Love and Sword [Complete] - 2

Volume 1 Heartbreak Chapter 7 Uncontrollable Emotions

"Alright, let's go now." Jiang Qingyue said calmly, reaching out her slender hand to take Ruoxu's arm. Ruoxu was startled and instinctively shifted his body, trying to pull away.
"Don't forget, we're newlyweds now." Jiang Qingyue didn't let him distance himself, but instead pulled him closer.
"Qingyue, let me do it. I'm sure I can make us look more like newlyweds than real couples." Hua Feihua was still unwilling to give up and chimed in. Jiang Qingyue ignored him, only giving him a disdainful look. Helpless, Ruoxu could only walk out of the inn with Jiang Qingyue in a way that appeared very intimate to outsiders. "
Remember, now your name is Hua Xu, and mine is Yue Qing. You two will be called Hua Hanxue and Hua Hanfeng." Jiang Qingyue thought for a moment and said. Hanxue let out a soft gasp, looking at Jiang Qingyue in surprise. Seeing Jiang Qingyue's nonchalant attitude, she relaxed slightly, thinking that Jiang Qingyue's actions were probably just a coincidence.
Outside the inn, a rather luxurious carriage was parked.
"Hanfeng, you drive," Jiang Qingyue said, seemingly seeking Hua Feihua's opinion. But after speaking, she pulled Ruoxu inside, leaving poor Hua Feihua with no choice but to do the hard labor with a wry smile. What would outsiders think if they knew that the dignified young master of the Hua family was now a coachman?
"You come in too," Jiang Qingyue said, lifting the curtain to Hanxue. Hanxue wanted to stubbornly refuse to go in, but then thought that not going would only benefit Jiang Qingyue, so she quickly slipped inside. However, she glared at Jiang Qingyue with hostility; this girl's dissatisfaction was completely written on her face, without any attempt at concealment.
The carriage slowly and steadily drove out of Chang'an, the four people inside each with their own distinct feelings. Ruoxu was quite helpless. He didn't know what Jiang Qingyue was thinking, or why she insisted he come along. Hanxue clung tightly to Ruoxu, clutching his clothes as if afraid they would be snatched away. Jiang Qingyue, however, seemed lost in thought, occasionally glancing at Ruoxu. Seeing his intimate relationship with Hanxue, she felt a strange unease. She herself didn't understand what she was thinking, nor why she insisted Ruoxu come. She simply felt he should, perhaps for Xiaoyue's sake, or for other reasons.
Hua Feihua sat listlessly on the carriage shaft, feeling deeply distressed. He and Jiang Qingyue had known each other for a long time, and were quite familiar with one another. Since meeting Jiang Qingyue, he had never been to brothels. However, their relationship remained purely platonic. Jiang Qingyue had once clearly told him that they could be confidants, but never lovers. However, Hua Feihua knew that he didn't want to be her a confidant; he wanted to be her a lover. Although he knew Jiang Qingyue wouldn't accept him now, he firmly believed that sincerity could move mountains, and one day, Jiang Qingyue would no longer see him as a friend but as someone she could rely on. Although he didn't know when that day would come, he was certain it would.
However, today he began to feel disheartened. He knew Jiang Qingyue well and could tell that she seemed to have a special feeling for this scholar she had only recently met—a feeling akin to that between lovers.
"Is our three years of friendship less valuable than someone I've only known for three days?" Hua Feihua felt bitter.
"It's getting late. There's a small town ahead. Let's stay here tonight and continue our journey at dawn." Everyone had remained silent along the way, lost in their own thoughts. Seeing that it was getting late, Hua Feihua stopped the carriage and turned to ask the person behind him.
"Alright, let's stop wherever there's an inn," Jiang Qingyue's melodious voice came from behind.
The name of the inn, Yingbin Pavilion, was quite elegant, but the facilities inside were truly appalling. However, this was just a small border town, and it was the only inn there; if he didn't stay here, he'd have nowhere else to go.
Ruoxu's hand was being held by Jiang Qingyue, the soft, stimulating sensation making his heart race. They were very close, and Jiang Qingyue emanated a delicate fragrance, making Ruoxu feel an urge to escape. He didn't consider himself a saint; although his heart belonged only to Hua Yuluan, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't do something impolite. But Jiang Qingyue wouldn't let him escape, so he had to grit his teeth and calm himself.
A hint of melancholy appeared in Hua Feihua's eyes. Men and women shouldn't touch each other, although those in the martial world were less concerned. He had known Jiang Qingyue for three years, and although he often jokingly took advantage of her, Jiang Qingyue had never let him touch her body. Ruoxu, on the other hand, had known her for less than three days, yet he had obtained what he hadn't obtained in three years. Although it was just an act, it couldn't be denied that it was already a fact; he had fallen behind Ruoxu. Moreover, he still couldn't understand why Jiang Qingyue and Ruoxu dressed as newlyweds. Couldn't they have dressed as siblings? He couldn't understand it, and he felt bad, but as a magnanimous person, Hua Feihua didn't resent Ruoxu, though he was somewhat envious of his good fortune.
Two pairs of handsome men and beautiful women entered the inn, instantly brightening its atmosphere. Several patrons who had been engrossed in their food and drink were drawn to their presence. A group of four men in white glanced at Ruoxu and his companions, their expressions changing slightly before they quickly looked away, continuing to devour the food and drink on the table as if nothing had happened.
"Innkeeper, are there any rooms available?" Hua Feihua asked, stepping forward.
"Yes, yes, how many rooms would you like, sir?" the innkeeper bowed and scraped.
"Three rooms," Jiang Qingyue said from the side. Hua Feihua paused, speechless.
Hua Feihua never expected that Jiang Qingyue's request for three rooms would mean one for him and one for Hanxue, while Jiang Qingyue would share a room with Ruoxu.
"Miss Jiang, isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Ruoxu asked hesitantly after they were settled.
"I'm not afraid, why are you?" Jiang Qingyue said calmly. "A newlywed couple not living together, even a fool would suspect something's wrong."
"Why pretend to be a married couple?" Hua Feihua muttered beside her, his tone full of dissatisfaction and helplessness.
"Alright, stop talking, get some rest." Jiang Qingyue glared at Hua Feihua. "And everyone be careful, those four men in white at that table might be suspicious."
"They're assassins from the White Robe Pavilion, they probably aren't targeting us, are they?" Hua Feihua said, having already figured out who they were.
"Regardless, better safe than sorry," Jiang Qingyue sighed softly.
The White Robe Pavilion, the most famous assassin organization in the martial arts world. All their assassins are dressed in white, their methods of killing are extremely unpredictable, and they're known for killing anyone they can't kill, only those who can't afford to hire them. Their bounties for killing are very high, generally unaffordable for most people. They are typically mercenary, willing to kill anyone for the right price.
"I want to be with Young Master," Hanxue suddenly said. "I want to protect him."
"No," Jiang Qingyue flatly refused. "I will naturally protect him, you don't need to worry."
"I don't care, I just want to be with Young Master!" Hanxue stubbornly declared.
"I said no, and that's final!" Jiang Qingyue retorted sharply. "
Who do you think you are? Why should we listen to you?" Hanxue said angrily, glaring at Jiang Qingyue like a raging little leopard.
"I didn't ask you to listen to me, as long as he listens to me," Jiang Qingyue said indifferently, glancing at Ruoxu. Poor Ruoxu, standing to the side, didn't know what to do. He wanted to persuade the two, but realizing Jiang Qingyue had nothing to do with him, he could only try to persuade Hanxue instead.
"Xiaoxue, go back to your room. Don't worry, I'll be fine," Ruoxu said softly to Xiaoxue. Little did he know that his words would only make Xiaoxue feel wronged and on the verge of tears.
With a soft "whimper," Xiaoxue suddenly covered her face and ran out, leaving behind the nonchalant Jiang Qingyue, the dazed Ruoxu, and the somewhat gloating Hua Feihua.
"I'll go check on Xiaoxue." Ruoxu hesitated slightly before speaking to Jiang Qingyue. Jiang Qingyue didn't speak, neither agreeing nor explicitly objecting. Seeing her silence, Ruoxu took it as a yes and hurriedly went out. He
gently pushed open Hanxue's door, only to find her collapsed on the bed, her body trembling slightly, and suppressed sobs barely audible.
"Xiaoxue." Ruoxu gently stroked her body and called softly. "Young
Master." Hanxue suddenly rolled over and threw herself into Ruoxu's arms, bursting into tears. Ruoxu was caught off guard and could only gently pat her back to comfort her. "Young

Master, let's go back, let's go back to Mount Hua, okay?" Hanxue stopped crying, slightly raising her head, her face still streaked with tears, like a pear blossom in the rain, delicate and charming. "
Xiaoxue, since I promised Miss Jiang to go back with her, I can't break my promise. Besides, I don't want to go back now." Ruoxu sighed softly.
Hanxue buried her head in Ruoxu's arms again. The soft, fragrant body nestled in his embrace, yet Ruoxu felt no lust. His thoughts drifted back to Mount Hua, to the woman who haunted his dreams. Her every smile and gesture flashed vividly in his mind.
Time slowly passed. After an unknown amount of time, Hanxue finally climbed out of Ruoxu's arms.
"Young Master, you should go back," Hanxue said softly. Ruoxu paused, wanting to say something, but found himself speechless. He simply nodded subconsciously, slowly rising and leaving.
"You're back. Get some rest," Jiang Qingyue said calmly as Ruoxu entered, as if she had been waiting for him.
"But, Jiang..."
"My name is Yueqing. Remember, from now on, call me Sister Qing," Jiang Qingyue interrupted him.
"Sister Qing, shall we sleep like this?" Ruoxu asked hesitantly.
"What else do you want?" Jiang Qingyue blushed slightly, giving Ruoxu a somewhat annoyed look.
"But...but there's only one bed," Ruoxu said, his handsome face slightly flushed, looking somewhat timid.
Jiang Qingyue was about to say something when her expression suddenly changed. With a flick of her slender hand, the light went out. Ruoxu felt a lightness in his body, and then a soft, elastic body pressed against him, and the two of them fell onto the bed.
Ruoxu was about to speak when a warm, trembling cherry-like mouth sealed his lips. His head went blank, his mind going completely blank. The unprecedented, soul-stirring tenderness gave him a strange shock. Perhaps it was human instinct, but he subconsciously wrapped his arms around Jiang Qingyue's slender waist, his lips beginning to actively suckle. Jiang Qingyue trembled slightly, slowly beginning to respond awkwardly…
The two kissed passionately, making low, sensual sounds. Suddenly, Jiang Qingyue snapped out of her daze and pushed Ruoxu away abruptly.
"That's enough," Jiang Qingyue said, her cheeks burning, her voice slightly shy.
Ruoxu seemed stunned, unresponsive, his eyes glazed over.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Qingyue's voice softened considerably as she gently asked.
"Jiang, Sister Qing, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have offended you." Ruoxu, now fully awake, murmured to Jiang Qingyue, filled with remorse. He thought of Hua Yuluan, feeling even more guilty, secretly hating his own uselessness while hoping for Hua Yuluan's forgiveness. "
It's not your fault," Jiang Qingyue said calmly, "There was someone outside the window just now, probably investigating us." Jiang Qingyue was explaining her actions.
Worried that someone else might come, the two remained still on the bed. Jiang Qingyue's phoenix eyes were slightly closed, seemingly asleep, while Ruoxu turned to face inward, motionless, only his soft breathing could be heard. However, neither of them could sleep. Jiang Qingyue blushed and her heart raced as she recalled what had just happened.
"Why didn't I resist him just now? And why did it feel so natural?" Jiang Qingyue wondered, a sudden thought startling her. "Could I really have already considered him my husband?"
"No, impossible! I've only known him for two days. I wouldn't!" She immediately denied it. However, she felt like she was deceiving herself. Ever since she heard that Xiaoyue had asked him to come find her, her mindset had undergone a qualitative change.
Meanwhile, Ruoxu couldn't calm down either. Just now, in a moment of impulse, he had actually had such an intimate relationship with Jiang Qingyue. For a moment, he didn't know how to face it. Although Jiang Qingyue seemed indifferent, he sensed that she wouldn't be indifferent.
"But, I clearly only love Senior Sister! Why am I like this? I'm so useless, I can't resist even the slightest temptation," Ruoxu lamented to himself.
The next morning, the two looked at each other and found that each other's eyes were slightly bloodshot. Ruoxu lowered his head guiltily, while Jiang Qingyue sighed softly. Hua Feihua's heart sank when she saw the two emerge. Jiang Qingyue's embrace with Ruoxu today seemed so natural! "Young Master, Young Madam, did you sleep well last night?" Hanxue asked sweetly, though the jealousy in her voice was

