Chapter 140: Boundless Tenderness
Lei Sun never expected Xie Huailing to return; in fact, his plan was designed with Xie Huailing's absence in mind. Seeing the dark clouds churning outside the door, the thunderous roar pressing down on the tower, and only Xie Huailing standing there, with no other sounds coming from downstairs and no disciples from the Six and a Half Halls coming up, he knew that there wouldn't be many survivors tonight.
This was truly unexpected and infuriating. He still didn't know what Xie Huailing had done or what it would bring to the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion. He only had a premonition and an opportunity was at hand. He had been working hard to seize this moment and make a quick move, but this person had been away from the capital for two or three months and then just happened to return at this time.
Lei Sun cherished her talent and appreciated her intelligence, and therefore had to admit that everything he had thought of, at least tonight, would not develop as he had originally imagined. He would have to put in more effort, not less.
“Miss Xie.” Lei Sun looked over, his aged and cloudy eyes strangely dark and frightening. “It has been three months since I heard the news of your departure from the capital. Why are you so impolite when you return? There must be quite a few injured brothers in the Underground Six and a Half Hall.”
Xie Huailing didn't reply to him; she usually left people hanging.
After several days apart, Lin Shiyin finally saw Xie Huailing again. She immediately realized that Li Xunhuan had delivered the letter in time, and her heart was finally at ease. She stood up and looked at Xie Huailing. Just looking at this person made her feel that nothing was insurmountable. It was an indescribable feeling that made her release the sleeve arrow and let it fall peacefully to her sides.
Xie Huailing said to Lin Shiyin, "I'll stay here. You go out and wait."
Lin Shiyin nodded, not lingering a moment longer. After lighting another lamp for Xie Huailing, she passed by her and closed the door tightly. The wind and rain continued outside, but no one cared anymore. The beauty, as ethereal as a cloud emerging from a mountain peak, was no heavier than a gentle breeze, yet nothing could blow her away. Staring at the three pairs of eyes, she took a few steps and stood beside Su Mengzhen.
"Miss Xie."
This shout came from Di Fei. In the boss's game of chess, there was no reason for the deputy to step in; it was absolutely against the rules. Besides, she completely ignored Lei Sun. Even as a mortal enemy, it was far too disrespectful.
Of course, there's also the possibility that he just hadn't called her name in so long and needed to clear his throat with this call. But she shouldn't have appeared at this time, yet he had to call out to her; he had placed too much hope in this stormy night.
Xie Huailing slightly turned his head away, his cold and indifferent gaze falling on Di Feijing, to him it was as if the rain had seeped through the eaves and poured in. But it stopped quickly, and Xie Huailing placed his hand on Su Mengzhen's shoulder.
Xie Huailing said, "Please rise, Master. It's just a game of chess; please let me win."
Su Mengzhen felt her strength; to Su Mengzhen, it was a "pulling" motion, but Xie Huailing's strength wasn't great, so it wasn't very noticeable. He could think of so much in a single movement, and he knew exactly what Xie Huailing was doing. His shock at her sudden return was even greater than Lei Sun's. Not knowing what she was thinking, he actually let her "pull" him up, switching places with her.
Xie Huailing sat down, calm and composed, and then replied to Lei Sun: "I often read ancient books and history books, and I also know a little about the principles of dealing with people. Tonight, seeing that Chief Lei does not have the demeanor of a host, I know that I am not here as a guest; since I am not here as a guest, there is naturally no need to be polite."
She made no mention of the injuries sustained by the disciples of the Six and a Half Hall, implying that few of them survived. Lei Sun's expression darkened, and he said, "When it comes to eloquence, perhaps no one in the world can rival Miss Xie. But Miss Xie, tonight's game is not one you can play for Master Su."
"Master Lei and Prime Minister Cai must have talked about quite a lot," Xie Huailing said.
