Chapter 88 088 She stepped back, dodging his outstretched hand...
On the day the Shu Mountain disciples left Yong Kingdom, the emperor hosted a palace banquet for them. Before that, Lu Yuanyuan privately went to say goodbye to San Niang.
After receiving news of Yue Hong's death, the little girl cried until her eyes were swollen like walnuts. Knowing that Yue Hong was leaving, she was reluctant to part with her. Lu Yuanyuan comforted her gently, but never told her about the puppetry technique.
The fewer people who know about puppetry and dolls, the safer it is. Even Yue Hong's mother, Consort Xie, didn't reveal a word about it.
After bidding farewell to Third Sister, it was time for the banquet.
The palace banquet was held in the garden. Since arriving in Yong Kingdom, the cultivators from Shu Mountain had been discreetly disguised as guards or palace maids; this was the first time they had attended a banquet publicly as honored guests.
The Yong Kingdom specially prepared appropriate attire for everyone attending the banquet. The court dress was a complete contrast to the Shu Mountain sect robes, elaborate and meticulously crafted, with five or six layers inside and out. The robes were made of brocade, the skirts of silk, and the men wore white jade belt hooks while the women's ornaments jingled. The exquisite sewing and embroidery craftsmanship would be considered top-tier even in the cultivation world.
Consort Xie, now Empress, attended the palace banquet, and the Emperor held her hand throughout. She seemed to have somewhat recovered from the grief of losing her son. Her husband and unborn child must have given her much strength.
At the banquet, palace servants brought out lotus wine from the imperial court, with lotus seeds soaked in the wine. It smelled wonderful, and Lu Yuanyuan drank two or three cups. When the banquet came to an end, everyone went to change into their original imperial robes. After all, although the clothes for the banquet were beautiful, it was inconvenient to carry around in them.
In a quiet corner of the palace garden, the shade of the trees gathered and dispersed on the stone ground. Duan Lansheng had just taken off his outer robe when he heard a knock on the door.
He turned around: "Who?"
"I."
Duan Lansheng was startled and quickly went to open the door. As soon as the door opened, a person suddenly seemed to lose their balance and stumble forward, their forehead hitting his chest. At the same time, a warm aroma of wine wafted into his nostrils.
Duan Lansheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he grabbed her shoulders to steady her: "You... Yuanyuan? Are you drunk?"
Lu Yuanyuan's body was slightly pushed away by him, but her head was still stuck in his arms. Her voice was nasal and muffled: "No, I have something to ask you. Let's go inside and talk."
Behind them was a quiet, deserted garden, and no one had accompanied her. Duan Lansheng put one arm around her, closed the door with the other, and led her to a chaise lounge by the window.
Lu Yuanyuan's steps were a little unsteady. After stepping over the threshold, she took the initiative to reach out and hug his waist.
Even though they had become best friends, she rarely treated him like that. Her hand encircled his waist, like a soft butterfly landing on his clothes.
He didn't want to scare the butterfly away.
Duan Lansheng hugged her tighter, helped her sit down, and quietly looked at her.
The girl in his arms was probably drunk, and her reaction was a little slow. She nestled obediently in his arms without any resistance—unlike the day before yesterday, when she woke up and saw him, she reached out in fear and pushed him away.
Thinking this, Duan Lansheng's hand involuntarily tightened. With such a light touch, she woke up, slowly blinked, and met his gaze.
Duan Lansheng seemed to wake from a dream, sat up straight, reached out and touched her forehead, and said, "You stay here for now, I'll go find someone to get you a cup of hangover tea."
Just as he was about to get up, his sleeve was grabbed tightly: "Wait, sit back down, I have something to tell you."
She didn't use much force—no, to be precise, she hadn't even started pulling him yet—when Duan Lansheng sat back down: "What is it?"
Lu Yuanyuan propped herself up in the chair and sat up, looking rather dejected and apologetic: "When I woke up the day before yesterday, I had a nightmare. When I woke up, I couldn't quite distinguish between reality and a dream. Did I push you? I think I even kicked you a few times."
She looked up, her hand climbing onto his arm, looking a little uneasy: "Are you angry?"
Duan Lansheng blinked slowly.
It turned out that the fearful and repulsive look in her eyes when she woke up wasn't because of him, but simply a continuation of the nightmare. Moreover, she had specifically come to him to explain.
In an instant, the gloom, anger, self-doubt, and anxiety that had been brewing in his chest for two days vanished, replaced by a surge of joy. His face softened, and he said earnestly, "I won't be angry with you."
He heard the girl in his arms murmur, "That's good, I was afraid you'd be angry and ignore me."
Duan Lansheng didn't answer, but gently smoothed the hair on her right cheek and gazed at her: "Are you still afraid of that nightmare?"
Unexpectedly, he suddenly asked this question.
Lu Yuanyuan's expression faltered almost imperceptibly.
This was not her purpose in coming here.
We must not let the topic be diverted.
