The Fourth Chapter

Shopkeeper Wang was stunned, then chuckled, "What do you want to know? Given our friendship, I'll tell you everything."

Chang'an asked directly, "Has anything major happened at Crimson Blood Fortress recently?"

Shopkeeper Wang replied, "Crimson Blood Fortress?! Well, there have been a few major events, but they're all highly confidential. You see..." Shopkeeper Wang's small eyes narrowed into slits, and he unconsciously rubbed his hands together, lifting his teacup for a sip.

Merchants are greedy and never give freely.

Chang'an said, "Since you know some news, how about this rosewood treasure box? It's Imperial Use, definitely no ordinary item." Chang'an took out the gold-inlaid, jade-adorned rosewood box and handed it to Shopkeeper Wang. Shopkeeper Wang's eyes lit up. He held it with both hands, examining it closely, then nodded repeatedly. He was clearly enamored with it, sighing, "The wood is superior, and the gold and jade are even more so. It truly is a premium Imperial Use treasure box, and it's quite old, an excellent antique. Wonderful, truly wonderful. How about this: three thousand taels? For three thousand taels, you sell it to me, and I'll give you the news about Crimson Blood Fortress for free."

Chang'an held up five fingers and smiled without speaking.

Shopkeeper Wang's obsession with antiques was legendary. He gritted his teeth and, with a determined glint, said, "Deal, five thousand taels it is. Here's the bank note, check it."

Chang'an glanced at the bank note. A full five thousand taels. He handed it to Yu Fu. Then, holding his teacup, he said, "Now, tell me about Crimson Blood Fortress."

Shopkeeper Wang caressed the treasure box and whispered, "Recently, two major things have happened at Crimson Blood Fortress. The first is that the woman of the Crimson Blood Fortress master, Liu Ye, eloped with a notorious bandit and hasn't returned. Liu Ye is furious and has offered a reward of ten thousand taels for the heads of that pair of scoundrels. The second matter is even more secretive. Crimson Blood Fortress has been getting very close to the Poison Dragon Cult lately, seemingly plotting something, but I don't know what. Other than that, things have been quiet."

Chang'an stood up and, with Yu Fu, left Yong'an Pawnshop. Shopkeeper Wang saw them off enthusiastically, watching them lead the Green Ox away. He gazed at the treasure box in his arms, a foolish grin on his face. The two found an inn to stay at and had a simple meal. While Yu Fu bathed, Chang'an left the inn alone.

The night was hazy, with distant lights.

The grandest pleasure district in Danyang City, the Moon Concealing Pavilion.

At the end of a quiet corridor on a high balcony, a plump, mature, and beautiful woman in luxurious attire leaned against the doorframe, resting her chin on her hand. Her eyes were slightly closed, lost in thought.

A figure quietly appeared at one end of the corridor.

The woman's ear twitched slightly. She lazily opened her eyes, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. Her silk skirt rustled as she moved with graceful steps, her alluring body shifting as she walked towards the somewhat lonely figure, her pace deceptively swift.

"Chang'an!"

The woman called out softly, her smile blooming like a flower.

Chang'an smiled slightly, his tension easing. He softly called back, "Sister Yueru!"

The woman, Su Yueru, the true owner of the Moon Concealing Pavilion, was exceptionally beautiful and immensely wealthy. At this moment, her alluring face held a hint of wistful sorrow. Holding Chang'an's hand, she murmured, "You finally remembered your sister, did you?"

Chang'an gave a wry smile. His last secret departure had been quite awkward, and he'd regretted it ever since.

They reached a room and sat facing each other. Yueru held Chang'an's hand tightly, her beautiful eyes darting around. She breathed out like an orchid, "Chang'an, I thought you'd never dare to see me again! I was so afraid I'd never see you again, I worried day and night. You stubborn ox, am I really not good enough for you?"

Chang'an's expression was tense. He repeatedly said, "Without your care, I would have likely died after my fight with Lu Jing. I deeply appreciate your kindness and will remember it my entire life."

Su Yueru's eyes brightened, then a hint of weariness flowed through them. She pressed Chang'an's hand to her soft chest and murmured as if in a dream, "I'm scared, so scared inside... empty... Chang'an, my husband died on our wedding night, and it's been so many years... Chang'an, I'll give myself to you... You, take me... I'm still pure... The last time, you saw my body and fled in panic, I was truly heartbroken..." As she spoke, tears streamed down Su Yueru's exquisitely beautiful face, which shifted between smiles and tears. Her body went limp, as if boneless.

Su Yueru had always doted on him, her devotion almost selfless. Chang'an had indeed sensed her unique feelings long ago. But he had always treated Su Yueru as a sister, like his seven other siblings, and couldn't accept her romantic affections. Moreover, he knew Wang Qiandang had fallen in love with Su Yueru.

He suddenly felt something was wrong. Sister Yueru seemed to be hiding something from him, enduring it alone.

At that moment, Su Yueru pulled him into her embrace, holding him tightly, crying and laughing.

