Chapter 84: Sisters

Chapter 84: Sisters

"Lian Ying."

The handsome yet sinister man strode forward, his tall frame enveloping Qiu Lianying as he rested his chin on her slender shoulder, speaking with deep emotion, "It's been so many days. I've missed you terribly."

Qiu Lianying's face darkened as she struggled with all her might. "Let go!"

"I won't."

Han Zicheng buried his face in her shoulder, taking a deep breath. The faint, elegant fragrance filled his senses, and a joyful smile spread across his lips. "After finally being able to see you again, how could I possibly let go?"

Furious, Qiu Lianying shouted, "I told you to let go!"

"She told you to let go. Are you deaf?"

A sharp pain shot through his knee. Han Zicheng hissed, his grip loosening slightly.

Seizing the opportunity, Qiu Lianying broke free from his embrace and promptly kicked his other leg.

Han Zicheng nearly knelt before the two of them.

He looked up in disbelief, just in time to see Qiu Shuiyi shielding Qiu Lianying behind her. The sisters wore identical expressions of wariness on their strikingly similar faces.

Instinctively ignoring Qiu Shuiyi, his gaze locked onto Qiu Lianying. Seeing the intense hatred in her eyes, his heart ached. "You... why are you looking at me like that?"

He straightened up, reached out, and took a step toward Qiu Lianying. "You hate me?"

"Stay away from her!"

Qiu Shuiyi shielded Qiu Lianying as they retreated.

At this moment, Han Zicheng's eyes were only for Qiu Lianying. He grabbed Qiu Shuiyi's arm and flung her aside, a crimson hue gradually spreading in the depths of his pupils. "You actually hate me?"

*Crash—*

Qiu Shuiyi was thrown onto a table, shattering the white porcelain tea set on the floor.

The clear tea soaked her clothes, and her waist slammed against the corner of the table, sending tears of pain to her eyes.

What a lunatic!

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Qiu Shuiyi stood up, one hand rubbing her waist as she glared hatefully at Han Zicheng.

He advanced step by step, and Qiu Lianying retreated accordingly.

In response, she let out a cold laugh. "You slaughtered the entire Mu family, killed my father-in-law, and injured my husband. Shouldn't I hate you?"

"Shut up!" Han Zicheng's eyes turned a deep, viscous red, his face contorted and frenzied, like a malevolent ghost fallen into the underworld. "What kind of husband is that man to you?"

Qiu Lianying lifted her chin high, proud and mocking. "We have already performed the wedding rites before heaven and earth."

"Without the proper three letters and six etiquettes, it doesn't count at all!" His eyes wide, veins bulging in his neck, Han Zicheng was clearly enraged to the extreme.

"If I say he is, then he is." Qiu Lianying showed no fear, her gaze clear and resolute. "Once I, Qiu Lianying, have chosen someone, I will not change my mind for a lifetime."

His hands at his sides clenched tightly into fists, the cracking sounds echoing in the silent room.

The crimson in Han Zicheng's eyes gradually receded.

He slowly smiled, speaking softly, "It's fine. Once that man is dead, you surely won't mourn him for a lifetime."

"What are you planning to do?" Qiu Lianying was furious, her slender body trembling slightly. Her voice lost some of its clarity, gaining a tremor of fear. "Are you going to harm him?"

The corners of his brows lifted in a smile as he evaded the question. "You're in a bad mood today. I won't disturb you further. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

As he turned, his peripheral glance swept over Qiu Shuiyi, and his voice turned cold. "Take her away."

Bage walked in from outside, grabbed Qiu Shuiyi's arm, and forcibly pulled her out.

"Where are you taking her?!"

Qiu Lianying rushed forward anxiously.

"Slow down, be careful not to fall."

Han Zicheng carefully supported Qiu Lianying's arm, only for her to shake him off immediately.

He wasn't angered; instead, he smiled and answered Qiu Lianying's question cheerfully, "Of course, I'm taking her to where she belongs."

