"Escape?" A Shui was slightly taken aback. The way this person spoke clearly marked them as someone from the martial world. "There are no steamed buns or dumplings at home, but if the three of you don't mind, I can cook some plain noodles." She didn't bother guessing the origins of these sudden visitors. Whether friend or foe, whatever they intended to do, she was powerless to resist. Why not imagine them as simple and kind? She turned toward the kitchen. The black-clad figure carried on the back of the yellow-robed man trembled violently upon hearing her voice and abruptly raised his head.
The three who knocked at midnight were none other than Liu Yan, Yu Tuan'er, and Fang Pingzhai. After the Abbot Assembly at Shaolin Temple concluded, Fang Pingzhai had publicly declared his intention to seize the position of abbot, drawing everyone's attention. The Bodhidharma Hall of Shaolin dispatched monks to track the trio, aiming to uncover their identities. Fang Pingzhai didn't care about being shadowed by bald monks, but news of Liu Yan's disfigurement and severed legs had already spread. Fearing prolonged pursuit might reveal Liu Yan's identity, Fang Pingzhai had been leading Liu Yan and Yu Tuan'er in a frantic flight from Songshan to Luoyang these past few days. They had barely shaken off the Shaolin monks when they were caught in a thunderstorm. With nowhere to stay in the dead of night, they spotted a lit household and knocked for help—coincidentally, it was A Shui's door.
Liu Yan suddenly raised his head. He had heard A Shui's voice. This place was—his gaze pierced through the black veil, taking in the ordinary tables and chairs, the simple hall devoid of even a single Buddhist image. Yet... he could still sense her presence here.
He had taken her from Hao Wenhou's household, where she had been a courtesan. He had never asked what kind of woman she was before being abducted, and A Shui herself never spoke of her past.
The past... was a meaningless story. The clearer one remembered, the more one refused to let go, the deeper the sorrow became.
"Hey? Do you want to come down?" Yu Tuan'er noticed him lifting his head. "Are you hungry?" Fang Pingzhai set him down on a chair. "Guess whether that beauty earlier will whip up a delicacy or—a freshly peculiar taste?" Liu Yan didn't respond. After a moment, he suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "A Shui!"
A clattering sound came from the kitchen. Yu Tuan'er and Fang Pingzhai both froze as Liu Yan snapped sharply, "Come out!" The kitchen fell silent briefly before the purple-robed woman from earlier emerged slowly, her face slightly pale. "You... you..."
"Me what?" Liu Yan said icily. "Once I was gone, you thought you could just return home? Who gave you permission? Who said you could leave? Who told you that just because I was defeated, disappeared, disfigured, lost my legs, and ruined my martial arts—you could stop being my dog?" He lifted his veil to reveal his mutilated face to A Shui. "Come here!"
A Shui stared blankly at Liu Yan's horrifying visage. Her thoughts had already been scattered tonight, and at this moment, her mind went completely blank. Her lips parted, but she couldn't find any words.
He had once saved her, and he had once humiliated her... They had even shared a child between them, though he never knew. She had suffered hatred and jealousy because of him, endured beatings and abuse because of him. Yet at this sudden reunion, her heart held no flood of words—only emptiness.She had never hated this man, but she had never loved him either.
"Come here!" Liu Yan slammed the table with a loud bang, his voice booming.
She walked slowly toward him. Yu Tuan'er watched her in astonishment, unable to hold back her words, "Even when he shouts like this, you still—" Before she could finish, Fang Pingzhai covered her mouth, whispering a quiet "shh" in her ear. "Don't speak." Yu Tuan'er was filled with reluctance. Liu Yan's inexplicable harshness—if it were her, she would have slapped him and cursed him a few times. How could anyone just obey like that? Clearly, Liu Yan was in the wrong!
"Re... Revered Master." A Shui stopped before Liu Yan, her slightly pale lips parting softly as she addressed him in a low voice.
