Chapter 61 Habits
This night was exceptionally long.
As dawn broke outside the window, the two finally finished and prepared to go to the washroom to clean themselves.
Bai Hua was too weak. As soon as she got off the bed, her legs were sore and trembling. Ning Jue offered to carry her inside to wash, but Bai Hua refused without hesitation.
Just now, he had his hand on her waist, as if he were about to break her like a tree falling from its roots. His forceful and overwhelming manner had left her with a great deal of psychological trauma. Beneath the young master's handsome and refined appearance lay a terrifying dragon. She was afraid that once the two of them entered the enclosed space, the atmosphere would become hazy, and the beast's head would be summoned back to its original position.
If that's the case, she'll probably be in a situation where she can neither live nor die.
Seeing her resolute attitude, Ning Jue raised an eyebrow and had no choice but to give up. However, he could not remain completely indifferent, so he got up, took her arm, and led her step by step. He then went to the water room to light the lamps and candles for her. After doing all this, he withdrew from the room.
The two brushed past each other. Bai Hua glanced at him but showed no sign of gratitude.
Ning Jue reminded her, "Your legs aren't very strong, so be careful of the slippery ground and don't get hurt."
Bai Hua gave a soft "hmm," took a step forward, closed the door tightly, and didn't give him a very friendly look.
Ning Jue smiled and shook her head, not feeling neglected at all. On the contrary, she found Ning Jue's subsequent coquettish and tantrum-like behavior quite adorable.
A short while later, Bai Hua came out, and Ning Jue went into the water room next.
Both of them quickly washed up, without much effort. Bai Hua was exhausted and powerless, while Ning Jue was eager to get into bed and hold Bai Hua to sleep.
Soon, Ning Jue finished washing up. He came out and closed the door behind him. He looked up and saw Bai Hua standing by the bed in a thin shirt, looking down with a worried expression. So, not knowing what was going on, he walked over to her.
"What's wrong?"
Bai Hua frowned slightly, but didn't say anything when she heard this. She just gestured for him to look.
She was staring at the bedsheets. The original brocade was no longer usable. Not only were there several obvious holes from her fingers, but there were also large holes from Ning Jue's knees rubbing against the bottom. The finest Shu brocade was delicate and soft against the skin, but its only drawback was that it was not durable and could not withstand a few vigorous rubbings.
And when the two were having a passionate encounter, they went on for far more than just a couple of rounds.
Ning Jue savored the moment, his face unconsciously becoming relaxed. He would never forget that exhilarating and exhilarating experience.
Seeing his meaningful expression, Bai Hua immediately understood, blushed, and nudged his arm, somewhat displeased.
Does he even know what the key point is?
The brocade was riddled with holes of all sizes, so clearly visible. What a complex expression the maids would have when they came in to tidy up at dawn and saw it! Bai Hua dared not even imagine.
Besides the unsightly damage, there were also patches of wetness and stickiness, making it impossible to tell in the chaos whether it was hers or his. In short, it was filthy, and no one else could clean it.
She still has a sense of shame.
Ning Jue quickly understood the meaning in her eyes and took the initiative to suggest, "How about I burn it?"
Bai Hua really did seem to want to destroy the evidence, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt it was inappropriate. This brocade was quite large, and the flames would be uncontrollable if it burned. If it also emitted black smoke, it would definitely attract attention.
She said, "It's not even fully light yet. Starting a fire at this time would be too conspicuous. If smoke appears, the guards nearby or the early-rising servants might mistake it for a fire in the courtyard and rush to put it out, which would cause quite a commotion."
Ning Jue: "Then let's wait until it's a little brighter before burning it. We'll have a basin of water nearby, and if it starts to smoke, we'll put it out immediately. Judging from the feel of this fabric, it shouldn't produce too much smoke. If we cut it open and burn it in three stages, it won't be hard to fool anyone."
It's one way, but for now, this is the only option.
However, with three intervals, it would take up a lot of time. The young master still needs to prepare for the battle after dawn. His absurd bedroom activities have already exhausted him. If he continues to stay awake without resting, his performance in the battle will definitely be greatly affected.
Bai Hua dared not take the risk. She bent down, gathered the quilt, draped it over her arm, and offered, "Young master, you should go to sleep first. I'll go to the courtyard to burn some later."
