Chapter 6

Oh... she widened her eyes

Who would have thought, a single sentence escaped from his thin lips

It is uncertain whether it is due to the proximity that leaves no room for concealment, but his eyes, which have always been as calm as water, now shimmer with a faint hint of affection

Upon considering this, his anger deepened. He originally thought that the other party had no deep-seated enmity with her, and since he had taken her away from the troublemaking Wenren Manor, that person should not pursue them any further. Unexpectedly, the opponent was determined to put her to death.

Has your master thus abandoned you

Where are you looking

The rustling sound gradually approached, growing louder. The two of them couldn't help but look towards the door. Although there was moonlight, Li Juxiao's eyesight was not that good. However, as soon as he looked, he inwardly exclaimed that it was not good.

"It is, but it is not..." she stammered, clearly sweating profusely despite the slightly cold weather.

The countless small shadows in my mind gradually merged into one, and then stepped out, joyfully and forcefully shouting

There is no need to hear it; the foul odor wafting through my nostrils confirms that the smell emanating from him has indeed attracted trouble

We will set off early tomorrow morning; the mountain roads are difficult for riding, so we will likely arrive by foot in the afternoon

"Yea?" She looked up and saw the corners of his lips slightly curled.

Upon hearing this, he fixed his gaze on her unwavering expression without blinking. After a while, he finally spoke softly:

"I like it! Of course I like it..." she exclaimed softly, only to realize he leaned down and gently brushed his lips against hers. She was taken aback and blurted out, "You..."

Having rushed too far, I now find myself in a situation where there are no villages ahead and no inns behind. Laughing girls, it seems that tonight we can only spend the night in the wilderness

"I am watching you, Senior Brother." As soon as the words were spoken, he averted his gaze again, as if the scenery behind him was very beautiful

It was as if he had noticed her slight tremor; she somewhat sluggishly realized that he was holding her cold little hand. In her confusion, she caught sight of those phoenix eyes gazing at her.

Have you been avoiding me these past few days

You seem at a loss

I have always been behind you

"I will not die; I am merely leaving you for a while." Seeing her stubbornness, he sighed and reached out his hand to her. "Can you swim?"

Upon stepping outside, Li Juxiao saw the familiar ground of yesteryears covered with strange insects. The insects looked somewhat familiar, resembling those she had accidentally stepped on in Wenren Village... ? ... Wow, could it be? She merely stepped on one insect by accident; is it really necessary for all its kin to seek revenge?

She had never seen the bare backs of others, nor had she seen her own; she simply felt that her master's back was truly ... ... a sight to behold

The ten fingers quietly opened, revealing the beautiful bare back in the lake through the gap

She ran up the mountain, choosing to traverse the wild slopes without any paths, as if she were running in her own backyard

"It is so hot, so hot, I can't stand it anymore, I must sneak away to take a bath without Master..." She glanced at the center of the lake, where no one was in sight. She let out a long sigh of relief, patting her flat chest, secretly grateful to have escaped a disaster.

She is being evasive, and he is not unaware of it. His gaze shifts away from her pale little face and surveys the modest room. The interior is spotless, with simple furnishings and no unnecessary clutter, suggesting the owner's fastidiousness and temperament

She calculated that by the time she made the round trip, it would be just dawn, and no one would notice. As she rushed over a small slope, she knew there was a hunting trap behind the thicket, and while deliberately avoiding it, she glanced towards a nearby location.

The moment the venom coursed through his veins, a wave of disorientation washed over him, as if he were seeing countless overlapping shadows. Those shadows were very short, resembling children, and felt utterly unfamiliar. Immediately, disregarding the pain in his arm, he reached for the broken silver and struck the snake's head.

Time continued to pass, and she tossed and turned, unable to find her clothes. From her childhood to her slightly older years, she clearly remembered that after her body grew taller, she often changed clothes, never wearing anything ill-fitting. Yet, she never knew where they had put her clothes, or if they had been lost.

You know many secrets, yet you never take the initiative to speak them out. Gathering laughter, you know I have some skills, yet you are not surprised at all

Are you afraid

In recent days, she has felt something amiss; the boundary between him and her has become blurred. She dares not look him in the eye, nor does she dare to cling to him. She even secretly changed her undergarments to avoid having to crash into the wall in the middle of the night just to fall asleep. These actions and feelings, which even confuse her, exist in his... After redefining the boundaries, it feels as though she has found a suitable place to return to, gradually making her way back to where he has provided for her.