Where she belongs?

While Qiu Lianying was still stunned, Qiu Shuiyi understood immediately, her anger blazing.

Damn Han Zicheng! Hurting her once wasn't enough; he wanted to harm her a second time!

Did she kill his entire family or steal his money in a past life? What kind of grudge or resentment is this, that he insists on putting her to death?!

Qiu Shuiyi glared at Han Zicheng with a murderous look in her eyes.

Qiu Lianying was clever. With a turn of thought, she understood Han Zicheng's meaning and was instantly overcome with rage. "Han Zicheng, are you going to kill my sister?"

"If you harm even a single hair on her head, I'll take your life!"

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck from the sky, enveloping him entirely in its light. Han Zicheng stood frozen in place, unable to believe what he had just heard. "You... what did you say?"

Uncontrollably, he took a step forward, gripping Qiu Lianying's shoulders tightly, each word forced through his clenched teeth. "You want to kill me... for this woman?"

"For a woman you've only known for a few days, you want to kill me?"

In his frenzy, Han Zicheng lost control of his strength. Qiu Lianying felt as if her shoulders were about to be crushed.

Enduring the pain, she said coldly, "She is my own flesh-and-blood sister. Should I not protect her, but instead protect you, a murderer?"

Han Zicheng was deeply shaken. His hands involuntarily loosened, and he staggered back a step, muttering to himself, "Back then... you protected... it was me..."

"Why..."

Why was she now speaking to him with such malice?

"Young Master!"

Bage released Qiu Shuiyi and rushed forward to support Han Zicheng, his face full of concern.

Jet-black, tousled hair fell across his brow, and Han Zicheng's eyes gleamed with an icy light, as if harboring endless frost.

He slowly lifted his gaze, his sinister eyes settling on Qiu Shuiyi.

It was all her.

All because of this woman.

She must have said something she shouldn't have in front of Lian Ying, causing her to misunderstand him.

And that man surnamed Mu, who knows what honeyed words he used to deceive Lian Ying.

Damn them.

They all deserve to die.

A bone-chilling aura, almost tangible, swept toward Qiu Shuiyi, making her shiver involuntarily.

Meeting Han Zicheng's slightly crazed gaze, her heart lurched.

Damn, this lunatic really wants to kill her.

She shrank back, tightly clutching the fabric of her clothes.

"Take her away."

Han Zicheng said coldly.

"Yes, Young Master." Bage responded respectfully and moved toward Qiu Shuiyi.

"Stop!"

A voice as clear as pearls falling onto a jade plate rang out behind him.

Han Zicheng instinctively turned around.

"Swish—"

A cold, dazzling light flashed before his eyes, and he jerked his head to the side.

"Young Master!"

Bage cried out in shock and anger.

Han Zicheng opened his eyes.

The scabbard at his waist was empty.

The girl stood proud and defiant, breathtakingly beautiful, a sword held in her fair, slender hand.

The tip of the sword pointed directly at his Adam's apple.

It must have been her first time holding a sword; her hand trembled slightly, yet she stood firm, not retreating a single step.

"Let us leave."

Han Zicheng gazed quietly at the face before him, as radiant as a lotus, and suddenly threw back his head and laughed.

He took a sudden, aggressive step forward, the sword tip grazing his neck, leaving a trail of blood droplets.

Han Zicheng seemed oblivious, tears welling in his eyes as he said with fixation, "Lian Ying, you saved my life. What does it matter if I return it to you?"

"Young Master!"

Bage was furious. "Have you forgotten Madam's teachings?"

Han Zicheng took another step forward.

The red mark deepened.

Qiu Lianying's sword-holding hand gradually grew unsteady.

She had seen others kill, from initial fear and unease to calm acceptance.

That was because there was always someone by her side, clumsily comforting her in his own way, soothing her restless heart.

But she had never killed anyone herself, and now he was not here.

Tears filled Qiu Lianying's eyes, fear welling up inside her.

