Love and Sword [Complete] - 9

Volume 4 Sword Dance Chapter 2 The Sword Never Leaves the Hand (Part 1)

Snowdrift Manor.
Xue Youyou was intently playing with the jade flute in her hand, turning it over and over, examining it carefully, gently stroking it, as if it were her beloved. Her eyes were incredibly tender, and her movements incredibly delicate.
Feng Congyun, preoccupied with his own thoughts, arrived at Xue Youyou's boudoir. He raised his hand to knock, but found the door was already ajar. He lowered his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently pushed the door open.
Xue Youyou was still sitting with her back to the door, seemingly oblivious to Feng Congyun's arrival, continuing to gaze at the emerald green jade flute in her hand.
"Youyou," Feng Congyun sighed softly and called out in a low voice.
"Cousin, when did you arrive?" Xue Youyou seemed surprised, turning around and asking with some astonishment.
"I just came in, Youyou, did I disturb you?" Feng Congyun asked gently.
"No, by the way, cousin, is there something you need?" Xue Youyou regained her usual charming and cute demeanor, gently tucking the jade flute in her bosom.
"Hua Ruoxu arrived at Black Wind Forest, about three hundred miles from here, three days ago, and happened to meet my father." Feng Congyun looked at Xue Youyou with a complicated expression, his tone rather strange, making it hard to describe.
"Cousin, is he still alive?" Xue Youyou's tone was unusually calm, as if she were talking about someone completely unrelated to her.
"He was injured by Ye Wuying when he broke through the encirclement, and his injuries should be quite serious. As for where he is now, I don't know, but his purpose should be to come here to find you." Feng Congyun was also somewhat surprised by Xue Youyou's question, and paused for a moment before replying.
"If he comes, let him come to see me, but if nothing unexpected happens, it will take him at least a month to get here." Xue Youyou sighed softly and said leisurely.
"Youyou, there's a question I want to ask you." Feng Congyun's tone suddenly became heavy, and his gaze towards Xue Youyou became unpredictable.
Xue Youyou didn't speak, only nodded slightly.
"Youyou, did Hua Ruoxu really do that to you?" Feng Congyun uttered these words with difficulty.
"Cousin, do you think he did?" Xue Youyou giggled, her bright, sparkling eyes darting around his face, as if she had seen something very amusing.
"Youyou, I just want your answer, not for me to make wild guesses. I don't need to guess. I don't care what you were like before!" Feng Congyun was somewhat annoyed, and his voice involuntarily rose.
"Cousin, when did you become so hypocritical like him?" Xue Youyou said with a regretful tone, "Since you don't care, why ask? But, for your sake, cousin, Youyou will tell you anyway."
"Don't compare me to him!" Feng Congyun coldly snorted, a strange anger rising from the bottom of his heart.
“Cousin, why are you angry? Actually, Youyou didn’t want to compare him to others.” Xue Youyou smiled sweetly. “Since you’re so eager to know about Brother Hua and me, I have no choice but to tell you. Although the information I spread wasn’t entirely true, it was only the process that was untrue; the result was the same. I wonder if you’re satisfied with what I’ve said?”
“I really don’t understand what you’re trying to do!” Feng Congyun’s face turned red and then white. After a long while, he uttered these words, then angrily shook his hand and stormed off.
“Of course you wouldn’t understand.” Xue Youyou murmured, watching his retreating figure. Then she took out the jade flute from her bosom, gently stroking it, her eyes drifting absently towards the window.
*** *** ***
The melodious sound of the zither flowed slowly under the moonlight. On the white jade zither, a pair of slender hands glided gently. In a small pavilion in the lake, a fairy-like girl in white sat at a stone table in the middle of the pavilion.
"Liuyun, has Feixu returned?" The zither music stopped abruptly, and the girl in white slowly stood up. With a graceful turn, she revealed her stunningly beautiful face. At that moment, another beautiful girl in black hurried over. The girl in black had just finished speaking when she arrived in front of her.
"Miss, Feixu hasn't returned yet, but she sent word that Young Master Hua was ambushed three days ago and escaped with serious injuries. Feixu has been secretly following Young Master Hua, but because you instructed us not to help him, she hasn't made a move." Liuyun said, glancing at Su Daier's expression.
"Who ambushed him? And managed to inflict such serious injuries?" Su Daier frowned slightly, her tone filled with surprise.
"Feng Yundong of the Feng family brought almost all the experts from the Feng family, along with Ye Wuying and Fang Xia from Kunlun. Young Master Hua was injured by Ye Wuying." Liuyun's tone was somewhat indignant.
"Miss, should we go help him?" Liu Yun asked, finally noticing Su Dai'er's silence.
"No need. Tell Fei Xu not to help him unless absolutely necessary," Su Dai'er sighed softly and shook her head. "
But Miss, isn't this the perfect opportunity for you, Young Master Hua, who is currently isolated and helpless?" Liu Yun asked, puzzled.
"I don't need such methods," Su Dai'er shook her head gently. "Besides, he's not truly alone; Mount Hua won't abandon him."
"Miss, didn't Mount Hua already expel Young Master Hua?" Liu Yun asked, confused.
"But he's still Hua Yuluan's husband," Su Dai'er said, looking lost in thought. "Hua Yufeng has already left Mount Hua; perhaps this is the best time for us to go there."
"Miss, if Young Master Hua finds out, he'll definitely be even more resentful towards you," Liu Yun exclaimed softly, somewhat surprised.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Su Dai'er said gently.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu looked ahead and finally saw the gates of Xiangyang. The three hundred li journey had taken him thirty days. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was haggard. Since his wounded escape a month ago, he hadn't had a single day of peace, not even a decent meal, and sleep was a luxury. He didn't know when endless enemies had surrounded him, and he had to be on guard against sudden attacks at any moment. At first,
he kept explaining, but later he realized it was all in vain. Then, by chance, he overheard a group of people preparing to ambush him, and his heart sank completely. He discovered their true purpose: they simply wanted to kill him openly and then take what they wanted—the Sword of Love.

Volume Four, Sword Dance, Chapter Two: The Sword Never Leaves His Hand (Part Two)

