "Why are you doing this to me?" How could she betray him! "

I didn't!" She struggled to pry his hand away, desperately squeezing out those three words.

His fingers gradually sank into her throat, Du Nianqiu's face turning pale, tears streaming down her face from the pain.

He didn't believe her; he really wanted to kill her!

"Brother, you've gone mad!" Xiao Jing arrived after hearing the news and saw this scene. He quickly intervened to stop Helian Ying.

Caught off guard, Helian Ying released his grip, but continued his attacks, intent on killing her.

Xiao Jing, holding Du Nianqiu, dodged left and right, quickly sustaining several wounds on his body. It seemed his brother had truly gone mad, showing no mercy in his attacks. If this continued, he would surely die. Xiao Jing suddenly shouted, shielding Du Nianqiu behind him, standing still. At this moment, he could only gamble that Helian Ying still had some sense.

Helian Ying threw a punch, showing no sign of stopping. Seeing this, Du Nianqiu darted from behind Xiao Jing to his front, and his palm struck her solidly.

Du Nianqiu fell onto Xiao Jing, immediately spitting out two mouthfuls of blood.

Everyone was stunned. Helian Ying also stopped his attack, his face pale as he realized he could still feel heartache for her.

"How could you be so foolish?" Xiao Jing quickly helped her up.

Du Nianqiu didn't answer, only wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth with her trembling hand, looking at Helian Ying in disbelief.

"You believe her but not me?" She loved him! She had just realized she had fallen in love with him, willing to stay for a lifetime, and yet he treated her like this!

Before she could finish speaking, another mouthful of blood rushed to her throat. She coughed up two more mouthfuls of blood, looking at his indifferent face with heartache. Suddenly, she was furious at her own stupidity, so stupid as to fall in love with him.

She straightened up, clenched her fists, and roared, her face pale, "Helian Ying, I hate you! Did you hear me?

I hate you!" Helian Ying's flat expression cracked instantly, his muscles stiffening in a flash. Xiao Jing knew things were going to get bad; if this continued, this misunderstanding was definitely going to get out of hand. He whirled around, grabbed Du Nianqiu around the waist, and rushed out the gate.

Helian Ying hurriedly chased after them, seeing Xiao Jing leading her onto a horse and heading straight for the exit.

A panic he had never felt before surged into his heart. He wouldn't let her go; even if it meant death, he would make her die here!

He wouldn't let her go!

Du Nianqiu saw Helian Ying's furious figure from her horse. With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a flurry of projectiles at him.

She hadn't brought any hidden weapons; all she had were feathers she'd picked up while playing with the horse stables on her way back to Ziwan. But that was enough; enough to stop him for a moment, allowing Xiao Jing to ride away with her. Because of the exertion, she felt dizzy and fainted.

The last thing Helian Ying saw of her was her body going limp, almost falling off her horse, her face as white as a corpse, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. At the last second, Xiao Jing pulled her back onto her horse.

The strong men guarding the exit, unaware of what was happening, opened the stone gate for Xiao Jing from afar.

He rushed out, only to be met with a sudden sandstorm; when the sandstorm subsided, all traces had vanished without a trace.

From that day on, he never saw those two again, never heard from them. He couldn't believe they were dead, he couldn't believe she was dead!

From that day on, his personality changed. He began searching for her, attacking any tribes she might be in, and slaughtering anyone who stood in his way. Then, his fame grew, and people saw him as a terrifying bandit, a demon of the desert. Four years later, his title, Helian Ying, the King of the Desert, began to spread far and wide.

In the ten years that followed, he met many more people, but none of them ever saw Xiao Jing and Du Nianqiu.

He began to forget—or at least he thought he had begun to forget—until he met Meng Zhen, who had come for a marriage alliance, until he saw the unforgettable phoenix mark on the hilt of Meng Zhen's sword—the wound in his heart was torn open again, and blood flowed freely.

He had always assumed she was Hui, so he never considered that she might be Han, nor did he ever think of going to the Central Plains to find her, until now! After listening

to

Helian Ying's casual recounting of the events, Qin Dongyue leaned against Meng Zhen, her eyes fixed on Helian Ying.

After a long while, she turned to her husband and asked, "Do you believe him?" Meng Zhen and Leng Rufeng exchanged a meaningful glance, then looked at Song Qingyun together. Blind as he was, he seemed to know his senior brothers were asking for his opinion and nodded slightly.

It seemed the three brothers had reached a consensus. Fourteen years ago, their junior sister returned severely injured and pregnant, yet she refused to reveal the man's identity, infuriating their master. However, their master was helpless against the barely alive She Nianqiu and had to save her first. Judging from this situation, what Helian Ying said was likely true.

