[Urban] Flag of Desire (Complete) - 10-12

Chapter 34: The Poison of Xuanbing (Part 2)

Pei Mubai gripped the iron chain with his left hand, and with his right, he tightly embraced Sima Wanqing's waist, rapidly sliding down. He knew that the longer they remained on the chain, the longer they were suspended in the air, the more dangerous it would be for them.

Sure enough, the surrounding air churned, and clusters of things swept through the air, attacking directly. Sima Wanqing didn't know what was attacking, but she flicked her silk ribbon, which unfurled like a peacock's tail, creating an impenetrable barrier. Then came soft "fluttering" sounds, presumably the sounds of hidden weapons being blocked and falling.

There was also a faint "buzzing" sound, as if living creatures were attacking. Had Hu Tian released some poisonous insects? Sima Wanqing tried to parry, but although the creatures were deflected, they continued to rush forward aggressively, making it impossible to block or defend against them.

Sima Wanqing's heart stirred. Instead of using ribbons to block, why not channel her inner strength into the surroundings? As long as the opponent's strength wasn't too great, she wouldn't be afraid of any number of hidden weapons. Immediately, she silently used the "Supreme Heaven-Supreme Heart Method" to construct a defensive barrier that gradually expanded, enveloping the two of them. As Pei Mubai rapidly slid down, the creatures kept crashing into the defensive circle, bouncing off, crashing again, bouncing off again.

Finally, the feeling of solid ground reassured Pei Mubai. Her waist was soft and supple in his hands, her breath sweet and fragrant. They were so close. If she weren't veiled, Pei Mubai truly didn't know if he would have kissed her.

Being carried down the slope by Pei Mubai, Sima Wanqing wasn't afraid at all. His elegant aura subtly surrounded her, and she felt a sense of security she had never experienced before.

Suddenly, their feet touched the ground, and the annoying creatures inexplicably dispersed. She only heard his heart suddenly race, and a chill ran down her spine. Having spent so much time with Duan Yuhan, she had gradually become familiar with the various behaviors of a man when aroused. She shouldn't have fallen for his embrace; she considered him a good friend.

Pei Mubai reluctantly released her. She didn't love him; he knew that. He wouldn't force something that didn't belong to him.

A deathly silence enveloped them. The two became increasingly vigilant, lighting tinder and straining their eyes in the dim light. It was a very spacious place, and they couldn't immediately see where the walls were. They slowly moved forward, first heading to the right. Gradually, they

saw a wall on the right, next to which stood a large wooden shelf. The shelf was divided into many compartments, each filled with bottles and jars of varying heights and sizes. Each bottle and jar had a note attached, as if the owner was afraid of mixing things up due to the abundance of items.

The two approached, randomly illuminating a note with their tinder and examining it carefully. The characters on the note were winding and not Chinese, but they looked vaguely familiar. She suddenly remembered the worm-like characters, which resembled those on a Tibetan scripture in the quiet study. Could Hu Tian know Tibetan? Had he indeed been to Drikung Monastery to obtain the Xuanbing Poison?

But what did these slips of paper mean? Pei Mubai gently shook his head; he didn't recognize the characters either.

The labels on these bottles and jars were so clear and distinct, indicating that the contents must be very important and could not be mistaken. Could they contain poison? Was there Xuanbing Poison inside? Sima Wanqing dared not open them casually, only wondering.

Even stranger was Hu Tian; knowing someone had entered, why hadn't he attacked them? Could there be an even more insidious trick up his sleeve?

Suddenly, there was a slight creaking sound above their heads, like the sound of a wooden plank sliding. Was there several levels in this underground chamber? Was someone attacking them from a higher level? The two retreated quickly, and instantly, countless tiny objects flew towards them. In the dim firelight, they couldn't see what was attacking them at all, only that the objects weren't very fast or very powerful.

In the rush, Sima Wanqing didn't have time to use her "Supreme Heaven-Supreme Heart Technique" to create a defensive circle; she still managed to deflect the objects with her ribbons. Pei Mubai's soft sword was incredibly fast, the "whoosh" sounds echoing everywhere.

But after being blocked, the objects quickly splashed out again, scattering in the air and permeating the surroundings. Was it water? It was transparent water, which was why it was hard to see. It must be water laced with deadly poison, which was why the one who released it ran to the upper level to avoid getting splashed.

Thinking of this, Pei Mubai quickly grabbed Sima Wanqing, covering her body, but it was too late. Sima Wanqing let out a soft cry as a few drops of water splashed onto her left hand. The damp cold made her shiver, and then the cold quickly spread, her arm beginning to feel numb. Was it the Xuanbing Poison?

Finally, Pei Mubai carried her back six feet away. Gradually, the surroundings returned to quiet, the poisonous water in the air settling into dust. Sima Wanqing's body trembled involuntarily, and Pei Mubai, standing close by, seemed to feel the chill emanating from her.

Pei Mubai grasped her hand, but she whispered, "No, be careful of the poison!"

He ignored her; the stiffness of her arm horrified him. The Xuanbing poison was terrifyingly potent, even Lu Jingqiao couldn't cure it. What could Sima Wanqing do now?

Pei Mubai quickly took out the Great Rejuvenation Pill he always carried and fed it to her. He had brought many treasures with him on his journey to Loulan for revenge. He hadn't expected to use them himself, but now they were all being used to help her. The Great Rejuvenation Pill from Shaolin Temple, the number one holy medicine in the martial arts world, was said to be able to bring the dead back to life. Even if it couldn't cure the poison now, it could at least temporarily save her life.

Then he thought of Hu Tian's ambush with the poison; he would definitely come down to investigate who the intruder was. He could pretend to be poisoned and subdue Hu Tian. Perhaps Hu Tian had the antidote?

Pei Mubai gently laid Sima Wanqing down against the wall, then lay down beside her. Sima Wanqing's left side was numb from the cold, but her mind remained clear; she understood his intentions. Strangely, knowing there was no antidote for the Xuanbing poison and that she might die, she felt no fear.

The tinderbox had long since gone out. She lay there quietly, the effects of the Great Rejuvenating Pill gradually taking hold. A fiery sensation rose from her dantian, seemingly trying to slowly seep into her limbs, yet the bone-chilling cold stubbornly lingered. Her chest was ablaze with fire, an infinite warmth; her skin and limbs were ice, a bone-chilling cold. Her heart was being baked by the fire, her body felt like it had fallen into icy water in winter. Fire and ice constantly battled, neither yielding, neither compromising.

After a while, a faint light appeared in the darkness. Hu Tian was indeed cunning; he had waited so long to come down, hoping their poison would fully take effect, leaving them defenseless.

Hu Tian slowly approached the two, stopping three feet away and shining his lamp on them. "Who are you?"

Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing naturally didn't answer.

Hu Tian seemed much more at ease and took two steps closer. Seeing the two motionless against the wall, seemingly close to death, he pressed closer, reaching out to remove Pei Mubai's mask.

Pei Mubai attacked with both hands, his speed like the wind. Hu Tian was startled by such a sudden, close-range attack, but he didn't panic. He stepped back and turned, suddenly letting out a sharp whistle.

Instantly, hurried footsteps came from all directions, and many people rushed towards them. Hu Tian suddenly swung his hands rapidly, hurling several bone-piercing iron nails at the two with a "rain of flowers" technique. Then, he slashed at the wall with his right hand and slipped into a hidden door.

Pei Mubai had originally intended to subdue Hu Tian and ask him about the antidote. But now, if Pei Mubai didn't block the bone-piercing iron nails, Sima Wanqing would definitely be hit. He could only parry the iron nails with his sword while simultaneously carrying Sima Wanqing to the side, watching helplessly as Hu Tian's figure disappeared through the hidden door.

The effects of the Great Rejuvenating Pill gradually spread throughout her body. Sima Wanqing was still immersed in the sensation of ice and fire battling each other, but she was clearly no longer stiff. She struggled to move her limbs; though weak, she could finally move freely.

"Let's go."

Pei Mubai picked her up and leaped to the lowered iron chain.

"You go up, don't worry about me. He wouldn't dare do anything to me."

Sima Wanqing couldn't imagine how he could climb such a long chain with her in his arms. She didn't want to be a burden to him.

"No."

"I won't abandon her," Pei Mubai said firmly. "I won't let her face danger alone."

Holding the chain in one hand and her in the other, Pei Mubai pushed off with both feet, leaping three feet up, then another, and another three feet. But the chain was surprisingly long; supporting their combined weight with just one hand, he continuously leaped upwards, expending considerable energy.

In a short while, the area below was brightly lit, and many people gathered beneath the chain, firing arrows at the two under Hu Tian's command. At this moment, Pei Mubai was overwhelmed, only able to hook his left foot around the chain and kick away the arrows with his right.

Hu Tian seemed determined to capture them, summoning more men. When Sima Wanqing looked down, she saw a dark mass below. Hu Tian's underground chamber was so vast, and he kept so many people here—could he have another purpose?

Arrows rained down on the two like a storm. Had Pei Mubai not reacted quickly, they would both be riddled with arrows. A sharp arrow grazed Sima Wanqing's hairline, nearly ripping off her veil. More arrows whistled through the air. Facing an ever-growing barrage of increasingly powerful arrows, the two were in grave danger.

Sima Wanqing was frantic; she couldn't let Pei Mubai die with her. When people are on the verge of despair, they often unleash astonishing potential. In her desperation, the powerful internal energy of her "Supreme Heaven-Supporting Heart Sutra," activated by the Great Rejuvenating Pill, suddenly erupted. Enduring the torment of ice and fire within her body, she once again used her internal energy to construct a powerful defensive barrier, deflecting the arrows one by one.

To Hu Tian and the others below, this was a bizarre sight. Legend has it that those with extraordinary internal energy naturally form barriers around them to withstand attacks—a martial arts realm even higher than "Iron Shirt." Today, all the arrows fired from the crossbows were deflected by an invisible barrier, finally giving them a glimpse into their plight.

Judging from Sima Wanqing's figure, Hu Tian deduced she was a woman. He pondered: within a three-hundred-mile radius of Lieyun Ranch, which woman possessed such profound and domineering internal strength? As far as he knew, after considering all possibilities, Sima Wanqing was the most suspicious.

This woman had already been poisoned by Xuanbing and wouldn't live much longer. Perhaps, when he visited Sima Wanqing at the ranch tomorrow, he would find out if the person on the chains was her.

Seeing that these two were likely to escape to the chains, Hu Tian decisively withdrew his arrows, ordering everyone to go up and intercept them.

Pei Mubai continued leaping upwards, but heard Feifei's voice from above, "Hey, how's it going? Do you need my help?"

"Okay, if you have a rope, throw one down."

Hu Tian withdrew from below, clearly intending to deal with them from above. They had to climb up as quickly as possible.

Thieves were indeed well-prepared; Feifei quickly produced a rope from her waist and threw it down. Pei Mubai caught the rope and tied it around Sima Wanqing's waist, then had Feifei pull it up as much as she could. In this way, the two soon reached the top of the chain.

"Hurry up,"

Pei Mubai said, scooping Sima Wanqing up in his arms and urging Feifei onward. Hu Tian's shouts came from downstairs, "You can't escape! Surrender now!"

"Shall we take that woman hostage?"

Feifei quickly suggested. Pei Mubai didn't know how much Yao Siniang's life meant to Hu Tian. But since Yao Siniang was the one in charge of Mantianfang, she must have been of similar importance to Duan Yuhan. If something happened to Yao Siniang while she was with Hu Tian, Hu Tian would definitely have a hard time explaining himself to Duan Yuhan. Based on that alone, Feifei's suggestion was worth a try. Sima Wanqing nodded in agreement.

The three quickly went up to the third floor. Pei Mubai had Feifei support Sima Wanqing while he untied Yao Siniang, casually draped a coat over her, and then went back downstairs.

"Get out of the way. It wouldn't look good if this stunning beauty died."

Pei Mubai's sword was pressed against Yao Siniang's neck. Yao Siniang had just woken up and was only vaguely following him.

For a moment, the eyes of Hu Tian's men almost popped out of their sockets. Although the dress covered Yao Siniang's private parts, her snow-white arms and legs, delicate breasts, and the faintly visible nipples were enough to make anyone's mouth water. After

weighing his options, Hu Tian had no choice but to order his men to make way. His men didn't want anything to happen to such a beauty as Yao Siniang, and they just muttered to themselves, "The steward really knows how to enjoy himself."

The three of them rushed out of Hu Tian's residence and found the horses they had ridden. Fei Fei and Sima Wanqing mounted their horses, while Pei Mubai grabbed Yao Siniang and used his lightness skill to follow behind. The four of them quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Hu Tian wondered, who exactly were this man and two women? What did they want in the secret room? If one of them is Sima Wanqing, then who are the other two? Should this be reported to Duan Yuhan?

Chapter 35: The Mind is Made Up (Part 1)

The three of them had run far enough that they were certain Hu Tian hadn't caught up, so they slowly stopped. Pei Mubai casually pointed at Yao Siniang and left her by the roadside.

Sima Wanqing on horseback was swaying precariously. She had almost exhausted her strength by forcibly using the "Supreme Heaven-Supreme Heart Method" when the poison was attacking her heart, and was now on the verge of death.

Feifei felt that Sima Wanqing, who was leaning in front of her, was getting colder and colder, and was terrified. "What's wrong with you?"

She thought Sima Wanqing was injured and didn't know that she had been poisoned by the Xuanbing Poison.

Pei Mubai reached out, picked up Sima Wanqing and dismounted her, and lifted her veil. In the clear moonlight, her face was pale but with a hint of pink, and her beautiful eyes were surprisingly gorgeous. But this vibrant beauty wasn't the delicate bloom of a rose, but the mournful, blood-stained beauty of an azalea.

Years ago, the memory of witnessing his mother's suicide suddenly flooded Pei Mubai's mind. All his family had left him; now only she remained—his sister, his friend, and the tangled threads of emotion he carried within him. The unbearable, excruciating pain made him cherish the woman in his arms; his gaze never left her. He knew he couldn't bear to see her die.

"Mubai,"

Sima Wanqing called him a second time, her voice still soft, but in her dying moments, "Thank you…for always helping me. Please, just one last favor…"

She finally knew the truth: the Xuanbing poison was in Hu Tian's hands; the deaths of her father and brother—Duan Yuhan, Hu Tian, and Yao Siniang were all murders. Heaven had given her the most unforgettable love of her life, and also the most unforgettable hatred. Unfortunately, at this moment, she was powerless to care about either love or hate. Her only worry was her child, her son, Sima Bing. She couldn't leave him with Duan Yuhan.

"Take Bing'er away, don't let him go with his father."

Sima Wanqing pleaded, looking at Pei Mubai, the only person she trusted.

Pei Mubai took her into his arms, her coldness breaking his heart. "Your child, you must take care of him yourself!"

His tone was more forceful than sorrowful, startling Feifei.

Sima Wanqing smiled gently, "When we swore brotherhood, we said we'd share joys and sorrows, you wouldn't be so ungrateful, would you?"

Her smile was fleeting, like a flower in bloom, almost withering and freezing in an instant.

"I'm sorry... I can't go see the peonies with you."

A faint sadness seeped into her beautiful eyes; there were too many things in this world she cherished.

Back then, when they reunited at the Chang'an Lantern Festival, she promised to go with him to the peony festival in Luoyang. But because she was rushing back to the ranch, she was delayed. Later, when she saw him off at Loulan, she also said that they would go see the peonies together after he returned from Loulan. But life is unpredictable, and man cannot defy fate. Was their relationship simply a matter of "deep affection but shallow destiny"?

Pei Mubai didn't believe in fate; he only believed in himself. Suddenly, he ripped off his mask and bit his left wrist hard, bright red blood gushing out. He forcefully pried open Sima Wanqing's mouth, letting the blood slowly flow into her mouth.

"What are you doing?"

Seeing the resolute expression on his face, Feifei was momentarily confused about his intentions.

Warm blood flowed from Sima Wanqing's lips and down her throat. Sima Wanqing looked at Pei Mubai in surprise, her consciousness slowly fading. Pei Mubai remained silent, simply continuing. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he released her hand, tore off strips of cloth, and hastily tied her wrist.

Sima Wanqing seemed unable to hold on any longer, her eyes half-closed, her mind drifting. Pei Mubai held her even tighter. The night outside the pass was unusually cold and biting, but even colder was his heart. He only wished that his blood could save her life. He had never felt such sorrow since the death of his parents. At this moment, long-buried feelings sprouted anew. He had never let go of his love; all along, he had been deceiving himself.

Feifei turned her head away sadly; she saw Pei Mubai's feelings for Sima Wanqing all too clearly.

The three of them headed towards the small house where the horse had been hiding. It was where Pei Mubai had recently been hiding; though small, it was clean, tidy, and fully equipped.

Feifei lit a candle, and Pei Mubai placed Sima Wanqing on the bed, touching her forehead. Sima Wanqing groaned and slowly woke up. The icy chill that had gripped her body lessened considerably, and the burning sensation in her chest transformed into a gentle warmth. She suddenly felt a surge of energy and strength.

Pei Mubai looked at her with delight, "You're awake?"

His subtle scent wafted into her nostrils, reassuring her. The casual bandage on his left wrist still faintly revealed crimson blood. She suddenly remembered what had happened before she fainted, "You? Blood?"

He carefully examined her face, his eyes regaining their light, finally feeling somewhat relieved. "A little blood, it's nothing."

Although she had just woken up, her mind was still clear. In the secret room, when he helped her, it seemed his hands had also come into contact with the Xuanbing poison; how could she be alright? Just moments ago, she was in excruciating pain, but after drinking his blood, she was alive again. Could it be that he had mastered the legendary invulnerability to all poisons? But it was said that such a skill was extremely difficult to achieve, and only the Poison King Feng Qianhe had succeeded in mastering it in the last hundred years.

He naturally noticed the questioning looks in her and Feifei's eyes. "I have never practiced Feng Qianhe's skills. It was just a coincidence that I ate the Crimson-Eyed Ice Toad."

In legend, the Crimson-Eyed Ice Toad was a sacred antidote that was extremely rare and sought after. He came from the Pei family of Jiangnan, and his maternal grandfather was the current emperor's teacher. It was not surprising that he had the good fortune to consume the Crimson-Eyed Ice Toad.