Hua Ruoxu hurriedly entered the city. His luck seemed to have improved recently; no one had bothered him for half a day.
"Waiter, two catties of beef, a bowl of noodles, and two baskets of steamed buns, wrapped up for me to take away later." He ducked into a restaurant he saw.
He hadn't had anything hot like this in ages. These past few days, he'd been eating and sleeping outdoors, never having had a chance to sit comfortably and eat a proper meal, nor a comfortable place to sleep. He wolfed down his food, finishing it all in no time. He tossed aside a piece of silver, grabbed the bag of steamed buns the waiter had already wrapped, and stood up to leave. But then he froze.
A girl in white appeared at the door, staring blankly at him.
Hua Yufeng arrived shortly after Hua Ruoxu entered, but when she saw him, she could hardly believe her eyes. The refined, elegant scholar of yesteryear had vanished without a trace. His white robes were almost yellowed, and his hair was disheveled, clearly uncombed for a long time. Seeing him engrossed in his meal, a strange pang of sorrow welled up inside her. The two remained silent, Hua Yufeng's lips trembling slightly, unable to utter a word. Looking at his haggard face and bloodshot eyes, she felt tears welling up in her own.
"Are you here to kill me too?" Hua Ruoxu's voice was bitter. He knew he looked wretched and pathetic. Frankly, he didn't want to run into someone he knew at this time, and he certainly hadn't expected to encounter Hua Yufeng.
"How have you been these past few days?" Hua Yufeng's tears nearly spilled over. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her voice still trembled.
"How can I speak well in this state?" Hua Ruoxu chuckled self-deprecatingly. "However, in the past month, only you, Second Senior Sister, have asked me this question. I'm truly grateful."
"Come back to Mount Hua with me. As long as you don't come out again, nothing will happen. Besides, I believe I won't blame you," Hua Yufeng said softly.
"It seems you, Second Senior Sister, also believe I did such a thing." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, his tone clearly tinged with disappointment.
"Have you explained yourself? Tell me now, did you do it or not?" Hua Yufeng's tone held an indescribable feeling, seemingly both heartbroken by his plight and furious at his lack of resolve.
"What's the use of me telling you? Nobody believes me!" Hua Ruoxu roared at Hua Yufeng. "Even you don't believe me, who else can I expect to believe me?"
"If you've truly been wronged, you can tell me now," Hua Yufeng said after a moment of silence, seemingly surprised by Hua Ruoxu's outburst.
"Fine, I'll tell you now, I didn't rape Xue Youyou, I didn't!" Hua Ruoxu said indignantly. "I don't know how many times I've said this, but it's no use! Nobody believes me! No, they simply don't want to believe me!"
"I believe you," Hua Yufeng said softly. Hua Ruoxu, who had been filled with resentment, suddenly froze upon hearing this, a half-smile appearing on his face.
"Did I hear that right?" Hua Ruoxu murmured, seemingly to himself. "Am I dreaming?" Hua Ruoxu's current appearance was somewhat strange, and even a little ridiculous.
"From childhood to adulthood, I've never seen you lie," Hua Yufeng's gentle voice reached his ears again. "So, this time, I also believe you won't lie to me."
"Finally, someone is willing to believe me." A hint of joy appeared on Hua Ruoxu's face, but it wasn't quite joy; it was more like a feeling of relief.
"It's good that someone believes in me, Second Senior Sister, thank you so much. But I should go now, I'm afraid someone will come looking for trouble again soon." Hua Ruoxu's tone was much calmer as she spoke and slowly walked away, completely ignoring the surprised looks from those around her.
"Where are you going? Aren't you coming back with me?" Hua Yufeng was slightly taken aback, then quickly followed and asked.
"I'm going to Piaoxue Manor. I need to find Youyou and get some answers." Hua Ruoxu continued walking, her pace quickening.
“Alright, I’ll go with you, but let’s find an inn first. You should tidy yourself up properly; the way you look right now… sigh.” Hua Yufeng sighed softly. “If I saw you like this, I’d be heartbroken.”
“I haven’t slept in an inn for a month.” Hua Ruoxu stopped, his eyes slowly scanning the surroundings. “Look around, any one of these people could pop up at any moment while I’m sleeping and try to kill me.”
“Don’t worry, with me here, no one will bother you.” Hua Yufeng felt a pang of sadness again, her beautiful eyes shooting out soft light as she slowly swept the surroundings, her voice slightly raised, as if deliberately wanting those around her to hear.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu was truly exhausted. Although his injuries had long since healed, his body was utterly worn out, and the immense pressure he felt had left him physically and mentally exhausted. He finally took a comfortable bath and lay down on the bed, feeling it was the most comfortable bed he had ever slept in.
Although he was exhausted and desperately wanted to sleep, he couldn't fall asleep. The habits formed during his month-long escape had made it difficult for him to sleep. His hand remained tightly gripping the sword; for the past month, the sword had never left his grasp, no matter the time or place.
"Sleep, it's safe here," Hua Yufeng's gentle voice seemed to possess a powerful hypnotic effect. Hearing this, Hua Ruoxu truly fell into a deep sleep, though his hand remained firmly gripping the sword, showing no sign of letting go.
Hua Yufeng stared blankly at Hua Ruoxu. She had never felt so distressed, and her thoughts began to falter. Perhaps no one could have imagined that this man, just six months ago a frail scholar, was now a seasoned warrior, someone who had once loved romance and poetry under the moon, was now constantly on guard against attacks.
Faint footsteps echoed from the rooftop, and suddenly many more people appeared around the house. Hua Yufeng's words couldn't dissuade everyone; perhaps they were all waiting for an opportunity. Hua Yufeng sighed inwardly; it seemed she had to be more vigilant. A soft knock sounded at

the door . "Who is it?" Hua Yufeng's heart tightened slightly, and she called out in a low voice. "I've brought water." It seemed to be the innkeeper's voice. A cold glint flashed in Hua Yufeng's eyes. "The door's unlocked, come in," Hua Yufeng said calmly, her demeanor impassive. The door was gently pushed open, and a man dressed as an innkeeper walked in with his head slightly bowed, carrying a water jug. "Put it down, and then leave," Hua Yufeng turned away from the innkeeper, her voice cold and somewhat displeased. The innkeeper looked up at this moment, quickly glanced at the room, picked up the water jug, and took a few steps forward, intentionally or unintentionally moving closer to the bed. With a painful groan, the innkeeper flew out like a kite with a broken string, spitting out a cloud of blood in mid-air, and crashed into the courtyard with a thud, unable to move. "For the next twelve hours, anyone who dares to come in and cause trouble will suffer the same fate as this person!" Hua Yufeng appeared at the doorway, her voice unusually cold. The gentle fairy's face was devoid of any trace of tenderness. Two piercing glints of cold light shot from her eyes as she slowly glanced around, then let out a cold snort and turned to go back inside. Perhaps no one expected that Hua Yufeng, renowned throughout the martial arts world for her gentleness, would be so ruthless. But if her power was already so astonishing when she was gentle, would she be even more formidable when enraged? Perhaps no one knew, but clearly no one wanted to test it themselves. From that moment on, no one knocked on the door again, and the people on the roof and around the house quietly retreated. However, from the windows, Hua Yufeng could still see people occasionally glancing in her direction, though from a great distance. Those people hadn't given up their surveillance; they were simply avoiding direct confrontation. Hua Ruoxu, whose nerves had been on edge the whole time, suddenly relaxed and felt extremely tired. He slept for a long time, a full day and night plus two hours. When he finally opened his eyes and woke up, the first thing he saw was Hua Yufeng's concerned eyes.

