Chapter 56: A Dream That Lingers for a Thousand Years
Yu Linglong combed her beautiful hair, while Xiaoyao Lang stood behind her, gazing at her affectionately.
Yu Linglong said softly, "You can sit down if you have nothing to do. Why are you guarding me?"
Xiaoyao Lang laughed and said, "A beautiful woman with a delicate fragrance, one can never tire of looking at her. Her beauty in dressing up is unforgettable for a thousand years! How could I sit idly by and watch such a wonderful sight!"
Yu Linglong smiled sweetly: "You're such a chatterbox!"
Xiaoyao Lang moved closer and lowered his head, saying, "May I do your hair and makeup for you?"
Yu Linglong whispered, "Can you?"
Xiaoyao Lang took the comb and said boldly, "Can you teach me?" He then began to carefully comb the hair.
After a moment of flirting, Yu Linglong's hair was styled into a bun, still in its signature slanted spiral shape, with a strand of black hair framing her forehead. Xiaoyao Lang then put on nine jade lotus flowers and inserted a pale white jade hairpin.
Xiaoyao Lang laughed and said, "Linglong, looking at you now, I can't help but compose a poem!"
Yu Linglong smiled sweetly and said, "You can also compose poems? I'd like to hear it!"
Xiaoyao Lang's cheerful voice rang out: "Before the mirror, a beauty, exquisite and delicate, with a face that could topple four cities, a pretty face, a voice that lingers like a melodious oriole, a body that is voluptuous and graceful."
At this moment, Xiaoyao Lang bent down and hugged Yu Linglong from behind, continuing to whisper, "Walking in the immortal wind, leaving no trace, fragrant like a lotus, pure and fragrant." Then, he kissed Yu Linglong on the cheek.
Yu Linglong smiled sweetly and glanced at Xiaoyao Lang. She said softly, "You're praising me like that; I know you have ulterior motives!"
Xiaoyao Lang: "What do you mean?"
Yu Linglong: "Then why don't you let me go?"
Xiaoyao laughed and said, "I want to hold you a little longer!"
Yu Linglong gently scolded, "Alright! I'm hungry!"
Xiaoyao Lang quickly let go of his hand and said with a smile, "I almost forgot, breakfast might get cold!"
The two left the bedroom, and Xiaoyao Lang placed the prepared pastries in front of Yu Linglong. He then peeled two eggs and placed them on Yu Linglong's plate.
Just as the two finished eating, the shop owner burst in, panicked, and shouted, "Something terrible has happened! You'd better pack your things and run for your lives!"
Xiaoyao Lang looked puzzled and stared at his panicked boss, asking, "What happened?"
The shopkeeper said anxiously, "Oh dear, I don't have time to talk to you about all this. The people from Zhujiazhuang are attacking. They attacked two villages last night and suddenly they've reached this place. Everyone is running for their lives. You'd better run quickly." After saying that, he hurriedly left.
Looking at the fleeing shop owner, Xiaoyao Lang sighed, "When I was a child, it was just like this. There was war everywhere, and we had to hide and flee. Refugees were everywhere."
Yu Linglong stood up and comforted her, saying, "It's all over now, don't think about it anymore."
Xiaoyao Lang laughed and said, "Yes, Linglong, let's go too."
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves echoed through the streets, accompanied by a cacophony of shouts. One voice cried out, "Trying to run? Those who flee will be killed without mercy! Leave your valuables behind, surrender to the Zhu Family Village, and you may be spared!"
Xiaoyao Lang lifted the window screen and peered into the street. He saw a dozen or so people on horseback, their swords stained with blood, followed by about a hundred others running, some carrying bows and arrows. The leader was dressed in blue, with his hair in a bun and long hair flowing down his shoulders, and he held a long sword in his hand.
The shop owner tried to escape on horseback from the backyard, but was caught red-handed. The entire street was thoroughly searched, and in no time, more than a dozen merchants were tied up.
At the same time, four knife-wielding constables entered the Maple Forest Inn and quickly searched the room of Xiaoyao Lang and his companion. Two of the constables shouted upon seeing the two, "You two, hurry up and come downstairs."