As Pei Mubai spoke, he focused intently on Sima Wanqing. Perhaps everything was arranged by fate. He had consumed the ice toad in his childhood so that he could save her today.

Sima Wanqing's face flushed for no reason. His meticulous and omnipresent tender care was more than just brotherly affection for sister. Suddenly realizing this, she didn't know how to react.

"Where is Lu Jingqiao? Go find him and see if your poison has been cured."

He pretended not to notice her unease; he didn't want to force her to accept anything.

"No,"

Sima Wanqing hurriedly objected, "He may have already submitted to Duan Yuhan. It's too dangerous for us to go rashly."

"But..."

Pei Mubai looked at her worriedly. The Xuanbing poison wouldn't be so easily neutralized. If his blood, like the Great Rejuvenation Pill, could only delay the onset of the poison but not eradicate it, then she could still be on the verge of death at any moment.

Sima Wanqing's heartstrings twitched slightly. How should she face his feelings? Ignore them? Accept them calmly? Reject them clearly? She suddenly felt that she was thinking too much. She didn't even know how many days she had left to live. Why bother with matters of the heart? Her child and revenge were more important.

"Are you two here?"

Bamok's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door. Sima Wanqing and Pei Mubai were both stunned. Hadn't he gone back?

They opened the door, and sure enough, it was Bamok outside. Barmok looked at Sima Wanqing in surprise, "The ranch is looking for you!"

So he was the messenger. But why would he help her for no reason? Sima Wanqing stared at him, saying nothing.

Barmok shook his head, "You're not helping you. I was sleeping soundly when those people and horses woke me up. I'm afraid your husband will find out about your secret rendezvous with your lover and lock you up, then I won't have anything to watch. You should go back quickly, or they'll start searching outside the ranch after they've finished searching there."

According to the plan, Sima Wanqing should have returned to the ranch by noon. But after finding the secret room, there was another fight, plus the poisoning, and now it was already dawn. Why was Duan Yuhan still thinking about her while playing chess?

At this moment, Sima Wanqing had no choice. If she didn't go back, Duan Yuhan would probably search the entire ranch and surrounding areas for hundreds of miles. She had to go back. If Duan Yuhan found Pei Mubai and Feifei, she would be outnumbered, and revenge would be even more difficult.

Pei Mubai had also thought of this. "You want to go back? No way. What about your clothes?"

Sima Wanqing was still wearing her night clothes; going back like this would be extremely dangerous.

Hearing that she was willing to go back, Bamok happily took out a bundle from his back and tossed it to Sima Wanqing. "The clothes are here."

Although he was a little surprised that there were three people in the room, he didn't bother to think about the reason.

Sima Wanqing opened the bundle, and inside was the set of clothes she had changed out of and left in the quiet study. Now she was even more confused. How did this dress end up in Bamok's hands?

"You don't need to thank me. Originally, I wasn't planning to help you when those hunting dogs followed the scent of the bewitching deer to the front of the Buddhist hall. Sigh, after thinking about it, you are also Sima Lie's daughter. Luckily, you managed to get these clothes first,"

Bamok said unhurriedly.

Now, as long as Sima Wanqing changed into these clothes and returned to the ranch, the ranch would naturally stop searching. But where was she going so late? There must be a reason. She glanced at Bamok's leisurely demeanor and a thought formed in her mind. "Thank you so much for your help, Master. I am deeply grateful."

"You're welcome. Just keep your promise."

Bamok was a straightforward man; all he had done was to witness the splendor of the Rainbow Feather Dance.

"Master, could you lend me another hand?"

Bamok glanced at Pei Mubai. "What do you want me to do?"

He suspected that Sima Wanqing wanted to elope with Pei Mubai.

Sima Wanqing didn't want to explain anything to Bamok; the hatred between her and Duan Yuhan couldn't be resolved in a short time. She suddenly knelt down. "Please, Master, help me to the end. When I returned, you said you wanted to see me dance and took me away. This request is a bit much for me, but please, Master, lend a helping hand."

Her deep bow startled Bamok. He was a free spirit who loved to wander and live a carefree life; he didn't usually concern himself with other people's family affairs. But at this moment, facing Sima Wanqing's earnest eyes, he didn't know how to refuse her.

"The scent of these clothes will likely attract the hunting dogs soon,"

Pei Mubai had to remind Sima Wanqing.

Sima Wanqing felt a surge of anxiety, a churning discomfort coursing through her body. The chill of the Xuanbing poison assaulted her chest and abdomen, while the Great Rejuvenating Pill held her heart firmly in place. The warm sensation of Pei Mubai's blood flowed through her body, yet it clashed with the chill, neither yielding to the other.

"Huh?"

Bamok was greatly surprised to see her face suddenly change color. He bent down to feel her pulse, finding it strangely irregular and chaotic. These were symptoms of a severe poisoning. How could she have become like this in just three hours?

"Please help me, Master,"

Sima Wanqing pleaded, disregarding the poison in her body; she only wanted to buy time.

Bamok nodded solemnly. If he didn't help her, she definitely wouldn't be able to hide it from Duan Yuhan's eyes.

"Thank you, Master."

Sima Wanqing had repeated these words several times in a short while. She wondered if it was her father's spirit protecting her, that this strange Tibetan monk always came to her aid at crucial moments.

She stood up and turned to Pei Mubai and Feifei, "You two go quickly, we'll contact him again using the old method."

"But your health, what if..."

Pei Mubai looked at her slightly pale face with concern.

"What if... something really happens to me, I'll leave the child in your care."

She spoke lightly and calmly, but Pei Mubai was terrified. The "something" she spoke of was either death from the poison or Duan Yuhan discovering that she knew the truth; either way, it was extremely dangerous.

Man proposes, God disposes. Sima Wanqing had no other choice at this moment. If she only had a few hours left to live, she was determined to seek justice for her father and brother.

Pei Mubai knew her mind was made up, so he quickly pulled Feifei away. He had to go back to Hu Tian's residence as soon as possible; perhaps there was an antidote there.

Sima Wanqing quickly changed her clothes and walked out of the hut with Bamok, strolling casually down the street.

Bamok overheard her conversation with Pei Mubai, which didn't sound like the usual intimacy between lovers. But he was always lazy and didn't ask further. As long as Sima Wanqing was willing to dance for him, all other grudges and affections were irrelevant to him. His help, in the end, was also selfish.

Chapter 36: A Decisive Mind (Part 2)

Sima Wanqing walked along, lost in thought.

Duan Yuhan's unusual behavior on her sixteenth birthday was the first step in all the conspiracies. The reason he treated her that way was to force her to leave the ranch. If she hadn't left and had spent so much time with him, she probably would have discovered the traces of the conspiracy long ago.

Four months later, her second brother was murdered; Duan Yuhan, Shuling, and Yao Siniang were all the murderers. She returned, and he cruelly forced her to leave again. It was hateful that she was so heartbroken at the time that she didn't think deeply about the reason for his unusual behavior.

Six months later, her eldest brother was also murdered; Duan Yuhan and Hu Tian were the murderers. According to the murderer's original plan, Xuan Ying should have quickly emerged to perish together with her father. However, an unexpected situation arose. She became pregnant, and the Lieyun Ranch had to hold a wedding. If her father died at this time, according to custom, she would have to observe three years of mourning before she could get married. Duan Yuhan wouldn't let her postpone the wedding, so her father was temporarily safe.

After the wedding, Duan Yuhan was injured by "Slanting Wind and Fine Rain, No Need to Return," and delayed his return for some time to recover.

Then, taking advantage of his father's growing trust in him, Duan Yuhan's prestige in the Lieyun Ranch increased, and his power became more stable.

Duan Yuhan was undoubtedly the murderer of her father's death that night at Qili Peak, and Hu Tian and Yao Siniang were probably accomplices as well. She had thought that the Xuanbing poison would take effect so quickly that even a master like her father would die instantly. Now, having been poisoned herself, she was amazed by the poison's domineering and intense nature, but she also realized that with her father's skill, he definitely wouldn't have died so quickly. The cause of her father's death was not only poisoning, but he must have also suffered a terrible attack.

For three or four months before and after her childbirth, she entrusted all affairs of the ranch to Duan Yuhan, so their relationship remained peaceful.

However, once she wanted to regain her power as the ranch's decision-maker, Duan Yuhan, along with Hu Tian and Feng San, orchestrated a scheme. After Qin Shi Huang's death, Zhao Gao, wielding immense power, called a horse a deer in front of his ministers. The ministers, fearful, sycophantic, and opportunistic, all claimed the horse was a deer. This is the story of "calling a deer a horse." Unexpectedly, they used a similar tactic, deliberately distorting the truth and confusing right and wrong.

What was the purpose of the once unruly youth, the youth who once looked down upon the Sima family's immense wealth, and his actions ten years later?

Was it revenge? She didn't believe the Sima family would feel guilty towards him, unless there were other hidden reasons she didn't know. And Yue Zhongzheng must know these hidden reasons, shouldn't she go and find out?

His complete distortion of her past was nothing more than a power grab! Could it be that he was a despicable, two-faced villain, so cruel and ruthless for wealth and power?

But she immediately dismissed the thought; she always felt he wasn't that kind of person. Or perhaps, his desire to seize power stemmed from fear of her revenge? His concern for her forced him to isolate her, to completely control her?

Even now, he still acted affectionate towards her, but how much of that love remained? The deer-intoxicating incense was to keep track of her whereabouts. His control and wariness towards her were undeniably heavy. Would he use such methods on someone he loved? Now,

having pieced together the whole story step by step, Sima Wanqing no longer felt the unbearable heartache she had felt after seeing Shuling. Perhaps she had already accepted the cruel reality that he was the murderer.

Tonight, was his reaction to her disappearance genuine concern, or was it out of fear that she might make a move? She didn't want to speculate about his intentions anymore. Now, she only wanted to do two things: kill Duan Yuhan and take the child away. As for whether the poison in her body could be cured, it no longer mattered.

Barmok didn't disturb her contemplation; as long as he could see the Rainbow Feather Dance tomorrow, he had no interest in anything else.

The barking of hunting dogs and the sound of galloping hooves grew closer, and Sima Wanqing calmly glanced around. Barmok also looked around indifferently. Sure enough, Feng San quickly arrived on horseback with a group of people.

"Madam."

Feng San's face lit up with joy upon seeing Sima Wanqing, and he quickly launched a signal flare into the air. The rest of the group quickly formed a circle, surrounding Sima Wanqing and Barmok.

Sima Wanqing remained silent. Now, the entire Lieyun Ranch obeyed Duan Yuhan. The respect these people showed her was only for the title "Madam." Where were the people truly loyal to the Sima family?

As she expected, Duan Yuhan arrived quickly.

"Qing,"

Duan Yuhan jumped off his horse, quickly pulled her into his arms, and embraced her. Sima Wanqing struggled to get out of his embrace, but he thought she was just shy in front of everyone and didn't care. Seeing her safe and sound, his heart finally settled.

She saw the tenderness in his eyes but didn't want to question its sincerity. He had hurt her so deeply, why was he being so kind to her now? Maliciously, she wondered if his kindness was a way to win her over.

Duan Yuhan's probing gaze swept across her face, settling on Bamok. Bamok chuckled, "Couldn't sleep in the new place, so I dragged your wife out to chat about the past. You don't mind, do you?"

He spoke lightly, but Duan Yuhan didn't believe him.

Even if they were just chatting about the past, why outside the ranch? And so late? He probably kidnapped Sima Wanqing to force her to perform the Rainbow Feather Dance. This monk treated Lieyun Ranch like it was uninhabited, daring to harass his wife; given Duan Yuhan's personality, he'd probably kill him without hesitation.

Seeing his expression change slightly, Sima Wanqing hurriedly grabbed his hand, "Let's go back. I'm tired." Duan

Yuhan's eyes flickered as he looked at her questioningly, as if to say, "Aren't you angry about his rudeness? "

Sima Wanqing smiled slightly at him, "Master was just bored and came to chat with me. Ultimately, he was just impatient to see the Rainbow Feather Dance, and meant no harm." Since

she said this, Duan Yuhan couldn't easily go against her wishes. She had always been kind and considerate of others.

Under the moonlight, Sima Wanqing's beautiful eyes sparkled, her beauty surpassing even her former glory, yet Duan Yuhan felt her complexion was somewhat strange, as if she were sickly pale. Seeing him staring intently at her, she felt a little guilty. She wasn't good at lying.

Duan Yuhan turned to Bamok, "We will not pursue today's matter for now. But please, Master, do not act recklessly in the future, otherwise, you will bear all the consequences."

His words carried a strong warning. Bamok didn't care and walked away on his own.

"You all go back,"

he instructed Feng San and the others, and they quickly rode away.

Under the clear, cold moonlight, he frowned. "You don't need to chat with him until so late. Look at you, you look so pale."

His fingertips traced her brow, as gentle as a spring breeze caressing her face. She lowered her eyes. "Let's go back."

Faced with his tenderness, she couldn't reciprocate with the same gentleness.

He lifted her onto his horse, holding her hands tightly from behind, and rode back.

"Holding hands, growing old together"? Ten months ago, under the same clear moonlight, they were so deeply in love, wishing only to be together for eternity. But now, in the misty night, the chill of the night wind, the cold of the Xuanbing poison within her, couldn't compare to the chill of her utter despair for him. His hands were warm, but they were merely a spark in the dead of winter, unable to warm her, and she would never approach him again, not even for a moment.

If fate decreed that they were mortal enemies, then let their past love be buried forever. It was him, the one who orchestrated the deaths of her father and brother; it was him, the one who seized the Sima family's Lieyun Ranch. From beginning to end, he had been deceiving her, deceiving her feelings, deceiving her heart. Perhaps he did have some love for her, but that love was too weak, completely unable to overcome the other thoughts in his heart.

Sima Wanqing told herself that no matter why he wanted to harm her father and brother, what's done is done, and that alone was enough for her to kill him a thousand times over.

Back at Gongyu Xiaozhu, Duan Yuhan, as usual, let her rest her head on his arm and fall into a deep sleep. Was he completely unsuspecting while he slept?

Sima Wanqing quietly circulated her internal energy, and instantly, a bone-chilling cold and a feverish warmth surged violently within her body. Her body was completely out of her control, and she secretly hated herself for not acting sooner. Before her was the perfect opportunity to subdue Duan Yuhan, yet she was completely unable to use her martial arts.

The two surging forces within her made her dizzy and disoriented. Exhausted from a night of running around, she finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Duan Yuhan woke up before Chenshi (7-9 AM) as usual. Although he had stayed up late the night before, he still habitually woke up this early. As usual, Sima Wanqing kicked the blanket aside, revealing half of her body. He sighed softly; in his eyes, she was still a child.

He bent down to cover her with the blanket, tucking a corner of it over her shoulder. Her small face was hidden by her hair, so he casually brushed it aside to help her breathe more easily.

Her small face was revealed, flushed, even her ears were red. Was she sick? Duan Yuhan touched her forehead, but it was icy cold to the touch.

Sima Wanqing felt his hand and suddenly woke up. She saw his delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, his face so close to hers. She instinctively stepped back. He withdrew his hand, his heart filled with doubt. Her first reaction upon waking was to avoid him! Did she know something?

"Qing, are you sick?"

He withdrew his hand. "I'm fine."

Sima Wanqing didn't want him to see through her, so she turned her head slightly.

"Look for yourself."

He took a mirror from the dressing table and handed it to her. In the mirror, her cheeks were flushed, sickly yet beautiful.

She forced a smile and casually tucked her hair behind her ear. "It's just that the blanket was too hot, don't make a fuss." After

a good night's sleep, the cold poison in her body had calmed down considerably, and now she could move her hands and feet freely without any major discomfort.

"Get up, wash up, and eat. I'll call the doctor to come and take a look later."

He tried to pull her up, but she quickly jumped out of bed. Her hands were icy cold; she couldn't let him notice. Her deliberate and unintentional avoidance only made him more suspicious.

A servant's voice rang out from outside, "Reporting to the master, Steward Hu has important business to discuss."

What could be so important that he had to report so early? Duan Yuhan vaguely felt that Hu Tian's arrival was related to what happened last night. Sima Wanqing inwardly groaned. If Hu Tian harbored even the slightest suspicion towards her and then told Duan Yuhan, her plan to ambush him would be ruined. Sima Wanqing quietly circulated her internal energy; she had to seize the moment and not miss any opportunity.

Xiao Yu brought in water for the two of them to wash up. As Sima Wanqing was getting dressed and about to get out of bed, a sudden burst of starlight flashed before her eyes, and silence fell around her. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed limply. When she opened her eyes again, she clearly heard his heartbeat, its rhythm matching hers. She was being held diagonally in his arms.

"Call Doctor Sun over."

Since Lu Jingqiao was taken away by Feng San, the ranch had been calling on Doctor Sun most frequently. It was said that he came from a family of doctors and his medical skills were extremely high.

Sima Wanqing wanted to say no, but she knew it would be useless. If Doctor Sun came to examine her and found that she was suffering from cold poison, coupled with Hu Tian's report on last night's events, Duan Yuhan, being intelligent, would naturally understand everything. Even if he couldn't bear to kill her, she feared she would never have another chance for revenge. Her

only chance was to subdue him now. Suddenly, a rumble of thunder sounded outside the window, followed by a torrential downpour, the heavy patter of rain striking her heart. Looking out, she saw only the once vibrant pink gauze curtains, now faded and worn. If fate destined her to die soon, she would not let him go unpunished. The love that had once been unwavering could not withstand the intense hatred, slowly eroded, just as the gauze curtains faded with too much sun and rain.

Now, in his arms, she could easily strike his Yunmen point with a single finger. The Yunmen point, the hollow below his collarbone, was closest to her right hand.

The killer must pay the price. Enduring the torment of both heat and cold, she slowly concentrated her inner strength at the tip of her right index finger, and very, very slowly, she thrust it towards his Yunmen point. She could only succeed; failure was not an option.

Duan Yuhan sensed Sima Wanqing's sudden stiffness more acutely than anyone else. She gazed out the window, her face flushed, a resolute glint in her eyes—a beauty that outshone even the most beautiful peach blossoms. An invisible, almost imperceptible, killing intent pressed down on him, leaving him no escape, his heart clenching with pain.

His exceptionally intelligent wife finally knew everything. She was targeting Yunmen; he knew it. Was she going to subdue him, interrogate him thoroughly, or truly take his life?

