Jiang Wu
The river was shrouded in mist, coating everything on the water with a damp, glistening moisture, making the woman's voice sound exceptionally clear and crisp.
The sound of oars approached from afar, and on the small boat across the river stood a person wearing an extremely large black cloak and a wide-brimmed hat. Her delicate, fair face was mostly obscured by the brim of the hat, with the remaining small part hidden in the shadows beneath it, making her even more indistinct through the wisps of mist.
She could only be vaguely discerned as having a face as white as snow, a truly stunning beauty.
The woman's figure clearly indicated she was a novice; whenever a wave crashed in, she stood on the boat, visibly flustered. As she steered the boat closer and closer, and the two small boats were about to connect end to end, the oars in her hands seemed to have a mind of their own, spinning in place without stopping for a moment.
Seeing that the two boats were about to collide, Dou Yanxun used one hand to hold the oar and stirred the river against the current, then turned his small boat around.
The boat suddenly veered off course, stirring up rolling waves on both sides. The woman, rocked violently, lost her balance. She flailed her arms in the air, her body swaying forward and backward, about to fall straight into the river.
Dou Yanxun looked up at the person whose feet were perched on the edge of the cabin, teetering on the verge of falling, but remained motionless.
A moment later, a "thump" was heard—
The woman finally fell into the water. The cloak she had been wearing floated on the river's surface, like a bewitching black poppy in full bloom. Her wide-brimmed conical hat was also scattered far away by the enormous impact, tumbling a few times on the river's surface before being swept to the bottom.
After a moment, the woman emerged from the icy river. Her glossy, wet hair, her pale cheeks trembling slightly from the cold, and her lips a vibrant, rosy red…
But what suddenly caught his eye was a pair of clear, bright eyes, yet filled with fear and helplessness.
Wet and half-submerged in the misty river water, it was exceptionally cool and clear.
The woman was a good swimmer; after a few splashes, she gracefully swam to Dou Yanxun's small boat. She clung to the somewhat dilapidated edge of the boat, where the rolling waves and sharp splinters left several bloody scratches on her once soft and smooth hands.
Those eyes were fixed on him. Dou Yanxun then heard the clear female voice that had called his name from afar through the mist, and now it rang out again right in front of him:
"Young Master Dou, are you going to stand by and watch someone die?"
Dou Yanxun's clear black and white eyes lowered, focusing on the bloodstains on her hands.
In a short while, the tall figure slowly crouched down in the desolate river mist, reaching out his hand to the person in the water, a lazy and indifferent smile gradually rising in his eyes.
"Is this why Miss Lin came fishing in the dark?"
He answered her with his actions, yet also calmly asked her a question in return.
Lin Xu remained noncommittal, simply placing her hand on top of Dou Yanxun's outstretched hands. The moment her hand touched his warm palm, it was firmly grasped, and she was enveloped by his warm and intense presence.
In the next instant, before she could react, Dou Yanxun stood up straight and pulled her straight out of the water.
Lin Xu soared into the air, with icy water droplets scattering around him, carrying a chilling aura that spread to the person who was very close to him.
A very faint fragrance gradually spread in the cool, damp air. Dou Yanxun raised his eyebrows slightly, turned around and took a few steps back, then took a clean cloth from the cabin and handed it to her.
It was a piece of coarse blue cloth, simple yet very clean, with a rough yet comforting feel. It was nothing like the luxurious items used by scions of noble families, and its presence in the hands of a man dressed in fine clothes seemed particularly out of place.
Lin Xu was slightly taken aback, and in the next instant, he took the coarse cloth.
Dou Yanxun's eyes were completely indifferent. He slightly curled the corners of his lips as he watched Lin Xu carefully wipe his wet hair with a piece of coarse cloth, with fine water droplets still dripping from his forehead and temples.
Looking at this rare painting of a beautiful woman emerging from the water, he recalled the young man who had waited for him for three pots of tea at the Muchun Pavilion that day.
That once flamboyant young man, who should have been dashing and spirited, looked dejected and earnestly begged me not to fall for his cousin, no matter what.
It's really baffling.
Dou Yanxun calmly observed the awkward smile on the face of the person before him, and the barely concealed tension beneath. Now, when he finally saw Lin Xu's true face, he understood the feelings of her cousin that day.
This woman is indeed an absolute beauty.
But as beautiful as it is, it is too fragile and difficult to maintain.
That's not the type he'd be interested in.
Dou Yanxun was too tired to think about it anymore. He felt even more weary and just wanted to get rid of this troublesome person quickly and have some peace and quiet.
He leaned back against the mast, his lips curving into a perfectly gentle smile, and said lazily, "Miss Lin, with such a delicate appearance, you actually enjoy fishing?"
Lin Xu was tilting her head slightly as she took off her soaked cloak, revealing her long, fair neck. When she heard his words, her eyes, which had been half shy and timid, became clearer, and she smiled gently at him.
