[Fantasy] The Harem is in Chaos (Complete) - 12

Chapter 50, I Miss You So Much...

In the Longhua Hall of the Eastern Palace of Sheng Yang,

Jinlu stood at the window, his long silver brocade robe with hidden dragon patterns trailing to the ground, its brilliance like a sliver of moonlight against the heavy backdrop of red walls and green tiles.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his spine straight, clearly angered by Su Yingge.

Li Shi stood behind him, and after a long pause, heard him ask, "How did he explain the death of Green Robe?"

Li Shi replied, "He said it would be more believable this way."

"Hmph! More satisfying, isn't it? This scoundrel, he's getting more and more lawless!" Jinlu said

angrily. Li Shi remained silent.

After a moment, Jinlu sighed and said, "Fine, arrange it, spread the news."

Li Shi accepted the order and then said, "Your Highness, he said Miss Qin's injuries have almost healed and she no longer needs his care. Could he please return to Tianyi Island first?"

"Order him to bring Liyue back to Tianyi Island." Mentioning Liyue, Jinlu felt a headache coming on. This girl is such a troublemaker! He was only distracted for a moment, and she ran off to the Holy Realm and almost lost her life. He really couldn't bear to let her wander the martial world alone any longer.

"Your Highness, Qu Liushang is still on Tianyi Island," Li Shi reminded him from the side.

Jinlu smiled and said, "It's alright. Didn't one of the Murong clan escape back alive that night? I'm sure he knows who killed their third leader."

"Then Miss Liyue might be in danger," Li Shi said.

Jinlu turned around, her eyes gleaming, and said, "Therefore, have Su Yingge take her back and keep a close watch on her. If the entire Cao Gang can't protect even one person, then they have little value."

Li Shi accepted the order again.

"There are two things you need to arrange immediately. First, the news that the key to the Heavenly Treasure Box is in Huangfu Jue's hands will soon spread throughout the Three Kingdoms. If Yan Huang isn't a vulgar fool who's just waiting to die, he should send his men to Zhuwu Gate to investigate. Transfer our people stationed in Yong'an (the capital of Dongyi) to Zhuwu Gate to lie in wait.

Second, if nothing unexpected happens, Jin Wei will likely use the name of the Heavenly Sacred Palace to negotiate with the Western Wu court regarding the return of the key. When he returns, send a few people to assassinate him on the way. Remember, don't kill him, just wound him. Crucially, leave some clues to draw his attention to me," Jin Lu instructed methodically.

Upon hearing this, Li Shi hesitated, "Your Highness, isn't it too hasty to arouse his suspicion now?"

"I think the timing is perfect. If the conflict doesn't escalate, how can those hiding in the water surface? I can't wait to know just how large his camp is." Jin Lü's dark eyes narrowed slightly, her cold gaze like the winter wind, freezing everything in its wake.

*

On the banks of the Jiaye River, in a small town, at a small inn.

Night. Li Yue sat in a large, steaming bathtub, her delicate arms resting on the rim, her face flushed from the heat, her eyes closed in deep thought.

Five days had passed since the attack on the river. She, Huangfu Jue, and Su Yingge had gone ashore, expecting Guan Du and the others to find them soon, but they were nowhere to be seen. Huangfu Jue was more agitated than ever before.

She understood; these past few days, wherever they went, they saw groups of people whispering, the content always the same: "Hey, have you heard?" The key to the treasure box containing the king's prophecy from Tian Sheng Palace has fallen into the hands of Xi Wang of Xi Wu. Tian Sheng Palace sent people to retrieve it, but they were all killed on the Jia Ye River to silence them, their corpses floating all over the river! Tsk, arrogant, too arrogant…

Li Yue had thought about this more than once. Since that damn key was lost, those who had spared no effort in searching for it could only be one of three types of people: first, the owner, naturally, the people of Tian Sheng Palace; second, someone with immense power and the ability to conquer the world; and third, their lackeys.

Huangfu Jue didn't fit into any of these categories. Given his current situation, biding his time was the wise thing to do. Joining the war for the key would bring him no benefit.

Even if he was simple-minded and physically strong and couldn't think of this, Guan Du and Yan Ji would never watch him do something so harmful and pointless. Therefore, she was certain he had been framed.

It's unclear what deep-seated hatred the person who framed him harbored, setting up such a scheme. Whether it's true or false is irrelevant; what matters is the power of rumors and the power of public opinion. With each word, the story would become more and more believable, until the entire world was focused on Huangfu Jue.

Huangfu Jue's situation was already precarious; this plan was arguably more malicious than simply killing him.

Guan Du and Yan Ji, those two old fogies, were at a loss for how to help Huangfu Jue through this crisis… After much thought, they realized there was only one solution—find the key and hand it over.

But the people of the Three Kingdoms had searched for this key for six years without success; how could Huangfu Jue possibly find it?

After much deliberation, Li Yue was certain that Huangfu Jue was doomed this time.

Just as she was lamenting for him, the door suddenly creaked open.

Li Yue quickly shrunk into the water, then turned around to see Su Yingge casually walking in with a medicine bowl. Enraged, she snapped, "Were your hooves born to step in dog poop? Don't you even know how to knock?"

Su Yingge slammed the medicine bowl on the table, glanced at her indifferently, and then scoffed, "With your looks, even if you stripped naked and writhed in front of me for three days and three nights, I wouldn't get an erection for you." With that, she turned and walked away, as if looking at her would only taint her eyes.

Li Yue was furious and retorted loudly, "Yeah, a silkworm is a miracle anyone even notices. If it could erect an erection, how short would the sky be!"

"A silkworm?!" Su Yingge suddenly raised her voice, stopped, and turned around, one eyebrow practically flying to the sky.

Li Yue withdrew her gaze, splashing water on herself with amusement as she gloated, "Why pretend? Want to deny it? Then show me!"

"You dare to look?" Su Yingge glared at her.

"If you dare to show me, I dare to look!" Li Yue glared back at him.

Su Yingge stood by the door, her chest heaving with anger. This damned woman, she actually dared to call him a silkworm! Really... ah! No, I'm so angry! That Jin Lu even wanted him to take her back to Tianyi Island to keep her under control, he wished he could just drown her in the bathtub!

Hmm? Keep her under control?

Thinking of those two words, Su Yingge's anger, which was almost boiling over, came back to life.

This damned woman was so difficult to deal with, so restless, keeping her under control would be difficult without some drastic measures.

Jin Lu didn't seem to have said how to keep her under control, did he? Hmm, he didn't say!

He started fantasizing about 108 ways to "keep an eye on" her, and his mood gradually improved. He tossed out a remark, "You wish!" and slammed the door shut with a smirk.

"Pah! What's so beautiful about a silkworm! It's just a skinny, dark thing!" Li Yue spat at his retreating back. Disturbed by

his outburst, she lost all interest in bathing. She dressed quickly, ignoring the medicine he had left on the table, and went to knock on Huangfu Jue's door.

Huangfu Jue was indeed sitting sullenly in his room, looking dejected.

"Guandu and the others can't help you forever. When faced with a problem, you must first remain calm and strong to find a solution," Li Yue said, tossing the Crown Prince's token to him as she entered, leaning against the doorframe.

Huangfu Jue caught it, glanced at it, and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Nanfo is not a place for you to stay long. Go back to Xiwu immediately," Li Yue said.

Huangfu Jue thought for a moment, and agreed. Guan Du and Yan Ji hadn't been seen yet, so something must have happened. He should return to Zhu Wu Gate as soon as possible to find out what was going on and discuss how to deal with the situation with his advisors.

"This..." He held up the golden token in his hand.

"That's the Crown Prince's token made of gold thread. It might not be completely effective, but it's not entirely useless either. Take it with you; it might help you on your journey," Li Yue said casually. Huangfu Jue nodded.

He was already anxious, and after making up his mind, he immediately walked towards the door.

Li Yue followed him into the corridor, but just as they reached the top of the stairs, he suddenly turned back.

The window on the other side of the corridor was open, and he stood facing the wind. His silver-purple robes and long, black hair fluttered gracefully in the dark evening light, and his face, illuminated by the lamplight, was vivid and striking. His figure and charm were worthy of a painting.

"Thank you," he said in an unaccustomed tone.

In the old, rustic corridor, amidst the flickering light and shadow, a young girl smiled radiantly, her face as beautiful as a flower, and said, "You're welcome, have a safe journey."

Huangfu Jue's heart skipped a beat, inexplicably yet clearly.

He hurriedly turned his face away and went downstairs.

*

After seeing Huangfu Jue off, Li Yue planned to go to the town where she had first met Fu Hongsha to pick up Tan Lang, and then go to Tianyi Island to see Liu Shang Xiao Guai.

Su Yingge, for some unknown reason, insisted on traveling with her.

