Chapter 14

Miao Chengfeng remained silent.

The young married woman smiled. "Everything is entrusted to Mr. Miao. There must not be the slightest mishap!" The instant her words fell, her eyes narrowed, and a weighty, imposing majesty emerged from her. She was clearly no ordinary woman.

Miao Chengfeng let out a long sigh.

The young married woman looked at Chang'an again. "Ning Family's Chang'an, hand her over to Miao Chengfeng."

Chang'an said, "Such a good thing?"

"Of course not!" the woman replied.

Yet Chang'an did not hesitate in the slightest. He handed Yu Fu over to Miao Chengfeng, then looked at the woman. "Tell me. What do you want?"

The woman chuckled. "Help me handle something."

"What is it?"

"Kill someone."

Yaya had already brought paper and brush from the carriage and dipped the brush in ink. The woman took them, pinching the paper with one hand and holding the brush with the other. Her wrist trembled slightly, and a string of characters appeared on the page. Once she had finished, her slender fingers gave a light flick. The slip of paper drifted through the air and landed precisely in Chang'an's hand.

Chang'an looked at the paper in his hand. Three names had been written upon it in neat clerical script. After reading them once, he tore the paper apart bit by bit, then ground the scraps into the dirt beneath his foot.

The woman looked approvingly at him. "If you fail to accomplish it, you may never see her again. So you must do your utmost!"

Chang'an said, "When I see Yu Fu again, if she has suffered even the slightest mishap, don't blame me for being discourteous."

The woman smiled. "I have no wish to offend someone skilled at fighting for his life. That would leave me unable to sleep or eat, and I'd age easily!" She unconsciously stroked her cheek, every gesture brimming with charm.

Miao Suyi said, "Brother Ning, let's go drink!"

Chang'an nodded without hesitation. Whenever he was troubled, he drank until he was dead drunk. When he was happy, he drank as well, only then someone would be beside him. If anyone ever saw him drinking cup after cup alone, with only a plate of sweet-and-sour peanuts on the table, they absolutely must not speak to him. Because he would certainly be discourteous, and might even strike them.

Everyone in the martial world had some peculiar temper of their own.

The great stone in Chang'an's heart finally fell to the ground. Yu Fu could be saved. He felt immensely happy, as though clouds had parted and mist dispersed, leaving a stretch of brilliant light.

When Miao Suyi mentioned drinking, he seemed to smell the fragrance of wine at once. Right now, all he wanted was to get thoroughly drunk, sleep soundly, then head to Longyuan Province to find Erhu and, along the way, finish the matter he had promised the woman.

Anyone who could make Miao Chengfeng owe them a favor was no simple person, but Chang'an did not wish to dwell on it. Yu Fu could be saved. That was enough.

He had killed many people, especially in the year or two after he made his name. Sometimes, there was no reason of good or evil behind killing; it was merely for money, at someone else's hire. Later, he set a rule for himself: he would not kill anyone who was not evil. But this time, he feared he would have to break that rule. Yet if it could restore Yu Fu, what did that matter?! Though cruel, he had no choice but to make a decision, and he would not hesitate in the least.

When Miao Chengfeng treated someone, he permitted no one else nearby.

So Yaya drove the carriage away with the young married woman.

Miao Suyi invited Chang'an to drink at Spring Breeze Tower, the finest restaurant in Sanhe Commandery.

Spring Breeze Tower stood in Mohe City. Its water source was exceptionally good, and the wine it brewed was especially rich and fragrant, renowned far and wide. Furthermore, Spring Breeze Tower had the most beautiful proprietress, a resounding peerless beauty of the martial world, a masterless pearl. Thus, its business could not possibly be poor.

Chang'an, still dusty from the road, rode with Miao Suyi toward Mohe City.