In an instant, a wave of heartache washed over him. The needle in his heart twitched strangely, its tip piercing his heart mercilessly, the sharp pain feeling as if it were tearing him in two. Then, this excruciating pain rapidly spread from that point throughout his body. Even with his fortitude, he involuntarily clenched his fists. However, he would never show weakness to anyone, so Sima Wanqing remained completely oblivious.

The current situation was entirely his doing. He was the one who sacrificed his life to save her; he was also the one who destroyed her happiness. Looking back, if he regretted his actions, he would stubbornly say no. He would never regret revenge, but how could he repay her debt? With his life?

Gazing at Sima Wanqing's fragile figure nestled in his arms, he knew she was faking it, yet his heart still fluttered.

At this moment, he wouldn't expose their pretense. Once they spoke out, she would only feel coldness and hatred towards him. Even if he spared no expense to beg for her forgiveness, it would likely be impossible. The temporary tenderness was an illusion, and he knew it, yet he couldn't bear to shatter this beautiful facade.

Her finger, without hesitation, pierced his Yunmen point, but her fingertip suddenly slipped. Duan Yuhan seemed to have inadvertently shifted his body, perfectly deflecting the force gathered in her fingertip. It's like trying your hardest to catch a ball, but it just barely misses; no matter how much strength you have, you can't reach it.

She understood better than anyone the fleeting nature of opportunity. In an instant, frustration, hatred, and despair overwhelmed her. The alternating pain of heat and cold within her body intensified, and she could no longer hold on. In her unconscious state, a deep sorrow lingered on her brow.

Outside the window, the heavy rain gradually stopped, and several streams of rain slid down the eaves. Through the gauze window, behind the stagnant, dim red backdrop, raindrops mingled, shrouding the entire Lieyun Ranch in a hazy mist.

Chapter 37: On the Brink of Life and Death (Part 1)

After an unknown amount of time, Sima Wanqing vaguely heard someone whispering beside her, and a hand placed on her left wrist to check her pulse. She tried to wake up, but like a nightmare, she was trapped in a bottomless vortex, unable to climb out.

Faintly, someone touched the Tan Zhong point at the junction of her Ren and Ren meridians on her chest. Though it was only a single finger's strength, the slight stinging sensation of that wisp of true energy instantly brought her to a sudden clarity, jolting her awake.

She lay on the bed, Duan Yuhan's hand removed from her chest. His dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, devoid of any light, like endless darkness, yet strangely calm. He didn't speak, silently getting up to let a man in his thirties come over. Those dark eyes, that silence, were like the calm before a storm; the heavy atmosphere in the air made it difficult for her to breathe. Little by little, her heart sank. Did he know she had discovered the truth?

She quickly looked around the room; the one who came to check her pulse must be Doctor Sun. Unaware of what he had gleaned while she was unconscious, the person standing there surprised her even more—it was Hu Tian. Had Hu Tian already told Duan Yuhan about last night's events?

The unease in her expression vanished in an instant, but Duan Yuhan noticed it all. Hu Tian had just reported last night's events to him, and the first thing that came to his mind was Sima Wanqing's disappearance last night; the two events were too coincidental. However, Hu Tian said that two women and one man had visited his residence last night. If one of them was Sima Wanqing, then who were the other two? Could one of them be Bamok?

Last night, the hunting dogs followed the scent of the lost deer, clearly heading all the way to Jingzhai, and then encountering Sima Wanqing and Bamok outside the pasture. If Sima Wanqing had changed into night clothes before going out, how did she change back into her original scented clothes? The more Duan Yuhan thought about it, the more questions arose.

Seeing Doctor Sun carefully taking her pulse, Sima Wanqing's heart stirred, and she tried her best to control her heartbeat, thereby disrupting her pulse.

Doctor Sun's expression grew increasingly serious and astonished. Finally, he rose and reported to Duan Yuhan, "Madam's pulse is erratic, completely irregular. Several streams of true energy are stagnant and incompatible within her body, which is why her face is flushed and her skin is cold. In my diagnosis, it is likely due to a qi deviation during cultivation."

This Doctor Sun was quite capable, actually diagnosing the entanglement of several streams of true energy within her. But he had still been fooled by Sima Wanqing.

She silently breathed a sigh of relief; it was fortunate he hadn't noticed the cold poison. Hu Tian couldn't be sure that the person from last night was her, and Duan Yuhan couldn't be sure she knew the truth. As long as she didn't directly clash with him, as long as she didn't die for the time being, she still had a chance to ambush Duan Yuhan.

Hu Tian was also stunned. When he reported last night's events to Duan Yuhan, he had concealed the fact that one of the women was poisoned by the Xuanbing poison. What if that woman really was Sima Wanqing, and she really died from the Xuanbing poison? Duan Yuhan would probably kill him; he dared not speak carelessly.

He had just seen Sima Wanqing lying listlessly in bed, and strongly suspected she was the one who had been poisoned last night. He was glad he hadn't reported everything to Duan Yuhan. He was only wondering how she could still be alive after being poisoned. Now, after hearing Doctor Sun's diagnosis, he was confused.

Duan Yuhan, however, immediately recalled that a few days ago at the hot springs, Sima Wanqing's internal energy had also been chaotic, almost leading to a qi deviation. Could it be that she wanted revenge and intensified her training, which was why she was like this?

Seeing Sima Wanqing's condition, Hu Tian felt there was no point in staying and quickly excused himself. Duan Yuhan didn't keep him, but instead placed his palm against Sima Wanqing's palm, slightly circulating his internal energy to sense her internal energy. He frowned slightly; her internal energy was different from that at the hot springs. Last time, her internal energy was turbulent, but this time it was completely blocked. Stagnant internal energy is a major taboo in martial arts, causing paralysis at best and death at worst. How could she be in such a serious condition?

"Madam's illness cannot be cured by medicine. In my opinion, it requires the help of someone with profound internal energy to guide her qi back to its source,"

Doctor Sun offered his opinion. His words seemed reasonable, yet they were also platitudes. Sima Wanqing turned her face away. She didn't know if Duan Yuhan believed Doctor Sun, nor did she want to know what he would do next.

Watching her actions, Duan Yuhan felt the piercing pain in his chest intensify. However, he couldn't tell if it was the needle causing the problem, or the heartbreak of her indifference.

He remained silent, slowly increasing the internal energy in his palm, trying to force it into her body. His internal energy, however, clashed with the powerful coldness and intense heat within her. He was somewhat surprised; it wasn't like this last time.

A soft spot in her heart seemed to be stirred, and Sima Wanqing suddenly felt a lump in her throat. What did he know? He still wanted to save her? If so many things hadn't happened, they would have been each other's most cherished and intimate companions for life.

Duan Yuhan released her hand, took a handkerchief from under the pillow, and gently wiped away the tears that overflowed from beneath her long eyelashes. She dared not open her eyes, afraid that if she did, the tears would flow even more uncontrollably. She had sworn never to shed another tear for him, so why were they still grieving for each other? Her rational mind could not suppress the surging emotions.

A soft silk handkerchief brushed against her eyes, and in that moment, she heard his inner sigh, heavy and helpless. She barely managed to control her palpitations, opening her eyes, but her blurred vision prevented her from seeing his face clearly.

"I...I'm just feeling unwell,"

she said, trying to conceal her sadness, a mere attempt to cover it up. His gaze turned to the window. His wife didn't need to say these things. He knew her every smile and frown perfectly; how could he not understand what she was thinking in those fleeting moments of genuine emotion?

Doctor Sun hurriedly stepped forward, "Madam's discomfort is probably due to the difference in the strength and gentleness of Young Master Duan's inner energy, causing a conflict."

His speculation was not unreasonable. Last time at the hot springs, Duan Yuhan had clearly been able to help Sima Wanqing restore her inner energy, yet there was no conflict between their internal forces.

Duan Yuhan summoned Xiaoyu to lead Doctor Sun out to collect the consultation fee, but he remained puzzled. He then ordered a servant to bring Lu Jingqiao over, still believing in the superior medical skills of "Miraculous Hands That Even Ghosts Fear." Sima Wanqing was a little nervous as he summoned Lu Jingqiao. She didn't want Lu Jingqiao to expose her, but she couldn't stop him now.

Lu Jingqiao hadn't shown himself for a long time; he was indeed under his control. She closed her eyes dejectedly. Everything was orchestrated by Duan Yuhan; why should she be moved by him?

Duan Yuhan quietly walked to the window, not disturbing her. On the hillside outside, several children could be seen chasing and playing, covered in mud, but they seemed to be having a great time. Many years ago, he had also accompanied her through a happy childhood. Back then, just seeing her radiant smile would sweep away any worries or frustrations he might have.

His uncle brought him to the ranch, giving him a vast and free sky, and she was the rising sun in that sky, illuminating his world and bringing him warmth and light. Long ago, he had said he would never betray her in this life. But today, he feared that no matter how much love or care he gave, she wouldn't accept it.

He couldn't even, and dared not, ask for her forgiveness. He feared that if he did, he wouldn't even have the chance to wipe away her tears.

The wind whistled in through the window. The post-rain wind carried the fragrance of the grass, mixed with a slight earthy smell. That smell brought a cold, chilling atmosphere to the room. The surroundings were eerily quiet.

In the deathly silence, Lu Jingqiao entered. Sima Wanqing had long assumed he had sided with Duan Yuhan, and now she disdained to see him, turning her face away without uttering a word.

Lu Jingqiao carefully took her pulse, then examined her complexion, tongue, lips, and eyes. When examining her eyes, Sima Wanqing had no choice but to look at him. Having not seen him for a long time, this once-renowned physician looked much more haggard, the wrinkles around his eyes more pronounced.

Perhaps he was forced to lie to save his own life. He was just an ordinary person; the desire to live and the fear of death are only human nature. Feng San might have been threatening his entire family's lives, so his choice to lie was understandable. If he had insisted on not lying and sacrificed his family's lives, Sima Wanqing would have felt guilty.

Sima Wanqing's innate kindness suddenly resurfaced, and unconsciously, she no longer found Lu Jingqiao so hateful and despicable.

Lu Jingqiao looked at her, his expression extremely complicated, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"How is she?"

Duan Yuhan didn't want to mention Doctor Sun's diagnosis; he wanted to see what Lu Jingqiao's diagnosis was.

"Madam's body is imbalanced in temperature, with cold energy spreading throughout her limbs, yet her internal heat is stagnant in her chest. It's likely that she suffered a qi deviation during her cultivation and caught a cold."

Sima Wanqing was stunned by Lu Jingqiao's words. Lu Jingqiao had previously diagnosed Sima Xu with the Xuanbing Poison. There was no reason he wouldn't be able to tell she was poisoned.

Lu Jingqiao naturally recognized the Xuanbing Poison in Sima Wanqing. Based on his deduction, she was probably harmed by Feng San and his associates. That day, the person who forced him to overturn Sima Wanqing's true identity was Feng San, but he always felt that the mastermind behind it all was Duan Yuhan, who ultimately gained power. At this moment, he didn't know why Duan Yuhan had summoned him to treat her. He only knew that if he told the truth, it would likely mean Sima Wanqing was formally declaring war on the enemy forces within the ranch, and he absolutely couldn't put her in danger.

“Madam’s internal energy cultivation follows a masculine and domineering path, but Madam is, after all, a woman’s constitution. Over time, this will naturally lead to a disharmony between masculinity and femininity, and an imbalance of yin and yang. There is also a fierce energy forcibly residing in Madam’s body, which cannot be integrated with Madam’s own true energy.

In addition, there is the invasion of damp and cold evil energy, which is why Madam is like this.” Lu Jingqiao continued to speak to himself, analyzing logically, but his palms were sweating profusely. If Duan Yuhan found out that he was lying, he would be in grave danger.

Sima Wanqing’s heart was pounding. She had already felt Lu Jingqiao’s protection of her. Was he helping her because he felt guilty? Or was there another reason?

Duan Yuhan nodded slightly. Lu Jingqiao’s diagnosis was largely consistent with Doctor Sun’s, only more detailed. Indeed, there was no precedent in the Sima family for a woman practicing the “Supreme Heaven-Supreme Heart Method.” If the Sima family had not only Sima Wanqing as an heir, Sima Lie would not have passed on the Heart Method to her.

Could it be that the internal energy Sima Lie passed on to her before his death was too fierce and domineering, incompatible with a woman's constitution, thus preventing her from fully integrating with his internal energy? Coupled with the invasion of cold energy last night, is that why her body is so weak? But why can't she accept his internal energy now?

"Is there any way to treat this?"

Duan Yuhan had complete faith in Lu Jingqiao's judgment and ideas.

Lu Jingqiao hesitated slightly before explaining the treatment method, "I have some secret medicinal pills at home, very effective for regulating qi and nourishing the body. I will retrieve them and give them to Madam. Then, I will use the golden needle technique to loosen and guide the stagnant true qi in her chest. If the golden needle technique is ineffective, we must find someone with superb internal strength to forcibly break down the true qi within her body."

He paused, then added, "It must be done as soon as possible; delaying may endanger her life."

In fact, ever since Sima Xu died from the Xuanbing poison, Lu Jingqiao had been diligently researching methods to neutralize it. By now, he had developed a pill primarily composed of the Mind-Protecting Ganoderma lucidum, which, according to pharmacology, was highly effective in removing cold toxins. However, he had never tested the pill's efficacy and couldn't guarantee it would be effective in detoxifying.

The so-called "golden needle treatment" was the most advanced acupuncture technique, an excellent method for removing rare poisons from the body. Sima Xu and Sima Lie died before they could receive this treatment after being poisoned, so Lu Jingqiao was very confident in this method. He added that if a master had to force the poison out, it would be the last resort when all hope was lost.

He had dedicated his life to medicine and refused to believe there was any poison he couldn't cure. Treating Sima Wanqing now was not only a way to repay the Sima family's past kindness but also a challenge and proof of his medical skills. He secretly resolved to do everything in his power.

A glimmer of hope flashed through Sima Wanqing's heart. She didn't expect the poison to be truly cured; she only hoped that heaven would give her enough time to take revenge.

Duan Yuhan instructed Lu Jingqiao to immediately go back and get the pill, then went to the bedside. He gazed intently at Sima Wanqing, his gentle yet sharp gaze piercing her heart. Every corner of her soul seemed to be under his watchful eye, yet this only brought her a sense of calm, allowing her to meet his gaze with composure.

"No matter what, I will not let you die."

His tone was firm, yet his voice was soft, as if he had never spoken. If it weren't for the deep kiss he followed on her forehead, she would have almost thought his words were a hallucination.

He stubbornly grasped her soft hand, holding it tightly. She naturally tried to pull away, but he gripped it firmly, so tightly that she almost cried from the pain. No one could take her away from him—not even heaven, not even she.

The look of unwavering determination on his lips was all too familiar to her. She remembered when she was ten years old, seeing a beautiful flower on the cliff of Qili Peak, and telling him she wanted it. He, facing the steep precipice, had also worn that same look of unwavering determination. Although his lightness skill was poor then, and he often nearly fell off the cliff, he persevered. Even after she repeatedly declared she didn't want it anymore, he wouldn't listen. Finally, he picked the flower and happily presented it to her.

From that moment on, she knew that once he set his mind on something, no one could change it.

Lost in thought, Sima Wanqing looked at the gloomy sky outside the gauze window and suddenly thought of Sima Bing. "I want to see Bing'er."

Her voice, though weak, was still clear. Speaking of the child, a tender and loving expression naturally appeared on her face.

"Bing'er is taking a nap."

His son, and also her son. Could he use the child to move her? Duan Yuhan immediately realized this.

"I want to see him."

Regardless of whether she could live or die, she only wanted to see Bing'er. Duan Yuhan immediately asked Xiaoyu to bring the child over and ordered some side dishes and rice porridge to be prepared.

He thought of how she hadn't eaten since morning, yet she was still so thoughtful and considerate. Unfortunately, she could no longer bear his affection. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and she was about to fall into an endless nightmare of darkness again. Her hands were as cold as ice water, and her life was slowly slipping away.

He knew that going to extremes of demonic possession could lead to death. The person he least wanted to lose in this world was her, but even holding her hand so tightly, could he not defy fate?

She repeatedly reminded herself that she couldn't just fall asleep like this, but no part of her body was under her control. She tried to open her eyes to find light, but instead fell into darkness.

"Waaah...waaah..."

Sima Bing's loud cries came from beside her. Duan Yuhan took the child, pulled Sima Bing's chubby little hand, and touched it. The child tightly gripped her right little finger, crying loudly and waving his little arms. He didn't know that his mother was on the verge of death, and how heartbroken his father was.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. 04-05
Chapter 38: On the Brink of Life and Death (Part 2)

Sima Wanqing felt her son's soft little hand, pitifully and helplessly pulling at her. The person she loved most was Bing'er, and the person she couldn't bear to part with most was also Bing'er. Perhaps with her death, all love and hatred would vanish, and she could be completely free. But Bing'er would be without a mother, and he would be forever incomplete.

Her eyelashes finally fluttered a few times, and her clear, watery eyes slowly opened. Sima Wanqing, from beginning to end, was a woman born for love.

A glimmer of light flashed in the darkness of Duan Yuhan's deep black eyes. He helped her lean against the headboard and placed the child in her arms. Sima Bing smelled the familiar fragrance of her mother and immediately stopped crying, her little hands curiously playing with the jade bracelet on her mother's left wrist—the Forbidden Spring Bracelet—and occasionally giggling.

That bracelet was proof that Duan Yuhan wanted to keep her by his side for life. It was also from the moment she put it on that everything became ugly and cruel.

Sima Wanqing looked at the child, smiling serenely, but then she noticed that the bracelet, its rich, vibrant green color now faintly showing countless tiny cracks, seemed as if it would shatter at the touch. This seemed to foreshadow the end of their bond.

The desolation and sorrow welling up in her eyes pierced Duan Yuhan's heart. Xiaoyu brought in the porridge, which he casually took, scooped a spoonful, tasted it to check the temperature, then ladled out another spoonful and brought it to her lips.

She turned her head slightly away, not wanting to look at him, and stammered, "I'm not hungry." Her gaze lingered on the child. Duan Yuhan waved for Xiaoyu and the nanny to take the child away.

"Don't be childish, you need to eat a little to have strength."

His tone was calm and gentle, like that of a perfect husband comforting his sick and willful wife.