Li Yue couldn't get rid of him, so the two maintained their fixed pattern of arguing three times a day, having countless minor arguments, occasionally exchanging insults, contempt, and spitting at each other, but never actually fighting, as they traveled together.

Li Yue was recovering from a serious injury, and later refused to take the medicine provided by the sharp-tongued man, so her recovery speed was slow.

She wasn't in a hurry to travel, walking slowly along the way, and since the snow, she walked even slower.

Su Yingge was incredibly impatient with Li Yue's snail-paced pace, like strolling through snow to admire plum blossoms. One day, he took advantage of her unpreparedness, drugged her, and dragged her along.

When Li Yue woke up, she said nothing, obediently almost eerily so.

In the middle of the night, Su Yingge was sound asleep when he was suddenly awakened by a loud banging on the door.

Annoyed, he got up and opened the door, only to find no one there.

From then on, it was the same every night.

Su Yingge felt like he was going crazy!

So, he never objected to Li Yue's snail-paced pace again.

One day, the two finally arrived at the town where they had abandoned Tan Lang. Entering Maple Forest Evening Inn, the innkeeper immediately greeted them with a beaming smile, saying that Tan Lang was enjoying himself upstairs.

Li Yue, eager to see how Tan Lang had been doing after more than a month, immediately followed the innkeeper upstairs.

Pushing open the door to room number one, Li Yue opened her mouth to call out, but when she saw the scene inside, she swallowed the words that were about to come out.

But there she saw her beloved dog, Tanlang, straddling the back of a small white female dog, his front paws wrapped around her waist, poised to enter.

Hearing the door open, Tanlang's eyes turned cold, his expression one of displeasure at being interrupted. But when he saw Liyue, his gaze flickered.

Liyue reached out and closed the door for him, saying, "Tanlang, it's alright, continue. I'll wait for you downstairs."

Turning to the shopkeeper, she whispered, "Is it bad taste or did you do it on purpose? Hmm? This female dog is so ugly, with black fur on her face." The shopkeeper was speechless.

Su Yingge, standing nearby, said coolly, "Anyway, it's a rear-entry position, you can't see her face, as long as she has a good figure. You should peek through the crack in the door and learn properly. If some man is starving for eight hundred years and pounces on you, he'll probably use this position. But, with your figure… he might just blindfold himself."

Liyue gritted her teeth, looking like she wanted to bite someone . However, when she turned to face Su Yingge, she wore a gentle smile, her eyes crinkling as she looked at him and said, "So experienced, you must often be attacked by the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden in this position. Compared to him, your looks... cough, okay, I misspoke, what looks do you have to speak of?"

Su Yingge's expression changed, and Li Yue hurriedly jumped back, tilting her head back and saying, "What? Trying to spit again?"

Not wanting to be watched by others, Su Yingge forced herself to compose herself and scoffed, "I'm afraid of dirtying my mouth!"

Li Yue laughed heartily, "So your mouth can be even dirtier? Tsk, truly, my life is finite, but your mouth is infinitely dirty!"

Su Yingge immediately bristled!

Li Yue turned around nonchalantly and said to the shopkeeper, "Prepare a carriage for me. I want to take that little bitch with me."

The shopkeeper, who had been annoyed by their argument, looked up and asked, "Just this one?"

Li Yue scratched her head, "Is there more than just this one?"

The shopkeeper shut his mouth and silently walked to the other door, pushing it open.

Li Yue stood before the door, and one glance was enough to make her eyes widen and her mouth gape.

A whole room full of bitches! She couldn't even make out how many there were at a glance.

"These... these are all the ones it's been with?" Li Yue asked the shopkeeper, sweating profusely.

The shopkeeper nodded with absolute certainty, saying, "All the bitches in the city are here."

Covering her mouth with her hand, she counted them one by one—a total of fifty-seven, plus the one currently being pampered, making a total of fifty-eight.

She counted on her fingers, calculating the days since she left, and realized that Tan Lang had been pampering an average of 1.5 bitches a day.

"Tsk, my Tanlang's abilities... are truly impressive! In just one month, he not only built his own harem but also managed to distribute his favors evenly. Just imagine how spectacular it would be if every single one of these bastards in the city bore the surname Tan!" Li Yue exclaimed proudly.

A cold snort came from beside her ear, and she heard the sharp-tongued voice say sarcastically, "Then these half-brothers will have incestuous relationships, producing a city full of idiots, all bearing your surname Qin!"

Li Yue gritted her teeth, turned around, and barked at Su Yingge, "Can't you shut up? You'll die!"

"If you can't shut up, why are you barking like that?" Su Yingge smiled slightly, seeing her exasperated.

Li Yue gritted her teeth, too lazy to look at this man again, and turned to go downstairs.

Behind her, Su Yingge followed closely, smiling.

"Sigh, if only I could build a harem like this someday, with someone to pour me tea, someone to cook for me, someone to earn money for me, someone to warm my bed, someone to plant flowers for me, and someone to travel with me, how wonderful that would be!" After finishing a cup of tea, Tanlang was still not done, and Liyue couldn't help but fantasize, propping her chin up.

Across from her, Su Yingge chimed in, "Breeding pigs are cheap now, you can buy a few hundred to enrich your harem."

Liyue realized that being with him was endless torture. She immediately rushed upstairs, not caring whether Tanlang was finished or not, kicked him downstairs, grabbed him, and left the inn in a carriage.

Seeing her flee in disarray, Su Yingge became even more energetic, riding her horse closely behind.

Tanlang peeked out the window, looking longingly at the small town that held so many memories for him, whimpering mournfully.

"What are you yelling about? You lecherous beast! I've never enjoyed your blessings in my life." Liyue was in a bad mood and kicked him in the butt.

Tanlang immediately quieted down, not daring to cause any trouble.

After three more days, they finally arrived at Tianyi Island.

As soon as they got off the ship, Liyue, as if she had seen a ghost, grabbed Tanlang and ran away, leaving the sarcastic man far behind.

Running all the way to the Yingge Courtyard, she saw a pale blue figure reclining under a tall, old plum tree from afar. The plum blossoms were in full bloom, yet they only accentuated his thin and lonely figure. Against the backdrop of the snow-covered landscape, his hair was as black as ink as he poured himself a drink.

He seemed preoccupied and unhappy.

After a moment's thought, Li Yue roughly guessed the crux of the problem, and her pace slowed involuntarily.

Tan Lang, however, ran over cheerfully, his paws crunching on the thick snow. The

soft sound startled Qu Liushang from his reverie. He lazily raised his eyes and was slightly taken aback when he saw the girl standing not far away watching him.

"Liushang—" Li Yue called out sweetly, leaping up and plunging towards him.

Before Qu Liushang could react, she had already opened her arms and embraced him tightly. The powerful impact caused him to lose his balance and fall backward onto the soft snow behind him. Break for a commercial break: Still relying on your hands? How can that be satisfying? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation! Maintain the feeling of ejaculation for 30 minutes, so pleasurable you'll faint. Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sex positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter.

Li Yue held his still-dazed handsome face and gave him a big kiss, then rubbed nose to nose, smiling and saying, "I missed you so much!"

Tan Lang, who arrived a step late, looked at the two who had already rolled together, blinked a few times, and then rolled on the ground in a mournful manner!

He actually used his lightness skill to cheat!

Chapter 51, Taking a bath together...

In the warm and cozy room, warm lights illuminated the elegant atmosphere, and a subtle fragrance floated in the refreshing air.

Li Yue sat at the round table in the center of the room, her fair cheeks puffed out as she ate heartily, her voice filled with sorrow: "What could I do? You just left that night, without caring about my situation... Wow, this dish of fish-eye pearls is quite good."

After taking a spoonful, she continued, "I was all alone on the island, and that sharp-tongued man kept tormenting me in various ways. Centipedes, slugs, and those man-eating maggots—they took turns putting them all over me, without any regard for my safety. If it weren't for Jin Lü, you'd see a bunch of bloody hair on me right now." As she spoke, she drank half a bowl of soup, finally feeling full.

Looking up at the man standing by the window with his back to her, she rolled her eyes and said, "Although I went to Sheng Yang with Jin Lu, nothing happened between us. I only stayed one night and then came back. I ran into Sister A Sha on the way and went to the Holy Realm with her. You can ask Sister A Sha if you don't believe me." As for how she spent that night in Sheng Yang... let's just leave it at that.

The man remained upright, showing no intention of turning around.

Li Yue wiped her mouth, slid off the stool, and said as she walked out, "Well, it seems I shouldn't have come back. Sheng Yang is more suitable for me. Jin Lu won't ask me where I went, won't be angry with me, and certainly won't give me a hard time. I think I'll just spend the winter there..."

Before she reached the door, a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her away.

Holding her tightly in his arms, Qu Liushang said sullenly, not without a hint of jealousy, "Dare? I'll break your legs."

