Chapter 139 Feng Ling Mu Chenbi likes Guan Ye

"You know all this?" Pei Bi looked at Guan Ye suspiciously, blinking his sunken eyes with a hint of meaning. "That's right. Sometimes when the workshop is too busy, we'll ask her to deliver items to the back mountain when they're in urgent need. But... Jiang Muyun never stays long. She delivers and comes back immediately. She's always in a hurry, barely exchanging a few words with the swordsmen. How can we talk about practicing martial arts and swordsmanship? Guan Ye, I just said you were better than those kids, and you've become obsessed too?"

“Jiang Muyun is dead. You saw it with your own eyes.” Pei Bi gently patted Guan Ye’s shoulder. “There is no shortage of people who look alike in this world. Think about the Crown Prince and Ajiu. Wouldn’t you be afraid of the Crown Prince? It’s just because Jiang Muyun is dead. Compared to the dead, the living should be more feared. Why get hung up on a face?”

Guan Ye was a little confused, but after thinking about it, it seemed to make some sense. Seeing Pei Bi about to leave, she called out to him, "There's one more thing. Hu Xian, who is Hu Xian?"

Pei Bi stumbled, stopping but not turning around. Guan Ye mustered her courage, "I see Hu Xian is quite familiar with you... with the island... Is he also a Canglang Island resident? You allow him to travel by sea for Xingguo Ward... for Xingguo Ward's smuggling..."

"Shut up!" Pei Bi snapped. "Guan Ye, you're too curious."

Guan Ye was startled and took a few steps back. Since the questioning had gone this far, it would be a waste to stop now; she might as well press on. "Smuggling people is a serious crime, especially… the Blood Crossbow case is still unresolved, and a slight misstep could lead to the destruction of the island. When Grand Preceptor Cui landed on the island, you told me to hide my weapons to protect it. That time… you must have thought the Grand Preceptor came because of the Blood Crossbow case, right? The patriarch's ambitions are unfulfilled, so why would he trust Hu Xian? Who exactly is he?"

Pei Bi composed himself and said in a deep voice, "You ask me about Jiang Muyun, and you also inquire about Hu Xian and Guan Ye. Who are you?"

"Me?" Guan Ye subconsciously put her hands behind her back.

"Stop hiding it." Pei Bi chuckled. "I guessed a thing or two when you first arrived on the island."

Guan Ye simply stretched out her hand, revealing a little slyness to Pei Bi, "That was also told to you by Aunt Lou, right?"

Pei Bi blushed, "Are you just as unserious as those sword slaves?"

Guan Ye stopped teasing the middle-aged man and said after a moment of silence, "Manager Pei, you also can't bear to leave Canglang Island, and... the people on the island."

Pei Bi sighed softly, turned away, and left without looking at Guan Ye again. "Guan Ye, no matter who you are, you only need to know that everyone on Canglang Island has one life. No one will investigate where you came from, but we all have the same destination."

Watching Pei Bi's figure disappear from sight, Guan Ye was about to return to her room when a little sword servant suddenly darted in, saying, "Guan Ye, A Jiu said she's waiting for you outside the ward."

"A-Jiu?" Guan Ye was puzzled. A-Jiu was left in the palace by the Emperor, and he returned almost immediately? Guan Ye suddenly realized, it was... him.

As dusk approached, the sunset glowed like fire, and the afterglow pierced through the thick clouds, spreading across Mu Chenbi's angular face. His profile was as if carved by a knife, echoing the evening halo. His phoenix-feather eyelashes drooped gracefully, as if a god had descended to earth.

Hearing the light, fluttering footsteps of a deer, Mu Chenbi's phoenix-feathered eyelashes suddenly lifted, a smile spreading across his lips as he looked expectantly in the direction of the footsteps.

Having gone through so much, Guan Ye would no longer mistake these two faces. In fact, she felt that they were completely different faces. Even if A Jiu no longer had the scar on her brow bone, or if Mu Chenbi had a small mark on his brow, she would never mistake them again.

Several feet away, Luo Yichen gazed at Guan Ye as she emerged from the doorway. Even the most oblivious Luo Yichen could see that Mu Chenbi had developed feelings for this female blacksmith. He had previously wondered why Mu Chenbi, with so many noble ladies in Rongdu, many possessing celestial beauty, had chosen a female blacksmith from a humble background. And what good would it do to fall for a woman of such low social standing? Even if the Emperor was enlightened, he probably wouldn't allow the Crown Prince to marry a female blacksmith.