"Second Senior Sister, what time is it now?" Hua Ruoxu took a deep breath, quickly circulating her inner energy. A cool sensation emanated from her sword, instantly making her feel refreshed and invigorated. The gloom of the past few days had dissipated considerably, and she felt much more at ease.
"You went to sleep around this time yesterday, but it's already evening," Hua Yufeng said softly. "Get up and wash your face. Let's go get something to eat. You must be hungry after sleeping for so long."
Hua Ruoxu nodded gently, a warm feeling welling up inside her.
*** *** ***
Night slowly fell, and the city lights began to twinkle. On the streets of Xiangyang, Hua Yufeng and Hua Ruoxu walked slowly side by side. The handsome man and beautiful woman were a perfect match, attracting many envious glances.
"Second Senior Sister, you don't have to come with me. I can go by myself," Hua Ruoxu said softly.
“Since I trust you, I’m not afraid to go with you. Besides, I think it’s much better for me to go with you than for you to go alone. At least they’ll give you a chance to explain because of me,” Hua Yufeng said softly. “However, I think it would be better if we went during the day tomorrow.”
“There’s no difference between day and night,” Hua Ruoxu sighed slightly. “I still can’t understand why she did this. I want to know the reason as soon as possible. Every day I delay, I’ll suffer for another day.”
Hua Yufeng nodded silently. Neither of them insisted on their opinions anymore, as if they had reached a tacit understanding.
It wouldn’t take long to get to Piaoxue Manor, but both of them unconsciously slowed down. The autumn night breeze brushed against their faces, gentle yet icy, seemingly foreshadowing the arrival of winter.
They both stopped at the same time because someone was blocking their way. A slender figure, clad in black, her long hair billowing in the wind, slowly turned around. Her face was veiled in black gauze, and her beautiful eyes were fixed on Hua Ruoxu, filled with complex emotions.
Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, he knew her identity.
"Miss Hua, it's a pleasure to meet you," Hua Ruoxu smiled faintly. "Why are you alone, Miss Hua?"
"Don't go any further. Quickly, take another route." Hua Feimeng stared at Hua Ruoxu for a full quarter of an hour, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. After a long silence, she finally spoke these words, which surprised Hua Ruoxu greatly.
"Miss Hua, could you explain more clearly?" Hua Yufeng asked softly, a thoughtful look in her eyes.
"Go another ten miles, and you will see all the elites of the four great families, and Ye Wuying, who injured you last time, is also waiting for you," Hua Feimeng said calmly, giving Hua Yufeng a strange look.
“That’s perfect, I was just about to go find them,” Hua Ruoxu said nonchalantly.
“If you really want to die, then go ahead,” Hua Feimeng said coldly, glancing at Hua Ruoxu. “But let me warn you first, even if you die, you won’t be able to see Xue Youyou.”
“Miss Hua, why are you telling me all this?” Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, secretly puzzled. Hua Feimeng seemed to have no hostility towards him, and even seemed to know perfectly well why he wanted to see Xue Youyou.
“That’s none of your concern. If you really want to see Xue Youyou, then come with me.” Hua Feimeng looked at Hua Ruoxu coldly.
Hua Ruoxu hesitated. He looked at Hua Yufeng, seemingly hoping she could give him some advice, but found that Hua Yufeng was also looking at him, waiting for his decision.
“Alright, please lead the way, Miss Hua.” Hua Ruoxu made his decision after a moment’s consideration. Hua Feimeng didn’t seem to have any ill intentions. Since she knew his whereabouts, it would be easy for her to tell the four great families to intercept him; there was no need to use other methods. Moreover, his main purpose this time was to see Xue Youyou. If he couldn't see her and was trapped by the four great families, he couldn't guarantee he could escape. After weighing the options, he decided to trust her this once. However, if she really was helping him, he couldn't quite understand it. To be honest, he wasn't very familiar with Hua Feimeng, and she should have a very bad impression of him, since he had barged into her boudoir while she was bathing.
Hua Feimeng didn't speak again. With a slight movement, she had already leaped several feet. Hua Ruoxu and Hua Yufeng nodded to each other and set off together, flying after Hua Feimeng.

Volume 4 Sword Dance Chapter 3 Sword Howl in the Wilderness (Part 2)

Three figures, one in front and two behind, moved unhurriedly through the wilderness like flowing water. Hua Feimeng remained silent, and Hua Ruoxu and Hua Yufeng followed silently behind.
Suddenly, Hua Ruoxu let out a soft "Eh," frowned, and stopped.
"What's wrong?" Hua Yufeng also stopped and asked softly.
"Miss Hua, please wait." Hua Ruoxu didn't answer Hua Yufeng's question, but raised her voice and called out to Hua Feimeng's back.
Hua Feimeng didn't stop, only slowed her pace slightly. Helpless, Hua Ruoxu had no choice but to quicken her pace and catch up with her.
"Miss Hua, where are we going? This isn't the way to Piaoxue Manor." Hua Ruoxu finally realized something was wrong.
"Did I say I was going to take you to Piaoxue Manor?" Hua Feimeng said indifferently.
"Didn't you say you were going to take me to see Youyou?" Hua Ruoxu said somewhat angrily.
"I only said that if you wanted to see Xue Youyou, you should come with me. I didn't say I was going to take you to see Xue Youyou now." Hua Feimeng's tone was still indifferent, as if she wasn't afraid of choking Hua Ruoxu.
"Actually, Miss Hua isn't wrong. If you want to see Xue Youyou, you first need to survive, so leaving is indeed the best choice." Hua Yufeng's gentle words followed.
"I am deeply grateful for Miss Hua's kindness." Hua Ruoxu stopped again, sighed slightly, and said, "However, I cannot leave just like this."
"You really want to go and die?" Hua Feimeng finally stopped this time, turned around, and said to Hua Ruoxu in an annoyed tone.
"For more than a month, people have tried to kill me every day, and I'm still alive and well, aren't I?" Hua Ruoxu smiled calmly.
"You know very well what kind of opponents you've encountered in the past month. Since you were injured by Ye Wuying, have you encountered a single true master?" Hua Feimeng glanced at Hua Ruoxu coldly, her tone equally icy. "True masters are mostly intelligent people, and an intelligent person, even if he wants the Love Sword on your body, wouldn't choose to attack you directly."
Hua Ruoxu fell silent for a moment; he knew that what Hua Feimeng said was true.
“Junior brother, let’s listen to Miss Hua. There’s plenty of time. You don’t need to rush.” Hua Yufeng said softly, her eyes revealing a hint of quiet tenderness and worry, which Hua Ruoxu failed to notice.
“In the past month, I’ve been attacked countless times. I know they all know I’m coming to Xiangyang, so they’re all waiting for me on the road. If I hadn’t come here and had gone somewhere else, I could have avoided a lot of trouble. But if I hadn’t come here, it would have felt like a heavy stone was pressing on my heart, and I couldn’t find peace.” Hua Ruoxu’s voice was slow and heavy. He looked up at the dark night sky, his voice becoming ethereal. “Although I most want to see Youyou herself, if I can’t see her, seeing the Xue family is just as good.”
“However, Miss Hua, and Second Senior Sister, I really thank you.” Hua Ruoxu paused slightly and said sincerely.
“You really want to go?” Hua Feimeng was stunned for a long time, her originally cold tone seeming to soften with a hint of emotion.
Hua Ruoxu nodded firmly, turned around, and strode forward. Hua Yufeng sighed softly and followed. Hua Feimeng remained rooted to the spot for a long time before finally heading towards Piaoxue Manor.
*** *** ***
The pitch-black night sky was suddenly illuminated by torches, red flames leaping in mid-air. Hua Ruoxu stopped, surrounded by flushed faces, the cause of which was unclear—whether from the firelight or from anger.
"I've kept you all waiting!" Hua Ruoxu slowly swept his gaze over the crowd, his tone so calm that even he was somewhat surprised. In truth, the many days of escape had subtly altered many aspects of him, including his demeanor, spirit, and temperament.
Hua Feimeng was indeed right; almost all the experts from the four great families had arrived, including many he knew.
"Young Master Hua, you had a bright future ahead of you, why did you choose to degenerate?" A soft sigh rang out.
Hua Ruoxu looked at the young woman who spoke, a strange urge to laugh stirring within him. Undoubtedly, she was a beautiful young woman with an extremely high status in the martial arts world, but now he found her laughable.
"Miss Ye, when did you first see me willingly degenerate?" Hua Ruoxu said with a faint smile. Although he had been injured by her last time, strangely, he didn't hate her much; he just found her ridiculous.
"Hua Ruoxu, when Qingyue was with you, I was jealous and envious of you; when you abandoned her, I hated you; but now, I despise you!" Hua Feihua's cold voice rang out. "At least you dared to admit to abandoning Qingyue in front of the world, but what about you now? Since you dared to do it, you should dare to admit it!"
"Brother Hua's words of advice are very true. Daring to do something does indeed require daring to admit it." Hua Ruoxu looked at Hua Feihua and smiled slightly. "I will naturally admit to what I have done, but may I ask Brother Hua, if I were to say that you raped a respectable woman, would you admit it because you dare to admit it?"
"Hua Ruoxu, do you think my daughter would wrong you?" Xue Mingfeng finally spoke. He slowly took two steps forward and stood about ten feet away from Hua Ruoxu.
"Youyou?" Hua Ruoxu murmured softly, the image of that charming and lovely woman appearing in his mind. His eyes gleamed as he stared at Xue Mingfeng, raising his voice slightly, "I believe Youyou wouldn't wrong me, but whether others will, I don't know."
"Would I, Xue Mingfeng, disregard my daughter's reputation just to wrong you?" Xue Mingfeng coldly snorted.
"Who is wronging me? I think you, Master Xue, know better than I do, but arguing about that now is pointless. My purpose in coming here today is to ask Youyou face to face. If she says the same thing, then I have nothing to say." Hua Ruoxu had always believed that Xue Youyou wouldn't wrong him, but now that Xue Mingfeng and the people from the four great families were blocking his way from seeing Xue Youyou, his suspicions about Xue Mingfeng deepened. He knew that Xue Mingfeng didn't have much affection for him, and that Xue Mingfeng's preferred son-in-law was Feng Congyun.
"Since Miss Hua is here, then please let her tell you. I think you won't doubt her words, will you?" Xue Mingfeng smiled coldly, glancing at Hua Yufeng, who had remained silent, a hint of smugness in his eyes. Hua Ruoxu's heart