Li Yue wrapped her arms around his waist and laughed, "Would you dare?"

Qu Liushang released her slightly, looking helplessly into her bright eyes, and said, "You only dare to be so reckless because you're certain I wouldn't?"

Li Yue retorted, "What do you mean by reckless?"

Qu Liushang said, "Then let me ask you, how did you know I was injured, and why did you go to the southern part of Nanfo to find me?"

"Uh... this..." Li Yue scratched her head.

"Don't tell me Su Yingge told you." Qu Liushang stared at her.

Li Yue lowered her head and said awkwardly, "I never intended to lie to you in the first place. I've met Ye Qianxun, and from his description, I guessed that the person he fought might be you."

"He came looking for you?" Qu Liushang's face darkened again.

"Oh dear, you slashed his neck so badly, the blood was gushing out like a waterfall. We only met briefly before he left," Li Yue said without batting an eye.

"Next time, I'll definitely kill him!" Qu Liushang said bitterly.

"No need. I have nothing to do with him anymore. You don't need to risk your life for someone unrelated." Li Yue reached out and hugged his neck.

Qu Liushang's eyes flashed, and he asked, "Why?"

"For you." Li Yue tiptoed and stole a kiss on his chin.

Qu Liushang became somewhat happy, turned around and pulled her to sit on the long table behind him, asking, "Really?"

"More real than pearls." Seeing that he believed her, Li Yue nodded hurriedly like a chicken pecking at rice.

Qu Liushang turned his head and kissed her cheek, saying, "Then I have even more reason to kill him."

A bead of sweat appeared on Li Yue's forehead. She reached out and groped him haphazardly, asking, "He was so badly injured, but you're unharmed? Let me see."

Qu Liushang blushed, grabbing her mischievous hand, and said, "I'm all better now."

"Then... I want to take a bath. Can you scrub my back?" Li Yue tilted her head, looking mischievous.

Qu Liushang: "...!"

*

Qu Liushang didn't understand. He had originally intended to scrub her back, but why did he end up scrubbing himself into the bathtub?

The already small bathtub was now crammed full with another person, water overflowing everywhere.

Li Yue's dark eyes gleamed, and she placed her hands on Qu Liushang's shoulders, squeezing him against the edge of the bathtub. Her small, soft, rosy lips, glistening with water, exhaled a sweet breath: "Little darling, this is called a 'Mandarin Duck Bath.' Is

this your first time?" Qu Liushang tilted his head back, knowing the woman straddling him was naked, so he dared not look down. His cheeks flushed red, and he said, "This tub is too small, I'd better get out first..."

"Are you disgusted with me?" Li Yue pouted, glaring at him with displeasure.

Qu Liushang quickly retorted, "No."

"Then why aren't you holding me?" Li Yue twisted her body.

Qu Liushang had actually wanted to hold her for a while, but he had been holding back for fear of appearing too eager. Since she had taken the initiative...

The woman's skin, moistened by the warm water, was as soft as cotton and as smooth as cream. Qu Liushang only touched it lightly, and his blood boiled and his heart pounded wildly.

Li Yue felt his hand bounce against her back as if it had been burned, feeling both annoyed and amused. She snuggled into his arms, her small hand sliding inside the collar of his soaked undergarment, caressing his smooth, taut muscles, and exclaimed, "Little darling, you feel so good to touch."

Qu Liushang's cheeks flushed. This woman... actually said such sentimental things, really... oh, those mischievous little hands are really tormenting!

No, he, a grown man, how could he let her tease him? He was dressed, while she was naked; he was the one who should be more embarrassed than her. Was there no justice in the world? With

that thought, he hugged her and suddenly spun around, splashing water everywhere like pearls.

Reluctant to let her delicate back rest against the hard rim of the tub, he held her slender waist, his eyes as deep as the night, and said, "You little devil, aren't you ashamed at all?"

Li Yue replied innocently, "Why should I be ashamed? It's just a bath."

Clear water droplets slid slowly down her cheeks, as rosy as peach blossoms in March. Such a simple scene, yet it made his throat inexplicably dry. Turning his gaze, he saw her pink lips and pearly white teeth.

Because of the embrace, he clearly felt two soft mounds pressing against his chest; without even looking, he knew what a captivating sight it was.

His heart pounded like a drum, his passion burned like fire, and he could no longer restrain himself. He lowered his head and easily captured her sweet little mouth so close to his.

While enduring his fiery kiss, Li Yue frantically tugged at his clothes. To be honest, she had been coveting his physique for a long time, eager to see it for herself.

The kiss was wet and intense. His breath grew heavier, and his hands loosened their grip on her waist, tracing the smooth, perfect curves upwards, captivated by the soft touch in his palms.

Li Yue's body went limp. She stopped tearing at his clothes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and returned his passionate kiss.

The atmosphere in the bathtub rose steadily, the tension of desire growing stronger and stronger between them.

Li Yue had to admit that ever since experiencing intimacy with a man, she did crave it at certain times. She didn't hide it; if she had this reaction, others must have too, so it was normal.

For example, right now, she really wanted Liu Shang to pounce on her and take her hard.

But he was obviously very patient; after kissing her lips, he moved on to her cheeks and neck, the slight tingling making her want to pounce on him immediately.

Just as the two were getting into the mood, a loud "bang" suddenly rang in their ears, followed by a gust of cold wind.

The two were startled and turned to look at each other, only to see Su Yingge standing by the door he had kicked open, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the two entwined in the bathtub. After a moment, a wicked and infuriating smile curled at the right corner of her lips, and she said without any remorse, "Tsk tsk, you can kiss so passionately while holding a pig demon, Qu Liushang, have you never seen a woman before?"

Li Yue was furious, and Qu Liushang was even more enraged, roaring, "Who let you in? Get out!"

Su Yingge leaned against the door, raising an eyebrow at him, and said, "Oh dear, this pig demon is so fat and greasy, it's probably not fun to play with. Come out and have a drink with me, it's been so long, don't you miss me?"

Li Yue was so angry that he dared to belittle her like that that she was about to explode with rage. She released Qu Liushang and was about to get up and teach him a lesson.

How could Qu Liushang allow his woman to be seen naked by him? He held her down and yelled at Su Yingge, "Aren't you getting out of here?!"

Su Yingge stubbornly stayed by the door, even leisurely shaking her leg, and asked, "What kind of snacks do you want to go with your drinks today? How about pig's ears?"

"Su! Ying! Ge!" Qu Liushang gritted his teeth and glared at him. Seeing that he was unmoved, he jumped out of the bathtub with a "whoosh," and shouted as he walked towards him, "I won't believe I'm Qu if I don't break your legs today!"

Su Yingge was unfazed and said, "You're not even surnamed Qu... Hey, hey, what are you doing? Are you serious? Hey, your snake is coming out!" Seeing Qu Liushang's gloomy face and hostile intentions, Su Yingge pointed at his crotch and shouted exaggeratedly.

Qu Liushang was startled and looked down.

Su Yingge took the opportunity to slip away like the wind.

Qu Liushang, realizing he'd been tricked, was furious. Ignoring his dripping wet clothes, he stormed out, yelling, "Damn it! He deserves a beating the moment he gets back!"... As their voices faded into the distance, Li Yue angrily slapped the water's surface.

This was the second time she'd been interrupted by that sharp-tongued man.

That damned man, could he also be after Liushang?

That bastard, she needed to think of a way to teach him a lesson.

Thinking this, Li Yue got out of the bathtub, rummaged through the wardrobe, found a piece of Liushang's undergarment, wrapped it around herself, and found it covered her thighs. She

lay on the pillow and smelled it; her little darling's faint, bamboo-leaf-like scent lingered on it. The atmosphere made her feel at ease, so she turned over and dozed off.

*

In Su Yingge's room, Qu Liushang sat opposite him, a letter in his hand, somewhat dazed.

This letter proved once again that he truly did not believe in Qu. His surname was Murong, and his real name was Murong Juan.

There had been times when he desperately wanted to forget his real name, his surname, and his origins, but he could not.

He knew that his parents had known he was here for over a year, but after one letter, he hadn't responded, and they had maintained a state of no contact ever since.

Unexpectedly, a second letter arrived today.

It was his mother's handwriting; he recognized it.

The letter said that his third uncle, Murong Xian, had been killed in the Holy Realm, and his father had been seriously ill for half a year. Now, the clan was in turmoil. His eldest uncle's sons, Murong Ting and Murong Bi, and his third uncle's son, Murong Peng, had long coveted the power of their neutral faction. If his father died, his second and third brothers (his eldest brother had died young) would either have to submit to them or be purged. Therefore, his mother pleaded with him to return to see his father one last time and to help his second and third brothers through this difficult time.

Is Father seriously ill?

