The Complete Truth, Love Like Raging Waves, Desire Rising Beyond Restraint, Li Xian Laid Bare
turn out to be...
On the day the Peach Banquet began, Golden Crane brought joy, silver cranes brought happiness, Divine Tortoise tortoises carried blessings, and auspicious deer carried colorful decorations, creating an atmosphere of auspicious celebration. The Mountain-Moving Daoist cleverly devised a scheme to control the Gold-Swallowing Ant, which then began to gnaw at the Golden Lock.
However, the Golden Crane's playful antics were incompatible with the "Gold-Swallowing Ant's " diet. At that time, Tao Kulin had mastered the "Peach-Watching Palm" technique, and when he danced it, clouds and mist swirled. By chance, the Golden Crane discovered the Gold-Swallowing Ant at that moment and went to devour it.
The Gold-Swallowing Ant had almost bitten the Golden Lock off, but a peck from the Golden Crane caused it to fall. Although the Golden Crane was intelligent, it was also mischievous by nature. Curious and delighted to have caught the Golden Lock, it carried it away.
At that moment, the clouds and mist swirled. On one side, Tao Kulin's palm strikes were powerful, while on the other, a Golden Crane Golden Crane flapped its wings and soared, stirring up layers of mist. The golden crane was no ordinary bird or beast; it was extremely ethereal and difficult to spot. Tao Xiangrong unaware that the Golden Lock had been lost. Although others saw the Golden Crane flying, they only thought it was just a bird playing and didn't take it seriously. The Golden Crane was entirely golden, the same color as the Golden Lock, and it was carrying the Golden Lock in its beak, making it even harder for others to notice.
However, the "little thief," driven by his playful nature, stole the treasure in full view of everyone. None of the many heroes noticed, which led to a series of subsequent events.
It's truly... both laughable and frustrating, unexpected yet perfectly logical.
Tao Xiangrong understanding the situation, was both amused and exasperated. Pointing at Golden Crane, she scolded, "You! You're the one who'll have to cut your rations! You've made my life miserable! You little rascal!"
Golden Crane knew he had made a mistake and Tao Xiangrong softly. Tao Xiangrong only sighed softly, and her resentment vanished. This matter was brought about by a series of coincidences and strange events. Golden Crane was playful by nature and had no malicious intentions, so he could not be blamed.
Li Xian gently stroked the Golden Crane, finding its feathers light and full, with a pleasant touch. She thought, "Sister Xiangrong been distressed because of you for a long time. Although you had no ill intentions, you should still apologize sincerely." She scolded the Golden Crane a few times. The Golden Crane clearly understood, showing a wronged expression. It raised its legs, lowered its head, and spread its wings towards Tao Xiangrong, a gesture of goodwill from the "crane beast."
Tao Xiangrong surprised to see that Li Xian seemed to be able to communicate with Golden Crane. Golden Crane was usually aloof and rarely showed favor to others. But at this moment, he seemed to be very close to Li Xian, as if they were brothers.
Tao Xiangrong herself, "My younger brother still has many things he hasn't revealed to me. Very well, now that I've found Golden Lock, I'll spend the rest of my life thoroughly investigating you." Her gaze was intense, and as time went on, she grew even more delighted.
Li Xian Consumption the "Lü Dongzhi" elixir and learned the "Crane Speech" skill. He could communicate with cranes without hindrance, and his perfect physique and ability to Turbidity-Avoidance made him especially attractive to cranes. Cranes are elegant and prefer refined things, and are often regarded as "noble and pure" by the Jade City.
Its status in Jade City is very high.
