Shu Bai woke up amidst a jolt.
His eyes were covered with a strip of cloth, and his vision was completely dark.
He moved his wrists and found that his hands were bound by something.
The surface beneath me felt rough, like being in a carriage, but the air was filled with the smell of earth and old things, so it didn't quite feel like that.
"Awake?" Li Yuheng's voice rang out nearby, tinged with amusement. "Don't panic, I'm just taking you somewhere."
Shu Bai paused for a moment, then said, "Explain."
“The explanation is,” Li Yuheng’s voice remained relaxed, “I think there are too many rules for getting married at home, so it’s more comfortable to come to my private territory.”
"Your private property?"
"yes."
Shu Bai tried to free her bound wrists; the rope was very strong, and the knots were tied in a tricky way.
"So, you tied me up?"
"It's a matter of necessity. If I tried to reason with you, you definitely wouldn't be willing to come. This is much more straightforward."
"You certainly know how to make things easy." Shu Bai tilted his head, feeling a little uncomfortable with the blindfold. "Take this thing off."
"No, the location must be kept secret."
“Ha,” Shu Bai scoffed, “A person with amnesia talking to me about keeping the location a secret? Do you even know the way yourself?”
"I'm warning you, don't underestimate me."
…
The carriage, or rather, a similar mode of transportation, traveled for a while before finally coming to a stop.
Li Yuheng jumped down first, then pulled on the rope binding Shu Bai's wrists, leading him forward:
"Watch your step... Oh wait, there are no steps here. Watch your step, it's a bit messy."
Shu Bai was led by him, walking with uneven steps. The surrounding air became damp and cool, with a distinct echoing quality characteristic of a cave.
"arrive."
Li Yuheng stopped and finally reached out to untie the cloth covering Shu Bai's eyes.
As the light suddenly flooded in, Shu Bai squinted, adjusting his eyes for a moment before he could see the scene before him clearly.
A cave filled with all sorts of parcels and boxes.
It's like a den of thieves.
His gaze swept over the diverse collection before finally settling on Li Yuheng's face.
Shu Bai raised his bound hands and pointed around, "This is what you call 'private territory'? Quite unique taste, even the Beggars' Sect would be ashamed of themselves."
Li Yuheng was not ashamed at all, but rather proud: "How about it? Amazing scale, isn't it? This is all the empire I built before I lost my memory!"
Shu Bai was too lazy to comment on the country, and shook his bound wrists: "Untie them."
“No,” Li Yuheng said, arms crossed, “What if you run away if I untie you?”
"Run?" Shu Bai raised an eyebrow. "Why would I run? Didn't we agree to go back and get married?"
“I don’t care. You’re on my turf now, so the rules have to be my way.” Li Yuheng raised his chin. “We’ll get married here. I’ll handle external affairs, and you’ll handle internal affairs.”
Shu Bai stared at him, then suddenly laughed, though the smile didn't reach her eyes: "Li Yuheng, have you forgotten that even after we get married, I will still be your husband?"
Li Yuheng blinked, looking completely innocent: "Who said that? The marriage certificate doesn't say who's the husband and who's the wife. I think I'm more like the husband."
"With your methods of tying people up?" Shu Bai asked sarcastically, "or with your thieving den filled with artistic flair?"
"That's called strategy! And taste! Look, now that you're in my hands, you have to listen to me. Be a good girl here and be my wife, and when I regain my memory, I'll marry you in style."
Seeing his smug expression, Shu Bai nodded: "Okay."
He agreed so readily that Li Yuheng was taken aback for a moment: "You really agreed?"
"Hmm." Shu Bai walked to a box that looked fairly clean and sat down, her bound hands casually resting on her knees. "But I'm hungry."
Li Yuheng: "What do you want to eat? I'll get it! I know this area well!"
However, his so-called "familiarity" was limited to the scope of his exploration after losing his memory.