Her heartbeat momentarily stopped, and her face struggled to move, forcing itself to move, until finally, the corners of her lips managed to lift slightly upward

She really did not do it on purpose

Do you... enjoy admiring the moon? Her voice trembled slightly

"Are you willing to search the depths of the abyss for me?" he suddenly asked, his gaze focused as if it were about to spark, completely devoid of his usual calmness

No... she wants him to regain his memory, yet she does not want him to regain his memory

Wen Renjian turned his head slowly to look at her after hearing her words

I didn't pay attention to such trivial matters

Looking again at the old blue robe hanging on the wall, her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling something

Wait a moment

In the deep of night, with heavy dew, she coughed twice and turned to see her master's robe still hanging on the wall. Her palms were sweating as she desperately thought about where her master had put her clothes.

"Senior brother, wherever you go, I will go, and we will never be apart!" she exclaimed, then hesitated for a moment, clenching her right fist. "But, but..." she said, forcefully closing her eyes and opening her right palm to show him.

He was not surprised at all. Long ago, he had vaguely sensed her contradictions; he knew that retrieving the lost memories would inevitably hurt her. He quietly gathered his strength, temporarily suppressing the pain from before the memories returned, abandoning the pursuit of the voices in his mind, and tightened his hold on her, saying:

I think I should too. Observing the irregularly standing rocks beneath the cliff, if I were to jump down—" Don't exert yourself, I'll take care of everything."

She splashed water behind her, eagerly anticipating the dazzling spray that would highlight her beautiful back—if only her back could be seen

I often do this, it doesn't matter

Yes, where is it

"I am not a person of the rivers and lakes, so why should I care?" He held her right hand, noticing her lips trembling continuously, and he couldn't help but be moved, kissing her soft, colorless peach lips again

She smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "Me? I fear neither heaven nor earth; what is there to be afraid of?"

Her usually tied black hair was now wet and cascading over her shoulders, the silver moonlight casting a gentle glow on her master's graceful bare back, appearing somewhat fair and elegant. For a long time, she had thought her master's waist was slender, but she had never imagined it to be this... enticing. It made one want to swallow. Strangely, her mouth was constantly salivating, and she kept swallowing, her round, smiling eyes not missing any of the beautiful sights.

However ... ...

Wen Renjian had long anticipated that the master she spoke of was not the same person as her teacher. He did not involve himself in the martial world, and he understood that a person could only have one master in their lifetime, with no possibility of having two masters simultaneously. Therefore, he did not inquire further, to avoid bringing her trouble

"You have half a moon, and I also have half a moon." He smiled at her stunned expression and said, "During those three days when you were drunk, I visited you every day, and it was not the case that I always had someone by my side."

Her lightness of skill was agile, yet it could not compare to his solid foundation, allowing him to leap several zhang without needing to land for support. Raising her eyes, she noticed his face was slightly pale, as if he were unwell. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, fearing to interrupt his concentration.

The final auditory sensations are the howling of the wind, as well as the tinkling of the fine rain

I... I... Wow, even when speaking, the breath escaping between her lips is his, and the entanglement of their lips and tongues just now keeps swirling in her mind, making her feel dizzy and disoriented

Close your eyes

If one day I regain my memory, what will you do

She immediately squinted and smiled as she looked at his handsome, shining face, saying:

This year, at the age of 29, she has come to understand what is most important to her in the world

When she became warm, he was about to pull her closer, but suddenly a faint sound alerted him. He leaned over her body and saw a black snake emerging from the drawer of the low cabinet

He lowered his gaze and stared at her palm for a while before opening his own right palm.

In an instant, the overwhelming shadows surged back and forth in his mind, causing him excruciating pain, as he attempted to grasp that fleeting image

He remained silent, which made her feel frightened. Her heart raced, and she coughed twice, unable to help but secretly open her eyes to look at him.

Is that enough? A faint smile lingered on her lips as he effortlessly took the stack of papers from her hand. Without looking, he asked her: "Were we once enemies?"