It was like a bolt from the blue. Lei Sun's eyelids twitched, and his heart pounded. Su Mengzhen's reaction didn't seem fake. She wasn't even in Bianjing. How did she know about this? Even Su Mengzhen only guessed something when he extended the invitation.
He understood that by saying these words, she was determined to speak on behalf of Su Mengzhen. He paused for a moment, weighing his options, and after a few breaths, he decided to see what tricks she was up to and let her sit down. He then called out, "It seems that even without Miss Xie in Bianjing, there's no mercy."
Xie Huailing then took her seat, a half-finished game of chess lying between them. Di Feijing, still with his head down, exuded a quiet elegance, clearly intimately familiar with the game. He subtly moved his head, then looked up at her. Asking which piece went first at this moment would undoubtedly be beneath their composure, so she was observing the game, while he observed her, watching her quickly grasp the intricacies before placing her piece. He observed her sitting like Guanyin, with tiny raindrops clinging to her eyelashes like a beaded curtain.
At that moment, he might want to wipe the rain off her, but he couldn't simply do what he wanted to do for her.
Di Feijing watched Lei Sun make his move, and also watched Xie Huailing's decisive action. He hadn't been watching for more than a breath or two when Su Mengzhen's gaze came like a knife. Sensing this keenly, Di Feijing turned his head away.
“Master Di is calm and composed,” Su Mengzhen said.
Di Fei remained calm and replied, "I am not as good as Master Su, who dares to entrust the situation directly to Miss Xie, no matter what it is."
Su Mengzhen said casually, "I trust her as much as I trust myself. Master Di, please be careful with your words."
After saying that, he looked back again. There had been about five or six rounds of this intense fighting on the chessboard. One person would raise their hand, and the other would lower it. The struggles and battles were as natural to them as breathing. They didn't need to explain what their pieces represented or how powerful they were. They understood each other's strength, at least the visible part, as if it were their own.
Designs, traps, ambushes, counterattacks… the tricks were endless, but no matter who compared to Xie Huailing, it was only a matter of time before they were at a disadvantage. Not to mention, she wasn't worried about uncovering the hidden moves of Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou. With each move, Lei Sun couldn't help but be surprised and wonder if she had any more tricks up her sleeve, and why he understood less and less as he watched.
A traveler returns home on a snowy night, taking in the changing colors of the sky. The faint moonlight shines on the Thunder and Rain Hall.
She rushed back here for him, and sat here for him, facing countless dangers. Su Mengzhen's heart was filled with a thousand thoughts, far from being calm on the surface. His heroic emotions rose and fell, lingering for a long time, yet he always felt unable to suppress them. He was not a person whose heart was as still as grass or trees.
After another ten or so moves, Lei Sun began to ponder; after another twenty or so moves, his inferior skill was already evident on the board. His apprehension intensified, and seeing the inevitable defeat, he felt a pang of regret. If this game hadn't been carrying an even more turbulent storm, but was simply a pure contest of skill, he would have been sweating bullets and secretly harboring malicious intentions.
Every time Lei Sun saw Xie Huailing, he thought he should have killed her last time.
Another piece was swallowed. He shook his head slightly, looked at the pieces in his hand, and saw that he didn't have many left. He said, "Miss Xie's chess skills are superb. I admit that I am not as good as her. However, if I want to finish this game for Master Su, these skills are still not enough."
Lei Sun picked out a round, black piece, its ink-black color deep and dark, and placed it on the board: "Today's game of chess is to persuade you. As clever as Miss Xie is, she naturally understands that some things cannot be refused, nor can they be avoided."
Tonight is a trap from the very beginning. If Su Mengzhen agrees, he will be dragged into the quagmire of the court and become a target of Cai Jing's schemes; if he refuses, he will create a major enemy in the world and then fight against the Six and a Half Hall, which will be disadvantageous in every way.
It was thanks to Lei Sun that he had prepared for this night for so long, and the effort he had put into Cai Jing was probably immense. He also had to be lucky to catch the right moment to make this plan work.
