Chapter 28

The maple leaves at Ba Dao Manor are not as deep red as those in Feng Hua Valley, but they carry a chill that is about to fall. If you smell the cold air, you will feel that the maple leaves covering the mountain are still a little warm.

Liu Yu returned alone. He couldn't call Ye Mo away, nor could he get rid of Ah Chang beside him, so he had no choice but to come back alone.

Seeing his distraught appearance, the senior brother who was coming towards him brushed past him and greeted the junior sisters who were passing by. He then ran over and grabbed Liu Yu's neck from behind, startling Liu Yu so much that he almost drew his sword.

"You brat, you've been gone for days, I've missed you terribly! Did you enjoy Xinghua Village in Taiyuan?"

Liu Yu smiled helplessly, lifted his senior brother's arm, and crawled out.

"What's the point of being satisfied? The Wolf Fang Army is still guarding Taiyuan, and Jinci is seeing wave after wave of wounded every day. The Beggar Clan disciples in Xinghua Village are too busy to keep up with the demand, ha..."

When the senior student realized the topic was too heavy, he immediately yawned and started stretching his arms and shaking his legs.

"Hey... let's not talk about that! By the way, junior brother, that old man who came to see you a few days ago came again this afternoon. I saw him talking very intensely with the head of the manor. The head of the manor was keeping a low profile and didn't breathe. He was probably really angry."

“These past few days, that old man has been coming every day. It’s better if the Third Master doesn’t get to see him. But the First Master has no choice but to see him! He gets scolded every day, and his face looks terrible. Today, several of my junior brothers went to ask about the ‘New Pavilion Marquis’, but they were all turned away… Sigh, there’s nothing we can do about the Master being like this.”

After listening, Liu Yu remained silent for a long time, stared at the shadow on the ground for a while, said to his senior brother, "Let's go back and pack up first," then said goodbye and went straight back to his residence.

He had just entered the room and taken the knife rack from his back when his ears keenly caught the sound of breathing.

Aside from a few fellow disciples who would come to see him when he was around, no one else ever came to his room. His senior brother had just spoken to him about this matter again, and he could guess who it was.

Liu Yu slowly turned around to face the bedroom, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and bowed deeply.

"gentlemen."

"You have quite the nerve..." The sound of dry twigs rubbing together came from the bedroom, and a person dressed in tattered clothes stepped out from behind the curtain. Holding a straw hat in their hand, a pair of hawk-like eyes peeked out from the black and white hair, staring at Liu Yu.

"You secretly went to find that female demon, and even dared to think you could bring her back to heal your wounds. Liu Yu, you really didn't listen to what I said."

"I just..."

"Nostalgia?" The old man walked up to Liu Yu and looked him up and down.

"..." Liu Yu didn't say anything, his palms, which were clasped together, were already covered in sweat.

"Back when Ye Mo captured those girls to be sacrifices for the sorcerers, I didn't see you caring this much. What? Heh... have you really fallen for that devil?"

“Sir,” Liu Yu knelt down abruptly, his knees slamming heavily on the ground. He lowered his head, not daring to look up, and took a deep breath, saying, “Amo was just confused for a moment, which is why she made these mistakes. She’s not a bad person at heart. As long as I bring her back for treatment, I will take her to turn herself in after she recovers!”

"Utterly absurd!"

The old man, with his hands behind his back, frowned as he listened to Liu Yu's words, then turned and roared at him.

“If she truly repented, she would come back with you instead of continuing her evil deeds. She's lawless now, and has now angered the Hidden Origin Martial Association. This isn't something you can resolve on your own!”

"Stubborn to the end!"

The old man stared intently at Liu Yu, who was kneeling. Seeing that he refused to budge as if he wanted to protect that monster to the end, he gave a heavy "humph," flicked his sleeves, and left the room.

The light streaming in through the door blinded Liu Yu, causing him to instantly close his eyes. The image of the girl in the bright yellow dress reappeared in his mind, her face deathly pale, her face speaking of revenge—the image lingered there, impossible to shake off.