He remembers being very young; of the four brothers, his father favored him the most, often carrying him on his shoulders regardless of their status. Back then, no one knew that he understood the meaning of "fatherly love as vast as a mountain" even at such a young age.

If he hadn't been so outstanding, or perhaps too unruly, or too unconventional, or perhaps truly brought danger to the Murong clan… perhaps his parents wouldn't have treated him that way.

More than three years have passed in a flash. His hatred and resentment towards his parents have long faded; he just… doesn't want to go back to that oppressive place, doesn't want to return to those gray-tiled, white-walled buildings where medals were built with human lives.

"Hey, what's the plan this time? Face it or run away?" Su Yingge asked calmly from the other side.

Qu Liushang remained silent; for him, this was a difficult choice.

"If you go back, Yan Huang will be the happiest," Su Yingge said, playing with his jade flute.

"I know." Qu Liushang looked up, sighed softly, and after a long while, said, "I need to think about it." With that, he got up and left.

"Hey, don't you think drinking would suit your mood better right now?" Su Yingge called anxiously from behind.

"I don't think so." Qu Liushang left with those three words and pushed open the door. Back in the room, the bathtub was empty, but the bedding was slightly bulging.

He went over and found Li Yue facing the bed, breathing evenly, as if she were asleep.

He placed the broken plum branch beside her pillow and stared blankly at her long hair scattered on the pillow.

If there was any period since he was sixteen that could be considered happy, it would only be the years after he met her and the two of them traveled the world together.

After leaving his family, he was once disheartened, and the thought of inviting Yue to stay with him deep in the green mountains was extremely strong. However, he, born into a family of assassins, had one major difference from other members of his clan: he was afraid of being alone.

Back then, every time he went on a mission to kill, he made more than three times as many friends as he killed. This was later the first crime he was accused of violating the clan rules.

He never befriended women. If it weren't for that unexpected encounter, if she hadn't been as unconventional as him, he thought he wouldn't have become friends with her either.

And even now, he still... didn't want to be friends with her.

There are many ways to live a life, but the number of people who can choose is very limited. He was standing at a crossroads of fate, and the choice he most wanted to make was to spend it with her, laughing and roaming the world together.

But would she be willing?

During the days of traveling with the sharp-tongued Li Yue, she had hardly had a good night's sleep, so as soon as she touched the bed today, drowsiness immediately overwhelmed her. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, an arm suddenly reached around her waist, and then she felt herself being enveloped in a warm embrace.

She tensed, then relaxed slightly as she regained consciousness.

For a fleeting moment, she thought of Ye Qianxun. On those nights they slept together, he had held her close from behind, his arm around her waist.

She had deliberately avoided thinking about that day, but now, a faint sadness welled up unexpectedly from the depths of her heart, weaving together past memories and tearing apart the last vestiges of sweetness.

"Did I wake you?" Qu Liushang's voice came from beside her, gentle as a night breeze brushing against the windowpane.

"No." She looked at the delicate plum blossom branch that had appeared beside her pillow and gently covered his hand on her waist.

He turned his palm over and took her hand in his.

He buried his nose in her shoulder, the faint fragrance of her body arousing his desire at her awakening. Looking down, he recognized that she was wearing his undergarment, and this impulse intensified.

He reached out and brushed aside the long hair behind her neck, revealing her slender, fair neck, and pressed his burning lips against it.

Li Yue flinched sensitively, but then pressed herself even closer to him.

He held her tightly, and because her undergarment was loose, his hand accidentally slipped inside.

He stared, realizing she wasn't wearing anything underneath, and couldn't help but murmur, "You little vixen."

Li Yue laughed coquettishly, wriggling against his hand like a little snake, and asked, "Don't you like it?"

He didn't answer, but showed her directly how much he liked it.

In their intimate embrace, her undergarment was gradually pulled open, revealing the girl's delicate shoulders, where the man's fiery kisses lingered.

Li Yue breathed softly, struggling to turn around, looking at the man's passionate yet hesitant expression, burying her face in his chest and laughing softly.

After laughing, she extended her smooth little tongue, tracing a winding path up his neck, lingering on his sexy Adam's apple for a moment. When it finally reached his firm jaw, Qu Liushang's reason crumbled.

He swiftly lowered his head and kissed her soft lips, simultaneously flipping her over and pinning her beneath him.

The disheveled man and woman, their breaths mingling in a fiery embrace, kissed and caressed each other, the situation easily spiraling out of control.

And Qu Liushang was indeed somewhat out of control. In his entire life, he had never experienced such a strong desire for something, and at this moment, the soft, fragrant body beneath him was clearly his greatest obsession.

Outside the window, fine snow fluttered, dripping water turning to ice; inside, their fingers intertwined, spring in full bloom.

After a deep kiss, Qu Liushang opened his eyes, looking at Li Yue's slightly dazed eyes, and asked, "Li Yue, would you be willing to travel with me, just like when we first met, and roam the world freely?"

In the dim light, the interplay of light and shadow sculpted his face into an exceptionally handsome and captivating form.

Li Yue smiled sweetly, gently pecking at the corner of his sensual lips, and said, "I am."

Qu Liushang's face was serious, his eyes shining like stars as he stared at her, saying each word carefully, "I mean, for life, only me."

Li Yue's gaze gradually cleared, looking at him silently.

Watching the change in her expression, Qu Liushang felt a chill creep into his heart, and asked, "Is it difficult?"

"What if you change your mind later?" she asked.

"I won't," he answered.

"How can you make me believe you?" she asked again.

He had no answer.

The previously passionate atmosphere gradually cooled, and after a moment of stalemate, she softly asked, "Isn't it good like this now?"

He lowered his eyes, rolled off her, and sat on the edge of the bed with his back to her.

Li Yue remained lying there, staring at the tent ceiling.

After a brief silence, he said, "I thought the feeling I gave you was the same as the feeling you gave me. It seems I was just being presumptuous." With that, he got up and walked towards the door.

Hearing the door close, Li Yue smiled bitterly: Liu Shang, who are you? Where do you come from? What have you been through? I know almost nothing about you. Before me, you are just a human skin called Qu Liu Shang. Do you want me to spend my life with a human skin?

Every time I'm unhappy, you always turn and leave. I don't want to stay and wait for you to come back, and I don't want to guess whether you will ever return.

Chapter 52, Farewell to You...

The next evening.

The snow stopped, the setting sun, like blood, hung eerily in the sky, instantly turning the pure white earth covered in snow into a hellish red.

In the silent air of the Yingge Courtyard, a sudden "creak" sounded from the door, and Su Yingge, rubbing her eyes, stood groggily at the door.

What a disaster! Last night, he asked Qu Liushang to drink, but he refused. Then, in the middle of the night, that damned guy showed up uninvited, dragged him out of bed without a word, and insisted on drinking with him all night long. He didn't even know when he passed out drunk.

Luckily, when he woke up, he was in bed while Qu Liushang was on the floor, and both of them were fully clothed and behaving properly. Otherwise… cough cough, he might as well dig a snow pit and bury himself.

Looking up at the somewhat blinding red light from the other side of the courtyard wall, he yawned and walked towards the gate through the soft, cotton-like snow.

Washing up wasn't important, eating wasn't important, checking on his medicine at Tianyi Pavilion was the most important thing.

He had only taken two steps when a chill suddenly swept over him, making his hair stand on end. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a black wind whistle past, stopped, and looked up to find a young man in black standing under a plum tree about five or six zhang away, watching him.

He was agile and cold-blooded, his fitted black robes, gleaming with a metallic sheen, standing out starkly against the pristine white snowscape. The crimson sunset bathed him in its light, imbuing him with a devilish, bloodthirsty aura.

Su Yingge glanced at him a few times, her brows furrowing slightly, and asked, "Who are you?" Ye Qianxun rarely appeared in public, and Su Yingge, aside from gathering herbs, seldom venturing into the martial world; thus, the two had never met and were strangers.

Ye Qianxun calmly scrutinized him, and after a moment, asked expressionlessly, "Su Yingge?"

Hearing him call her by name, Su Yingge became even more puzzled, hesitatingly saying, "You are..."

Before she could finish, Ye Qianxun suddenly reached his right hand behind his back, then with a flick of his wrist, a crescent-shaped silver arc, accompanied by a faint whooshing sound, slashed rapidly towards Su Yingge.

Su Yingge sensed his hostility, but she hadn't expected him to attack so suddenly. Seeing the spinning crescent blade, she was even more startled.

As far as he knew, only one person in the martial world used such a weapon: Ye Qianxun, the master of the Blood Shadow Palace.

The fierce attack left him no time to think. In the instant the silver light flashed, even with his superior lightness skill, the distance was too short to allow him to turn and dodge. He could only perform a simple iron bridge maneuver, the chilling blade grazing his nose.

Before he could catch his breath, he found Ye Qianxun closing in on him, his right hand rising to strike.