The wind blew, causing the long sleeves to flutter as he entered the forest. He intended to step onto the sturdy trunk of a lush tree and then use his lightness skill. Suddenly, he noticed that the trees several zhang away from the small hut were crawling with strange insects from another tribe. He waved his sleeve and gathered his energy, striking the insects on the tree. Just as he was about to descend and leap again, a swarm of insects, seemingly coming from nowhere, erupted violently. He quickly shielded her body.

Master... Master Brother, isn't it inappropriate for you to spy on me... What if I need to relieve myself, wouldn't that be quite embarrassing for me?

Li Juxiao, upon seeing this, did not even dare to breathe, fearing that it might truly bring back some memories that should not exist

He closed his eyes in disbelief. ... So that's how it is ... ? ... Master? Master?

Under the moonlight, he clearly saw the delicate palm of her hand bearing a mark resembling the brand on the back of Ouyang Zui's hand

It was only through her conversations that he learned her feelings for her master were unlike those of ordinary people. At the very least, when he heard her express a willingness to go to great lengths for her master, a possessive feeling as a man unexpectedly surged within him, strong enough to cause a tremor in his heart. He was solely focused on discovering whether he had ever interacted with her master before his memories faded.

You hold me tight, do not let go

After a while, the pair of phoenix eyes that shone in the night turned towards her small face, and she immediately forced a smile, but he looked towards the low cabinet

The strange energy dispersed, and black blood splattered onto his robe, causing the hem to rot instantly. He felt a surge of anger within but dared not touch the ground, so he could only gather his strength in mid-air and dash away like lightning, striving to distance himself from this forest.

The scenery that flashed by all around him caused fragments to flicker in his mind. He gritted his teeth and ignored it, noticing a clearing outside the forest. He sensed something unusual, yet he had no choice but to hold her and leap down to the ground.

Do you like me

Master, you are actually my father, aren't you? The childish voice exclaimed with full energy and laughter

If you jump, I will jump too

Senior brother

"You are leaving, be careful!" He supported her body, harnessed his energy, and flew out of the wooden house.

She walked into another small wooden cabin, where the bed was somewhat small, as if meant for a child or a short teenager. This reminded her of her childhood, during which she had few toys to play with, which is why she would cling to her master all day long

It was not intentional

I have no pursuit of fame, fortune, or power in the world of Jianghu; I prefer to avoid trouble whenever possible. If his seemingly serious yet actually quite troublesome nephew were to find out, he would likely have to serve the name Wenren for the rest of his life

I am fine he secretly gathered his energy his blood circulation was still smooth he caught a whiff of a foul odor in the air amidst the chaos he saw the old blue robe hanging on the wall again

Li Juxiao saw him walk back to the tree across the way and close his eyes to rest, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He touched his cheek, which was warm, in stark contrast to his icy fingers

He said

Did he... have feelings for her? As a man towards a woman

The beautiful shape of her lips slightly lifted, as if a dragonfly had lightly touched the surface of the water between her lips

Is there anything in this world that you are afraid of

Did he say that? Wen Renjian remained calm as ever. I am not seeking death

Then, she left the camp and rushed into the night.

Good

This realization stirred a faint excitement deep within her heart

I care. I walked to the edge of the cliff, feeling my way in the dark as I gauged the turbulent stream below.

What a strange and foul smell... Not only do I feel nauseous, but my head is also spinning.

and so on

"I don't care whether you are seeking death or not, but please, please do not go ahead alone anymore." She said hoarsely, "Wherever you go, I will go. I am willing to search for you in the depths of the earth and the underworld, but I cannot find the way. I have always been unable to find the way. Even if I want to end my life, I do not dare to do so. The master said that those who end their lives enter the City of Wrongful Death, and only when their lifespan is over can they be reborn. The master can read many Buddhist scriptures and see through the lives and deaths of many people, but I cannot. I do not want you to die, at least not while I am alive. You must not die, you cannot die. If we have another chance, I will definitely go mad. I would rather be a short-lived ghost in this life. After I die, you can do whatever you want, so please do not let me go again, okay?" I would rather be a short-lived ghost in this life. After I die, you can do whatever you want, so please do not let me go again, okay?

Wow, her ten fingers are bleeding... No, wait, it's her nose that is bleeding!

Well... I think so

The entire Baiyun Mountain, she is so familiar with it that she must take the opportunity to come up at night

Click again

No, it is not! At least, she never thinks so!