Its temperament, however, was more like that of a mischievous child, fond of playing and having fun. If it found a playmate it liked, it would pester it all day long, wishing it could play every single day. Li Xian could converse without hindrance, quickly winning the Golden Crane's favor. Li Xian, in a playful mood, also wanted to have some fun with the crane. So he picked up a pebble and called out, "Brother Jin, watch!" and threw the pebble. The Golden Crane flapped its wings and flew away with incredible speed and graceful movements, piercing through the clouds and mist, catching the pebble in mid-air, and then flying back, its expression one of undisguised triumph. Li Xian laughed heartily, picked up the pebble, and threw it again. This time, he cleverly used martial arts, employing a "feint attack." He feigned throwing the pebble to the left, but actually threw it to the right, incorporating the principles of "Four Directions Fist," catching the opponent completely off guard, and the speed of the throw was extremely fast.
Golden Crane was immediately fooled. It flew several dozen feet to the left, realizing it had been tricked. By then, it was too late to catch up. Enraged, it flew erratically through the air before flying back to Li Xian's side, looking ready for another battle.
Li Xian pretended to shout, "I'm not playing anymore, I'm not playing anymore!" Golden Crane had just gotten into it, how could he give up? He circled around Li Xian, shouting incessantly. Tao Xiangrong covered her mouth and chuckled. Her younger brother was very mischievous by nature, even teasing Golden Crane.
Golden Crane pleaded earnestly, and Li Xian pretended to be reluctant, saying, "Alright, alright, I'll play with you a little longer." Golden Crane was overjoyed, picked off a golden feather, and gave it to Li Xian.
Tao Xiangrong was taken aback, then quickly grabbed Li Xian's arm and whispered in his ear, "Little brother, do you... do you... understand what this means?"
Li Xian patted Golden Crane's head and said, "What does it mean? I get along well with Brother Jin." Tao Xiangrong was even more surprised to see Golden Crane bow his head and willingly accept the crown, "You... I really don't know what to say about you."
Cranes are inherently noble and elegant. Golden Crane are the most precious of all cranes; not a single feather or feather can be obtained or touched lightly. When a crane voluntarily offers a feather, it signifies entrusting its life to the crane. The sentiment behind such a gift is heavier than gold or stone.
Offering to have one's head Riding the Crane is an act of intimacy, as if they were of the same clan. It should be known that the top of the head is where one's vital energy and spirit converge; it is both a vital point and a crucial acupoint. Even ordinary people, such as a three-year-old child, would be extremely unwilling to have their head touched and would run away as soon as possible.
Tao Xiangrong her forehead and said, "My little brother... really... really... I don't know what to say." Their bond was intense, like glue and lacquer, thick and swirling. Golden Crane, naturally playful, begged and pleaded, and Li Xian reluctantly agreed to play with him again. He picked up another stone and threw it, and Golden Crane, as expected, flew swiftly, successfully carrying the stone back in mid-air. He was very pleased with himself.
Li Xian kept throwing things, sometimes fooling the Golden Crane Golden Crane, sometimes being seen through by it. In this way, throwing and picking up, back and forth, he frolicked and played among the clouds, which attracted the attention of the cranes around him. They flew over happily and circled around Li Xian, all wanting to try to play.
The Golden Crane was greatly annoyed and flapped its wings to attack the flock of cranes, frolicking together, but could not be driven away. Li Xian laughed heartily, determined to treat everyone equally, and played with every crane and beast. He secretly became the leader of the flock, and was greatly welcomed by all the cranes.
Moreover, Li Xian could understand the Crane Speech, and they could converse without hindrance. When he got tired of throwing pebbles, he would tell the cranes all sorts of interesting stories. When there were conflicts between the cranes and beasts, they would even seek his mediation. In this way, the cranes were full of novelty and joy at their first encounter, and their calls were loud and clear. It was truly a wonderful story.
Tao Xiangrong by his charm, was utterly mesmerized, her mind completely absorbed. She thought to herself that although this younger brother held a lower status, he seemed omnipotent. After playing for half an hour, Li Xian, intending to leave, called out to the cranes, "Brothers, we shall meet again someday. Also, this is my sister; you must not steal her treasures again." The cranes cried out to persuade him to stay, but seeing that Li Xian was determined to leave, they had no choice but to see him off, promising never to steal Tao Xiangrong's treasures again. Thus, the two left Dream Crane Heaven and descended to Rosy Cloud Heaven. Tao Xiangrong retrieved the Golden Lock, and the events of the "Peach Banquet" were finally settled.