“The nightmare was fake, I don’t remember it.” Lu Yuanyuan sat up, not looking into his eyes, her gaze lingering on his chest and arms, her hands moving accordingly, asking worriedly, “By the way, when I woke up that day, did I hit you anywhere? Are these places still hurting?”
As they drew closer, the scent of wine in the air changed slightly, becoming a blend of their body odor and fragrance. Duan Lansheng's breathing rate shifted slightly, and he moved as if to grasp her hand. However, Lu Yuanyuan leaned forward too far, her knees slipped, and she fell forward. Fortunately, Duan Lansheng reacted quickly and caught her.
Immediately afterward, he felt her body stiffen for a moment. Then, he scrambled up, shrank to the back of the chair, and stammered, "You, you go out and wait for me, my thing is loose."
"What?"
"It's that... little sash."
They looked at each other and Duan Lansheng finally understood. His face flushed slightly, his knuckles twitched, and he gave a short "hmm" in a voice that seemed a little lower and hoarse than usual: "Then I'll go outside and keep watch. Call me if you need anything."
"While you're at it, have someone send over my clan robes. I'll change into them at the same time."
Duan Lansheng responded and then went out the door. He walked very quickly, and his demeanor was not as composed as usual.
The door closed, and Lu Yuanyuan turned her head away, rubbing her right cheek vigorously a few times with some annoyance. Looking around the small room, she saw a brocade robe on a chair, along with some accessories she had just taken off.
Clean religious robes were draped over the screen.
Lu Yuanyuan stared at the clothes for a while before looking down and pulling up her sleeve. Her forearm was wet, and a strong smell of alcohol wafted out.
To make herself smell noticeably of alcohol, she poured three cups of wine into her sleeves. Thanks to the layers of her palace attire, even though her inner garment was wet, the outer garment remained dry, preventing anyone from noticing.
She reflected that her reaction of pushing Duan Lansheng away the day before yesterday was too abrupt, which might have made him resentful.
Today's visit, besides eliminating any misunderstandings, is also to come in while he's changing clothes and do something.
In their past life, Duan Lansheng and Yin Xiaozhu had a very good relationship.
They were not only trusting "senior and junior brothers" but also congenial partners. Even after she and Duan Lansheng became Daoist couples, they would still occasionally go on missions together. When Duan Lansheng encountered difficulties in his cultivation, he never confided in her but would discuss them with Yin Xiaozhu, just as a top student wouldn't consult a struggling student when facing problems. They had a world she couldn't enter.
In this life, perhaps because of her interference, the relationship between the two wasn't as close as it had been in their previous life. But she would never forget that at the bottom of Floating Pagoda Valley, in the instant danger struck, Duan Lansheng chose to protect Yin Xiaozhu without hesitation. And she, with blisters on her feet, was swept away by the rushing river that night and nearly drowned.
At that time, their relationship seemed lukewarm.
But this outcome proves that some things cannot be judged solely on appearances.
Now, three or four years have passed, and it's unclear whether Duan Lansheng's feelings towards her and Yin Xiaozhu have changed. She doesn't care anymore.
If these two are an unbreakable alliance, she will drive a wedge between them. If they are merely casual acquaintances, she will create even more conflict. The most crucial step is to make them resent each other.
On the surface, her relationship with Yin Xiaozhu was merely that of senior sister and junior sister, disciple and servant; they had never even signed a labor contract. It was far less than the unbreakable bond of a Daoist couple or family.
This is why Yin Xiaozhu had to lower himself to win the heart of this insignificant woman.
He played the emotional card with her, plotting to become her number one priority in her heart, all with the aim of keeping her by his side so that he could take her life if needed.
Therefore, Yin Xiaozhu could never tolerate her heart wandering.
He couldn't bear the thought of another person in her life who could threaten his position as her number one priority, especially when he believed that this person could rightfully take her away, and that she was willing to do so.
Being good friends with Duan Lansheng and playing house together is not enough to arouse Yin Xiaozhu's suspicion and vigilance.
She must make Duan Lansheng a true thorn in Yin Xiaozhu's side.
As for Duan Lansheng... it will be a bit difficult to ruin his impression of Yin Xiaozhu. She will use a more roundabout method.
.
The cultivators traveled a thousand miles a day on their swords. Because Lu Yuanyuan was still a bit tipsy, and Duan Lansheng was afraid she would fall off the sword, he carried her the whole time.
As evening fell, everyone finally returned to the cultivation world they had been away from for months, Mount Shu. Upon their return, Qi Chang and Duan Lansheng needed to go to the sect leader to explain the details of their mission. Lu Yuanyuan yawned as soon as she arrived at her destination, pretending to have just woken up.
Duan Lansheng knelt down to help her to the ground, and Huang Ying kindly came over to support her, saying, "Senior brother, you can go about your business with peace of mind. I won't let Senior Sister Lu faint on the way."
Duan Lansheng hesitated for a moment, as if he had something to say to Lu Yuanyuan, but in the end he didn't say anything and nodded: "You go back first, I'll come to see you later."