"Grilled fish," Shu Bai said, looking at him, "just like when we first met."
"Wait! I guarantee it'll be even better than the last one!"
After Li Yuheng finished speaking, he turned around and walked excitedly out of the cave, humming an off-key tune.
As the footsteps faded into the distance, the calm on Shu Bai's face vanished instantly, replaced by a chill.
He looked down at the knot on his wrist, his fingers deftly exploring it.
This knot is indeed tricky, but it's not without flaws.
As he untied the rope, he looked around the cave.
The items were piled up haphazardly, but some traces suggested that Li Yuheng may have lived here for a period of time.
The rope quickly came loose.
Shu Bai stretched his wrists, stood up, and began to pace around the cave.
Instead of trying to leave immediately, he carefully examined the packages.
Most of them were indeed items of dubious origin, ranging from fine clothes to broken bowls.
Until he saw that familiar indigo-blue coarse cloth bundle again.
He walked over and opened it.
Inside was still that marriage certificate.
Shu Bai picked up the marriage certificate, her fingertips tracing the words "Li Yuheng and Shu Bai" on it, her brows furrowing slightly.
The marriage certificate is genuine, and the jade pendants are a pair.
How could a young master from a prestigious family end up in such a place, and possess a treasure trove that's practically a den of thieves?
What kind of person was Li Yuheng before he lost his memory?
Could it be that Li Yuheng... isn't actually Li Yuheng?
As he was deep in thought, footsteps came from the cave entrance.
Shu Bai quickly stuffed the marriage certificate back into the bundle, tied it up, put it back in its original place, and then sat back on the trunk as if she had never moved.
He even loosely wrapped the untied rope back around his wrist, holding it in his hand, making it appear as if he was still bound.
Li Yuheng walked in carrying two cleaned fish, his face beaming with the joy of a harvest: "Look! Aren't they plump? My fish-catching skills are top-notch!"
He started a fire and skillfully put the fish on the grill, occasionally stealing a glance at Shu Bai. Seeing that the other was sitting there obediently, he was in a good mood.
"So? Have you made up your mind? Shall we get married right here?"
While flipping the fish, Li Yuheng brought up the old story again.
Shu Bai looked up at him: "Have you thought it through?"
"Oh?" Li Yuheng leaned closer expectantly.
Shu Bai suddenly made a move, as fast as lightning, grabbing Li Yuheng's wrist, twisting him around, and pressing him against the box next to him.
The rope that was originally loosely wrapped around his hand now nimbly wrapped around Li Yuheng's hand.
"I think it's better to stick to my rules."
Li Yuheng was pinned to the trunk with his hands twisted behind his back, but instead of panicking, he chuckled softly.
"Young Master Shu Bai, this is a breach of martial ethics."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly twisted his wrist at a tricky angle, easily breaking free from Shu Bai's grip.
In the brief moment that Shu Bai was slightly stunned by this sudden turn of events, Li Yuheng raised his hand and struck him precisely on the back of the neck.
Shu Bai's vision went black, and before he collapsed, he only managed to utter half a curse: "You son of a bitch..."
Li Yuheng scooped the person up, lifted them horizontally, and gently placed them back on the relatively clean trunk.
He looked down at Shu Bai, who was unconscious but had a furrowed brow, and reached out to smooth his brow.
"Go to sleep for a while. When you wake up, we can discuss who should be in charge."
Li Yuheng stood up, put his hands on his hips, and looked around the cave filled with miscellaneous items.
Letting Shu Bai go? That's impossible.
So they'll have to stay here for a while.
At the very least, let's keep him here until he regains his memory.
Then this place really needs to be tidied up.
He rolled up his sleeves and confidently began to work.
First, you need to categorize the items.
As he sorted through the items, he marveled at how he had been a collector before his amnesia. He had everything from carved wooden beds to mahogany tables and chairs, from brocade quilts to complete sets of porcelain bowls and teaware, but his collection was completely disorganized.
