"I need to find a secluded place to craft the antidote for the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill." Liu Yan's voice was low, carrying his characteristic gloom, yet his tone was resolute. Fang Pingzhai chuckled softly, this time without launching into a lengthy speech. "Master, bring back our martial aunt," he said. Liu Yan remained silent. Fang Pingzhai continued, "Or bring back Miss A Shui and Feng Feng together." Still, Liu Yan did not respond. Fang Pingzhai pressed on, "I think—having them by your side would put you at ease." Liu Yan trembled slightly. He hadn't realized it himself, but Fang Pingzhai was right. Only with Yu Tuan'er and A Shui nearby could he truly feel secure.
Only then could he craft the elixir.
He always needed certain people around him, constantly reminding him of what he "should" do. Otherwise, he would grow increasingly lost, directionless... He wasn't strong enough—he had never been strong enough.
He had never been someone like Tang Lici.
A-Li couldn't hold up his own heart, yet he could uphold the world.
But Liu Yan could neither steady his own heart nor bear even a single straw that fell from the heavens.
He was just Liu Yan. Stripped of his beautiful facade, he was nothing at all.
A Shui walked slowly with the group retreating from Beauty Abode. Tang Lici had not spoken a single word to her since that one glance. Feng Feng waved at Tang Lici's back, calling out "Niu Niu" repeatedly, but A Shui held him close, shielding him from the sight. Yu Tuan'er, having heard from A Shui that this was the renowned Young Master Tang of the martial world, studied Tang Lici's retreating figure and remarked, "He was here earlier. Did this Young Master Tang's arrival scare him away?" The "he" she referred to was, of course, Liu Yan.
"No," A Shui replied. "Young Master Fang was supposed to meet us at Beauty Abode, but he never came. I suspect he either encountered trouble or took Liu Yan away. Otherwise, how could someone as crippled as him escape from an army? So don’t worry, there’s nothing to fear." Yu Tuan'er whispered, "Then let’s not follow Young Master Tang. Let’s go find Fang Pingzhai." A Shui nodded. "Once dawn breaks, we’ll escort Young Master Lin to the main road and then search for Fang Pingzhai." Yu Tuan'er gasped. "Oh! I completely forgot about Lin Bu." A Shui smiled faintly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Young Master Lin is a good man."
Lin Bu had initially been shielded like a chick in the crowd, but now that the enemy was gone and no one recognized him, the swordsmen of the Central Plains Sword Association gradually stopped watching over him, leaving him trailing behind. The scholar, having endured a great ordeal, showed no fear as he walked calmly along the desolate mountain path in the dead of night, his gaze as serene as if he were admiring the forest scenery. Yu Tuan'er glanced at him and beckoned, "Lin Bu!"Lin Bu walked over, and Yu Tuan'er smiled at him. "Who caught you? How did you end up hanging up there?" Lin Bu bowed to her. "After you all left, I also departed from Shumei Residence and headed northwest. On the way, I was captured by a strangely dressed man in black and locked in an iron cage inside a carriage, transported here." Yu Tuan'er looked at the rope marks on his wrists. "You must have suffered terribly. At daybreak, hurry back. If those people ahead ignore you, Sister A Shui and I will help you find the way." Lin Bu chuckled dryly. "How could I trouble two young ladies for my sake? Though I may be down on my luck, I can still manage on my own." His original journey northwest had been to admire the landscapes, but being suddenly brought south allowed him to appreciate a different kind of winter scenery. A Shui also bowed to him. "Your resilience is extraordinary, sir." Lin Bu shook his head. "I am but a frivolous scholar. You flatter me, miss." After a brief pause, he continued slowly, "There was another man locked in the iron cage with me. While I was merely imprisoned, he was covered in wounds. If you two possess any special skills, could you perhaps go to his aid?" Yu Tuan'er asked curiously, "What man?"
"A..." Lin Bu's expression turned slightly awkward. "A man without clothes, covered in scars, with a mark like a red snake tattooed on his face." Yu Tuan'er widened her eyes. "A coiled red snake? Like this..." She traced a circle in the air with her finger. Lin Bu nodded. "Exactly." Yu Tuan'er gasped. "It's Big Brother Shen! It's Big Brother Shen!" A Shui asked in surprise, "Who is Big Brother Shen?" Yu Tuan'er then recounted their encounter with Shen Langhun and Liu Yan in the forest. A Shui stamped her foot. "We must inform Young Master Tang immediately. Shen Langhun is likely with Senior Xue Xianzi, taken away by the Dissolute Shop." She had originally planned to leave at dawn without bidding farewell to Tang Lici, but now she handed Feng Feng to Yu Tuan'er and hurried forward, rushing to catch up with Tang Lici, who was walking ahead.