palpable

even from a distance.
Ruoxu blushed slightly, feeling guilty and unsure how to answer. Jiang Qingyue also recalled the passion of the previous night, her pretty face flushing slightly.
"Of course I slept well, Xiaoxue, aren't you just asking the obvious?" Seeing their expressions, Hua Feihua's heart skipped a beat, but she tried to smooth things over.
Hanxue glared at Hua Feihua and gave a soft snort.
After a somewhat somber breakfast, the four of them continued their journey. Seemingly to vent her frustration, Hua Feihua cracked her whip, and with a sharp crack, the horse neighed and galloped away.
Two pairs of beautiful eyes scanned Ruoxu incessantly—the eyes of Hanxue and Jiang Qingyue, of course. Ruoxu lowered his head, not daring to look at Jiang Qingyue or Hanxue. He was afraid of Hanxue's mournful gaze, and even more afraid of Jiang Qingyue's gentle eyes; those pools of autumn water were like a bottomless abyss, and once you fell in, you might never be able to escape.
The carriage suddenly stopped.
Jiang Qingyue lifted the curtain. The carriage had entered a very secluded mountain road, flanked by dense forests. Although it was early summer, the place was unusually cool and gave off a sinister feeling.
Jiang Qingyue was about to speak when she immediately sensed an intense killing intent enveloping the surroundings, seemingly filling the entire world, yet its exact location could not be pinpointed.
Hua Feihua remained motionless, his vigilance at its highest level, his hand gripping the riding whip tightly. He wasn't without a sword, but he dared not be distracted to draw it. If he did, he might never need to draw a sword again, because he could sense that the person lurking in the shadows was a master among masters, and the oppressive feeling was something he had never experienced before. If he were to be even slightly distracted, he could fall into an abyss of no return.
A faint sound of longswords cutting through the air rang out, and two gleaming longswords, one on each side, thrust towards Hua Feihua with lightning speed. The moves were devoid of any fancy flourishes, yet so direct, aimed straight for his throat. Hua Feihua lightly pressed his left hand against the carriage shaft, his body leaping ten feet into the air, barely dodging the two attacks. The two men, having missed their first strike, did not hesitate for a moment. Seeing Hua Feihua still in mid-air, one of them flicked his wrist, and suddenly a golden, spherical object hurtled towards Hua Feihua at an even faster speed.
"Meteor Hammer!" Hua Feihua cried out inwardly, taking a deep breath and gathering his energy in his right hand. With a flick of his whip, he coiled it around the chain of the meteor hammer. He felt a numbness in his hand; although he had managed to entangle the meteor hammer, the immense force of its impact nearly caused him to drop his whip. Finally, his pent-up inner energy released, and Hua Feihua
, exhausted, began to fall. A shower of silver needles rained down on Hua Feihua, threatening to turn him into a beehive…
Meanwhile, Ruoxu and the other two were also struggling to keep up. Just as Hua Feihua was being attacked outside, Jiang Qingyue was about to intervene when a long sword unexpectedly thrust up from under the carriage, its target Jiang Qingyue. In desperation, Jiang Qingyue drew a sword from who-knows-where—a dark sword that radiated a menacing light. The two swords clashed, and the attacker's long sword instantly broke in two.
"Get out of here!" Jiang Qingyue lifted Ruoxu with one hand, bursting through the carriage roof and landing on solid ground. Hanxue followed closely behind. The moment they touched solid ground, a new wave of attacks began, this time from two figures—two white shadows, one in front and one behind—their terrifying killing intent sweeping over them, seemingly ready to engulf them at any moment.
Jiang Qingyue didn't move, standing quietly with Ruoxu beside her and Hanxue on the other, the two forming a protective encirclement around Ruoxu. Suddenly, Jiang Qingyue let out a sharp shout, her longsword pointing into the air, emitting a clear, resonant sound. A half-foot-long gleam suddenly appeared at the tip of the sword. With a flick of her wrist, the sword traced several arcs, the flashing light illuminating the gloomy mountain path.
The white-clad men's eyes widened in shock. They had never expected the young woman before them to possess such formidable skill. Her sharp sword light was beyond the capabilities of ordinary weapons, so they retreated. This was exactly what Jiang Qingyue wanted. A quick glance revealed Hua Feihua's perilous situation. With a twist of her slender waist and a graceful somersault in mid-air, she leaped towards Hua Feihua. Her longsword drew a circle, and with a clanging sound, the ground was littered with silver needles. In that instant, all the needles had been knocked down, and Hua Feihua had finally escaped with her life.

Hua Feihua landed on the ground, and Jiang Qingyue instantly returned to Ruoxu's side. Jiang Qingyue's anxious look towards Ruoxu made Hua Feihua feel a pang of heartache. The four white-clad men swiftly disappeared into the surrounding woods, disappearing quickly.
"Who hired the White Robe Tower to kill us?" Jiang Qingyue stood there, stunned, and sighed softly. She had thought that her disguise would prevent any trouble, but who knew the White Robe Tower would find her so quickly?
“I don’t understand why these people are looking for us,” Hua Feihua sighed.
“Perhaps they should be looking for us.” Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from the side, and a man and a woman appeared hand in hand.
The man was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a broad back and strong waist, exuding a heroic and extraordinary air. The woman was dressed as a young married woman, probably around the same age as the man, wearing a white silk dress, with delicate eyebrows and a slender waist, and quite beautiful.
“Cousin? Cousin-in-law?” Hua Feihua stared blankly at the two of them, calling out in a daze. The
woman was taken aback by Hua Feihua’s address, looked at him carefully, and suddenly burst out laughing.
“Feihua, why are you dressed like this?” the woman said with a coquettish smile.
“Cousin, it’s a long story. It’s good that you still recognize me. Let me introduce you first,” Hua Feihua said with a wry smile.
It turned out that the couple were both from the Yue family, one of the four great families. The woman was Yue Tianhong, the eldest daughter of the Yue family, and the man was her husband, Zhang Lingyun. Zhang Lingyun was a disciple of Yue Que, the head of the Yue family, and thus Yue Tianhong's senior brother. The two had been married for a short time and were out for a trip.
When it came to introducing Jiang Qingyue, Hua Feihua hesitated.
"My name is Jiang Qingyue, but I'm currently using the alias Yue Qing. Since Feihua trusts you both, I won't hide it," Jiang Qingyue said with a slight smile. "His name is now Hua Xu, and I'm not sure what his real name is. As for this younger sister, she's his maid. You can call her Hanxue or Xiaoxue." Jiang Qingyue, for some reason, revealed everyone's names in one go.
"Jiang Qingyue?" Yue Tianhong seemed thoughtful, then nodded after a moment, looking like she understood.
"By the way, cousin, why did you say the assassins from the White Robe Tower might be looking for you?" Hua Feihua couldn't help but ask.
"We actually came out in secret this time. Almost no one knows our exact whereabouts. There are some things I can't say right now, Fei Hua, please don't worry about it," Yue Tianhong said with a slight apology. "However, we are certain that someone wants to harm us, and Miss Jiang's alias is also Yue, plus she and this young master are using the guise of a newlywed couple. Therefore, it is very likely that they have mistaken us for them. In reality, they want to kill me and your cousin-in-law."
Hua Fei Hua remained silent. It seemed that something might have happened to the Yue family, but after all, he was an outsider, and he couldn't ask if they didn't say.
The carriage had broken down, and there was nowhere to buy a new one for the time being, so the group of six traveled together. This was tough on Ruoxu. As a scholar with no strength, traveling with a group of martial arts masters, his fate was predictable.
"Let's rest for a while," Jiang Qingyue said to the group, seeing Ruoxu's exhausted face and feeling a slight pang of heartache.
“Miss Yueqing, it’s getting late. If we don’t hurry, we might not find a place to stay,” Zhang Lingyun said, startled.
“Brother-in-law, Brother Hua doesn’t know martial arts. Let’s rest first,” Hua Feihua sighed.
“Young Master, how are you? Should I carry you?” Hanxue looked at Ruoxu with concern and said softly.
“Xiaoxue, I’m fine,” Ruoxu forced a smile and shook his head.
“It’s all your fault! Why did you insist on having the young master come with you? Now look what’s happened! Not only are we being chased on the road, but even though the young master doesn’t know martial arts, you made him walk such a long way.” Hanxue suddenly shouted at Jiang Qingyue, her voice trembling with sobs. “If anything happens to the young master, I won’t let you get away with it!”
“Xiaoxue, don’t be like this. It’s not her fault,” Ruoxu quickly comforted Hanxue.
"What do you mean it's none of her business? It's all her business!" Hanxue said indignantly. "Young Master, I've already told Miss our whereabouts. She'll be catching up soon. Miss will definitely let you go back when she gets here."
"Little Xue, why don't you help your young master rest first?" Yue Tianhong was a little confused about the relationships between these people, but no matter what, it was better not to let them quarrel.
The sky quickly darkened, and it seemed they would have to spend the night outside.
"Young Master, could you play a tune for me?" Hanxue murmured, nestled in Ruoxu's arms. "Young Master, I really want to hear you play a tune, but you haven't played one for so many years."
Ruoxu took out a bamboo flute from his robes, about a foot long, crystal clear, yet emerald green. Four years. Since he realized he had fallen in love with his senior sister four years ago, he had never played it again. He
gently put the flute to his lips, and the melodious sound of the flute rose in the silent night sky, initially cheerful, then becoming tender and poignant, and finally turning into deep sorrow. Ruoxu's heart echoed with memories of the past ten years: the joy of childhood, the melancholy of adolescence, the sorrow of learning his senior sister was to marry someone else, and the deep longing for her after leaving Mount Hua—all contained within this nameless melody. His intense emotions found complete expression in the music, and before he knew it, the piece ended, and tears streamed down his face.
Everyone was captivated, immersed in the melody, not only by its beautiful notes but also by the profound emotions it conveyed. At this moment, Jiang Qingyue found herself deeply drawn in, unable to extricate herself. She was hopelessly moved by his flute playing. If before it was only because of her promise to Xiaoyue, now it was entirely because of Ruoxu himself. However, his music clearly told her that he already had a lover in his heart, a lover etched deeply in his soul. Jiang Qingyue gazed at Ruoxu, her eyes filled with tenderness.
A soft sigh startled everyone, including Ruoxu. He suddenly realized there were tears on his face and hurriedly tried to wipe them away. Just then, a soft, jade-like hand appeared and gently wiped away his tears. Turning his head, he met Jiang Qingyue's affectionate eyes. His heart trembled, and he quickly turned his head away.
"Since you love her so much, why don't you try to win her over?" A young girl appeared before them like a ghost. Her simple white clothes did nothing to diminish her unparalleled beauty. Her ethereal and beautiful face was so lovely that it evoked pity, and no one dared to think of harming or profaning her.
"Miss!" Hanxue cried out and rushed over. Ruoxu, however, kept his head down, not daring to approach or say anything.
"Come back with me," Hua Yufeng said softly to Ruoxu.
"Second Senior Sister, I, I..." Ruoxu stammered, unsure what to say.
"Sister is also very worried about you. You should go back," Hua Yufeng said softly again.
"Senior Sister, is Senior Sister really worried about me?" Ruoxu felt a pang of sadness and suddenly shouted hoarsely, "If she's worried about me, then why did she marry someone else?" All his resentment and sorrow were shouted out. Hua Yufeng was also taken aback, never expecting Ruoxu to have such a loud voice.
"Some things aren't what you think. What you hear and see isn't necessarily the truth." Hua Yufeng sighed softly. "Come back with me. Once you go back, you'll know the reason for everything." Hua Yufeng actually wanted to tell Ruoxu the truth, but because she had promised Hua Yuluan, she could only say this much. It was up to Ruoxu to understand.
Although Ruoxu was smart, he became very foolish in this matter. Love can sometimes make people blind, and Ruoxu was like that now. He didn't understand Hua Yufeng's meaning at all.
"Second Senior Sister, thank you for your concern, but I won't go back with you. If one day I want to go back, I will naturally go back. Don't force me now." Ruoxu said calmly, suppressing his inner pain.
"Why are you two the same?" Hua Yufeng sighed softly. "Since that's the case, be careful. Perhaps only your sister can help." Dressed in flowing white robes, Hua Yufeng slowly departed.
"Xiaoxue, you should stay here and take good care of the young master!" A melodious voice drifted over, and Hanxue, who had been unsure whether to follow, finally felt at ease.
"Young master, why can't even Miss persuade you?" Hanxue sighed inwardly. "Perhaps there are only two people in the world that Miss cannot persuade: one is the eldest young lady, and the other is the young master."

