The Thirty-First Chapter

That was the true murderer of his son!

Yet, King Mao poured all his violent rage onto Lu Family Manor. How peculiar!

Finally, King Mao and Divine Detective Eagle, along with two others, pursued Old Man Mu. Ning Chang'an found it even stranger.

Now, he cautiously hurried along, recalling and pondering, discovering many hidden tricks.

Cao Jing's eerie smile from the rooftop reappeared in his mind.

He could almost be certain that Lu Family Manor and Cao Jing were involved in some conspiracy, and Cao Jing and Guo Qingshui were birds of a feather, long in cahoots. Those scoundrels from the martial arts world had only worsened Ning Chang'an's situation on the stage; it was undoubtedly orchestrated by Cao Jing and his ilk, no longer in doubt. Coupled with the incident at Crimson Blood Fortress, the Asura Blade, Ghost Shadow, Ghost Face, and the encounters at Qingfeng Ferry Crossing, the purpose of this series of events was singular: to kill him.

In that instant, he thought of his uncle, Ning Maodao, in Longyuan Province.

Ning Maodao was on his deathbed, and the inheritance from his parents, along with clues to their tragic deaths, were in Ning Maodao's possession. A strong sense of unease surged within him.

At this moment, his heart fluttered with apprehension, feeling as if a massive conspiracy, like an unshakeable shadow, had completely enveloped him. He subconsciously touched his inner pocket where he kept a delicate, small key; it was still there, and the warm jade pendant was also intact. His emotions gradually calmed.

Ning Chang'an resolutely changed direction, deciding to visit Spring Breeze Tower again to see Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan had mentioned that the mysterious Young Master Tang's purpose for this trip was also him. He believed Liu Ruyan still had something unsaid, and he had to get to the bottom of it before immediately rushing to Longyuan Province to investigate. Whether for Erhu or to obtain his parents' relics and the clues to their deaths, he had to go, and there was no time to delay.

Late at night, stars twinkled.

The night sky was deep!

Spring Breeze Tower stood silently in the dim night. A figure glided through the darkness like a phantom, silent and unseen.

Someone was on the rooftop, sitting comfortably on the ridge, gazing up at the night sky. Her magnificent dress spread out like a blooming, colorful flower, appearing beautiful and serene.

"You like the starry night too?"

Ning Chang'an's voice sounded with a hint of surprise.

"I just suddenly miss it. Look at those stars, so bright and beautiful, yet so far away, like dreams!"

Liu Ruyan's soft voice, tinged with melancholy, replied.

"You're not a pessimistic person, but you've really changed a lot recently. I suddenly feel you're a bit of a stranger!" Ning Chang'an said, his throat dry. Yu Fu had often spent quiet nights gazing at the sky with Ning Chang'an, even falling asleep on his shoulder. She never used stars to compare to dreams. She said she was a star, the brightest one fallen from the sky. At that time, Ning Chang'an held her in his arms and said with a proud smile, "Catching stars isn't that difficult!"

So, every time he saw a star, he would think of Yu Fu, and her emotions that flowed like a clear spring one moment and a torrent the next.

Yu Fu's cold pride was unimaginable to all women.

Yu Fu's gentleness was also unimaginable to all men.

The starry sky was Ning Chang'an and Yu Fu's little secret.

Once, Liu Ruyan had said with great melancholy how she wished she could become a star in the sky, even the dimmest one.

Ning Chang'an had drunk a lot then, half-drunk and half-sober.

He heard her unintentional words, and his heart pounded.

But he didn't know why Liu Ruyan wanted to be one of the countless stars in the sky.

But now, Liu Ruyan's dream seemed utterly shattered. Ning Chang'an's heart ached, and a wave of indescribable sadness washed over him.

She knew people always had too many dreams buried by too much helplessness, but he always felt he could refuse, resist, even fight with his life.

Back then, unable to bear the monotonous "suffering" life on Dragon Green Mountain, yearning for the exciting world outside, and after being beaten half to death by Yang Qingling, he had resolutely jumped off Dragon Green Mountain and escaped, all because of his inner defiance.

He was such a stubborn and proud person, unwilling to admit defeat, with an extreme desire to win.

He couldn't tolerate weakness and helplessness, compromise, or humiliation.

Liu Ruyan shifted her body, gesturing for Ning Chang'an to sit beside her, and sighed, "Have I really changed?" It sounded more like she was asking herself.

Ning Chang'an remained silent, not looking at the stars or Liu Ruyan's stunningly beautiful face.

Liu Ruyan suddenly said, "I heard the Forbidden Imperial Palace, with its grand halls, locks people's hearts."

Ning Chang'an replied, "You're not suited for that place."

Liu Ruyan turned to look at Ning Chang'an, her gaze exactly like how she looked at the stars in the sky. Ning Chang'an was stunned; that look made his heart skip a beat.

Liu Ruyan seemed to know Ning Chang'an's thoughts and said lightly, "What you're looking for is all here." She took a letter from her wide red sleeve; it was sealed with red wax. Ning Chang'an took the letter, held it gently, and said softly, "Ruyan, wait for me to return. If I don't come back, don't go with anyone!"

Liu Ruyan's body trembled, a strange radiance appearing on her face. She beamed and smiled softly, "Chang'an, hurry back! I... will wait for you!"