Seeing her so weak, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind, Ning Jue couldn't bear to let her go through all that trouble.
He reached out to take the sheet from him and said, "I'll take it, you rest."
Bai Hua dodged to the side, refusing to give it to him.
Seeing that Ning Jue looked relaxed and was not worried at all about the life-or-death battle after dawn, he felt even more uneasy.
She straightened her face and said earnestly, "Do you think the life-or-death contract you signed is a joke? Young master, please take it seriously. Tomorrow you will be fighting no small fry, but one of the four great masters of the martial arts world, the renowned Umbrella Immortal. How can you be so careless?"
“I never underestimate my opponents, but fighting Jiang Shen’er is certainly not something that would make me feel anxious.” Ning Jue’s tone was somewhat arrogant as she looked down at her, smiled, and then said in a calm tone, “If I really looked worried, then you should really be concerned.”
Bai Hua blinked, sensing something was amiss: "Didn't the young master say that the Umbrella Fairy has an extremely high win rate in human combat, and you only have a 20% chance of winning against her..."
It was because of those words that Bai Hua's heart clenched, and she only wanted to do something for Ning Jue, fearing that she would never have another chance.
However, now that we're discussing it again, it doesn't seem as dangerous as it was described back then.
Bai Hua looked at him blankly, her eyes revealing confusion.
Ning Jue replied, "Perhaps my estimate was too conservative at the time. If I think about it carefully, it should account for at least 50%."
Bai Hua's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but then she stopped herself.
Having a better chance of winning was a good thing, and of course she hoped Ning Jue would be safe. However, if it weren't for the urgent circumstances, she probably wouldn't have been so impulsive as to dress in wedding clothes with him, bow to heaven and earth, and then entwine and roll around together...
Ning Jue interrupted her thoughts: "Give me the sheets. If there's no smoke, I can burn them quickly in one go. It won't take long. Besides, Jiang Shen'er hasn't returned from the manor yet. She might sleep until noon after dawn."
Bai Hua didn't respond, but the bed sheet was pulled away from her fingertips.
Seeing Ning Jue leave the room to prepare, Bai Hua hesitated for a moment but followed. Anyway, she couldn't sleep just waiting in the room, so she might as well go out and lend a hand.
Ning Jue did not send her away again.
The two men each carried a copper basin, one containing a soiled sheet and the other filled with clean water. As everything was prepared, a ray of dawn shone down from the east, and the sky gradually brightened.
Ning Jue turned his gaze away from the distant sunrise, and without delay, picked up a lit candle and brought it close to set the bedsheet ablaze.
It's burning up.
There was smoke, but not much, so there was no need to light it three times. Bai Hua breathed a sigh of relief, as this would save her a lot of effort.
After burning the body, Bai Hua carefully found a winnowing basket and a broom, cleaned up the ashes, buried them in the flower bed soil, and finished the final cleanup. The whole process of destroying the evidence was successfully completed.
Finally, I can rest...
It's really not easy.
The two washed their hands and returned to their room to lie down on the bed, their bodies pressed close together, their breathing rhythms alternating, their breaths inevitably mingling hotly.
Bai Hua felt the rise and fall of his chest against her back, and a somewhat inappropriate analogy came to mind. She felt that Ning Jue was like a piece of charcoal still warm, while she was a thin sheet of paper, a few wisps of grass, or perhaps dry sawdust...
A fire can start in an instant if two people come into contact with each other.
She needs to avoid that situation from happening.
Even if your body can't take it, you shouldn't continue to drain your spirit.
Bai Hua shifted slightly and whispered, "It's hard to fall asleep like this, let's separate a bit."
Ning Jue still had his hand on her waist, and asked considerately, "Aren't you used to it?"
Bai Hua gave a soft "hmm," thinking that he had taken her to heart and that everything was negotiable.
Unexpectedly, Ning Jue leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "Then... get used to it."
After saying that, his arms suddenly tightened, and Bai Hua was caught off guard and fell back into his gentle embrace.
After a moment of tension, confirming that Ning Jue was only holding her and had no intention of making any further moves, Bai Hua wanted to relax but dared not, fearing that he would notice and become rebellious, deliberately going against her.
After waiting and waiting, she noticed the breathing behind her gradually becoming deeper and more steady. Bai Hua's eyelids, which she had been forcing open, slowly closed uncontrollably.