There was no point in arguing with him over such trivial matters; eating would help her regain some strength. She lowered her eyes, and although she had little appetite, she didn't refuse the porridge at her lips. But the porridge, which was usually delicious, tasted like cardboard today. It stuck in her throat and wouldn't go down.

She forced herself to swallow, and suddenly, a feeling of nausea rose in her throat, and the extreme discomfort in her chest pushed the porridge she had just eaten back up. Her face turned pale instantly, and she felt dizzy and disoriented.

"Qing,"

he said, catching her just in time to prevent her from falling off the bed. She instinctively clung to his arm, her breath coming in gasps. In her helplessness and weakness, did she still need his support? A sudden thought flashed through her mind, and she tried to push him away, but she was too weak to move. He helped her lie down and left. An

unprecedented fear, like a tidal wave, enveloped her, crashing over her wave after wave. When she didn't see him, she was always calm and resolute; when she saw him, her heart was filled with tenderness. Was she not as strong as she thought? Did she not really want to kill him?

Her palms were clammy with cold sweat; she was afraid, afraid of her own obsession with him. If that was the case, she might as well be dead. But even in death, she feared she wouldn't have the face to see her father and brother.

Xiao Yu brought in water and cleaned up the mess by the bed before Duan Yuhan came in again.

"Mr. Lu has arrived and is preparing the acupuncture needles."

He carried her into the training room of Gongyu Xiaozhu. This room was next to Sima Bing's bedroom. She usually practiced in her father's old quiet room, but she often came here too. Watching the children while observing Duan Yuhan's training was a happy thing.

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have let you eat."

He carefully placed her on the embroidered couch.

"You think what you're doing is right, but it might not be. You think you're doing it for others' good, but it might not be good for them."

She had never spoken to him so calmly. She wanted to tell him that his revenge was wrong? That his kindness, his love for her, had only brought her pain?

He smiled calmly, as if he hadn't heard her at all. "Be good, don't think about anything."

His smile suddenly reminded her of the datura flowers they had admired together that night—elegant and beautiful, yet even knowing they were extremely poisonous, she had still been tempted and seduced. She tried to banish the memory from her mind; she didn't need to remember those things now.

Lu Jingqiao entered from outside, carefully taking out a jade bottle from his robes. He poured out a snow-white pill the size of a thumb, showed it to Duan Yuhan, and then placed it in Sima Wanqing's mouth, letting her dissolve it. This medicine had never been tested before, and its efficacy was uncertain. But at this point, he could only take a chance.

The pill tasted slightly bitter at first, but after dissolving, it had a subtle sweetness. The refreshing sensation made her inexplicably comfortable. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a cool sensation returned to her lower abdomen. Lu Jingqiao inquired about her feelings, then took out a set of his usual gold needles from his medicine box, looking somewhat hesitant. "Can we begin the gold needle treatment?" During the gold needle treatment, the person being treated must be completely naked; only then would the needles be accurately applied and the force precisely measured. This was precisely what troubled Lu Jingqiao. He naturally knew that every husband didn't want another man to see his wife's naked body. Duan Yuhan was especially so.

"There's no need to worry too much about healing and saving lives. I believe Mr. Lu is a truly sincere gentleman,"

Duan Yuhan said magnanimously. Lu Jingqiao, however, knew that if he harbored even the slightest evil thought, he would surely die a horrible death.

As Duan Yuhan spoke, he deftly removed Sima Wanqing's undergarment, eventually even removing the faint red stain on her chest. She involuntarily closed her eyes. Although she knew it was a critical time, done to save a life, she still felt uncomfortable undressing in front of another man.

Lu Jingqiao solemnly withdrew his golden needles and inserted them one by one from her neck down to her lower abdomen: Tiantu, Tanzhong, Jiuwei, Zhongwan, Shuifen, Qihai, Guanyuan, Zhongji, and then from bottom to top, he stimulated Dahe, Daju, Qi, Tianshu, Riyue, Qimen, Huozhong, Yufu, Qishe, and other acupoints. The needled points expanded from a single line to a wide area, and the warmth in her chest grew stronger.

"How is it?"

Clearly it was expelling poison, but he pretended it was guiding qi back to its source, Lu Jingqiao asked subtly.

"Continue,"

she replied vaguely.

The golden needles then landed on her left arm, on acupoints like Hegu, Shaochong, and Quchi. Only after pricking over a hundred large needles on her limbs, head, and back did Lu Jingqiao pause to observe. An hour later, both the acupuncturist and the recipient were drenched in sweat.

Although the cold qi in Sima Wanqing's body had slightly eased under the stimulation of the golden needles, seemingly lessening considerably with the needles being withdrawn, it still stubbornly lingered. A faint bluish tinge appeared on her fair skin, a sign that the accumulated cold poison in her internal organs and bone marrow was gradually shifting and dissipating. Duan

Yuhan was slightly surprised. Common knowledge in the martial arts world indicated bluish skin, especially a symptom of cold poison. How could this be a case of qi deviation? But how could Lu Jingqiao's diagnosis be wrong? His gaze fell on Lu Jingqiao. Lu Jingqiao felt uneasy and subconsciously avoided his gaze.

Duan Yuhan suddenly thought of a possibility. Given Sima Wanqing's martial arts skills today, for her to become so weak and even life-threatening in such a short time, if she had been poisoned by the cold poison, it could only be the Xuanbing poison. And the Xuanbing poison, within a radius of several hundred miles around the ranch, was only found at Hu Tian's place. So one of the people who went to Hu Tian's place last night was her.

As for Bamok helping her cover it up, and Lu Jingqiao saying she had gone mad, ultimately, it was all because he was afraid he would harm her. Outsiders would never understand; they wouldn't understand that she was a part of his life.

Regardless of whether his hypothesis was right or wrong, he just wanted her to live.

"What can I do?"

Duan Yuhan asked calmly as Lu Jingqiao gave her two more pills and prepared to begin the second round of acupuncture. He didn't want Lu Jingqiao to conceal any methods of treating her because he wanted to cover something up.

“This… Young Master can use his internal energy to help me. However… the method of circulating the energy is different from usual.”

Lu Jingqiao hesitated for a moment before speaking, “The true energy doesn’t need to circulate through the microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits. The true energy should arrive at the location where the golden needles are inserted.”

Normally, after the golden needles are inserted, the cold poison should completely overflow from the body, but at this moment, besides Sima Wanqing’s bluish complexion, there was no expected moisture evaporation from the affected area, indicating the potency of the poison. At this moment, saving her life was the most important thing; even if Duan Yuhan had some doubts about him, he couldn’t care less. Duan

Yuhan was even more certain of his earlier guess, but he didn’t want to reveal it. He simply sat cross-legged beside her as instructed, placing his right palm on her Baihui point, continuously channeling his internal energy into this convergence point of the meridians.

“Tiantu,” “Shanzhong,” “Jiuwei”… as the golden needles were inserted, rotated, and withdrawn one by one, Duan Yuhan’s powerful internal energy followed the needles, gradually dispersing the stagnant cold energy. Starting with the thirty major points of the Du Meridian, the twenty-five major points of the Ren Meridian, the fourteenth of the Yin Wei Meridian, and the thirty-second of the Yang Wei Meridian… each point was stimulated one by one, and the toxins were expelled one by one using internal energy. Later, when the golden needles were withdrawn, a faint mist emanated from the insertion points. Lu Jingqiao secretly felt relieved; with Duan Yuhan's internal energy assistance, his method was indeed very effective.

As more and more white mist emanated from Sima Wanqing's body, Lu Jingqiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Unbeknownst to him, the second round of golden needle treatment was completed, and another two hours had passed.

Sima Wanqing felt an unusual calm within her, a warm and comforting sensation as if she were basking in the gentle spring sunshine, too lazy to do anything but fall asleep.

Duan Yuhan's exertion of his internal energy was equivalent to opening up all eight extraordinary meridians in Sima Wanqing's body, a hundred times more arduous than when he helped her restore her vital energy in the hot springs last time. His face was pale, his undergarments completely soaked, but he remained energetic, naturally because he saw her complexion turning rosy.

"Feeling better?"

he asked her softly. She didn't know how to answer, whether to be happy or indifferent. He had saved her again; she couldn't deny it.

Lu Jingqiao took her pulse and said, "I'll prescribe some more tonics to replenish your energy and spirit. Just focus on recuperating, Madam."

He paused, then, with the compassion of a physician, added, "The internal energy cultivation you just did is beyond the capabilities of ordinary people. Young Master's energy hasn't fully recovered yet; you mustn't recklessly use your true energy within twelve hours, or you might suffer serious injury or even death."

Duan Yuhan smiled and stood up, carefully helping Sima Wanqing put on her undergarments

. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Lu," he said, but a metallic taste suddenly welled up in his throat. He pursed his lips and swallowed the blood. Suddenly, Sima Bing's loud crying came from next door. Sima Wanqing, extremely weak after being detoxified, was already drowsy. Hearing the crying, she was startled awake.

Sima Bing crying was normal, but this time it was strange because he only cried once before abruptly stopping. Duan Yuhan seemed to sense something, his heart pounding wildly. He quickly opened the door to see what was happening.

Sima Bing's bedroom door was tightly closed, and the faint sound of crying could still be heard outside. However, the crying seemed suppressed, as if it came through a heavy door, muffled and strained. The child's door was an ordinary wooden door, not made of iron or bronze, so why was it like this?

With Duan Yuhan's intelligence, he instantly guessed the most terrifying possibility. The reason the crying suddenly became muffled was that someone had covered the child's mouth with a blanket or cloth. The wet nurse wouldn't do that, because they wouldn't punish her for crying. Therefore, there was only one possibility: an outsider had come in to take the child and was hiding the crying to avoid attracting attention.

Someone had once tried to kidnap Sima Wanqing out of greed, so it was possible someone might be after Sima Bing. If

that person was controlling the child inside, how could he get the child back unharmed?

Duan Yuhan slowly approached the door, about to listen intently to the sounds inside. Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps inside, and the door swung open. The person who opened the door was, at first glance, a wet nurse holding a baby, but Duan Yuhan's eyes were sharp enough to immediately notice her long, slender fingernails. To prevent scratching the baby, a wet nurse would never have long fingernails. Moreover, her sleeves were covering the baby's face, clearly to muffle the crying.

"It's time to settle the monthly allowance. Go to the accounting office to collect your money. Give me the baby,"

Duan Yuhan said casually, slowly extending his hand.

The fake wet nurse hadn't expected Duan Yuhan to be standing right outside the door, and panicked for a moment. If she didn't give him the baby, Duan Yuhan would immediately notice something was wrong; she was no match for him. But if she gave him the baby, wouldn't all her efforts have been for nothing?

Chapter 39: The Pretense Becomes Real

Just as Duan Yuhan's hand was about to touch Sima Bing's swaddling clothes, the fake wet nurse hurriedly retreated. His hand moved with lightning speed, like a shadow.

A sharp sound, like a blade slicing through the air, reached Duan Yuhan's ears from behind. The fake wet nurse's accomplice planned a "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" strategy, intending to force him to retaliate and allow her to take the child away. Duan Yuhan wouldn't let them succeed; even if he were injured, he would never let the child fall into enemy hands.

The person behind him seemed to understand his thoughts. The sword suddenly stopped, and a man's low voice said, "If you don't want the child to get hurt, stop immediately." This reminded the fake wet nurse, and her hand quickly moved to the child's neck. "Step back."

Duan Yuhan looked at Sima Bing's delicate face and dejectedly withdrew his hand. He couldn't risk the child for fear of harming the child.

Strangely, the more the man deliberately lowered his voice, the more Duan Yuhan felt that he definitely knew him. If he didn't know him, the man wouldn't need to disguise his voice.

Just now, when he tried to snatch the child back, he had unknowingly used his true energy. Now that his true energy had subsided, his arm felt weak and powerless. He quietly took a breath, wanting to try again, but he was too weak. He had just used too much true energy to treat Sima Wanqing, and now he was severely injured. If it weren't for his profound skill, he would probably be bedridden by now, let alone standing here and fighting.

His body was like a strong elastic band; after being stretched for a long time under excessive load, it needed to relax and rest to regain its elasticity. If it didn't rest and remained in an expanded state, it might never regain its elasticity, becoming just an ordinary rope, or even breaking.

"Let's go." The man behind him floated over, pulling the fake wet nurse away. This man was dressed in the most ordinary stable boy's clothes from the ranch. At first glance, he was just a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, but his dashing and debonair manner could not be concealed. His movements were extremely graceful and agile, clearly indicating that his martial arts skills were not weak.

For a moment, Duan Yuhan thought of someone, that young man who was as dazzling as Sima Wanqing, with the same radiant smile—Pei Mubai.

"Madam, take care of your health."

Some time later, Sima Wanqing came out of the training room, leaning weakly against the door frame, with Lu Jingqiao following behind her worriedly. She wore the dark cloak he used to keep warm at night, her face pale in the dim light of the setting sun, her beautiful eyes, clear and bright, serene yet melancholic. A sudden gust of wind lifted a corner of the cloak, revealing a thin, light red silk undergarment beneath, her graceful curves faintly visible. Her jade-like hands gently pressed the cloak, the fabric fluttering as if she were about to ride the wind away.

Pei Mubai and Feifei had not failed her. No matter the danger or difficulty, they would help her take the child away. But now that Duan Yuhan had discovered them, how could they escape unscathed?

As Duan Yuhan turned, he saw Sima Wanqing's appearance clearly and suddenly had a strange feeling. His wife, like a figure in a painting, though seemingly close, was actually very far away from him.

The fake nanny suddenly said, "Duan Yuhan, you'd better do as I say now. Otherwise, I'll kill your son."

Judging from her voice, she was a young girl. Her words seemed to startle the man who resembled Pei Mubai. He tried to pull her away, but she struggled fiercely. The child cried loudly, and the man, seemingly afraid of hurting the child from the struggle, had no choice but to let go.

"What do you want?"

Duan Yuhan answered calmly. If it was a kidnapping, it would simply be for money. What did money mean to him?

"I want you to cut off your own arms."

These words clearly indicated that he didn't want money, but revenge. The girl's hateful words alerted Duan Yuhan.

The girl who had a grudge against him, the man with considerable martial arts skills and elegant demeanor, Sima Wanqing poisoned by Xuanbing—all the events connected. The two women and one man who went to Hu Tian's place last night—Duan Yuhan finally understood who they were. Sima Wanqing, Pei Mubai, and Feifei were the most likely three.

But why would Pei Mubai and Feifei come to kidnap Sima Bing? Duan Yuhan didn't understand. Given Pei Mubai's relationship with the Sima family, he wouldn't harm Sima Bing.

Sima Wanqing slowly walked over, her slightly worried gaze sweeping over Feifei. This made Duan Yuhan suddenly realize that taking Sima Bing away was her idea. She hated him, she didn't want the child with him, she wanted revenge, and she wanted the child to stay out of it.

However, she never expected that Feifei would use the child to threaten Duan Yuhan for revenge.

For Feifei, the idea was simple: in terms of martial arts, cunning, and strength, she had almost no chance of revenge. But fate had given her an opportunity. She wanted Duan Yuhan to exchange his life for his son's.

Sima Wanqing believed Feifei wouldn't harm the child. But what if she did? Although she and Feifei shared a common hatred, they weren't close. At this moment, she couldn't be sure Feifei wouldn't hurt the child.

"What, you're unwilling?"

Feifei sneered, lightly pinching the child's leg. The child kicked wildly, crying heart-wrenchingly. The cries tugged at Sima Wanqing's heart. Duan Yuhan's

calm eyes were like an unfathomable lake. "Kill me if you want,"

he said, his utterly indifferent expression chilling Feifei to the bone. Was this man heartless, indifferent even to the life or death of his own flesh and blood?

His calm refusal was exactly what Sima Wanqing had expected. Feifei was far too naive and innocent. She childishly used Sima Bing to threaten Duan Yuhan, thinking that this would avenge Xuan Ying? She had never truly experienced the terrifying power of Duan Yuhan.

"Give me the child,"

Pei Mubai said, also surprised by Feifei's move. At this moment, he only wanted to protect Sima Bing. No one could harm the child.

Feifei quickly stepped back. "Get out of the way,"

she said, placing her hand on Sima Bing's delicate neck. A slight pressure would kill the child. Pei Mubai dared not force her and could only stop there.

Feifei was torn by an internal struggle; Duan Yuhan's answer had taken her completely by surprise. Was she really going to injure the child next, then force Duan Yuhan to commit the crime? On one side was the innocent infant, on the other, the blood feud for her master's murder—which was more important?

The surroundings were quiet; everyone's eyes were on Feifei. Feifei gritted her teeth. If Duan Yuhan could be cruel, why couldn't she be ruthless?

She picked up the child's chubby left hand. "Fine, if you won't cut off your own arms, I'll break his fingers one by one." Even

as she said this, she felt a chill run down her spine.

Sima Wanqing hadn't expected Feifei to be so terrifying. The child's cries grew louder, and tears streamed down her face without her realizing it. Pei Mubai stared anxiously at Feifei's hand, and even Lu Jingqiao beside him wrung his hands nervously, unsure how to help the child. Of everyone present, Duan Yuhan remained the most unmoved, a faint smile even playing on his lips.

"You...you must save Bing'er!"

Although Sima Wanqing believed Duan Yuhan would definitely find a way to save her son, she was still in a state of utter confusion. If Feifei wanted her to cut off her left arm, she would have done so long ago.

"Why should I save someone I don't care about?"

Duan Yuhan sneered, his resentful gaze piercing Sima Wanqing.

His sudden resentment startled Sima Wanqing, causing her to take a step back. "What did you say?"

"Why should I cut off both my arms to save your son?"

Duan Yuhan looked at Sima Wanqing mockingly, as if to say, "How long do you intend to keep lying to me?

" Sima Wanqing stammered, "You...you..."

In an instant, her mind raced. Should she deny that the child was her own flesh and blood, and ask Feifei to release the child? Or did she truly not believe that Sima Bing was his child?

"You've only been back at the ranch for eight months, and this little thing was born. Do you think he could be my son?"

Duan Yuhan's tone was chillingly gloomy.

Feifei was stunned. Duan Yuhan was right. She remembered that Sima Wanqing returned to the ranch in May, and she heard that Sima Bing was born in January of this year. So, this child must have nothing to do with Duan Yuhan?

