Chapter 23: “I am just a lecher.”…

Chapter 23 "I am merely a man with desires..."

Countless streets and alleys, with trees aglow under the night sky. Lin Ye and Xue Li stood together at the entrance of an alley, talking.

Xue Li was thinking about how to cover her lie, while Lin Ye's cheeks were flushed, his mind wandering. He kept his head down, barely looking at Xue Li.

So, it was Xue Li who spoke first again: "I went to the small woods to wait for you, but when you didn't show up, I left."

Her heart quivered slightly with guilt as she spoke. However, for someone as detached as her, this guilt was just a trivial matter, something that would pass. Xue Li continued calmly.

Lin Ye stammered: "I also went to the small woods. I, I mistook the time of our meeting, didn't see you, thought you had left first, so I left too."

Compared to Xue Li, he was genuinely guilty. Disappointing such a beautiful girl left him uneasy.

Xue Li quickly added to her lie: "Exactly. That's what happened, I left first."

She cast a glance at him, taking in his stark black martial attire, different from his usual elegant and lazy young master demeanor. She pounced on this discrepancy to confront him: "Why does your outfit look like assassin's garb?"

Lin Ye's heart was in turmoil, dizzily thinking: She's asking about me.

Does she care?

Lin Ye felt both sweet and guilty, the young master not yet understanding this emotion, had to continue fabricating lies with a guilty conscience.

He loathed himself: "Since I was a child, I've admired the freedom and unparalleled martial arts of heroes. I'm frail and rarely venture out, but I can dress like a hero, imagining myself as one. This time, meeting you to watch the festival, without those annoying followers, I thought, thought... to fulfill my dream."

Xue Li: "You must have gotten something wrong."

Heroes don't skulk around in dark attire.

Lin Ye: "Hmm."

Xue Li noticed his voice getting softer. He kept looking around, avoiding eye contact. The martial garb accentuated his pallor, making him appear ghostly.

Xue Li thought: Could he be dying here?

She needed to keep her distance from him.

She still had a night journey ahead to Guangzhou. If Lin Ye were to die while she was present... the scrutiny and chase she might endure could surpass even those from 'Qin Yueye.'

Xue Li subtly shifted away.

The troublesome youth abruptly lifted his gaze: "Why are you wearing stealth gear?"

He glanced at her, his face turning even redder.

Xue Li became even more afraid he might burn her to death.

Xue Li calmly said: "As a wanderer, I dress as I please."

Lin Ye paused, a faint smile flickering in his eyes. He knew there were many suspicious points about this woman's presence here, but if she didn't reveal anything, he didn't want to ask.

Fate having played its hand, they might as well consider this a secret rendezvous, the two of them strolling through the night market together.

Strolling through the night market...

Lin Ye's eyes gleamed as he whispered: "Is there nothing you wish to ask me?"

Xue Li shook her head firmly; she truly didn't care.

Distracting Dong Jun would keep Kong Laoliu safe. Plus, he could spend time with the beautiful girl...

Xue Li was unwilling, but she kept it to herself. She began to feel that persuading him with words would be difficult. Perhaps it would be better to take direct action.

At that moment, Lin Ye, now intent on strolling, perked up and turned to look around for something fun. Xue Li stood behind him, watching his back as she slowly gathered her internal energy.

Lin Ye spoke earnestly, "Let me see, what would Dong Jun enjoy watching?"

The dagger hidden in Xue Li's sleeve slipped out of its sheath, its cold gleam flashing under her black clothes. She stepped closer to him.

"Gurgle."

Just as Xue Li was about to act, her stomach rumbled. She froze, her internal energy dissipating. Lin Ye turned around, his eyes wide as he looked at her.

Lin Ye's smile slowly spread across his face.

He was overjoyed, no longer nervous or shy. Even with his frail, sickly frame, he dared to lean toward her, his tone as if coaxing a child, "Is there anything Dong Jun would like to eat? I'm here to help."

Xue Li had never been spoken to like a child before.

So she didn't realize he was trying to coax her.

She maintained a serious expression, while Lin Ye, with a playful glint in his eyes, suggested, "How about some sweet candied fruits?"

Xue Li wasn't sure what she liked.

But—Xue Li said, "Candied fruits. Will you buy them for me?"

Lin Ye's heart softened, "Of course."

Xue Li pressed further, "What if I don't pay? Is that alright?"