Today, before the Emperor, Guan Ye remained composed and unperturbed, her hand trembling even as she presented her sword. Her words were eloquent and persuasive, leaving no room for argument. Such a heroine far surpassed those so-called noble ladies raised in seclusion. Luo Yichen suddenly felt a pang of shame. He prided himself on being unconventional, yet he was still bound by the constraints of social class and birth. Someone like Guan Ye should be free to roam and display her talents to the fullest—what difference was there between them? Luo Yichen chuckled and shook his head. In Guan Ye's eyes, his so-called high-class family was nothing but worthless mud, rotten to the core.

"Why are you here?" Guan Ye walked towards Mu Chenbi.

Mu Chenbi's face was as warm as the sun. "Today's sword-sparring and discussion still feels a bit unsatisfying. I'd like to find you... for another chat. I wonder if Master Guan would do me the honor?"

Guan Ye pursed her lips. "Shall we go inside to talk?"

Mu Chenbi stood still. "If we wanted to go into the neighborhood, we would have gone in already. Come on, I'll take you for a stroll on West Street. It would be even better if we could go to a tavern to eat and chat."

“I’ve been to West Street at least ten times already,” Guan Ye said, arms crossed. “I’ve eaten at the taverns too…” Stealing a glance at Mu Chenbi’s troubled face, Guan Ye frowned, pretending to ponder, “But that tavern’s rouge-colored goose breast… is something I’m really craving…”

"Let's go to that place," Mu Chenbi said excitedly. "You can eat whatever you want."

"Do you know which one I'm talking about?" Guan Ye blinked.

Mu Chenbi couldn't wait any longer. "I'll go ask around, and I'm sure I'll find the Rouge Goose Breast you've been longing for. It's getting late, do you still want to eat it?"

Luo Yichen followed behind the two at a distance, the setting sun casting long shadows of them, about an arm's length apart. Mu Chenbi's hand swayed intentionally or unintentionally, brushing against Guan Ye's sleeve several times before brushing it away in disappointment. Luo Yichen watched anxiously, wishing he could rush up and help his master. Mu Chenbi, who could shoot eagles with a bow in his teens, was it really that difficult for him to seduce a woman?

—No… Luo Yichen’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he recalled Mei Xiaojing chasing and beating him until he was in a sorry state, and how he could only flee in defeat.

"Guan Ye." Mu Chenbi broke the silence. "Today's sword test seemed a bit strange. The swordsmen from Xingguo Ward are not weak. The variable seems to have started from when Wushuang's mask fell off... Wushuang is beautiful, but... it shouldn't be like this... Feng Shisan's bravery is unmatched, he couldn't even hold the sword steadily... Guan Ye?" Mu Chenbi called out softly. When Guan Ye didn't respond, he nervously tried to recall which sentence he had said wrong. Could it be that "Wushuang is beautiful"? No matter how open-minded Guan Ye was, she was still a woman. He had praised another woman in front of her... Mu Chenbi was speechless. This brain of his was not in tune with love, it was really... fatal.

"What does it matter how beautiful she is..." Mu Chenbi's mind was in a daze, "In my heart, she's still not as good as... not as good as someone..."

Guan Ye chuckled, walking straight ahead without glancing to either side. "Wushuang is just born beautiful. The moment she stands before the palace, everything in the world loses its color. She is much more beautiful than me."

"That's still not as good as someone else." Mu Chenbi straightened his tongue. He had figured it out. It was fine if Guan Ye thought he was a fool. Some things should be said boldly. No matter the outcome, he still needed to take a gamble.

Guan Ye turned her head and glared at Mu Chenbi, pointing her finger at his eyes and saying, "You're lying through your teeth."

"I didn't." Mu Chenbi stomped his foot. "Guan Ye, you are very different from others."

"How is it different?" Guan Ye put down her hand and her eyes fell on the main road leading to West Street.

Mu Chenbi mustered her courage, "When you walk beside me, it's like..." Mu Chenbi narrowed her eyelashes, a look of relief she herself didn't realize appeared on her lips, "...there's a sun beside me, so bright that I can't open my eyes."