But that didn't make sense. Last night, Sima Wanqing herself told Pei Mubai that she didn't want the child to live with his father, Duan Yuhan.

Moreover, if Duan Yuhan didn't consider the child his own, would he let the child live peacefully on the ranch? Looking at the exquisite details in the child's bedroom, she could infer the love that Duan Yuhan and his wife usually showed the child.

"I'm afraid this child's father is someone else,"

Duan Yuhan said, his icy gaze intentionally or unintentionally shooting towards Pei Mubai. Feifei couldn't help but follow his gaze; Pei Mubai was indeed staring at the child with great concern.

After saying this, Duan Yuhan turned to leave. Sima Wanqing knew that if he left, he would immediately gather the ranch's people to surround Pei Mubai and the others. At that time, who knew what vicious tricks they would use? Pei Mubai and the others would have no chance of escape. Although she wanted to save her child, she didn't want Pei Mubai and Feifei to die.

"Don't go, she really will hurt the child."

She anxiously tugged at his sleeve, but he pushed her away forcefully. Her body was still weak from the recent removal of the cold poison, and the push made her sway precariously. Seeing the sorrow and disappointment on her face, Duan Yuhan felt a pang of pity and almost turned to embrace her, but in an instant, he told himself that he couldn't be soft-hearted and make a mistake in order to save the child. Fortunately, Lu Jingqiao reacted quickly, stepping forward in time to let Sima Wanqing lean against his back, preventing her from falling to the ground.

"Letting you give birth to the child and giving him fine clothes and delicious food is already the limit of my tolerance. Don't push your luck."

A hint of murderous intent flashed in Duan Yuhan's eyes; it seemed he was already dissatisfied with the child and wanted to kill him, but he hadn't done so because of Sima Wanqing.

Sima Wanqing was overwhelmed with emotion. Duan Yuhan's words struck her heart with extraordinary pain. So he had never believed her; so his kindness towards the child was just for show; so he had always suspected Pei Mubai was the child's father. Although she suspected he was deliberately saying it for Feifei's benefit, the murderous intent in his eyes was undeniable.

Whether he was acting or telling the truth, she couldn't bear such words.

"That's right, I shouldn't have expected you to save Bing'er. Bing'er is my son, and has nothing to do with you."

Sima Wanqing straightened up, as if talking to herself. She paused, then stubbornly looked back at Duan Yuhan, "If Father hadn't forced me that day, you and I would be strangers today. If you want to leave, then leave; there's no need for further explanation."

After discovering the truth, she hadn't intended for the child to continue acknowledging him as the father.

Her voice was as gentle as ever, but towards the end, her tone turned as chilling as the autumn wind that withered flowers and leaves, making Duan Yuhan's heart turn cold. Even if she was cooperating with him, it was too convincing. Was she speaking from the heart?

Feifei suddenly realized she had made a huge mistake threatening Duan Yuhan with the child. Duan Yuhan didn't care about the child's life or death, and even wanted to run away. Sima Wanqing had also personally said that the child had nothing to do with Duan Yuhan.

But she still wanted to make one last gamble, "Have you said enough? I'll say it again, if you don't cut off your own arms, I'll break his fingers one by one."

As she spoke, she forcefully pinched Sima Bing's left little finger. To become a good chivalrous thief, her master had taught her ventriloquism, which was very helpful for stealing. Although she couldn't make very complex sounds yet, simply imitating the crisp sound of breaking bones was more than enough.

Sima Bing cried out loudly. Sima Wanqing's face turned pale. Feifei was actually so ruthless? The murderous intent in Duan Yuhan's eyes intensified. No one knew that he was secretly gathering his strength. No matter what happened afterward, he was determined to kill Feifei at this moment.

"What are you doing?"

Pei Mubai was the first to rush to Feifei's side.

Hearing his pained yet reproachful tone, Feifei suddenly realized something and blurted out, "It's you?"

This naturally implied that Pei Mubai was the child's father.

Pei Mubai was about to deny it, but then he thought that if he admitted it, Feifei wouldn't hurt the child anymore. But if he admitted it, where would that leave Sima Wanqing? He looked at her, and she looked back at him, her eyes filled with shock, pain, and helplessness.

"It's me,"

Pei Mubai finally said firmly.

For a moment, Feifei felt dizzy. The man she admired was already intimately involved with Sima Wanqing. She turned to Sima Wanqing, wanting further confirmation to sever her feelings for Pei Mubai, "Is that so?"

"Yes."

Sima Wanqing instantly understood Pei Mubai's intentions. To save the child, she also had to say "yes."

"Return the child intact."

Feifei solemnly handed the child to Pei Mubai, suddenly wanting to cry. She thought she could avenge her master, but she discovered another heartbreaking truth, leaving her utterly devastated.

Pei Mubai took Sima Bing and immediately examined his little finger, finding only slight redness, not a fracture. He looked at Feifei in surprise, who lowered her head, saying, "I can't do it."

A heavy, eerie atmosphere suddenly filled the air. Duan Yuhan was now absolutely certain of Pei Mubai and Feifei's identities. Their conversation earlier had been vague and ambiguous in its questions, yet their answers were decisive and certain. He understood their meaning.

Since learning months ago that Bing'er was his child, his joy had been unparalleled. His beloved wife and son were the happiness he had always dreamed of.

His words and actions just now were meant to make Feifei believe that Sima Bing wasn't his son; he had achieved his goal. However, hearing Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing admit that they were Bing'er's parents still caused him immense pain, as if someone had forced his head underwater, leaving him with an indescribable sense of unease. Were they saying they were forced by circumstances, or was it the truth?

Regardless of the truth, the exchange of glances between Pei Mubai and Sima Wanqing pierced his heart. He had never known that his wife could understand another man's feelings without a word.

The child was safe, but he would not let Pei Mubai and Feifei go. Anyone who dared to act recklessly in Lieyun Ranch would pay the price.

Sima Bing seemed to know she was safe, or perhaps she was exhausted from crying, she sobbed a few times in Pei Mubai's arms and gradually fell asleep. Sima Wanqing couldn't help but go over to check on her, but her hand tightened, and Duan Yuhan held her back, preventing her from moving an inch.

His gaze was like a sharp blade, as if trying to completely dissect her heart to see if Pei Mubai's shadow lingered there. She was anxious to see her child and paid no attention to anything else, only wanting to break free from his grasp.

Only when the child was back in her arms could he deal with the other two. Thinking this, he let her pass. His right hand was behind his back, and silently, a bright signal flare streaked across the sky. Everyone's attention was focused on the child, unaware that a large force would soon surround them.

Pei Mubai handed the child to Sima Wanqing, a thought flashing through his mind. Why did Duan Yuhan only make a move before ceasing his martial arts to stop Feifei? The child was now in Sima Wanqing's hands, yet he hadn't made a move either?

Was he unable to use his martial arts for some reason? If so, before alerting the others on the ranch, did he have a chance to subdue him?

Chapter 40: Tensions Rise.

The silk red ribbon danced lightly in the gale, moving further and further away from her. She smiled faintly, but her brows held sorrow and resolve. Pure and flawless, Sima Wanqing's body shone brightly and captivated even under the relentless onslaught of the wind.

Pei Mubai used telepathy to ask Sima Wanqing, "Something's wrong with him. How come he's been able to refrain from violence?"

Sima Wanqing, overjoyed that her child was unharmed, was at a loss for words upon hearing the question. Duan Yuhan couldn't fight now, but he had done so to save her. Subduing him now was not what she wanted. Besides, she wouldn't entrust her revenge to others.

Taking the child away from the ranch now was the best opportunity. She gestured for everyone to leave together. Assessing the situation, Feifei also knew that staying would be harmful, and the three quickly reached an agreement to leave.

Holding the child, Sima Wanqing felt even more unsteady on her feet. Less than an hour after the cold poison was expelled from her body, and with her worry for Sima Bing's safety, all her physical and mental strength was almost exhausted. She had only managed to hold on until now through sheer willpower. Now, even wanting to move quickly, he lacked the strength.

Pei Mubai made a decisive move, quickly handing the child to Feifei, then stretching out his long arm to firmly embrace Sima Wanqing's waist. With a light touch of his toes, he traversed the air with the speed of "Flowing Wind and Returning Snow," leaping over several rooftops in a matter of moments. Fortunately , Feifei had inherited some of Xuan Ying's lightness skill, and although she couldn't match Pei Mubai's speed, she could still keep up.

Duan Yuhan watched the three of them, motionless and silent.

Soon, Hu Tian, Feng San, and Yue Zhongzheng, with hundreds of servants and men, surrounded Sima Wanqing and her companions outside the Gongyu Xiaozhu.

Duan Yuhan walked slowly over, and as he expected, they hadn't escaped. The closer he got, the clearer he could see Pei Mubai's hand on Sima Wanqing's waist. He naturally knew how alluring the soft, fragrant touch of her waist was, even through the thin silk undergarment. And now, Pei Mubai actually took his wife away right in front of him. She didn't resist at all, obediently letting him do it. Based on this alone, he had decided to kill Pei Mubai.

In the eyes of everyone at the ranch, a reckless scoundrel had kidnapped the lady and young master. Only Yue Zhongzheng, Hu Tian, and others had doubts. For a moment, everyone awaited Duan Yuhan's order.

"Two thugs, a man and a woman, a reward of ten thousand taels of silver for their lives,"

Duan Yuhan said, scanning the crowd. Although the crowd had reservations, fearing that if they attacked, the thugs would harm the lady and young master, the order had been given, and they could only obey. Besides, a reward of ten thousand taels of silver was a huge temptation; they might not earn that much even after a lifetime at the ranch.

In an instant, many people rushed forward, sticks, knives, whips, and fists raining down on Pei Mubai and Feifei.

"Stop."

Everyone paused, Sima Wanqing's voice, though soft, carried the sternness characteristic of Sima Lie.

"Make way."

Sima Wanqing's cold gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, and many stopped, lowered their heads, and involuntarily retreated. Although the fact that Sima Wanqing was not Sima Lie's daughter had already spread, they had been accustomed to obeying her for many years, and at this critical moment, the power of habit was astonishing.

Sima Wanqing stepped aside, standing in front of Pei Mubai, intending to exit through the narrow path cleared by the crowd.

Duan Yuhan's heart skipped a beat; he had underestimated Sima Wanqing's influence on the ranch. A cold smile gradually bloomed on his beautiful lips. "Madam has been bewitched by the villains and is not in her right mind. These two villains must be killed."

Some of Hu Tian's men obediently rushed forward, while those who had initially retreated blindly followed suit out of herd mentality. The path cleared was instantly blocked again.

A rapid and continuous clanging sound followed as Pei Mubai blocked all the incoming weapons. The Pei family swordsmanship is renowned for its balance of strength and gentleness. Now, its execution is truly "swift as Yi shooting down nine suns, graceful as emperors riding dragons. It comes like thunderbolts gathering their fury, and ends like the calm light of the sea." Not only are the sword techniques incredibly fast, but the power is also immense.

Duan Yuhan and Sima Wanqing, whose martial arts skills are naturally extraordinary, are somewhat dazzled by the Pei family swordsmanship.

Pei Mubai, now disguised as an ordinary man, still manages to impress with his flowing robes and elegant, graceful movements. Yue Zhongzheng, watching him, seems to understand something.

The attackers are forced back by his sword energy, but they continue their relentless advance. Pei Mubai occasionally defends Feifei, but he cannot allow the ranch people to take Sima Wanqing away, nor does he want to harm them. He only tries to subdue them, thus holding them off for a time. However, in the long run, he will inevitably be exhausted by the relentless onslaught.

Seeing that his sword hadn't drawn blood and hadn't harmed anyone, the ranch people charged even more fiercely. Feifei, relying solely on her lightness skill, dodged left and right, narrowly escaping death.

Sima Wanqing bit her lip, glaring angrily at Duan Yuhan. She seemed to be saying, "Are you really happy only after killing people?"

Duan Yuhan merely glanced back indifferently, "They came to us of their own accord." Her eyelashes trembled slightly, "Bing'er and I will stay; you let them go." Duan Yuhan's lips still held a cold smile, "Too late." Their gazes clashed, shifting several times, but ultimately she couldn't persuade him. She adjusted her breathing, silently circulating the "Supreme Heaven-Supreme Heart Technique," but her true energy was so weak that she couldn't even gather it. Was she destined to watch Pei Mubai and Feifei die from exhaustion?

"How did things get like this?"

A figure leaped over the shoulders of the group, rushing over like lightning—it was Bamok.

Sima Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. "Master,"

she called out, but Bamok stopped her. "I won't help him. I'm here to get you out of here. You promise to dance for me today."

"May I ask if Master is interested in all kinds of advanced martial arts?"

"So what if I am?"

Bamok didn't understand why she asked that.

"As long as Master helps us get out of here, I will naturally dance the Rainbow Feather Dance, and I can also study the Sima family's Supreme Inner Strength Technique with you."

She was promising to tell Bamok the technique. The Sima family's top-tier internal strength technique, a peerless inner strength technique coveted by countless people in the martial arts world—would this be enough to entice Bamok to make a move?

Bamok was surprised that she would offer such a condition and remained silent.

Bamok's sudden intrusion alerted Duan Yuhan. He had overheard their conversation. She and Feifei had no connection. To save Pei Mubai, she actually revealed the Sima family's closely guarded secrets to outsiders? Was Pei Mubai's life that important to her?

This realization saddened Duan Yuhan, as if a thousand ants were gnawing at his heart, a feeling of jealousy, hatred, and heartbreak he found unbearable.

He didn't know that Sima Wanqing's efforts to save him weren't just about preventing the death of kind people, but more importantly, about sparing Duan Yuhan from further bloodshed.

"Alright,"

Bamok chuckled, flicking his sleeve. The resulting gusts of wind slapped solidly against the faces of several attackers from the left, leaving several bloody marks. His attacks were swift and decisive, injuring without hesitation, immediately intimidating many. The surging crowd and onslaught from all directions finally subsided slightly.

"It's a ranch family matter, Master, don't interfere. Otherwise, something bad might happen,"

Duan Yuhan said calmly, but with a more veiled ultimatum.

Bamok, however, seemed oblivious, his moves as swift as the wind. In no time, the circle of four gradually moved outwards from the encirclement. Normally, with Pei Mubai and Bamok's abilities, breaking free wouldn't have been too difficult, but they had to carry Feifei, the child, and Sima Wanqing, who was temporarily unable to fight. This made them too hesitant, which is why they were trapped.

Seeing the situation was dire, Hu Tian and Feng San quickly jumped in to join the fight. With Duan Yuhan not intervening, it was their turn to show off.

They attacked Bamok together. Hu Tian's fist techniques were strange and insidious, constantly attacking Bamok from unexpected angles, completely unlike his self-proclaimed Shaolin training. Feng San, on the other hand, used pure Wudang Yin-Yang swordplay, steady and experienced, using slowness to control movement. The two, one righteous and one evil, both possessed considerable skill, and with the assistance of many ranch experts, Bamok's unstoppable advance was temporarily halted. The four's slow movement stopped again.

Sima Wanqing looked at Duan Yuhan, who seemed to be ordering more people to be brought over. If this situation continued, wouldn't he have victory in his grasp? The ignorant people of the ranch were being driven by him, attacking desperately. As for Sima Wanqing's side, no matter who it was, they wouldn't be able to leave Lieyun Ranch.

Pei Mubai and Bamok were only involved because they were trying to help her. And Feifei was even more innocent; her master Xuanying's death was ultimately due to the Sima family's influence. Sima Wanqing was extremely anxious. She couldn't use her martial arts; how could she save their lives?

A rumble of thunder came from afar, and thick dark clouds rolled in. The wind suddenly became fierce, blowing wildly and scattering the dark clouds to one side.

Her black cloak seemed unable to withstand the raging wind, being blown askew to one side. The sleeves of her light red dress fluttered up and down, and a section of her fair arm was vaguely visible. She instinctively pulled her arm back, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught the strange expressions of several servants. She wanted to look, yet dared not; their greedy, gleaming gazes made her very uncomfortable.

A thought flashed through her mind like lightning—a method of repelling the enemy that she had never dared to consider before suddenly surfaced, and she felt a sudden fear.

Duan Yuhan looked this way, a hint of regret between his brows. Pei Mubai, Feifei, and Bamok—why did they choose to be his enemies, to oppose him? Why did they have to seek their own deaths?

Sima Wanqing looked back at him. Although they were some distance apart, he still saw the tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. Was she pleading with him with her eyes? His wife, from childhood to adulthood, had never asked him for anything. Today, however, she was begging him to spare them. Should he grant her request?

Feifei, although she had used Sima Bing to threaten him, hadn't actually harmed the child. Bamok, devoted to martial arts, hadn't done anything wrong in helping Sima Wanqing. Only Pei Mubai, the man who had once held Sima Wanqing tightly, had to die.

He ultimately softened; his only concession to her was to spare Fei Fei and Bamok.

"Except for Pei Mubai,"

he mouthed. She lowered her eyes sadly. She shouldn't have begged him; he was never truly magnanimous.

She suddenly realized that if Duan Yuhan recovered quickly, Pei Mubai would die even faster. Everything Pei Mubai did was for her; how could she let him die?

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, untied the ribbon on her cloak, and resolutely let go. The dark red fabric slid to her feet. In the gale, the vibrant, alluring red clung to her beautiful, mature body, her curves faintly visible.

"You…"

Duan Yuhan suddenly understood what she was about to do and rushed to stop her, but it was too late.

The silky red fabric danced lightly in the wind, drifting further and further away from her. She smiled faintly, but her brows held a sorrowful and resolute expression. Pure and flawless, Sima Wanqing's body shone brightly and dazzlingly even under the relentless onslaught of the wind.

All the fighting stopped abruptly, and the surroundings fell silent. Some stared, some closed their eyes, some lowered their heads, some turned their faces away, some hastily hid behind trees but still tried to peek… Over a thousand people, in various poses, were all shocked by her actions.

"Close your eyes, everyone close your eyes!"

Hu Tian shouted first, reminding everyone. Seeing the lady's naked body would enrage the lord; they

might even have their eyes gouged out. Duan Yuhan's face was terribly gloomy. He had already agreed to let Feifei and Bamoke go, yet she still did this. To save Pei Mubai, she was willing to disregard her innocence and chastity, even being naked before hundreds of eyes. What would she do for Pei Mubai?