"Brother Ning, why would anyone frame you and ruin your reputation? The moment Suyi received the news, she knew there had to be something suspicious about it. With Brother's character, it was impossible for you to do such an extreme thing for no reason, and even less possible for you to cultivate a Demonic Art. At the time, I kept wondering why those people would harm you with such viciousness."

Miao Suyi urged her horse onward as she spoke.

Chang'an said, "I offended a madwoman. I once killed her elder brother, and she happened to have countless threads and strands of connection with Lu Jing. She learned the secret that all my martial power had been destroyed, so she laid a trap. The meticulousness of this woman's schemes, the ruthlessness of her actions, her willingness to stop at nothing—I have never seen the like in my life."

Miao Suyi asked in astonishment, "Who is this person?"

"Her identity is shrouded in mystery. She can use all kinds of poisons, including the Poison Dragon Cult's Heartbreak Poison Incense, yet she may be the final disciple of the Hundred Herbs Divine Doctor. There is no definite conclusion."

Miao Suyi said in surprise, "The Hundred Herbs Divine Doctor's final disciple? Could she be called Guo Qingshui?"

Chang'an was startled. "She is indeed called Guo Qingshui."

Miao Suyi said, "If it is Guo Qingshui, then she truly is the Hundred Herbs Divine Doctor's final disciple. I heard Grandfather say that the Hundred Herbs Divine Doctor had decided to pass her legacy on to her and had already taught her Shen Nong's Hundred Herbs Scripture. Her talent in medicine and poisons is so great that even the Hundred Herbs Divine Doctor praises her without end. She is a genius rarely seen in a hundred years."

Chang'an smiled. "Let's not mention this any longer. Suyi, have you heard any news of Brother Wang Qiandang lately?"

Miao Suyi shook her head. "Brother Qiandang went beyond the passes. I heard he intended to study in the Great Zhou Dynasty and seek insight into a martial art. We have not exchanged letters for a long time."

Chang'an murmured, "Is that so?!"

Miao Suyi asked curiously, "Brother Ning, is something wrong?"

Chang'an merely shook his head. He had actually wanted to tell Wang Qiandang about Sister Yueru, but it seemed that was impossible now.

Mohe City, Spring Breeze Tower.

Both floors of Spring Breeze Tower were packed with people. Young masters of every family and heroes from every corner had gathered here. From opening in the morning until closing at midnight, Spring Breeze Tower never had an empty seat.

On the upper floor of Spring Breeze Tower sat a woman in splendid clothes, lazily reclining with her eyes half narrowed. Her gaze occasionally swept over the packed customers below, but her face bore no expression, making her appear especially cold and solitary.

Anyone who saw her would feel that she was noble, possessed of a temperament too lofty to approach, one that could even make others feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

Especially when she opened her eyes, her gaze resembled the radiance cast down by a sky full of stars. Those eyes were filled with an indescribable brilliance. Anyone enveloped by her gaze would feel at ease; even someone about to raise a blade and cut another down would find their killing intent fading, their heart settling into calm.

Those eyes enchanted people. They made one feel that they were a destination, a comfort.

She was the owner of Spring Breeze Tower, though everyone preferred to call her the most beautiful proprietress. In truth, she had no husband.

She was Liu Ruyan.

Every day, she drank alone on the second floor of Spring Breeze Tower. She drank only a small pot, taking exactly half an hour, and then she left.

She did not like to smile, because whenever she smiled, men went mad.

A goddess was always stingy with her smiles, because she feared overturning all living beings. It was a kind of kindness.

The countless people downstairs and upstairs would often glance at Liu Ruyan, some with admiration, some with fervor, but never with naked desire. Such people simply could not keep their footing in Spring Breeze Tower. Any villain who desecrated the goddess would be beaten by the crowd until he resembled a rat crossing the street.

Suddenly, an uproar broke out downstairs, and a commotion stirred.

Ordinarily, even the roughest men of the martial world tried their best to show a refined and gentle side when they came here. Yet now the place buzzed noisily with heated discussion, making the entire Spring Breeze Tower feel like a marketplace.