Huh? Does he mean that when no one is around, he did something to her? Once she gets drunk, she can't remember anything at all. Even if someone were to stab her, she would probably only cry out in pain after she wakes up.

She let out a soft "ah". "You... you don't mind, do you?"

She let out a soft "ah". Earlier, in her search for clothes, she had placed the stack of old papers, which she had dug out from under the bed, on the low cabinet. Seeing him reach for it, she quickly pressed down on it with both hands

Under the moonlight, he searched around and hurriedly caught sight of the "memories" he had previously let go of—scattered sheets of paper spread across the bed, filled with the names Li Juxiao, Li Yiyi, and the fragmented verses of the "Song of Everlasting Regret".

She did not intentionally peek at her master while he was bathing, she simply... simply woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and went to find her master, and as a result, as a result...

It was no use... She quickly withdrew behind the stone, pressing her heated cheeks, her heart racing so fast. It was over, could it be that the master had eyes in the back of his head and was using underhanded tactics against her?

At the moment their lips touched again, she opened her mouth to speak, thinking he would lightly tap and withdraw as before, but unexpectedly this time he completely sealed her lips.

Gently brushing over the old cotton quilt on the bed, she felt a surge of emotion within her. Although she knew that her master was doing well now, the thought that he would never return to the past lingered in her heart.

She shook her head vigorously and said softly, "He didn't want to! He cares for me! At first, he lied to me, saying this was a half moon, that no one else had it, only I did. I have never blamed him for lying to me, I..." Her face was smiling, but her voice was somewhat hoarse: "The only thing I resent and hate him for is, why didn't he lie to me until the end?"

Well... this is a secret

"I am fine," he said calmly, hearing the familiar rustling sound arise again, and decisively stated, "Do not come near me; I have the scent and bloodstains on me and my robe, which must be the key to attracting them."

In her eyes, there truly is only him

There are only three types of people in the world: the first type is the master, the second type is my parents, and the third type is me! I never understood this until the very end, when I realized that the first type represents the righteous path, the second type represents the evil and crooked path, and the third type is the destined child of sin. Clearly innocent, yet burdened with the mistakes committed by my parents.

He supported her waist and whispered

She was so shocked that she was left speechless, utterly dumbfounded, and then fell silent. Her nostrils were filled with his scent, and her lips remembered his familiarity. Her heart trembled, and even her eyes felt a bit sore, causing her usually smiling eyelashes to quiver.

My master once said that he named me Ju Xiao not to compel me to smile constantly, but because he did not know what my happiness was. Therefore, he believed that if I were to smile often, it must mean that I had encountered something joyful.

He opened his phoenix eyes and gazed at her pale little face, suddenly asking:

That year, she was fifteen years old, innocent and carefree, unable even to recite the poem "Song of Everlasting Regret"

The man in the blue robe slowly walked into the room, locking her gaze tightly.

"I can do it!" she said with a smile, immediately stepping forward to grasp his hand. "I've been able to do it since I was little!"

Ouyang ... ... I almost forgot there is another person, whose single name is "Zui" ... ...

Wenren Jianming gazed at her face for a while before revealing a faint smile

Take a good rest

Senior brother

Oh ... ...

Then, with a leap, the long sleeves fluttered, and in an instant, they vanished into the darkness

That place, she still remembers. When she was very young, she slipped down the mountain and encountered a strange uncle, and it was her master who saved her in time; to save her, her master's palm bore a mark identical to her own "moon." Further up, there was a steep cliff. One year, it was raining, and she hid very well, yet her master did not even need to search; he just knew she was hiding in the cave beneath the cliff to escape the rain.

Her complexion remained pale, yet her brows were raised in laughter, clearly indicating her immense happiness, unlike her habitual smile from before

At that time, I saw it

What are you doing

Even the seemingly ordinary splash of water, when it splashed onto the master's beautiful back, appeared as sparkling droplets, dazzling to behold... The master's slender waist submerged in the lake, her long hair cascading over the surface, leaving her feeling dizzy and disoriented... If she were to tell the master that compared to Yang Guifei, the Tang Emperor who was infatuated with beauty would surely choose him. However, even if she sincerely believed this, the master would undoubtedly beat her to death and then capture her soul to punish her by making her write "Song of Everlasting Regret".