"Let's go,"

Sima Wanqing said, picking up her cloak from her feet and speaking to Pei Mubai and Bamoke, who had their backs to her.

Yes, now none of the men on the ranch dared to look at her, let alone block her path. Even Hu Tian, who was right next to her, dared not move. Perhaps he could fight with his eyes closed, but swords have no eyes, and if he accidentally injured Sima Wanqing, Duan Yuhan would likely not let him off.

The only person who could stop Sima Wanqing from leaving was Duan Yuhan.

Duan Yuhan walked over step by step, and with a "whoosh," he took off his outer garment and threw it at Sima Wanqing. "Put on your clothes!"

Sima Wanqing had never seen him with such furious eyes, as if they were spitting fire. When others provoked him, he usually remained calm, at most expressionless, never so out of control as he was now. She put on his clothes, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

Although Hu Tian and the others heard the sound of her putting on her clothes, they still didn't dare to open their eyes. Who knew if she was actually dressed? In short, without Duan Yuhan's order, keeping their eyes closed was always the best course of action.

Sima Wanqing gestured for the three of them to go first, and she would bring up the rear. So, Barmok was in the lead, Feifei carrying the child, and then Pei Mubai.

She quietly turned around, using her last bit of strength to leave him.

Her back was petite and delicate, her steps slow yet resolute. Duan Yuhan suddenly didn't know whether he felt anger or sorrow.

She left with the child. She might return for revenge, or she might disappear from his sight forever. She might even be with Pei Mubai.

"Stop."

He would never let her leave. His inner energy surged restlessly; even if forcibly channeling it would result in serious injury or even death, he would never let her go with Pei Mubai.

A swift palm wind instantly encircled her slender waist, like an invisible rope, pulling her back into his arms.

Pei Mubai, surprised, quickly turned around, supporting her waist, and with a "shifting position," dodged to the side, barely avoiding Duan Yuhan's palm wind.

Duan Yuhan looked like a patient with a high fever, his lips as red as blood. He narrowed his beautiful black eyes, capturing Pei Mubai's figure, like a bloodthirsty lion chasing its prey.

Even at the cost of his life, he wouldn't let them go? Sima Wanqing understood his preparation, and even more so, his determination. Although she felt that Pei Mubai might not necessarily lose against Duan Yuhan with his current martial arts skills, she still instinctively stood in front of him. She didn't want them to both be injured.

If Duan Yuhan was to be injured or killed, it should be by her hand.

Her actions aroused an even stronger killing intent in Duan Yuhan. She could hate him, she could take revenge, but she absolutely could not risk her life to protect another man. Pei Mubai had to die.

"Let them go."

Yue Zhongzheng's steady voice suddenly rang out from behind Duan Yuhan. He held a rectangular, jade-green box in his hand. The box was carved with a straw hat, a raincoat, and a fisherman, and the words "No need to return in the slanting wind and fine rain" were clearly visible. This number one hidden weapon in the world had almost taken Duan Yuhan's life back then, and seeing it today still made Sima Wanqing feel lingering fear.

Now, the box was facing Duan Yuhan.

Duan Yuhan keenly sensed the heavy air behind him, and the sudden surge of intense killing intent pressed down on him. He slowly turned around and saw clearly.

The reality before him left Duan Yuhan feeling utterly exhausted for the first time in his life. In just two short hours, the three people dearest to him had undergone drastic changes.

His wife had confessed that their son had nothing to do with him, even admitting to Feifei that Pei Mubai was the child's father.

His wife had risked everything, using the Sima family's secret techniques, her own innocence, and her own body, to protect Pei Mubai.

And now, his uncle, who had doted on him since childhood and treated him like his own son, was using the most terrifying and vicious weapon in the world against him.

His closest and most trusted people were drifting further and further away from him. He would be alone again, just like when he was a child, forever crying, struggling, defying, and living on in solitude.

The events that followed were like boulders, all pressing down on his most tender heart, causing him so much pain that his vision blurred, leaving him too weak even to groan. Was

this his retribution for being betrayed and abandoned by everyone? (
Chapter 41, April 5th:

Sima Wanqing was stunned by Yue Zhongzheng's actions at the end of Part 1.) She knew Uncle Yue had always doted on her, but surely he wouldn't resort to deadly weapons against Duan Yuhan just to help her? Was it because he felt guilty towards the Sima family? For justice? For the peace of his conscience?

"Let them go,"

Yue Zhongzheng's steady voice rang out again.

The flames of anger in Duan Yuhan's eyes gradually died down, revealing bloodshot veins, his gaze flickering uncertainly. Suddenly, the corners of his sexy, elegant lips curved slightly upward; he actually smiled, a smile utterly calm and serene. Anger, heartache—all were hidden behind that smile.

Sima Wanqing broke out in a cold sweat, her heart pounding wildly in terror. The dangerous aura suffocated her; she wanted to turn and run, to run far away, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch.

She knew him too well. He wasn't without anger now, but it was suppressed, and when it erupted, it would be even more terrifying. She didn't know what he would do to quell the rage within him.

"Uncle, don't you want Qing'er to stay?"

Duan Yuhan's tone was as natural as when they were chatting casually.

"Uncle hopes you two can be happy."

Yue Zhongzheng finished speaking, then couldn't help but sigh. He hated himself for not being able to stop Duan Yuhan back then.

Sima Wanqing composed herself and, with Pei Mubai's help, silently retreated step by step.

Duan Yuhan's eyes followed her and Pei Mubai, his hands unconsciously clenching, the pale blue veins on the back of his hands throbbing incessantly.

"Let them go."

Yue Zhongzheng resolutely walked over, the "Slanting Wind and Fine Rain, No Need to Return" in his hand getting closer to Duan Yuhan. At such close range, if the hidden weapon were launched, Duan Yuhan wouldn't be as lucky as last time to survive.

Duan Yuhan still walked towards Sima Wanqing; he didn't believe his uncle would press the switch.

"Han'er..."

Yue Zhongzheng's voice was filled with boundless sorrow. If heaven had to force him to choose between his two children, he could only choose Wanqing.

The wind had stopped, the dark clouds were gathering thicker, and the oppressive atmosphere in the air seemed to foreshadow an impending downpour. As darkness fell, the air thickened with an increasingly chilling, murderous aura, emanating from the phrase "A gentle breeze and fine rain, no need to return."

Duan Yuhan stopped, a flicker of uncertainty rising in his heart. His uncle, the manager of Lieyun Ranch for nearly twenty years, was kind and forgiving, sometimes forgiving his subordinates' mistakes, but on certain principles, he would never yield an inch. His own stubbornness, to some extent, was influenced by his uncle.

He was confused, bewildered, and couldn't understand why his uncle was so determined to help them leave.

But he knew that once his uncle made up his mind, he would stick to it to the end. For example, his uncle had loved Wanqing's mother and remained devoted to her for life.

He still wanted to gamble; he refused to believe his uncle would sacrifice himself for Wanqing.

However, the powerful true energy he had just gathered within him dissipated. He was only human, not a god; though he had pushed the limits of the human body, he still couldn't defy the laws of nature. He was so tired; he didn't know how much longer he could hold on.

He told himself to stay calm and not let them know he couldn't use his martial arts, otherwise, his Qing would take them all away, and he would lose miserably.

Sima Wanqing glanced at the solemnity on his face and suddenly felt a little scared. She also felt the killing intent of the world's number one hidden weapon. She knew that Uncle Yue was willing to sacrifice everything to ensure their safe departure from the ranch. But what would Duan Yuhan do? No matter how ruthless he was, he wouldn't attack Yue Zhongzheng, who had raised him.

"Okay, Uncle, I'll listen to you."

Duan Yuhan suddenly smiled and said, as if he had figured something out.

"Uncle knew you would understand."

Yue Zhongzheng was overjoyed that Duan Yuhan agreed so readily. However, based on his understanding of his nephew, he still had a slight doubt, so he never put away the jade box.

"You can leave."

Duan Yuhan finally said to Sima Wanqing, "But the child must stay." A

fleeting look of loneliness and helplessness flashed in his eyes. Only he knew how painful it was to make such a decision. He had no chips to win, but he would never lose everything.

Sima Wanqing was taken aback by his words. She stared at him intently, then slowly but decisively shook her head.

Yue Zhongzheng was also stunned. Duan Yuhan's so-called "listening to him" was actually a bargaining tactic.

"Only with the child here can I feel at ease knowing you'll come back."

Sima Wanqing saw the deep longing hidden in Duan Yuhan's dark eyes; her small figure was so clear in the depths of his gaze. But why did he mention the child, instead of "Bing'er"? Did he not believe the child was his flesh and blood?

"Even if Bing'er isn't here, I will definitely come back."

Although Duan Yuhan helped her expel the poison, essentially saving her again, it didn't change her resolve for revenge. Duan Yuhan smiled faintly; as long as she returned, as long as he could see her again, he would welcome her back no matter what she did.

"I guarantee that when you come back, the child will be very comfortable and well."

Duan Yuhan spoke to himself, seemingly certain she would keep the child.

"You?"

Sima Wanqing wanted to refuse his request outright, but in an instant, she understood everything.

"You've thought it through, haven't you?"

Duan Yuhan had been meticulous in his calculations from beginning to end. He was too good at analyzing situations and weighing pros and cons. He was too good at turning disadvantages into equal footing. He knew even better what choice Sima Wanqing would make, given her personality.

Just now, it was Yue Zhongzheng who had turned the tide.

If Duan Yuhan had insisted on keeping Sima Wanqing and the others, she couldn't be sure if Yue Zhongzheng would have launched a hidden weapon. Although the murderous aura was terrifying, she still tended to believe that Uncle Yue wouldn't make a move.

If Yue Zhongzheng hadn't used his hidden weapon, judging from Duan Yuhan's martial arts skills just now, he and Pei Mubai would likely have both been seriously injured, with Yue Zhongzheng perhaps even having a better chance of winning. In that case, Sima Wanqing, Feifei, Bamok, and the child would all be unable to leave the ranch, and Pei Mubai would likely die.

Now, Duan Yuhan has finally compromised; if she agrees to leave the child behind, they can escape unscathed. With his promise, the child will live well at the ranch.

Sima Wanqing, though reluctant to leave the child, would never gamble with Pei Mubai's and the others' lives. Therefore, she has no choice but to agree to his request and give him the child.

Her prediction of the situation's development is reasonable. Unfortunately, she miscalculated two points.

First, she didn't know that in Yue Zhongzheng's heart, she was more important than Duan Yuhan.

Second, she didn't know that Duan Yuhan's reckless use of internal energy had already exhausted his energy and spirit. His current restraint, seemingly a compromise with Yue Zhongzheng and a fear of the world's number one hidden weapon, actually stems from his lack of strength to fight again.

“Bing’er…”

Sima Wanqing took the child from Feifei, her heart heavy with reluctance. Sima Bing’s big, dark eyes met her mother’s, his little hand clutching her mother’s fingers tightly, as if he too was reluctant to part with her.

“If you can’t bear to leave, come back soon.”

His tone was very gentle, like a husband earnestly admonishing his wife who was going on a long journey.

“Han’er, why must you…”

Yue Zhongzheng wanted to speak up to persuade him, but was interrupted by Duan Yuhan.

“Uncle, this is my final concession.”

Duan Yuhan stared directly at the green box without fear, his mind made up, needing no further explanation. His meaning was clear: if Wanqing didn’t leave the child, even if the first hidden weapon was actually launched, he would risk his life rather than let Wanqing and the others go.

He was as stubborn as ever, and Yue Zhongzheng could only sigh softly. He had made a great decision when he took out the first hidden weapon, but he didn’t want Duan Yuhan to die.

Duan Yuhan slowly approached Sima Wanqing, reaching out to take the child.

"Wait,"

Yue Zhongzheng suddenly spoke up, suspecting that Duan Yuhan was using delaying tactics to get closer to Sima Wanqing and seize her.

Sima Wanqing was also secretly alarmed; had she almost fallen for his trick again? She quickly took two steps back, keeping her distance from him.

Once bitten, twice shy. Having witnessed too many of his schemes, both Yue Zhongzheng and Sima Wanqing were extremely wary of him.

Duan Yuhan smiled bitterly; they were avoiding him and guarding against him. Was he really that terrible and hateful? His

dark, midnight-like eyes were fixed on Sima Wanqing. He wanted to imprint her image completely in his mind. For a long time, he would probably only see her in his memories.

Sima Wanqing simply looked at the child, the small body pressed tightly against hers, its warmth enveloping her. The child giggled, fiddling with the forbidden jade bracelet on her wrist. The crystal-clear jade bracelet's cracks were widening. She watched helplessly as it slipped from her wrist, clattering to the ground and shattering into irregular pieces. The

legendary magical bracelet, imbued with sincere love, wasn't indestructible. Its ability to capture and imprison a lover's heart was merely a legend.

In that instant, the scene of Duan Yuhan placing the bracelet on her wrist flashed vividly before her eyes.

She looked up, her gaze meeting Duan Yuhan's. Suddenly, the tenderness and affection of the past surged into her heart like a tidal wave. He stood before her, his affection as deep as ever, his exquisitely handsome face much more haggard than that morning—all because of saving her. In a daze, she reached out, as if trying to smooth the sorrow between his brows. However, the sight of Sima Lie's blood splattered on her dress, forming red plum blossoms, chilled her to the bone.

"Bing'er is yours, I will definitely come back."

She withdrew her hand, avoiding his gaze, gritted her teeth, placed the child on the ground, and then turned to Yue Zhongzheng, "Uncle Yue, please take care."

She would remember Uncle Yue's kindness and generosity .

After saying this, she didn't linger, and the four of them quickly left without looking back.

"Qing'er, you should also be careful in everything."

Yue Zhongzheng watched Sima Wanqing leave, his eyes filled with affection. Everything he did today was for her and Duan Yuhan's good.

With Sima Wanqing gone, the strength that Duan Yuhan had been holding on for so long suddenly disappeared, and the overwhelming exhaustion almost overwhelmed him.

Their figures grew smaller and smaller, and Duan Yuhan turned around and smiled, "Uncle," before the smile could fully open, blood gushed out of his mouth uncontrollably, and the crimson blood droplets "plop" wildly sprayed into the air, as dazzling as fireworks blooming in the night sky on a wedding night, gradually fading away tragically, leaving large patches of bloody red on the ground.

Two years ago, he spared no effort to force her away; now, she spared no effort to escape from him. That's how life is; what was once precious is lost with double the pain. If one had never possessed it, would the pain be less?

"Open your eyes, help him back to rest,"

Yue Zhongzheng instructed, picking up Sima Bing from the ground. Only then did Hu Tian and the others open their eyes. They were completely bewildered by what had just happened, only knowing that the lady and those people had left. No one could fathom why their lord had finally decided to let them go.

Duan Yuhan had been unconscious for three days, his high fever persisting.

Three days later, the first thing he uttered upon opening his eyes was, "Why?" His gaze towards Yue Zhongzheng was like that of a wounded beast, filled with pain, coldness, and anger.

He had too many questions. Why did you say "No need to return in the slanting wind and fine rain"? Why did you point the world's number one hidden weapon at me? Why did you threaten me with such a heavy, resolute killing intent? Why did you ultimately side with outsiders?

He needed to know why.

"Qing'er is my daughter,"

Yue Zhongzheng finally explained, the answer shocking him.

Suddenly, many past events flashed before his eyes, and things that had once puzzled him became crystal clear.

Why, when he first arrived at the Sima family, did his uncle tell him not to refuse Wanqing's kindness, but not encourage him to play with Sima Xu and Sima Hui?

Why, among the three Sima children, did his uncle like to teach Wanqing to read, write, and play chess the most?

Why, that night, to protect Wanqing and the child, did his uncle choose to be injured himself rather than let Sima Lie's palm strike fall on Wanqing's behalf?

Why, when he and Wanqing got married, was his uncle even happier than Sima Lie when writing the wedding couplets?

Why did his uncle always say that he and Wanqing were his two most beloved children?

Why did upright people like Qin Mama and Lu Jingqiao so readily accuse Wanqing of not being Sima Lie's daughter when threatened? Because they weren't lying; they were telling the truth. Their only weakness was succumbing to Hu Tian's threat of force and revealing the truth.

He had always thought Wanqing resembled her mother, which was why his uncle cared for and doted on her so much. He had once thought his uncle's affection for Wanqing stemmed from his love for her. He was wrong.

Wanqing was his uncle's daughter; she was not only his wife but also his cousin. They shared the closest of blood.

Yet, given his uncle's respect and love for Sima Lie's wife, he would never have committed such an act of defamation. And how could Qin Mama claim that Wanqing's mother had been raped?

Yue Zhongzheng seemed to understand Duan Yuhan's doubts. "I didn't force her. She cried bitterly at Wanfo Temple that day. The master said she was trapped in the snowy mountains and couldn't come back for the New Year, but actually she was lingering with another woman. I only went to comfort her, but I didn't expect that to happen."

His voice carried the warmth of spring, the beautiful scenery of that day

still fresh in his memory. "When Qin Qin knocked on the door, she immediately regretted it."

Yes, because she didn't love him, she regretted her impulsive act, so she told Qin Qin that she had been violated, and so she tried every means to avoid having the child.

"When Qing'er was born, she begged me never to tell the truth, and I promised. As long as she is happy, and Qing'er lives happily, that's enough."

Loving someone doesn't necessarily mean possessing her. As long as she is happy, you will be happy too. This is Yue Zhongzheng's belief in love.

Duan Yuhan, however, didn't understand this. He didn't understand how one could tolerate loving a woman while she was tenderly and submissively in the arms of another man.

“When you were hurt by ‘No Need to Return in the Slanting Wind and Drizzle,’ I knew the only effective way to stop you was to possess it. So I secretly searched for it.”

Yue Zhongzheng’s inability to stop Duan Yuhan’s revenge back then was a grave mistake. Now, he had to stop Duan Yuhan from making the same mistake again. For Wanqing’s happiness, he had to find a way to control Duan Yuhan.

“This secret should have been buried forever. I’m telling you this only because I hope you promise me that no matter what Qing’er does, you must let her go. Even if…”

Yue Zhongzheng suddenly stopped, not wanting to reveal the scenario that would hurt Duan Yuhan the most.