Lu Yuanyuan smiled and watched the two figures leave. Huang Ying pulled her along, heading towards the mountain gate. In the distance, the two saw a familiar figure looking around.
Upon seeing Lu Yuanyuan, the man's eyes lit up; it was Zhou Que.
She ran down the steps as fast as she could, rushed towards Lu Yuanyuan, and gave her a big hug: "You're finally back! I missed you so much!"
After expressing her longing for her friend, Huang Ying asked curiously, "By the way, Senior Sister Zhou, what new things have happened in Shu Mountain while we were away?"
Zhou Que paused, then nodded.
From her, Lu Yuanyuan learned two surprising things, both of which happened a month ago—
First, Master Xugu emerged from seclusion.
Secondly, the Qilin spirit beast of Shui Ren Peak went berserk and attacked people for unknown reasons. Fortunately, Senior Sister Yin Xiaozhu of Danqing Peak happened to be present, and the two disciples from other clans were spared from harm. Senior Sister herself was injured as a result and is now recuperating.
The eldest sister could be considered the white moonlight of everyone in Mount Shu. Without realizing it, everyone gathered around, and their reaction to the second piece of news was noticeably stronger.
"What? Is Yuanjun seriously injured? Is she alright?"
"Damn it, the Qilin of Shui Ren Peak can actually go berserk. This is the first time I've known this since I joined the sect."
"Has the cause been identified yet?"
...
Lu Yuanyuan twitched her knuckles as she listened and pondered.
Master Xugu is the "old immortal" mentioned by Yin Xiaozhu's friend who understands puppetry. After the White Crane Boat crash, Master Xugu went into seclusion to heal his injuries and did not appear in public for several years.
She had long suspected that Master Xugu was forced to "shut down" because he had doubts about Yin Xiaozhu's gender.
Now that Master Xugu has emerged from seclusion, it's Yin Xiaozhu's turn to disappear from public view.
Is this a coincidence?
Or is he avoiding the limelight?
Was he faking it?
Huang Ying turned around, looked at Lu Yuanyuan, and said worriedly, "By the way, Senior Sister Lu, weren't you Yuanjun's servant before? You must be very worried. I'll take you back right away."
Lu Yuanyuan snapped out of her daze and grabbed her hand: "Wait, I'm not going back."
Zhou Que looked over in surprise.
Under their gazes, Lu Yuanyuan said earnestly, "Since Yuanjun is injured, she needs to rest even more. I drank some wine, and I smell bad. Going back now would only cause trouble for Yuanjun."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Que didn't think anything of it and agreed, saying, "You've thought of everything more thoroughly! Why don't you come to my place to rest for a while and clear your head?"
When she arrived at Zhou Que's place, she ate something. Zhou Que also generously offered her his bed so she could rest.
Just as if she wasn't drunk at all, Lu Yuanyuan lay on her side facing the wall, her eyes open, showing no signs of sleepiness.
What's meant to happen will happen. However, just as few people who actively go bungee jumping end up jumping on their own, she is now simply waiting for that kick to come.
She had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before she got there.
Sure enough, she had only been there for less than an hour when two female cultivators came to find her, saying that the Yuanjun wanted her to go back.
Lu Yuanyuan remained calm, straightened her clothes, and followed them back to Danqing Peak.
The familiar house came into view, its lights on and doors open. Despite the warm lighting, it resembled the gaping maw of a predator.
Lu Yuanyuan stopped at the threshold, looked at the ground, and said, "Yuanjun, I'm back."
Familiar footsteps came from inside, and a tall figure walked out.
His brown eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, falling upon her.
Seeing Lu Yuanyuan standing outside the door like a wooden statue, staring at the ground, Yin Xiaozhu stopped and said gently, "Why are you standing so far away? Come here."
Lu Yuanyuan's nails dug into her palms as she slowly took a few steps forward, when she heard a soft "tsk." The other person seemed impatient with her slow pace, strode forward, and took her hand.
Realizing that he intended to lift her onto his lap as before, Lu Yuanyuan felt a chill run down her spine and a phantom pain in her heart. She jerked back, dodging his outstretched hand.
Yin Xiaozhu's outstretched hand touched nothing, and she was taken aback, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
At this moment, the person who was avoiding him suddenly stepped forward, raised his head, puffed out his cheeks, and scolded him as if he were being unreasonable: "Yuanjun, you're not a child anymore, stop fooling around. I heard you were injured as soon as I got back. You should go to bed and lie down. Hugging someone will only worsen your injury."
The strangeness didn't have time to ferment in the air before it was dispersed.
Yin Xiaozhu seemed to be thinking about something, and repeated, "I heard that I was injured as soon as I came back."
He paused, then suddenly reached out and touched her cheek; his fingertips were a little cool. "Then why are you only coming home now?"
Lu Yuanyuan said in a low voice, "I drank some wine, and I was worried that you wouldn't like the taste while you were recovering from your injury."
Perhaps believing her story, Yin Xiaozhu didn't pursue the matter of her lateness, took her hand, and walked towards the inner hall: "Have you eaten anything?"
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