I like her!
One of them was the man in white. He was indeed Mo Yimingyue, A Qiu's second senior brother. The "Night Wanderer" organization, a powerful aquatic force, was originally established by Xingfeng Hall, but in order to conceal its true nature, it was not directly subordinate to Lanling Hall.
Last night, "Night Traveler" received information that someone in the Northern Qiang territory had specifically requested the lives of these two people and demanded that the highest-ranking member of the organization take action. Coincidentally, Mo Yimingyue himself was near the Yangtze River, so he came in person.
He recognized the hairpin because he was present when Gongyi Xiu gave it to Aqiu.
He even had a big argument with Gongyi Xiu about it, and Gongyi Xiu angrily threw the hairpin directly at A Qiu.
This floral hairpin is shaped like a crescent moon, with an exotic flair. The golden-green cat's-eye gemstone on it is from the Western Regions and cannot be easily imitated in the marketplace.
When it entered the pass through the black market in the West Market, it was mixed in with a batch of jewelry. Mo Yimingyue had seen this item before; it was the only one of its kind, and it wasn't cheap. She only realized it was from Gongyi Xiu when she saw it, having been bought by a Hu woman from Luoyufang and then given to him.
This item, which should have been placed in the dressing case in Lanling Hall, belonged to A Qiu. Yet it appeared on the great river that separated north and south, on the body of a handsome man with extraordinary martial arts skills and noble bearing, who claimed to be a person from the palace. How could this not surprise Mo Yimingyue?
The other person who was shocked was Xiao Chang'an.
He never dreamed that Gu Yi and A Qiu's relationship had become so close. No wonder the tassel hairpin looked familiar; it wasn't because he had seen A Qiu wear it before, but because dancers in the music academy often wore such things.
Mo Yimingyue picked up the gold-embroidered moon-shaped tassel hairpin from the tip of her blade and looked at Gu Yi again.
The man before him was imposing and dignified, with a refined and profound air, clearly not a lecherous man. Mo Yimingyue had seen countless people, but to be fair, he had only ever seen one like this, someone who was clearly destined for greatness and possessed the qualities of a hidden dragon: his master, Wan Qiqing.
Mo Yimingyue was also a powerful figure, known for his decisiveness and ruthlessness. However, the person he was about to kill had a relationship with his junior sister, A Qiu, which made him hesitate greatly, and he became hesitant in both action and speech.
Ultimately, no one in the martial arts world can be the top-ranked "Jing Ke" on the Immortal Ranking. He's just air. Not even her own senior brother.
A Qiu was always smiling, but even Mo Yimingyue and Gongyi Xiu couldn't quite figure out what she was thinking.
Apart from Master Wanqiqing, most others would think twice before going against Aqiu's wishes.
Moreover, among his fellow disciples, he was most afraid of this junior sister.
He hesitated and asked, "Are you...friends with that musician?" As he asked, he carefully observed Gu Yi's expression, completely lacking his previous arrogant and unrestrained demeanor.
This question startled Gu Yi, and a hint of unease flickered across his usually cold and composed face.
Gu Yi never lied in his life.
If he had been able to openly admit it before last night, they would indeed be friends.
But after the chaos of last night, the things he had done for her, the words he had spoken, and the kisses he had taken were still vivid in his mind. Her shyness, confusion, innocence, and tenderness at that time still stirred his heart from time to time.
This wasn't the first time he'd acted this way, but it was the first time he'd been so willful and capricious with a woman.
Who would treat a "friend" like that?
Gu Yi was a gentleman who never deceived others in secret. But after that night, he could no longer trust himself.
Gu Yi's expression, however, surprised Mo Yimingyue, a seasoned veteran, to the point that she almost gaped open in astonishment.
Mo Yimingyue was taken aback for a moment, then handed the flower hairpin back to Gu Yi with a lack of confidence, scratching her head and saying, "Since you are her friend, then please go."
He whistled, leaped up, and darted back to his "night boat."