The

emotions of Ruoxu gradually calmed down. Looking around, he found everyone staring at him, all seemingly hesitant to speak.
"Brother Xu, if I'm not mistaken, that young lady just now should be the gentle fairy Hua Yufeng from Mount Hua, Fairy Hua?" Hua Feihua hesitated for a moment, finally unable to suppress her curiosity, and asked.
Ruoxu hesitated slightly as he glanced at everyone, noticing that Yue Tianhong and Zhang Lingyun looked expectant, while Jiang Qingyue wore a resentful expression, and Hanxue leaned against him with her eyes slightly closed, seemingly indifferent.
"At this point, I don't want to hide it anymore. That was indeed Hua Yufeng, known in the martial arts world as the Gentle Fairy, and also my second senior sister," Ruoxu sighed softly. "My real name is Hua Ruoxu, and I also come from Mount Hua."
"Then, Brother Hua, are you really not skilled in martial arts?" Yue Tianhong asked sweetly.
"Young Master is truly not skilled in martial arts," Hanxue replied, raising her head.
"Perhaps everyone finds it unbelievable that I grew up in Mount Hua and yet don't know martial arts," Ruoxu said with a bitter smile. "But it's true, I don't know why, but I get dizzy whenever I see martial arts manuals or anything like that. Maybe I'm just not born with the aptitude for martial arts."
"It's alright if you don't know martial arts, Brother Hua. You don't know, Hongmei always says I'm not refined enough," Zhang Lingyun said with a smile . "If I were like Brother Hua, Hongmei wouldn't say that about me."
"Brother Zhang, you don't need to persuade me. Actually, I never thought there was anything wrong with not knowing martial arts before," Ruoxu said with a bitter smile. "But now I really hate myself for not knowing martial arts. If I were highly skilled in martial arts, my senior sister wouldn't be able to..." His voice trailed off, becoming increasingly sorrowful.
"Young Master, don't be like this. No matter if you know martial arts or not, no matter what you become, Xiaoxue will always be with you," Hanxue said, her voice slightly choked as she nestled into Ruoxu's arms.
The atmosphere grew cold again. Aside from Han Xue, no one else could say anything in this matter. Yue Tianhong was quietly scolding Zhang Lingyun, saying he shouldn't have reminded Ruoxu of her painful memories. Although Zhang Lingyun felt innocent, he had no choice but to obediently accept Yue Tianhong's reprimand. Sigh, what could he do when she was his wife?
"I say, everyone, don't be like this. People should be happy in life," Hua Feihua broke the awkward silence. "Brother Hua, think positively. At least you still have Xiao Xue, and a few of us friends."
"Brother Hua is right. Don't let my situation upset you," Ruoxu forced a smile.
A sharp, clear "ding" rang out, and everyone's eyes turned to Jiang Qingyue. The voice came from her.
"Careful, danger!" Jiang Qingyue's expression changed. She stood up abruptly, long sword in hand, and moved slightly closer to Ruoxu, her eyes flashing with a piercing light.
"Who's lurking around like that? Get out here!" Jiang Qingyue shouted.
"Miss Jiang, I've finally found you!" A ghostly figure appeared before them, his voice cold and chilling.
The newcomer was tall, completely shrouded in black, except for his eyes. His powerful aura exerted an unbearable pressure on the six people, and Ruoxu, who knew no martial arts, was already on the verge of collapse.
A soft, small hand reached out and took Ruoxu's hand. Gentle internal energy flowed from the palm, instantly dispelling Ruoxu's discomfort. She turned to look gratefully at Jiang Qingyue, only to find her intently watching the man in black.
"Who are you?" Jiang Qingyue asked coldly.
"You'll find out who I am when you ask the King of Hell," the man in black chuckled sinisterly. "Jiang Qingyue, Jiang Qingyue, I've been looking for you for so long. The sword in your hand is the Sword of Love, isn't it? Sword of Love, Sword of Love, I'm finally going to have you! Hahaha!" The man in black let out a triumphant laugh.
"You killed all thirty-seven people from the Dajiang Escort Agency?" Jiang Qingyue gritted her teeth.
"Thirty-seven people? Haha, are you going back now? You'll find out how many there are when you get back." The man in black grinned maliciously. "Rumor has it that you jumped off a cliff and died, but you can fool others but not me. How could you die so easily? I really have to thank the people from the White Robe Tower. If they hadn't forced you to use the Sword of Love, I wouldn't be sure."
"You're absolutely heartless! You don't even spare innocent women and children." Jiang Qingyue's voice was filled with grief and indignation. From the man in black's words, she vaguely sensed that those from the Dajiang Escort Agency who weren't with the escorts probably hadn't survived either.
"I'd be willing to kill ten times more to get the Love Sword," the man in black said coldly.
"The Love Sword, as the name suggests, requires lovers to obtain. Even if a cold-blooded person like you gets the Love Sword, what good will it do?" Ruoxu said calmly.
Everyone was taken aback, not expecting Ruoxu to speak up at this moment. The black-clad man's two cold, sharp eyes shot towards them, but Ruoxu met them with calm eyes, his expression utterly fearless.
"As expected of Hua Tianyun's disciple, even without martial arts, you possess such courage." The black-clad man's tone held a hint of admiration, but it quickly turned cold. "What a pity, what a pity. You should have stayed on Mount Hua. Why did you have to come out and die?"
"Life and death are predestined, wealth and honor are determined by fate. If I am destined to die today, even being on Mount Hua will be of no use. However, I believe that you, sir, are not capable of taking my life." Ruoxu said calmly, his powerful confidence causing everyone to pause slightly. However, the oppressive feeling that the black-clad man had brought with him had vanished without a trace.
"If you knew martial arts, you would be my greatest opponent!" The man in black stared at Ruoxu for a long time before finally uttering these words. "However, you no longer have the chance to be my opponent!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a dull, unadorned longsword appeared in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the sword swung and created a massive whirlwind. The center of the whirlwind moved towards Ruoxu; the man in black's first target was Ruoxu, not Jiang Qingyue.
Jiang Qingyue had been watching the man in black's movements closely. Seeing him attack Ruoxu, she naturally wouldn't stand idly by. With a flick of her wrist, she withdrew the sword—the Love Sword, the very sword that had nearly wiped out everyone in her Great River Escort Agency. Energized by her true energy, the Love Sword shone with a half-foot-long blade of light, pointing directly at the center of the whirlpool.
At the same time, dozens of figures rushed towards Yue Tianhong, Hua Feihua, and their companions. Dressed in black, their faces covered with black cloths, their movements were agile and ruthless, each strike aimed at the group's vital points.
Hanxue was desperately protecting Ruoxu, already in grave danger. While the others were temporarily safe, none could escape the encirclement, and naturally, no one could come to Hanxue's aid. Jiang Qingyue, relying on the power of her Love Sword, seemed to be able to temporarily resist the black-clad man's attacks, but her worry for Ruoxu unconsciously weakened her power.
"Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong!" Three clear and melodious notes suddenly rang out, followed by a continuous stream of elegant music. The fighting abruptly stopped, and everyone's expression turned extremely grim.
"Go!" The first black-clad man shouted coldly, and instantly all the black-clad men retreated rapidly, disappearing completely in moments.
The music stopped abruptly, and a captivating fragrance wafted through the air. Then, a girl in a white silk robe gracefully appeared before everyone, with two stunningly beautiful black-clad girls standing silently behind her.
The girl in white held a white jade zither in her arms, her slender fingers gently resting on the strings. Her head was slightly bowed, and her long, smooth, jet-black hair cascaded down, obscuring her face.
"You play the zither very well!" A beautiful voice rang out. The girl slowly raised her head, smiling sweetly at Ruoxu, revealing her beautiful face to everyone. What a beautiful face! Words alone could not describe her beauty. Perfect features, flawless white skin. At first glance, her face gave an impression of innocence, yet one would immediately discover a bewitching charm within that innocence, a charm that could drive any man in the world mad. That smile was enough to topple kingdoms.
"What's your name?" the girl spoke again, still looking at Ruoxu. Ruoxu was somewhat stunned; this girl was simply too captivating. Although Hua Yuluan and Hua Yufeng were both rare beauties in the martial arts world, neither had ever given him such a shock.
"My name is Hua Ruoxu," Ruoxu stammered, completely subconsciously.

