Amidst the swirling smoke, An Jiu's slender figure stood out, the dazzling snowlight behind her casting everything in a dreamlike haze. Her wide sleeves hung down like a butterfly at rest or an eagle with folded wings, an ambiguous blend of fragility and strength.
Chu Dingjiang's gaze lingered on her face. The dark blue of her dress set off her jade-like complexion, her black hair loosely styled without a single piece of superfluous jewelry, giving her an exceptionally pure and simple appearance.
For some reason, Chu Dingjiang suddenly recalled the night he first saw her body. His face grew warm, and the book in his hand fell with a soft thud onto the pile of medicinal herbs.
The sudden noise snapped Wei Yuzhi out of his daze as well. The current An Jiu was somewhat different from the woman who had first captured his heart—not just in appearance, but also in the newfound softness and serenity in her demeanor. Before, even when she wasn't killing, An Jiu had seemed quiet, but that quiet had been like the oppressive calm before a storm, as if she might erupt at any moment.
"Dressing like this, you actually look a bit like a woman now!" Mo Sigui remarked with a click of his tongue.
An Jiu walked over and sat down beside Chu Dingjiang. Mei Jiu followed shortly after, nodding slightly at the three of them in greeting.
"Beautiful," Chu Dingjiang murmured in quiet praise.
An Jiu nodded. "I know."
"Couldn't you at least pretend to be modest?" Mo Sigui said disdainfully.
An Jiu turned to look at him. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"I do have a problem!" Mo Sigui blurted out, only to realize the atmosphere had turned odd. It suddenly dawned on him that the other two men in the room both had feelings for her, but words once spoken were like water spilled—impossible to take back.
The tension in the air was palpable. Everyone expected An Jiu to impulsively lunge at him, but she merely glanced away indifferently. "I dressed like this for Chu Dingjiang to see. I don't care about your opinion. And you probably won't get the chance to voice it in the future—Lou Mingyue isn't going to dress up for you."
Mo Sigui's heart instantly sank. He turned his face away, looking as though he'd resolved never to speak to this woman again.
Wei Yuzhi lowered his eyelids, masking the gloom in his eyes.
The room seemed divided by Mei Jiu's presence—one side bathed in sunshine, the other shrouded in gloom.
"Cousin, I'll have someone tidy up this room as well," Mei Jiu offered.
"No need!" Mo Sigui hastily interjected. "My room is perfectly tidy. No cleaning required."
The room was so cluttered there was barely space to stand, and calling it "tidy" was a blatant lie. But Mei Jiu knew Mo Sigui well enough—her offer was more about easing the tension than actually cleaning. "Very well, then."
She turned to Wei Yuzhi. "Shall I arrange a room for this gentleman?"
"No need," Mo Sigui refused again. "If you've got time to spare, go hug your son instead of causing trouble here."
Mei Jiu wasn't offended. Her expression was one of understanding—"I know you're nursing a broken heart, so I won't hold it against you"—and she smiled gently. "It's almost New Year's. I just wanted everyone to have a better time."
Mo Sigui felt even more disheartened. If not for the intimidating presence of Chu Dingjiang, the living incarnation of the King of Hell, he would have thrown both of them out immediately!
After an awkward silence, Mei Jiu asked Mo Sigui to check on her son's health, and Chu Dingjiang and An Jiu returned to their own quarters.
Only when An Jiu's figure had disappeared from sight did Wei Yuzhi finally withdraw his gaze.
On the corridor, An Jiu glanced back, inexplicably feeling a pang of melancholy. She could sense Wei Yuzhi's gaze and the emotions churning within him.If there was one person in this world whose sincerity you could clearly see and feel at all times, could you still treat them as a stranger?
An Jiu couldn’t.
Having witnessed her father’s cruelty and knowing how rare true sincerity was, how could she remain indifferent when faced with genuine affection?