“I didn’t like it before. But ever since I discovered that morning fishing is quite good for self-cultivation, I’ve come every day; but I’ve only been fishing for a short time, so I’m sure I can’t compare to the superb skills of Young Master Dou.”
But he is still an honest person.
Dou Yanxun's half-closed eyes involuntarily lifted slightly, taking in a few more glimpses of her voice and appearance.
Lin Xu was, after all, a man whose reputation was far-reaching in Mujing City. Although he lived a secluded life and was all alone, he had heard about the woman's past misdeeds.
Therefore, when he learned that she was in love with him, he choked on the scalding tea and a blister immediately appeared on his lip.
He had lived a carefree and unrestrained life, attracting the attention of many women with his handsome looks. However, he merely feigned infatuation, moving among various glamorous scenes, never truly settling down in any of them. But now, to be favored by such a wicked and unruly man was a first in his life.
However, he did not have any other intentions.
He was already struggling to make ends meet, drifting aimlessly through the days, trapped in a state of chaos. It had taken him many years to gradually find peace and self-acceptance, and he was unwilling to disturb the fragile tranquility that surrounded him any longer.
Therefore, when faced with Liang Zhengyuan's relentless questioning gaze that day, he could only smile and sigh.
“Brother Liang, you are overthinking things. To me, all things in this world are nothing more than ants and mayflies. Even if I indulge in sensual pleasures day and night, I will eventually lose interest. I will live a life of utter boredom and stay in a corner. Why would I want to get myself into trouble again?”
Having no other intentions and having been repeatedly asked by his cousin, he should have avoided the situation.
We should avoid it completely and thoroughly, without any lingering misunderstandings.
Thinking of this, Dou Yanxun said calmly, "Miss Lin, there's no need to be modest. The river is calm before the tide in the early morning, which is the best time for fishing. If you are diligent every day, you will surely have a good catch."
Since she had decided to come here and fish every day, he would simply give her the Weilong River. He, Dou Yanxun, could certainly repay this small favor.
He turned around and picked up the fish basket he had been fishing in earlier. Inside were several plump and fresh mandarin fish, jumping and wriggling.
"We caught quite a few mandarin fish today. They're better suited for soup than regular fish, and the meat is very tender. If you like them, you can have them all."
Lin Xu's eyes lit up, shining like stars in the heavens.
She turned and pointed to the small boat she had been in, then strode back. She bent down, picked up the heavy, almost overflowing fish basket from the deck, and nodded with a smile:
"Thank you very much, Young Master Dou. I'll clear out this fish basket and put your fish in it!"
Before Dou Yanxun could react, she dumped all the fish and shrimp in the basket onto the boat's deck.
The boat was soon filled with a dazzling array of river delicacies, including some extremely rare catches such as knife fish and salmon. He had been sitting there for a long time without catching any, but Lin Xu had already taken them all.
They clearly caught more than he did...
Dou Yanxun's head hurt even more.
His hand holding the fish basket suddenly felt a little sore. Without making a sound, he put down his fish basket and said with a faint smile, "I suddenly remembered that Muchun Restaurant is missing a mandarin fish soup today. So please forgive me, Miss Lin, for not being able to offer it to you."
A barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in Lin Xu's eyes. He was still clutching the fish basket in his arms, but he simply smiled gently and shook his head, saying:
"It's alright. But is the Muchun Pavilion that Young Master Dou mentioned earlier the one next to the Mujing Martial Arts Training Ground?"
Dou Yanxun nodded slightly.
Seeing the doubt on her face, which didn't seem feigned but rather genuinely unknown, he added gently:
"That's right. Muchunlou is actually mine. I usually come to the river to fish or go out to sea to fish, so that I can send all the fresh ingredients I catch there."
Upon hearing this, the other person's expression brightened even more. After a moment's hesitation, her beautiful face filled with caution as she softly asked:
"Then may I ask, Young Master Dou, if I come to find you there in the future?"
Dou Yanxun had dealt with many women in the past.
Some were persistent and clingy, some were eager to curry favor, and some were simply indulging in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest...
But this was the first time I had ever been met with such a dazzling and captivating gaze.
Based on his experience, this woman could be one of two things.
Firstly, this beautiful woman with such a refined and elegant appearance truly treated him with a sincere heart and yearned for him deeply.
And secondly...
Dou Yanxun narrowed his eyes, revealing a sharp and ruthless look, which then quickly dissipated, disappearing behind layers of misty fog.
A faint smile played on his lips as his captivating eyes looked down and settled on her chest.
Her clothes, which had been soaked earlier, were briefly blown by the river breeze after the black cloak was removed. The soft, flowing gauze, already light and airy, retained its delicate color even after being soaked, but clung damply to her chest. The half-dry areas subtly outlined the girl's graceful and alluring figure.
Lin Xu followed his gaze, her face suddenly flushing red. She saw the man leap into the air, shrouded in the thick river mist, and in the blink of an eye, he was beside her.
Dou Yanxun's voice rang in her ears, accompanied by a faint, cool aura.
Since there's no one around here...
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