Chapter 4 The Beauty Scheme
Ning Jue turned around, about to step over the threshold, but encountered resistance and paused.
Behind him, a boneless, delicate hand carefully tugged at his sleeve. Ning Jue turned around impatiently and met a pair of beautiful, timid eyes.
The other person's eyes were red, and they looked pitiful and vulnerable, like a wounded fawn in the jungle begging for help.
When ordinary people look at each other with such eyes, it would likely evoke empathy and pity in the other person.
But this woman possessed a vibrant and alluring face, and her graceful figure was swaying. Her pale blue dress, disheveled from her earlier terror, had its collar open, revealing a patch of fair, smooth skin beneath her neck. Thus, when she looked at someone with such pleading eyes, it didn't evoke sympathy, but rather possessiveness, especially in men.
Ning Jue remained calm and quietly looked at her.
Bai Hua held her breath and looked back, her eyes sparkling, clearly aware of her advantages.
In those years when she was famous throughout Jingqi, she heard countless compliments and praises, each one unique. Now, at this critical moment, she felt ashamed to use her beauty to seduce someone, yet she had no other choice.
Her clothes were disheveled, and her collar was slightly open. Her face must have looked terrible at that moment, and she could probably imagine what kind of wanton and seductive image she presented to men.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the human trafficker who had been bribed by her cousin, and immediately even the man's gaze towards her carried a hint of intimacy.
Bai Hua gritted her teeth, straining her muscles, almost exhausted.
She did her best, and the result was uncertain, but she did her best, which should be considered worthy of the humble sincerity she showed when her cousin sent her here, almost kneeling down.
Ning Jue shifted his gaze to the slender, well-defined fingers gripping his sleeve. He hated troublesome things the most, so he frowned and tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword.
Just as he was about to say something, the other person spoke first, their tone gentle and melodious.
“Young master… I am not afraid of hardship. If there is anything I lack, I can learn it.”
Her voice was like a nightingale's song; even when it was persistent, it didn't bother anyone.
Ning Jue ultimately did not make a move, but Zang Fan, who had come out of the room first, turned around with a dark expression. He turned back unhappily at the sound, rolled up his sleeves, and looked ready to fight, clearly unwilling to be polite anymore.
Bai Hua quickly put her arm around Ning Jue's waist, hiding behind him in fear for protection.
Seeing this, Zang Fan gritted his teeth and became even more resentful.
He thought to himself, "This woman pretends to be delicate and fragile, but she might be hiding a poisoned weapon behind her back. She's not some delicate flower; she's clearly a poisonous weed!"
Ning Jue blocked Zang Fan's path with his arm, glanced at Bai Hua, and asked with a scrutinizing look, "You really want to stay?"
Bai Hua wisely released her grip and bowed again, saying, "I sincerely wish to serve you, young master. I beg you to take me in and allow me to stay by your side."
Ning Jue's eyes showed no emotion, and he replied indifferently, "I understand. Go back and wait for my message. I will consider it for a few days, and after I have finished thinking it over, I will have someone pass on the message to you, how about that?"
Bai Hua hesitated, unsure if this aligned with her cousin's plan.
What if Ning Jue only made a verbal promise and then couldn't be found afterwards?
But this was the best outcome she could achieve.
Bai Hua knew when to stop and stopped pressing the issue. She looked at Ning Jue with pleading eyes and said, "Alright, please remember to send me a message after you've made up your mind. I have nowhere to go, and being able to follow you would be the best outcome for me in this life."
Ning Jue did not respond to her words, his eyes remaining as cold as before.
Bai Hua stepped aside, no longer blocking their way, but Ning Jue did not leave immediately.
He glanced at Bai Hua, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly raised his sword sheath, pointing it directly at her, his meaning unclear.
Bai Hua's heart pounded as she was forced to confront the sharp weapon, but she couldn't detect any murderous intent in Ning Jue's eyes. She was filled with fear and confusion.
