Chapter 1197: The Expensive Prisoner (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Shen Tang felt her mind go blank for a moment.

He then blurted out: "You're all men, so seeing this by accident shouldn't make you want to kill me. I just want to know, when you 'accidentally' saw it, what were you doing?"

After asking Shen Tang, he felt it was inappropriate.

This makes it sound like Qi Shan has some kind of voyeuristic tendency.

She had known Qi Shan for so many years, and he truly embodied the title of "widowed king," focusing solely on his career. For a long time, the only men in his household were Su Shang and Su Shang's cats and grandchildren, and the servants were mostly men. Later, when he had his adopted daughter Qi Miao, it was inconvenient for him, as a man, to take care of her, so he hired several older female servants and maids to serve Qi Miao personally.

During his rare days off, he either stayed home taking care of his daughter and petting his cat, or went on trips with Gu Chi and Liao Jia. Occasionally, when the mood struck him, he would bother Qin Gongsu. Shen Tang remembered that once, Qi Shan made a few frivolous remarks, which led to an impeachment report from a passing censor.

Riding a horse, leaning against a slanting bridge, surrounded by red sleeves beckoning from the entire building?

I've never heard of such a romantic affair before.

If that were true, the Censorate would have exploded long ago. Those people in the Censorate are all incredibly malicious and nitpicky; they haven't said anything about his private relationships with women all these years. Those shabby manuscripts from the common people are even worse; among the potential partners for Qi Shan, only Shen Tang is human, the rest are all sentient animals, with felines being the most popular.

After reflecting on his actions, Shen Tang opened his mouth, wanting to say something to salvage the situation.

Unexpectedly, Qi Shan showed a hint of embarrassment and annoyance: "It was an accident!"

Shen Tang: 【…What accident? ? ? ? 】

Qi Shan initially didn't want to confess, but she couldn't resist Shen Tang's persistent pleading, and fearing that the other party's wild imagination would ruin her reputation, she had no choice but to confess everything: "[The accident was that I was painting in the scenery at that time...]"

Shen Tang: [...]

Besides cats, Qi Shan also has a true love for painting.

In the days before cameras, when people saw beautiful scenery, they either memorized it or painted it. Qi Shan was then hiding in the mountains, quietly recuperating and cultivating his mind. One day, after a rainstorm, the sky was a clear, blue expanse. He climbed the mountain to meditate, and looking around, he saw vast, misty rivers and rolling mountains. Suddenly feeling an urge to paint, he took out paper, brushes, and paints, and carried a basket to sketch the scenery.

As a result, he painted upstream.

People are swimming in the wild downstream.

Shen Tang asked suspiciously, "Don't you know there are people downstream?"

Qi Shandao: [At first, I didn't know.]

The other person had cast a spell to prevent eavesdropping while bathing in the open, and Qi Shan's attention was entirely focused on the scenery. Furthermore, he was hiding in the mountains due to internal injuries, so his vigilance wasn't at its peak. How could he have noticed? After finishing his painting, he put away his tools and prepared to wash them in the water when he discovered someone there. A continuous white ribbon of water flowed up and down, and a figure was vaguely hidden behind the splashing mist.

Qi Shan subconsciously tensed up and reached up to touch her waist.

What alarmed him was that he had forgotten to wear his sword when he went out that day.

Qi Shan wasn't sure who the person in the water was—a mountain spirit or some kind of demon? Hearing the noise, the figure turned slightly, revealing half a face that was enough to send shivers down one's spine. The figure stared at him silently. Qi Shan blushed slightly, quickly averting his gaze, turning his back to the figure, and said apologetically, "[I didn't know the Lady was here. I have been rude...]"

When he spoke, his voice was like that of a nightingale, clear and pleasing to the ear.

Only then did she realize that she was still disguised as a young girl of marriageable age.

He was wary of what might happen behind him, while also struggling with his predicament. Just as he was thinking of an excuse to escape, he heard the sound of rushing water behind him, growing closer and closer. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a hand reach out from behind and pick up some clothes.

The woman slowly walked ashore.

Qi Shan's eye twitched, and she looked away.

Even so, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a perfectly straight, fair leg, and inwardly cursed the person's audacity. Whether human or not, bathing in the deep mountains and forests, even without encountering other people, one could still be accidentally poisoned by poisonous creatures in the water. If something were to happen to them, they could die here and be devoured by wild animals without anyone knowing…

As the rustling of clothes subsided, a voice, neither clearly male nor female, came from above: "Are you painting?"

Qi Shan guessed that the other person was properly dressed before meeting his gaze.

Her profile is stunning enough, but her full-face view is even more breathtaking.

Even the well-traveled Qi Shan was momentarily stunned. Following the man's gaze, Qi Shan discovered that the other person was examining the drawing paper and ink in the basket. The ink, now dry, had already been rolled up and carefully stored away; a satisfactory work could be framed and collected. With both witnesses and physical evidence, Qi Shan nodded in acknowledgment without arguing. Unexpectedly, a murderous glint flashed across the other person's face, only to be quickly and carefully concealed beneath that stunningly beautiful face.