However, none of the three believed their master would do such a heinous thing; there must be a misunderstanding.

Leng Rufeng, holding a paper fan, looked at the indifferent Helian Ying and asked, "If you find your junior sister, what do you plan to do?" "My mother is still alive, " he revealed, shocking everyone.

Helian Ying, his face cold, said insincerely, "I don't want to see her again, but my mother wants to see her." His mother had survived and knew what had happened, but refused to speak to him again, only instructing Yueya'er to find her, or she would disown him. She truly hadn't spoken a word to him for fourteen years; even face-to-face, she had to have Yueya'er relay her message.

This was the main reason he was looking for her; for fourteen years, he had told himself this.

Hearing this, everyone thought the same thing—this must be a misunderstanding.

Qin Dongyue's thoughts shifted, and she said with a charming smile, "Answer me one question, and I'll tell you where she is." Helian Ying looked at the clever woman and nodded slightly.

For months after returning to the Central Plains, she couldn't laugh or cry, and every night she dreamt of the day her heart broke. Her fellow disciples took turns anxiously watching over her bedside. Until one day, she felt the baby move inside her.

It kicked once, then again. Shocked, she clutched her belly, finally realizing she had a child inside her. On the day the child was alive, she finally shed tears and laughed out loud, truly seeing her master and fellow disciples who had watched over her for months, unable to sleep from worry, and Brother Xiao who had never left.

Because of this child, she had come back to life. A few months later, she gave birth to a baby boy.

To thank her master for raising him, she gave him the master's surname, Qi, and the name Ao. But her master and fellow disciples joked that Qi Ao was tough; she, his mother, had almost died, yet he had survived healthy, so they jokingly called him Stone.

Over time, everyone started calling him Stone, and few called him Qi Ao anymore.

Fourteen years passed in the blink of an eye. She thought her life would continue like this, peacefully and quietly spent in the Yue Lai Inn with Shi Tou, Uncle Liu, and her senior brother who lived in seclusion in the mountains.

She forced herself to bury those three months in her heart and forget him.

Fourteen years have passed, why did he reappear? Did he still want her dead? He found her, so the answer was certain. Wasn't it? The carriage continued its high-speed journey towards Yuquan Town. Now, she only wanted to return to the Yue Lai Inn and forget him once again.

※※※ A month passed, a peaceful month.

Du Nianqiu's clenched heart finally relaxed slightly. She greeted the passing merchants with her habitual smile.

If that person wanted to come, he should have come long ago. Perhaps her senior brother had sent him away! But she was still somewhat uncertain. He was not someone who could be easily dismissed; but her senior brothers were not simple characters either. She should trust them.

"Auntie! Auntie!" Qi Xiaolou was practically leaning over the counter, her face right in front of Du Nianqiu's.

"Wow! Why are you so close?" Du Nianqiu was startled when she saw Qi Xiaolou's overly close eyes and quickly backed away.

"I've called you so many times! That table of guests wants to pay their bill, and I don't know how much a jar of yellow wine costs." "Why don't you ask Lan'er?" This girl always remembers things like that, unlike Lan'er who has been here for three days and remembers all the food and wine expenses perfectly.

"Sister Lan'er is helping Uncle Liu in the kitchen." Du Nianqiu suddenly felt something was off. "Xiaolou, you're eighteen, right?" "Yes!" "Isn't Lan'er only sixteen?" Xiaolou nodded again, "Yes." "You're calling Lan'er by the wrong names, aren't you?" These two little girls are really something, making her think her memory had deteriorated.

"Huh? Right." Qi Xiaolou tilted her head and thought for a moment before widening her eyes and repeatedly agreeing. "It's all because Lan'er looks too gentle, making me always think she's my older sister." "You should blame yourself for being too childish!" Du Nianqiu chuckled and tapped her forehead. "One jar of yellow wine, one ounce, hurry up and settle the bill, girl!" "Ouch, that hurts." Qi Xiaolou reached out to touch her forehead where she had been tapped, and skipped off to settle the bill.

Du Nianqiu was truly amazed by her reaction. Actually, Xiaolou was quite a good girl. Although she was the daughter of a marquis, she was lively and cheerful. In the past month, she had been helping out at the Yuelai Inn without fear of grease and grime, still rolling up her sleeves to wipe tables and chairs with a rag. Her diligence was no less than that of an ordinary girl. As for Lan'er, needless to say. Originally, she was a princess of the Tang Dynasty, living a life of luxury, but unexpectedly, she would take the initiative to help, and even humbly ask Uncle Liu for advice on kitchen chores.