Returning to Peach Residence, Tao Xiangrong a pang of longing, but she knew that controlling a man, no matter how much he loved or clung to him, required both sincerity and skill. Besides, the Golden Lock had been retrieved, and she had plenty of time left in her life; why rush things? She chuckled slyly, knowing exactly how to subdue this young man, as they would inevitably have to interact in the future. Tao Xiangrong to stop him, and personally handed over "five thousand taels of silver" and "one Immortal Peach" to Li Xian. Li Xian, having consumed the "Five-Elements Primordial-Mixture Elixir Primordial Elixir" and obtained the precious Immortal Peach, found the value far exceeding his expectations and readily accepted it.
He bowed and took his leave.
Tao Xiangrong accompanied him, chatting idly about trivial matters. Her voice was charming and melodious, quite captivating. She also intentionally used her charm to win over Li Xian's heart, and the topics she discussed were often quite daring. The atmosphere during their conversation was entirely romantic.
How could Li Xian be without beauty? With a beautiful woman by his side, he was naturally delighted. Walking side by side, they could admire the scenery in the garden. The scenery was beautiful, and the woman was beautiful too. Walking together was truly a rare sight, like a divine couple strolling in the heavens.
Tao Xiangrong said, "Alright, little brother, take the Immortal-Sending Bird and go to the first floor to leave. This is a 'secret order,' I only have three, which allows me to come and go freely here. You must keep them safe and not lose them."
Li Xian was taken aback. He thought to himself, "This item is so valuable, yet there are only three of them. What would happen if I accepted them?" Tao Xiangrong said, "Alright, you silly little brother, do you really think I'm giving you this secret order? It's just temporarily stored here. Once I find a better husband, I'll take it back." Li Xian readily accepted, claiming he would keep it safe. He then said, "Yes, Li Xian does have a favor to ask." Tao Xiangrong brightly, both surprised and delighted, and teased, "This is rare indeed! This is rare indeed! Tell me, what is it that has forced my little brother to ask me for a favor? I'll do whatever you ask."
Li Xian said, "It's not a big deal. Sister, do you remember the Mountain-Moving Elder and the father and son, the True Tiger Daoist? I wonder what you intend to do with them?" Tao Xiangrong and said, "Sister originally thought that these two thieves have been stealing for many years and must be well-known on the Crimson List. You could lead them away to exchange for military merits and rewards. But after thinking about it, this way, our affair will inevitably be exposed. Sister doesn't care, but you, brother, are unwilling. Since that's the case, killing them might be the best course of action." Li Xian said, "These two thieves firstly, they stole from the Blue-Heavens Long Dream Tower; secondly, they swindled and cheated; and thirdly, the theft of Sister's Golden Lock is ultimately related to these two thieves. Killing them wouldn't be unreasonable. However..."
Tao Xiangrong intellect, smiled and said, "Brother, are you going to plead for them?" Li Xian nodded and said, "It's not exactly pleading, but I just want to ask you, sister, not to rush into punishing them. Let me confirm some things before deciding their crimes." He thought to himself, "If they are Li Hengfeng's friends and their lives are in danger, even if they are wrong, I will protect them. If you refuse, sister, I can return the Immortal Peach and save their lives."
Tao Xiangrong smiled and said, "You need to explain in detail so that I can consider it carefully before deciding whether to agree or not."
Li Xian said, "This is a long story. If you'd like to hear it, sister, let's sit down by the boat, and I'll tell you slowly." Tao Xiangrong said happily, "How could I not, sister? Well... I saved your life, I'm your savior. According to common sense, it's only right that I repay you with my body." She looked Li Xian up and down, observing his expression. But the mask obscured her view, so she couldn't see clearly.
