Inside the private room was a mess. Chuxia clung tightly to the young master’s neck, refusing to let go. The young master held her with one arm, softly consoling, “It’s not a ghost, it’s Qinglong playing a prank on you…” Turning around, Chuxia indeed saw Qinglong standing behind her, his face showing mock fear. Overwhelmed by embarrassment and anger, she grabbed a large pear from the table and threw it at him. Qinglong easily caught it and took a bite, grinning, “Chuxia, you’re still such a scaredy-cat… there are no ghosts in this world!”
“You… you!” Chuxia stood up straight, her face flushed, “Was it you who blew that first breath?” “Uh…” Qinglong glanced at the young master, admitting that he had quietly climbed in through the window and gently blew that first breath. The young master had noticed but didn’t say anything, seemingly giving his tacit approval. “Was it you?” Chuxia pressed. “Yes, I had already hidden under the table when you turned around.” Qinglong was quite proud of his nimble escape. Chuxia glared at him for a long time before turning to the young master, “You’re not a good person either!” The young master raised an eyebrow, an innocent smile playing on his lips. “You saw it! Why didn’t you tell me!” Chuxia angrily said before storming out.
“Uh, young master… her temper is getting worse…” Qinglong watched Chuxia’s retreating figure with some trepidation, thinking she even dared to shout at the young master. The young master twirled a peanut between his slender fingers, flicked it, and it flew like a bullet towards Qinglong’s chest. This was no comparison to Chuxia’s earlier random fruit toss; the force and precision aimed at Qinglong’s vital point were unmistakable. Qinglong was shocked but managed to dodge the first peanut. However, the second one hit him squarely in the Juque point, leaving him frozen in place.
The young master stood up and walked towards the door. Qinglong watched him pitifully as he passed by. “Young master…” “What?” “You’re just going to leave me here?” Qinglong asked, his face mournful, knowing it would take at least half an hour for the paralysis to wear off. The young master showed no mercy, “You started the fire, and I ended up as the fish in the pond.” With that, he walked away without looking back.
Qinglong, truly unable to call for help, stood in the private room, frozen in a comical pose. A waiter came in to clean up, saw him, and was startled, “Sir, are you…?” “What are you looking at? Get out!” Qinglong roared in frustration. The waiter hurried out, but outside, a girl in a light pink dress entered, laughing at Qinglong’s predicament. She looked around leisurely and said, “The young master’s skills have improved.” “Help me out!” Qinglong glared at her. Bai Xue sat down in the grand chair, casually tasting a green plum. “Hey, are you blind?” The setting sun cast a glow on Bai Xue, whose laughter was as sweet as her voice. “Little Qinglong, one day, your foolishness will be your downfall.” Qinglong closed his eyes, ignoring her. “Why didn’t the young master stop you from scaring Chuxia, and now he’s punishing you by leaving you here?” “How should I know what the young master thinks?” Qinglong finally burst out. “Let me tell you why,” Bai Xue smiled softly, “The young master was waiting for you to scare Chuxia. He had his beauty in his arms, why would he stop you?” Qinglong’s face turned from green to white, thinking, “Is the young master really like that?” “And then… little Chuxia got angry, the young master felt guilty, and you, you get to stay here and suffer.” Bai Xue stretched lazily, “Well, I’m off.” “Hey…” Qinglong watched Bai Xue thoughtfully, “Does the young master really like Chuxia?” “Can’t you see?” “But… Chuxia is betrothed to someone else.” Qinglong felt conflicted. “Why are you worrying about this?” Bai Xue’s heart stirred slightly, “What does it have to do with you?”
The young man’s eyelashes were so long, fluttering like they were sweeping into Bai Xue’s heart. She suddenly sighed and reached out her finger, saying, “Fine, let me help you—” But then Qinglong suddenly spoke up, “Since the young master doesn’t mind, then I’ll like Chuxia as well. At worst, I won’t bully her anymore!” Bai Xue’s expression slightly changed, her finger about to touch his Juque acupoint but she pulled back in time, her voice tinged with irritation, “Go ahead and like her then!” With that, she turned and left without looking back.
Meanwhile, Chuxia had just left the teahouse and was walking aimlessly forward, gradually leaving the bustling east market of Cangzhou behind. Her heart was troubled, not because of Qinglong’s antics, but because… the young master had clearly seen, yet why didn’t he tell her? It was just like that time, he knew what she would face but said nothing, letting her fall into the wolf’s den, her life hanging by a thread.
After wandering aimlessly for a while, the surroundings grew increasingly desolate. Chuxia suddenly looked up and realized she had unknowingly circled back to Lü Liu Alley. The crowd had dispersed, the alley was quiet with the dusk setting in, and the wind whispered by her ears. She recalled what Captain He had said, feeling a bit scared, but remembering “Lü Liu Alley, the big locust tree,” she mustered her courage to take a look inside. Just as she stepped forward, someone took her hand.
The hand was steady, dry, and warm. Chuxia trembled slightly, not lifting her head, but she saw the elongated shadow on the ground. She wanted to shake off the hand, but if the young master was determined not to let go, she had no way out but to look up at him directly, asking, “What are you doing?”
The young master’s gaze was deep, seemingly mixed with emotions she couldn’t fathom, “Why are you suddenly angry?”
Chuxia turned her head away, answering a different question, “I need to find someone.”
The young master smiled faintly, the western clouds seemed to fall onto his lips, making him breathtakingly handsome. He said, “Chuxia, if your husband… died in that fire, what would you do?” Chapter 23 (Part One)
Chuxia’s frown deepened, her clear black and white eyes fixed on him without blinking. The young master let her look, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, his long eyebrows sweeping into his temples, his gaze intensely captivating. Chuxia’s gaze slowly shifted away as she murmured, “Yes… what should I do then?”
The young master’s grip on her hand suddenly tightened, his eyes growing even darker… It seemed she truly cared about this.
“I remember you said you’d marry him regardless of whether he was fat or pockmarked, right?” the young master continued, squinting slightly.
Chuxia nodded without hesitation.
“But you’ve never seen him, nor do you like him. Would you just marry him like that?” he asked gently, almost coaxing, “What if he’s a bad person?”
Chuxia looked back at him, puzzled for a long time before saying, “Isn’t the most important thing in the martial world keeping one’s word?”
“But that promise was made by your father, what does it have to do with you?” The young master smiled.
The spring breeze was indifferent, and after a moment of silence, Chuxia suddenly asked, “What about you? If you have an engagement, but you don’t like the woman, what would you do?”
The young master didn’t mind her provocative tone, merely saying calmly, “If I don’t want to marry, who in this world could force me?”
Chuxia looked up at him, her emotions suddenly complex, words on the tip of her tongue, unsure whether to voice them.
The young master seemed to see through her thoughts, asking solemnly, “What do you want to say?”