Chang'an sensed a despair emanating from Su Yueru, and his heart ached. The loneliness of an empty chamber, gazing alone from the balcony, a solitary figure standing alone – that kind of loneliness and emptiness, endured for over a decade, had ruined her prime years. He reflexively wrapped his arms around Su Yueru's soft, slender waist. Su Yueru's body was exceptionally sensitive. She trembled slightly, cupped Chang'an's face, and kissed him with intense longing. Her waist swayed, her body quivered gently, and her suppressed desires surged like a flood.

After more than three years of wandering, growing from an ignorant boy, Chang'an could no longer recall the names of the girls who had moaned and clung to him in his arms on those nights. The only one he couldn't forget was Yu Fu. He was a man with a strong desire to conquer, and even with his internal energy completely lost, that desire had never been extinguished.

The martial world was cold, and perhaps Su Yueru's blood had grown cold, iron-willed and indifferent.

Blood Rose.

Beautiful yet thorny, anyone who touched it would be pricked.

On this unexpected night, the Blood Rose only exuded a rich fragrance. Su Yueru began to unbutton Chang'an's clothes, proudly straddling him, her eyes narrowed in a tearful smile. Her hips swayed, tightly entwining with Chang'an's.

The iron lady, the Blood Rose, with skin like white jade, her hair cascading down, bit her lower lip and slowly sank down, deeper and deeper. Then, her strength gave out. Her whole body spasmed, and she collapsed weakly onto Chang'an's chest. Tears dripped down, and she shyly, almost flustered, said, "Chang'an, it hurts..."

Chang'an wrapped his arms around Yueru, flipped them over, pinning her beneath him. He looked earnestly at her face and said softly, "Isn't it laughable and endearing that we seek joy amidst pain..."

Yueru let out a soft laugh, clinging to Chang'an like an octopus. Her full breasts gently rubbed against Chang'an's chest. She lightly bit his shoulder with her teeth, then softly moaned, as if in a dream.

Desire was slowly ignited.

After a long hour, Yueru lay in Chang'an's arms, drenched in sweat, like a kitten – quiet, peaceful, and clingy, curled up with her face against his chest.

The three thousand beauties of the Moon Concealing Pavilion could only conceal this one Blood Rose.

"Chang'an, remember me!"

"Hmm?!"

"I am your woman now!"

Her tears flowed again, uncontrollably. Her body slid down gently, hiding beneath the covers. Her slender, soft hands quietly grasped something hot and hard, then gently kissed it, holding it softly in her mouth. Chang'an's body stiffened. His fingers delved into Yueru's disheveled hair.

"Mmm..."

Yueru's face flushed crimson. She emerged from the warm, wet covers, coughing softly, her back to Chang'an. Chang'an sat up and hugged her. She stopped coughing and gasped for breath, lifting her head. Her eyes were misted over, and she quietly gazed at Chang'an.

"Chang'an... I can't..."

Chang'an's lust reignited. Su Yueru, the Blood Rose on the bed, possessed a tenderness and care that the world would never know.

The iron lady had become a little woman, enduring him beneath her. She tucked her hair behind her ears, her face radiating a beautiful smile Chang'an had never seen before.

He could never forget Sister Yueru's face, her gentle smile with streaks of tears.

Another hour later, Su Yueru lay limply, gazing at the messy sheets and the bloodstain on the bed. She looked down blankly at her lower body, gently stroking it with her fingers, a look of pain on her face. Then, naked, she pushed open the window and looked at Chang'an's retreating figure on the bluestone path below. She whispered, "Chang'an, don't forget me. I truly..."

The lamplight in the room flickered, and a cold voice echoed, "It's time!"

Su Yueru's body trembled. Without turning around, she slowly put on her clothes.

Outside the Moon Concealing Pavilion, Chang'an walked towards the inn with an expressionless face. He couldn't understand Sister Yueru's sudden strangeness. Her tearful smiling face kept appearing in his mind, causing him to drift into a daze.

Suddenly, a horse galloped past him, nearly colliding with Chang'an.

Chang'an's senses sharpened, and he smelled a faint scent of blood. At the end of the long street, there was chaos, and fires raged!

In the martial world, there wasn't just fame, money, women, and hearty food and drink. There were also conspiracies, bloodshed, and dire news. Being in the martial world, you never knew when a cold blade would suddenly and ruthlessly pierce your heart from behind.

The martial world is a dream, a beautiful dream and a nightmare!

Shopkeeper Wang had just had a beautiful dream when the nightmare immediately descended. This pair of twin brothers visited him one after the other.

In the flames, Chang'an saw Shopkeeper Wang's stout body burning, his fat sputtering, and a neat gash on his neck, from which blood poured out in torrents. It seemed his throat had been slit with a single blow. He had struggled out with extreme unwillingness, then collapsed to the ground, one hand covering the wound on his neck, the other desperately reaching forward as if to grasp something, his eyes wide open in death. By the door, the young tea boy had his chest caved in, blown open, his death gruesome.

Shopkeeper Wang's beloved treasure box, which he had fallen in love with at first sight and couldn't put down, was gone. All his businesses had been reduced to ashes.

Chang'an smelled the strong scent of burning and the pungent smell of blood. His stomach clenched violently, a searing pain, and he suddenly felt like vomiting.

He clutched his slightly bulging belly, gagging repeatedly, but nothing came out.