But no one can ever get the tricks Xie Huailing wants from him.
"Those who try to use their power to oppress others are destined to be invaded by that power. Whether one acts with high-sounding authority or as an accomplice to evil, it always depends on who one is dealing with."
Xie Huailing raised her delicate hand and stopped it on the chess set. The wind and rain raged outside, but her words were not tactful. A hint of arrogance was undeniable: "What I fear is that you will think you are all right, but in reality, you will not even have a chance to achieve anything, and you will end up falling miserably off the stage. Chief Lei, instead of just advising me, you should first consider your own safety. Don't end up dying before everyone else."
With a sharp "thud," the white piece landed, decisively determining the winner. Xie Huailing stood up straight, observing the old man's frozen expression: "Don't rush. I know Chief Lei doesn't know this news yet, so I'm here to tell you. You advised our leader, and of course I'll advise you as well. Recently, the Southern King was attacked and is unconscious. This is inextricably linked to the surrender letter submitted by the Canal Gang, who have joined the Six and a Half Hall. I advise you to do fewer wicked things, stop forcing others to do evil, lest you accumulate heavy karma and find yourself in dire straits."
"Everything in the world is a debt, and there are plenty of people waiting for you to pay with your life."
"And there's no need to tell the original poster about the 'unable to refuse' statement."
Another clap of thunder illuminated the entire room. Lei Sun abruptly sat up, utterly terrified, wanting to ascertain the truth of Xie Huailing's words, but there was no way he could stop her. Xie Huailing raised her head, gracefully took a few steps, and reopened the tightly closed wooden door.
"There are some things that I would rather die than do, I would rather die than do, and I would rather die than do. If you want to refuse, then refuse. Why listen to such slanderous words based on your own biases?"
The thunderstorm had not yet stopped, and the towering mountains in the sky were also collapsing and cracking, with lightning flashing by.
Xie Huailing only looked at Su Mengzhen, who was Geng Geng Su'e in the tower. She should have already ridden away on the wind and wouldn't waste another second: "Let's go, Tower Master."
Su Mengzhen looked at her, just like last year when the moon was setting in the west, and they made up their minds at first glance. Then, without delay, they stepped into the wind and rain together.
Whether it's the Six and a Half Hall or anyone else, at this moment it's all just a scene behind us. With a howl of the wind, we went downstairs and left it all behind.
Di Fei turned his head away in surprise, and remained silent.
.
The blood that covered the steps in front of the first floor was washed away by the torrential rain. A dozen or twenty lives were lost, leaving only a few corpses as traces. Bai Feifei leaned against the door with her arms crossed. If you asked her to count how many people she had killed that night, she couldn't count them. Anyway, her job was to prevent anyone from going upstairs. As long as they were all dead, that was enough. She didn't have the mood to count or hold back. She had been waiting for Xie Huailing and worried about her safety, which had already made her hate Liufenbantang to the core.
Only when she saw Xie Huailing coming up the stairs and heard her say "I'm fine" did Bai Feifei finally exhale, knowing she could finally go back. Then, the feeling immediately returned to her chest. She had never wanted to return to Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou, and her worries didn't stop there.
With an umbrella raised, Su Mengzhen gestured for Xie Huailing to walk with him, and Xie Huailing did not refuse. The two walked in the rain, the raindrops hitting the umbrella with the force of lightning, but Su Mengzhen did not loosen his grip even slightly. They walked out of the street in front of the building and reached the fork in the street, where the carriage of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion was waiting, and gradually came into view.
Su Mengzhen only asked this question at this moment, shifting his gaze to her face. He had so many questions for her, but before that, there was one more thing he had to say, before she could even speak: "Aren't you going to ask me?"
Xie Huailing rubbed his eyes, which felt dry: "What are you asking?"
Su Mengzhen said, "Why didn't I write to you?"