The sharp end of the scabbard drew closer and closer to her. If the other party truly intended to kill her, she would have no way to escape. So she simply resigned herself to fate and closed her eyes.
After waiting for a while, her eyelashes trembled repeatedly. In her agony, she suddenly felt something strange coming from her collar.
She dared not move, swallowed hard, her hair stood on end, and her whole body was on high alert.
There was none of the pain or bloodshed she had imagined. Bai Hua hesitated, opened her eyes, and looked down. She saw Ning Jue holding a sword and pressing and applying a poultice to her slightly open collar.
In an instant, Bai Hua felt a complex mix of emotions that she couldn't quite describe.
In just half a day, she was first persuaded by her trusted cousin to reveal her clothes and seduce him, and then a stranger swordsman helped her close her clothes.
I felt wronged, confused, and ashamed.
Her eyes welled up with tears, and Bai Hua quickly lowered her head.
Seeing her reaction, Ning Jue sheathed his sword, puzzled: "Why are you crying again? Didn't I already promise you that I would give you an answer another day?"
He had never met any young women before, let alone someone like Bai Hua who was so prone to tears.
Bai Hua gently wiped away her tears and said with a sigh, "I was just thinking about my background, that I have no one to rely on and no parents to depend on, so I was just feeling sad. Young master, you don't need to worry about me. I'll go back and wait for your reply."
After saying that, he handed back the money Ning Jue had given him earlier, stubbornly refusing to accept it.
Zang Fan snorted coldly, thinking she was addicted to acting. He grabbed the money, pulled Ning Jue's arm, and quickly dragged her away.
...
Leaving Wangyue Restaurant, we walked onto the bustling street.
Zang Fan frowned and said in a low voice, "Do you know that she is Rong Linyan's woman? She came to our door today with ill intentions. They think they can fool my Mi Luo spies by bribing the slave trader? They're delusional. What was wrong with you just now? With your eyesight, you should have seen through this honey trap. Why were you speaking so nicely to her?"
Ning Jue's words were calm: "Your pitiful appearance does seem somewhat genuine."
Zang Fan scoffed, "Ever since you revealed the Lone Goose Sword Style during your duel with that damned deputy hall master, Rong Linyan has been wary of you. Now that the court is making moves and the Grand General will soon be visiting Jiling, why would Rong Linyan send someone here if not to spy on his private affairs? This woman's identity has not yet been definitively confirmed, but she should be related to Rong Linyan. Moreover, based on my observation, her martial arts skills are not low, and she is extremely good at disguising herself; she is definitely not a kind person."
Ning Jue had no interest in delving into the matter, and simply said, "Since it's a tail, let's get rid of it. A few days ago, I went to Xiangcheng to find Xie Tan and fought him head-on."
Upon hearing this, Zang Fan's eyes immediately turned stern, and he no longer cared about Rong Linyan.
Xie Tan, also known as the Whip Demon, is a master of whip techniques and is currently ranked among the four greatest martial arts masters in the world.
Although Ning Jue was trained by Situ Kong, one of the four great masters, and his martial arts talent far surpassed that of his peers, he had never before directly competed with a senior martial artist in terms of skill.
Whether the younger generation will surpass the older generation, or whether experience will prevail, remains to be seen.
Zang Fan hurriedly asked, "Did you win?"
Ning Jue replied truthfully: "A draw."
Zang Fan looked Ning Jue up and down, then asked to confirm, "Are you injured?"
Ning Jue slightly raised his right arm and said, "It's a minor arm injury, nothing serious. Xie Tan is lame and will probably need to recuperate for more than half a year."
Zang Fan frowned as he recalled that ever since he met Ning Jue at the Wangyue Restaurant, he had been unusually holding his sword in his left hand.
It was his negligence that he failed to notice Ning Jue's injuries.
Zang Fan moved closer to Ning Jue and asked in a lowered voice, "How did your investigation go?"
Ning Jue shook his head, his expression solemn.
