Chapter 114 Leaving Tomorrow
"You saved my life during the Battle of Huaiyang."
The longsword slashed down heavily, clashing with the greatsword and sparking white flames that mingled with the leaping firelight nearby.
Ruan Donglin gripped his longsword tightly, his hands crisscrossed with scars, one of which ran across most of his arm. His chest was even more scarred, bearing knife wounds, arrow marks, and whip marks—all remnants of years of battle. Several times, if he had been just a little less victorious, he wouldn't be where he is today.
His expression was ferocious as he brandished his long sword, the sharp blade reflecting in his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes.
Qu Maoze smiled, appearing as if he were still in complete control, but the bulging veins on the back of his hands and the tense shoulders and back revealed that he wasn't as calm as he seemed.
He's just a habitual pretentious person.
This person has been like this since childhood; seemingly gentle but actually devoid of sincerity, they can't help but take advantage of anyone or anything.
Ruan Donglin sneered twice, took two steps back, and then slammed his fist down again, his voice grim: "However, in the Weibei incident, you killed dozens of my soldiers. I will never forget this grudge for the rest of my life."
Faced with his anger, Qu Maoze merely chuckled: "I only kill those who deserve to die. Considering their past actions, I've already given them a quick death."
Ruan Donglin roared, "If it weren't for them, could Jiangnan have been pacified so quickly? They made mistakes, and the army has its own rules. They should be punished or killed as they see fit. It's not your place to interfere. You are arrogant, heartless, and ruthless. Tell me, am I wrong to resent you?"
Faced with his accusations, Qu Maoze remained unmoved, merely cautiously parrying his moves.
If I get stabbed, I'll lose everything, both my dignity and my reputation.
If I were to strike him with my sword, my good days would be over again.
Come to think of it, the last time Qu Maoze saw Ruan Donglin was five years ago. Back then, he looked much more energetic than he does now, with black hair and eyebrows, and was in high spirits.
Five years have passed, and Ruan Donglin is now in his early fifties. His face is lined with wrinkles and streaked with gray hair, making him look much older than he did ten years ago. He suffered greatly in his youth, and even with rest and recuperation, the deep-seated pain could not be erased, especially his left leg, which he had broken several times. He could walk normally, but now, in a real fight, if it were a real battle, he wouldn't last more than fifteen minutes.
Time is the cruelest thing; it takes away health and well-being, but it cannot take away sorrow.
Qu Maoze sized up Ruan Donglin and slowly said, "Don't talk like that, it's like we're old friends."
Ruan Donglin's anger froze on his face, his eyes widening like copper bells, then erupted, his hands shifting in different moves, intent on killing this brat.
It's absolutely infuriating!
Qu Maoze smiled and calmly countered, his voice clear and gentle: "You don't need to make such a big fuss. I'm not exactly a saint, and I wouldn't stoop to using women. One is my wife, and the other is my daughter. They don't need you to spend any money or effort on them. How you treat them is none of your concern."
With a bang, the force on the other side increased by three points.
Under the cover of night, Ruan Donglin's face was flushed black, his eyes burning with a fierce fire, as if he wanted to incinerate the person in front of him.
Qu Maoze chuckled calmly, "Why are you angry? Isn't this the truth? I really haven't known about their situation all these years and have neglected them quite a bit, but in the future, the Song family has a million in assets and five not-so-good boys who will protect them, which is more than enough. What do you have?"
"Two frail old men and two young boys with blond hair?"
In terms of money, the Song family has no shortage of this kind of thing.
In terms of power, how can Andong County be compared with the capital?
Sorry, they're leaving tomorrow.
Who is Ruan Donglin? And what right does he have to interfere in their affairs?
Qu Maoze showed absolutely no sign of guilt. He remained completely at ease throughout, speaking with effortless grace. One could say he was brimming with confidence, or one could say he was dismissive and arrogant.
Ruan Donglin gasped for breath, his grip on the long sword loosened, and he threw it away heavily, then clenched his fist and slammed it down.
That's really too unhygienic.
Qu Maoze's lips twitched slightly, and he decisively threw away his heavy sword, taking the blow. The next second, a sweeping kick came from the side, and he took two steps back, the iron fist following suit.
Unlike weapons, which require more caution, there's little to worry about when a fist or fist comes down.
When Ruan Donglin attacked with all his might, Qu Maoze could no longer remain calm. He wasn't particularly skilled in boxing, and he couldn't really fight back, so he could only keep retreating. In his half-retreat, he took two full rounds of blows.
