Chapter 18 He Needs Her
Knowing how to escape safely and how to quickly contact the Sword Sect, Bai Hua memorized the methods. Therefore, after separating from Ning Jue, she quickly left a mark at the agreed location, successfully met with the disciples, and then smoothly reunited with her cousin.
Rong Lin and Yan Shanshan arrived at an inconspicuous corner room of an inn.
Upon seeing Bai Hua, Rong Linyan's expression was a mixture of joy and worry.
He waved his hand to dismiss his disciples, closed the door tightly, stepped forward, put his arm around Bai Hua's shoulder, and gently pulled her into his arms, looking as if he had lost her and then found her again, filled with remorse.
Bai Hua's body stiffened slightly.
Rong Linyan said gently and deeply, "Hua'er, you've been wronged."
Bai Hua shook her head, realizing that the emotional turmoil she felt while embracing her cousin was far less intense than the surging emotions she experienced when parting with Ning Jue.
Her eyes dimmed slightly.
After the two separated, Rong Linyan couldn't wait to ask, "Just now, the disciple returned to the Sword Hall to report that he spotted you near the agreed retreat point. I found it hard to believe. What's going on? Have you really figured out Ning Jue's sword techniques?"
“I…” Bai Hua hesitated for a moment, but faced with her cousin’s eager gaze, she had no choice but to tell the truth, “Ning Jue does indeed practice the Lone Goose Sword Technique.”
Rong Linyan's eyes narrowed slightly with apprehension as he asked, "How many moves has he learned?"
Bai Hua looked at her cousin and clearly stated, "Forty-five styles."
Rong Linyan's eyes widened suddenly, wondering if he had misheard: "Forty-five styles? Did he just mention it casually, or did you see it with your own eyes?"
Compared to Rong Linyan's impatience, Bai Hua was much more composed. She replied, "I saw it with my own eyes. His moves were fluid and continuous, and he only stopped at the forty-fifth move."
Rong Linyan asked urgently, "Does Hua'er remember the specific moves? Can you draw them out?"
Bai Hua hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "I know that my cousin only practices the Lone Goose Sword Technique with thirty-nine moves. Because Ning Jue's sword moves are similar to those of the Sword Sect, I suspected him of spying on my cousin's private practice. Now that it can be confirmed that he has practiced more moves than the Lone Goose Sword Hall, does that clear up the previous suspicion?"
Rong Linyan scoffed disdainfully, "My grandfather became acquainted with the Sword Saint in officialdom, and through a series of coincidences, he obtained the first chapter of the manual. The Rong family disciples practice the authentic Lone Goose Sword Technique. What kind of wild and unorthodox school does Ning Jue come from? I don't know where he learned a few moves from, yet he dares to claim the title of authentic?"
My cousin has always valued the orthodoxy of the Sword Sect and considers himself superior.
Bai Hua remained silent.
Rong Linyan instructed his disciples to prepare writing materials and urged Bai Hua to pick up the brush.
Bai Hua felt a tightness in her chest. With each stroke of her brush, a graceful figure in white, wielding a sword, would flash through her mind, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
Each stroke of the pen deepened the impression he left on her heart.
With each stroke of ink, her guilt deepened.
After the painting was finished, Rong Linyan took it and examined it closely, his expression growing increasingly grave.
Bai Hua asked anxiously, "Cousin, did you figure something out?"
Rong Linyan looked up at her, hesitant to speak, his expression grim: "Ning Jue's practice is definitely not limited to the forty-five forms. As you can see from your painting, his movements were originally continuous, but abruptly stopped, indicating a temporary halt. His trump cards are far more numerous than these. Hua'er, this matter is of utmost importance. You must return and continue to infiltrate his side. The latter chapters of the Lone Goose Sword Technique have been lost in the martial world; perhaps this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to retrieve them..."
Bai Hua was stunned, shook her head, and mustered her courage to refuse, saying, "Cousin, don't make things difficult for me anymore. I've already escaped. Wouldn't going back arouse his suspicion? Even if he really is hiding something, I've done my best to learn forty-five moves. Why not let the rest be decided in the arena? Victory or defeat is up to fate. How can we abandon our integrity?"
"This isn't entirely for me, it's for the Rong family..." Rong Linyan straightened Bai Hua's shoulders, forcing her to face him directly, and coaxed her, "Do you know that Brother Shu'an is in trouble now?"
Bai Shu'an, Bai Hua's elder brother.
Upon hearing this, she suddenly became anxious and hurriedly asked, "What happened to my brother?"
Rong Linyan sighed and said, "Brother Shu'an is now serving in the Ministry of Works. In the first half of the year, the floods in Jiangnan breached the dikes. The court allocated disaster relief funds, but they were embezzled by officials. Now, he has been reported and his crimes have been exposed. Brother Shu'an has become a scapegoat and is now in prison, awaiting trial."
Bai Hua shuddered, feeling as if the sky had collapsed.