Her mother’s loyalty had a profound impact on An Jiu. Back then, she had despised such foolish devotion, yet when it came to her own life, she was surprised to find herself willing to stay devoted to one person for a lifetime.
"It’s you," An Jiu grasped Chu Dingjiang’s hand.
"Hmm?" Chu Dingjiang looked at her in confusion.
An Jiu stomped her foot. "I’ve started noticing other men, but I still believe you’re the one I’ll never change my heart for."
Chu Dingjiang fell silent for a moment before smiling faintly and patting her head. "Good girl."
Chu Dingjiang was an astute man—nothing escaped his notice. But seeing something for himself and hearing An Jiu admit it were two different things. He was pleased by her honesty.
"It’s fine to be distracted sometimes. I trust you," Chu Dingjiang murmured as he pulled her into his arms.
In another room, Wei Yuzhi lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling beams. His white hair spilled over the edge of the bed, cascading onto the floor like frost.
Rarely did he allow himself such moments—letting his mind go blank, thinking of nothing at all.
...
Bianjing had seen many clear days, but as the snow continued to melt, the cold grew even sharper than during snowfall. Most people chose to stay indoors.
Two days before the New Year, snow began to fall again—thick, heavy flakes that blanketed the city in a dense, relentless flurry.
An Jiu loved weather like this. She would sit by the brazier, clad in only comfortable undergarments, wrapped in a quilt, nestled close to Chu Dingjiang.
"Let’s leave after the New Year," An Jiu frowned, the firelight flickering in her eyes. "I just remembered—I accepted a bounty from the Bounty Board but never completed it! Where’s that notice?"
Chu Dingjiang stirred the coals with a poker. "Too late. You’ve probably already been listed on the Bounty Board."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw An Jiu’s puzzled expression. "Those who accept a bounty but fail to complete the task will be hunted by the Bounty Board."
Being hunted by the Bounty Board meant being pursued by assassins across the land—hardly good news.
"Ugh." An Jiu was displeased. She had ended up in this situation again! In her past life, she had also been wanted worldwide...
Chu Dingjiang wasn’t overly concerned. "It’s not a big deal. If there’s no better solution, just kill the Bounty Board’s overseer. All bounties will be revoked."
That was the Bounty Board’s rule—each overseer managed their own list of bounties, with no tasks carried over to the next overseer.
"Who’s the mastermind behind the Bounty Board?" An Jiu asked.
Chu Dingjiang’s gaze fell on the pendant at her waist—a black jade mask pendant that had only recently come into her possession.
"Hua Rongjian!" An Jiu sat up straight.
Chu Dingjiang hummed in confirmation.
"Are you sure?" An Jiu found it hard to believe. Hua Rongjian had once been notorious, living in the public eye almost daily in Bianjing. If he had secretly managed the Bounty Board all along, just how deep did his cunning run?
"He took over the Bounty Board less than two years ago," Chu Dingjiang explained, anticipating her doubts. "This information is accurate. The Yu Clan helped him eliminate the Bounty Board’s original forces, and in exchange, Hua Rongjian traded them the Water and Land Passage Token. The Yu Clan had no real interest in the Bounty Board, so they agreed."The current head of the Yu family is Yu Pianfei, the younger brother of Zhu Pianxian.
Chu Dingjiang said, "The jade pendant he gave you is one of the tokens of the Bounty Board. If you don’t wish to kill him, you can use this to remove your own bounty."
"If he has the authority to remove the bounty, why didn’t he just revoke it directly instead of giving me this?" An Jiu asked.
Chu Dingjiang explained, "The Bounty Board has existed for many years, and though its overseers have changed many times, its rules have remained unchanged. For the sake of fairness, the Bounty Board has never been ruled by a single voice—there are many regulations in place to constrain it. Since the Bounty Board’s inception, this jade pendant has existed, bestowed upon those who have contributed to the bounty system. The holder can use it to command the Bounty Board to fulfill one request." (To be continued...)
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