“I want to find a place where no one will disturb me to refine the antidote for the Crimson Ghost Nine Heart Pills.” Liu Yan’s voice was very low, filled with his characteristic melancholy atmosphere, yet his tone was firm. Fang Pingzhai laughed quietly. This time he didn’t launch into a long discourse. “Master, bring master aunt back.” Liu Yan didn’t answer. Fang Pingzhai continued, “Or, bring Miss A’Shui and Fengfeng back together.” Liu Yan still didn’t answer. Fang Pingzhai went on, “I think – only with them by your side will you feel at peace.” Liu Yan trembled slightly. He himself hadn’t realized it, but Fang Pingzhai was right – only with Yu Tuan’er and A’Shui by his side would he feel at peace.
Only then could he refine medicine.
He always needed certain people by his side, constantly reminding him what he “should” do, otherwise he would become increasingly confused, losing all direction… He wasn’t strong enough, he was never strong enough.
He was never someone like Tang Lici.
A’Li couldn’t support his own heart, yet could support the entire world.
While he could neither support his own heart nor support any straw that fell from this world.
He was just Liu Yan. Stripped of one beautiful face, he was originally nothing at all.
A’Shui walked slowly with the forces withdrawing from Beautiful Lady Residence. Since Tang Lici had glanced at her once, he hadn’t spoken half a sentence to her. Fengfeng waved his arms at Tang Lici’s back, constantly calling “Niunie.” A’Shui held him in her arms, not letting him look at Tang Lici. Yu Tuan’er heard A’Shui say this was the famous Young Master Tang of the martial world. After looking at Tang Lici’s back a few times, she said, “He came just now, didn’t he? Did this Young Master Tang’s arrival scare him away?” The “him” she referred to was naturally Liu Yan.
“No.” A’Shui said. “Young Master Fang arranged to meet us at Beautiful Lady Residence but also didn’t come. I think he either encountered unexpected events or took Liu Yan away. Otherwise, with his disabled body, how could he escape from thousands of troops and horses? So don’t worry, don’t be afraid.” Yu Tuan’er whispered, “Then let’s not follow Young Master Tang. Let’s go find Fang Pingzhai.” A’Shui nodded. “When day breaks, we’ll escort Young Master Lin to the main road, then go find Fang Pingzhai.” Yu Tuan’er cried “Aiya!” “I forgot about Lin Bu.” A’Shui smiled slightly, raising her hand to smooth her slightly disheveled hair. “Young Master Lin is a good person.”
Lin Bu had originally been surrounded and protected like a little chick in the crowd. Now that enemies had gone and no one knew who he was, gradually the Central Plains Sword Association swordsmen no longer watched him, and he slowly fell behind. This scholar, having encountered great disaster, wasn’t frightened. Walking deep at night on wild mountain paths, his manner was calm, his gaze surveying as if viewing forest scenery. Yu Tuan’er looked at him several times and waved, calling “Lin Bu.”
Lin Bu walked over. Yu Tuan’er smiled at him. “Who captured you? How did you end up hanging up there?” Lin Bu bowed to her. “After you left, I also left Shumei Residence heading northwest. Halfway I was captured by a strangely dressed black-clothed person and kept in an iron cage in a carriage all the way, transported here.” Yu Tuan’er looked at the rope marks on his wrists. “You must have suffered terribly. Return quickly when day breaks. If those people ahead ignore you, Sister A’Shui and I will help you find the way.” Lin Bu couldn’t help smiling. “How can I let you two ladies worry about me? Though Lin Bu is incompetent and down on his luck, I can still take care of myself.” He had originally gone northwest to tour mountains and waters. Suddenly captured to the south, he could still appreciate different winter scenery. A’Shui also bowed to him. “Sir’s broad-mindedness is extraordinary.” Lin Bu shook his head. “Lin Bu is just a frivolous scholar. Miss, you praise too much.” After a slight pause, he said slowly, “Imprisoned in the iron cage with me was another man. I was merely confined, but he was covered in wounds. If you two ladies practice unusual arts, I wonder if you could go rescue him?”
Yu Tuan’er asked strangely, “What man?”
“A…” Lin Bu’s expression was slightly embarrassed. “A man not wearing clothes, covered in scars all over his body, with a mark shaped like a red snake tattooed on his face.” Yu Tuan’er’s eyes widened. “Is it a circular red snake? Like this…” She drew a circle in the air with her finger. Lin Bu nodded. “Exactly so.” Yu Tuan’er cried “Aiya!” “It’s Big Brother Shen, it’s Big Brother Shen!” A’Shui asked strangely, “Who is Big Brother Shen?” Yu Tuan’er then told about encountering Shen Langhun and Liu Yan in the forest. A’Shui stamped her foot. “This matter must be told to Young Master Tang immediately. Shen Langhun is now probably taken away by Romantic Shop people together with Senior Xue Xianzi.” She had originally planned to leave at dawn without intending to bid farewell to Tang Lici, but now handed Fengfeng to Yu Tuan’er and hurried forward, hastily pursuing Tang Lici who walked ahead.