Li Xian said cheerfully, "Sister is joking. I'm ugly. I'm afraid if I take off my mask, you'll run away. I've given up on hoping for a woman's favor in this life. If you keep joking about me, it will make me very upset."
Tao Xiangrong herself, "That rascal, so glib-tongued, full of lies! He truly lies without leaving a trace, blatantly deceiving me. Non-Self hadn't exposed him, I would have been fooled." Though inwardly resentful, she smiled and said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Tell me, brother." The two boarded the boat, and Li Xian said, "In your eyes, sister, this position of Gold-Seeking Guard is just an ordinary guard, nothing special. But in my eyes, it's a position I must strive for. Sister probably doesn't know, but I am originally a physician from the Miraculous Healers Pavilion."
"Tell my sister that I came to Jade City for two reasons. First, to witness the wonders of the world and experience the heroic spirit and power of various sects. Second, to compete with my peers, with all things, and with the world!"
Tao Xiangrong, "A true man should be like this! Such spirit, who else can possess it? My brother is truly extraordinary." She had already taken a liking to Li Xian and found him agreeable in every way.
Li Xian said again, "I myself cannot do it; I have always been a physician. Although my younger brother's medical skills are indeed quite good, and I believe he could also gain some fame if he pursued a medical career, but... my younger brother still chose the faster and more ruthless path. I want to become Gold-Seeking Guard).
Tao Xiangrong's heart was already stirred, and she could even put herself in his shoes. She felt that since the physician stepped into the Gold-Seeking Guard, the chasm seemed to stretch endlessly, and without the help of a noble person, it would be extremely difficult. She kept asking, "Brother, you are so quick-witted, what plan did you devise?"
Li Xian said, "Speaking of which, I have to thank Sister Tao a lot. Perhaps we are truly destined for each other. My entry into the Gold-Seeking Guard is thanks to Sister Tao."
Tao Xiangrong let out a soft "Ah," extremely curious, and asked, "What is it? Tell me quickly, I know your temperament. If you dare to tease your sister in suspense, your sister will hit you." With that, she brandished her embroidered fist.
Li Xian said, "Haha, since you've seen through me, I'll tell you the truth. Do you remember, sister, that day a little thief stole your rouge?" Tao Xiangrong said, "Of course I remember."
Li Xian said, "At that time Xu Shaoqian, the Xu Central Lang General Imperial Guards, um... to please my sister, volunteered to help her find the thief. This caused a great commotion, with county officials frequently being mobilized. That thief, Li Hengfeng, was truly formidable, repeatedly injuring the officials and escaping, leaving Xu Central Lang General unable to do anything about it." Tao Xiangrong said, "That's true. Xu Shaoqian told me that this thief was powerful, but his might was unstoppable; the Gold-Seeking Guard captured him as soon as they made a move." She covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, "I guessed he would definitely..." "That's an exaggeration. But your brother is really shameless, exposing your superior's shortcomings like that." Li Xian said, "To explain the reasons, this matter can't be easily dismissed." Tao Xiangrong smiled and said, "Continue." Li Xian said, "At that time Gold-Seeking Guard had been unable to capture him for a long time. And the yamen runners of the Western Gate Office were injured. As a doctor, I naturally went to treat them. Upon learning of this, I sensed an opportunity for advancement, and then... and so on... and so on... cleverly using my temporary position as a yamen runner, I captured Li Hengfeng."
Tao Xiangrong listened intently. Though not skilled in investigation, she was by no means foolish. Knowing the danger involved, she couldn't help but admire him greatly. She thought, "The machinations and scheming of great figures are indeed formidable, but their quick wit and decisiveness when vulnerable and weak, their willingness to risk their lives, are even more impressive. My brother is the latter. If it weren't for fate, I fear I would have missed this... intriguing gem." At the same time, she was overjoyed. "Heaven and earth bear witness, my fate with my brother was truly preordained. How could I have known that losing a box of rouge would give him this opportunity? Without this, I fear I would never have met him in this lifetime." The more she thought about it, the more her joy and happiness grew, her heart fluttering.
