The Waning Moon Longs Most for Love

"Alas, the Chen Family has been trapped and schemed against. Only these two siblings remain in the household, alone and helpless."

"These loan-sharking wolves aren't here for money at all. They've clearly set their sights on the Chen family's younger sister, planning to force repayment and seize her—devouring an heirless family alive."

Someone explained it to those nearby.

"Debts must be repaid—it is the law of heaven and earth!" Seeing people stirring up the crowd, the group of men immediately shouted in rebuke.

Master Hu's greedy gaze swept over the stunning little face behind the curtain, a flash of lewdness passing through his eyes.

But more and more people had gathered around the market now. Quite a few wandering martial heroes could no longer hold themselves back, their right hands quietly resting on their sword hilts.

If this continued, it could easily provoke public outrage.

After weighing his options, he could only suppress his wicked intentions for the moment.

"Boy from the Chen Family, don't say Master Hu isn't merciful. I'll give you another month. One month from now, every last coin must be laid before me."

"If you can't produce it..."

"Then don't blame Master Hu. When that time comes, you'll only be able to visit your sister at Hundred Flowers Pavilion."

Hundred Flowers Pavilion was the largest pleasure house in the area. Those sold into Hundred Flowers Pavilion could no longer be called human.

The young man's face flushed red. The other party was a martial artist.

He had personally seen Master Hu hurl a five-hundred-pound stone lion through the air.

If he angered the man, his scrawny body would not withstand even one punch. And if he died, his younger sister would certainly not escape these people's vicious hands.

The group swaggered away.

The young man clenched his fists helplessly.

Seeing this, the girl behind the curtain immediately ran out. Her little hand gently tugged at her elder brother's sleeve as she softly comforted him.

Yet the fear in her eyes could not be concealed no matter what.

Seeing the siblings' lonely and helpless state, the onlookers sighed quietly. Many softhearted townsfolk took out a few copper coins and placed them beside the stove, then shook their heads regretfully as they dispersed.

The siblings looked at the scattered copper coins and repeatedly bowed in thanks, their eyes red-rimmed.

Liu Qingni raised her eyes and watched for a moment. After a brief hesitation, she walked toward the noodle stall.

Su Qingyang smiled faintly and followed behind her at an unhurried pace, looking utterly unconcerned.

"Two bowls of noodles. Add one portion of every topping," Liu Qingni said softly, casually handing over a substantial silver ingot.

"Keep the change!!"

Holding the silver, the girl did not know what to say for a moment. Even if she wanted to make change, she could not possibly break it.

"This is too much! I... I..."

"Thank you, miss! Thank you, miss!"

The girl could only hold the silver and bow repeatedly to Liu Qingni in gratitude.

The siblings had no time to mourn and hurriedly got to work. Thankfully, they still had a noodle stall and could support themselves through honest labor.

"Miss Liu truly has the heart of a bodhisattva," Su Qingyang praised softly, though a trace of pity hid in his eyes.

The autumn wind was so bleak!!

Liu Qingni was slightly dazed, as though she had fallen into memories of the past. She did not seem to notice anything and merely murmured an "Mm."

"I'm sorry. I acted on my own and caused trouble for you, Young Master. If you dislike this place, I can accompany you to a restaurant for a meal later."

Su Qingyang did not answer. He simply sat quietly and waited.

Before long, two steaming bowls of noodles were served. Red broth, a few tender green bits of scallion, and one portion each of the toppings, served separately in bowls.

Su Qingyang ate in great mouthfuls, finishing one bowl of noodles in the blink of an eye.

Only then did Liu Qingni come back to herself. She raised a hand to lift her veil and eat, but heard Su Qingyang say, "Miss Liu, I'm not full yet. Could you give me your bowl?"

Liu Qingni froze slightly. Before she could respond, Su Qingyang had already reached out, taken the bowl before her, and begun eating it leisurely.

Seeing this, the girl hurried over, her bright eyes filled with gratitude and anticipation. "Esteemed guest, eat as much as you like! There's plenty—we can make however much you want!"

"No, no..."

Unable to withstand such enthusiasm, Liu Qingni hurriedly waved her hands. She turned to look at Su Qingyang, who was bent over his noodles, and a faint smile unconsciously rippled through her eyes.

Su Qingyang seemed not to hear her at all. Only after he had finished eating did he smile and say, "The noodles are good..."

"Thank you, Young Master. If you like them..." The girl's eyes lit up as she began to speak.

"Unfortunately... they're poisoned!!" Su Qingyang shook his head and sighed.

With that one sentence, the noodle stall instantly fell silent.

After a long while, the girl parted her pink lips, her large eyes full of confusion. "Young Master... wh-what are you talking about?"

Su Qingyang said darkly, "Not bad acting. Compared to that earlier performance, it's clearly more than one level higher."

"The image is vivid, and the emotions are full."

"You people from Lovesickness Tower have such fine acting skills, yet instead of becoming performers, you chose to be assassins. What a waste."

Liu Qingni finally came back to her senses, her face turning deathly pale with fright. She looked at Su Qingyang, her eyes full of worry.

"Young Master... poison... You ate so much!!"

Su Qingyang said calmly:

"What is there to fear? Could it possibly poison me to death?"

Then he looked at the girl, who still seemed unable to believe it, and his indifferent voice rang out again. "What, are you still going to keep pretending?"

"I..."

Su Qingyang swept his sleeve and impatiently slashed out.

A blade aura like a crimson dragon roared forth, blasting straight through the entire noodle stall and cleaving the earth apart.

The vast, bustling market fell utterly silent in an instant.

"I thought you could keep pretending forever. It seems you are nothing more than this," Su Qingyang said as he looked at the girl.

That girl had somehow already retreated three zhang away.

On her exquisite little face, those lovely eyes had become savage and ferocious, staring fixedly at Su Qingyang.

"Hee hee... hee hee... hee hee hee!"

"What an unlovable little brother!"

Hua Xiaomeng suddenly doubled over with laughter. As she looked at Su Qingyang, her watery eyes gradually turned strange.

"I originally wanted to let you die without pain. But why must you insist on failing to recognize kindness!"

The entire market was deathly silent, eerie beyond measure.

At this sight, the hairs on the back of Liu Qingni's neck stood on end, and she suddenly had a bad feeling.

This was a market, with people coming and going, originally bustling beyond compare.

People still filled every direction—vendors on both sides, the neighboring restaurant, kindhearted townsfolk. All of them were people.

The food at some stalls was still steaming, and boiling water still burbled away in the pots!

Yet at this moment, not a single person made a sound.

Somewhere above the heavens, a bleak waning moon had appeared, while flecks of ash drifted down on the wind.

"The waning moon longs most for love—Hua Xiaomeng of Lovesickness Tower has come especially to offer you greetings!"

Hua Xiaomeng shed the innocent charm of a young girl, her entire body exuding the cold, oppressive aura of an assassin.

Liu Qingni's heart shook violently. Looking over the densely packed crowd around them, a chill rushed straight to the crown of her head.

Assassins!!

Throughout the entire market, as far as the eye could see, not one living person was an ordinary citizen. Every one of them was an assassin from Lovesickness Tower, hidden in ambush!

Densely packed!

Sha Qi soared into the heavens!