Alu followed Yang Yuan to Xinghua Village. On their way there on horseback, apricot blossoms drifted down, clinging to the entire evening glow. The two dismounted, took the reins, and walked to the abandoned carriage in front of the village. Alu took out a water bag and handed it to Yang Yuan.

"Oh my, look at this young couple! They've only been together a short time and their relationship is already so good. Tsk tsk tsk, I'm so envious!"

Upon hearing the sound, Yang Yuan gripped the water bag tightly in her hand. Suddenly, a figure flashed out from the bushes. With sharp eyes, she took out the Dongxian Yin (a type of zither), plucked the strings, and played "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank."

Ah Lu drew her twin swords and gripped them tightly in her hands, then with a quick turn, she vanished into the bustling crowd. Petals drifted down, and a sound echoed from the woods once more:

"Hey! Why are you always starting fights? Are you bullying me? We're all on the same side, I'm just delivering intelligence!"

A person slowly emerged from under the shade of the tree. A-Lu appeared and stood in front of Yang Yuan, sizing up the purple-clad man who was dusting himself off. He had long, jet-black hair that reached his waist.

Seeing this, Yang Yuan put away her zither and walked in front of A Lu.

"Fang Lin is a disciple of Wanhua Valley and a student of the venerable Master Sun Simiao."

As Yang Yuan introduced herself, the man straightened up and smoothed the strands of hair hanging down his chest with a beaming smile.

A-Lu looked at him and thought that he was a completely unreliable person from head to toe, and it was impossible to see any uprightness in him.

"Oh my little pigeon, it's been so long! You've become even more beautiful!" Fang Lin smiled, strode over, and leaned close to A Lu to smell her scent, but A Lu cleverly dodged away.

"Hehe, it's this cat that's being a bit naughty!"

A-Lu didn't answer, she just shrugged and smiled.

Just as Yang Yuan was about to ask a question, Fang Lin grabbed her arm and rolled up her sleeves to take her pulse.

"Mmm...it's okay...mmm..."

Yang Yuan pulled her arm back, lowered her sleeve, and said:

"I didn't ask you to come see me."

Fang Lin frowned, his eyebrows forming a V-shape, and looked at A Lu with a wronged expression, then at her.

"Do you want me to look at this Persian cat? It wouldn't let me touch it just now! Do you want me to take its pulse by feeling its pulse?"

Ah Lu raised her eyebrows.

"Have you said enough witty remarks?" Yang Yuan asked, arms crossed.

Fang Lin laughed out loud and sat down on the stone bridge.

"Little Pigeon, look at you! You're just like Ah Mo when you're begging for help! Hahaha!"

"Buzz—"

Before A-Lu could react, Yang Yuan suddenly drew the sword from the zither, and with a move called "Nie Yun Zhu Yue," pressed the sword tip against Fang Lin's neck.

Fang Lin looked down at the sword, then at Yang Yuan, and blinked at A Lu.

"Little Pigeon, are you going to kill me?"

"Let's get down to business. I don't have time to play house with you," Yang Yuan said.

A-Lu slowly walked to her side and looked at Fang Lin. He was dressed in purple robes, with a jade pendant on his forehead. His black hair was well-groomed, and a petal that had just landed on his head slid down.

Fang Lin stopped laughing, a smile playing on his lips as he took a gray scroll from his sleeve. Yang Yuan reached for it, but he dodged her. Seeing that Yang Yuan couldn't reach it, Fang Lin burst into laughter again.

"Short arms, huh? Hahahaha! Little pigeon, I've told you so many times, little girl, don't take a sword, killing someone will make you stupid!"

Ah Lu stared at the man laughing uncontrollably for a long time, and finally an expression of disbelief appeared in her eyes.

"You...you are not..."

"He is Fang Lin, who almost died in Maple Valley back then, along with the person who made the jade pendant."

Fang Lin was stunned for a moment when he heard Yang Yuan say that, then burst into laughter.