skipped

a beat for no reason, and he looked at Hua Yufeng with questioning eyes.
"Master Xue, I don't know the details of what happened. What does Master Xue want me to say?" Hua Yufeng's gentle voice brushed against Hua Ruoxu's heart, calming him down.
"Miss Hua, I think you remember clearly what my daughter Youyou said to your elder sister, Miss Hua, on Mount Hua that day." Xue Mingfeng didn't care about Hua Yufeng's denial, speaking calmly.
Hua Yufeng remained silent for a long time. More than a month ago, the heads of the four great families personally visited Mount Hua. Xue Youyou and she were both present that day, and she did know what had happened. However, if she told the truth, Hua Ruoxu might not be able to accept it, because she could see that Hua Ruoxu still didn't believe that Xue Youyou had framed him. In fact, it was Xue Youyou who personally told Hua Yuluan that Hua Ruoxu had raped her while masked on the first night after leaving Piaoxue Manor. Moreover, Xue Youyou also revealed things that only those with whom he had a close relationship would know, leaving Hua Yuluan with no way to refute. Therefore, Mount Hua ultimately had no choice but to decide to expel Hua Ruoxu from the sect.
"Second Miss Hua, I think you wouldn't deny that it was my daughter Youyou who personally identified Hua Ruoxu, would you? Many of us here witnessed and heard it ourselves that day, and your elder sister, Miss Hua, also admitted that what Youyou said was true! Could it be that Second Miss Hua still wants to protect this shameless lecher?" Xue Mingfeng's cold voice rang out.
Hua Ruoxu felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. Judging from Hua Yufeng's expression, he vaguely understood that Xue Mingfeng was probably not lying. But did this mean Youyou was trying to frame him? According to Xue Mingfeng, even his senior sister believed that he had raped Xue Youyou. Who else would believe that he was innocent? Perhaps Hua Yufeng's claim of believing him was just to comfort him.
"Master Xue, from the very beginning, we've only listened to Miss Xue's side of the story, never giving my junior brother a chance to explain. Don't you all think it's too hasty to condemn him like this?" Hua Yufeng sighed softly. "As far as I know, my junior brother and Miss Xue were trapped in a dark place for seven days. During those seven days, he didn't do anything to Miss Xue, but on the second day after they were released, he committed a crime against her. Don't you all find that strange?"
"A normal person wouldn't do such a despicable thing. Someone who does such a thing is worse than a beast, and naturally, you can't judge them by common sense," Feng Guoyun interjected, his tone full of disdain.
"Junior brother, according to Miss Xue, you accidentally left the jade flute your sister gave you with her that night, and it's indeed in her possession now. If you can explain how the jade flute was lost, you can prove she's wronged you," Hua Yufeng said to Hua Ruoxu, ignoring Feng Guoyun. Now, in everyone's eyes, Xue Youyou is a victim. Given that she is a woman, it's understandable that most people would rather believe her than Hua Ruoxu. However, if Hua Ruoxu can prove Xue Youyou lied, he should be able to clear his name.
"Jade Flute?" Hua Ruoxu was taken aback.
"Heaven above, the stone house as matchmaker, the jade flute as betrothal gift, I, Hua Ruoxu, swear to take care of Xue Youyou for the rest of my life!" His words seemed to echo in his ears.
"Brother Hua, you said you would take care of Youyou for the rest of your life, have you forgotten?" It was Youyou's resentful voice.
"Starving to death here isn't so bad, it's just a good deal for you. You don't have to take care of me for the rest of your life, just for these few days." It was still Youyou's voice.
“Forever.” Hua Ruoxu suddenly felt a pang of heartache. “Youyou, didn’t you want me to take care of you for a lifetime? Why are you framing me? Even if you didn’t want me to take care of you, I’m already gone. Do you only feel satisfied when I’m dead?”
“Junior brother, what’s wrong?” Hua Yufeng noticed Hua Ruoxu’s fluctuating expression and sensed something was wrong, so she quickly asked in a low voice.
“Second senior sister, don’t worry, I’m fine.” Hua Ruoxu suppressed his inner turmoil and slowly scanned the people of Piaoxue Manor, finally stopping at a familiar face. That face was filled with guilt and unease, and there was a hint of pain in his eyes.
“Hahaha.” Hua Ruoxu laughed loudly, his laughter filled with resentment and helplessness. He didn’t look at Feng Ping anymore and turned his face to Xue Mingfeng.
"I now realize how ridiculous I am. That jade flute has actually become evidence of my crime!" Hua Ruoxu looked at Xue Mingfeng with disdain. "You all just want me dead, don't you? It would have been so much better if you had just said so. I wouldn't have had to run all this way here to explain. Master Xue, I should actually thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known that someone could be so hypocritical!"
"Hua Ruoxu, I don't understand what you're saying. You did something beastly; you brought this upon yourself. You can't blame anyone else." Xue Mingfeng's expression changed slightly, his tone becoming somewhat strained. He turned to look at Feng Ping, who, after hesitating to speak, finally couldn't hold back any longer. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he turned and hurriedly left.
"Brother Feng, I don't blame you." Hua Ruoxu's voice rang out behind Feng Ping. "I wish you and Miss Xue a long and happy life together!"
"Ah..." Feng Ping let out a wild roar and ran off.
"For the past month or so, although I've injured countless people, I've never killed a single one. I always hoped it was all a misunderstanding, but today I realize I was completely wrong." Hua Ruoxu slowly swept his gaze across the people around him. "However, from now on, I will show no mercy to anyone who wants to kill me. From today onward, I can kill with a clear conscience, because I have no regrets."
"Junior brother, what exactly happened? Tell me!" Hua Yufeng watched everything that had just happened. Hua Ruoxu's sudden change and Feng Ping's unexplained departure filled her with suspicion, but she still felt somewhat confused.
"Second senior sister, do you believe me?" Hua Ruoxu smiled slightly and looked at Hua Yufeng.
"I believe you, but my belief in you is useless. You need everyone to believe you." Hua Yufeng couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
"As long as you believe me, that's enough." A trace of confusion appeared in Hua Ruoxu's eyes, but it instantly returned to clarity. "Second senior sister, can you do me a favor?"
Hua Yufeng nodded, looking at him with worried eyes.
"Go back and tell my senior sister I'll go see her as soon as possible," Hua Ruoxu said softly, slowly drawing his sword.