"My name is Dai'er, remember me, I'll come back to find you." The girl smiled sweetly, turned and gracefully left. Seemingly without any movement, she instantly covered ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), her exquisite lightness skill astonishing.
"Dai'er," Ruoxu murmured, suddenly snapping back to reality, startled. What had just happened to him? Why did he feel like he was out of control?
"How could she be here?" Hua Feihua murmured, her expression grim, definitely not the normal reaction to seeing a beautiful woman.
"I didn't expect that she would help us today," Jiang Qingyue said, as if mocking herself.
"Young Master, they're all gone, what are you still thinking about?" Hanxue said, a hint of jealousy in her voice, seeing Ruoxu still lost in thought.
"Xiaoxue, I was just wondering why these men in black suddenly retreated?" Ruoxu said somewhat guiltily.
"Because that girl named Dai'er is the current Palace Master of the Demon Palace," Jiang Qingyue said from the side.
There are two palaces in the martial arts world: the Divine Palace and the Demon Palace. The Divine Palace is shrouded in mystery. Although everyone knows that members of the Divine Palace exist in the martial arts world, no one can be certain who exactly belongs to the Divine Palace. The Demon Palace, while also mysterious, openly uses the name of a Demon Palace disciple when roaming the martial arts world. The Demon Palace possesses three ultimate skills: the Demonic Harp, the Demonic Laughter, and the Demonic Dance. The Demonic Harp is said to be able to kill all living beings within a ten-mile radius, the Demonic Laughter makes everyone, regardless of gender, unable to bring themselves to harm her, and the charm of the Demonic Dance is irresistible to any man. The current Palace Master of the Demon Palace is hailed as the most outstanding talent in the Demon Palace in its hundred-year history. She is the first person to have mastered all three ultimate skills to their peak, and she is only eighteen years old. The Demon Palace has always aimed to unify the underworld and then the martial arts world, and its strength is not to be underestimated. Since the current Palace Master took office, although she has not yet taken any large-scale actions, her reputation has already spread throughout the martial arts world. Martial artists almost automatically avoid her to avoid trouble.
"Brother Hua, it's best to avoid this woman, otherwise..." Hua Feihua, seeing Ruoxu's absent-minded appearance, kindly reminded him. However, before she could finish speaking, she felt a sharp pain on her mouth, as if pricked by something. Then, everything blurred before their eyes, and a girl in black appeared before them—one of the two girls beside the girl named Dai'er.
"Young Master Hua, this is what Miss asked me to give you." The girl in black bowed slightly to Ruoxu, her tone very respectful, and handed him a jade pendant of emerald green. Ruoxu stared blankly at the pendant, unsure whether to accept it.
"Take it and keep it safe. Don't lose it, or Miss will be angry." The girl grabbed Ruoxu's hand and forcefully placed it in his palm, speaking calmly. Ruoxu sighed inwardly and put the pendant in his pocket. The girl in black seemed quite satisfied to see Ruoxu put it away.
"Young Master Hua, please take care. This servant takes her leave." The girl in black bowed slightly, giving Hua Feihua a fierce glare before leaving. Hua Feihua smiled bitterly to himself, but dared not say anything more; clearly, he had just been attacked by this girl.
After the girl in black left, Yue Tianhong and the others looked at Hua Ruoxu with strange eyes. Han Xue clung tightly to Ruoxu's arm, as if afraid he would be snatched away. Jiang Qingyue, however, showed surprisingly little reaction, her head bowed in thought.
"Brother Hua is lucky. He's given you a token of love. I think you can't escape it this time." Hua Feihua looked at Ruoxu with a half-smile.
"Don't talk nonsense. What token of love? It's just a jade pendant." Han Xue puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Hua Feihua as if she wanted to devour him.
"Little Xue, this is definitely not an ordinary jade pendant. If you don't believe me, ask Brother Hua to bring it to you for a look." Hua Feihua spoke with an air of worldliness.
"Young Master, please let me see it," Hanxue said, clinging to Ruoxu and looking up at him pitifully.
Ruoxu hesitated slightly, then reached into his robes and pulled out the jade pendant, though he hadn't really examined it closely. It was warm to the touch. Upon closer inspection, he saw three delicate seal characters engraved on it: Su Dai'er.
"See? Her name is engraved on it. It must be a token of love," Hua Feihua said smugly to Hanxue. The boy had completely forgotten about being hit by a little girl earlier. Hanxue didn't say anything more, sitting there sulking.
"It's getting late, everyone should rest. We still have a long journey ahead tomorrow." Jiang Qingyue finally spoke, her words reminding everyone that they had been up most of the night.
That night, Hua Ruoxu still couldn't fall asleep. Su Daier, such a gentle name, such a beautiful girl, was she the Demon Palace Master? He simply couldn't connect them.

Chapter 10 of Volume 1: Heartbreak, Trapped by Love

"Brother Hua, didn't you sleep well last night?" Hua Feihua chuckled. Seeing Ruoxu's dark circles and bloodshot eyes, everyone knew he hadn't slept well, but only Hua Feihua would ask.
Ruoxu smiled awkwardly and didn't speak.
"Let's get going! So much nonsense!" Jiang Qingyue glared at Hua Feihua.
"So protective of him." Hua Feihua muttered.
Jiang Qingyue ignored Hua Feihua, extended her slender hand, and took Ruoxu's arm, saying softly, "I'll take you with me. There's a small town not far ahead; we can rest there."
"Thank you, Sister Qing," Ruoxu said softly.
"I can't walk anymore either. Why isn't anyone helping me?" Hua Feihua said discontentedly.
"Brother Hua, do you want me to help you?" Hanxue said sweetly.
"No, no need. Xiaoxue, you should go help Brother Hua." Hua Feihua quickly shook his head, clearly seeing that Hanxue was furious but didn't know who to vent her anger on, and he didn't want to be a scapegoat.
"Hmph!" Hanxue glared at Hua Feihua, hurriedly took a few steps, and caught up with Ruoxu.
Half an hour later, the group of six had checked into the inn.
"Cousin, where are you planning to go?" Hua Feihua asked.
"We haven't decided where we're going yet. If Miss Jiang doesn't mind, we'll travel with you for now," Yue Tianhong said after a moment's thought.
"I don't think she'll say anything, she'll at least give me some face." Hua Feihua smiled bitterly.
"By the way, Feihua, what exactly is your relationship with Miss Jiang?" Yue Tianhong was a woman, and like all women, she was curious.
"Friends, I guess. She only sees me as a friend." Hua Feihua's tone was disappointed and helpless.
"Her relationship with Young Master Hua seems unusual, Feihua, you should seize the opportunity." Yue Tianhong thought for a moment and said.
"Cousin, I finally believe in fate now. It's destiny. I've known her for three years, and she's still better than someone I've only known for three days." Hua Feihua sighed.
"You're talking nonsense again!" A soft voice sounded at the door, and Jiang Qingyue walked in.
"You're willing to leave him alone in the room?" Hua Feihua looked surprised.
"He's already asleep. Xiaoxue is taking care of him. I came here to discuss some things with you." Jiang Qingyue said calmly.
"Miss Jiang, please speak freely. We're all family here," Yue Tianhong said with a slight smile.
"Last night, those men in black... I think if Su Dai'er hadn't suddenly appeared, we probably wouldn't have escaped unscathed," Jiang Qingyue said slowly. "Now that I've been discovered, I imagine more people will come looking for me soon. Therefore, I'm afraid it might implicate Fei Hua and you two, Miss Yue."
"Miss Jiang, if we hadn't been chased by the White Robe Tower, causing them to mistake us for someone else, those men in black wouldn't have discovered your whereabouts. Now that we're in trouble, we should all stand together," Yue Tianhong said. "Besides, you're Fei Hua's friend, and Fei Hua is my cousin. We certainly won't stand idly by. I think we should now consider how we can get through this together. What do you think, Miss Jiang?"
"Qingyue, we can disguise ourselves again, then they won't be able to find us, will they?" Hua Fei Hua said after thinking for a moment.
“I’ve thought about it, but it’s useless.” Jiang Qingyue shook her head. “I’ve always felt like someone’s following us. I think with the methods of that man in black we encountered last night, no matter how we disguise ourselves, we can’t hide from him. Rather than letting only him know, it’s better to let everyone know. I plan to revert to our original appearance; that might be better.”
“I think Miss Jiang is right. Since we’re no match for that man in black, why not attract more people and let them deal with him?” Zhang Lingyun chimed in.
“Perhaps, this is also a last resort.” Yue Tianhong sighed.
Ruoxu had been forcibly put to sleep by acupressure. When he woke up, it was already dark, indicating he had slept for a whole day. He slightly opened his eyes and found a young girl sitting beside his bed.