Zang Fan pulled his neck back and didn't ask any more questions about the details.
The two continued walking forward, heading towards Xianyang Mountain.
...
Jiling, Shiyi Township.
Inside a thatched hut in the village, the air was filled with mist and the candlelight was dim, making the whole room warm and cozy, like a hot spring with gentle steam rising from it.
Bai Hua was soaking in the bathtub, her cheeks as red as ripe peaches, her long eyelashes curled with water droplets, about to drip. She lay limply on the edge of the wooden tub, as if boneless. The high water temperature made her feel weak and powerless, her eyes slightly squinted and her cherry lips gently closed.
A moment later, a woman carrying a pottery jar and wearing a yellowish-brown linen skirt approached from behind.
After standing still, the woman poured the goat milk from the jar into the bath tub and exclaimed, "I've helped so many young ladies who are about to get married to raise their skin, but I've never seen such a jade-like person. In a few more days, the young lady will see the results. Not only will her skin be as white as snow, but her figure will also gradually become more voluptuous."
Bai Hua remained silent, slightly shrugging her shoulders as she endured the discomfort of a swelling in her chest.
She was extremely thirsty, but the woman beside her was not as considerate as Xiao You. She didn't care whether she was comfortable or whether she could benefit from it. She just kept putting all the highly nourishing medicinal herbs into the bucket to steam and soak, thinking that she should finish the task as soon as possible so that she could collect the final payment quickly.
Bai Hua was sweating profusely, looked listless, and had little energy.
In her hazy thoughts, she seemed to see her cousin's handsome face, but in the blink of an eye, the mist in front of her drifted away, and what appeared next was another pair of men's eyes that were both familiar and unfamiliar to her.
Ning Jue, a name she kept firmly in her heart.
On that day, she lied to Young Master Ning, claiming to be a country girl, and said that since she had revealed her family background, she should go all out and be cautious. She should not continue to live in the inner garden of Rong Mansion as a reclusive young lady.
It just so happens that Fu Wei, the deputy head of Guihong Sword Hall, is from Shiyi Township. Through Fu's wife's connections, my cousin found a trustworthy villager's family to stay with. He then bribed them with some money to help cover up the lie and keep quiet. It was not difficult at all.
Bai Hua obediently followed her cousin's arrangements, lying to her aunt, uncle, and Xiao You that she was accompanying her cousin back to the capital to visit relatives. In reality, the Rong family's carriage never left Jiling City, but instead turned around midway and secretly took her to the countryside of Shiyi.
Her cousin did not accompany her. To avoid attracting attention, he sent someone to take her to Shiyi Township. Later, upon entering the village, she was received and accommodated by Madam Fu's family. As for the subsequent training she received, the woman said it was at Madam Fu's behest.
To date, she has been staying in a villager's home for three days, enduring the torment of the steam and heat every day.
Bai Hua was filled with helpless sorrow. When she was passively cooperating, she was always preoccupied. She was doing shameful things such as nourishing her skin and breasts and testing her body fragrance. She was being treated like a plaything. Was it Madam Fu who made the arrangements on her own initiative, or did her cousin also know the truth?
After bathing, Bai Hua, with her long hair draped over her shoulders and wrapped in a cotton towel, walked barefoot to a bronze mirror standing in the corner of the wall.
She stared blankly at the woman in the mirror, her fair cheeks glowing like snow, her face radiant with a rosy blush, and tried to laugh at herself, but she couldn't manage a smile.
...
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the sky was beginning to lighten, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly echoed in the courtyard.
Bai Hua was awakened by the noise. She hurriedly put on her coat, got up, and went to the window to peek out. She saw her cousin dressed in a black robe and night clothes, riding a horse and looking travel-worn. She quickly unlatched the door and opened it.
My cousin was shivering with cold; the early autumn frost was biting, especially with the night wind blowing.
The door closed again, and the two met secretly.
Rong Linyan looked slightly anxious and said, "Hua'er, three days have passed, and there has been no word from Ning Jue yet."
