The wide-open door and the separated wooden bed casually revealed the peaceful tranquility inside. Qu Yao couldn’t help but reveal a genuine smile; her master had more smiles today than ever before, and she didn’t want to see the previous sorrow again. Qu Shan came to take over, but she shook her head. Qu Shan spoke softly, “You haven’t had it easy lately looking for the master. If there’s nothing else, go rest. The master doesn’t need a guard with a weary face.”
“
Qu Yao had no choice but to slowly return to her room and lie down, naturally touching a purple accessory, with the word “Yan” emerging in her heart.
She hadn’t intentionally placed it so close to herself. When she first brought it back, she had casually thrown it on the table. After a while, she thought if the cleaning staff got ideas, she would have received this gift in vain. With her actions matching her heart, she picked it up again and placed it by the bedside, pressing it under her pillow when she went out.
Thinking of this, Qu Yao smiled bitterly. Why was she so concerned about a gift from a woman? Even more ridiculous was that she had given her sword to a third-rate martial artist.
On the day Yan Ziyan left, all the men of the small secluded pavilion abandoned their dignity and ran outside to bid farewell.
She was initially a bit sad, but seeing their genuine reluctance, her heart overflowed with happiness, and she comforted them instead.
Qu Yao practiced sword half an hour longer than usual. After sitting for half a day, she mounted her horse and rushed out.
“You fool, I thought you weren’t coming to see me off!” Yan Ziyan rode a white horse leisurely, seeing Qu Yao approaching from behind. Her mouth curved, her eyes smiling.
In white clothes on a white horse, radiant under the sun, Qu Yao was momentarily dazed. She silently lowered her gaze and threw the sword to her.
“You’re giving me a sword?”
“Your martial arts are poor.”
Yan Ziyan was surprised. This was just an ordinary sword. But the smooth sword handle, held in hands for years… She was deeply touched by this gift.
“You fool, thank you.” She didn’t refuse, hugging the sword close, smiling sincerely.
Qu Yao turned and hummed, “I received your jade pendant. This is just a return gift.”
Yan Ziyan thought for a moment, tilting her head, “If I come to the Central Plains in the future, can I visit the Qu family?”
“The family master will decide.”
“You fool, you can come play in Guangnan. Just ask anyone, and they’ll know me.”
Even if someone doesn’t know me, show them my jade pendant, and they’ll bring you to me.”
Qu Yao nodded faintly, “You should go.”
Yan Ziyan leaned over to pat her shoulder, then cupped her fists, waved, and rode away.
“Husband, lunch is ready.” As the sun approached noon, Qu Shan gently knocked outside. Qu Xiaojue put down her documents and walked to the bed, gently shaking him. Xu Wanzhi opened his eyes, realizing he was in Qu Xiaojue’s study, rubbed his forehead, and asked, “Are you done?”
“How can anything be completed in a day? Meals are prepared. If you’re truly tired, rest in your room after eating.” She helped him up, smoothed his slightly messy hair and clothes, and held his hand to lead him out.
In this weather, Xu Wanzhi didn’t have much appetite. Instead of napping, he was awake. He thought and spoke, “You’re still injured. Go rest. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Qu Xiaojue laughed, “Good. I’ll lie on the bed. You organize those books and scrolls. Read out anything that can’t be handled, and filter out the rest.”
Hearing this, Xu Wanzhi raised an eyebrow, “You trust me that much?”
Qu Xiaojue laughed heartily, “I said I trust you. Since I see you as my lifelong partner, I trust my eyes and my heart. Husband, why don’t you trust me once?”
Xu Wanzhi looked into her gentle eyes, slightly moved, and said, “Go rest. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
Qu Xiaojue stood up and hugged him tightly, sighing, “A’wan, what are you really thinking? Tell me.”
“Qu Xiaojue, do you think I’d be standing here if I wasn’t truly willing?”
“Are you saying you have me in your heart?”
“I don’t know.” A humming sound fades away.
Since encountering that unattainable plaything Yan Ziyan, Jian Liansheng’s unfortunate life began, though she herself never noticed this point. That night in the city, first ambushed by so-called righteous famous masters, then hunted by several hidden experts, even as fierce as she was, “Soul-destroying blade out, soul dancing without a body”, single-handedly killing dozens of people, ultimately suffering severe meridian damage and fleeing.
The righteous sects were numerous, with ambushes and pursuit almost giving her no breathing space. The main force of Folding Moon Palace was not here. This solo southward journey from the palace had her own plans, but she didn’t expect to be exposed so quickly. These righteous sects’ methods were no less sophisticated than those of Folding Moon Palace.
Jian Lian Qing hid her tracks along the way, successfully diverting a group of pursuers. However, this battle seemed to have someone extremely familiar with her guiding the strategy from behind, making her escape path incredibly difficult.
But a demon leader is a demon leader; she had her own high pride, and even if she were to die in battle, she would never fall into enemy hands. Along the way, she repeatedly used her internal force to wield the Soul-Cutting Blade, killing others and injuring herself, fearing she might completely destroy her own cultivation.
Finally, she encountered her own demonic physician on the way, barely avoiding becoming a disabled person. Jian Lian Qing knew she was severely injured, but upon hearing she might never be able to fight again, she spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood.
The demonic physician, feeling compassionate, advised, “Palace Master, please stay here for a few more days. This old woman will think of a way. With your aptitude, there might still be a chance of recovery.”
Jian Lian Qing’s expression remained calm: “If I cannot stand at the forefront, I have no reason to live.”
The demonic physician sighed deeply, preparing a bag of divine medicine for her. Jian Lian Qing handed her a letter, ensuring that even if she died, everything was properly arranged.
Jian Lian Qing wore a black robe, her demeanor fierce and cold. Having not suffered such bodily injuries in over a decade, her gaze became deeper and more tranquil, restraining much of her external momentum.
Abandoning the principle of hiding in plain sight, she continued walking through the mountains, her destination unclear. Three days later, she was surrounded. The demonic physician had given her many deadly poisons, which she used liberally. She had been circling for three days, and today, those who dared to challenge her would all be buried!
A few true masters crossed the deep ravine and engaged her in close combat within a zhang’s distance. She fought with all her might but was severely wounded again, with another strike potentially sending her tumbling into the abyss. The masters, caring little for their own lives, attacked with fatal moves. As Jian Lian Qing’s speed slowed, she was struck by a deadly palm, nearly collapsing.
A hundred meters away on the opposite mountain peak, two people stood, smiling and watching everything unfold. The bodyguard asked, “Master, they’re moving so slowly. Should I help them along?”
The elegant woman standing at the front, facing the wind, smiled slightly: “Help who? They are all famous figures from the Central Plains martial world, all troublesome. They have nothing to do with us; we’re just watching the show.”
