Chapter 2, the autumn wind and autumn rain bring great sorrow to people

I am afraid that Qiu Kaiyu has not encountered such a situation until now, being scolded to his face with the words "What kind of man are you?" This would definitely be a story that would infuriate friends and delight enemies if it were to spread.

Qiu Kaiyu suddenly fixed his gaze on Xie Fangfei's eyes, his voice as cold as ice: "How do you know about the Taiyue Order?" In Qiu Kaiyu's view, although Xie Fangfei had some cunning, she was at most a minor aide in the Xiao residence, and as a woman, she should stay far away from the grudges and vendettas of the martial world. He never expected that she would actually use the Taiyue Order as a bargaining chip, which left him astonished. The Taiyue Order is a token that commands the demonic path, comparable to an official's seal or the emperor's jade seal. He never expected that she would actually use the Taiyue Order as a bargaining chip, which left him astonished. The Taiyue Order is a token that commands the demonic path, comparable to an official's seal or the emperor's jade seal

Qiu opened the conversation without any pretense, secretly channeling his internal energy and remaining on high alert. After listening to Xie Fangfei's words, he was momentarily taken aback, somewhat surprised by her attitude; he did not expect her to dare approach him. After a long pause, he said: "It is truly my oversight, and I hope Miss Xie can forgive me." He looked at Xie Fangfei's right hand, which was gripping the corner of his clothing, his gaze somewhat cold, yet he did not forcibly push her away. However, Xie Fangfei remained completely unaware. After a long pause, he repeated: "It is truly my oversight, and I hope Miss Xie can forgive me." He looked at Xie Fangfei's right hand, which was gripping the corner of his clothing, his gaze somewhat cold, yet he did not forcibly push her away. However, Xie Fangfei remained completely unaware.

At this moment, Xie Fangfei felt a dry itch in her throat from fear, gasping for breath, her heart rising and falling repeatedly. At this moment, she hoped that Qiu Kaiyu would appear soon; although he was a demon, he was still human, and no matter what, they were of the same kind, not to the extent of being terrified. With this thought, her fear of him diminished somewhat. She forced herself to find comfort, suppressing her chaotic thoughts, and compelled herself to think positively; death was not so terrifying, it could be seen as paying back her life. Her tense emotions eased slightly; fortunately, Xie Fangfei was not a sheltered young lady, having once commanded with composure amidst chaotic battles, she could remain calm in the face of adversity. Holding on until the end, she ultimately could not resist the heavy drowsiness and fell into a daze, resting her head on the table.

The autumn rain fell leisurely, and there was a moment of silence, leaving one unaware of what thoughts occupied the mind. Xie Fangfei, fearing that this tyrant might once again unleash his wrath, deemed it better to remain silent, lest she say too much and err further. Having just spoken out of turn, she now felt a lingering apprehension. Leaning against the wall beside Qiu Kaiyu, she pondered for a long time on how to escape; she could not simply sit here and await her fate. After much contemplation, with no clear plan emerging, she tilted her head and fell asleep.

Autumn regained its calm demeanor after a brief moment of rain, and instead let out a light laugh, saying leisurely: "It is truly interesting that this is the first time in my life that I have been threatened by someone." With a sidelong glance at Xie Fangfei, its eyes resembled a deep pool, glinting with a cold light, and within the depths of its gaze lay a chilling sword that seemed to drink blood.

Xie Fangfei woke up in the cold, and the room was still pitch dark. She had slept extremely uncomfortably, feeling both cold and hungry, as if she had only dozed off. Her head was dizzy, and her whole body felt weak. Groping her way to stand up, a sharp sound echoed as the cups and teapot on the table fell. "Oh dear, what bad luck! Now I can't even drink water! It's just like the roof leaking and then it rains all night!" She truly did not know how much longer she would be stuck in this situation. Feeling irritated and restless, she kicked the table hard and cursed under her breath, saying, "Am I not unlucky enough today? Even drinking cold water gets stuck in my teeth!" Not controlling her strength well, she stubbed her toe, letting out a sharp cry of pain. She quickly bent down, rubbing her toe while muttering to herself, continuously cursing.

Qiu Kaiyu was momentarily taken aback; he truly did not expect her to apologize for this, and even to remember whether he had eaten. It had been a long, long time since anyone had shown him such concern, as if it were a matter from a past life, in a place beyond the reach of memory. Whenever people saw him, it was either with fear or reverence, trembling and hesitant to utter a word. Yet he was also human, needing to consume grains and cereals, requiring food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, and being aware of heat and cold—despite his heart being exceptionally cold, he still possessed a heart. For a moment, his mind wandered, and he stared blankly at Xie Fangfei, fell silent for a while, and then regained his cold demeanor. However, he was also human, needing to consume grains and cereals, requiring food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, and being aware of heat and cold—despite his heart being exceptionally cold, he still possessed a heart. For a moment, his mind wandered, and he stared blankly at Xie Fangfei, fell silent for a while, and then regained his cold demeanor, saying: "Since Miss Xie has had her fill, let us return to the main topic and discuss the Taiyue Ling now"