During these three years, the elder brother lived cautiously in Jingqi as the son of a disgraced official, suppressing the lofty pride of a scholar, serving as the most inconspicuous marginal official, only seeking to take good care of his wife and daughters and live out the rest of his life in peace.
To avoid causing trouble for her brother's family because of her striking appearance, Bai Hua took the initiative to leave the capital and live in Jiling.
They've already made so many concessions, yet they still won't be spared by God?
Bai Hua's heart was filled with a hundred emotions, sorrow and indignation welling up within her.
Seeing her depressed appearance, Rong Linyan stepped forward to comfort her and said, "Now we have no one to turn to in the court, no one to rely on, so we are naturally bullied by others. If we could have connections, we could speak to the kings and generals. In this way, the injustice can be investigated, and all difficulties will be easily resolved."
Bai Hua understood the implication in her cousin's words.
If he can successfully ascend to the top of the arena and win the championship, he can rise to become the right-hand man of the Great General King. From then on, both the Bai and Rong families will be able to benefit from his protection.
She hesitated, a dilemma forming in her mind: "I..."
Rong Linyan continued to guide her: "Hua'er, this is not only for me, but also for Brother Shu'an. Now our Bai and Rong families share the same fate. The key lies in that sword manual. If you can help me get it, Brother Shu'an will have a chance to be pardoned."
Bai Hua had no choice but to agree.
No, brother, I'm afraid you really only have one path left: death.
...
The inn and teahouse were bustling with people.
Ning Jue finished his tea and made no move to leave. He gazed out the window, seemingly looking at something and waiting for something.
Looking at him like this, Zang Fan asked slyly, "Are you really willing to let her go like this?"
Ning Jue remained silent and did not respond.
Zang Fan lowered his voice, leaned closer, and pressed his advantage, saying, "I haven't been up the mountain for the past few days. How did she manage to seduce you? Did you...sleep together? To be honest, that woman's looks and figure are more alluring than the top courtesan in a brothel..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ning Jue's eyes flashed with a sharp light, sending a warning glance his way.
Zang Fan shrugged and wisely kept quiet.
After a short while, the tea had gone cold. Zang Fan asked, "Are we leaving? Or should we ask the shopkeeper to bring us another pot?"
Ning Jue looked away from the street and prepared to get up, remaining silent throughout, her mood low.
At this moment, Zang Fan's subordinate suddenly rushed in from outside and whispered a few words in his ear. Zang Fan's expression changed slightly with surprise, and he looked at Ning Jue.
Ning Jue: "What's wrong?"
Zang Fan did not respond, but only instructed his men: "Lead her here."
Ning Jue was puzzled.
Zang Fan sat down again, bent over and crossed his legs, looking relaxed, and ordered the shopkeeper to brew another pot of Jin Jun Mei tea.
Before the hot tea was even served, a slender figure with a delicate, hibiscus-colored complexion suddenly appeared in the inn's teahouse. She walked cautiously among the rough-looking镖客 (bodyguards/couriers), her petite figure drawing attention.
She held a string of wild hawthorn candied hawthorns in her hand, looked around before fixing her gaze on Ning Jue.
Ning Jue hesitated and was slightly taken aback when he saw her.
Bai Hua asked, "Why didn't you wait for me here, young master? I've been looking for you everywhere."
She was acting, and she was acting as seamlessly as possible.
Ning Jue met her gaze and noticed her slightly reddened eyes, traces of tears.
What grievance did you suffer while I was away from him for just a short while?
Ning Jue replied calmly, "I couldn't wait for you, and suddenly felt thirsty, so I came over to have a cup of hot tea."
Zang Fan chuckled, thinking to himself, "This tea has been brewing for quite a while, almost an hour."
Bai Hua was filled with anxiety, wondering if he had become suspicious. Seeing that he didn't ask her why she was late, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She tentatively asked, "Young master, have you finished drinking? It's getting late, let's hurry up and go up the mountain."
Ning Jue looked at her, his eyes slightly darkening, and probed, "Are you sure you want to come back with me? You'd better think this through."
Having already shown great compassion and done a good deed once, he had no intention of doing it a second time.
Letting go is truly difficult.
If he gets her again, he will definitely want her.
Bai Hua lowered her eyes and replied, her voice murmuring, "Of course I'll go back. There's nothing else I need to buy."
Ning Jue stood up decisively.
Zang Fan stopped Ning Jue's arm, his eyes hinting that something was amiss.
Ning Jue brushed his hand away and walked straight to Bai Hua. Their eyes met, and his imposing aura enveloped her completely.
He raised his hand and adjusted the hairpin in her hair, saying, "The hairpin is about to fall off. From now on, stay by my side and don't run off again, understand?"
Bai Hua nodded obediently.
Ning Jue smiled, reached out and took her wrist, holding it intimately, and strode away.
Go up the mountain again.
She is his woman.
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