“As expected of me,” Li Yuheng dragged an expensive-looking canopy bed out of a pile of clutter and dusted it off. “Even my eye for robbery is so discerning.”
He's quite strong and very efficient when he gets going.
The heavy furniture was handled with ease, and it was quickly moved to the right place.
The bed was placed against the inside, and his brand-new bedding was laid out on it.
The table was placed in the center, and there were even two chairs.
He took out a complete tea set and set it up, then found a few candlesticks and lit them, instantly making the dim cave much brighter and warmer.
He stuffed all the gold, silver, jewelry, silks, and satins that he didn't really need into several large boxes and stacked them in a corner.
Get rid of any odds and ends or put them away neatly.
After working for most of the day, the once messy cave was transformed.
Although it is still a cave, it has now become a fully equipped and even quite stylish cave dwelling.
Li Yuheng clapped his hands in satisfaction, admiring his masterpiece.
"Tsk, my ability to manage a household is truly unparalleled."
…
When Shu Bai woke up, the first thing she saw was the rough stone wall, on which a warm candlelight flickered.
He took a second to confirm that he was still alive and lying on a rather comfortable canopy bed.
Immediately afterwards, he realized something was wrong.
Her original clothes were gone, replaced by a silky red robe with a rather flamboyant style, the collar even embroidered with intricate lotus patterns in gold thread.
He silently raised his left hand, and with a crisp metallic clang, a slender silver chain extended from his wrist, the other end of which was firmly locked to a heavy stone pillar.
The chain was neither too long nor too short, just enough to allow him to move around a little around the bed, but there was absolutely no way he could leave the area around the bed.
He stared at the chain reflecting the candlelight, then looked down at the glaring red on his body, remaining silent for a full ten breaths.
Then, he spoke very calmly, his voice slightly hoarse from just waking up:
“Li Yuheng”.
That smug face immediately appeared in his line of sight. He had obviously changed his clothes as well, also in red, but with a more streamlined style, which made him look radiant.
"What's wrong, young hero?"
Shu Bai forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes:
"Come closer."
Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow and moved forward again, while keeping a watchful eye on Shu Bai's unlocked right hand and legs that might exert force.
Shu Bai suddenly raised his free hand.
Li Yuheng subconsciously tensed his muscles, preparing to block or retreat.
The hand simply fell gently and patted his left cheek.
Shu Bai looked at him: "Li Yuheng."
"Um?"
Li Yuheng was a little confused by his action, but he still maintained that smug and confident smile.
"Your little face looks like an oracle bone script. If I didn't have a diviner do a divination, I really wouldn't be able to tell what it is."
Shu Bai stared at the silver chain on her wrist, then glanced down at the exquisitely embroidered yet flamboyant red dress she was wearing. Her heart was completely unmoved; she even felt a little like laughing.
He should have thought of that sooner.
From the moment Li Yuheng took out that jade pendant, everything seemed off.
How could a young master from a prestigious family end up in the wilderness and suffer from amnesia?
Not to mention this cave filled with unidentified valuables; it's practically a den of thieves.
The marriage certificate may be genuine, and the jade pendant may also be genuine.
But this glib-tongued, cunning fellow in front of me is probably not Li Yuheng.
Shu Bai twitched the corner of his mouth.
It doesn't matter.
He hadn't really taken his fiancé, whom he'd never met, seriously.
His master had mentioned it before his death, and he remembered it, but that was all.
If Li Yuheng hadn't appeared with the jade pendant, he would never have intended to fulfill the marriage agreement.
His original plan was to pretend he hadn't received any marriage proposals from his family.
Anyway, the world is so big, who can catch him?
Now, by some twist of fate, I've been kidnapped by this imposter.
That works too.
Who cares if he is Li Yuheng or not.
Anyway, this guy is pretty interesting.