Tang Lici’s footsteps stopped. Before she reached behind him, he had already turned around. Cheng Yunpao also turned back, seeing A’Shui hurrying over. “Young… Young Master Tang!” Tang Lici’s lips curved slightly. Since he had said that phrase about “elegant prostitution,” they had hardly spoken any words. Seeing her rushing toward him urgently, he smiled at her.
The words she was about to say suddenly stopped. The meaning of Tang Lici’s smile… was laughing at her meager, almost non-existent backbone, laughing at her groundless dignity. No matter what it was for – she would now and in the future continuously seek his help, rescue, and aid… And he would satisfy all her prayers with the posture of a god.
This was the game that could please Tang Lici.
A’Shui’s lips and teeth stiffened for an instant, but she still spoke the words: “Young Master Tang, Shen Langhun is also in Romantic Shop’s hands. He was imprisoned in an iron cage with Young Master Lin and may be seriously injured.” Tang Lici’s eyebrows rose slightly. Cheng Yunpao said coldly, “He didn’t kill Liu Yan – indeed he encountered a strong enemy. This person is an assassin who takes money to buy lives. Falling into Romantic Shop’s hands may not wrong him.” He hated evil like an enemy. People like Shen Langhun never entered his sight. Not drawing his sword when they met was already polite. Later when Shen Langhun kidnapped Liu Yan, creating martial world dangers, Cheng Yunpao was extremely dissatisfied. Hearing he was imprisoned by Romantic Shop, his heart was truly pleased. Though A’Shui didn’t know Shen Langhun, she knew he was Tang Lici’s friend. And though Liu Yan had killed his wife, he hadn’t killed Liu Yan and was quite friendly to Yu Tuan’er. In her heart she already considered Shen Langhun a friend. Seeing Cheng Yunpao’s cold treatment, her heart was very anxious. Tang Lici smiled slightly. “I will handle Shen Langhun’s matter. Miss’s good intentions, Tang appreciates them.”
A’Shui could no longer continue the conversation. Tang Lici and Cheng Yunpao resumed walking forward, neither looking back at her.
Yu Tuan’er caught up from behind. “Sister A’Shui, when will Young Master Tang go rescue Big Brother Shen?” A’Shui shook her head, taking back Fengfeng. She very much wanted to smile to show she wasn’t disappointed, but ultimately couldn’t smile. “I don’t know.” She said softly, “Young Master Tang said he would handle it. I don’t know if he’ll go rescue him.” Yu Tuan’er asked strangely, “Why doesn’t he go rescue Big Brother Shen now? Big Brother Shen is in great danger!” A’Shui shook her head again. “Young Master Tang must bring us people to a safe place before he can get away to do other things, so it’s impossible to go rescue now.” Yu Tuan’er grabbed her hand, saying quietly, “Then let’s go rescue him ourselves!” A’Shui still shook her head. Just with the two of them, tracking Romantic Shop would be very difficult, let alone rescuing someone. “If we leave without permission and fall into enemy hands again, we’ll only bring Young Master Tang greater trouble. I think…” She said softly, “I think we should trust that he’ll go rescue him.”
Yu Tuan’er looked at her in surprise. A’Shui’s complexion looked very pale. “Sister A’Shui, is Young Master Tang very disappointing to you?” A’Shui stared at her blankly, not knowing how to answer. Yu Tuan’er asked again, “Do you like Young Master Tang very much?” A’Shui shook her head, saying softly, “Young Master Tang… is my benefactor.” Yu Tuan’er snorted. She originally wanted to say she was lying, but seeing A’Shui’s slightly red eyes, she became curious and asked again, “Was he very good to you before? Why do you ask him to go rescue Big Brother Shen?” A’Shui smiled. “He’s always been very good to me. You saw too – Young Master Tang’s martial arts and strategies are both top choice. If not asking him, who else to ask?” Yu Tuan’er snorted again. “You’re so stupid. How has he been good to you? Why do you keep saying he’s good? You clearly think he’s not good.” A’Shui’s lips became three parts paler. “I…” But Yu Tuan’er ignored her, waving to Lin Bu: “Hurry up, hurry up! If you keep walking slowly you won’t be able to keep up!”