Chapter 121 It's all because he's good-looking.
The beautiful peach blossom eyes in front of her were serene and deep. Although there was a smile on her lips, the smile did not reach her eyes. Her dark pupils were like a quagmire, and Jiang Ling'er saw herself in them.
A small hill instantly rose between her brows: "I have never looked down on you."
Jiang Ling'er placed her hand on his chest. She knew she was never good with words and could never win an argument with him, and she didn't want to argue with him right now.
"You... first cure my poison."
"don't want."
Jiang Ling'er's eyes widened: "Why?!"
Ji Yunshu was surprisingly frank: "You're very strong now, I can't beat you."
He witnessed her prowess at the martial arts tournament; her rapid growth astonished him, and at the same time, terrified him.
Married for six years, she was always away on missions, rarely seeing him. She was like a bird that would never stay for anyone, and he feared he would never be able to hold onto her again.
Jiang Ling'er: "..."
Jiang Ling'er was so angry she almost laughed.
At this moment, I really wanted to have a serious talk with him. He said she chose him because the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) forced her into marriage, which was true, but not entirely. He overestimated her filial piety and underestimated her temper. If she truly didn't want to marry him, even a knife to her throat wouldn't have made it happen.
It's all because he's good-looking.
Ever since they parted at the city gate, she had wanted to pry open this man's mind. She originally thought he was quite smart, but she knew all too well that he had married her for power.
Jiang Ling'er found it strange. She had nothing now. She was no longer the young master of the world's number one escort service, nor did she have any gold leaves. She had even become the target of everyone's hatred. He, on the other hand, had become the sole young master of Sun and Moon Fortress. He had everything. She was no longer of any value. He should have known that.
She was attracted to his good looks, and he was attracted to her wealth and power. This marriage was originally a transaction of interests, and now it's time to settle the matter.
"If you cure my poison, we can still be friends."
“Friends?” Ji Yunshu savored the word, then laughed, a hearty laugh that even brought tears to her eyes. “I was wrong. You are still you. You have never changed.”
Ji Yunshu wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes with her thumb, stood up straight with a carefree attitude, and let go of her.
"Okay, I'll let you go."
Jiang Ling'er was stunned for a moment, then her almond-shaped eyes lit up. She jumped up from the chair and strode towards the door without looking back.
Seeing this, the young man lowered his eyes and chuckled very softly: "At least finish this meal before you leave."
Jiang Ling'er paused, glancing at him sideways.
The young man hid in the shadows, his thin figure appearing even more lonely in the darkness, with a large table of dishes that had long since gone cold in front of him.
"I cooked all of this myself...it's all your favorite food."
Jiang Ling'er sniffed, and for no reason, the tip of her nose felt a little sore.
Married for six years, she was always traveling the world with her martial arts uncles, their lives becoming increasingly distant. But whenever she returned, he would always prepare a large feast for her. She knew she was playful, had a bad temper, and was willful, and that she owed him a lot.
Although we may not become husband and wife, we will definitely be family.
Jiang Ling'er was silent for a moment, then turned around, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
He picked up his chopsticks but hesitated to put them down.
Ji Yunshu seemed to read her mind: "Don't worry, it's not poisonous."
Seeing that she still didn't move, the young man smiled self-deprecatingly, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth: "Are you relieved now?"
Jiang Ling'er then picked up her chopsticks.
The meal was unusually silent.
"When... did we become like this? You've actually started to be wary of me. Do you really think I would poison you? Your body is under too much strain. I only temporarily sealed your Qi Hai acupoint. You should know that I would never... and would never hurt you."
Jiang Ling'er's long eyelashes trembled. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.
After a meal that left her with no taste, Jiang Ling'er put down her chopsticks.
"Your appetite has shrunk considerably. What, you don't even want to have a meal with me now?"
The night was slightly chilly, and a sound even chillier than the night came from the other side of the table. The candlelight was dim, and Ji Yunshu was hidden in the darkness, so his expression could not be seen.
But they must have felt wronged and lonely.
In the past, Jiang Ling'er would have already gone to coax him, but now she—
"I'm leaving now."