The remaining black-clad warriors, some of whom had fallen into the water, and others who were still engaged in fierce combat with the young master charioteer at the ship's side, also stopped fighting and leaped back onto the night-traveling boat.
This also shows that the "Night Wanderer" was well-organized and disciplined, far superior to ordinary outlaws.
The three night-traveling boats separated, allowing Gu Yi's boat to depart.
Gu Yi was not good at socializing and didn't know how to say polite words. But since he knew that the person opposite him was A Qiu's second senior brother, and that the other party had let him go because of A Qiu, although he was not afraid of this hard battle on the water, he was still indebted to the other party.
Furthermore, the Night Wanderer had deployed three "Night Travelers" to intercept and kill them, and had also mobilized Mo Yimingyue, the head of the Lanling Hall's Xingfeng branch—the stakes were considerable. Xiao Chang'an revealed his identity as a special envoy of the Eastern Palace, but the other party ignored him, only agreeing to release them after glancing at the flower between A Qiu's eyebrows. The loyalty and camaraderie among the Lanling disciples deeply moved him.
Gu Yi sheathed his sword, cupped his hands and said, "I am Gu Yi. Thank you, Hall Master Xingfeng, for your kindness."
His boat was already sailing upstream, the river wind making his clothes flutter. At this moment, he stood tall at the stern, his clear and handsome features exuding an air of authority, and the silver strands in his hair added to his mysterious aura.
Mo Yimingyue, who had just stood firm on the night-traveling boat, almost fell over when he heard this, but fortunately his subordinates caught him quickly.
He had lost even the strength to say polite words, so he could only smile wryly, wave to Gu Yi, and gesture for him to leave before sailing away with the wind.
Golden feathers and black cloak, silver hair and black hair, swordsmanship that is divine, how come he didn't know who this person was!
The Junior Tutor Gu Yi was a figure of great renown throughout the land, having once single-handedly slain dozens of powerful clansmen in the Imperial Palace with only his sword. And yet, here he was, plotting an ambush.
If it weren't for A Qiu's floral hairpin, his "Night Tour of the World" would have severely offended the imperial court tonight. The base he had painstakingly built on the water would probably have been uprooted by the Jianzhang Navy.
As the boat passed the middle of the river, the three night-traveling boats disappeared into three small dots on the river.
The only sound was the rushing water from the oars.
Xiao Chang'an said in a deep voice, "How did you know that the man in white was Xing Feng, the head of Lanling Hall?"
Gu Yi didn't answer, but after a moment, he looked at him with a strange expression and asked, "What are you holding in your right palm?"
Xiao Chang'an raised his right hand, and three green bee needles shot straight into Gu Yi's eyes. At the same time, he swung out his purple bamboo flute, aiming straight for Gu Yi's right rib, the very spot where he had been injured by A Qiu's "assassination of Qin".
Gu Yi tried to dodge backward, but there was only the ship's side behind him. He had nowhere to avoid it, so he could only draw the Moon-Shaped Flute from its case to block the three needles in his face. Meanwhile, Xiao Chang'an's Purple Bamboo Flute was already in front of him.
Although Xiao Chang'an's martial arts skills were inferior to his, he was agile, unpredictable, and cunning. Taking advantage of Gu Yi's momentary lapse in concentration after the crisis, he cleverly used the terrain to his advantage, and his calculated attack succeeded.
Strangely, the three junior boatmen who were in charge of the boat ignored this and continued to row steadily, as if the two of them were chatting and laughing.
Gu Yi said calmly, "You weren't originally chosen by Sect Master Li to come to Jianzhang, were you? Who exactly are you?"
Xiao Chang'an smiled and said, "So what? I've already arrived and entered the Southern Dynasty's palace without any problems. I was even personally appointed by the Grand Tutor to become the most illustrious Flying Phoenix Guard of the Eastern Palace. Even my master won't say anything about me. Things in this world belong to the capable. What's wrong with me relying on my own abilities?"