“You’re awake. Get up and eat something.” The girl smiled sweetly, raised her head, and a breathtakingly beautiful face appeared before Ruoxu. Judging from her voice, it was Jiang Qingyue. Could this be her true face?
“You, you’re Sister Qing?” Ruoxu said in a daze.
"You don't recognize me after just one night's sleep?" Jiang Qingyue smiled, her beauty becoming even more breathtaking.
"No, it's just... it's just..." She couldn't quite put her finger on what she meant.
"This is what I really look like. Even Fei Hua has never seen me like this before," Jiang Qingyue said softly, a blush creeping onto her face.
Ruoxu stared blankly at Jiang Qingyue's face. Her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, her affectionate phoenix eyes, her small, exquisite nose, her alluring cherry lips, her snow-white skin—her beauty was almost on par with Su Dai'er's, only lacking that touch of seductive charm.
"Have you looked enough? Get up," Jiang Qingyue said softly, her face flushed from Ruoxu's gaze.
Ruoxu snapped out of his reverie, feeling secretly ashamed. He wondered what was wrong with him lately? Why did he react like this to pretty girls? Little did he know that everyone has a love for beauty, and he hadn't really done anything wrong.
Seeing Ruoxu hastily avert his gaze and stop looking at her, Jiang Qingyue couldn't help but regret reminding him earlier. She sighed softly, but didn't say aloud: "If you're willing, I can let you look at me for a lifetime!"
The atmosphere in the room was awkward. Neither of them spoke. Jiang Qingyue looked at Ruoxu, hesitant to speak.
"If you don't want to go to the Dajiang Escort Agency, I'll send you back to Mount Hua first," Jiang Qingyue said softly.
"Sister Qing, I promised to go with you, so I will go," Ruoxu quickly glanced at Jiang Qingyue, then turned his head away. "Besides, I don't want to go back to Mount Hua."
Jiang Qingyue wanted to say something, but ultimately didn't. After a long silence, she said softly, "It's getting late. Get some rest tonight and leave tomorrow."
"Sister Qing, I've been sleeping all day. You should sleep too," Ruoxu said hesitantly.
“A real man shouldn’t be so timid. Why should martial arts practitioners worry so much?” Jiang Qingyue said calmly. “I believe in you. Can’t you believe in yourself?” Jiang Qingyue was incredibly intelligent and knew that Ruoxu was actually afraid to sleep with her.
“Sister Qing, I, I…” Poor Ruoxu still couldn’t say anything.
“Stop being so wishy-washy, go to sleep.” Jiang Qingyue interrupted him.
This was the second time they had shared a bed, but this time Ruoxu found it even more unbearable than the first time. The images of the three girls—Hua Yuluan, Su Daier, and Jiang Qingyue—kept flashing through his mind. A faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and a few strands of hair fell onto his face. Ruoxu didn’t dare to move, lying flat like a puppet.
The night was deep when Ruoxu felt a soft call from beside him. He turned slightly and saw Jiang Qingyue’s cherry lips moving slightly, uttering soft murmurs in her sleep.
"Father, Father... Big Brother, Xiaoyue..." Jiang Qingyue called out each name, her voice filled with sobs.
"Hua Lang, Hua Lang..." Suddenly, Jiang Qingyue called out softly again. Ruoxu's heart trembled. Hua Lang, was she calling me? Could it be... could it be that Sister Qing really likes me? But I've only known her for a few days.
Jiang Qingyue turned over in her dream, her hands tightly gripping Ruoxu's hands, completely subconsciously, murmuring something, but Ruoxu couldn't hear her clearly, nor did he care to listen anymore; his heart was no longer at peace.
Ruoxu secretly asked himself, did Jiang Qingyue really like him? He wanted to deny it, but Jiang Qingyue's words and actions over the past few days made it impossible for him to deny it, and there was her calling in his dream. He was now asking himself, could he like Jiang Qingyue? He also wanted to say no, because his heart only belonged to Hua Yuluan. However, why did he always feel afraid when he saw Jiang Qingyue's gentle eyes? Why did a deep pity well up in his heart when Jiang Qingyue cried in her dream? If he could only love Hua Yuluan, why couldn't he shake off Su Daier's beautiful face? Why did he kiss Jiang Qingyue the day before yesterday, and then feel his heart flutter again when he saw her true face today?
"Am I the hypocrite people talk about?" Ruoxu murmured to himself.
Suddenly, he felt a pair of bright eyes looking at him. Turning his head, he saw that Jiang Qingyue had woken up at some point and was staring at him intently.
"Sister Qing, why are you awake?" Ruoxu asked, slightly startled.
"I dreamed of my father, my brother, and Xiaoyue. They're all gone. I begged them not to leave, but they still left," Jiang Qingyue said softly. "Then, then, you left too, and I woke up." As she said this, Jiang Qingyue looked at Ruoxu with tender affection.
"Sister Qing, I... I don't deserve this from you," Ruoxu said softly.
Jiang Qingyue gazed at Ruoxu without speaking, lost in thought. Her hand remained tightly clasped around Ruoxu's, refusing to let go. Suddenly, Ruoxu felt a weight on him; a soft body had nestled into his arms. Their faces were less than an inch apart, her breath sweet and intoxicating.
"I have no family left. Father and elder brother are dead, and Xiaoyue is gone too. Sometimes I really want to go with them, but I'm not willing. I want to avenge them, but I'm so tired, so very tired," Jiang Qingyue murmured. "I just want you to stay with me for a while, and then I'll let you return to Mount Hua, okay?"
Before Ruoxu could answer, her warm, soft lips pressed against his. Ruoxu tasted that intoxicating pleasure once more. Ruoxu steeled his resolve, his hands tightening around her slender waist as he passionately returned her kiss. One kiss was bone-chilling, the next, intoxicating. Lost in the deep, lingering kiss, Ruoxu's hands unconsciously began to gently caress Jiang Qingyue's body, slowly roaming over her skin.
Jiang Qingyue felt a chill on her chest as Ruoxu unbuttoned one of her blouses. No longer content with caressing her through her clothes, his hand slipped inside her bra, trembling slightly as he stroked her supple skin. Jiang Qingyue's body trembled; a wave of tingling sensation washed over her as her most sacred breasts were invaded.
"No," Jiang Qingyue whispered, pushing Ruoxu away slightly, her face flushed crimson.
Jiang Qingyue's resistance finally brought the infatuated Ruoxu back to his senses. Startled, he realized his hand was still on Jiang Qingyue's breasts and hurriedly withdrew it.
"Sister Qing, I... I deserve to die!" Ruoxu stammered, his voice filled with self-reproach.
“Fool, I don’t blame you,” Jiang Qingyue said softly, her delicate body shifting as she nestled closer to Ruoxu’s embrace.
“Sister Qing, why are you so good to me?” Ruoxu asked naively.
“Hua Lang, don’t you understand my heart?” Jiang Qingyue said softly.
The word “Hua Lang” stunned Ruoxu, and he finally realized that Jiang Qingyue was calling for him in her dreams.
“Sister Qing, I’m sorry, I… I really don’t know what to do.” Ruoxu’s mind was in turmoil. He had only wanted to marry Hua Yuluan, and although Hua Yuluan was now married to someone else, how could he have developed such an intimate relationship with Jiang Qingyue? At this point, it was almost impossible for Jiang Qingyue to marry anyone else but him.
“I know you’re thinking of Hua Yuluan, but I don’t care. I just want you to treat me well until you go to the Dajiang Escort Agency,” Jiang Qingyue said softly. “If you can’t do that, just consider me Hua Yuluan.” Jiang Qingyue said the last sentence almost through gritted teeth.
"Sister Qing." Hua Ruoxu's eyes were a little moist as he called softly, holding her tightly. With such a woman in the world for him, what more could he ask for? Senior Sister, since you don't love me, you surely wouldn't mind if I fell in love with someone else, right? Hua Ruoxu called out to his beloved in his heart.
"Sister Qing, I won't betray you," Hua Ruoxu murmured.
"What if Hua Yuluan comes looking for you?" Jiang Qingyue said softly.
"She won't come looking for me," Ruoxu said, a pang of sadness in his heart. Jiang Qingyue didn't ask further, but she knew in her heart that Hua Yuluan always came first.
The two embraced until dawn; from then on, their fates would be intertwined.
Jiang Qingyue put her cloak back on; her peerless beauty was ultimately only revealed to Ruoxu. The group returned to their original appearances and attire. The six of them bought a large carriage, and Hua Feihua continued to work as the pitiful coachman. Seeing Jiang Qingyue nestled unabashedly beside Ruoxu, Hanxue felt not just jealousy, but deep worry. "Miss, oh Miss, your fears have likely come true!" Yue Tianhong sighed inwardly. It seemed her cousin was hopeless. Everything was up to fate; what could anyone do against such a fate?

(Volume 1, Chapter 11: Deep Affection)

"Sister Qing, we should be in Hubei by evening, right?" Ruoxu asked after a moment's thought.
"Yes," Jiang Qingyue nodded, speaking softly. "If nothing unexpected happens, we can go home in ten days."
"I hope nothing goes wrong on the road, so we can get to Wuchang sooner," Ruoxu sighed.
"Are you really that eager to get there?" Jiang Qingyue said softly, her voice filled with resentment.
"Sister Qing, you've misunderstood." Ruoxu was taken aback, then understood, and gave a bitter smile. "Sister Qing, don't worry, I won't leave after we get to the Dajiang Escort Agency, unless... unless you kick me out!"
"Hua Lang, how could I kick you out?" Jiang Qingyue said softly, sighing inwardly, but not saying a word, "I'm afraid you'll leave me then."
The three people beside them were dumbfounded. Ruoxu and Jiang Qingyue were so engrossed in their affection that they didn't care that so many people were watching.
"Young Master, you, how could you?" Hanxue was in tears.
"Xiaoxue, I'm sorry." Ruoxu looked at Hanxue with some guilt. He understood her infatuation with him, but he didn't know what his feelings for her were. Perhaps it was just pity.
"But, Young Master, you, you'll regret it!" Hanxue didn't know what to say, and was so anxious that she wanted to jump up and down. If Hua Yuluan knew that Ruoxu and Jiang Qingyue were like this now, she would probably really have to marry someone else. If Ruoxu knew the truth of the matter, he would probably hate her to death.
"Xiaoxue, being favored by Sister Qing is a blessing I've accumulated over many lifetimes. How could I possibly regret it?" Ruoxu smiled slightly. Hua Yuluan's beautiful image flashed through his mind. He sighed inwardly and secretly made up his mind. Now that he had accepted Jiang Qingyue, he should devote himself wholeheartedly to her and stop thinking about Hua Yuluan. However, could he really stop thinking about her so easily? That seemed unlikely.
"Hua Lang, it's my good fortune to have met you." Jiang Qingyue's eyes sparkled with joy as she softly leaned into Ruoxu's arms.
"Brother Hua and Miss Jiang are a perfect match, truly a cause for celebration." Yue Tianhong smiled slightly, sincerely wishing the two well. Although she felt sorry for her cousin, witnessing a loving couple was a rare treat.
"Brother Hua is so lucky." Zhang Lingyun exclaimed, only to be glared at by Yue Tianhong.
"Are you envious?" Yue Tianhong said coquettishly.
"No, no." Zhang Lingyun seemed quite afraid of Yue Tianhong, quickly replying, wrapping his arms around her with a fawning expression, "Hongmei, you're the best, Brother Hua should be envious of me."
"How can you talk like that?" Yue Tianhong glared at Zhang Lingyun, annoyed. "Are you saying Miss Jiang isn't good enough?"
"No, no, Miss Jiang, please don't misunderstand." "Poor Zhang Lingyun has no way to deal with Yue Tianhong. She's had him completely under her thumb since childhood, and it's still the same after they got married.
" "Brother Zhang, Sister Yue was just teasing you." Jiang Qingyue chuckled, unconsciously showing her girlish side next to her lover.
Zhang Lingyun smiled awkwardly and said nothing.
Suddenly, a crisp whip cracked outside, and the carriage accelerated forward. Jiang Qingyue's face darkened, and Yue Tianhong also sighed slightly. It seemed Hua Feihua was venting her frustration.
Everyone fell silent again. Surprisingly, nothing happened along the way. They arrived at a small town in the evening; after passing this town, they would enter Hubei province.
"Let's rest here for the night. There are no inns for a long stretch ahead; this is the only one we have." "Jiang Qingyue said, and everyone nodded. Although Hua Feihua didn't speak, she showed it with her actions; the car had already stopped.
Watching Jiang Qingyue and Ruoxu go in hand in hand, Hua Feihua's face twitched. She wanted to say something but couldn't. After a long while, she finally followed.
"Feihua, let fate decide. Don't force it." With a soft sigh, Yue Tianhong came to Hua Feihua's side and said gently.
"Cousin, don't worry, I know." Hua Feihua forced a smile, but her eyes kept glancing at Jiang Qingyue and Hua Ruoxu who had just disappeared through the door.
Inside the house, Hua Ruoxu and Jiang Qingyue embraced gently.
"Sister Qing, it's all my fault. If I knew martial arts, you wouldn't have had to spend time taking care of me." "Ruoxu said softly, feeling very guilty. Jiang Qingyue was surrounded by enemies. If she had traveled alone, she would have been much safer. But now, for Ruoxu's sake, she had to expose her location, and their journey had been much slower.
"Hua Lang, do we need to be so formal?" Jiang Qingyue said softly. "If we really have to say something, it's me who's harmed you. If I hadn't insisted you come along, you wouldn't have to worry about your safety every day. I should have let you go back to Mount Hua."
"Sister Qing, I won't go back. Don't worry, I'll always be with you." "Hua Ruoxu murmured. Although this would increase Jiang Qingyue's burden, he understood that at this moment, Jiang Qingyue wanted him to stay by her side. Otherwise, she didn't know when she would be unable to bear the loss of her loved ones. She needed her last remaining family member, her lover, to bring her solace.
A soft knock came at the door. The two who had been nestled together separated. Jiang Qingyue's face was slightly flushed. She straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes and gracefully moved to the door. Opening the door, her expression was slightly unnatural. Standing at the door was Hua Feihua, who looked somewhat haggard.
"Feihua, is there something you need?" Jiang Qingyue led him in, her brows slightly furrowed, and asked softly.
"I just want to know, what is it about me that I lack compared to him?" Hua Feihua tried to control his emotions and make his tone calm, but the slight tremor in his voice betrayed him completely. His emotions were turbulent.
"Feihua, we've known each other for three years, and I've always considered you my best friend." "Jiang Qingyue sighed softly, "I told you before, I can only consider you a friend. My ideal husband isn't your type."
"But you also said we've known each other for three years, and you fell in love with him after only three days. Why? What does he have that I don't?" Hua Feihua's voice rose slightly, her tone agitated.
"Feihua, in terms of martial arts, character, talent, and family background, you are outstanding in every way. You are no less than Hua Lang. It's just that matters of the heart aren't determined by strength or weakness, and liking someone doesn't need so many reasons." Jiang Qingyue said slowly, glancing at Ruoxu with gentle eyes.
"I have another question." Hua Feihua glanced at Ruoxu, her voice calming, and said to Jiang Qingyue, "If it weren't for him, would you have fallen in love with me in the future?"
"No." "Jiang Qingyue's tone was very certain. "Feihua, you should know me well. I'm not the kind of woman who falls in love easily. I believe in fate. Hua Lang and I are perhaps destined by heaven." Jiang Qingyue's tone became somewhat ethereal.
"I understand." Hua Feihua said dejectedly, slowly turning around, his steps a little unsteady, and walking towards the door. Just before reaching the door, he suddenly turned back.
"Brother Hua, I really envy you. But you must treat Qingyue well, otherwise, I will snatch her away." Hua Feihua suddenly smiled brightly at Ruoxu and said.
Before Ruoxu could react, he had already left quickly. Ruoxu watched him disappear through the door, stunned for a moment.
"Hua Lang, what are you daydreaming about?" Jiang Qingyue said softly.
"Sister Qing." Ruoxu came back to his senses and showed a bitter smile, "Brother Hua, will he be alright?"
"Don't worry, he'll be fine. He's rarely serious; he's always so carefree. Someone like that won't get into trouble. I know him well." Jiang Qingyue sighed softly, a slight sigh of relief washing over her. She had finally cleared things up with Hua Feihua, and felt a little more at ease. "
Sister Qing, I can see he truly loves you," Ruoxu said softly. "
Silly girl, can't you see that you're the only one in my heart?" Jiang Qingyue said wistfully, gazing at Ruoxu with tender affection.
"Sister Qing." "Ruoxu called softly, his long arm reaching out to embrace Jiang Qingyue's slender waist. With a gentle pull, Jiang Qingyue fell into his arms.