She wanted to steel her heart and let the sword in her hand slit his throat.

But she... she... ultimately couldn't bring herself to do it.

In her peripheral vision, Qiu Shuiyi watched her with concern.

Gritting her teeth, Qiu Lianying suddenly shifted the direction of the sword tip.

"Lian Ying!" Han Zicheng cried out in alarm. "What are you doing? Put the sword down!"

"Sis, don't do anything rash!" Qiu Shuiyi urged anxiously.

She held the long sword horizontally, as if it might cut her fair, fragile neck at any moment.

Qiu Lianying's eyes seemed to hold a blazing fire.

She looked at Han Zicheng. "Knowing you won't let us leave, I have only one demand."

"Tell me, tell me, I'll agree to anything," Han Zicheng nodded anxiously, afraid a tremble of her hand would injure herself.

Qiu Lianying lifted her chin and said coldly, "Wherever you take my sister, I must be with her."

Han Zicheng fell silent.

"Speak!"

Qiu Lianying snapped, applying pressure with her hand.

"Stop! I agree! If you want to be with her, then be with her!"

Han Zicheng said frantically.

Qiu Lianying: "Good, then let's go."

"Put the sword down first," Han Zicheng said uneasily.

Casting him a cold, proud glance, Qiu Lianying threw the sword aside. "If I can't kill myself with a sword, I can bite my tongue, smash my head against a wall... I have countless ways to kill myself. I hope you keep your word."

Han Zicheng's face instantly paled.

Pushing aside any second thoughts, he murmured, "Alright, I'll take you with me."

With a wave at Bage, he immediately pulled a black cloth from inside his jacket and blindfolded Qiu Shuiyi with it.

Dressed in black today, Han Zicheng simply tore a piece from his own garment and reached to blindfold Qiu Lianying.

"I'll do it myself."

Avoiding Han Zicheng's hand and the black cloth, Qiu Lianying quickly walked to Qiu Shuiyi's side, deftly blindfolded herself, then took Qiu Shuiyi's hand and said coldly, "Let's go."

Han Zicheng let out a bitter laugh.

Unable to see, Qiu Shuiyi couldn't help but feel a flutter of panic and her hand twitched.

Her palm tightened as another hand firmly held hers, warmth gradually spreading from their joined hands to her heart.

Qiu Shuiyi's heart fluttered, and the corners of her lips turned up before she knew it.

...

Once inside the carriage, the clamor of the bustling market faded behind them, replaced by the whistling wind and the sound of rushing water.

They were on a boat again.

Qiu Shuiyi listened quietly to every sound outside.

Blindfolded, she couldn't accurately tell the time, but judging by the cool breeze brushing against her, it must have been late at night.

Before they could get off the boat, the cabin door suddenly swung open, and Han Zicheng's voice rang out, startlingly clear.

"Go."

Go where?

Qiu Shuiyi was puzzled.

In the next instant, her body tensed abruptly as she felt someone hoist her over their shoulder.

Qiu Lianying's furious scream pierced the air, "Han Zicheng, what are you doing? You promised Yi'er and I could stay together!"

"Lian Ying, I will never regret what I promised you," Han Zicheng coaxed softly. "I'm just having her disembark in a different way."

Their voices gradually faded into the distance. Qiu Shuiyi took a deep breath, suppressing her panic.

Then, someone gagged her and stuffed her into a cramped space.

She was carried off the boat, swaying unsteadily. Qiu Shuiyi guessed she was inside a wooden crate.

In the confined space, the air grew thin. Qiu Shuiyi struggled to breathe, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

In her daze, she heard faint, indistinct whispers.

"...brought her..."

"...truly...willing to part with..."

The voices drew nearer, and Qiu Shuiyi heard a distinctly feminine tone.

Soft, alluring, and unhurried, like a mermaid's mesmerizing whisper from the ocean's depths.

"I hope you truly are willing to part with her, and not deceiving me."