Even before the palm strike landed, the fierce wind made it hard for him to breathe. Driven by survival instinct, he rolled on the spot, his feet pushing off the ground, his body flying parallel to the earth like a swallow skimming the edge, narrowly avoiding the palm strike.

A loud "bang" rang in his ears. Where the palm struck, snow and mud flew everywhere. The impact on his skin was as painful as if he had been hit by a hidden weapon. He had cleaved a deep pit more than ten feet in diameter into the ground.

In an instant, deadly attacks came one after another. Su Yingge's heart pounded wildly. In his days traveling the martial world, he would always carry poison needles and other poisonous substances for self-defense, but he never imagined he would encounter such a formidable opponent in his own garden. He had no weapons to defend himself, and in terms of martial arts, he was no match for Ye Qianxun.

Immediately, disregarding his pride, he cried out for help, "Qu Liushang!"

Before he could finish speaking, a whooshing sound suddenly rang in his ears. Before he could turn his head, he instinctively leaned back. It turned out that the crescent-shaped scimitar had circled around and then returned. The surrounding trees fell like autumn harvested chives. Su Yingge felt a sharp pain in his neck. He reached up and touched it; blood was everywhere. He immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Taking advantage of Ye Qianxun's distraction in catching the crescent-shaped scimitar, Su Yingge suddenly turned around, his clothes fluttering as he fled into the room.

The piercing sound of something tearing through the air echoed behind him once more. Su Yingge couldn't turn around or retaliate. The faint roar of a dragon was almost upon him; perhaps he couldn't even dodge anymore. A sense of despair flashed through his heart.

If he hadn't been so fond of peace and quiet, and hadn't forbade his father to station guards around his Yingge Courtyard, perhaps today's events wouldn't have happened, and he wouldn't have died so mysteriously. Alas, regret came too late.

Just as he was lamenting his impending untimely death, someone suddenly appeared in front of him, yanked him aside, and kicked the spinning crescent blade. With a clang, the crescent blade spun back towards Ye Qianxun.

Ye Qianxun spun and caught the curved blade. Looking at Qu Liushang emerging from the room, his dark eyes narrowed coldly, his thin lips uttering words as sharp as ice beads: "It's you?"

Qu Liushang was already in a bad mood, and seeing him after waking from a hangover only worsened it. With a flick of his right hand, he drew his soft sword, and with a "Hmph!" leaped into the air, thrusting the sword at Ye Qianxun.

The sword strike was bright, fast, accurate, and ruthless, like a lightning bolt slashing across the sky, carrying unparalleled speed and power, its destructive force cleaving through Li Yue's vision.

Li Yue, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, stared almost blankly at the man leaping through the air, radiating a chilling aura. Seeing that unparalleled, deadly sword strike, her mind involuntarily conjured up his gentle, bright smile, and the tender, beautiful ripples of silver light from his fight with Huangfu Jue.

So… this was the real him? So ruthless, so cold-blooded, so… unfamiliar, yet… familiar.

In an instant, her mind raced, while in the chaotic garden, the two men were already locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Within two moves, both were wounded. Li Yue, as if waking from a dream, shouted, "Stop!"

Hearing the voice, the men, who had been locked in combat, seemed struck by lightning, instantly separating and standing still, looking towards the source of the sound.

Li Yue slowly walked over, ignoring Liu Shang, focusing only on Ye Qianxun, whose gaze was complex, and said calmly, "Ye Qianxun, we need to talk."

The two left the Yingge Courtyard and headed towards the cliff on the west side of Tianyi Island.

Li Yue walked ahead, the man following silently behind. Apart from the constant crunching of the snow underfoot, everything was quiet.

But Li Yue's heart was far from calm. This was the second time she had been betrayed by the man she thought was close to her.

This inevitably reminded her of the night she broke with Yu Wuchen.

That night, she was filled with pain and anger, almost unable to control the grievances and sorrow in her heart. In the end, she fled from him in near panic.

For a long time, she had been dissatisfied with her behavior that night. She should have retaliated, retaliated fiercely, instead of letting him watch her flee in disgrace as a victor.

Today, she still felt ashamed, but she firmly believed she would do better than last time. All the men who had hurt her deserved to be retaliated against. She didn't expect them to be sad or heartbroken for her, but at least she wanted them to know that if she meant nothing to them, then they meant nothing to her either.

Reaching the cliff, she had completely composed herself.

A fierce wind swept from the river, tossing her long hair. She pulled her coat tighter, but it still couldn't ward off the biting cold.

Fine snowflakes, blown by the wind, fluttered like veils around her feet. It looked truly beautiful in the setting sun, so she looked down at them.

Looking at her unusually quiet demeanor today, Ye Qianxun's intuition told him the situation was dire. Recalling the scene in the Holy Realm, a look of shame crossed his face. After a long pause, he whispered, "Liyue, I..." "

She's your mother?" Liyue suddenly interrupted before he could finish.

Ye Qianxun was taken aback, wondering why she had asked that.

Liyue turned to look at him, her gaze sweeping over his bleeding right hand. She stared at his still slightly pale, handsome face in the setting sun, then smiled sweetly and said, "No? Then, say nothing more."

Ye Qianxun was startled again, looking at her radiant smile, a deep sense of dread creeping into his heart.

"It's good that you came today. Consider it a final farewell. After this, we need not meet again," Liyue said calmly, looking into his eyes.

Ye Qianxun's gaze sharpened, seemingly incredulous, and he asked, "Liyue, you don't want to see me anymore?"

Liyue nodded and continued, "When we met, I had no man, and you had no woman. Desire bound us together. Now, I have no shortage of men, and you have no shortage of women, so there's no need to continue this relationship."

The moment she turned around, Ye Qianxun had already keenly noticed a faint, crimson mark, like a hickey, peeking out from beneath her collar, but he was preoccupied with something else and didn't have time to dwell on it. Hearing her openly declare that she didn't lack men, he couldn't suppress his jealousy. Frowning, he stepped forward and asked, "You have another man? Who is he?"

Li Yue smiled faintly and said, "That's my private matter, I don't need to explain it to you." She lowered her head, took out the emerald green lotus token from her sleeve, walked up to him, and patted it on his chest, saying, "It's not mine, so it's not convenient to use. Here, take it back."

He didn't take it, but she let go, letting the thin tube fall silently into the snow at his feet. The cold scene before him, compared to the sweetness of handing over the lotus token in the forest that day, was so different it was almost unbearable.

"Listen to me..." Seeing her turn to leave, he panicked, forgetting his jealousy, and grabbed her wrist, trying to explain.

Li Yue turned around, looking at his bloodied hand, and said indifferently, "You've dirtied my sleeve. Let go."

Seeing her unprecedentedly cold expression, Ye Qianxun felt a pang of pain in his heart. He remembered that day in Sheng Yang, when she saw his injured neck, she rushed to get medicine and gauze, tenderly bandaging his wound. But today… she couldn't see his injury; she only saw his blood staining her sleeve.

Had he ruined everything himself? But deep down, he didn't want it to be this way, he didn't want it to be this way. He just hadn't expected her reaction to that day to be so intense.

Seeing him frozen in place, Li Yue withdrew her wrist and turned to leave.

"Are you angry with me? It's not what you think…" He had never apologized to anyone, nor explained anything to anyone, so today's situation left him at a loss, tongue-tied. He only knew that he was anxious and in pain, but didn't know where to begin.

Li Yue paused slightly, but without turning around, she turned her face slightly and said calmly, "Don't misunderstand, I'm not angry with you, so you don't need to explain anything to me. What the reason is, and what happened, is your business. I have no interest in knowing. All I care about is the result, and the result is that I don't want to see you again."

Her heartless words finally pushed him to his breaking point. He decided he had to keep her here no matter what. He needed to make things clear to her, and after that, he was willing to bear any consequences—whether she was angry, furious, hit him, or scolded him—as long as she didn't just leave like this.

Sensing the movement behind her, Li Yue instinctively spun around, using her lightness skill to instantly teleport to a nearby sword-testing stone, glaring angrily at Ye Qianxun, who had missed his target.

Ye Qianxun looked up. In such a short time, the setting sun had already sunk behind the water, plunging the world into darkness. Only the girl standing high above him had eyes that shone brightly, like the brightest morning star in the darkness of dawn—bright, yet distant.

She stood there on the stone, her figure slender, her long black hair dancing wildly and unrestrainedly in the wind. She looked at him without a trace of emotion.

So unapproachable, yet so ruthless and heartless—he had never seen her like this before.

"Ye Qianxun, I admit your martial arts are far superior to mine, but believe me, you can't force me to do anything I don't want to do, not even just keep me here!" She faced the cold wind, her heart as hard as ice.