Although she was physically weak and unable to lift heavy objects, she devised many simple methods to reduce her workload considerably. This Tang Dynasty princess was exceptionally clever, just a bit timid.

With their help, her work became much easier; when people are idle, their minds start to wander, so these days she's been worrying about all sorts of things.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen," she kept telling herself.

As the sun set and the moon rose, Du Nianqiu lit the lanterns in front of the inn. Before entering, she looked towards the main street leading out of town; there were only a few passersby. She reassured herself that he wouldn't chase her to Yuquan Town.

At the same time, someone in a wooden house across the street was observing her.

She was even more radiant than she remembered; time had only added a gentle, mature charm to her. The Tang-style dress did nothing to conceal her shapely figure. She had her long hair pulled back, revealing her flawless, white neck. A small strand of hair, loosened from a busy day, kept dangling near her neck. When she bent over the counter writing in the ledger, that strand would hang in front of her chest, sometimes even managing to slip into her collar.

Damn it! Did she really have to dress like that to attract attention? The Yue Lai Inn was filled with male guests, all of whom stared at her slender figure. Every time she moved slightly, her jade-like hips swayed, and all the men's eyes followed suit, drooling everywhere. When she turned around, everyone's gaze was fixed on her lapels, each hoping to catch a glimpse of her exposed skin when she turned away.

He couldn't believe she'd been living like this for the past fourteen years! Helian Ying's face was icy cold; he wished he could rush over immediately and gouge out the eyes of every man who dared to stare at her. If possible, he would beat every man who had ever coveted her over the past fourteen years.

A month ago, when he first entered Yuquan Town, fearing she might run away again, he and his men disguised themselves and entered the town in batches. Who knew that upon entering the town, he would hear the townspeople calling the proprietress of the Yuelai Inn "Aunt Du"!

Aunt Du? She's married?! This news shocked and enraged him. The thought of her sleeping in the same bed with a certain man every night for the past fourteen years ignited a burning jealousy that almost made him rush to the Yuelai Inn and tear that adulterer who dared to usurp his place to pieces. But Zhan Buqun, who had just arrived from Black Eagle Mountain, calmly and promptly inquired about the details, only to learn that she was a widow, already a widow when she came to the town ten years ago.

A widow?! "How dare she call herself a widow? Does she think Helian Ying is dead?!"

Zhan Buqun burst into laughter. Helian Ying could only glare at him with a livid face. Zhan Buqun inquired about the land from the townspeople, and the two rented a room opposite the Yuelai Inn.

"She might not be cursing you to die. She ran away with Xiao Jing back then. Maybe she married Xiao Jing long ago, but he died, so she calls herself a widow," Zhan Buqun teased Helian Ying as he painstakingly cleaned the dusty room.

Helian Ying's face grew greener with each word, and he suddenly swung his sword, yelling, "Have you said enough?!" Zhan Buqun ducked, dodging the attack, and darted out the door with a grin, saying, "Enough, enough. I'm going to buy food for my sister-in-law across the street. You figure out how to explain and apologize to her." Helian Ying swept his right leg, sending the stool flying towards Zhan Buqun, who easily caught it, still oblivious to the danger, and said, "By the way, what do you think about kneeling down and apologizing? A man's knees are worth gold; maybe he'll forgive you." Misunderstanding! Damn misunderstanding! Helian Ying's face was ashen; the thought of it filled him with rage. Back then, he had been blinded by her betrayal, ignoring too many suspicious points. After the incident, he was too pained to recall it, which led to his misunderstanding of her for fourteen years. And his mother had cruelly made him believe that she had betrayed him until he found Nianqiu in the capital, and the news reached Black Eagle Mountain, at which point she sent Zhan Buqun to tell him the truth. It wasn't Nianqiu who stabbed his mother, but that distant cousin. She coveted the wealth of Black Eagle Mountain and wanted to become the lady of the house. She had sent someone to Black Eagle Mountain to gather intelligence beforehand, then devised a cunning plan: to steal the dagger he kept in his study, assassinate his mother when she wasn't looking, and then frame Nianqiu.

The only thing that woman hadn't anticipated was that his mother didn't die; Nianqiu saved her in time. Later, fearing her plan would be exposed, she hurriedly left Black Eagle Mountain. At that time, he was frantically searching for Xiao Jing and Nianqiu, not even knowing or caring when his distant cousin had left.

That damned woman, if he found her, he would tear her to pieces!

Looking at his wife across the street again, Helian Ying frowned in annoyance. The thought of her angrily shouting "I hate you" years ago made his heart clench with pain.

He had thought she had wronged him, but it turned out he had misunderstood her!

Damn it, she could never forgive him!

[The End]

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