"Haha, death? Little Pigeon, how old are you to use that word? Hahahaha, are all the little girls in your Changge Sect so precocious?"

"He was hit on the head by a rock when he escaped, and went insane."

Yang Yuan's casual remark made A Lu glance at him a few more times.

Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the person had a deep scar on their neck, extending into their clothing and disappearing from sight.

"Give me the scroll, then you can leave. Do you understand?"

Yang Yuan sheathed her sword, spread her hands, and spoke to Fang Lin.

"Okay, okay, no problem! But Little Pigeon, you have to tell me when Moon is coming to see me. I've finished the red bean and jujube cake she made for me last time, and I really miss that taste!"

A-Lu was taken aback. Wasn't that the material she had asked someone to find a few days ago, which she had prepared and then asked the innkeeper to give to Yang Yuan?

He glanced at Yang Yuan, who showed no intention of explaining anything.

"Yue'er is very busy, and Chunyang Palace is very cold. She needs to rest these days. I'll send it to you in a few days."

After Yang Yuan finished speaking calmly, she took the scroll from Fang Lin's hand.

"It's a deal."

Fang Lin rubbed his face, stood up, and dusted off his bottom. He grinned and pulled Ah Lu away, saying:

"Brother, let me tell you, Yue'er's pastries are absolutely top-notch! If we have a chance to meet again, I'll definitely bring you some to try! Oh, and by the way, Little Pigeon's liver fire has been too strong lately, I advise her to get some rest."

Releasing the bewildered Ah Lu, Fang Lin glanced at Yang Yuan. Suddenly, he called out seriously:

"Little pigeon."

Yang Yuan turned to look at him.

"Don't keep that long face, the kitten will get angry, hehe!"

After saying that, he disappeared from Xinghua Village with a light-footed movement.

A-Lu walked up to Yang Yuan, stared at her for a long time, and asked:

Are you kidding me?

Yang Yuan was taken aback. Feeling guilty, she turned around and ignored A Lu.

"Now that you've found Fang Lin, you should have found the person who made the jade pendant long ago, right?"

Yang Yuan was startled. She gripped the scroll tightly, making an awkward noise as she stared away, unwilling to listen to what A-Lu was saying.

"You knew all along who was behind this, and you separated from Ye Min to get the clues on your own. You weren't afraid I'd find out so you could see it and let me go, right?"

“Answer me,” A-Lu said, slowly approaching Yang Yuan.

"Answer me, Yang Yuan!"

A-Lu stared at Yang Yuan, then suddenly pulled her over to face him. Upon seeing her pale face, A-Lu's heart softened again.

“Yes…” Yang Yuan closed her eyes resignedly and answered him with all her might.

"Why?" Ah Lu asked, staring at her.

"Why, Yang Yuan?"

"I've never cared about you, and I've never liked you. Do you understand?"

A-Lu looked at her and suddenly burst out laughing.

"Yuan'er," he suddenly called out.

"I know you won't lie."

Yang Yuan lowered her head, feeling utterly deflated. She didn't want A-Lu to catch her; at this moment, he was the last person she wanted to see, and the one she couldn't bear to part with.

"We've been together for so long, and six months have passed so quickly. Do you think I wouldn't understand your personality? You're just fooling yourself."

Ah Lu spoke lightly, but the hand holding Yang Yuan's shoulder was trembling.

"Don't throw tantrums at me, Yuan'er. I'd rather you treat me coldly as usual. If you don't like red bean and jujube cake, I'll make you osmanthus cake tomorrow, or do you like porridge? I remember you didn't throw away the longan and lotus seed porridge from the other day, and..."

As A-Lu was speaking, he suddenly stopped on his own. He looked at Yang Yuan, cupped her face in his hands, and bent down to look at her.

Looking at those pale lips, Ah Lu gently lowered her head and kissed them.

It's dry and bitter.

Yang Yuan snapped out of her daze and pushed him away. In A Lu's disappointed eyes, she used her light-footed skill to leave.