The other party asked to see his paintings.

Qi Shan secretly sensed something was wrong.

Unarmed and still recovering from internal injuries, this was not the time to escalate the conflict, so he simply pretended not to know and nodded in agreement to show the paintings. It was understandable that the other party was worried about the outdoor bathing scene being depicted in the paintings. Fortunately, all the paintings were normal, depicting landscapes without a single human figure. Only then did the other party's expression soften.

However, Qi Shan was not allowed to leave.

Qi Shan claimed to be a woman whose family had fallen on hard times and who had fled to the mountains with her elders for refuge. She said her home was nearby. After some questioning to confirm that she wasn't lying, he was allowed to leave. Their paths didn't end there.

Less than two days later, they ran into each other again while the other was bathing in the wild.

Praying for good: [...]

He didn't understand, did the other person have some kind of addiction to outdoor bathing?

He recalled the villagers at the foot of the mountain who had told him about a beautiful spirit who had killed several farmers who had come to gather firewood. At the time, Qi Shan thought it was just a rural ghost story, but now, it seemed art imitated life. Could this beautiful spirit be the one standing before him?

The other party was also surprised that Qi Shan had reappeared.

Practice makes perfect.

This time, the two had a much wider conversation, discussing either landscape painting techniques or teasing the common people down the mountain about strange tales: "Could the spirits those farmers saw be referring to my lord?"

The other person replied: "Hmm."

Qi Shan said in a light tone: "How many bizarre and absurd stories in the world originate from such hearsay? Like the farmer whose life force was drained by a demon, leaving only bones and a human skin... It's all made up, pure fabrication, just to scare people."

Misunderstanding that the man was a demon led to the creation of the terrifying rumor that the demon sucked the man's yang energy, and subsequently, the creation of a human skin and white bones.

It was all a misunderstanding.

Yes, a man.

Qi Shan had already discovered last time that the other person only looked like a woman and was actually a man—at that time, no women could cultivate literary energy, so Qi Shan had preconceived notions and concluded that he was a woman—so this time there was no need to turn his back to avoid suspicion. He looked at him openly and honestly; the other person's long, black hair cascaded down his shoulders, mostly submerged in the water like seaweed spreading out, making his fair and flawless skin appear even more striking.

The man said, "It's half true, half false."

Qi Shan asked: [Where is the "half-fake" part fake?]

The human skin and skeleton are fake.

Qi Shan's expression changed slightly: [Where is the truth in this half-truth?]

The person was really dead; I killed them.

The man calmly admitted to the murder. Seemingly frightened by the seemingly ordinary girl, Qi Shan, he explained: "There was a reason for killing them. These farmers were indeed simple and honest, but not entirely benevolent. They spied on me while I was bathing, and then harbored malicious intentions. If they had obediently left, I might have spared their lives. But they were lustful and plotted against me..."

So, they killed him.

Qi Shan's lips twitched slightly, thinking to herself: [These people certainly deserve to die, but your constant changing of bathing spots in the wild is rather strange.]

He tried to persuade the other person that they could take a shower at home.

Taking a bath in public is unsafe for both the person taking the bath and others.

The man then said something strange: "I'd like to too."

As the time drew near, the man was about to emerge from the water. Qi Shan turned around and inadvertently caught a glimpse of her reflection in the water, her eyes widening in surprise before quickly closing them again. Qi Shan's hobby was painting everywhere she went, while the man's hobby was taking a wild bath anytime, anywhere.

The two met for the third time, but not by the water.

The man somehow found the small wooden cabin where Qi Shan was temporarily staying.

They got to know each other very quickly and their relationship grew closer rapidly.

Qi Shan was adept at making enemies, but even more adept at making friends. The days of recuperating from her injuries were dull and boring, but having someone to talk and chat with made the time pass a little easier. Each time the man came, he would bring some food or trinkets from the foot of the mountain, and even invited Qi Shan to come down the mountain.

[In Pucun village at the foot of the mountain, there is a sacrificial Nuo dance.]

Qi Shan gladly agreed.

Fearing their appearance would attract attention, both wore masks painted with images of Nuo dance performers. They joined the villagers in the rituals, watched the Nuo dance, and listened to the strange yet reassuring melodies sung by the dancers. More than a month passed in the blink of an eye, and Qi Shan's injuries had greatly healed.

He was preparing to leave this place.

Before leaving, she naturally had to say goodbye to the man.

The man wasn't home at the time, so Qishan left a note, agreeing on a time and place. Fearing he might stand her up, she added, "You must come, rain or shine." Well, he had to come, whether he wanted to or not.

The man not only arrived, but he also dressed up carefully.

You can smell a distinct alcohol odor when you get close.

Have you been drinking?

The smell of alcohol was so strong it was almost pungent.

The man said, "I'm emboldened by alcohol!"

Just as Qi Shan was about to explain the situation, the other party delivered a devastating blow—Qi Yuanliang, with countless sins in his life, never expected to be confessed to by a man! Not friendship!

He almost lost his ability to speak on the spot.

