Chapter 83: Wind, Frost, Rain, Snow, Mountains and Rivers

The palace was festooned with lights and a grand wedding took place as planned. Fang Duobing, dressed in his royal consort's formal attire, stood shoulder to shoulder with Princess Zhaoling. His expression had lost some of the youthful recklessness, and instead acquired a calm and composed air.

The emperor personally crowned him, and Fang Duobing, the "sorrowful prince," officially became the emperor's consort. Leveraging the financial resources of Tianji Hall, the reputation of Baichuan Court's detectives, and the support of the imperial family, he became a vital link between the underworld and the imperial court.

Yet, in the stillness of night, he would still stroke the sword Li Lianhua had gifted him, recalling the years the three of them had fought side by side. The princess, knowing his heart, often whispered, "If you miss them, I'll accompany you out of the palace incognito, to wander the worlds of martial arts." Fang Duobing squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with gratitude and a deep longing for the days of martial arts. He might have become a consort, but deep down, he would always be the same Fang Duobing, longing for the world of martial arts and cherishing friendship.

On the shore of the East China Sea, in front of the Lotus Tower, Li Lianhua solemnly placed a slightly worn token of the leader of the sect into Shi Shui's hands.

"Miss Shi, Lotus Tower and Baichuan Courtyard will be entrusted to you from now on." He smiled gently, with complete relief and trust in his eyes.

Shi Shui accepted the token, her expression solemn. "Rest assured, Master, I will live up to your trust. Lotus Tower will become a place of justice in the Jianghu, carrying on your compassionate heart." She knew that the world-renowned Lotus Tower held not only the hopes of the people but also witnessed a legend in the Jianghu. Li Lianhua, in this act, was entrusting a sense of responsibility and faith to a trustworthy successor.

When everything was settled, Di Feisheng and Li Lianhua stood side by side on the beach.

"Where do you want to go?" Di Feisheng asked, his voice was unusually calm.

Li Lianhua looked at the sea and sky in the distance and smiled slightly: "Just walk around, wherever you go, that's it."

As dusk fell, the newly renovated Lotus Building slowly advanced along a bamboo-shaded path. Its newly painted wooden walls shone with a warm glow in the setting sun. The sound of a flute flew through the air. Steady hands on the reins, eyes fixed straight ahead, as if steering not a wooden building but a small boat. The aroma of food wafted from the building, mingling with the bitter aroma of herbs, creating a unique, homely atmosphere.

Li Lianhua, wearing a plain apron, was placing the last plate of stir-fried vegetables on the small table. The flickering candlelight softened his features. He glanced at Di Feisheng, who sat at attention, a faint smile playing on his lips as he pushed the bowl toward him. Di Feisheng, with his chopsticks, placed the food in his mouth expressionlessly, chewing and swallowing with meticulous precision. Finally, he looked up at Li Lianhua and said gravely, "Delicious."

Li Lianhua raised an eyebrow and slowly served herself some soup, her tone carrying a knowing smile: "Great Alliance Leader Di, your ability to lie without blinking has become increasingly sophisticated." The dish clearly contained too much salt.

Di Feisheng said nothing, only finishing the food in his bowl. He put down his chopsticks, took out an oil-paper package from his bosom, and pushed it in front of Li Lianhua. Li Lianhua opened it and found a package of crystal clear malt sugar instead of the bones he had asked him to buy.

"I asked you to buy bones to make soup, why did you buy this?" Li Lianhua laughed.

Di Feisheng leaned over, picked up a piece of candy, but instead of handing it to him, he put it in his mouth, then grabbed Li Lianhua's chin and leaned over to pass it to him. The sweet taste melted between his lips and teeth, accompanied by the other party's domineering yet gentle sucking and licking. Li Lianhua was caught off guard, a vague whimper escaped from his throat, and a blush quietly spread to his ears. After the kiss, Di Feisheng brushed the corners of his wet lips with her fingertips and said confidently: "Sugar is better than bones."

Late at night, in the stillness of the night, the Lotus Tower stood by the stream. Li Lianhua rubbed his lower back. The recent incessant rain had left a dull ache in his old injury, causing him to frown. Di Feisheng silently brought a bowl of thick, black medicinal food, its bitter aroma pungent. This was a recipe he had obtained from the Medicine Demon, specifically to nourish Li Lianhua's battered body.

"It's bitter." Li Lianhua took a glance and turned away in disgust.

"Drink." Di Fei said concisely and handed the bowl to his lips, his eyes showing an insistence that could not be refused.

Li Lianhua sighed and, leaning against his hand, drank the bitter medicine in small sips, her brow furrowing with each swallow. Just as she finished, a candied fruit was placed in her mouth, the sweetness instantly diluting the bitterness. Di Feisheng's palm then rested on his lower back, channeling gentle internal energy, gently massaging the aching muscles and bones. Li Lianhua narrowed her eyes in comfort, her whole body softening like a cat being stroked.