The situation has reversed.
Song Jin watched from afar and yawned: "Why does he look like a grasshopper?"
It was somewhat interesting when the two were facing off with swords, but when they were punching and kicking, one charging and the other dodging, it wasn't very interesting.
This kind of fight should be like she did before: go straight in and let every punch land.
Qi Zheng lowered his eyes, his peripheral vision catching sight of her fluffy head. She leaned on his shoulder, her long, black hair straight, a few strands clinging to her chest along her collar, tickling him slightly. He tensed, his voice low and deep.
"Uncle Qu is probably not good at close combat."
Qu Maoze possesses profound internal strength and acts unpredictably. He is clearly skilled in light footwork and assassination. Compared to fist and foot combat, he is the kind of person who can kill with a single move. In a real crisis, he will definitely be the victor.
However, by engaging in direct combat without being able to fight seriously, his weaknesses are very obvious.
Song Jin noticed it too. She clicked her tongue and said disdainfully, "Useless."
She had initially thought she'd see him beat the old man to a pulp, but now it was incredibly boring; she might as well just sit by the fire.
The two had moved early and were now near the fire. The intense flames dispelled the winter chill, making them feel warm even though they were only dressed lightly and didn't need to use their internal energy.
Song Jin's fingers twitched slightly, and she turned her head, her narrow phoenix eyes fixed on Qi Zheng: "Hey, I want to warm myself by the fire, let go."
Her hands were tied behind her back, held tightly by him, and she couldn't move.
Qi Zheng looked down at her, silent and unmoved, his hands still clasped together.
Song Jin tilted her head again and muttered, "Let me tell you, this is indecent behavior, you know? Be careful, or I'll call for help."
This shout forced both of them to back down and shift their focus.
Qi Zheng looked at her quietly, his dark eyes revealing an unconcealable helplessness. After a while, he whispered, "If you stop making a fuss, I'll let go."
Song Jin rolled her eyes: "I'm not a child anymore. Hurry up, it's so cold!"
As she spoke, she stamped her foot.
She came out wearing a cloak, the collar tied, but the drawstring at the bottom was loose, letting in a draft.
Qi Zheng hesitated for a moment, then released her. Seeing her stamping her feet, he bent down, gently pulled up the sides of the cloak to block the cold wind, and then pulled the drawstrings on both sides, tying them gently to form a neat bow.
Song Jin looked down, her gaze falling on his exposed chest.
He was tall and broad-shouldered. Usually, his heavy clothing concealed his physique, but now, wearing only his undershirt, his muscles rippled from his collarbone down to his chest. His chest muscles were perfectly firm and full, and upon closer inspection, one could even see a slight bulge.
Her eyes darted around, and her hand reached out. His chest muscles were full, his skin smooth, making her want to pinch them.
Qi Zheng's slightly upturned lips pressed down again. He looked at her expressionlessly, grabbed her hand from his chest, and squeezed it by the campfire, saying in a deep voice, "Stop fooling around."
Song Jin was caught red-handed, yet she still had the audacity to say, "You're not dressed properly, I'm worried you'll get cold."
Qi Zheng didn't speak, but held her hand and let her warm herself by the fire.
Song Jin stood before the campfire, the firelight illuminating her face, making it glow red and her eyes even brighter, flashing with a red light. She looked at the person with a stern face who remained silent, her gaze shifting, and whispered, "Then you'll touch it back?"
Qi Zheng's tense face stiffened, and he instantly released her hand, his face visibly flushed, his dark eyes growing even darker, his voice deep and resonant: "Nonsense."
Song Jin scoffed, rubbing her wrist, and muttered, "What a hypocrite. If you're so capable, then be like that in the future."
Qi Zheng, his face tense, walked straight to the other side of the campfire. In the firelight, faces flickered, the firelight suggesting a fierce intensity, all of which was suppressed.
This person, this person
He had nothing to say.
Standing opposite him, Song Jin looked at him and muttered, "Old-fashioned."
If you can't touch a good figure, then what's the point of showing it off?
parading through the streets
snort
...
The two stood there across the campfire until dawn broke, the sound of wind breaking still echoing in the arena.
Qu Maoze was clearly in a weaker position. His neat clothes were tattered, indicating he had been pulled quite a bit. His hair was disheveled, he was covered in sweat, and there was a visible purple mark on the corner of his mouth.
I got beaten up quite a bit
On the other side, Ruan Donglin wasn't in much better shape, but his dark skin allowed him to conceal his injuries, and Qu Maoze used skillful maneuvering to make him appear less disheveled.