A tear glistened in the corner of her eye.

A gentle "Ruyan," she had waited for so long.

Ning Chang'an gently wiped away the tear from Liu Ruyan's eye and said, "I like to see you smile. When you smile, I want to hold you in my palm!"

Liu Ruyan smiled enchantingly, making the stars pale, captivating and beautiful!

Ning Chang'an suddenly stood up, seeing Old Man Mu waiting below with a dark red horse. Old Man Mu's back was even more hunched now, as if a massive stone was pressing down on him, and he slowly groomed the horse's mane and saddle.

Ning Chang'an leaped from the rooftop, landing silently like a falling leaf, then swung himself onto the horse's back.

The sound of hooves echoed as the docile dark red horse galloped like the wind.

Old Man Mu's voice came from behind, "Farewell!" His voice was the same as always, buzzing annoyingly like a fly.

Ning Chang'an, however, smiled, his face filled with gratitude.

Old Man Mu's chaotic disruption at Green Willow Manor had given him too many opportunities. Without Old Man Mu, Ning Chang'an might have left behind a dozen more corpses of martial arts villains on the stage, but he would have had no chance of escaping Green Willow Manor. Ning Chang'an was certain Old Man Mu had sensed the assassins. He wondered if more than four people were chasing Old Man Mu in the end; perhaps five—King Mao, Divine Detective Eagle, and the mysterious assassin.

Ning Chang'an's figure disappeared into the distance, and Old Man Mu began to cough up blood. As Old Man Mu started coughing up blood, a person suddenly appeared beside Liu Ruyan, a woman Ning Chang'an was bound to kill.

"Quite tenacious, almost unkillable!" Liu Ruyan watched Ning Chang'an's receding back from the rooftop, and this cold yet enchanting voice sounded beside her.

"Whore!"

Liu Ruyan's expression turned cold and furious, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. Liu Ruyan, a goddess-like figure, cursing? It was likely no one had ever seen it, indicating she was truly enraged.

"Su Yueru is the whore... Oh, no, Su Yueru is the madam, the mother of a bunch of whores. I, Guo Qingshui, will never sell myself. Calling me a whore isn't appropriate!"

A melodious and captivating voice sounded, neither hurried nor slow.

"Guo Qingshui, you truly have guts. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?! What are you doing here? Hmph, even if you don't sell yourself, you're more eager to climb into men's beds than a whore. You just throw yourself at them, strip naked, and let men ride you hard."

Liu Ruyan unleashed her most venomous words, making no attempt to hide her disgust and anger, taunting her.

Guo Qingshui's alluring figure swayed like a water snake, coiling around Liu Ruyan. Instead of getting angry, she smiled, saying, "Do you know that even the sturdiest trees can't withstand the entanglement of a thousand winding vines? Men are trees, and women are vines. Ning Chang'an is a fine tree, and the vine clinging to him is the most beautiful and delicate flower vine in the world. Heh heh, women are ultimately his burden. With this trip to Longyuan Province, Ning Chang'an is dead. But don't worry, I'll try my best to make him die by my hand."

When Liu Ruyan heard the name "Ning Chang'an" spoken by Guo Qingshui, she was stunned. She turned to look at Guo Qingshui's enchanting face, her eyes filled with a strange expression. "It seems you made that person very comfortable. He told you quite a few secrets!"

That person was naturally Young Master Tang.

Guo Qingshui smiled charmingly, "I can make any man feel comfortable... Heh heh, but he is one of the few men who can make me feel very comfortable too. I will get everything I want with my own efforts. Perhaps Ning Chang'an can also make me feel very comfortable, who knows. Ah, I'm already looking forward to it! I can't wait. Letting my mortal enemy die beneath my skirt must be very interesting!"

Liu Ruyan's expression turned cold, like a layer of frost. "Bitch!" A small, delicate sword appeared in her hand, held in reverse and hidden in her sleeve.

Guo Qingshui immediately sensed the chilling killing intent.

Liu Ruyan was definitely not a delicate flower, nor a canary in a gilded cage. Her martial arts were superb. Her Red Sleeve Secret Sword technique, used for close-quarters killing, was a bloody dance that could be described as art.

Guo Qingshui's smile became even more bewitching. She sighed softly, "The person downstairs seems to be in trouble! Heh heh, don't forget what I'm good at!"

Guo Qingshui was skilled in using poison, and of course, even more skilled in using her body and beauty.

Liu Ruyan's eyes flickered slightly, and she said in a deep voice, "What is your purpose for appearing here?"

Guo Qingshui replied, "To deliver a message! Young Master Tang's message."

Liu Ruyan asked, "What message!"

Guo Qingshui said, "Give up! Give up on Ning Chang'an. He said that if he's in a good mood, he might give Ning Chang'an a chance to linger on. Young Master Tang is already very unhappy that Ning Chang'an has narrowly escaped death so many times in Changshan Province. Moreover, he discovered the ambiguous relationship between you and Ning Chang'an. Ning Chang'an is almost certainly going to die. As long as you cooperate and Ning Chang'an is sensible, he said he might consider sparing his life. Do you know, you make me truly envious. When Young Master Tang was having his way with me, he was calling your name... He's like a beast in bed..."