Chapter 103
The voice was soft and melodious, with a hint of laughter in its tone. The pace of speech was slightly slow, as if the speaker was unwilling to speak properly, insisting on pronouncing each word clearly before casually uttering it with breath, which gave it a unique allure and charm.
The night breeze carried the voice to her ear, as if whispering against her neck. Yin Qiu shifted her gaze and, through the bronze mirror on the dressing table by the window, caught sight of a dark red figure.
The woman was quite tall, and the darkness of the night and the lanterns outside the room made her appear somewhat dim. The bronze mirror couldn't capture her full features; all that could be seen were her smiling red lips and half of her well-defined chin.
With just one glance, Yin Qiu recognized who it was.
Though inwardly filled with suspicion and uncertainty, Yin Qiu maintained a calm demeanor. She was on guard, her lips moving as if about to speak, when the person behind her spoke first: "If you want to look, look openly. How can a person in a mirror be as pleasing to the eye as the person themselves?"
Yin Qiu was initially a little nervous, but she found these words somewhat amusing. She turned around in the wind and quietly looked at the woman in red from a distance.
“I would rather admire the person in the mirror,” Yin Qiu sighed for no reason. “It would be better to have a mirror by my side and the beauty on the other side, so that I can appreciate her from afar.”
“Then your tastes are different from mine,” Nangong Min looked at Yin Qiu with a direct scrutiny in his eyes. “If I want to see beautiful women, I like to keep them close by, the closer the better. If they are too far away, I can’t see them clearly, and it’s not interesting.”
Yin Qiu recalled the women playing in the water at Fenglou, and the look in Nangong Min's eyes as he stood outside the curtain watching. She shook her head and chuckled, "No, you don't like it."
"How do you know?" Nangong Min smiled slightly, her elegant embroidered shoes revealing beautiful cloud patterns as she walked. She walked up to Yin Qiu, her lowered eyes reflecting Yin Qiu's slender figure, as if she could completely envelop Yin Qiu with just her gaze.
“If there is joy in your heart, your eyes will not lie,” Yin Qiu had adjusted her mindset in this short time. She met Nangong Min’s gaze without hesitation and said, “The expression on your face when you look at the beauty is only indifference, not joy.”
Nangong Min seemed to find her reaction amusing and said slowly, "Now look at how I look at you."
Yin Qiu said, "Especially loving."
“You’ve made me sound too old,” Nangong Min chuckled softly. “You are a beauty, a stunning young lady at that. I haven’t seen you for years and didn’t realize how beautiful you were. Now that I’ve seen you, I’m starting to regret it.”
"Regret what?" Yin Qiu stood straight, a few snowflakes falling on her thin shoulders.
“I regret not keeping you by my side back then,” Nangong Min reached out and brushed the snowflakes off Yin Qiu’s shoulder. “I was also afraid of Man Jiangxue and didn’t dare to fight her to take you back.”
“You’re saying this too late,” Yin Qiu said gently, without the slightest hint of fear. “You’ve missed your chance, and it’s no use regretting it now.”
In the stillness of the night, the inn was chilly, and snowflakes like salt were scattered outside the window, making the night scene seem surreal. The two people, who had been separated for many years, met again and talked back and forth, as if they were old friends who had been apart for a long time, with an unspoken understanding that was not quite right.
“You’re still not afraid of me, just like when you were a child,” Nangong Min said.
“I’m afraid,” Yin Qiu said, “but I’m just pretending not to be.”
"What are you afraid of?" Nangong Min asked with great interest.
“You wouldn’t come looking for me for no reason,” Yin Qiu replied calmly. “Besides, we haven’t seen each other for almost five years. What brings you here all of a sudden?”
Nangong Min smiled leisurely and gracefully pulled Yin Qiu to sit down at the table, saying, "Auntie just wants to see her niece, does she have to have a reason?"
“Normally, there would be no need for a reason,” Yin Qiu poured two cups of cold tea and placed one of them next to Nangong Min. “But right now, the Ziwei Sect and Yunhua Palace are secretly vying for power. If you come to see me at this time, even if it were me five years ago, I wouldn’t believe that you’re here to reminisce.”
"That's quite a reunion," Nangong Min said with a smile. "Tell me, how have you been at Yunhua Palace these past few years?"
Yin Qiu took a sip of tea and smiled faintly, "Everything went smoothly and all is well." She glanced at Nangong Min and added, "Thank you for your concern."
“You’re too kind,” Nangong Min said. “It’s only natural for an aunt to care for her niece.”
Observing her expression, Yin Qiu realized that this person really seemed to be here to chat casually with her, so she played along with Nangong Min and said, "So how have you been doing these years in the Ziwei Sect?"
“I am all alone, and it is very desolate,” Nangong Min said. “I have no one to accompany me for three meals a day, no one to listen to the wind and watch the snow, and I lack a caring person.”
Yin Qiu laughed when she heard this.
Nangong Min watched as her slender white fingers held the teacup, and then watched as her quiet profile was outlined with a soft contour in the dim light. Girls of this age are so eye-catching. She doesn't need to do anything; just sitting there, she is like a painting, making people want to keep looking at her.