In her last letter to him, she wrote that due to circumstances, he didn't need to reply and that he shouldn't worry about her. However, on the last page, she added that exceptions would be made in case of unforeseen circumstances, and that he should write to her if anything unexpected or difficult happened. But tonight, without Lin Shiyin's initiative, Xie Huailing wouldn't have been able to get the letter.
Having grown accustomed to her temper, Su Mengzhen knew it all too well. Even if she didn't ask, he wanted to know what she was thinking. However, Xie Huailing didn't answer, but suddenly asked, "Now that we're here, can't Lei Sun see anything?"
Su Mengzhen nodded, and then saw her sway and fall forward, exhausted.
He caught her immediately, almost pulling her into his arms before Bai Feifei could. She no longer needed to force herself, and he was shocked to realize how terribly hot she was. He must have used some kind of medicine to make her face so pale and her life so fragile—this was what Bai Feifei had been worried about.
This was the first time Su Mengzhen had lost his composure that night. Before she could say anything more, he was already in a state of utter confusion and dared not delay any longer. Seeing her sweating profusely and her eyes half-closed, he heard Bai Feifei's anxious calls and quickly picked her up, carried her into the carriage, and tightly pulled the curtain shut.
Fortunately, Bai Feifei had thrown in her coat, which was enough to cover Xie Huailing, but she was still incredibly cold all over, as if she were a wandering soul about to fly away. Su Mengzhen wanted to take off her own cloak and give it to her, but Xie Huailing leaned against her and she didn't dare to move her. Suddenly, she regretted not having made more preparations. Even in the summer, she should have prepared a blanket.
"Don't bother, OP. Don't let my condition fool you, I'm actually healthier than you." No matter how badly she was hurting, she still couldn't resist arguing, saying in a low voice, "You don't need to think about giving me your clothes, I'm fine as I am."
Then, in the next sentence, she started complaining, as if she were still in his study, telling him she didn't want to eat: "I'm so tired, I'm really so tired, do you know how far I've traveled? I just came out of a fire, that fire is no place for a human to stay..."
She was nestled against his chest, and the more she spoke, the lower she slid down. Su Mengzhen caught her and held her close in his arms, which kept her there.
“So I won’t ask you.” She answered his question at this point. “Don’t overthink it. I understand all your concerns. You know what I need to talk to you about. You’re worried about me, that’s why you don’t want to tell me, don’t want to distract me, and want to handle it yourself. But your worrying is useless. I’ll worry about you too, and it’s still the same… OP, you really have no flesh on your bones. My shoulder hurts.”
Xie Huailing used the little strength she had left to find the most comfortable spot and lower her head.
"I'm going to sleep, I really need to sleep."
After she finished speaking, she stopped talking and quietly let him hold her. Su Mengzhen was still for a moment. The weight of his arms around her made him no longer hear the sound of rain outside the car. No matter how heavy the thunder and rain, it didn't exist in his heart.
It was a feeling as if he had been thoroughly soaked, a feeling that didn't come from his past twenty-five or twenty-six years of life. He was surrounded by people in the center, sometimes feeling at ease, sometimes feeling wildly intoxicated. He held her tighter and tighter in his arms, tasting a burning sensation. He became even more stunned. The flowing water he used to feel, the water that slipped through his fingers, continued to flow, but the indescribable sense of loss disappeared. He suddenly realized and clenched his hands.
Thus the water flowed back, and boundless passion instantly flowed into the sea, and after the passion, tenderness quietly followed.
There is nothing more to be unclear; this face was beautiful when it came, and this person was close to his destiny when he came.
Flowing clouds and swirling snow, jade flutes and natural beauty, like the moon in the night, like a fairy in the sky... She leaned against his chest, seeing it so clearly, as if she had returned to the first day, when he pulled her out of the lake, and Su Mengzhen's hand touched her face.
With boundless love and tenderness.
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