Volume 4 Sword Dance Chapter 4 Tension (Part 2)

Snowdrift Manor. In Xue Youyou's boudoir.
The two sisters, Xue Youyou and Xue Piaopiao, were playing chess.
"Sister, you seem a little restless," Xue Youyou suddenly giggled and said sweetly, "Are you missing your brother-in-law?"
"You little devil, don't talk nonsense. Why would I miss him?" Xue Piaopiao blushed slightly and spat.
"Sister, how is Brother Hua doing now? I heard he's coming here soon," Xue Youyou said softly.
"Ah, I'm not sure. He shouldn't be coming so soon, right?" A hint of panic flashed across Xue Piaopiao's face, but it didn't escape Xue Youyou's eyes.
"Sister, you rarely played chess before. Since you got married, you've never left your husband's side," Xue Youyou said softly. "If you came to keep me company because you were worried I'd be bored, I'd be really happy. But why did you lie to me?"
"Youyou, I..." Xue Piaopiao's face became very unnatural.
"Sister, if I'm not mistaken, Father and Brother-in-law aren't here anymore, are they?" Xue Youyou interrupted Xue Piaopiao, asking softly.
Xue Piaopiao looked guilty, wanting to say something, but ultimately found herself unable to utter a word.
Xue Youyou looked at Xue Piaopiao, a hint of unfamiliarity in her eyes. After a moment of stunned silence, she began packing her things, and soon a delicate bundle was slung over her back.
"Youyou, where are you going?" Xue Piaopiao's voice was somewhat urgent; judging from Xue Youyou's posture, she was about to leave.
“Since none of you want Brother Hua to see me, I naturally have no choice but to go find him.” Xue Youyou slowly glanced around the room, her eyes filled with a hint of longing, then resolutely turned around and slowly stepped out of the place where she had lived for sixteen years.
“Youyou, you can’t leave! You… you have to wait for Father to come back!” Xue Piaopiao was a little anxious and hurriedly chased after her, trying to stop Xue Youyou.
“Sister, you should know that if I decide to leave, Father can’t stop me.” Xue Youyou didn’t turn her head, her tone seemingly devoid of any emotion. Xue Piaopiao’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, staring blankly as Xue Youyou disappeared from her sight.
*** *** ***
“Second Senior Sister, would you like to go first?” Hua Ruoxu looked at Hua Yufeng beside him and said softly. He believed that if Hua Yufeng left now, no one would stop her.
“Alright.” Hua Yufeng was about to refuse, but suddenly changed her mind, nodded in agreement, and turned to leave slowly. Her white clothes fluttered, and her slender figure gave people an extremely fragile feeling.
Watching her retreating figure, Hua Ruoxu felt a mixture of relief and loss. Humans are strange like that; although he hoped she would leave to avoid danger, her decision to go without hesitation left him feeling uneasy.
The torches burned brighter, their light illuminating the faces of the crowd, revealing the slight tension on their expressions.
Hua Ruoxu gently raised his sword, his eyes slowly closing. He suddenly channeled his inner energy to its limit, the dazzling sword light emanating from the sword instantly suppressing the flames, transforming the fiery red night sky into a cold, silvery white. Several images flashed through his mind. He seemed to see Hua Yuluan, looking at him with distrust; he saw Xue Youyou, her former tenderness now replaced by coldness and even disgust; he also saw Feng Ping, the friend with whom he had once shared drinks, now an accomplice in his betrayal. The world changes, human relationships shift—how much helplessness there is in this world!
Hua Ruoxu flicked his wrist, and the Sword of Passion began to roam freely. Streams of sword energy spread outwards from him, raising clouds of dust and scattering sand in all directions. Everything he had endured over the past month—all his resentment, discontent, and anger—was unleashed in this single sword strike. This sword strike, Passion's Fury, unleashed
a torrent of sword energy, its power exceeding everyone's expectations. Shouts rang out in unison. Xue Mingfeng was the first to attack, followed by the other experts who unleashed their strongest moves, both for offense and self-defense.
All the torches instantly went out, the sword energy dissipated, and the open space was plunged into darkness. A slight commotion arose among the crowd; not everyone could see in the dark.
Hua Ruoxu felt a tightness in his chest, realizing he had suffered a serious injury. Although none of them had directly harmed him, resisting his sword energy had indirectly damaged his internal organs. Despite the surrounding darkness, his vision remained unaffected. He quickly glanced around and finally noticed that many people had inadvertently created gaps in the defenses by lighting torches.
"Break through to your current lower left corner." A soft voice suddenly reached his ears. Hua Ruoxu paused slightly; it was Hua Yufeng's voice.
"Quick!" Hua Yufeng urged.
Hua Ruoxu didn't hesitate any longer, quickly turning and lunging forward.
"Young Master Hua, wait!" It was Ye Wuying again. She seemed to have been watching his movements closely. Seeing him spring into action, she also leaped forward, trying to block his path.
"Since Miss Ye enjoys fighting so much, then I'll keep you company." Hua Yufeng's gentle voice reached Ye Wuying's ears. Before the words were even finished, she had already blocked her way.
"Second Miss Hua, why do you have to be an accomplice to evil?" Ye Wuying sighed.
"Whether I'm aiding and abetting evil, I think I know better than you. But Miss Ye, you don't realize you're becoming a tool for some people," Hua Yufeng said with a slight smile, glancing at Hua Ruoxu. Seeing he was outside, she felt much relieved.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu rushed out, but turning back, he saw Hua Yufeng and Ye Wuying entangled. In a panic, he turned to go back.
"Are you really trying to die?" A hand suddenly grabbed him. "Go!" The hand pulled him away, the force so strong that Hua Ruoxu was momentarily unable to move.
"Miss Hua, I can't leave Second Senior Sister alone there." After running for about two miles, Hua Ruoxu finally stopped.
"Even in your normal state, you're no match for so many people, let alone now that you're injured. What's the difference between going back now and dying?" Hua Feimeng said irritably.
"But I can't abandon Second Senior Sister." Hua Ruoxu knew Hua Feimeng was right, but now that Hua Yufeng had deliberately helped him escape, it was hard to guarantee they wouldn't turn against Hua Yufeng.
"She'll be alright, how could you be so stupid?" Hua Feimeng looked at him with exasperation, then suddenly pointed a finger hard at Hua Ruoxu's pressure point, causing him to fall to the ground. Hua Ruoxu was caught off guard and immediately fell to the ground. Hua Feimeng quickly caught him, hesitated for a moment, then picked him up and sped away.