At first, the two were still in the mood to settle old scores, but as the fight progressed, they grew increasingly agitated. Seeing that dawn was breaking, they raised their fists and threw another punch.
negotiation?
Forget it, let's just fight first.
Song Jin yawned again, stretched, and went to do some more physical activity.
She hadn't really been working hard lately; her bones cracked as she moved. As she relaxed, her head tilted slightly, like a snake twisting gently, and she straightened up.
Step aside and remain motionless.
Behind them, through the hazy mist, Niu Tielan and Tai Qingxin approached hand in hand. The mother and daughter walked lightly, their expressions gentle, but their simply tied-up hair and casually draped outer garments revealed that they were not as composed as they appeared.
Song Jin cautiously took a step back and stood next to Qi Zheng, her posture upright and her expression docile. When Niu Tielan walked over, she pointed at Qi Zheng without hesitation.
He asked me to come.
Qi Zheng stood to one side, now carrying a pot on his back. Speechless, he glanced at the culprit, then took the pot and said softly, "Greetings, Madam, Madam Hou."
Niu Tielan glared at Song Jin, then glanced at Qi Zheng's thin undergarment and reminded him, "Good morning, Your Highness. It's chilly outside; be careful not to catch a cold."
Qi Zheng nodded: "I came out in a hurry, please forgive me. I'll go back and pack up first, and I'll leave things here to you two."
His coming here was partly for the sake of the excitement, but mainly because he was worried that Qu Maoze and Ruan Donglin might act recklessly. With him here, the two of them would have to be more cautious.
"Your Highness, you've worked hard." Niu Tielan's gaze towards him showed even more satisfaction and appreciation, but when she looked at the two still fighting, only disdain remained. "Two old geezers."
Qi Zheng didn't know how to respond to that, so he turned and left.
He was only wearing his undergarments at the moment, which was inappropriate for him to see the women.
Song Jin, standing nearby, muttered again, "What a hypocrite."
Niu Tielan glared at her fiercely and whispered, "I'll settle the score with you when we get back."
Too lazy to listen to her nonsense, Niu Tielan turned and walked towards the dueling platform, looking at the two people who were injured from punching and kicking, feeling both worried and annoyed.
How old are you? You still act like a teenager!
She lowered her brows and walked straight over: "Haven't you had enough?"
Startled awake by the sound, Ruan Donglin realized it was already daylight. He instinctively held back, but having fought too hard, he still managed to strike the man's face.
It looks intimidating, but it's actually quite weak.
Qu Maoze could easily dodge the punch, but he decisively withdrew his strength and took the blow head-on.
Ruan Donglin stared in astonishment at the fist that had struck the person.
Is this reasonable?
From Niu Tielan's perspective
Qu Maoze immediately stopped what he was doing, turned his head and tried to greet her with great trust, but Ruan Donglin, lacking any sense of sportsmanship, punched him. After punching, he clenched his fist in mid-air, looking as if he was about to strike again.
Niu Tielan was furious. She stepped forward and shoved him aside, anxiously pulling Qu Maoze along. She stood on tiptoe and pried open Qu Maoze's covered eyes and brows, which were somewhat red and swollen. It was fine now because of the exertion, but they would inevitably turn bruised and purple in a while. Blood also trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The usually handsome and refined man now looked extremely disheveled.
Her eyes were red as she glared angrily at Ruan Donglin: "Are you ever going to stop? You hit people indiscriminately. Am I next?"
Ruan Donglin's Wrongful Conviction
Qu Maoze hissed twice, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, pulled her close, and whispered, "Don't worry, I'm fine. The Marquis probably didn't do it on purpose."
Niu Tielan retorted angrily, "If it wasn't intentional, then what was it? Was it deliberate?"
Qu Maoze: "It's alright, I'm the junior, it doesn't matter if I get a beating."
Niu Tielan was still angry: "If he dares to hit you today, he'll dare to hit me tomorrow."
Qu Maoze almost burst out laughing, but he tried hard to suppress it, though a smile still crept onto his lips. He glanced at the person who was clearly exasperated but still hanging his head like a little child, too timid to retort, and smiled, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we're leaving tomorrow anyway."
Ruan Donglin couldn't take it anymore. He raised his head, glaring with wide eyes: "Leave? What do you mean, leave tomorrow? I'll let you fight back, okay?"