She knew she was testing her luck. Song Wanfeng had taught her that sometimes, you just had to be bold. After all, she couldn't feel her face, so being shameless was fine.

Lin Ye feigned anger, gently tapping her head.

When Xue Li's eyes widened in surprise, he quickly withdrew his hand, placing it behind his back, "What are you talking about? Do you think I care about a little money?"

He straightened his back, eager, "Stay here and wait for me."

Xue Li wondered why she needed to wait. Wouldn't it be better to go together?

But she didn't ask.

Worried she might collapse from hunger, she only asked, "How long?"

Lin Ye suddenly remembered how he had stood her up in the grove earlier, unsure how long she had waited or how disappointed she must have been to ask him this.

Lin Ye felt both guilty and tender, with a touch of heartache, "Just fifteen minutes."

Xue Li nodded obediently, "Okay."

Lin Ye quickly left, and when he found Kong Laoliu, he put his hat back on. Kong Laoliu, wary of Dong Jun's potential wrath, hadn't gone far. Seeing Lin Ye catch up, Kong Laoliu couldn't help but laugh softly.

--

Kong Laoliu: "Is that Dong Jun's true nature?"

Lin Ye gave a vague response.

Kong Laoliu: "You've got good taste, young master. I support you—pah, marrying a ghost. The little beauty is so lovely. If you like her, be brave..."

Lin Ye was startled: "Like her? No, I am going for an alliance marriage."

Lin Ye covered his face in anguish, his tone heavy: "I'm just a man driven by lust."

Kong Laoliu: "..."

He looked puzzled, at a loss for words. Luckily, he didn't have to deal with Lin Ye's mess. Lin Ye hurried him along, his hand in his sleeve tingling, as if the scent of her hair still clung to his fingers.

Kong Laoliu was by his side. He couldn't bring himself to sniff secretly, but he could subtly rub his fingers in his sleeve.

Lin Ye seemed in a rush, as if something urgent was hot on his heels. He quickly brought Kong Laoliu to the pawnshop, presented a waist token, and uttered a code word. The pawnshop assistant, spotting the young man in black with a bamboo hat in the cold night, immediately clasped his fists excitedly.

Kong Laoliu noticed that the assistant was tall and robust, with the breathing and gait of a martial artist.

The assistant lowered his voice: "Young master, are you alright?"

Lin Ye handed Kong Laoliu over to them and gave some instructions. As he was about to leave, the assistant asked: "I've been waiting for orders for quite some time. In a couple of days, can I join your team, young master?"

Lin Ye turned back with a smile: "In a couple of days."

Kong Laoliu's eyes narrowed, suspecting the drunkards in the inn might still fall into Lin Ye's trap; meanwhile, the assistant felt reassured as he watched the young master leave.

They were the Lin family's covert guards.

The Lin family protected Sichuan, and they protected the Lin family's master.

With the entire Lin family gone, only the young master was left. The young master was going to undertake a great task, to fulfill the Lin family's regret of not seeing the unification of the north and south, and the ceaseless war. They would follow the young master to make amends for the loyal Lin family's regrets.

--

Lin Ye finally felt at ease after sending Kong Laoliu to his own people, and quickly went to buy some sweets to return to Xue Li.

Worried she might not have enough to eat and fearing she might choke on dry food, he thoughtfully bought plenty of honey syrup and cold water.

As Lin Ye was about to hurry back with his packages, at the intersection of two alleys, he heard the heart-wrenching cry of a child and the shouts of passersby.

A carriage was out of control, heading straight for the child in the road.

Lin Ye instantly tensed up, and without a second thought, he dropped all the oil-paper packages, dashed into the road, and scooped the child into his arms.

--

While Lin Ye was caught up with the out-of-control carriage, the grateful passersby, and the child's cries for his parents, Xue Li quietly leaned against the wall by the flower umbrella in the alley.

Fifteen minutes had passed.

He didn't come.

She had embarrassed herself again.

Her master had taught her the ways of the martial world, but when she truly stepped into it, she still made many laughable blunders. Song Wanfeng had also taught her not to trust anyone, so she could escape unharmed.

She didn't trust the young master.

She could have escaped unharmed.

But her stomach was uncooperative, and she had no money.

Never mind.

Though Xue Li felt physically weak and her mind was hazy, she could still continue her journey. Once she left the town, she expected to find mountains and forests where she could hunt.

Xue Li adjusted her bamboo hat and melted into the crowd.