However, this tender warmth can sometimes change. In the dead of night, travelers passing by the Lotus Tower might occasionally hear a few stifled, intermittent sobs emanating from within, like the wailing of a wounded animal, trembling and piercing.

Inside the building, candlelight flickered red. Li Lianhua was trapped between the bed and Di Feisheng's blazing chest. Her dark hair was disheveled, her eyes reddened. With erratic breathing, she pushed away the person on top of her, her voice tearing and pleading for mercy, "No... I can't... Di Feisheng... I really... can't take it anymore..."

Di Feisheng lowered her head and kissed away the moisture from the corners of his eyes. Her voice was hoarse and low, with an unyielding force: "You don't need to move, I'll do it."

"Lao Di..." Li Lianhua weakly called out his old name, her fingertips scratching light red marks on his back, as if in protest, or as if clinging...

In the end, all the sobs and protests turned into broken gasps and a deeper night.

As dawn broke, the Lotus Tower returned to tranquility, leaving only the mingling of shallow breathing. Di Feisheng looked at Li Lianhua, who had fallen asleep in his arms. His fingertips gently brushed his slightly swollen lips and weary brows, and the corners of his hard mouth softened for a barely perceptible moment.

On the shores of the East China Sea, waves crash against the shore, stirring up piles of snow. Two figures clashed beneath the molten golden glow of the setting sun, swords wielding and robes fluttering. Di Feisheng's blade strikes were as domineering and fierce as a raging sea; Li Lianhua's swordsmanship was as ethereal and agile as willows swaying in the breeze. Theirs wasn't a fight to the death, but rather a soul-stirring, tacit dance between the finest masters.

His internal energy surged, sweeping up the fine sand from the beach, forming an invisible vortex around him. Every time the weapons clashed, a crisp sound erupted, shaking the air slightly. Di Feisheng's eyes blazed, watching Li Lianhua's every subtle movement, a hint of almost fanatical fighting spirit playing at the corners of his mouth. Li Lianhua, on the other hand, remained calm, her expression a look of seriousness, a commanding presence.

However, every time at a crucial moment, just as Li Lianhua's exquisite swordsmanship was about to find a flaw, Di Feisheng would suddenly change his tactics. With a flash of his sword, instead of striking at a vital spot, he struck with uncanny precision at the red hairband that held Li Lianhua's hair. That red color stood out against the rosy sky.

With a soft snap, the hair tie snapped, and Li Lianhua's long, jet-black hair instantly cascaded down, fluttering in the sea breeze. His complexion became even paler, adding a touch of fragility and charm rarely seen before. He faltered, and before he could react, the sound of flute flew closer like a ghost. With expert skill, she wrapped the red hair tie around his wrist several times, tying a firm knot. Then, with a sweep of her arms, she locked him tightly in her embrace.

"Di Feisheng! You're cheating again!" Li Lianhua's wrists were bound, unable to break free. She could only glare up at the person so close to her, her eyes reddening, her voice thick with anger, whether from anger or shame. This look made her seem even more lively and vivid than her usual calm demeanor.

Di Feisheng looked down at the sullen expression in his embrace. A few strands of her hair brushed against his cheek, tickling him. He loved Li Lianhua's expression at that moment; it thrilled him more than any pure victory. His Adam's apple rolled, unable to contain the burning heat surging within him. He leaned forward and fiercely captured those lips, slightly parted in protest.

The kiss carried the salty taste of the sea breeze and the scent of sweat from a duel; it was overbearing, deep, and tolerant of no refusal. Li Lianhua struggled briefly at first, her sobs swallowed up completely. Gradually, her tense body softened, leaving only a subtle tremor and increasingly disordered breathing. The ebb and flow of the tide in the distance seemed to accompaniment this enchanting scene.

After a long moment, Di Feisheng reluctantly let go, his fingertips caressing Li Lianhua's slightly swollen lips, his gaze as deep as the sea. Li Lianhua leaned against him, breathing unsteadily, her cheeks flushed. She glared at him, but said nothing more. She simply rested her forehead on his shoulder, calming her heartbeat.

The setting sun gradually sank below the sea level, dyeing the sky and waves a warm orange-red. The two sat side by side on the beach, watching the last rays of the setting sun disappear.

"Next stop, let's go to the Western Regions to see the moon in the desert." Di Feisheng broke the silence in a low voice.

Li Lianhua smoothed her long hair that had been ruffled by the sea breeze, and raised the corners of her lips slightly, "I heard that in the dense forests of southern Xinjiang, there's a kind of wine made from fruit that has a unique flavor."

"Then let's go to Southern Xinjiang first, and then go to the Western Regions." Di Feisheng said as a matter of course.

"It's up to you." Li Lianhua's tone was lazy, with a hint of imperceptible indulgence.

The world is vast, with wind, frost, rain, snow, and mountains and rivers stretching thousands of miles. But as long as the Lotus Tower is there, and as long as this person is by my side, anywhere can be a home. Their figures will continue to accompany each other, imprinted in every corner of this vast world, becoming the most unique and unrestrained part of the legend.