...
As dawn broke, the servants at Qimeng Manor were already busy at work.
Some were preparing food, others were washing clothes, and still others were sweeping. But the most important thing was that the construction of the arena in the back garden was in full swing.
The master gave the order early on, and the subordinates worked hard for two days. Now, the project is finally nearing completion.
The red ribbons are all ready. Once the construction is complete, they will be tied around each corner of the arena, making it exceptionally eye-catching.
Jiang Shen'er returned from outside at just the right time; it was already past noon. Ning Jue had rested for quite some time, and even Bai Hua had regained a lot of energy after taking a nap.
Just as the two made a sound of getting up, the figure of a maid appeared outside the door, followed by a knock on the door from the outside.
A maid's voice rang out, "My master is already waiting in the back garden. Please hurry over there after you've finished tidying up."
Ning Jue responded and got up to put on his clothes.
Bai Hua also woke up and quickly searched for her clothes. Compared to Ning Jue's composure, her nervousness and panic were too abrupt.
Ning Jue glanced at her and asked, "What's the rush?"
Her hurried manner, to put it somewhat inappropriately, resembled someone caught cheating and hastily preparing to flee fully clothed.
Ning Jue wanted to laugh, but she held it back.
She didn't like his carefree, joking demeanor before the battle; he needed to appear somewhat urgency to reassure her, so he had to constantly put on an act.
Bai Hua advised, "After all, they are seniors, and we shouldn't keep them waiting. Let's hurry up."
Ning Jue agreed, "Okay."
Ning Jue tidied herself up quickly, quickly washed and dressed, and straightened her hair ornament.
Bai Hua was a step behind her, but it didn't take long.
The two went out and, led by a maid in purple, headed to the location of today's duel—the back garden of the manor.
It's a secluded place, though.
When the three met, Jiang Shen'er's attire was eye-catching and exaggerated. She was still wearing red clothes and red hair accessories, but the style of her clothes was flamboyant and her skirt trailed on the ground, making it difficult for her to move around. Not to mention that she also had a beautiful hair ornament with flowing tassels on her head.
If one didn't know the inside story, an outsider might think she came to compete in beauty rather than to fight.
If a fight really breaks out, won't her hair get pulled painfully? Won't her steps be tripped up by the hem of her clothes?
Bai Hua couldn't understand it and secretly thought to herself, "Perhaps true masters of the martial arts world don't need to consider these things..."
Jiang Shen'er looked at Xiang Ningjue and keenly noticed that he looked radiant, unlike usual. She smiled and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"
Ning Jue handled the questions with ease.
Bai Hua, who was listening idly to the side, was secretly nervous and her heart was pounding. She felt that these words had a deeper meaning.
Ning Jue replied, "Senior's hospitality is so thoughtful that we are very comfortable staying at the villa."
Jiang Shen'er glanced at Bai Hua out of the corner of her eye, her smile deepening. She continued, "It's good that you're comfortable. Since you're so energetic, I'll have a good exchange of moves with you."
Ning Jue stretched out her hands and clasped them together, bowing slightly. Out of respect for her master's past relationship with her, she performed the proper etiquette expected of a junior.
"Please, senior."
The two leaped up and flew onto the square arena, which was adorned with red ribbons. One carried an umbrella, and the other held a sword. Their movements were sometimes aggressive and sometimes swift. It was clear that they fought peacefully at first, but their stances became increasingly tense. After exchanging more than a dozen blows, it seemed that both of them had regained their touch. Their strikes and attacks became increasingly rapid and aggressive.
Bai Hua's gaze followed the two figures fighting closely, afraid of missing a single detail, and even more afraid that the young master would be at a disadvantage.
Aside from the scraping sound of the sword and umbrella, all she could hear was the frantic pounding of her own heart.
At this moment, a maidservant thoughtfully brought her a rattan chair, indicating that she could sit down and watch, which would save her some effort.
Bai Hua's expression was complicated. She couldn't sit still at all. Could it be that she was watching a show and enjoying the excitement?
She didn't sit down, but insisted on standing.
In a duel between masters, life and death hang by a thread. She was terrified that a single oversight or misjudgment would separate her from the young master by death.
She can't offer any real help, but at least she can keep an eye on him and offer prayers...
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