Volume 4 Sword Dance Chapter 5 Sword Appears at Dawn (Part 1)

When Hua Ruoxu opened his eyes, it was still pitch black. He looked around and found himself in a cave. The cave was very clean, as if it had just been cleaned. Hua Feimeng placed him on a pile of dry grass, while Hua Feimeng sat sideways to him not far away, poking at the fire. Her face was still covered with a veil, so her expression could not be seen.
"Miss Hua." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, sat up, and called out to her.
"Hua Yufeng will definitely be alright, you don't need to worry. If you had gone back just now, you might have ended up harming her." Hua Feimeng seemed to have known he was awake all along, and without turning her head, she explained her earlier actions.
"I understand Miss Hua's good intentions." Hua Ruoxu slowly stood up, took a few steps to the cave entrance, and looked outside. The continuous mountain peaks were shrouded in night mist, appearing ethereal and indistinct.
"This is a very remote mountainous area. I believe they won't be able to find this place for now. You should heal your injuries first, and then we can make further plans." A faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils from beside him, and a clear yet gentle voice sounded beside him. Hua Feimeng also came to the cave entrance and stood beside him.
Hua Ruoxu turned his head slightly, staring intently into Hua Feimeng's eyes, as if trying to discern something, but he found nothing. Her eyes were crystal clear, without a trace of impurity or emotion.
"Miss Hua, why did you help me?" Hua Ruoxu finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been lingering in his heart for some time.
"I'm helping myself." Hua Feimeng remained silent for a long time before softly uttering a few words, which only confused Hua Ruoxu more.
"I am foolish and do not understand Miss Hua's meaning." Hua Ruoxu sighed.
"If I were to say that I actually came to kill you, would you believe me?" Hua Feimeng suddenly said coldly.
"If Miss Hua wanted to kill me, you had many opportunities to do so just now." Hua Ruoxu's voice was somewhat helpless. Hua Feimeng was truly unpredictable. She had clearly saved him, yet she claimed to have come to kill him.
"Believe it or not, the truth is that I originally came to kill you." Hua Feimeng said calmly.
"It seems I, Hua Ruoxu, have truly failed as a person. Youyou deliberately framed me, my senior sister didn't believe me, and my friends, who could have cleared my name, refused to help me. Now, I've finally met my second senior sister who's willing to believe me, and Miss Hua is here to help me. I thought I was lucky, but the person who helped me tells me she's here to kill me." Hua Ruoxu's tone was bitter, helpless, and somewhat weary.
"Hua Yufeng believes you because she loves you." Hua Feimeng's cold words startled Hua Ruoxu.
"Miss Hua, you've misunderstood. How could my second senior sister..." Hua Ruoxu looked somewhat embarrassed, but her heart inexplicably pounded.
"Whether Hua Yufeng loves you or not, you can think about it yourself. I'm not that interested," Hua Feimeng interrupted him, continuing, "As for why I helped you, it's simply because I originally wanted to kill you with my own hands!" Hua Feimeng's tone remained unchanged when she spoke of killing, even though she was the one who wanted to kill, and the person she wanted to kill was right next to her. It sounded as if she was telling a story unrelated to the two of them.
Hua Ruoxu didn't know what else to say, his face showing only a bitter smile and helplessness.
"I want you to tell me the whole story about you and Xue Youyou yourself." Hua Feimeng's tone suddenly became serious, her beautiful eyes fixed on his face.
"Does Miss Hua really want to know?" Hua Ruoxu looked at Hua Feimeng strangely. She kept saying she wanted to kill him, but so far, she hadn't made any move.
"Some things may not be important to you, but they are very important to me. Just consider it a thank you for saving you once, and tell me the whole story." Hua Feimeng said slowly, her tone no longer as calm as before.
"It's good to talk about it; I've kept these things to myself for a long time." Hua Ruoxu pondered for a moment, then sighed softly and began to slowly recount everything between him and Xue Youyou. Hua Feimeng listened quietly beside him, very attentively, seemingly not wanting to miss a single detail.
"You mean that jade flute was a token of love you gave to Xue Youyou?" Half an hour had passed since he finished recounting the events. After a moment of silence, Hua Feimeng suddenly asked.
"No, but you could call it that." Hua Ruoxu shook his head and then nodded, and then recounted the whole story of the jade flute.
"So, do you hate Xue Youyou and Feng Ping now?" Hua Feimeng's tone seemed much gentler.
"I wouldn't say I hate her. As for Youyou, I just can't understand why she did what she did. No matter what, it has greatly damaged her reputation. And although I only spent a short time with her, I always felt that she shouldn't be this kind of person. Maybe I'm just not experienced enough; there are still many things I find hard to understand." Hua Ruoxu shook her head and said, "Brother Feng was originally a prodigal son, but a prodigal son is no longer a prodigal son after he gets married. Therefore, he is no longer the Feng Ping he used to be. I don't need to hate him. Perhaps he had his own unavoidable difficulties."
"Human nature is greedy. If you didn't have the Sword of Love, none of this would have happened." Hua Feimeng remained silent for a long time before speaking softly.
"Some say fame, fortune, money, and martial arts are temptations that martial artists find hard to resist. These past few days, I've truly experienced it," Hua Ruoxu said with a helpless smile. "These past few days, I've understood many things, but there are also many things I can't understand. Because I know some people aren't after my sword of love. Like Youyou, if she wanted it, she had many opportunities to take it. And you, Miss Hua, perhaps I believe you came to kill me, but I certainly don't believe you're after the sword of love." "
Don't worry, I won't kill you," Hua Feimeng said leisurely.
Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback. This was truly the so-called unfathomable heart of a woman, changing in an instant.
"What are you going to do now?" Hua Feimeng asked softly, turning her face slightly.
Hua Ruoxu didn't answer. He looked up; the sky was slowly revealing the dawn, that ray of light proclaiming the arrival of daybreak.

Volume Four, Sword Dance, Chapter Five: The Sword Appears at Dawn (Part Two)