His shocked and desperate eyes softened her heart; she knew he had genuinely come to apologize. Unfortunately, the mistake he made had crossed her line, making it unforgivable. He looked at her; she was like a beautiful ice sculpture, cold yet captivating, making him feel that all her stubbornness and pride were feigned. She actually wanted to shiver in the wind.

"There are thousands of roads in the world, and every road can lead to a dead end. Only one road is never-ending—the road to death!" In fact, she didn't tremble at all; instead, her words were resolute, her resolute tone more chilling than the biting wind. He felt his heart had never ached like this, a painful yet intense ache.

What to do? She said that even in death, she didn't want to be with him anymore. Why was this happening? Was his mistake really that serious? At the time, Yu Lianqiu's situation seemed a thousand times worse than hers. Both she and Yu Lianqiu were extremely important to him. He simply followed his instincts and saved the one most in need first. Was he wrong?

Although he later discovered Yu Lianqiu wasn't injured, in that situation, he truly couldn't discern the truth. By the time he rushed back, she was gone.

He didn't want to lose her; the mere thought of never seeing her again was unbearable, he didn't know how he would cope.

"Like" had always been an extremely rare word in his life, but since meeting her, it seemed to have become increasingly common and familiar. Every time he thought of her, the word would inevitably surface in his mind.

Yes, he liked her; he had just been too shy to express it. And now…

turning around, watching the girl's figure recede into the distance, as if she were about to leave his life, he awkwardly and laboriously said, "Liyue, I… I like you."

Ha, was this a confession? He really knew how to choose his timing.

A bitter smile touched Li Yue's lips, but no one saw the fleeting sadness in her eyes.

Ye Qianxun saw her pause, a glimmer of hope just appearing in her eyes, only to hear her say without turning her head, "The jade pendant I gave you belongs to Huangfu Jue's mother. Give it back to him, do as you please." With that, she stretched out her right hand with an air of nonchalance, waving it at him behind her, then left without another word.

His heart felt as if it had plunged into an icy abyss, cold and aching. He couldn't keep her; she was gone.

Ye Qianxun watched the girl's figure grow smaller and more indistinct, overwhelmed with grief.

He truly didn't want to lose her, but she was so resolute, leaving him no opportunity or grounds to even lower himself and beg for her forgiveness. What should he do? Who could tell him what to do?

Never in his life had anything caused him such heart-wrenching pain, yet also such utter helplessness.

Li Yue strode forward, every gesture, every step, even the curve of a strand of hair, brimming with pride and determination, yet her eyes involuntarily welled with tears.

Feeling her vision blur, she quickly looked up at the sky.

The sky was overcast; it looked like it was going to snow again.

Was she heartbroken? Of course.

The man behind her wasn't the first person she'd ever loved, but he was the first man to have her body. From the beginning, she hadn't disliked him; later, she'd gradually begun to like him. She wondered if women always felt a special dependence on the first man they had. She felt she did with him. When she was with him, she would unconsciously start to act coquettishly, wanting pampering or indulgence.

But reality told her that physical intimacy between men and women was one thing, but emotional intimacy was another; they couldn't be compared.

The man who had taken her away from someone else at the brink of death was not a man she could rely on. One heartbreak was enough.

Farewell to him, forever strangers. This was the final fate she had ordained for their relationship, which stemmed from sex.

Turning a corner, she saw the Yingge Courtyard.

She couldn't help but think that Ye Qianxun's betrayal alone had caused her so much pain; if Qu Liushang were to betray her one day… she would be even more heartbroken.

How could she prevent this from happening? She could lose Ye Qianxun, but she couldn't lose Qu Liushang. Now, Qu Liushang was all she had left in her life; if even he were to leave, then… life would truly be incredibly lonely.

Keep your distance. If you remain friends, there won't be so many entanglements and conflicts. She would rather… remain friends with him forever.

Chapter 53, A Ghostly Romance...

Inside Su Yingge's room, Qu Liushang paced back and forth, hands on his hips. He would stop to look at the sky, then sigh, looking up. After a long while, he muttered, "What's there to say? You've been talking for so long!"

Su Yingge, standing in front of the mirror examining the wound on her neck, said coolly, "So curious? Why don't you go listen and find out?"

Qu Liushang snorted, "I don't want to listen!"

"Is it that you don't want to listen or that you're afraid to listen?" Su Yingge glanced at him sideways.

"Shut up!" Qu Liushang snapped.

"Hmph." Su Yingge's snort was particularly irritating.

Qu Liushang simply ignored him.

After a moment, Su Yingge finished tending to her wounds and said, "Has Ye Qianxun lost his mind? Why did he want to kill me?"

Qu Liushang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on. His gaze immediately fixed on her, his eyes dark and menacing: "Yes, why did he want to kill you? Tell me, did you do something to Li Yue?"

Su Yingge immediately put on a defeated expression, as if she were about to die, and shouted, "What could I do to her? It would be understandable if she wanted to do something to me. She's a pig demon with a foul temper. Besides you two idiots who've never seen a woman before, who would want her?"

"Shut your stinking mouth! I should have just let him slice you to death earlier," Qu Liushang said with a dark face.

Su Yinge rolled his eyes and said, "Oh, I forgot, there is Yu Wuchen, oh, and gold thread. Speaking of which, I saw her and Huangfu Jue on the road, and they seemed to be very ambiguous. They hugged each other. Wow, I really don't understand. What is so good about this pig demon? Could it be that he is good in bed?"

"I told you to shut up!" Qu Liushang was so angry that he leaned over and wanted to beat him.

Su Yinge rushed to the door, held the door open and looked at Qu Liuzhang with a smile: "If you are really good in bed, I will try it another day..." Before he could finish his words, Qu Liuzhang had already struck him with a palm.

Su Yinge ducked quickly and escaped into the courtyard laughing. Unfortunately, the door was split into pieces.

*

When Qu Liuzhang returned to the west courtyard in a gloomy mood, he found that Liyue had returned, calling Tanlang everywhere as if nothing had happened.

Looking up at him, she asked, "Liu Shang, have you seen Tan Lang?"

Qu Liu Shang shook his head and said, "No."

Li Yue sighed and said, "Never mind, perhaps it was deprived of its sexual happiness and is hiding somewhere sulking. Have you had dinner?"

Qu Liu Shang shook his head again.

Li Yue smiled and said, "Then let's eat together, I'm a little hungry."

Still in Liu Shang's room, the two sat facing each other. Li Yue was very natural, not mentioning Ye Qianxun at all, just as she always was.

In contrast, Liu Shang seemed very depressed, absent-minded and unable to eat, his mind churning: What exactly did Ye Qianxun and she say? Was her rejection last night because of Ye Qianxun? ...

"Liu Shang, when I was thirteen, I heard a story." He was lost in thought when the girl opposite him suddenly spoke.

He looked up, collected his thoughts, and listened to her story. “A Taoist priest made a bet with a monk, saying that no matter where the monk hid his heart, he could find it. The monk didn't believe it, but no matter if he hid his heart in a flower, in the sand, or in the mountains, the Taoist priest always found it. Later, the monk suddenly realized that he had been too obsessed with hiding his heart, which made it easier for the Taoist priest to find it. So he gave up his original idea and let his heart fly free. He didn't even want to know where his heart was. As a result, the Taoist priest couldn't find it.” Li Yue recounted the story calmly.

Liu Shang's brows furrowed as he looked at Li Yue. After a moment, he asked, "What do you want to say?"

Li Yue smiled slightly and said, "No demands, no losses. Liu Shang, have you noticed that in the early days of our acquaintance, we dined and dashed together, robbed gambling dens together, and roamed the martial world together? We thought very little and cared very little about each other, so we were very happy. But since coming to Tianyi Island, the conflicts between us seem to be increasing, and so are the unhappy things."

Qu Liu Shang looked at her, his heart trembling as if it were floating in the wind. He knew what she wanted to say, and he wanted to stop her from saying it, but he knew he couldn't. From beginning to end, the choice had always been hers.

Seeing the look in his eyes, Li Yue knew he understood. It was difficult to say, but she was never one to run away from things. So she continued, "I can't give you what you want, and you can't give me what I want either. For some similar reasons, we both have too many thorns. If we get too close, we'll only hurt each other. I think a friendship is just right for us, if you're willing."

Qu Liushang wanted to appear mature and composed, at least as composed as her, but when he lowered his gaze to pick up his chopsticks, he knocked over a teacup, and one chopstick fell to the ground.

He stopped, knowing he couldn't fake calm.

He spent a long time calming his chaotic emotions and suppressing the surging heartache, then looked up, smiled slightly, and said, "Okay."

Li Yue knew she had hurt this man, but she didn't regret it. The hurt now was minor; if she hesitated now, it might become unmanageable in the future.

She was used to freedom and couldn't bring herself to bind herself for anyone. As for liking or loving, it's all about mutual consent. If it has to be confined to a certain framework, then she'd rather not have it at all.