Instinctive refusal: 【No, you—】

The man's eyes darkened, and he exhaled a breath of stale air, his tense shoulders relaxing: "You saw it that day, didn't you?"

Praying for good: [...]

The man underestimated his alcohol tolerance. He borrowed a bit of courage, but also his brain, revealing truths he wouldn't have said when sober. He had a physical disability, but he could cultivate, and his normal understanding would allow him to identify as male.

This is quite contradictory.

He prefers the female part to the male part.

At the same time, she has an extreme aversion to contact with men.

Qi Shan was the most beautiful and outstanding woman he had ever met. The past two months they had spent together had given him a sense of security, like finding a home. He also knew that Qi Shan had been packing her things, probably preparing to leave, so he decided to confess his feelings today. If this came to fruition, he was willing to leave with Qi Shan, following her wherever she went.

Praying for good: [...]

The man said cautiously, "My heart belongs to you."

Qi Shan asked: "Do you like women?"

The man nodded: "Yes, men are filthy and repulsive. If I could, I would wish to be a woman... but as a woman, I have no power to protect myself in this world; it's a real contradiction."

Body awareness and self-awareness have been tormenting him.

Qishan changed the subject: 【Why do you like outdoor bathing?】

The man said, "I had no choice but to do it."

The limitations of cultivating the way of the scholar are not due to any eccentricity on his part.

With a cold expression, Qi Shan delivered a devastating blow to the man.

[It seems that this won't work.]

Why?

Qi Shan said: "Because I am also a filthy man."

The man's eyes widened abruptly, staring incredulously into Qi Shan's eyes, then moving down from them. Whether it was her voice, appearance, or figure, Lady Qi was clearly a woman. How could she be a man? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Qi Shan quietly took two steps back.

He secretly reached for the sword next to the luggage.

At the same time, he made a hand seal, removing his scholarly disguise and revealing a male identity, and sighed: "[I have many enemies while traveling, and in order to protect myself, I have to disguise myself as a woman... I never expected to cause you to misunderstand, it's really..."]

Before he could finish speaking, the sword had already arrived.

Shen Tang's lips twitched uncontrollably as she said, "[He turned on you way too fast! And, you actually survived being stabbed to death?]"

Qi Shan said: [Just dodge quickly.]

If I were stabbed to death, would I still be standing here?

They were finally chased for a day and a night before escaping.

Qi Shan still feels lingering fear when she thinks about it now.

Shen Tang's gaze fell towards the main hall, and she asked, "So... does he now know that you were the one who disguised yourself as a woman back then?"

Qi Shan: [Of course I know.]

Shen Tang Xihan: 【…I thought your disguise hadn't been exposed yet.】

Actually, it's been gone for a long time.

After Qi Shan escaped, she actually met the man twice more, the last time even drinking together peacefully. Years ago, Qi Shan had written a letter to a friend and sent him one, but it was too far away to reach him—or perhaps it did reach him, but the man ignored her.

Shen Tang peeked over there.

The question was asked: "So, you brought him here as an introduction?"

Qi Shan said, "[He is one of the prisoners Zhenguo brought back this time. If you can recruit him, do so; if you can't, don't let him go. But killing prisoners doesn't sound good, so you have to do it secretly.]"

Shen Tang: [...What talents does he possess?]

"The Zhen Kingdom spent a fortune to hire him; the money was equivalent to half a year's expenses for the Zhen Kingdom's royal court," Qi Shan said. "This man is proficient in using the power of words to counter martial artists, and many of these words are family secret techniques. If he is easily released, he could become a major threat."

It was only because our lord was unreasonable that he mobilized the Gongxi Chou brothers and the Yun Ce duo to attack Zhen Kingdom. They took the lead and, despite being suppressed, tore a gap in the enemy's border barrier. If it were a war between nations with similar troop strength, taking down Zhen Kingdom would have been no easy feat.

Shen Tang: [Is he willing to come?]

I can't be sure, but he definitely didn't want to die.

After the misunderstanding that year, the man's first attempt to entrust his heart to someone backfired spectacularly, causing a drastic change in his personality. He went from being a believer in pure love to one who embraced universal love, and he began to care for many orphaned women in his courtyard. If he were to die, these women would lose their support, and he refused to accept that.

Shen Tang frowned and inquired: "Does he have any taboos?"

When recruiting people, do your homework in advance if possible.

Otherwise, he'll end up like Wu Xian, who recruited Yan An and made three mistakes.

Qi Shan said: [Just don't mention any physical disabilities or abnormalities.]

He added: "Try not to mention me either."

They promised to forget their grudges over a drunken stupor back then, but he betrayed him instead. Now, when they meet, he's like a venomous snake, secretly eyeing his vitals. If he could, Qi Shan really wouldn't want to be colleagues with this person; he's far more dangerous than Qin Li and the others.

|ω`)

I've been taking medication for the past few days. When I brushed my teeth and looked in the mirror this morning, I noticed that both sides of my throat were even more swollen. Injections aren't working, and oral medication isn't working either. This is going to kill me.

P.S.: In the context of this story, physical deformities are actually not uncommon _(:з」∠)_