Li Xian said, "I wanted to earn merit and join the Gold-Seeking Guard. But this was very difficult, and Lei Chong flatly refused. At this time, the Li Hengfeng spoke up for me. He provoked Xu Shaoqian into agreeing to let me Probationary Cavalier for a month. As long as I passed the inspection and mastered the Heavenly Pivot Saber Method, the Stone-Pushing Palm Method, and the Suffering Body Scripture within a Minor Accomplishment, I could officially Cavalier. I knew perfectly well that Xu Central Lang General wanted to temporarily include me in the Gold-Seeking Guard so that he would have more confidence when reporting to my sister and wouldn't be lying. But no matter the reason, this kindness, this small opening for advancement, was indeed bestowed by Xu Central Lang General. I will always remember this kindness."
"That Li Hengfeng is a thief, so it's not surprising that I arrested him. But there was no need for me to sympathize with him, yet he did. I remember that. Therefore, based on this, if the Mountain-Moving Elder and the True Tiger Daoist are indeed Li Hengfeng's brothers, I should offer them some assistance. So I would like to ask my sister for a few days' grace. I will go and find Li Hengfeng to find out the truth before deciding on their fate."
Tao Xiangrong said, "I see..." Seeing Tao Xiangrong's silence, Li Xian's heart sank, and he asked, "Sister, what have you thought about it? If it really doesn't work, I can..."
Tao Xiangrong chuckled and said, "Little brother, I was just teasing you. As long as you're someone else, why can't others tease you? You've done nothing wrong, and you're loyal and righteous, a truly upright man. I'm willing to let it go for your sake." Li Xian exclaimed, "Sister, you're so kind!" He held Tao Xiangrong's arms tightly, their bodies warm against her slightly sheer clothing. Tao Xiangrong's cheeks flushed, her heart fluttered, her body felt slightly weak, and her heart pounded. Seeing Li Xian's joy, she was even happier than him.
Li Xian said, "Good sister, I'll take my leave now." Satisfied, she departed. Tao Xiangrong gently stroked her arms, her beautiful eyes more serene than spring water, her red lips slightly bitten. She intended to rise and see him off, but the moment she stood up, her legs felt weak, and she couldn't. She thought, "Sister, you've seen countless men, what kind haven't you? To be touched so lightly by this boy, and yet... if my sisters knew, it would be utterly humiliating." She felt the lingering warmth of his arms, a joy still lingering. Passion arises like flowing water, initially like a gentle stream, easily contained. But as the stream becomes a brook, its flow becomes more pronounced. Once her heart is made clear, and it brews ever stronger, it surges like a mighty river, with no turning back. It only intensifies, pouring out all the passion and desire of her life.
Tao Xiangrong her feelings, it was like a gentle stream that grew stronger and stronger. What were originally ordinary touches, ordinary conversations, and ordinary glances... were now completely different. Tao Xiangrong's feelings were already deep and her desires already strong, and she was now completely intoxicated by them.
Her bright eyes followed closely, filled with both anticipation and apprehension. She hoped the young man would suddenly return on other business and exchange a few more words with her. She feared that if he suddenly returned, even someone as shrewd as her wouldn't know how to handle the situation.
Her thoughts wandered endlessly, but she didn't see the young man return. Worried and longing, her heart found no peace, nowhere to find solace. Tao Xiangrong intently, and only when dusk fell, when the maids of Peach Residence went out to search, did she return to Peach Residence.
She had seen Peach Residence for a long time, but he had lost some of his masculine vigor. When she arrived at the place where Li Xian used to practice martial arts and swordsmanship, she could vaguely hear the sound of the wind, and his figure and posture remained. When she went to the green table where the two of them had negotiated, there were still traces of paper and ink on it.