Therefore, she'd rather he resent her now than hate her in the future.

Having said all that, she simply couldn't eat anymore.

After a moment of silence, Qu Liushang quietly said, "I'll be leaving here tomorrow, and I might not come back."

Li Yue felt like a cat was scratching at her heart; her nails dug deep into her palms as she tried her best to hold back.

"When? Let me see you off," she said.

Qu Liushang smiled, seemingly regaining the carefree and unrestrained demeanor he had when they first met, and said, "No need to see me off. What if you cry?"

Li Yue smiled too, saying, "Don't worry, there are only two kinds of people who can make me cry: one is already dead, and the other hasn't been born yet."

*

After dinner, Li Yue returned to Yingqiu Pavilion and was surprised to find Tanlang sleeping alone in her room.

She sat down beside Tanlang, stroking its fluffy head, and said with a touch of sadness, "Did you know I'd come back sooner or later, hmm?"

Tanlang nuzzled her palm affectionately and hummed twice.

"I know, no matter what, I still have you. You won't leave me." Liyue smiled and ruffled its head, then sighed, "It's a pity you can't drink with me. I'll go see if Sister Asha is home."

Reaching Fu Hongsha's room, Liyue was about to knock when the faint sounds of lovemaking coming from inside made her stop. She

took a few steps back and looked around, confirming it was Fu Hongsha's room. Liyue was utterly puzzled; she had never heard Sister Asha mention having a lover, so how could they have progressed to sleeping together so quickly?

Walking around to the window, Li Yue quietly poked a hole in the paper window and peeked into the room. Sure enough, she saw the bed curtains swaying, the red waves of the quilt billowing, a woman's moans and a man's low, passionate breaths intertwined, occasionally punctuated by the creaking of the bed under the weight of the woman's weight. All she could hear was blushing and weakness in her limbs.

After watching for a while, Li Yue felt her whole body burning and her lower abdomen aching. She quickly withdrew, brushed some snow from a tree branch, and pressed it to her forehead to cool the instinctively ignited desire.

Sleeping with a man was easy, but finding one she found attractive and compatible was not. She wondered who this man, so passionately engaged with Sister A-Sha, was. Judging by Sister A-Sha's standards, he shouldn't be an ordinary person.

Hmm, could it be that Third Master who has feelings for her? After a while of wild thoughts, Li Yue finally realized that she wouldn't find anyone to drink with and

relieve her sorrows tonight. Thinking about Liu Shang's departure tomorrow, and not knowing when they would see each other again, she felt even more depressed, unable to stay or go with him.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled, water freezing instantly. The moonlight shone whitely on the window paper, casting a grotesque, clawing shadow of trees.

Li Yue rummaged through the drawers and found a spare blanket, throwing it under the bed to keep her lover warm, before burying herself under the covers herself. The

blankets were icy cold, taking a long time to warm up.

Tossing and turning, she remembered last night in Liu Shang's room, him embracing her from behind, his arms so broad and warm, so comforting.

Why did he insist on a promise from her? If he weren't so insistent… she thought, they would be happy.

Well, maybe only she felt happy, while he didn't.

Turning over, Li Yue listened angrily to the howling wind outside the window.

She disliked winter, never had since childhood. That wretched winter left her with nothing but cold.

Ironically, ever since her first period at twelve, she'd hoped that the following winter she'd find a man to hold her as she slept. Now, almost seventeen, she still had to huddle alone in her cold bed, battling the harsh winter.

Next winter, would she find a man to hold her as she slept without asking for promises?

Damn it, all she wanted was warmth, why was that so difficult?

After tossing and turning half the night, weariness finally overcame the cold, and she began to drift off to sleep.

Yet, in her drowsy state, she felt a pair of eyes, filled with grievance, sorrow, and grief, watching her intently in the darkness—perhaps outside the window, perhaps in the corner, perhaps on the roof.

She wasn't sure, but she was certain it wasn't a hallucination.

Her lover remained silent. Was it Ye Qianxun?

Ha, what did it matter? She said she didn't want him, and she truly didn't want him. Even if he silently watched her from the shadows for a thousand years, she still wouldn't want him.

"Let him look," she thought defiantly. " What haven't we done together? Do you think I'm afraid he'll see? Let him look for as long as he wants; it's not me who's going to starve and freeze."

She woke up refreshed, but instead of getting out of bed, she found a thin green tube lying on the edge of the bed.

The Lotus Token?

It really was him last night.

But what did he mean by this? Was he leaving the Lotus Token for her so she could summon him again if she regretted it later?

Li Yue sneered, picked up the Lotus Token, and raised it to throw it, but then, after a moment's thought, tossed it onto Tan Lang under the bed, saying, "Here, play with it."

Tan Lang looked at her in confusion, thinking: "This thing is so small, I can't even hold it in my teeth. How am I supposed to play with it? Is my master's intelligence declining due to unsatisfied desires?"

A soft murmur drifted from the courtyard, sounding like Fu Hongsha's voice. Li Yue let down her half-combed hair, opened the door, and sure enough, saw Fu Hongsha nestled affectionately against a man in brocade robes, the two walking towards the gate.

"Sister A-Sha?" she called out.

Fu Hongsha turned around at the sound of her voice, and upon seeing her, she was instantly filled with surprise, joy, and shyness. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. If Li Yue hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have imagined that the usually carefree Fu Hongsha could display such a girlish charm.

"Li Yue, you're back." She somewhat awkwardly released her grip on the man's arm, greeting him with a slight smile.

Li Yue's gaze swept to the side of her, and when she saw the handsome and refined face, her heart skipped a beat.

It was the man who had barged into Jinlu's room with the Fifth Prince Jin Wei that day—Prince Ying, Yuan Qi.

Recalling how eagerly he had stood up for Jin Wei that day, Li Yue felt annoyed. She turned to Fu Hongsha and said, "Sister Asha, it's been so long. I want to talk to you."

Fu Hongsha turned to the man beside her, seeking his opinion.

Yuan Qi glanced at Li Yue a few times, then whispered gently to Fu Hongsha, "Then I'll go first. I'll send someone to pick you up later."

Fu Hongsha nodded, seeing him to the courtyard gate before turning back.

"Sister Asha, how did you end up with him?" Li Yue leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

Fu Hongsha's face was flushed with happiness, and she said excitedly, "Last time I returned to the island from Huandong County to report, I fell in love with him at first sight."

"Fall in love at first sight?" Li Yue raised her voice. "You've fallen in love with him?"

Fu Hongsha nodded, adding shyly, "Does he love me too?"

"Hasn't he taken a concubine yet?" Li Yue asked suspiciously.

Fu Hongsha's expression dimmed slightly. "He already has a principal wife," she said.

"And then? You're going to become his concubine?" Li Yue raised an eyebrow.

Fu Hongsha lowered her head under her gaze, and after a long while, bit her lip and nodded.

Li Yue jumped up, grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently, exclaiming, "Sister A-Sha, is this really you? Is this really you? You actually said you're going to become his concubine?"

"I really love him, and he loves me too. I'm very happy with him, really." Fu Hongsha calmly responded to Li Yue's outburst.

"Is he so perfect that you'd do anything for him?" Li Yue's voice rose an octave.

"He may not be perfect, but I don't care. I love how good he is to me, and I can tolerate his flaws because I know that in his eyes, I can't possibly be perfect either." Fu Hongsha was practically bewitched.

Li Yue reached out and touched her forehead, making sure she didn't have a fever. Then, she slumped back against the wall, gazing at her for a long while before asking, "When will you two get married?"

Fu Hongsha lowered her eyes and said, "Only the principal wife has a wedding ceremony."

Li Yue was stunned for a moment, then gritted her teeth and asked, "Sister A-Sha, are you sure you haven't lost your mind?"

Fu Hongsha shook her head and said, "Li Yue, he is the first man I've ever loved in my life. It's rare that he loves me too. I believe that as long as he treats me well, even if he's just a concubine, I will be very happy."

He is the first man I've ever loved in my life. It's rare that he loves me too…

These words deeply stung Li Yue.

Thinking about it carefully, yes, if Yu Wuchen also loved her, would she care about fame and fortune as long as she could be with him? Probably… no. At that time, she only had eyes and heart for him. Getting him was her ultimate goal; nothing else mattered.

Feeling a pang of melancholy, she asked, "How can you be sure he will treat you well?"

"He is a filial son," Fu Hongsha replied without hesitation.

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Li Yue's forehead as she slowly asked, "What does this have to do with how good he is to you?"

Fu Hongsha replied, "Of course it does. His filial piety proves his kindness, and a kind person like him wouldn't have the heart to hurt someone he loves."

Li Yue's face darkened. According to her logic, she could never hope to get married in this lifetime.