--

Lin Ye bought more candies but had no time for pastries or honey syrup. In his rush, sweat beaded on the tip of his nose.

He clung to a sliver of hope that she might wait for him again. But when he hurried back to their meeting spot, he found the alley deserted.

Maybe because he looked so pitiful, the umbrella-selling auntie by the alley took pity on him and said, "The young lady waited for you for a quarter of an hour."

The middle-aged auntie always sided with whoever was in front of her. Earlier, she pitied the young lady and cursed the heartless man; now, seeing the young man distraught, she blamed the young lady.

The auntie said, "I've never seen such a heartless young lady, not even willing to wait a bit longer. I pleaded with her, but she didn't even glance back, just walked off with her bamboo hat..."

Wearing a bamboo hat!

Lin Ye's mind flashed with a sudden realization—Tonight, he had his own plans, and the fake Dong Jun surely had hers too. Her outfit was anything but ordinary.

Why did she leave? What was she up to? Could it threaten the peace envoy?

Xue Li weaved through the eaves and treetops of Huanchuan Town when she suddenly sensed someone leaping onto the roof behind her, rushing toward her.

Without hesitation, she flicked her fingers, sending a gust of wind. The trees rustled behind her as the figure twisted mid-air in an eerie dodge.

--

In the moonlight, a shadow flickered, blocking Xue Li's path once more. Her dagger flashed from her sleeve for the second time that night, its blade glinting.

Through her bamboo hat, she saw the figure—a black-clad person also wearing a bamboo hat.

The figure spoke in a low, casual tone, "Why the rush to leave Huanchuan, Dong Jun? What's your plan?"

Xue Li skipped the chit-chat and lunged with her dagger's cold gleam.

The black-clad figure leaned back, retreating swiftly, caught off guard by her relentless attack.

"Why not stay? Maybe someone's waiting for you."

"Swish—" The cold light of the dagger reflected on the flying veil of the bamboo hat.

Trees swayed as sword lights and dagger shadows clashed like silver moonlight, brushing their fluttering hems.

At that moment, a group of black-clad figures, dispatched by the two mysterious individuals from Northern Zhou, arrived at the market of Huanchuan Town.

They stood on the rooftops, glass bottles for collecting blood hanging at their waists, gazing down at the bustling human world below.

--

They had come from the direction of the inn, tracking Lin Ye's trail. With the young master out of protection, it was naturally their chance to strike.

But their attack wouldn't target just the young master—

From the high eaves and tree shadows, countless crossbows and flaming arrows were aimed at the crowd below.

One hundred and twenty years ago, the northern tribe of Huoqiu Kingdom and Great Zhou Kingdom clashed in a decisive battle. Huoqiu was driven out of the western regions, nearly annihilated. Great Zhou also suffered heavy losses, with its royal family split into two factions by Huoqiu's spies, poisoned with "HeartEater," and forced to fight across the river.

Huoqiu burned with hatred for Great Zhou.

But compared to Northern Zhou, they harbor even greater hatred for Southern Zhou. It was the emperor of Southern Zhou who killed their king back then.

A hundred and twenty years later, all the grievances have returned.

"Our revenge will come, sweeping across the entire Shenzhou. The offspring of Great Zhou, wait and see, blood debts will be repaid with blood!"

--

The swords and daggers knocked off the hats of the two combatants high above, the fragments of gauze fell like snow at their feet.

The wind stirred by the snowy blade brushed past the young man's sleeves. He stood as straight as steel, his face calm and his eyes cold, his usual playful smile gone, and the earlier desolation from searching the market nowhere to be seen.

His gaze, almost intimidating, settled on Xue Li's calm face.

Lin Ye's sword pointed downward: "It's me."

Xue Li finally spoke: "I know it's you."

Though he altered his voice, she recognized him the moment he spoke. She had heard his voice countless times, openly and secretly... From the start, her dagger had been aimed at him.

He was not a weak and incompetent noble young man, and she was not a chivalrous woman solely dedicated to protecting him.

The wind rustled the leaves, blanketing the ground like frost. Silence, heavy with grievances and suspicions, lay between them, chilling to the bone.

"Boom—"

An explosion erupted below.

Flames leapt, consuming everything, and screams pierced the air. The explosion rattled the eaves and trees, jolting Xue Li and Lin Ye. Their figures swayed as they looked down.

Below, a sea of fire raged, and the descent into human purgatory began.