Tao Xiangrong sat down at the desk, carefully studying the remaining traces. When a woman begins to fall for a man, she wants to explore him to the fullest extent. She looked at Li Xian's handwriting, sometimes smiling, sometimes stunned, quite nostalgic. Recalling the days they spent together, a layer of subtle charm was added.
Suddenly, Liang Xiaoshi approached and said, "Sister, someone is looking for you." Tao Xiangrong joy. She got up and straightened her clothes, saying, "Xiaoshi, help your sister check if your clothes are in disarray. Let's call our little brother to the Body-Nourishing Tower. If this brat waits too long, he might just turn around and leave." Liang Xiaoshi had never seen Tao Xiangrong like this before. She thought, "I wonder what kind of charm that Li Xian has that even... sister is like this..." She said, "Sister, the person who came is Xu Shaoqian. Are you really inviting him to the Body-Nourishing Tower?"
Tao Xiangrong soft "Ah!", her pretty face slightly flushed, realizing she had been too preoccupied and had lost her composure. But emotions are like a raging torrent; who can remain calm? She said listlessly, "So it's Young Master Xu. I'll tell him that I'm very tired today and have already gone to bed, so there's no need to see him."
Liang Xiaoshi sighed softly, thinking, "My sister can no longer muster even the slightest interest in other men. Although General Xu Central Lang General of average talent, in matters of love, he is ultimately inferior to Gold Steward. It's a pity for me, though; Xu Shaoqian will surely be unreasonable and persistent in his pursuit. I must refuse, but I cannot offend him. Alas!" She turned and left. Tao Xiangrong suddenly thought, "This Xu Shaoqian only knows how to flatter, arrogant and conceited, utterly boring. Compared to my brother, he is inferior in every way. But he is my brother's superior. Since he has come to see me, I might as well take this opportunity to extract information about my brother's case." "I'll learn more about him from this. And... this Xu Shaoqian might be useful in the future. I want to see my brother, and I might have to use him." With this thought in mind, she decided to personally entertain him and invited Xu Shaoqian to the Cloud-Dream Pavilion. Xu Shaoqian dressed in gorgeous clothes, handsome and noble, with an elegant demeanor; he was truly a rare and fine young man. When he saw Tao Xiangrong, seeing her bright eyes and charming demeanor, Xiangrong heart was filled with endless excitement. He thought, "Ah! Xiangrong... Xiangrong's attire is quite rare. It must be because I asked to see her last time and expressed my feelings that Xiangrong dressed up specially for me."
Overjoyed and extremely happy!
His conjecture was not unreasonable. Tao Xiangrong would normally carefully consider who she met and what she wore when interacting with various young masters. However, the situation had changed drastically, and Tao Xiangrong heart to him. Why would she care about such trivial matters? As long as she was appropriate, that would suffice.
The two then began to talk. Tao Xiangrong, chatting and laughing freely. Although she was impatient inside, she did not show it on her face. Xu Shaoqian was very respectful to her, carefully considering every word he uttered, lest he displease the beauty, or lose face and disappoint her good intentions.
After this conversation, Tao Xiangrong guided the conversation, using curiosity as a pretext to obtain detailed case files from Li Xian. She also retrieved numerous files related to "Lei Chong," "Xu Shaoqian," and "Bai Qinghao," among others, to conceal her true intentions.
Xu Shaoqian thought to himself, "Xiangrong only asked for my files to see them and understand my daily affairs. She's just a girl, pretending to be something she's not, using other people's files to cover it up. Hahaha." He was extremely pleased and wished he could hand them over immediately.
He knew Li Xian was ugly, and since Li Xian and Tao Xiangrong had no connection whatsoever, he had no other suspicions. That night, he arranged for a servant to send the case files to Tao Xiangrong's residence.
I went to sleep contentedly.
Tao Xiangrong quite cunning and anticipated Xu Shaoqian's thoughts. She deliberately left a trace of rouge or powder on his case files. Then she tossed them aside and took out Li Xian's case files to read.