Liu Yan, seated in his chair, reached out and gripped her chin, staring intently at her face. "Are you afraid of me?" A Shui smiled faintly and shook her head. Whether he was devastatingly handsome or disfigured, Liu Yan was still Liu Yan—nothing more, nothing less. His elegant fingers tightened slightly, his tone calm. "Do you pity me?" A Shui shook her head slowly. There were many things she could have said. Perhaps she had meant to say... the child. But... no words came out. This man... had committed terrible crimes. He had caused many deaths, yet... he was not a bad person. He had already suffered part of his retribution and punishment, and she did not wish to cause him further pain.
The child... was just a mistake. If she alone forgot, it would be as if it had never happened. Why cling to it so bitterly... Did she pity him? She gazed at his horrifying face. She did not pity him. There were many wretched people in this world, but those who still retained enough pride and confidence to shout at others were not among them. Seeing her unwavering gaze, gentle yet sorrowful, Liu Yan suddenly tightened his grip on her face. "Have you fallen for someone else?"
At these words, Fang Pingzhai let out an "Ah!" while Yu Tuan'er froze in shock. Both turned their eyes to the purple-clad woman firmly held by Liu Yan. Her expression gradually grew placid—a calm born of resignation and exhaustion. Then, she let out a soft cough. "Revered Master, I have already said... A Shui's heart belongs to another. Revered Master, your talents surpass all. Even without your looks or martial prowess, you are no ordinary man. There is no need to trouble yourself over A Shui." Her words were plain but sincere. "I only bring others pain, never joy. Truly... there is nothing good about me."
"Who have you fallen for? Who would you bring joy to?" Liu Yan ignored the meaning behind her words, erupting in fury. "Did I say I was troubled over you? How presumptuous! You are mine—how could I let you love whomever you please? Did I permit you to love anyone you wish? Are you a shameless wretch? Who has your heart been given to? Tang Lici?" A Shui could barely breathe under the increasing pressure of his fingers. "I—""Is it Tang Lici again?" Liu Yan suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Hahahaha... I knew it! No matter what I like, desire, or care about, he will go out of his way to ruin it! Even a mere maid like you—he has to snatch you away from me too!" He released his grip on A Shui and said darkly, "Don’t worry—the next time I see him, I’ll bring his head back to keep you company forever, so he can be endlessly happy, hahahaha..." A Shui staggered back two steps, coughing. "You... you’ve lost your martial arts. How can you kill him...?" Liu Yan snorted coldly. Fang Pingzhai pulled out the red fan from behind his neck and gave it a slight wave. "A disciple serves his master’s needs. Since my master has lost his martial arts, it naturally falls to me—the peerlessly skilled, brilliant, handsome, and filial disciple—to do the killing. Although... I’ve heard Tang Lici’s martial arts are also terrifyingly extraordinary, but—since I dare say 'but,' that means I have the confidence and ability to back it up. Don’t you agree?"
The guest room remained silent. A Shui retreated until her back hit the wall, watching the composed and carefree Fang Pingzhai, the clear-eyed Yu Tuan'er, and the murderous Liu Yan. These three were truly intent on killing Tang Lici for Liu Yan’s sake—this was no jest. The person she yearned for was not Tang Lici, but even if she spoke up in his defense, Liu Yan would not listen.
He hated Tang Lici simply for the sake of hating him. Any reason that allowed him to despise Tang Lici, he believed without question—because hating Tang Lici was the meaning and driving force of his existence.
Whether he led the winds and clouds or not was irrelevant. Whether he possessed peerless beauty meant nothing. Whether his legs were whole or crippled didn’t matter. The reason he could face life with composure, persist with determination, and even maintain a shred of dignity and confidence was solely because he hated Tang Lici.
The guest room remained utterly still. She stood silently to the side, suddenly thinking... perhaps letting him hate like this wasn’t so bad. But Tang Lici—the lofty Young Master Tang—would he really allow this hatred to continue?
Just then, three impatient knocks sounded at the door again, followed by several impatient voices. "Open up! Open up! Someone reported your room harbors suspicious outsiders. Open up! Soldiers are searching! Anyone who shelters criminals will be punished as one!"
OpenNovel