Ruoxu slowly removed the veil from her face, his eyes fixed on her pink face. With a soft moan, Jiang Qingyue's face flushed crimson, and under the lamplight, she appeared even more breathtakingly beautiful. Ruoxu's heart pounded, and he finally lowered his head, pressing his lips to her cherry-red mouth, savoring the kiss. His hands tightened, holding her slender waist more and more tightly. Jiang Qingyue responded passionately, and the two remained locked in a kiss for what seemed like an eternity.
"Hua Lang, I want to show you something." Finally, Jiang Qingyue gently pushed Ruoxu away, but he was still somewhat reluctant to let go; a young man experiencing love for the first time is never truly satisfied.
"Sister Qing, what are you showing me?" Hua Ruoxu was a little unwilling, his hand still on Jiang Qingyue's waist, unwilling to let go.
"Let me go first." "Jiang Qingyue said coquettishly.
"Silly boy, there's plenty of time." Seeing that Ruoxu was still a little unwilling, Jiang Qingyue said helplessly, finding it somewhat amusing. He used to be so honest, but now he was so clingy. However, she liked him treating her like this.
"What if he brings up that embarrassing thing later? Should I agree to it?" Jiang Qingyue blushed and lightly spat at herself, "You silly girl, what are you thinking?"
Ruoxu, seeing Jiang Qingyue remain silent for a long time, felt a little strange, but then noticed her face had turned bright red, which looked quite adorable, and couldn't resist leaning in to kiss her again.
"Ah," Jiang Qingyue gasped softly, the kiss bringing her back to her senses.
"Sister Qing, what are you showing me?" Ruoxu asked.
"No, let's talk about it tomorrow," Jiang Qingyue replied hastily, her heart pounding. Suddenly, she realized this would only make things more awkward. What if he... what if... oh well, whatever, he wouldn't do something like that, would he? Jiang Qingyue was uncertain, because she couldn't be sure she could resist.
"Then, Sister Qing, it's getting late, let's rest." Ruoxu had changed quickly; she hadn't dared the night before, but now she was so proactive. As she spoke, she put her arm around Jiang Qingyue's slender waist and led her to the bed.
"Hua Lang, you, you shouldn't..." Jiang Qingyue stammered, slightly panicked, unsure how to continue. She was afraid she was overthinking things, and saying it would be incredibly embarrassing.
"Sister Qing, go to sleep. We have to travel tomorrow," Ruoxu said softly.
Jiang Qingyue's face flushed slightly. It seemed she had been overthinking things. While she felt relieved, she also felt a slight sense of loss.
*** *** ***
"Sister Qing, aren't you asleep yet?" Ruoxu said softly, turning slightly to pull Jiang Qingyue closer.
"Hua Lang," Jiang Qingyue called softly, her beautiful eyes looking at Ruoxu with a complicated expression.
"Hua Lang, I'll give it to you," Jiang Qingyue suddenly said through gritted teeth. She then gently unhooked her bra, revealing her fair and delicate skin, and her high, firm breasts. Ruoxu's breath hitched.
"Sister Qing, what's wrong?" Ruoxu stammered.
"Hua Lang, I... I'm afraid I won't have another chance," Jiang Qingyue said, her face flushed and her voice hoarse.
"Sister Qing, I will marry you openly and honestly." Ruoxu barely controlled his desires, his handsome face slightly flushed, his trembling hand reaching for Jiang Qingyue's chest, struggling to cover her exposed skin.
"Sister Qing, I want you, but not now. I can't be so selfish," Ruoxu said softly.
"Hua Lang, I... I'm willing," Jiang Qingyue whispered. She thought that one day they might be separated, so she suddenly thought of giving him her most precious thing first.
"Sister Qing, I know, but we must believe that we can be together happily until we grow old. Sister Qing, don't you believe me?" Ruoxu said affectionately. "Sister Qing, remember, no matter what changes in the future, I will still love you, and I believe we will live a peaceful and happy life together."
"Hua Lang, I... I believe!" Jiang Qingyue buried her head deeply in Ruoxu's arms, crystal tears sliding down her face.
"Sister Qing, I want to collect some interest first," Ruoxu cupped her face in his hands, looking at her with a hint of mischief.
"What, what interest?" Jiang Qingyue, still with a few tears on her face, paused slightly.
"This is the interest." Ruoxu smiled slightly and kissed her. The desire that had just been aroused had not yet subsided. He kissed Jiang Qingyue's cherry lips fiercely, and his hands began to roam freely over her skin. Jiang Qingyue let out a soft moan. The two were entwined in a frenzy. Although they did not truly experience ecstasy, Ruoxu had caressed almost every inch of Jiang Qingyue's skin.

Volume 1 Heartbreak Chapter 12 The Situation is Critical

"Hua Lang, it's time to get up." Jiang Qingyue gently shook Hua Ruoxu's body, but her mind was filled with the memory of their passion last night, and her face flushed.
"Sister Qing." Ruoxu opened his eyes and called her softly, but did not get up.
"Get up quickly." Jiang Qingyue said coquettishly.
"Sister Qing, let me kiss you, and I'll get up." Ruoxu was now enjoying the taste.
Jiang Qingyue blushed, gave him a charming sidelong glance, and gently leaned down. Ruoxu suddenly reached out and embraced her slender waist. Caught off guard, Jiang Qingyue fell onto the bed, letting out a short, soft cry as Ruoxu's lips sealed hers.
They didn't know how much time had passed before they separated. Jiang Qingyue's face was now as radiant as a begonia. Looking at her beautiful face, Ruoxu felt a surge of desire, but he knew he couldn't continue, so he forced himself to restrain himself.
Jiang Qingyue served him as he got up and dressed like a dutiful wife. Actually, Jiang Qingyue wasn't a promiscuous person. Under normal circumstances, even if she loved Ruoxu deeply, she wouldn't let him do as he pleased after only knowing him for a few days. However, the future was uncertain, the road ahead fraught with danger, and she always had a feeling that Ruoxu would one day leave her. So, she abandoned her reserve and prepared to be his wife for a few days. At least she knew that she was happy and content now, and that was enough for her.
Hua Feihua now seemed to have reverted to his former carefree and unrestrained self. Although Ruoxu was beside him, he made jokes with Jiang Qingyue and occasionally teased Hanxue. Unfortunately, Hanxue was currently both angry and worried, so she naturally didn't give him a friendly look. Jiang Qingyue sighed slightly. Hua Feihua seemed to have returned to normal, but she didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
The car had already entered Hubei Province. Here, there were mountains everywhere, and few people were seen. It was very secluded. Jiang Qingyue also secretly became more vigilant. Based on her years of experience traveling the martial world, such places were the most likely to be attacked.
"Let's rest in the woods ahead," Jiang Qingyue suddenly said to Hua Feihua. Hua Feihua was slightly taken aback, but immediately seemed to understand. The car stopped by the roadside, and the group came to a small bamboo grove.
"Everyone be careful. I sense there are many people nearby, no less than a hundred. They're probably here to deal with us," Jiang Qingyue whispered. Yue Tianhong and Zhang Lingyun's expressions changed slightly. They focused their energy and observed, and sure enough, they heard many faint breathing sounds of varying depths. They were surprised and secretly astonished; it seemed Jiang Qingyue's martial arts were far superior to theirs.
"If they don't come out, we'll pretend we don't know anything," Jiang Qingyue said softly, a cold glint in her eyes.
Everyone nodded. Jiang Qingyue closed her starry eyes slightly and slowly leaned into Ruoxu's arms, looking relaxed and comfortable, making everyone admire her composure.
"Miss Jiang has such courage!" The people in the shadows finally couldn't hold back any longer. One of them slowly stepped out—it was Fang Feilong, an old acquaintance of Ruoxu's, the leader of the Qianlong Gang who had been tricked by Ruoxu last time. Behind him, of course, were the Golden Boy and Jade Girl.
"Oh, it's Chief Fang, my apologies." Jiang Qingyue lazily opened her eyes, slowly sitting up from Ruoxu's embrace, but not yet fully seated.
"Young Master Xu, we meet again!" Fang Feilong glared at Ruoxu, gritting his teeth in hatred. Last time, he never expected that someone like Ruoxu, who knew no martial arts, would dare to play tricks on him, only to be outmaneuvered in the end.
"Chief Fang, my name is Hua Ruoxu, not Xu." Ruoxu said calmly.
"Chief Fang, I think you're really unwise." Hua Feihua jumped up from the ground, shaking her head as she walked in front of Fang Feilong. "Look at all those people hiding, why did you have to come out? You'll be working so hard, while others reap the benefits. Sigh, I really feel sorry for you."
"Young Master Hua, how is your father now?" Just as she finished speaking, a sinister voice came over. It was Zhang Lie. It seemed quite a few familiar faces had come this time.
"Of course my father is very good!" Hua Feihua forced a smile, but inwardly she was lamenting. Zhang Lie and his Golden Saber Sect had never respected the Hua family, and now that he was here, things were probably going to get complicated.