"Your injuries seem to have healed?" Hua Feimeng suddenly looked at Hua Ruoxu and said with some surprise. In just a few short hours, Hua Ruoxu seemed to have recovered completely, and she couldn't help but begin to doubt her own judgment.
Hua Ruoxu nodded. His injuries weren't particularly serious to begin with, and with his special physique and the help of the Love Sword, he had healed quickly.
"So where are you planning to go now?" Hua Feimeng asked softly, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Hua Ruoxu fell silent again. Where should he go? Or where did he want to go? He truly didn't know.
"I've always been on Mount Hua, and I never thought about leaving now." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Some say a true man should establish merit and serve his country, but the world is peaceful now. I didn't know martial arts before, so naturally I never thought of roaming the martial world, upholding justice, and eliminating evil. Although I've mostly studied literature since childhood, I come from a martial arts family, so it's impossible for me to take the imperial examinations, especially since I have no interest in them. Now I really don't know what I should do."
"Now you have superb martial arts skills that many people envy, and many people learn martial arts to make a name for themselves in the martial world and gain a foothold. Haven't you thought about that? And what men like to pursue most are nothing more than a few things: money, beautiful women, and power. Which one do you want to pursue?" Hua Feimeng asked softly.
"Fame? I'm quite famous now. Who doesn't know the notorious womanizer Hua Ruoxu?" Hua Ruoxu chuckled, his tone normal, without any self-pity. "I still need money, but enough to live on. As for power, I have no interest in it."
"So you're just pursuing beautiful women?" Hua Feimeng's tone was slightly annoyed.
"Not really." Hua Ruoxu shook his head, a slight embarrassment on his face, because the mention of beautiful women involuntarily conjured up several lovely figures in his mind. "It's just that what I can't let go of right now is love, but I won't deliberately pursue beautiful women. I'll only pursue people I like." "Like Hua
Yuluan?" Hua Feimeng asked.
Hua Ruoxu didn't answer, but he didn't deny it either.
"So are you planning to go back to Mount Hua now?" Hua Feimeng asked after a long pause.
"I should go back, but I must first find out if Second Senior Sister was alright last night," Hua Ruoxu nodded. He'd been away for so many days. He'd said he'd return once he found Jiang Qingyue, and although he couldn't bring her with him, he'd at least seen her. Moreover, after wandering for so long, he'd begun to miss the warmth of home and longed for Hua Yuluan even more. Although she might misunderstand him now, he felt he should at least explain things to her in person.
*** *** ***
The martial world was in turmoil. Just last night, another major event shocked the martial world. While the elite forces of the four great families had come out to besiege Hua Ruoxu, their homes had suffered a fatal blow from the Demon Palace. Piaoxue Manor was reduced to ashes, countless people were killed or wounded, and Xue Piaopiao and Xue Youyou were nowhere to be found, dead or alive. The situation was similar for the other three great families.
Hua Feimeng's face showed worry, because she had just heard this news.
"Ruoxu," Hua Feimeng suddenly called softly. Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback, feeling a little uncomfortable with her address. From last night until today, Hua Feimeng had never called him by his name directly, always addressing him with "you, you, you.
" "Miss Hua, don't be sad. Your father and the others aren't home; they should be alright," Hua Ruoxu said after thinking for a moment. The attack on the four great families might be a good thing for him, but he didn't feel any schadenfreude. As for Hua Feimeng, he didn't know how to deal with her. As the eldest daughter of the Hua family, her father and younger brother were among those hunting Hua Ruoxu, while she secretly helped him without ever revealing a reason.
"I've already inquired. Hua Yufeng has left safely and should be on her way back to Mount Hua. However, there are rumors that the Demon Palace attacked the four great families because of you, and some even say that you are actually a member of the Demon Palace. So you need to be careful." Hua Feimeng's tone became much gentler, although a trace of coldness remained. There was also something strange in her eyes as she looked at Hua Ruoxu.
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Hua. I'll be fine," Hua Ruoxu said sincerely. He could clearly feel Hua Feimeng's concern, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. It felt so good to be cared for.
The two didn't speak again and walked slowly side by side through Xiangyang City. A handsome young man with an elegant demeanor and a girl whose beauty was undiminished even though she was masked were naturally eye-catching walking down the street. However, Hua Ruoxu wasn't afraid of attracting attention, and Hua Feimeng didn't seem worried about people knowing about their close relationship.
Suddenly, the two stopped. Someone appeared in front of them, blocking their way.
"Brother Feng, we meet again so soon." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly. Feng Ping looked very haggard, much more haggard than yesterday.
"Brother Hua, you must help me. I know I've wronged you, but you must help me this time!" Feng Ping grabbed Hua Ruoxu's hand and said urgently.
"Brother Feng, is there anything else I can do to help you?" Hua Ruoxu couldn't help but smile bitterly, feeling somewhat bewildered.
"You must save Piaopiao! Only you can save her! You must help me! I'll do anything you ask!" Feng Ping seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
"Brother Feng, please explain what's wrong first. If I can help, I definitely will." A sudden wave of sorrow washed over Hua Ruoxu. Was this still the Feng Ping he used to know?
Hua Feimeng sighed inwardly; the word "love" had truly caused so much suffering.
Receiving Hua Ruoxu's affirmative answer, Feng Ping calmed down considerably and began to explain the situation. It turned out that Xue Piaopiao had fallen into Su Dai'er's hands, and her request was simple: if Hua Ruoxu personally went to retrieve her, she would release Xue Piaopiao safely.
"Youyou is also missing; she's probably in Su Dai'er's hands too," Feng Ping added at the end.
"Once you go, I'm afraid you won't be able to clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River," Hua Feimeng sighed softly.
"Those things are no longer important. I don't care about other people's opinions anymore. I'll just do what I should do," Hua Ruoxu said with a slight smile, looking at Hua Feimeng.

PS: I secretly wrote a little while the boss was out for dinner, oops... I'm not sure if I can update tonight...

Volume 4 Sword Dance Chapter 6 Kunlun Sword Couple

Hua Ruoxu walked slowly through Xiangyang City. Hua Feimeng had already left.
Feng Ping didn't tell Hua Ruoxu where Su Dai'er was because Feng Ping didn't know at all. Su Dai'er only told him that she was in Xiangyang City, and Hua Ruoxu would know where she was. However, in reality, Hua Ruoxu didn't know at all and could only wander around the city, trying his luck.
The melodious sound of a zither suddenly drifted over; it was Dai'er's song.
Following the sound, he came to a large mansion. The mansion was large, but somewhat desolate and dilapidated. There was no one at the door. Hua Ruoxu hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. Passing through the main hall and entering the inner room, a young woman in white was playing the zither with her head bowed. Her captivating figure was still so familiar; it was Su Dai'er.
Hua Ruoxu was slightly lost in thought. From the first day he saw Su Dai'er, he had a misconception in his heart. He had always believed that she was not the feared Demon Palace Master of the martial world, but simply a beautiful and delicate young woman. Even now, though he fully understood her identity, he still felt an inexplicable resistance in his heart.
"Brother Ruoxu." A soft, gentle voice whispered in Hua Ruoxu's ear. Hua Ruoxu awoke with a start. He didn't know when Su Dai'er had stopped playing and was now beside him.
Hua Ruoxu took a deep breath. The past month of fleeing had made him exceptionally alert, constantly on guard. However, in Su Dai'er's presence, all of that vanished. Perhaps, deep down, he had never felt that Su Dai'er would harm him.
"Dai'er, it's been so long. How are you?" Hua Ruoxu sighed softly and asked gently.
"Brother Ruoxu, come play chess with me." Su Dai'er smiled radiantly, her beauty even more breathtaking. Hua Ruoxu let her take his hand and followed her to her boudoir.
Liu Yun Feixu was already waiting inside, and the chessboard was ready.
"Dai'er, will you release Xue Piaopiao?" Hua Ruoxu sighed.
"Young Master, Xue Piaopiao has already gone back," Liu Yun said sweetly from the side.
"Brother Ruoxu, can you please concentrate? You're about to lose!" Su Dai'er complained, her tone slightly coquettish. Hua Ruoxu smiled wryly; his game was indeed doomed. If Su Dai'er placed her black piece, he would lose the entire game.
However, Su Dai'er held onto her piece, hesitant to make a move. At that moment, her beautiful eyes gazed at Hua Ruoxu with deep tenderness, almost dreaming.
"Brother Ruoxu, do you remember the first time we played chess?" Su Dai'er asked softly.
Hua Ruoxu nodded gently; of course he remembered.
"Brother Ruoxu, you must remember, no matter what, the door here with Dai'er will always be open for you." The piece finally landed softly, but in a different spot.
"Dai'er, actually, I wish you were just Su Dai'er." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly and slowly stood up.
"Brother Ruoxu, some things are destined, but Dai'er will always be your Dai'er, do you understand?" Su Dai'er slowly nestled against him. Her
soft, delicate body was in his arms, and a faint fragrance filled his nostrils. Hua Ruoxu gently embraced Su Dai'er, but a strange sadness welled up inside him. He finally understood that Su Dai'er would always be the Demon Palace Master. She might do many things for him, but she wouldn't change anything for him.
"Dai'er, I should go." Hua Ruoxu gently pushed her away and said softly.
"Can you go tomorrow?" Su Dai'er looked at him with resentful eyes, her voice filled with reluctance. "Once you return to Mount Hua, Dai'er doesn't know when she'll see you again."
"If fate allows, we'll meet again." Hua Ruoxu forced a smile, turned around, and began to move outside.
"Dai'er, have you seen Youyou?" Reaching the door, Hua Ruoxu suddenly turned around. Su Dai'er's heart leaped with joy, but upon hearing his words, her expression immediately turned somber.
"When we went to Snowdrift Manor, she was no longer there," Su Dai'er said softly.
Watching Hua Ruoxu leave, a faint sense of loss welled up in Su Dai'er's heart.
"Miss, why did you let him go like that?" Liu Yun couldn't help but ask again.
"One day, he'll be reluctant to leave," Su Dai'er said calmly.
*** *** ***
Because Snowdrift Manor had been reduced to ashes, the four great families had to book the largest inn in Xiangyang City. Although the Xue family's manor was destroyed, most of their wealth remained. In fact, none of the four great families suffered fatal damage in this attack; their strength was preserved.
Now, the most worried was Xue Mingfeng, because both of his daughters were missing, and Xue Piaopiao was now certain to be in the hands of the Demon Palace. A girl in the Demon Palace's hands—no one could predict what would happen to her. Su Dai'er clearly stated that Hua Ruoxu should go and demand her return, but where could they find Hua Ruoxu now? Even if they found him, Hua Ruoxu might not come, and even if he did, he would probably demand an exorbitant price.
"Master, Miss is back!" Just as Xue Mingfeng was feeling uneasy, someone came in to report, and Xue Piaopiao appeared in everyone's sight.
Seeing his wife appear, Feng Ping suddenly realized that he didn't feel the joy he should have. He wanted to rush over, but he stood there blankly, watching Xue Piaopiao complaining in Feng Yunpiao's arms.
"Piaopiao, why would Su Daier suddenly be so kind as to let you go?" Xue Mingfeng looked at his daughter with a serious expression.
"I heard from the maid next to Su Daier that her young master asked her to let you go." Xue Piaopiao thought for a moment and said.
"Her young master?" Xue Mingfeng looked puzzled. "Did she say who it was?"
"I asked too, but she didn't tell me. I just saw someone when I came out of there." Xue Piaopiao shook her head and said.
"I saw Hua Ruoxu." Seeing that everyone's eyes seemed to be on her, Xue Piaopiao continued.
"It really is him. It seems that he really is from the Demon Palace." Xue Mingfeng said hatefully.
"He only went there to save Miss Xue. Doesn't it seem a bit hasty for Master Xue to assume he's from the Demon Palace?" A cold voice rang out. A woman veiled in black, Hua Feimeng gracefully entered.
"Meng'er, don't talk nonsense. Come here quickly, I was just about to ask you where you've been these past two days," Hua Cuo said softly. "Father, I'm not lying. Su Dai'er made it very clear that to save Miss Xue, Ruoxu had to go to her. Now he's gone and brought Miss Xue back, yet you're all here suspecting he's from the Demon Palace. Don't you feel any shame?" Hua Feimeng wasn't afraid of Hua Cuo, coldly staring at everyone, then at Feng Ping, "Great Hero Feng, don't you feel any guilt?"
" Little Meng'er, so many years have passed, and you still seem unchanged, still so impulsive." A gentle and magnetic voice came in, and Hua Feimeng suddenly turned around, looking at the door, her delicate body trembling slightly. At the door stood a man and a woman in their thirties. The man, dressed in a blue scholar's robe, had a handsome face, striking features, and an extraordinary air about him. The woman, in a light yellow dress, was beautiful but not stunning, yet exuded an air of elegance and nobility that was particularly captivating. Hua Feimeng's lips moved slightly, but she didn't speak. Suddenly, she vanished from the doorway in a flash. Hua Feimeng ran frantically, only to bump into someone's arms. She raised her hand to strike. "Miss Hua, it's me. What's wrong?" Hua Ruoxu's voice rang in her ears. Hua Feimeng quickly withdrew her power, but instead wrapped her arms around Hua Ruoxu's neck, burying her head in his chest, unwilling to let go. Hua Ruoxu felt her trembling body and was puzzled. Hua Feimeng usually seemed so calm; what had made her like this? "What happened?" Hua Ruoxu asked softly, but Hua Feimeng still didn't respond. As the crowd grew larger, Hua Ruoxu sensed something was wrong. He gritted his teeth, picked up Hua Feimeng, and vanished from the crowd in a faint shadow. Hua Feimeng gradually calmed down; Hua Ruoxu's embrace made her feel at peace. "You can put me down now," Hua Feimeng said softly, her voice slightly shy.