Gu Yi sighed, "Your master, Sect Leader Li, is a humble gentleman. If he heard your words, he would probably be so angry that he would vomit blood."
Xiao Chang'an smiled and said, "I am different from him. I am a descendant of the Lanling Xiao family. Do you understand, Junior Tutor?"
The Xiao family of Lanling was a prominent family among the northern families, with a status almost equivalent to that of the Shangguan family in the Southern Dynasty. However, they did not cross the river back then but remained in the territory of the Northern Qiang. Because of their noble family background and integrity, they were highly valued by the ruler of the Northern Qiang and remain prominent figures in the Northern Dynasty to this day.
Martial arts sects also sometimes accept sons of aristocratic families as disciples. Unlike ordinary martial arts sects, this is more about alliances based on shared beliefs and interests, similar to marriage. However, the Hidden Sect, which has always been aloof from worldly affairs, has unexpectedly accepted a member of the Lanling Xiao Clan of the Northern Dynasty as a disciple.
Gu Yi said, "So, the information that I was ambushed while crossing the river this time was leaked by you?"
Xiao Chang'an laughed and said, "If I say so, will the young master regret trusting the wrong person and misjudging him?"
Gu Yi slowly shook his head and said, word by word, "There would never be a bad person among Li Wujiu's disciples. I believe him."
Xiao Chang'an never imagined that Gu Yi, who was always cold and dignified, would reveal such deep confidence and emotion in his eyes.
In his eyes, Li Wujiu, as a grandmaster, was stubborn but lacked shrewdness and had no cunning or scheming towards outsiders. He never imagined that it was precisely this simplicity and stubbornness that allowed him, who claimed to be Li Wujiu's disciple, to easily gain the trust of Gu Yi, the number one scholar in the Southern Dynasty.
He paused for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Do you know that my flute contains a hidden sword? At this moment, all I need to do is pull the trigger, and the blade will immediately spring out and take your life."
Gu Yi stared intently at him and said, "So what do you want from holding me hostage like this?"
When asked this, Xiao Chang'an remembered his purpose. A fierce look flashed across his young brows as he said sternly, "Give me that hairpin!"
Gu Yi was taken aback by him this time and asked, "What floral decoration?" Xiao Chang'an remained silent, but pressed the bamboo flute in his hand half an inch further into Gu Yi's ribs.
Gu Yi endured the pain. After last night's "intense night," his internal injuries had almost healed, but his external wounds wouldn't heal so easily. Looking at Xiao Chang'an's fierce expression, he understood the situation.
Xiao Chang'an's anger likely began this morning when he saw A Qiu being carried out of his room. However, he held back then and even took A Qiu back for himself. It wasn't until Mo Yimingyue's attack just now, when he realized he was injured, that he finally found an opportunity.
This young man appears unrestrained and wild, but in reality, he is a very patient and profound person.
However, Gu Yi didn't know how to explain this for a moment, so he stood there stunned and couldn't say a word.
The two stared at each other for a long time.
Xiao Chang'an was the first to lose heart. He looked into Gu Yi's clear, dark eyes and said dejectedly, "Swear that you will never get close to my sister A Qiu again, and I will let you go."
Gu Yi opened his mouth, wanting to say what if she came looking for him.
But she knew perfectly well that this wasn't the answer Xiao Chang'an wanted.
Xiao Chang'an didn't know what answer he wanted, and Gu Yi didn't know how to answer either.
Only the sound of the three oars striking the water remained slow and steady.
Xiao Chang'an saw that his flute was still pressed against Gu Yi's ribs and chest, but Gu Yi looked dazed, and he couldn't help but feel angry.
He threw the flute heavily to the ground and roared, "No matter what, I forbid you from seeing her again! Because I love her!"
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured down his spine, and Gu Yi was completely sobered up.
Xiao Chang'an entered the palace as a student of An Daoling and a xiao (vertical bamboo flute) player in the Music Bureau. It was probably from that time that he fell in love with A Qiu.
He heard his own voice, weak and feeble, ask, "Does she like you?"
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