After gathering her thoughts, she said, "Since you've made up your mind, then go ahead. But Sister A-Sha, life is only a few decades long. Never compromise yourself for anyone or anything. If it's not good, we can castrate him and find someone else."

Fu Hongsha was both amused and annoyed by this. She reached out and ruffled A-Sha's already messy long hair, scolding her, "Little girl, you're acting all old-fashioned. What nonsense are you spouting?"

Li Yue threw herself into her arms and said, "You're my sister, and now you're getting married. As the saying goes, once you enter the gates of a noble family, it's like entering a deep sea. I won't be able to drink and eat mutton with you as often anymore. I'm heartbroken." Fu Hongsha hugged her and sighed, "Don't be sad. I'm at the Sheng Yang Ying Prince's Mansion. If you miss me, come see me. I'll tell him so it'll be convenient for you to come in."

"Okay." Li Yue nodded and hugged her even tighter. She had no female friends; Fu Hongsha was her only one, someone who was both a friend and a sister to her. She was genuinely worried that Fu Hongsha wouldn't be doing well.

No, she had to warn that man. If he dared to betray Fu Hongsha, she would teach him a lesson—sometimes, death is a kind of blissful pleasure!

But her immediate priority seemed to be seeing Qu Liushang off at Nanpu. She

quickly changed her clothes, styled her hair, and rushed to Nanpu, but Qu Liushang was already gone. Only Su Yingge stood alone on the riverbank rocks, gazing into the distance against the fierce wind.

Li Yue felt a pang of disappointment. Looking at the vast river, she hurriedly asked Su Yingge, "Has he already left?"

Su Yingge was clearly in a bad mood as well. She glared at her and said, "You're like a pig reincarnated! Why don't you just sleep it off! Humph!" She turned and left.

Had Qu Liushang really left? He didn't even wait for her to arrive before leaving...

Li Yue silently sat down on the snow-covered rocks, gazing at the vast, misty expanse of the Kassapa River, at the hazy sky that had long since swallowed his figure, and suddenly felt an unparalleled sorrow.

Go, go, it's good you're gone. All good things must come to an end.

Even if she never had someone like him to play and wander with again, so what? Life is inherently lonely.

As long as you're strong enough, you can endure even the coldest winter.

Li Yue buried her face in her knees and sat on the rocks for a long time.

That afternoon, Fu Hongsha also boarded the large ship bound for Sheng Yang with Yuan Qi. Li Yue took Tan Lang to see her off, and incidentally, to threaten her man.

Finally, watching the large ship gradually disappear into the distance on the river, Li Yue found her heart growing emptier and colder.

Alright, they're all gone. Now she's all alone again. What should she do? The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, her first Lantern Festival since leaving Yu Wuchen. Where will she spend it? With whom will she spend it?

Feeling depressed and lost, she unconsciously found herself walking towards the front of the Yingge Courtyard.

Remembering that annoying, sharp-tongued man, she turned to leave, but her nose caught a tantalizing aroma of food.

Her stomach, rumbling from hunger all day, immediately began to rumble. She looked around and saw that the sharp-tongued man was using the same trick again. A table was set up under the old plum tree in front of the courtyard, laden with various delicacies. He sat on a branch of that blossoming old plum tree, chanting "No poison!" and handing out his free dinner.

The maids and servants passing by all cowered and circled around him, not daring to look in her direction. Clearly, they were all deeply victimized by his poisoning.

No poison? Ha, he's lying to the ghosts.

A strange thought incongruously arose in Li Yue's mind: if she were poisoned, would she have no heart to grieve?

Without much deliberation, she strode forward, calmly sat down at the table, picked up her chopsticks, and began to devour the food.

To be honest, this guy's cooking was absolutely delicious, especially since she was so hungry her stomach was practically sticking to her back; even the taste of rice made her so happy she wanted to roll around on the ground to express her blissful feeling.

Tan Lang whimpered anxiously at her feet, indicating that it had also been starving all day.

Li Yue kicked it away, scolding, "You have elderly parents and young children to support, don't come along and join the fun."

Elderly parents and young children? At most, a city's worth of wives and concubines.

Thinking of them, Tan Lang suddenly felt even hungrier.

Su Yingge lowered her eyes, watching the woman below, her gluttonous appetite evident, her brows slightly furrowed.

Was she born stupid, or was she heartbroken and seeking death because Qu Liushang was gone?

Watching her devour the exquisite dishes without a word, a strange anger and resentment welled up within him. He sneered, "Hmph! You ate it all! What a pig who got to eat such a good cabbage!"

Li Yue seemed not to hear him, continuing her feast until she had stuffed a whole table of food—enough for two—into her belly. Only then did she let out a satisfied burp, patting her bulging stomach, before suddenly collapsing to the ground. Su Yingge was

about to berate her pig-like appetite when he saw her suddenly collapse, and was taken aback.

Although he had indeed put his newly developed poison in the food, her reaction was strange.

"Eating so much, you deserve to die from overeating!" Su Yingge said harshly, looking at her motionless body on the snow.

Li Yue still didn't react. Su Yingge became suspicious. Could it be that he had made a mistake when preparing the medicine? What if he really poisoned her to death? Not only would he be unable to explain to Jinlu, but Qu Liushang might also come back to settle scores with him.

Thinking of this, he leaped down from the tree, went to Liyue's side, and squatted down to turn her over. Unexpectedly, the moment he touched her shoulder, she suddenly turned around and, with lightning speed , jabbed a finger into his shoulder and neck. Caught

off guard, Su Yingge was immediately knocked down.

Lying on his back on the cold snow, he looked at the woman who was leering at him and asked angrily, "What are you doing?"

Liyue straddled him, pinching and pulling his cheeks roughly, laughing, "You don't like me? Do you think I like you? I'm a lazy pig, and you're a rotten cabbage, born to be used by me, you know?"

Su Yingge's fair, smooth cheeks burned from her tugging, and he immediately screamed, "Do you want to die! You're poisoned, don't you know? Let me go!"

"Of course I know. If your food wasn't poisoned, pigs could fly. But so what? I'm going to mold you into this shape!" Li Yue said, pulling at his already bruised cheeks while pressing his nose with her right thumb. She chuckled, "You say I'm like a pig? Who's more like one? Look, if a pig saw you like this, it would bow and kowtow to you three times and acknowledge you as its ancestor!" She was so proud of herself, finally getting revenge for the arrow she received in the bamboo forest that day.

In her entire life, Su Yingge had never been so humiliated. A man who had seen it all, she had been utterly defeated in this unexpected turn of events. Enraged, she roared, "Let me go! You crazy woman!"

"Shut up! Don't put on that young master act. I'll castrate even a prince without hesitation, what are you afraid of? There's a saying, 'A man willing to risk his life to bring down the emperor.' Today, I, Qin Liyue, am willing to risk my life to pounce on your annoying, sharp tongue. Why are you looking at me? If you look again, I'll eat you up!" As Liyue spoke, she actually leaned down and bit his pointed chin.

Su Yingge was furious. Knowing he couldn't win against her, he could only suppress his anger and say, "Let me go, or you'll die when the poison takes effect."

"So what if I die? You'll be my scapegoat anyway," Li Yue said, then asked seriously, "Will the poison cause you to vomit blood? If I vomit into your mouth, will you get poisoned too?"

Su Yingge's brows furrowed, and he gritted his teeth, squeezing out two words: "You dare!"

"To avoid misjudging later, let's practice first," Li Yue said, then lowered her head and sealed his lips with hers.

Feeling the soft lips pressed against him and the wet, slippery tongue trying to pry open his teeth, Su Yingge was shocked and almost stunned.

This damned woman, she actually dared to force a kiss on him! This was intolerable!

But the current situation was that he had to endure it, because he couldn't move.

While enduring her indecent assault, Su Yingge silently regulated his breathing and tried to break free of the pressure points that had been restrained.

But Li Yue suddenly released him again.

He coldly raised his eyes and saw her trembling, her face deathly pale, her expression one of extreme pain; the poison must have begun to take effect.

Based on his experience, this poison's onset should cause intestinal spasms and a stabbing pain in the abdomen, which explained why she was drenched in cold sweat so quickly.

After a while, she still didn't reach out to release his pressure points. He frowned again: "Are you in too much pain? Release my pressure points!"

Hearing his voice, Li Yue barely managed to lift her eyes to look at him, her pale lips curving into a slight smile as she forced a smile, suppressing her pain: "You think I'll beg you like this? Don't dream..." The extreme pain made her unable to support herself, and after saying this, she collapsed onto him, trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"Aren't you afraid of death?" Seeing her still putting on airs at this moment, he really wanted to slap her to death.

He heard the woman's seemingly delirious whisper: "What does death matter... Haven't you heard, dying on the body of a handsome man, even as a ghost, is still romantic?"

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