"If you could, please tell me what happened. Perhaps I can help you." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, and the two stood quietly. They were outside the city, in a vast open field, which naturally broadened one's mind.

"I've worn a veil since I was ten years old, so almost no one knows my true face. Later, some people even spread rumors that I looked like an ugly monster," Hua Feimeng said softly.
"When I was fourteen, I met someone. He was highly skilled in martial arts, very handsome, and had a refined demeanor. At that time, he was twenty years old and already quite famous in the martial arts world. He was known as the 'Azure-Clad Divine Sword' because he always wore a blue scholar's robe, and his swordsmanship was outstanding. Among his peers in the martial arts world at that time, no one was his match." Hua Feimeng began to recall those distant years, and her voice seemed to come from the distant sky, ethereal and uncertain.
“From that time on, I secretly followed him. Later, he got to know me too. He always kept his face covered, seemingly very curious about me. Gradually, we became familiar with each other. Eventually, I realized I couldn't live without him. I was already eighteen then.” Hua Feimeng's tone slowly turned somewhat melancholic. “He told me that his master was arranging his marriage, and he also said he liked me. So I asked him to come to my house to propose. He went, then came back. He didn't propose, but he wanted me to take off my veil so he could see me. I told him that I would naturally let him see me when we got married. But he disagreed. Later, he left. Then, I heard that he had already married his junior sister.”
“So many years have passed, I had almost forgotten him, but I just saw him again. I don't know what to do. I only know that I should leave first; I don't want to see him.” Hua Feimeng said softly, “Actually, I already know why he left back then. I heard he inquired about me and heard that I was very ugly, so he regretted it.”
“Sometimes, I really can’t understand. Is a woman’s appearance really the most important thing? Ruoxu, tell me, do men only like a woman’s beauty?” Hua Feimeng asked, looking at Hua Ruoxu.
“A woman’s appearance may be important,” Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, “but one thing I’m sure of is that a woman’s most important thing is definitely not her appearance. But why didn’t you let him see you in the first place?”
“If he really only wanted to marry me because of my appearance, why would I have married him?” Hua Feimeng shook her head and said, “Although he married someone else, I don’t regret it. I’m just not used to it today.”
Hua Ruoxu remained silent. Hua Feimeng’s words seemed to be right, but he still felt that something was wrong. To think that a man would marry a woman without ever seeing her true face seemed to be putting him in a difficult position. But then again, if he had truly fallen in love with her, it seemed that he shouldn’t have cared so much. In that sense, Hua Feimeng wasn’t wrong. Hua Ruoxu felt a little confused and shook his head, deciding it was better not to think about it anymore.
"Ruoxu, look at me." Hua Feimeng's voice suddenly became incredibly gentle. Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback and turned to look at her.
Hua Feimeng gently removed her veil. Her face, pale from lack of sunlight, only enhanced her ethereal beauty. Although this wasn't the first time he had seen her face, it still deeply moved him.
"From now on, I won't wear a veil anymore. This is for you," Hua Feimeng said softly, her eyes shimmering with a special emotion. Hua Ruoxu felt a jolt in his heart and slowly reached out to take the veil. "Miss
Hua, I..." Hua Ruoxu was momentarily speechless.
"Call me Meng'er from now on." Hua Feimeng smiled radiantly, adding beauty to the world.
"Let's go to the Xiangyang Inn. They're all there." Hua Feimeng grabbed Hua Ruoxu's hand, who was still in a daze.
"Hua..." Hua Ruoxu was interrupted after only two words.
"I said call me Meng'er." Hua Feimeng glared at him, somewhat displeased.
"Alright, Meng'er, let me think about it, okay?" Hua Ruoxu sighed, caught off guard by Hua Feimeng's attitude.
Hua Feimeng glanced at him, somewhat annoyed, and silently nodded. Hua Ruoxu's mind was in turmoil. He finally understood why Hua Feimeng had helped him—a reason so simple, yet one he had never considered before.

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