Time is a wonderful thing; it can make a budding flower bloom and transform a tiny person. The little girl who once resisted but pretended to be calm has now truly achieved composure.
Nangong Min carefully examined Yin Qiu, her deep voice sounding particularly gentle in the night. She asked softly, "What are you laughing at?"
Yin Qiu glanced at her sideways, her smile unchanged, yet also revealing a subtle distance. Yin Qiu said, "It's funny what you said. You don't seem like someone who needs company."
“Why wouldn’t they need it?” Nangong Min said. “Whether it’s a man or a woman, as long as they are human, they need someone to accompany them, especially vulnerable women.”
Yin Qiu's smile deepened: "But you are not a weak person."
“No, you’re wrong. I’ve always been a very gentle person.” As if to prove this point, Nangong Min leaned back in his chair, his relaxed posture immediately losing much of his imposing aura. “My aunt has been all alone her whole life, and she’s felt increasingly lonely these past few years. You’ve been with Man Jiangxue for so long, shouldn’t you spend some time with me too?”
After a moment's thought, Yin Qiu happily stood up and said, "Then let's go."
Nangong Min glanced at her a few times, then asked calmly, "Where are you going?"
“I’ll go wherever my aunt lives,” Yin Qiu said earnestly. “The main altar moved to Cang County a few years ago. I heard it’s a good place. I’ve never been south before. I’ve heard that the oil tea and glutinous rice cake in Cang County are delicious. I’ve been thinking about them for a long time, but I’ve never had the chance to try them.”
Nangong Min lowered his eyes and smiled, saying, "Have you thought it through? If you come with me to the Ziwei Sect now, you won't be able to return to Yunhua Palace. They will think you are a spy I planted in Yunhua Palace."
"My aunt personally invited me, how could I refuse?" Yin Qiu said. "I can't let you make a wasted trip."
“I would be happy if you were willing to stay with me,” Nangong Min said, “but now is not the time.”
Yin Qiu asked, "When will that be?"
Nangong Min then stood up and looked at Yin Qiu, saying, "I'll take you away after the Wei City conference next month." Before Yin Qiu could reply, Nangong Min continued, "However, whether you can come with me as you wish depends on your fate."
Yin Qiu slightly raised her eyelashes: "What do you mean?"
“Your aunt is truly concerned about you, which is why I braved the wind and snow to see you tonight, just to remind you of something,” Nangong Min raised her hand and gently touched Yin Qiu’s face, “During your trip to Weicheng, someone will try to kill you. Your aunt doesn’t want you to get hurt, but she can’t very well intervene. You’ll have to take precautions yourself.”
Yin Qiu paused for a moment, still smiling, and asked, "Who wants to kill me?"
"Shh," Nangong Min put his index finger to his lips, "I can't say that. You're all grown up now, and there are things you need to face on your own."
“But I won’t go to Weicheng,” Yin Qiu said. “Who told Auntie I was going?”
Nangong Min smiled and patted Yin Qiu's head again: "I not only know that you are going to Weicheng, but I also know that you are going to Weicheng to see your mother."
Yin Qiu's little scheme failed, but she didn't feel flustered. She just obediently said, "Auntie is all-powerful and naturally knows everything."
"Then let me ask you a question," Nangong Min suddenly changed the subject, her fingers grabbing Yin Qiu's braid hidden in her hair, "If we go to Weicheng and Man Jiangxue wants to kill me, will you help her or me?"
Yin Qiu was taken aback without making a sound. She hadn't expected that Nangong Min would even know this. After all, whether or not to kill her depended on the outcome of Xie Yijun and Man Jiangxue's discussion. At least Yin Qiu didn't know the final decision yet, so how did Nangong Min know?
As if sensing her confusion, Nangong Min kindly explained, "This time is different from the past. I ordered so many refugees to be poisoned, which has shaken the status of your Yunhua Palace in the martial arts world. Xie Yijun must be unable to tolerate me any longer and would love for the Ziwei Sect to be wiped out immediately. But if she wants to eliminate the Ziwei Sect, she has almost no other way but to kill me with her own hands. However, Xie Yijun does not have the ability to kill me. She can only instruct Man Jiangxue. The trip to Weicheng is a rare opportunity. If I go there, Man Jiangxue will definitely not let me come and go as I please, right?"
Even though she had already witnessed this person's scheming and cunning, Yin Qiu still couldn't help but feel complicated after hearing her words.
Having everything under control—this kind of strategic thinking and mental acumen is not something everyone can achieve.
With such shrewdness and insight, if she had been on the righteous path, she would surely have achieved great things. It's just a pity that Nangong Min is a complete scourge.
·
The night wind billowed their dresses, carrying two distinctly different feminine scents. Yin Qiu subtly turned her head, and her little braid tied with a red string slipped from Nangong Min's hand like flowing water.
Yin Qiu neither confirmed nor denied her words, but blinked and asked gently, "So, Aunt, are you going or not?"