“Even if she chooses another man, even if she’s determined to grow old with someone else, you must let her go. Because she is your cousin, your family. No matter what she does, you cannot hurt her.”

Duan Yuhan’s head was a little dizzy. He thought about what his uncle hadn’t finished saying and finally understood. If he were Yue Zhongzheng, he would do the same for his daughter, and say the same thing.

He had to slowly accept the sudden truth. Perhaps, this truth was a good thing for him.

From then on, the hatred between Wanqing and him lessened considerably. The hatred for her father's murder and the resentment for the loss of her family's possessions no longer existed. What he owed her was the lives of her two half-brothers.

He didn't know if she would forgive him when he saw her again and told her everything.

Would she abandon her resentment because of Sima Bing, because of Yue Zhongzheng, because they shared the blood of close relatives?

No one knew if it was possible, because none of them were Sima Wanqing.

(End of Part 1)

Part 2

Chapter 01: A Secret Rendezvous in the Brocade Tent

The early spring night in Hangzhou was still chilly, but inside, the red candles flickered, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

In the Dark Fragrance Pavilion, gilded incense sticks hung from the painted beams, constantly releasing their fragrance. The exquisite patterns shimmered in the bright candlelight, and the lingering fragrance permeated the brocade tents and embroidered screens.

Outside the window, the night wind seemed to be blowing harder and harder, and the window frames creaked in the wind. Sima Wanqing slightly pushed open the window, and the thin air, carrying swirling snowflakes, rushed in. The cool, fine snowflakes touched her fair, translucent face, and a long-lost joy welled up in her heart.

Although she had lived in Hangzhou for nearly three years, she still disliked the lukewarm winters here. Without the biting wind, without the icy water, without the overwhelming blanket of white, without the pure silver cloak covering the world, how could it be winter? This winter, Hangzhou had been snowless, making her miss the land beyond the Great Wall even more.

Unexpectedly, just after the Lantern Festival, it began to snow tonight. The biting cold, which might be something a woman from Jiangnan would avoid at all costs, fearing to freeze, was something Sima Wanqing delighted with.

She casually threw on a lake-blue jacket, pushed open the door, and slowly stepped outside. Snowflakes filled the sky, swaying gracefully in the wind, dancing with the breeze. Thousands of tiny white sprites danced and twirled through the air, among the branches, on the rooftops, on the lake… Some snowflakes drifted down onto her hairline and brows, as if trying to become one with her.

She gently raised her slender hand, and wherever her fingers touched, the snow sprites naturally parted to make way. With another wave of her hand, the surrounding snow suddenly gathered in her palm, instantly forming a large snowball. In just a few moments, the snow on the ground, under her inner power, also solidified into a snowdrift.

She placed the snowball in her hand on the snowdrift, and her fingers, just like when she was a child, naturally began to make eyes and a mouth on the snowball.

Her fingers poked into the white snow, rubbing against the cold, and the familiar sensation made her freeze. Many years ago, she had done this many times. Only, back then, he was by her side, protecting and caring for her. He would always pull her small hands, red with cold, and hold them tightly, or place them in his arms to warm them with his body heat.

The scattered snowflakes swirled around her, and for a moment, she was transported back to that romantic night four years ago. That night, under his direction, countless little stars twinkled and danced, forming the three glittering words "I," "love," and "you" before her eyes, dazzling and beautiful like a dream.

But fate is fickle, beyond her control. Even though they had once loved each other to the death, and even had a lovely son, she couldn't escape the truth. It was him who killed her father and brothers, and seized her family's Lieyun Ranch. He was the Sima family's mortal enemy! No matter how deep her affection, how devoted her love, she had to resolutely sever it.

Duan Yuhan—these three words etched both her love and her hatred into her very bones. No matter what, she was determined to make him pay a bloody price.

Sima Wanqing, upon thinking of this, unleashed a palm strike as sharp as a knife, slashing out furiously. The powerful internal force whipped up a gust of wind that instantly changed the direction of the falling snowflakes. With a swift grab, she casually tossed them away; the pure white flakes instantly coalesced into a ball, striking a tree a foot away with a "bang." The snow, so light and soft, was now completely embedded in the tree trunk—a truly unbelievable sight.

"Excellent!"

A clear, mellow voice suddenly rang out from behind her. A man in black robes, draped in a large cloak, had appeared behind her without her noticing. His demeanor was as aloof as an eagle, yet a slight smile played on his lips as he praised her.

Sima Wanqing was slightly startled. She naturally knew the speaker was Sheng Xixian, the master of the Holy Martial Palace, but she hadn't expected his silent arrival in the dead of night.

"The Supreme Heaven-Supporting Heart Sutra combined with the Cloud-Turning and Rain-Covering Hand—the martial arts of the Sima family from beyond the Great Wall, one of the three great martial arts clans, are indeed extraordinary,"

Sheng Xixian praised sincerely once more. She was only twenty-one years old, but her move just now demonstrated extremely profound internal energy; it was likely that no one of her age in the current martial arts world could surpass her.

Sima Wanqing smiled modestly, "Senior Brother, you flatter me."

Sheng Xixian was Bamok's direct disciple, and Bamok had also taught her the "Flying Ascension" lightness skill. In a sense, they were fellow disciples.

"Junior Sister, what are your thoughts on yesterday's proposal?"

Sheng Xixian looked at her with interest. He had seen countless beauties, and in terms of looks, she wasn't the most beautiful. But for some reason, he was drawn to her pure, snow-like eyes, to her elegant, graceful, and aloof demeanor, her indifference towards him, and even the faint hint of melancholy on her lips.

"It's late today; let's discuss this tomorrow."

No matter how gentle his tone or how natural and approachable his attitude, she always felt he was a dangerous person. Although she was somewhat tempted by his suggestion, she didn't decide to agree.

Seeing that she was only wearing an autumn jacket, looking even more frail in the snow, Sheng Xixian suddenly took off his black cloak and handed it to her. Sima Wanqing felt flattered. Although she had lived here for nearly three years and was nominally his senior, she had never developed a close relationship with him. His current act of chivalry surprised her.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Wanqing will go back to her room now."

Sima Wanqing politely declined his offer and went back on her own. Sheng Xixian couldn't help but lament his momentary lapse in judgment. She was a white eagle soaring freely in the high skies beyond the Great Wall, not a delicate swallow perched on a willow branch in Jiangnan. The sole heir of the Sima family beyond the Great Wall, the daughter of Sima Lie, how could she be harmed by a little chill from Hangzhou?

Sheng Xixian followed her into the Dark Fragrance Pavilion, leaving Sima Wanqing momentarily stunned. She believed that with his status and position, he wouldn't have any ill intentions towards her, but tonight he was indeed very strange.

The warm sandalwood incense in the Dark Fragrance Pavilion seemed to have changed somewhat due to his sudden visit. The cold and indifferent atmosphere in the air suddenly intensified, and she clearly smelled the faint, alluring butterfly scent on him, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

"What do you think of yesterday's suggestion?"

he asked, as if he had only come in to find out her answer.

"Let's cooperate. The Holy Martial Palace will do everything in its power to help you reclaim the Lieyun Ranch, and even take revenge; after success, you will use half of the Lieyun Ranch's wealth to help me unify the martial world."

His words from yesterday echoed in her ears, and she hesitated.

She didn't want to rely on others for revenge, but it was too difficult for her to deal with Duan Yuhan and even the entire Lieyun Ranch on her own. Using half of the wealth of the Sima clan outside the pass to help Sheng Xixian was not difficult either. But how could she be sure that he wouldn't eventually try to control the Lieyun Ranch?

Sheng Xixian sat down leisurely in a chair to the side, "Cooperation is the best choice for both of us."

He paused, "It's been almost three years, do you know how many people are looking for you outside?"

Sima Wanqing wasn't surprised; Duan Yuhan had sent people everywhere to search for her, which was something she had expected.

"Besides Duan Yuhan, your sworn brother Pei Mubai has also secretly sent government officials to inquire about you. Furthermore, the Beggars' Sect, the Central Plains Long Clan, the tobacco tycoon Qian Shouxin, the silk king Chen De—many gangs and wealthy families are looking for you."

Sima Wanqing felt a bitter pang in her heart. Quietly leaving Pei Mubai was for his own good; she didn't want him to suffer at Duan Yuhan's hands. But was he still so devoted, so determined to help her? Strangely, what were the others looking for her for?

As she pondered this, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, her lake-green brocade dress accentuating her beautiful, sparkling eyes, like a pool of spring water.

"You haven't appeared at Lieyun Ranch for so long. Duan Yuhan claims that you suffered a setback while practicing martial arts and have been recuperating. However, the truth will eventually come out, and many people in the martial arts world are suspicious,"

Sheng Xixian explained. "The renowned 'Sima of the Pass' has enjoyed the prestige of Lieyun Ranch for nearly a century, but now it's Duan Yuhan, the Sima family's son-in-law, who controls everything at the ranch. And then you disappear without a trace, and the ranch reports that you were taken away by thugs. What do you think people in the martial arts world will think, and what will they do?"

He deliberately paused, wanting to see if she was truly worth helping.

She pondered deeply, a mocking smile gradually appearing on her lips. The Sima of the Pass is incredibly wealthy; she, as his heir, is a highly sought-after commodity in the eyes of the world. People are always greedy; finding her, no matter what, will bring benefits. Wealthy families like Qian Shouxin probably want to give her to Duan Yuhan, thus gaining various preferential treatments in doing business with Lieyun Ranch. Gangs like the Central Plains Dragon Clan, whether they help her or Duan Yuhan, can use this opportunity to unite with the Sima clan outside the pass and strengthen their own power in the martial arts world. These people are scheming and busy, all calculating how to find her and gain the greatest benefit.

"You understand now. But do you understand my good intentions?"

Sheng Xixian said meaningfully, his burning gaze fixed on her.

His good intentions were to keep her hidden under his wing for the past three years, deceiving everyone, so she could recuperate and practice in peace. But he might not have acted without ulterior motives. Initially, perhaps he wanted to help his master, Bamok, but later he still wanted to gain benefits from her. She

subtly took a step back, "I will never forget your kindness, Senior Brother."

Regardless, he had ultimately helped her.

"There's something else I haven't told my men to tell you."

He seemed oblivious to her evasiveness, "Since they couldn't find you, they captured hundreds of people who resemble you, and most of them were sent to the ranch."

What were those people planning to do? "Better to kill three thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free?" Sima Wanqing suddenly wanted to laugh. But their actions would force her to disguise herself whenever she went out, making revenge even more difficult.

"Let's cooperate."

Sheng Xixian's face gradually drew closer, the suffocating pressure making it almost impossible for her to breathe. This man was ambitious, wanting to become the emperor of the martial arts world. Allying with such a person was dangerous, because he might betray you at any time for his own benefit, condemning you to eternal damnation.

"You are my junior sister, I won't betray you."

He wanted to dispel her concerns, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately realized that this reason was hypocritical and far-fetched.

To him, women were just women. But only this woman was someone he was willing to fight alongside, even share the entire martial arts world with. But he couldn't say such words, fearing that if he did, she would immediately run far away.

Sima Wanqing smiled faintly. In this world, people commit adultery, kidnapping, patricide, and fratricide for wealth and power. Would he really guarantee to wholeheartedly help her because of a mere brother-sister relationship? Such unbelievable words shouldn't come from his mouth.

"I've considered sending you back to the ranch,"

Sheng Xixian's burning gaze softened slightly, his tone unusually cold. "I wonder if he's willing to give up half of the Guanwai Sima's fortune for you?"

His probing tone made her very uncomfortable. He had many opportunities to do so, but he didn't. Why? Was it really because he wasn't sure what Duan Yuhan was willing to offer her in exchange?

His words carried a hint of threat; if she didn't agree to cooperate, he would do this?

Thinking about it, Duan Yuhan was a major obstacle to his unification of the martial world. Because of the booming development of the Lieyun Ranch in recent years, Duan Yuhan's influence in the martial world had grown significantly. If Duan Yuhan shared the same ambitions, they were truly evenly matched. He probably still wanted to use the Guanwai Sima's wealth and power for his own purposes, which was why he wanted to persuade her to cooperate.

His coldness at this moment added a chilling atmosphere to the surroundings, and Sima Wanqing felt a slight coldness in her fingertips. Cooperating with him meant she could command the people of the Holy Martial Palace, greatly increasing her chances of revenge. But how could she be sure that he wouldn't abandon her in the end and completely seize Sima's assets outside the pass?

"You can take a gamble,"

Sheng Xixian calmly suggested, as if he understood her thoughts.

Sima Wanqing lowered her eyes, glancing at the silver, beast-shaped bronze incense burner beside her. The beast's mouth was somewhat ferocious, but if it could be used by her, that was enough, wasn't it? Alone and vulnerable, she truly needed help. Besides, the man before her, though not a gentleman, wasn't a villain either. He had known her identity all along and hadn't made things difficult for her. Even his coldness earlier hadn't made her feel hostile. A woman's intuition told her it was worth the gamble.

A reserved smile played on her lips, "Alright, Senior Brother."

He smiled too, the clear, alluring fragrance of incense intensifying. In a daze, she felt somewhat lost. She was never used to burning incense indoors; the intoxicating fragrance, though warm and sweet, always made her feel a little oppressed by the heavy surroundings.

"It's late,"

she said, trying to control herself, subtly dismissing him. But in an instant, his right hand moved with lightning speed, gripping her left wrist.

Her slender wrist, white as snow, was firmly held in his grasp.

"You..."

She was both shocked and furious. Her pulse was suppressed, and half of her body immediately went numb. Even though she wanted to use her internal energy to resist, she couldn't outrun him.

Sheng Xixian naturally picked her up and walked towards the lowered brocade curtains. "Be my woman, and I will never betray you."

Chapter 2: The fragrance of heavenly

perfume enveloped Sima Wanqing. Suddenly being picked up by Sheng Xixian, she felt a little dizzy.

It wasn't until the tender green tassels hanging from the brocade curtains brushed against her face that she realized she was surrounded by a vast expanse of phoenixes and luan birds. The brocade curtains she was used to sleeping in had always been a calm and elegant moon white. Only now did she realize that the curtains had been changed. The moon white was still moon white, but the clear background subtly revealed phoenixes soaring high and entwined.

Sheng Xixian's words shocked Sima Wanqing even more. "Be his woman"—he knew she didn't want to. But how could a proud man like him, who looked down upon the world, force her?

He gently placed her on the bed and released her wrists. His usually sharp eyes were now much gentler, filled with a clear and serene gaze. Sima Wanqing breathed a slight sigh of relief; he showed no signs of lust.

The two bruised finger marks on her snow-white wrists were particularly noticeable. He couldn't help but run his thumb along them; the smooth, delicate touch stirred his heart.

She lay quietly. Tranquil. Gazing at each other. Silence. She heard his steady, powerful heartbeat.

Naturally, he casually removed the jade hairpin from her hair. "Soon, they will all listen to you."

Their cooperation was finally achieved, and all the plans would officially begin. Helping her avenge herself, helping her kill Duan Yuhan, would bring him satisfaction. She and the man she once deeply loved would finally have a resolution. He believed that with his involvement, her life would be filled with joy.

Aside from Duan Yuhan, Sima Wanqing had never shared a bedchamber with another man. Even now, though she sensed Sheng Xixian had no ill intentions, her face still flushed. She instinctively turned her head away, involuntarily shrinking further into the bed.

She was filled with doubt about his earlier words. But the more tender he was, the less she dared to ask him. The crisp fragrance stubbornly lingered at her nose, just like his words and actions, irresistible.

Sheng Xixian saw the calm and resolute composure hidden in her clear, bright eyes, and a smile involuntarily bloomed on his face. "Lady Ni Chang, do you like this name?"

Ni Chang Yu Yi, a peerless dance that only Sima Wanqing could perform in the world, was the perfect name.

A new name, and she would have a new identity in the Holy Martial Palace.

Thirty-six phoenixes nestled intimately on the bedchamber, and Sima Wanqing suddenly understood, finally comprehending the meaning of his words. He guaranteed that everyone in the Holy Martial Palace would obey her commands and arrangements, and wouldn't outwardly comply but inwardly defy her. The fastest way was this: she would be his woman in name only, so that he could rightfully share his honor, glory, and power.

But as far as she knew, the Holy Martial Palace, a prestigious organization with numerous subordinates, had left and right protectors, three major inspectors, four hall masters, and various branch leaders under Sheng Xixian. He could simply give her a title of leader; there was no need for them to share this empty title. If

he bore such a title, Duan Yuhan would likely kill him without hesitation. Did

he say, "Be my woman, and I will never betray you," because he had already decided to be Duan Yuhan's enemy? Therefore, he and she were definitely on the same side, and he certainly wouldn't betray her?

"If I fail to avenge you, it will implicate you."

Sima Wanqing was always kind. She didn't want Pei Mubai to help her avenge her because she considered him a good brother and friend and didn't want him to be in danger. Now, although it's a transaction for Sheng Xixian, she still doesn't want him to be hurt by Duan Yuhan because of a final failure.

Was her statement a sign of concern? Sheng Xixian smiled quietly, "You will win, I'll help you."

Six simple words, resolute as ever.

"It's late, time to sleep."

He flicked his thumb, extinguishing the red candle, then took off his outer robe and pulled the quilt over him. Lying side by side like this, Sima Wanqing was somewhat confused. A woman in name only shouldn't share a bed with him.

She quietly got up to get out of bed, but his arm coiled around her waist like a serpent. She raised an eyebrow, her first move of the "Turning Clouds and Splitting Stones" technique poised to strike.

A series of hurried, light footsteps reached the door and abruptly stopped. Her heart tightened. Besides Bamok, Sheng Xixian, and the maid Bao'er who brought food, no one ever visited Anxiang Pavilion. Why was tonight so strange?

She was startled, and her left wrist was seized by him with lightning speed. He pulled her into his embrace. Her long, black hair, as black as clouds, flowed down, a few strands brushing against his face, tickling him. Her delicate face was close, her cherry lips tightly pressed together, her dark eyes surging with emotion.

Sima Wanqing's anger was already rising. She channeled the inner force of her Supreme Heavenly Heart Technique into her left wrist, the fierce true energy trying to shake his hand away. Her right hand, palm together, formed fingers, the sharp force "swooshing" through the air, attacking his Jianjing acupoint.