At least it's much more vivid than that "Li Yuheng" who only exists in the marriage certificate.
but……
Although his name is Shubai, he cannot be deceived for nothing.
Li Yuheng rubbed his palm against Shu Bai's in that position: "If the diviner finds out that I am your husband, don't deny it."
Shu Bai withdrew her hand: "Your move just now was very swift."
Li Yuheng: "...Which one? Oh, you mean the one that lets you sleep for a while? No problem, I'm a natural at it."
“Yes,” Shu Bai tugged at his red clothes, “to be so gifted as to be able to accurately knock out a martial arts practitioner, it would probably take at least ten or eight years of internal energy cultivation to do that, right?”
Li Yuheng's smile froze for a moment: "Maybe I was a reclusive master before I lost my memory?"
"A reclusive master?" Shu Bai scoffed. "Would a reclusive master steal someone's grilled fish? Would they cling to someone's leg and cry for help? Would they fake broken meridians to gain sympathy?"
"Li Yuheng, or should I call you by another name? Watching me take you to see doctors all the way, and hearing those doctors say you won't live past winter, don't you find it particularly interesting?"
"Young hero, let me explain..." Li Yuheng tried to argue cleverly.
“Explain what?” Shu Bai interrupted him. “Explain how you used your secret method to fake your pulse? Explain how you made a fool of me? I even thought that getting married before winter might bring you good luck. Now that I think about it, I’m such a joke.”
With each word Shu Bai spoke, Li Yuheng's smile faded a little.
After Shu Bai finished speaking, Li Yuheng had completely dropped his cynical demeanor.
He straightened up, raised his hand to touch his nose, and for once showed a look that suggested he was in the wrong.
“Okay, I admit it.” Li Yuheng said, his tone unusually serious. “My internal strength was faked, and my pulse was also faked.”
He looked at Shu Bai with a candid gaze: "But my amnesia is real. I don't remember who I am, where I came from, or what I'm supposed to do."
“I woke up in this cave, surrounded by these things. My first reaction was the same as yours: I was probably a thief, and a pretty big one at that.”
“Then I found the bundle and saw the marriage certificate and the jade pendant,” Li Yuheng continued. “I thought to myself, whatever he did before, this marriage certificate and the jade pendant are mine now, so the identity of ‘Li Yuheng’ is mine too.”
"When I met you later, I was genuinely startled when you said your name." He smirked. "But I thought to myself, since it's such a coincidence, I have to catch this person."
"I pretended to be weak so I could stay. Deceiving you is a less-than-honorable tactic, but my goal is clear: I want you."
I know you're angry, and I would be too. But Shubai, every word I said to you was true.
It's true that I want to travel the world with you, it's true that I think your grilled fish is delicious, and it's true that I feel sorry for you seeing you all alone. It's even more true that I want to get married with you here.
I'm not exactly a saint; my methods are somewhat underhanded.
Li Yuheng leaned down slightly, meeting Shu Bai's gaze as he sat on the bed. "But I'm serious about you."
Shu Bai listened without any expression on his face, but simply raised his still-locked wrist: "Seriously? So you locked me up?"
Li Yuheng immediately said, "I can explain that too. It's mainly because your martial arts are too high. If I didn't lock you up, you would definitely run away."
Shu Bai: "...So you resorted to underhanded tactics?"
"It was out of necessity," Li Yuheng said seriously. "Besides, I was careful with my strength; your neck didn't even turn red."
Shu Bai suddenly glanced at Li Yuheng up and down with a subtle look in his eyes.
"You want me to calm down? Fine."
"you say!"
"We can get married, but I have to be the husband, and I have to be on top."
The young swordsman Shu Bai finally revealed his true purpose.
Without hesitation, Li Yuheng agreed: "Of course! What's the problem!"
Husband is just a title.
A real man doesn't care about these empty titles.
Who gets promoted or demoted is not important; what matters is who is inside.
He is very confident in himself.
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