Having observed Yin Qiu's every reaction during their conversation, Nangong Min chuckled softly when she heard Yin Qiu's question: "You were quite clever when you were little, and you've grown up to be even more remarkable. You're not to be underestimated." As she spoke, she walked slowly to the window and looked at the night sky. "Whether you go or not depends on whether you're willing to help me."
The beautiful woman gazed out the window, her red dress fluttering in the breeze; it was undeniably a sight to behold. Yin Qiu turned and looked at Nangong Min's retreating figure, smiling as she said, "My aunt and I haven't spent much time together, so she may not know me well. Actually, I'm not an honest and kind person. Right now, I can tell you that I'm willing to help you, but when the time comes, whether I'll actually help or not is another matter."
Nangong Min raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Yin Qiu, saying, "At least you're honest. What should we do? Man Jiangxue wants to kill me, but you refuse to help. It seems I can't go to Weicheng."
“Even if I wanted to help, I couldn’t,” Yin Qiu said with a helpless sigh. “I’m no match for my martial uncle.”
Nangong Min smiled and said in a teasing tone, "Then I'll tie you up and keep you by my side. With you as a hostage, Manjiang Xue won't dare to make any rash moves."
Yin Qiu smiled and readily agreed, "That's perfect. Didn't Aunt say someone wanted to kill me? By taking me with you, you've saved me from this bloodshed. It's a good thing that we help each other out."
"You've really impressed me these days," Nangong Min's gaze darkened as she looked at Yin Qiu. She leaned lazily against the windowsill, the curve of her lips deepening. "You're being mistreated in Yunhua Palace. Why don't you come with me to Ziwei Sect? The young sect leader, a golden branch and jade leaf, is far more prestigious than any disciple of Yunhua Palace. Think about it?"
Yin Qiu smiled slightly: "Other things are easy to discuss, but this is out of the question."
Nangong Min chuckled and beckoned to Yin Qiu: "Come to your aunt, I have something else to tell you."
Yin Qiu glanced at her twice, and said as she walked away, "What is it?"
Suddenly, one of the lanterns in the outer corridor went out. As the light dimmed, Nangong Min straightened up and leaned closer to Yin Qiu. Yin Qiu felt the light go out, and before she could back away, she heard Nangong Min whisper in her ear with an ambiguous tone, "There is an observatory on the summit of the mountain behind Yunhua Palace. Have you been there?"
Her voice carried a warm, fragrant breeze, her breath as sweet as orchids, possessing a captivating quality that could bewitch anyone. Yet, Yin Qiu felt uneasy at such close proximity. She frowned in the dim light, then suddenly realized that the scene was somewhat familiar. She then remembered that half a month ago in Yao Dingcheng, Man Jiangxue had also blocked the window and approached her in the same manner.
The two men did the same thing, but gave Yin Qiu almost completely different feelings.
Yin Qiu endured her discomfort and did not move, replying as naturally as possible: "The Star Gazing Platform has the cenotaphs of our ancestors, but I rarely go there."
Nangong Min seemed to sense her restraint, so he moved a little further away and said, "Then you should go and wander around more often when you have time. You might make an unexpected discovery."
An unexpected discovery? Yin Qiu shifted her gaze to her and said calmly, "Auntie, please speak plainly. I don't quite understand."
Nangong Min deliberately cryptically said, "It's no fun if you explain things clearly. Some things you have to experience for yourself." She paused, then seemed to emphasize, "You've grown up."
This person has always been like this, never willing to speak clearly. Yin Qiu had experienced firsthand how tight-lipped she was, so she didn't press for details and simply nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll remember."
“Then we’ll meet in Weicheng,” Nangong Min said gently, her eyes like those of a kind and amiable elder. “I’ve said everything I needed to say tonight. You’d better pay attention, or don’t blame your aunt for not caring about you if something goes wrong in the future.”
After she finished speaking, she straightened up again, patted Yin Qiu on the shoulder, and walked casually toward the door.
Yin Qiu remained silent for a moment, and just as Nangong Min was about to push open the door and leave, she asked, "Is my mother really in Jiuxian Hall?"
Nangong Min paused, then turned back with a smile: "Well, I'd like to know that too."
Author's Note: I've been too busy lately. I usually finish writing chapters at two or three in the morning and then send them to the draft box for automatic posting. I haven't been logging into Jinjiang much.
To be honest, I'm a little anxious. There's so much to write for the second volume; the plot and emotions need to be arranged logically. I'm also quite strict with myself, so my writing speed is slow. I'll be constantly checking, revising, and refining. I also need to find time to read to avoid running out of inspiration. My limited reading is a problem; I only have so much to say, and when I finish writing, I feel a sense of powerlessness and emptiness. So, I hope everyone can recommend some books they like; I would be very happy to do so.
Please forgive me for venting occasionally. It's been a while since I gave out red envelopes, so I'll do it for this chapter. As usual, everyone who leaves a comment before midnight will receive one. Thank you to everyone who has been with me throughout the serialization. Today, while browsing the comments, I found many new little angels I didn't recognize. Thank you all!
I humbly accept good suggestions and criticisms, and I am constantly improving. Let's encourage each other. I will continue to maintain my love for writing, and I hope you can also be positive and optimistic about the things you like.
Muah!
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