"Brother Qi, Alliance Leader He, you all come out as well," Zhang Lie said calmly, glancing behind him. As soon as he finished speaking, five more people emerged: the Four Ghosts of Laoshan, He Tiedao of the Yangtze River Alliance, and the others followed, standing behind the group and forming four teams that subtly surrounded the six.
"Zhang Lie, my senior sister warned you not to make enemies of the Great River Escort Agency. Not only did you ignore her, but you also drove Xiaoyue to her death. We of Huashan will remember this debt," Ruoxu said, his heart burning with rage, wishing he could kill Zhang Lie to avenge Xiaoyue. However, he knew his own limitations; aside from Zhang Lie, only Jiang Qingyue among their group could possibly fight him. The others were no match for him. Therefore, he could only suppress his anger and speak calmly.
"Mount Hua?" Zhang Lie's expression changed slightly. "So, Young Master Hua is from Mount Hua?"
"Hua Yuluan is my senior sister. You met her not long ago," Hua Ruoxu said coldly.
"How laughable." Zhang Lie was slightly taken aback, but immediately let out a wild laugh. "Hua Yuluan's junior brother is actually a weak scholar with no martial arts skills? Who in the world would believe that? Hua Ruoxu, there are so many people with the surname Hua in the world, are they all from Mount Hua?"
When Ruoxu mentioned that he came from the Mount Hua Sword Sect, the expressions of the people around him changed. Now, hearing Zhang Lie's words, they immediately showed a relieved expression, and their faces even showed a slight disdain, as if they looked down on Ruoxu for using someone else's name to back him up.
In fact, Ruoxu did not want to bring up Mount Hua, but according to his judgment, if they confronted each other head-on, their side would definitely be in grave danger. For Jiang Qingyue's sake, he had no choice but to bring up Hua Yuluan.
"Believe it or not, it's up to you," Ruoxu said slowly.
"Since Young Master Hua comes from Mount Hua, then I'll have my men experience your Mount Hua swordsmanship." Fang Feilong coldly snorted.
"Please give me your guidance, Young Master Hua." Jin Tong took two steps forward, his voice clear and crisp, and clasped his hands in a salute.
"Hua Hanxue, a disciple of the Gentle Fairy of Mount Hua, greets everyone." Hanxue's graceful figure flashed, moving in front of Ruoxu, and she said sweetly. Clearly, she was going to accept Jin Tong's challenge on Ruoxu's behalf.
"Little Xue, be careful." Ruoxu said softly.
"Okay." Hanxue nodded gently.
He Tiedao's expression changed slightly at this moment. He carefully looked at Hanxue, and his expression gradually became somewhat solemn. He waved his hand lightly, and a subordinate came forward.
"Give the order that we don't make a move yet." He Tiedao said in a low voice.
He Tiedao had some recollection of Hanxue. He had seen Hua Yufeng before, and Hanxue had been by her side at the time. Although he wasn't entirely certain, he knew very well that while his Yangtze Alliance had a large number of members, it was far from being a match for Mount Hua. Strictly speaking, even Hua Yufeng alone would be difficult for him to handle. Therefore, just in case, it was best not to make a move yet. Although the allure of the Love Sword was great, he didn't want to make a powerful enemy.
Hanxue's martial arts skills were entirely derived from Hua Yufeng, but no one knew exactly how skilled Hua Yufeng was, as almost no one had ever seen her use her martial arts. Hua Yufeng rarely left Mount Hua, and even when she did, there were few opportunities for her to fight; usually, she only needed to give orders verbally.
With a clear clang, Hanxue withdrew her longsword from her back, a cold, eerie light flashing at the tip. This was her first real battle, and she felt a slight trepidation, but for her beloved young master, she was determined to win.
With a cold shout, Hanxue's figure fluttered like a butterfly, dancing gracefully. At the same time, her longsword slowly pierced towards Jintong. The sword's advance felt incredibly slow, posing no threat whatsoever. Jintong's expression, however, changed slightly. Only he felt the pressure emanating from the sword, and Hanxue's dance-like movements were completely unpredictable.
Jintong was actually quite uncomfortable fighting alone. He usually fought alongside Yu Nu, the two always working together seamlessly, one attacking and the other defending. This time, Fang Feilong knew Ruoxu didn't know martial arts, so he only sent him. But Hanxue had replaced Ruoxu. Fang Feilong, out of politeness, couldn't bring Yu Nu along, and besides, he thought Hanxue, such a delicate young girl, probably didn't know any martial arts. Fang Feilong also truly believed Zhang Lie's words that Ruoxu couldn't possibly be from Mount Hua.
"Hua Lang, why isn't Xiaoxue using the Mount Hua sword technique?" Jiang Qingyue asked softly, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Sister Qing, actually I don't know either," Ruoxu said with a wry smile. "Her martial arts should have been taught by Second Senior Sister, but I don't know. Sister Qing, do you think Xiaoxue will win?" Ruoxu was completely clueless and couldn't see anything clearly.
"Don't worry, Xiaoxue will win soon," Jiang Qingyue said, a smile already appearing on her face.
The figures flying across the field suddenly stopped. Jin Tong's hands trembled, his grip on the sword loose, swaying slightly, as if it might fall at any moment.
"Young Master, I won!" Hanxue leaped back, fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, and smiled sweetly at Ruoxu.
"Xiaoxue, rest for a while," Ruoxu said softly, gently stroking Hanxue's hair.
"Chief Fang, your men seem rather incompetent." Ruoxu smiled slightly, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "With Chief Fang's abilities, you think you can get your hands on the Love Sword? Anyone could have it."
"Chief Fang, it seems unnecessary for us to waste time like this." Zhang Lie was clearly dissatisfied with Fang Feilong's performance. Why make the two of them fight? They came to seize the sword, and they were secretly annoyed by Fang Feilong's incompetence. They couldn't understand how he could be a leader.
"Yes, yes, Brother Zhang is right." Fang Feilong seemed somewhat afraid of Zhang Lie, and repeatedly said.
"Jiang Qingyue, that girl also named Jiang Qingyue last time, supposedly your maid, actually fooled you. This time, you'd better obediently hand over the Love Sword." Zhang Lie's eyes shot towards Jiang Qingyue with cold, piercing light.
"Zhang Lie, all the masters on the Earth Ranking will be ashamed to be ranked alongside you!" Jiang Qingyue said coldly. The man before her was the one who had driven her best friend of many years to her death. She desperately wanted to kill him. Unfortunately, although Zhang Lie was a villain, his martial arts skills were not to be underestimated. In terms of martial arts, she was no match for him. Although she had the Love Sword, which could greatly increase its power, she was not confident that she could kill him. Moreover, there were so many people on his side watching her covetously, and she had to take care of Ruoxu and could not act rashly.
"Jiang Qingyue, it seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. I don't want to waste words with you anymore." Zhang Lie said in a sinister voice. Before he finished speaking, he had already gripped the knife in his hand. Blazing red true energy surged from the knife, pointing directly at Jiang Qingyue.
Jiang Qingyue's fair face changed slightly. She moved her feet lightly and dodged slightly to the side. At the same time, she also gripped the Love Sword in her hand. A half-foot-long sword light emerged from the tip of the sword and flashed as it swung towards Zhang Lie's knife.
With a muffled thud, the sword struck the back of the blade, but Jiang Qing almost lost her grip. Zhang Lie let out a triumphant snort, and an even more violent gust of wind swept over.
At the same time, the Four Ghosts of Laoshan exchanged glances, then leaped forward together, surrounding Hua Feihua, Yue Tianhong, and Zhang Lingyun. Fang Feilong, however, directed Jin Tong and Yu Nu to pounce on Han Xue and Ruo Xu, seemingly intending to capture Ruo Xu first.
Jiang Qingyue caught this out of the corner of her eye, her heart filled with anxiety. However, Zhang Lie's attacks grew stronger with each wave. The strength of a top-ranked expert was indeed extraordinary. Although Jiang Qingyue could still resist for the time being, she was unable to escape, let alone help Ruo Xu. The other three, surrounded by the Four Ghosts of Laoshan, were barely able to protect themselves and could only barely parry.
Han Xue wielded her sword, firmly protecting Ruo Xu. Jin Tong, who had just been defeated by Han Xue, now joined forces with Yu Nu, naturally wanting revenge. The combined power of the golden boy and jade girl was indeed multiplied. Hanxue soon felt a bit strained and became increasingly panicked, which only made her more confused.
With a soft groan of pain, a bloody gash appeared on Hanxue's hand, splattering onto her snow-white clothes—a shocking sight. Ruoxu felt a pang of unease, as if he had been stabbed deeply, the excruciating pain making him realize that he truly cared for Hanxue.
Jiang Qingyue let out a delicate snort, having been distracted by Ruoxu's movements and suffering a significant setback. Her attacks slowed considerably, and her movements became less fluid. Zhang Lie coldly snorted, furious to see a nick in his beloved sword. He had spent a fortune to perfect it, and now a mere girl had damaged it. His anger only strengthened his resolve to seize the Sword of Love. With a flick of his wrist, his sword aura shifted, a powerful force pressing down on Jiang Qingyue.

Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: Love's Innate Change.