Tang Lici stopped in his tracks. Before she could reach him, he turned around. Cheng Yunpao also turned, seeing A Shui hastening toward them. "Young... Young Master Tang!" The corners of Tang Lici's lips curved slightly. Since he had uttered those words about "elegant debauchery," they had hardly exchanged any words. Seeing her rush toward him now, he smiled at her.
The words she meant to say caught in her throat. The meaning behind Tang Lici's smile... it mocked the meager remnants of her pride, her baseless dignity. No matter the reason—now and in the future, she would continuously turn to him for help, for rescue, for aid... And he, like a god, would fulfill all her pleas.
This was the game that brought Tang Lici pleasure.A Shui's lips stiffened for a moment, but she still managed to speak, "Young Master Tang, Shen Langhun is also in the hands of the Dissolute Shop. He's locked in an iron cell together with Young Master Lin and may be severely injured." Tang Lici's brows lifted slightly as Cheng Yunpao coldly remarked, "He didn't kill Liu Yan, so he must have encountered a formidable foe. As a hired killer who takes lives for money, falling into the Dissolute Shop's hands might not be undeserved." Cheng Yunpao, who loathed evil, had never held Shen Langhun in high regard. The fact that he hadn't drawn his sword upon meeting him was already courtesy enough. Later, when Shen Langhun abducted Liu Yan, causing unrest in the martial world, Cheng Yunpao grew even more displeased. Hearing that Shen Langhun was imprisoned by the Dissolute Shop brought him great satisfaction. Though A Shui didn't know Shen Langhun personally, she knew he was Tang Lici's friend. Despite Liu Yan having killed his wife, Shen Langhun hadn't taken revenge and had even been kind to Yu Tuan'er. In her heart, she already considered him a friend. Seeing Cheng Yunpao's cold demeanor, she grew anxious. Tang Lici smiled faintly, "I will handle Shen Langhun's matter. I appreciate your concern, Miss."
A Shui could say no more as Tang Lici and Cheng Yunpao continued forward without looking back at her.
Yu Tuan'er caught up from behind, "Sister A Shui, when will Young Master Tang go rescue Brother Shen?" A Shui shook her head, holding Feng Feng close. She wanted to smile to show she wasn't disappointed, but couldn't manage it. "I don't know," she whispered. "Young Master Tang said he would handle it, but I don't know if he'll actually go save him." Yu Tuan'er asked in surprise, "Why doesn't he go rescue Brother Shen now? Brother Shen is in great danger!" A Shui shook her head again, "Young Master Tang must first ensure our group reaches safety before he can attend to other matters. So, he can't go rescue anyone now." Yu Tuan'er grabbed her hand and whispered, "Then let's go rescue him ourselves!" A Shui still shook her head. How could two women track down the Dissolute Shop, let alone attempt a rescue? "If we leave without permission and fall into enemy hands again, we'll only cause Young Master Tang more trouble. I think..." she murmured, "I think we should trust that he will go save him."
Yu Tuan'er looked at her in astonishment. A Shui's face was pale. "Sister A Shui, has Young Master Tang disappointed you?" A Shui stared blankly at her, unsure how to answer. Yu Tuan'er pressed on, "Do you like Young Master Tang very much?" A Shui shook her head and whispered, "Young Master Tang... is my benefactor." Yu Tuan'er snorted. She had wanted to call her a liar, but seeing the faint redness around A Shui's eyes, her curiosity got the better of her. "Was he very good to you before? Why did you ask him to save Brother Shen?" A Shui smiled, "He has always been very good to me. You've seen it yourself—Young Master Tang's martial skills and intellect are exceptional. Who else could I ask but him?" Yu Tuan'er snorted again, "You're so silly. How has he been good to you? Why do you keep saying he's good when you clearly think otherwise?" A Shui's lips grew three shades paler. "I..." But Yu Tuan'er ignored her, waving to Lin Bu instead. "Hurry up! If you dawdle any longer, you'll fall behind!"
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