Xiaoyao Lang ignored it. Yu Linglong waved her hand, and two bursts of energy struck Xiaozu, causing her to fall unconscious. The other two also entered the room. Seeing their companions fall to the ground, they panicked and fainted one after another.
Yu Linglong said softly, "Yu Lang, let's go!"
Xiaoyao Lang said seriously, "No, they have kidnapped many villagers and will kill them."
Yu Linglong leaned close to the window and whispered, "They outnumber you and have crossbows. You can't save them."
Xiaoyao Lang declared, "I have no relatives since I was a child. The feeling of being all alone is extremely painful. If they are slaughtered, their families will suffer unbearable pain. If I hold them off for a while, I can buy them a chance to escape."
Yu Linglong said sadly, "You insist on putting yourself in danger. What am I supposed to do?"
Xiaoyao Lang held Yu Linglong's hand and looked at her with a smile, saying, "Linglong, the purpose of life is simply to do good deeds and live wisely. If I were to watch them die in vain today, I would not be able to bear it, and I would never have peace of mind afterward. Please forgive me."
Yu Linglong said with a wry smile, "Since that's your excuse, then go!"
Xiaoyao Lang kissed Yu Linglong on the forehead, then turned and went downstairs.
At this moment, Yu Linglong looked out the window and saw the man in blue riding on his horse, coldly saying, "I've given you good advice, but you won't listen. Do you want me to kill you before you realize your mistakes?"
The shop owner spat and cursed, "Zhu Ziqiao, it would be better to kill me than to be with you! You steal other men's wives and daughters, rob other men's treasures, seize other men's land, and commit all sorts of evil deeds. People like you are just blind; may heaven strike you dead with lightning!"
Zhu Ziqiao closed his eyes and said calmly, "Well said! It's been a long time since I've heard such pleasant cursing!"
At this moment, a young man with a small foot said, "Fifth Young Master, I know this man. He is the manager of this Maple Forest Inn and a loyal member of the Yongle Gang. His name is Wan Yuandao!" The young man said, holding up the hilt of his knife.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ziqiao dismounted, walked up to Wan Yuandao, lifted his chin with his sword sheath, and loudly proclaimed, "The loyalty of the Yongle Gang! Very well! You must all be members of the Yongle Gang! That's good, I'll kill him first. If you remain obstinate, your fate will be the same as his!"
Before he finished speaking, he drew his sword and swung it toward Wan Yuandao's neck. Just then, Xiaoyao Lang drew his sword and rushed out of the door, thrusting it toward Zhu Ziqiao. Upon seeing this, Zhu Ziqiao hurriedly used his sword to block.
Xiaoyao Lang swept his sword horizontally, catching Zhu Ziqiao off guard. A lock of his hair fell out, and he hurriedly took several steps back, his heart filled with shock.
Xiaoyao Lang seized the opportunity and attacked the four people escorting Xiaozu, severing their ropes and shouting, "Shopkeeper, you go first, I'll hold them off!"
At this moment, the three of them fled in haste, but Wan Yuandao shouted, "Master, how can I face you if you let me go!"
As he killed, Xiaoyao Lang cursed, "Stop dawdling and get out of here! I have a good plan to escape!"
Upon hearing this, Wan Yuandao disregarded everything else and seized his horse to flee.
Enraged, Zhu Ziqiao roared, "Kill him! Slash him to death!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd surged forward. Although Xiaoyao Lang was trapped, his broken sword was swift and deadly; with three strikes, one person was slit in the throat, and more than a dozen fell in moments. The crowd couldn't help but tremble with fear, hesitating to advance. Seeing that there were still more than a dozen people bound, Xiaoyao Lang prepared to go forward and loosen the ropes.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Ziqiao angrily shouted, "A bunch of good-for-nothings!" He then yelled and attacked Xiaoyao Lang with his sword. The sword carried energy, and with his lightness skill, Xiaoyao Lang was unable to resist for a while. After one round, blood was flowing from Xiaoyao Lang's arm.
Yu Linglong watched from upstairs, her heart filled with worry. She looked up at the sky and said, "Since we love each other, what's the point of dying for each other?" Then she raised her palm, smashed the window, and descended from the sky.
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