Everyone's eyes turned toward Liu Ruyan, who was quietly drinking upstairs.

Even with no expression on her face, merely drinking slowly, she formed a scene of breathtaking beauty, too beautiful to take in all at once.

What was more, a faint smile had appeared on Liu Ruyan's face at this moment.

The uproar fell silent in an instant, and the entire Spring Breeze Tower became quiet again.

Liu Ruyan's smile was like an epiphyllum bloom. When it blossomed, one could only hold one's breath and admire it quietly, lest a single detail be missed, for every detail shook the heart.

A rare and fleeting instant!

Such a sight could likely only appear in Spring Breeze Tower.

Chang'an, standing at the entrance of Spring Breeze Tower, froze for a moment before breaking into a bitter smile.

Liu Ruyan had just finished her wine. She rose and drifted away.

Everyone let out a sigh, yet they knew that once Liu Ruyan wished to leave, no one could keep her. Even more, no one had the courage to try.

Chang'an and Miao Suyi went upstairs.

Someone immediately recognized him.

Once, his prestige had shaken the land. Now, his "evil reputation" was known far and wide. Chang'an could not help admiring Guo Qingshui's methods.

"Ning Family's Chang'an, you actually dared to show your face?"

"Great devil, everyone join forces and kill him!"

"This is not somewhere you can come. Get lost!"

If this had not been Spring Breeze Tower, most of them would likely already have drawn their weapons. Killing Chang'an would not only earn them the reputation of upholding justice and eliminating evil, but also a substantial reward. That reward had been promised by Liu Ye, lord of Crimson Blood Fortress. Whoever could cut off Ning Family's Chang'an's head would receive fifty thousand taels of silver.

For fame and wealth, gaining both name and profit, was what too many people of the martial world pursued. They flocked toward it like ducks.

Yet no one in Spring Breeze Tower made a move, because doing so would disrespect Liu Ruyan.

No matter what, they could not reveal their vicious, cruel, profit-blinded side on Liu Ruyan's territory. Liu Ruyan loved refinement and valued tranquility.

Everyone in Spring Breeze Tower treated Liu Ruyan's every word and deed with cautious respect, never overstepping the line.

Chang'an merely smiled, but Miao Suyi glared furiously, her eyes filled with savage light that made onlookers shiver.

Suddenly, a young man in blue stepped forward with a treasured sword hanging at his waist. He first smiled faintly at Miao Suyi. "The White Snake Heroine, Miao Suyi, truly stands apart from the crowd. For Lu Sheng to be fortunate enough to see Miss Miao again, it is truly a blessing accumulated over three lifetimes."

Miao Suyi's martial-world epithet was White Snake Heroine. She always wore white, and her graceful figure possessed the natural allure of a spirit snake, while she also bore the bold spirit of a chivalrous heroine. Thus, people bestowed upon her the honored title of White Snake Heroine.

Moreover, there had once been a legendary heroine in the martial world known as White Snake. The epithet White Snake Heroine carried the flavor of carrying on the past. Miao Suyi did not reject it, though she had never acknowledged it either. In truth, she preferred others to call her Rose, White Rose.

Miao Suyi snorted. "Being with a great devil like Brother Ning makes me stand apart from the crowd?! Lu Sheng, your flattery has landed on the horse's leg."

Lu Sheng's face reddened. "Miss Miao, that was not Lu's meaning. Ning Family's Chang'an's foul reputation is known to all. How could Miss Miao possibly have anything to do with someone like him?! Lu merely admired Miss Miao's peerless youth and unparalleled beauty. There was absolutely no intention of veiled mockery."

Miao Suyi suddenly laughed and looked at Lu Sheng. "Brother Ning and I are inseparable; our entanglement runs deep indeed. Lu Sheng, a righteous young master like you should not entertain improper thoughts. Be careful, or your reputation will be utterly ruined. That would not be good."