Hua Ruoxu had never hated his lack of martial arts skills as much as he did today. Because of this, he could only watch helplessly as Xiaoxue was injured protecting him, and as Qingjie was in danger, while he stood by, powerless to help. He gritted his teeth, his mind made up. After today, he would force himself to learn martial arts; he would protect all those who loved him and all those he loved.
With a muffled groan, Jiang Qingyue was thrown back several meters, her slender hand clutching her breast, her face contorted in pain.
"Qingjie, how are you?" Ruoxu was shocked and rushed to her side, asking anxiously.
"Hua Lang, I'm alright, but... I'm afraid I can't take care of you anymore," Jiang Qingyue said, looking tenderly at her beloved man, her breath slightly ragged. Her face was pale. Even if Ruoxu was slow-witted, he could tell she was seriously injured.
“Jiang Qingyue, you brought this upon yourself. If you had obediently handed over the Love Sword earlier, you wouldn’t be suffering like this.” Zhang Lie walked over slowly with a cold smile.
Ruoxu suddenly raised his head, his handsome eyes flashing with angry light, staring at Zhang Lie like a predator, wishing he could devour him whole.
“Zhang Lie, if I, Hua Ruoxu, survive today, I will make sure your bones are never removed.” Ruoxu’s voice was as cold as if he had just emerged from an ice cellar, the overwhelming hatred in his tone sending chills down the spines of those around him.
“You? Too bad you won’t have the chance.” Zhang Lie was also slightly taken aback, but then his face was full of mockery. As he spoke, Zhang Lie’s hand reached out towards Jiang Qingyue and Hua Ruoxu. Two
piercing notes of the zither rang out, and Zhang Lie felt a gust of wind strike his hand, while a murderous aura surged from behind him. He quickly shifted his body, moving two zhang to the side.
Meanwhile, the golden boy and jade girl also let out a muffled groan, retreating with pained expressions. Hanxue was slightly startled, but didn't have time to think about the reason, and hurriedly ran to Ruoxu's side.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Hanxue asked anxiously, completely ignoring the blood still flowing from her hand.
"Xiaoxue, I'm fine." Ruoxu's face showed a relieved expression, and he turned to look at Jiang Qingyue in his arms, whispering, "Sister Qing, it seems we're saved."
Three girls appeared on the field, three girls so beautiful that it was impossible to look away. The girl in white smiled sweetly at Ruoxu.
"Is this your original appearance? You look so good, much better than last time I saw you." The girl in white giggled, seemingly so innocent. Ruoxu stared at the girl for a while, he couldn't connect her with Su Dai'er, the Palace Master of the Demon Palace. However, he knew in his heart that she was indeed the little witch who was feared by both the righteous and the wicked in the martial arts world.
"Did you wear the jade pendant I gave you? I'll be angry if you don't. Let me see it." Dai'er moved gently next to Ruoxu, her tone almost coquettish.
Ruoxu subconsciously reached into his robes and pulled out the jade pendant. Dai'er giggled, looking very happy.
"You should think of me often, okay?" Dai'er chuckled, "I'll come find you to play again later."
Her innocent appearance made it impossible to see her ruthlessness. Could this be the true realm of a witch? Ruoxu's mind raced with these thoughts when he suddenly noticed Dai'er reaching for Jiang Qingyue in her arms, which startled him.
"Miss Dai'er, please, please don't hurt Sister Qing, okay?" Ruoxu's voice was slightly pleading.
"Do you think I'm that bad too?" Dai'er's sweet smile vanished instantly, replaced by a resentful expression, her voice full of grievance.
"No, I, I..." Ruoxu didn't know what to say.
"Don't worry, I was just healing her." Dai'er's innocent smile returned. "Remember to call me Dai'er from now on. I'm leaving now, I'll come find you to play with me again later." After a moment, Dai'er removed her hand from Jiang Qingyue's body and slowly stood up, her beautiful figure exuding irresistible allure.
"Thank you, Palace Master Su." Jiang Qingyue's pale face had regained its color, and she looked at Su Dai'er with complicated eyes. She stood up from Ruoxu's embrace and curtsied in thanks.
"You're welcome. You're the one he likes, and I was just helping him." Dai'er said sweetly.
"Let's go, Liuyun Feixu." Dai'er slowly turned around and said softly.
"By the way, would you play a tune for me?" Dai'er suddenly stopped and turned to Ruoxu.
Ruoxu nodded and took out a flute from his robes. A heavenly sound slowly rose from the ground, the intoxicating notes dancing with Ruoxu's fingers, and a beautiful melody, "The Ballad of a Beautiful Woman," was slowly played. Suddenly, a soft, melodious zither tune blended with the sound of a flute. Dai'er's slender hands moved gently, the melodious zither and the beautiful flute harmonizing perfectly. From her music, Ruoxu seemed to sense her helplessness, her loneliness, and her emotions.
The zither and flute music stopped, but the lingering notes remained. When everyone came to their senses, Dai'er was gone, and everyone else was gone too, leaving only Ruoxu and a few others.
"Hua Lang, where are they?" Jiang Qingyue asked in surprise.
"I don't know either," Ruoxu said with a bitter smile. He had been engrossed in the music and only realized they were gone when it ended.
"They must have been taken away by Su Dai'er. Only she has that ability," Hua Feihua chimed in. Ruoxu remained silent; indeed, only Su Dai'er could have silently taken away nearly a hundred people.
"Anyway, we really owe her a debt this time, otherwise we probably wouldn't have escaped this calamity." Yue Tianhong sighed slightly. The battle just now had been quite a mess. The three of them were surrounded by the Four Ghosts of Laoshan and were stretched thin, not gaining any advantage whatsoever. Hanxue and Jiang Qingyue were both injured. If Su Daier hadn't suddenly appeared, they probably wouldn't have escaped death.
"Brother Hua is truly blessed. Su Daier doesn't fall in love with someone so easily." Hua Feihua sighed from the side.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Su Daier has never fallen in love with the young master." Hanxue glared at Hua Feihua.
"If Su Daier hadn't fallen in love with Brother Hua, why would she have helped us? Xiaoxue, it's alright. You can always be a concubine. If that doesn't work, I can marry you." Hua Feihua started talking nonsense again.
"Hua Feihua, you bastard! I'm not finished with you!" Hanxue was furious and was about to pounce on him to fight.
"Xiaoxue, Brother Hua is just joking, don't take it seriously," Ruoxu quickly dissuaded her.
"Hmph!" Hanxue glared at Hua Feihua angrily and huffed.
"Let's hurry on our way. We've been traveling for so long, let's find an inn to rest," Jiang Qingyue said helplessly. These two were truly like sworn enemies.
*** *** ***
That night, Ruoxu and Jiang Qingyue were just about to rest when a gentle knock on the door startled them. A familiar face appeared when the door opened.
"Xiaoxue, is something wrong? Come in," Ruoxu said, slightly taken aback.
"Young Master, I, I..." Hanxue stammered, unsure what to say, a strange expression on her face—a mixture of worry and excitement.
"Xiaoxue, what's wrong?" Ruoxu asked, puzzled. He walked to the door and suddenly froze. Behind Hanxue was another person—that purple dress, that figure that haunted his dreams, that unforgettable beauty. He never dreamed this person would appear here; Hua Yuluan was now standing alive before him.
"Am I dreaming?" Ruoxu murmured, yet the feeling was so real. He looked at Jiang Qingyue in the room, then at Hua Yuluan, and for a moment, he was mesmerized.
"Young Master, Young Master!" Hanxue called out urgently, waking him, only to find Hua Yuluan already inside, coldly staring at Jiang Qingyue.
"Senior Sister," Ruoxu called softly, his voice tinged with bitterness, "Why are you here? Didn't you already..."
"Young Master, why don't you understand? Miss never married. She just thought you weren't ambitious enough and wanted you to experience some hardship outside. Why don't you listen to me and Miss?" Hanxue called out sweetly from the side, her voice filled with anxiety.
Ruoxu froze, stunned.
"Is that really true? Senior Sister, tell me, is it true?" Ruoxu couldn't accept this fact. He had always believed Hua Yuluan was someone else's wife, and heartbroken, he left Mount Hua. But now he was being told that nothing had actually happened. The stark contrast left him unsure whether to be happy or sad.

"Come back with me now, and pretend nothing happened these past few days. I can overlook your affair with someone else," Hua Yuluan finally spoke, her tone cold, yet revealing the intense struggle within her.
"Senior Sister, why did you lie to me? You wanted me to practice martial arts, you wanted me to train outside, you could have just told me." Ruoxu was almost in tears. "Why did you have to do it this way?" "
I don't want to talk about the past anymore. You're coming back to Mount Hua with me now, and then we'll choose a date to get married." Hua Yuluan's beautiful eyes were a little moist, but her tone left no room for negotiation.
Jiang Qingyue had been silent the whole time. She had long expected this day to come, but she hadn't expected it to come so soon. She was conflicted. She knew that Ruoxu's true love was always Hua Yuluan. For his sake, she hoped he would go back with Hua Yuluan, but she also wanted him to stay. Love is always selfish, and she was no exception. However, she wouldn't say anything. She would wait for Ruoxu to choose for himself and respect his decision.
"Senior Sister, no, I can't betray Sister Qing. I promised her I would stay with her for life," Ruoxu murmured, his heart filled with anguish. He truly wanted to return with Hua Yuluan, marry her, and spend his life together. However, if he did that, he would never have peace of mind. He couldn't forget the days he spent with Jiang Qingyue, nor could he forget his promise to her.
"Fine, fine, fine!" Hua Yuluan gritted her teeth. "Just don't regret it. And don't ever come back to Mount Hua again." Hua Yuluan was furious. She felt she had already made a huge concession, made such a great sacrifice for him, yet he still couldn't bear to part with another woman.
"Xiaoxue, come back with me. From now on, there will be no one like him on Mount Hua anymore." Hua Yuluan glared at Ruoxu with hatred and stormed off. Hanxue looked at Ruoxu with lingering reluctance, tears welling in her eyes. She wiped away her tears and turned to follow him.
Ruoxu stared blankly at Hua Yuluan's retreating figure, tears finally streaming down his face. This time, he had truly lost his beloved senior sister.
Jiang Qingyue gazed at her lover, speechless. She felt both happy and unhappy. Happy because Ruoxu had stayed for her sake; unhappy because she knew he was truly unhappy. He longed to return to Mount Hua. Hua Yuluan had offered him very good terms—if he returned, she would marry him. She knew he had been eagerly anticipating that day, yet now, for her sake, he had given it up.
"Hua Lang, it's getting late. You should rest," Jiang Qingyue finally spoke. Ruoxu had been lost in thought for almost two hours, and she finally spoke out of concern.
"Sister Qing, I'm sorry," Ruoxu slowly turned around, looking at Jiang Qingyue softly.
"Silly boy, what have you done to apologize for?" Jiang Qingyue said softly.
"By the way, Sister Qing, you said you'd show me something last night. Can you show it to me now?" Ruoxu forced a smile.
Jiang Qingyue sighed inwardly. She knew Ruoxu was trying to change the subject, to distract him from Hua Yuluan's matter.
"Hua Lang, look at this sword, the Love Sword." Jiang Qingyue took out a dark, unadorned sword. It looked ordinary, but this very sword had already stirred up a bloody storm in the martial world.
Ruoxu stared blankly at the sword on the table, then reached out his hand. It felt cool to the touch, but nothing else. The sword was heavy; he found it somewhat difficult to hold.
"Rumor has it that this sword hides a great secret. Unlocking it will allow one to learn unparalleled martial arts. However, I haven't been able to figure out what that secret is. Besides the sword's sharpness and the ability to unleash its sword light, I haven't discovered any other functions," Jiang Qingyue said slowly. "I've heard that divine weapons choose their masters. I think perhaps only its true owner can unlock this secret, so I want you to try."
"Sister Qing, I don't know any martial arts at all. I probably won't be its master," Ruoxu said with a wry smile.
“The choice of a divine weapon to its master has nothing to do with whether the master knows martial arts,” Jiang Qingyue said softly. “Hua Lang, draw your sword and take a look.”
Ruo Xu grasped the sword and began to stare blankly again. Jiang Qingyue felt a pang of sadness and knew that he was naturally thinking of Hua Yuluan again.

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/15770.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=15770&aspx=1

Previous Page : Neighbor, Classmate, Girlfriend [Complete] - 30 (Full)

Next Page : Love and Sword [Complete] - 1

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Love and Sword [Complete] - 2

comment Open a new window to view comments