“You can put your arm around my shoulder.” Guan Ye poked her shoulder. “Close your eyes, and I’ll take you away.”

Huh? Mu Chenbi was a little confused. "I'm not blind, what I mean is..." Mu Chenbi went all out and picked up the Twin Dimples Sword, saying, "I really like this sword."

Guan Ye glanced at it, "Who wouldn't like it? Even the Emperor said it was good today."

For a moment, Mu Chenbi was about to shout, "What I said was... I really like... Guan Ye, the blacksmith of the Twin Dimples Sword. Do you not understand and do I have to say it out loud?"

That sound… Luo Yichen rubbed his ears. He seemed to have heard it clearly too. Guan Ye was about to be scared away… Luo Yichen pondered a way to block someone without hurting them. If she wanted to run away, he would have to stop her.

Guan Ye didn't quite understand. The swordsmith who liked the Twin Dimples Sword—wasn't that herself? "I really like the swordsmith who liked the Twin Dimples Sword"—that meant... Mu Chenbi liked Guan Ye.

—Does Mu Chenbi like Guan Ye?

Guan Ye's ears buzzed. The sunset was fading and the sun was dimming. Mu Chenbi's face appeared as A Jiu, but he was not A Jiu.

Contrary to Luo Yichen's expectations, Guan Ye did not intend to run away. She trod on the unmelted snow with increasingly faster steps, proving herself to be an extraordinary woman, both magnanimous and open-minded.

Mu Chenbi was certain that Guan Ye had heard him clearly. Mu Chenbi liked Guan Ye, and there were many things he wanted to say, but if he didn't say them soon, it might be too late. Mu Chenbi wasn't afraid of losing, but he was afraid that he would lose his chance before he even started.

Turning the corner, West Street came into view, bustling with the vibrant life of everyday people. Seeing Guan Ye staring blankly at the fried cake shop, Mu Chenbi strode into the long queue and even turned back to smile at Guan Ye.

"Miss Guan." Luo Yichen followed timidly. "It's not that I'm helping my prince. I've been following him for several years and I've never seen him like this before. If it were me... I'm afraid I couldn't do it either."

Seeing Mu Chenbi, the dignified Crown Prince, crowding with a group of commoners to buy fried cakes, looking quite out of place, Guan Ye was momentarily moved, "Ajiu would never do that."

Ajiu? Luo Yichen scratched his head. Why bring up Ajiu? "You like fried cakes, but Ajiu won't even go buy them for you? He's far inferior to my prince."

Guan Ye glanced at Luo Yichen with some displeasure. "Ajiu doesn't like fried cakes, and she doesn't like crowds. If I want to eat them, I'll go buy them myself, and Ajiu will wait for me here. Why do you have to do things that make you uncomfortable just to make others happy? The reason two people can be together is because they can feel the comfort they can't get from others. If you're not comfortable, it's better not to be together."

Huh? Luo Yichen was getting a little annoyed. His Highness had condescended to coax this girl, and now he was just making a fool of himself?

“He is of noble birth, he doesn’t need to do these things for me.” Guan Ye stared at Mu Chenbi, her voice suddenly lowering, “He doesn’t like fried cakes either.”

Luo Yichen seemed to remember something and said in a low voice, "Miss Guan, there is something I don't understand."

--"you say."

Luo Yichen glanced at Mu Chenbi's face, which was faintly visible in the crowd, and said, "Your Highness and Ajiu look exactly the same. If you can like Ajiu, why can't you like Your Highness?"

Guan Ye looked incredulous. "Ajiu is Ajiu. There is only one Ajiu in the whole world. No matter how much Mu Chenbi looks like him, he can't be Ajiu. Chief Luo, are you too stupid to understand?"

Stupid? If anyone else called him stupid, Luo Yichen would immediately draw his sword, but he dared not do so with Guan Ye. He could only stubbornly insist that Guan Ye give a reason, "My prince is a dragon among men, how is he inferior to A-Jiu?"

"Because I only like Ah Jiu." Guan Ye said without thinking, "Just be a human being, who wants to be a dragon?"

"Why would I rather be a gopher than a dragon?" Luo Yichen muttered to himself, but of course he wouldn't dare say it aloud.