She couldn't sit still any longer.
"Can we have one last hug?"
Jiang Ling'er, who was about to leave, froze in place. She glanced sideways at Ji Yunshu, who emerged from the shadows, still the refined and elegant gentleman she had always been.
With a slight upturn of his lips, he opened his arms to her.
In that instant, she finally saw him from her past.
Jiang Ling'er smiled and turned around to throw herself into his arms, embracing him tightly. The cool fragrance instantly enveloped her.
She knew they couldn't be friends. This parting might be their last.
But in her heart, he will always be her important family member...
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced the back of my head.
Jiang Ling'er pushed him away abruptly, both surprised and angry: "What are you doing!"
Ji Yunshu was pushed back a step, and the silver needle hidden between her fingers fell to the ground.
He met her gaze directly, his dark eyes as deep and unfathomable as mud: "I just want to go back to the past."
Jiang Ling'er covered the back of her head, which was stinging from the sting, and felt the world begin to shake again. She looked at the person in front of her in disbelief:
"……What?"
She shook her head, gritted her teeth, and swung a palm at Ji Yunshu. The young man easily deflected the blow, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into his arms.
"I just want to go back to that time..." A cool hand caressed the woman's smooth face, and Ji Yunshu saw her own reflection in her almond-shaped eyes, just as she had hoped. "You only have my past in your eyes."
"Hahaha, good lad, you really did make a move after all. Aren't you afraid of becoming an idiot now?"
In the last moment before she closed her eyes, Jiang Ling'er saw the person she absolutely did not want to see.
Old poison, Gongye Chi.
Jiang Ling'er's pupils contracted slightly, but the next second she was pulled into a large hand's embrace, the familiar cold fragrance mixed with that indistinct sigh overwhelming her.
"Never mind... as long as she's still by my side."
Overwhelmed by a sense of utter confusion, she had no choice but to close her eyes.
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At the tomb of Abbot Jinghai.
The young monk stood alone before the grave. The rain had stopped sometime earlier, and the cold wind was biting. He sat there all alone.
No one will hold his hand anymore, protecting him on his journey:
"I would never abandon Your Highness. But... I see Your Highness as someone who will only bring you danger. Your Highness, rest assured, I have entrusted Your Highness to Abbot Jinghai, who will certainly take good care of you."
No one holds his prayer beads anymore, and no one swears an oath to him:
Today, before the world, we make a pact: if your father wants you to live, I will certainly not let you die! What your father failed to accomplish... I will do! From this day forward, I will protect you!
The world is vast, yet there is nowhere to go.
The boy clutched the prayer beads tightly in his hand, his forehead pressed against the cold tombstone. Not because the night wind was too cold, but for some other reason, he trembled, murmuring:
"Abbot, where should I go..."
Finally, everyone gave up on him.
Yes, his existence only brings disaster.
Is it because he's gone...?
As the autumn wind swept past the fallen leaves, the young man suddenly heard the voice of Abbot Jinghai.
"You...you promised your master one thing."
He remembered. He remembered how he had tried to cover the wound that had pierced Abbot Jinghai's chest, but to no avail. He remembered the promise he had made to the abbot.
"On behalf of this humble monk, I extend my greetings to my senior brother Xuanming. Before I die, I truly, truly wish to see the flowers of Qixia Temple one last time..."
The little monk remained silent in the cold wind for a long time before finally moving.
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The dew grows heavier as night deepens.
Rain pattered against the windowsill.
Liu Yirong leaned over and closed the window. When she turned back, in the blink of an eye, a slender, tall figure covered in wounds appeared in the room.
Liu Yirong was taken aback, then smiled gently and said, "How did you find me, Daoist Master? I thought it would take at least three more days..." Liu Yirong glanced at the newcomer with a smile, "It seems she is someone very important to you."
The newcomer was none other than Pei Xuan, the carefree scholar.
The young Taoist priest looked at her expressionlessly, unwilling to reminisce. The two spoke almost simultaneously:
"Tao Niang, she..."
"Dead."
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