Sheng Xixian released her left wrist, seemingly casually flipping it over, just avoiding the finger strike, but this flip turned into him being on top of her.

The overwhelming scent of butterflies made her heart race for no reason. Although there were many layers of clothing between them, this position was still too intimate. Instinctively, she wanted to push him away, but her arms were weak and powerless.

His long, narrow phoenix eyes radiated a captivating heat, instantly dispelling the anger in her chest. All she wanted now was to escape. She pressed her hands against his chest, trying to maintain distance, but only felt his warmth and strength more intensely. The soft quilt pressed against her back, and they seemed to be sinking into it together.

The brocade curtains trembled slightly, the tender green tassels swaying gently, and an ambiguous atmosphere permeated the air.

He slowly lowered his head, his burning gaze fixed on her, and she almost suffocated in its heat. Unexpectedly, his lips bypassed hers, stopping at her snow-white neck, and he kissed her deeply.

Duan Yuhan's face suddenly flashed before Sima Wanqing's eyes, and she felt a chill. She didn't know how she could let Sheng Xixian continue like this; in an instant, she became much more aware. She forcefully pushed away the hand pressed against his chest. Sheng Xixian ignored her, still holding her tightly, as if he wanted to melt her into his embrace, to meld her into his very being.

"Ah."

His kiss was unusually heavy, as if branding her, and Sima Wanqing couldn't help but let out a soft cry.

"Alright."

He quickly got up and released her, smiling with satisfaction. The place where he had kissed her burned, and Sima Wanqing felt her cheeks burning hot.

"Palace Master."

It was the respectful voice of the maid Bao'er outside the door.

Bao'er always only delivered food to the door and never came in, especially not at night. Why was she here now? Was it his order? Sima Wanqing looked at him suspiciously. This man's actions were always unpredictable. What tricks was he up to this time?

Sheng Xixian looked at Sima Wanqing with a half-smile, picked up a quilt and draped it over her, then turned to open the door.

Naturally, everything was as he expected. What the person outside saw was a beautiful woman lying on her side, her face flushed, her dark hair disheveled, wrapped in a quilt. The clear hickeys on her snow-white neck, the fact that the palace mistress was only wearing underwear, and the faint moans of the woman he had just heard all seemed to indicate the extent of the palace mistress's lovemaking with this woman.

Bao'er and the other three maids, who were carrying clothes, quilts, and pillows, hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to come in.

Sima Wanqing understood. He was doing it on purpose, deliberately acting intimately with her in front of them to show that she was his woman. This man had arranged everything long ago. Her agreement to cooperate with him was entirely within his expectations and part of his plan.

A month later, the latest news about the Palace Master quickly spread to every stronghold of the Holy Martial Palace throughout the country.

The mysterious woman who had lived in the Dark Fragrance Pavilion for three years had become the Palace Master's new favorite. The Palace Master not only moved all his usual bedding into the Dark Fragrance Pavilion, but also stayed there for several days in a row, without ever stepping into the Lianxiu Courtyard. In the Lianxiu Courtyard, the four ladies of the Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon Palace, who used to be equally favored, and the twelve flower maidens, were now being neglected.

It is said that at the annual Honghui Hall Conference, Sheng Xixian and his new wife, Ni Chang, met with the heads of the Holy Martial Palace, and everyone was amazed by their beauty.

It is said that during the banquet after the conference, Liu Yun, the songstress most admired by the Palace Master, came out to perform a song. The Palace Master praised her voice as beautiful as a nightingale singing in a valley and rewarded her with a pair of Hetian jade bracelets. In her moment of pride, Liu Yun gave the Palace Master a flirtatious wink, and Lady Ni Chang immediately showed displeasure and stormed off. The next day, after being summoned by Lady Ni Chang, Liu Yun suddenly became mute, unable to utter a single word. On the third day, she mysteriously disappeared from the Holy Martial Palace, her whereabouts unknown.

It was said that Lady Ni Chang was jealous of Liu Yun's singing voice and had given her a drug to make her mute. The Palace Master, fearing further jealousy, ordered Liu Yun to be sent away.

It was also said that the Left Protector, Li Lie, requested an audience with the Palace Master, during which he spoke disrespectfully to Lady Ni Chang and was immediately slapped, then ordered by the Palace Master to reflect on his actions.

The numerous rumors shocked everyone in the Holy Martial Palace. It was

well known that the Palace Master favored beautiful women, but such infatuation and indulgence towards a single woman was unprecedented. Yet no one dared to raise any objections. Because a month later, everyone knew the consequences of disobeying Lady Ni Chang's wishes.

Within a month, Sima Wanqing had gained command of the Holy Martial Palace from Sheng Xixian. She should have been happy, as her goal of revenge was becoming increasingly easier to achieve.

But whenever she looked at herself in the mirror, she had a strange, unreal feeling. A single kiss, without any further effort, and she easily received Sheng Xixian's help, leaving her somewhat uneasy. Was she using him, or would he use her?

Faintly, wherever she went, her sleeves seemed to be tinged with the sharp, alluring scent of a butterfly. The royal incense of Loulan Kingdom, subtly domineering, resolutely clung to her, refusing to leave.

Chapter 3: Shadows Like a Painting

The setting sun cast a deep, golden glow upon the clear, spring-like blue sky, nestled against the soft white clouds. Everywhere, verdant green dripped, soft as a carpet, the spring breeze gently caressing the land, carrying a sweet, refreshing fragrance that soothed the soul. Several herds of horses galloped about, the herdsmen rhythmically wielding their whips, the horses chasing and racing joyfully. The Lieyun Ranch in spring was magnificent, like a natural, golden landscape painting.

On a distant hillside, a white figure darted forward like lightning, instantly bursting into the ranch gate. Upon entering, the galloping momentum gradually slowed, and the horse came to a stop with a soft "clatter."

On horseback, a man in an elegant, light blue robe, handsome and refined, exuded a refined and otherworldly charm. The golden afterglow gently outlined his exquisite features, highlighting his jade-like countenance and unapproachable radiance. His beauty softened his inherent imposing presence, but the icy indifference in his dark eyes still inspired awe.

Duan Yuhan, with the air of a ruler surveying his domain, looked down upon the nearly century-old, glorious Lieyun Ranch.

Sima Wanqing had been gone for three years, and in those three years, he had expanded the Sima business outside the pass to every major town in the country, growing his power to a level comparable to any major martial arts sect. His immense wealth also subtly controlled the rise and fall of many businesses both inside and outside the pass. He had been waiting for her return, waiting for her to return for revenge, waiting for her to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

A small bundle of moon-white brocade nestled against his chest. Its tiny head peeked out from his embrace, its bright, intelligent eyes opening briefly before closing again.

"Mmm...Daddy, Bing'er is tired,"

three-year-old Sima Bing murmured in a childish voice, lazily snuggling its head back into Duan Yuhan's arms.

Duan Yuhan affectionately ruffled Sima Bing's hair, his gaze softening instantly. "We're home."

The little one remained silent, burying its head further into the nest, clearly wanting to sleep a little longer. Duan Yuhan chuckled softly, smoothly dismounted, picked up the little bundle of white, and headed straight for Gongyu Xiaozhu.

Although many new buildings had been constructed on the ranch, he still preferred to keep Bing'er at Gongyu Xiaozhu. It was his and Sima Wanqing's newlywed home, where they had vowed to "weather the storms together."

The people of the ranch watched their lord and young master's figures gradually disappear, and couldn't help but sigh. Three years ago, his wife had suddenly left, and no one knew why.

Rumors circulated that a bandit had kidnapped the lady, and the Tibetan monk Bamok from the Western Regions was an accomplice.

Rumors also claimed that the lady was drugged and, in a state of delirium, even removed her clothes, frightening everyone on the ranch into closing their eyes and allowing the bandit to escape.

Rumors further suggested that the young master was likely the son of the lady and Pei Mubai from Jiangnan. Since the lady's departure, the master had been cold towards the young master, refusing to even glance at him.

However, now everyone believed the young master was the master's biological son. As he grew older, his face resembled the master more and more, especially his smile, where his eyes curved like the rising crescent moon, just like the master's.

It was a pity that the lady was still missing, leaving a lingering sense of desolation even in the vibrant springtime.

Amidst the conversation, Duan Yuhan had settled the sleeping Sima Bing and instructed Qin Mama to watch over her carefully before heading towards the study.

"My lord, the people sent by the three stewards are washing up at Yanyun Tower,"

the maid Xiaoyu reported dutifully outside the study door upon his return.

Duan Yuhan's beautiful black eyes were like a deep pool, calm and unfathomable. In the shadows, a fleeting shadow could be seen in his pupils, like the reflection of a night bird flying across the water.

How could he not know the thoughts of Hu Tian, Feng San, and Zhang Lao? Sima Wanqing's return would be more harmful than beneficial to them. Their repeated visits to those women were simply attempts to replace Sima Wanqing with someone else. How could they understand that true love is unique in the world, irreplaceable by anyone else?

Despite these thoughts, Duan Yuhan nodded slightly, signaling Xiaoyu to bring the women to the study. He knew those women were not Sima Wanqing, but the similar features and familiar faces still tempted him to see them.

Xiaoyu immediately went to Yanyun Tower as usual, and stopped outside the screen in the inner room.

"The two hundred and eighty-seventh shadow?"

Xiaoyu whispered to Xiaolan, who was waiting outside the screen. Ten maids stood in a row beside her, each carrying various kinds of gorgeous and exquisite clothes and jewelry.

"There are three this time."

Xiaolan winked at Xiaoyu knowingly. They believed that the three beautiful and charming women who were bathing inside, who resembled the lady, would return to where they came from, just like the previous two hundred and eighty-six shadows.

The three deacons painstakingly gathered women from various places, each bearing a resemblance to the Lady in appearance, figure, and demeanor—more than five points. They were like the Lady's reflection in water, swaying gently, indistinct and vague, similar yet unreal. Therefore, the people of the ranch privately jokingly called them "shadows." These shadows were always sent to the Misty Cloud Pavilion, where they would bathe and change, choosing their own attire before being brought before the Master's inspection. Unfortunately, the Master would generally only glance at these shadows before waving them away. Occasionally, he would keep one or two shadows, speak with them, or ask them to dance, but there would be no further intimate contact.

The people of the ranch marveled at the Master's devotion, but Xiaoyu thought it was expected. Having served the Lady since childhood, she knew the Master's feelings for her better than anyone. According to Xiaoyu, even if a woman resembled the Lady closely, she was merely a shadow of the Lady; the Master would not be close to a false shadow, much less be moved by one.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the maids, at Xiaoyu's command, went in

one by one to dress and groom the three figures, quickly emerging once everything was ready. Xiaoyu, as usual, led the three towards the study, but the moment she glanced at the three figures, she held her breath.

Under heaven, it was impossible for another woman to look exactly like the Madam. Even if people's appearances were similar, their temperament and spirit would inevitably differ. Yet, at this moment, Xiaoyu was stunned.

The last one, a petite and exquisite girl in red, had large, bright, intelligent eyes, long eyelashes fluttering like butterflies, and an occasional haughty self-possession when she looked up—she was a spitting image of the Madam in her youth.

The girl seemed to sense the strangeness in Xiaoyu's gaze, turned her head, and gave her a friendly, gentle smile. The girl's smile was extremely warm and natural, yet Xiaoyu felt a chill run down her spine. For some reason, an inexplicable sense of unease arose within her.

Upon reaching the study, Xiaoyu's palms were sweaty, and her voice trembled slightly with intense unease. Xiaoyu was afraid; could that shadow be some kind of demon in disguise? Otherwise, how could it be so strikingly similar?

As usual, after Xiaoyu entered, three shadows stood in a row six feet from the desk.

Duan Yuhan, as always, casually glanced at them. Suddenly, his heart tightened. Clearly, a pair of eyes had been scrutinizing him, but had swiftly looked away the moment he looked up. He looked at each one; all three had their eyes lowered, appearing obedient and submissive.

These three looked almost identical to the previous ones, their features resembling Sima Wanqing, but Wanqing's charm and elegance were incomparable to these common beauties.

Remembering how several women had flaunted their allure or used various seductive tricks in front of him in the past, Duan Yuhan felt a surge of disgust. A woman's allure and promiscuity were nothing to be ashamed of. What he hated was that those women who resembled Sima Wanqing so much were a disgrace to such beauty.

Her long eyelashes fluttered like beautiful butterfly wings, quickly rising and then falling again. The girl on the far right seemed to be trying to sneak a glance around, but unexpectedly met Duan Yuhan's gaze. Startled, she hurriedly lowered her head.

In that one glance, Duan Yuhan's heart stopped beating. He stared at the girl, and for a moment, time seemed to rewind seven or eight years.

"Look up,"

he said, walking up to the girl. The girl obediently raised her head, looking back at him intently, but under his gaze, her cheeks slowly flushed, then she looked away with some fear.

Earlier, Duan Yuhan had only glanced at the three women and hadn't thought she was anything special. But now, so close, he could see her clearly. Her dark eyes were clear and pure like a mountain stream, her pink lips like delicate rose petals glistening with morning dew, and the bright, light look in her eyes was so familiar.

She looked at him, her beautiful face flushed, a look strikingly similar to that of Sima Wanqing from years ago. However, while Sima Wanqing blushed, she still held his hand, gazing intently at him; this girl, however, turned her gaze away, avoiding his eyes.

Duan Yuhan took a deep breath, waved his hand, and signaled Xiaoyu to take the three away. No matter how similar they were, this girl was not Sima Wanqing; he wouldn't be fooled by the resemblance. His wife, there would be no second in the world. He didn't need anyone to replace her, because he firmly believed she would return.

That night, Duan Yuhan, in his deep sleep, returned to that winter seven years ago.

The world was covered in silver, and she and he were building a snowman outside.

"I want the most beautiful snowman in the world."

Her small face was flushed slightly by the fiery red fox fur, her bright eyes looking at him expectantly.

"What does 'most beautiful' mean?"

He didn't understand what a girl meant by "beautiful."

"A snowman like you."

She gazed at him happily, reaching out her small hand to stroke his eyebrows, his nose, his lips. He laughed, turned his head, and firmly bit her slender finger. Her finger was a little cold, but soft, and it felt very comfortable to suck on.

Her face turned even redder, and she hurriedly tried to pull her hand away, but he deliberately wouldn't let go.

In the stalemate, she pouted, "I'm going to tell Uncle Yue that you bullied me."

He pretended to be scared and released her. She immediately turned her anger into joy, triumphantly stuffing her little hand into his neck, "Isn't it cold? Scared now?"

He grabbed her hand and solemnly placed it in his arms. She struggled a little with a giggle, but couldn't break free. He put his arm around her shoulder, letting her nestle against his chest, "Are you still cold?"

She shook her little head, saying she wasn't cold, then playfully blinked her big eyes, "Why are you warmer than me?"

Her little hand nestled in his large hand; they warmed each other, her clear, melodious voice in his ear, the faint scent of jasmine from her hair in his nostrils.

However, he tightened his grip again, and the warmth of the moment vanished abruptly; it was all just a memory. He awoke abruptly. The dim moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a cold, empty glow on the other side of the bed. He had to face reality: his Qing had been gone for a long time.

Duan Yuhan slumped to his feet. Without her, his life was utterly meaningless. If he could, he wished time could stand still seven years ago. Fourteen-year-old Qing, innocent and adorable, guileless, honest and open with him, their hearts intertwined. Perhaps beautiful times are always fleeting, and people only truly cherish what they have after they've lost it.

Pushing open the door, the moonlight was like water. Duan Yuhan suddenly recalled their first intimate encounter after their marriage. That night, the moon was just as bright, the sky just as clear. But today, she was nowhere to be found, and she would never hold his hand again.

The faint sound of hooves startled Duan Yuhan from his reverie. Who was riding a horse in the pasture so late at night?

Following the sound, he saw a vibrant red figure, sitting steadily on the back of a black horse. A black horse carrying a rider galloped about, turning left and right, clearly unfamiliar with the layout of the ranch and unable to find its way out.

Duan Yuhan walked slowly over, whistled softly, and the black horse immediately turned and galloped towards him. The rider seemed startled, pulling hard on the reins to try and turn back, but couldn't stop the horse's pace. As

the horse drew closer, Duan Yuhan finally saw clearly that the bright red-clad figure was none other than the little girl he had seen during the day, who resembled Wan Qing. Now, she sat upright on her horse, her hand holding the reins trembling slightly, but she still tried to remain calm, looking directly at him.

"I want to go home,"

the girl's voice was clear and bright. Duan Yuhan didn't respond, his gaze shifting uncertainly. In the darkness, her dazzling, fiery attire and her proud riding posture were so much like Wan Qing.

"They said that if I came to see you, and you didn't keep me, you would let me go immediately,"

the girl said, a little anxious at his silence, mustering her courage to finish her sentence.

Duan Yuhan flicked his sleeve, the resulting gust of wind pushing her off her horse, for he disliked looking up at others. The girl stumbled, finally regaining her footing, her large eyes filled with panic. Someone had warned her that Duan Yuhan was ruthless and cold-blooded; she shouldn't be presumptuous. Had her behavior just now gone too far?

"Where is your home?"

"Jiangjia Village, west of Chang'an."

Hearing him ask this, the girl secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's your name?"

"Ruhua, Jiang Ruhua."

Ruhua, indeed a fitting name. Unconsciously, a faint smile appeared on Duan Yuhan's lips. This girl was like Sima Wanqing from seven years ago, stepping into a painting. Only in a painting could time stand still. Only then could the fourteen-year-old Sima Wanqing remain forever unchanged.

"How old?"

"Fourteen."

Duan Yuhan was suddenly startled. His Qing hadn't returned, but heaven sensed his heart and sent him a fourteen-year-old child. The same face, the same mannerisms—except for the unique air of a Sima from beyond the Great Wall, she was almost identical to Sima Wanqing from back then.

If he wanted, he could mold the girl before him into another Sima Wanqing at any time, one who wouldn't hate him, wouldn't sacrifice herself for another man, and wouldn't leave so resolutely.

Her small hands twisted the reins, as if she were somewhat uneasy. Slowly, Duan Yuhan smiled calmly, "You don't need to go back, because I want you to stay."

Jiang Ruhua looked up at him. Weren't his words exactly what she wanted? But why did his peaceful smile frighten her? But she couldn't escape, nor did she have a way out. Everything was preordained, beyond her control.

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