Bai Hua was taken aback. After not seeing him for several days, her cousin's words showed no concern for her. How could she not feel wronged?
Thinking of the suffering, shame, pain, and forbearance she had endured for her cousin over the past few days... all sorts of emotions welled up in Bai Hua's eyes, and she couldn't help but feel her eyes redden.
She replied softly, "Cousin, I have done my best."
Rong Linyan sighed, realizing something, and immediately raised his hands to support Bai Hua's shoulders, soothingly saying, "I know you've been wronged, it's all my fault for being incompetent, how could I possibly blame you? But you don't know yet, yesterday evening, the Great General's trusted followers went up Xianyang Mountain, and if I'm not mistaken, Ning Jue has already received the invitation to the arena."
Bai Hua hesitated before replying, "Madam Fu came by the day before yesterday. I learned from her conversation that my cousin and the deputy hall master also received invitations from the Great General King. If that's the case, then Ning Jue isn't being treated any special way this time."
“That’s different.” Rong Linyan turned his eyes away, his tone disdainful, showing both fear and contempt for Ning Jue. “A petty scoundrel with unorthodox swordsmanship, how can he be compared to the orthodox swordsmanship of Jiling? But things have come to this point, and Ning Jue will definitely become an obstacle in our path. If we don’t guard against him now, he may ruin everything in the future. Hua’er, given the current situation, we absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom.”
Bai Hua twisted her fingers together in her sleeve; she usually made this small movement when she was nervous.
"But what else can we do besides wait?"
Rong Linyan had prepared his explanation: "On the fifth and seventh of each month, a market will be opened on Xianyang Mountain. Many merchants from Jiling will carry their goods up the mountain. On that day, the crowds will be dense and the forest will be bustling. When Ning Jue and the others are off guard, you can go up the mountain and sneak in to look for them."
Bai Hua hesitated, as if she wanted to say something, but was interrupted by her cousin.
Rong Linyan looked at her and continued, "You told me the whole story of what happened at Wangyue Restaurant earlier. I'm 70% sure that Ning Jue is willing to take you in. It's just that his friends are wary and suspicious, and they're a bit wary of you. Who knows, Ning Jue may have already decided to send someone to deliver a message, but that person stopped him. If that's the case, you taking the initiative to go to him would be a feasible way to get close to him."
Her cousin's guess wasn't impossible, but the thought of the steep mountains and sparse roads, the deep forests, Young Master Ning's cold expression, and the aggressive aura of his friends made Bai Hua feel apprehensive.
Rong Linyan noticed her hesitation and wavering, so he stepped forward and took her hand, speaking gently, "Hua'er, before I took you away from the manor, I had already discussed it with my mother. Once we return home for our 'visit,' the Rong family will immediately begin preparations for the wedding. The sword fight is a heavy matter for me, and after it's over, you will be the most important person in my heart."
My cousin's feelings were genuine; the affection in his eyes seemed real.
The two stared at each other for a long time, and Bai Hua finally softened and couldn't bring herself to refuse.
She only asked him, "Cousin, do you know how I've been doing in the countryside these past few days?"
Rong Linyan hurriedly asked with concern, "How are you? Is Sister-in-law Fu treating you badly, or have her relatives in the countryside been neglecting you?"
Bai Hua looked at him and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was probably Madam Fu who made the decision to train her. Perhaps the other party mistakenly thought that the Sword Hall sent her up the mountain with the intention of offering herself up, so they found that low-class woman and used those dirty tricks on her.
Thinking of this, Bai Hua shook her head and replied, "No, it's just that I'm unfamiliar with the place and people, so I'm always uneasy. Now that I've seen my cousin, I feel much better."
Rong Linyan felt relieved and looked at her gratefully. After thinking for a moment, he solemnly took a step back and bowed to her.
"Hua'er, I am ashamed. Whether this matter succeeds or not depends entirely on you."
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