Niu Tielan was still a little uncomfortable when Qu Maoze suddenly said this. She hadn't figured out how to tell them about it yet, and now seeing Ruan Donglin's reaction, she was even angrier: "All you know is fighting, fighting, fighting! Are you a brute?"
Ruan Donglin's head drooped again, but he quickly said, "You can't use that to threaten me. You just got back today, why are you leaving tomorrow? You should leave next year, no, the year after. This is your home, where are you going? The capital is full of troubles and chaos, what's so good about it?"
Although he knew that more than twenty years had passed, his daughter was now a mother herself, had her own family, and would eventually have to live her own life.
But it can't be this early.
Unfortunately, reality is crueler than imagined.
Niu Tielan pursed her lips, her mood somewhat somber, but still said, "We're leaving tomorrow."
"What? Tomorrow?" Tai Qingxin was very anxious, her almond-shaped eyes immediately welling up with tears. She hurriedly asked, "Is it because of your father? He doesn't have any other intentions. That old man, let's kick him out, okay? Don't go!"
As she spoke, she grabbed Ruan Donglin's arm, patted it hard, and then held Niu Tielan's hand tightly. Her eyes were red, and her voice choked with emotion: "Don't be like this, Lingling, Mother really, really misses you."
Seeing her like this, Niu Tielan felt a lump in her throat.
Without the curse, she could stay for a while without any problem, but now, even one more day wouldn't be safe.
Her body is related to more than just herself.
Niu Tielan said in a low voice, "I know, but I have other things to do. We'll come over when we're done."
She wasn't sure if she would recover, but she would try her best. She still had her daughter to take care of and so many favors to repay.
Tai Qingxin refused to accept this explanation. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him, refusing to let go: "What could be so important? Just stay a little longer!"
Ruan Donglin stood to the side, and seeing this, he was about to throw a heavy punch at himself.
Fortunately, Qu Maoze was prepared and grabbed the man, determined not to let an innocent person be blamed.
Ruan Donglin was stopped, glaring fiercely at Qu Maoze, the 'culprit,' furious but dared not do anything more, fearing he would anger his daughter again.
He was both angry and remorseful. Suppressing his emotions, he pleaded, "Your mother is right. It's your father's fault. I have a bad temper and I'm immature. You can scold me, or even hit me, really, I..."
...
The joy of reunion is thus dispelled.
Niu Tielan couldn't tell them the reason directly, so she could only carefully comfort Tai Qingxin. But no matter how she tried to explain, it was difficult to explain why they couldn't stay even one more day.
Both the couple said that if others had something to do, they could leave, but she could stay.
Unfortunately, the truth is that everyone else had the time and could stay, but she couldn't.
Niu Tielan had a bit of a headache and couldn't give a proper reason, so she could only reassure them and say that she would come again another time.
Song Jin couldn't participate in this heartwarming scene; she stood aside the whole time, listening to her mother's ramblings. As the day passed, she hadn't even managed to fool Tai Qingxin, and Ruan Donglin's expression had become increasingly suspicious.
Song Jin pondered for a moment, then tossed aside the sunflower seed shells in her hand and swaggered over to Niu Tielan. She put her elbow on Niu Tielan's shoulder, looking completely relaxed.
She glanced at Tai Qingxin, whose eyes were red and who was about to emerge, and said, "Mother, don't try to fool me. It's not like it's something that can't be said. Grandma is old enough to handle it."
Niu Tielan looked worried and whispered, "Stop fooling around."
Her mother's health wasn't good to begin with, and if she found out about her situation, she would worry about it every day, and she would never be at ease if anything happened to her.
Tai Qingxin, unaware of her worries, heard Song Jin's words and knew she knew the inside story. She quickly wiped away her tears and hurriedly said, "That's right, Jin Jin, you tell her. Grandma can handle it."
Even the biggest things shouldn't take just one or two days.
Tai Qingxin was in a state of turmoil, constantly wondering if her daughter disliked them, or if something worse was going on; she was very uneasy.
Niu Tielan, worried that Song Jin would speak frankly, grabbed her sleeve to stop her, warning, "Song Jin..."
Song Jin sat down leisurely, calmly drank a cup of tea, and pointed to Qi Zheng, who was silently drinking tea on the other side.
"It's like this, I need to get engaged to him as soon as I get back. We need to pick a date and consider other things, so we really can't afford to delay. My mother only has one child, so naturally she wants everything to be perfect. Grandma, please be understanding. If you're really worried, you can come back with us. The Song family mansion is so big, there's enough room."
Qi Zheng, who was being pointed at: ...
Others: ? ? ?
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