There is no way around it; these past few days, she has been like this. The moment she sees him, she feels an overwhelming dryness in her mouth and throat, and she is very tempted to mess up her hair, which is on the verge of driving her crazy.

She scratched her hair and smiled

She shook her head vigorously

"Am I not allowed to see?" he asked, his voice sounding remarkably calm in the night

Is it her?

However, she cannot see, nor does anyone want to see, until now, sob.

She bit her lip, crouched under the bed, and fumbled for a long time until she touched a thick stack of paper. After taking it out, she saw in the moonlight that it was filled with the name "Li Juxiao." She remembered that she had been lazy and halfway through, she simply changed it to "Li Yiyi." She did not know whether her master had noticed, only that her master had not punished her again.

She is no longer young; even though her master has never mentioned matters of men and women in the past, she understands them now

Since I cannot recall and have no attachments, it does not matter whether I seek to retrieve it or not. Ju Xiao, do you want to return with me to Wenren Village?

He glanced at her again; she smiled sweetly, as if unaware of the dangers of the world, oblivious to the great risks she was about to face on the path ahead.

She took several deep breaths and walked steadily into one of the inner rooms. After gazing at the simple bed for a while, she softly said: "Master, I have returned, I have returned"

If I go back now, Ouyang will not notice

The small face buried in the pile of old papers, the eye sockets felt so hot, but tears could not fall; if tears fell, it would betray the painstaking effort of the master who named her.

She nodded without hesitation

Did he develop romantic feelings for her

Master, why do I feel somewhat the same yet a little different towards "Senior Brother" as I do when I face you? Please tell me! She wanted to cry with a mournful expression, but perhaps due to her habitual smiling, she could even manage to force a smile despite wanting to go mad.

That smile, extremely faint, captivated her momentarily, making her unable to look away, only aware that he had let go of the stack of old papers, not even glancing at them. As she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, she saw him approaching her, as if intending to pass by her to see what else was on the low cabinet

She walked into the log cabin with a troubled expression, suddenly catching a whiff of a foul odor. She paid little attention to it and was about to open the wardrobe when she suddenly noticed a shadow on the floor, stretching from the doorway to her feet.

When she realized it, she found herself staring at him for a long time. She sighed softly, feeling as though she could not resist the beauty of her senior brother.

He was momentarily taken aback, staring at Li Juxiao. Upon seeing that she was determined to extract the venomous blood without regard for anything else, he quickly intervened: "You should know that both you and I are immune to all poisons; this little bit of venom is nothing to me."

Uncertain if it is due to the long journey after such a long time, she felt a slight pain in her chest. She held her breath and finally arrived in front of several wooden cabins

Who

He smiled and said, "Then take another guess, was I single before?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately turned around

Oh no! She was quick-witted and immediately pushed aside her clothes and jumped into the lake, shouting loudly:

Looking at his smiling eyes, there was a clear hesitation, even revealing a hint of panic

Master

The sound of water was crashing like a devil controlling her actions... I am sorry, Master, I am currently under control, and what I do next is certainly not out of Xiao'er’s consciousness. Xiao'er has been possessed, so please do not come to rescue Xiao'er for the time being, sob...

His expression remains calm, how unfair it is, not even giving her a chance to read his thoughts

I don't care

Another kiss

Senior Brother! she exclaimed

Senior Brother ... ...

Do you think I have someone to care about? Perhaps a wife, a lover, or children?

The campfire that had been lit grew dim. She stood up silently, took a few steps, her feet making no sound, ensuring that she had not disturbed Wenren Jianming or the already asleep Ouyang Zui, and then covered the wood with a thin blanket, appearing from a distance as if she were sleeping.

He pulled her closer, embracing her in his arms, feeling her wrap around his waist

Given his temperament, he would never have treated her lightly unless he had developed feelings for her

Be careful! He called out, pulling her while his arm blocked the oncoming snake's fangs

Are you very afraid that I will regain my memory

He knows that the other party intends to put both of them to death... It should be said that there is an intention to put Ju Xiao to death. Although Ju Xiao is immune to all poisons, if she were to encounter such a situation alone, even if the poison does not kill her, she would likely end up in a tragic state, bitten all over her body.