Xie Fangfei was suddenly startled, recalling the pain she had endured during the day. She immediately restrained herself, realizing that her words had been somewhat excessive. Engaging in a momentary verbal sparring was of no benefit. It seemed better to go along with him to avoid unnecessary suffering, so she changed her strategy and refrained from further provocation. Upon hearing Qiu Kaiyu's last words, her face involuntarily flushed, and she lightly responded, "Of course, Young Master Qiu knows that I was merely joking. You see, my constitution is weak, and I haven't eaten a grain of rice until now, so I'm a bit muddled from hunger. If my words have caused any offense, I hope for your understanding." A true gentleman can bend and stretch, and Xie Fangfei was capable of this; her words were already attempting to draw closer, quite flattering, a stark contrast to her earlier resolve to remain silent.

Xie Fangfei was awakened early in the morning by the enticing aroma of food, rushing over like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey, devouring it in a whirlwind. So ravenous was she that she swallowed without even tasting the dishes, completely unaware of their flavors. It was only after consuming more than half that she began to slow down. Qiu Kaiyu looked at the table strewn with empty cups and plates, frowned slightly, and coldly asked: "Are you full now?"

Qiu Kaiyu looked at the damp spot on his right sleeve, which was the saliva that Xie Fangfei had left when she bit him, feeling somewhat helpless. He was unsure of his emotions at that moment; although his face was cold, he did not become angry. Seeing Xie Fangfei in a state worse than death, he, in a moment of impulse, casually lifted the torture she was enduring. He no longer looked at her and used the sleeve of his left arm to wipe the wet mark on his right arm, feeling both angry and annoyed, with faint traces of blood beginning to spread. Of course, this was not what he was concerned about.

Xie Fangfei nodded upon hearing this, glanced at him, and then awkwardly said: "Brother Qiu, I haven't eaten all day, I am truly hungry. I noticed that you got up early... I don't know if you have eaten yet. I was careless and forgot to save your portion, I sincerely apologize." She was unsure when he had come down the mountain, feeling quite embarrassed as one cannot bite the hand that feeds them.

Xie Fangfei endured the dual torment of physical and psychological suffering all day long, living in fear, feeling mentally exhausted, and having reached her limit, she shouted in a fit of rage: "Qiu Kaiyu, how can you treat me this way! Even if I am your prisoner, there are no prisoners who starve to death in this world. No matter what, I am still a weak woman, unable to lift a hand or carry a burden, yet I am at your mercy. Is it really necessary to treat me like this? Beating and killing me is one thing, but even if I die, I refuse to become a ghost who starves to death!" Wiping her nose, she continued, "Moreover, how can you call yourself a man when you bully a woman who knows nothing of martial arts?" The strong prey upon the weak, and the thought of it breaks my heart. As she spoke, her voice choked with emotion, truly pushed to her limits.

Miss Xie, you may not know that wanting to die is not necessarily an easy thing. In this world, there are many ways to make a person unable to live and unable to die. Moreover, if one wants to make a person reveal their innermost secrets, Qiu has plenty of methods. Furthermore, whether Miss Xie is indeed an inconsequential person depends on how Xiao Yan perceives it. Qiu Kaiyu still maintained an indifferent expression, yet his words were as sharp as blades. Moreover, whether Miss Xie is indeed an inconsequential person depends on how Xiao Yan perceives it. Qiu Kaiyu still maintained an indifferent expression, yet his words were as sharp as blades

Xie Fangfei felt a chill run through her body, her spine stiffening, and she timidly said: "The Taiyue Ling is no longer in my possession. If Young Master Qiu wishes to have it, it would be better to release me first..." Upon seeing Qiu Kaiyu's suddenly constricted pupils, the remaining half of her words could no longer be uttered.

As the night deepened, the weather gradually turned cold. Xie Fangfei stomped her feet and exhaled in vain. Starving and freezing, coupled with the torment she had endured during the day, she felt quite weak, her face pale and lips white. The cold wind howled at the mountain top, sounding like the cries of ghosts and wolves. Xie Fangfei curled up, squeezed onto a chair. The darkness outside pressed down on her eyes, and in the stillness of the night, the occasional mournful cries of animals sent chills down her spine. It seemed as if countless lonely souls and wild spirits were drifting above her, baring their fangs and claws, filled with resentment. Despite being an atheist, Xie Fangfei couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear. Thoughts at midnight were vastly different from those during the day, and her will was considerably weakened. The saying that demons arise from the heart was indeed true. She felt as if countless vengeful spirits were demanding her life, and the fire that had caused Yuan Hong to retreat from Yiyang was her idea, leaving behind scorched earth, with not a blade of grass remaining, and the suffering of countless lives.

Xie Fangfei felt a killing intent emanating from Qiu Kaiyu, pervasive and inescapable, causing her to feel a slight chill and her breath to become disordered. Her complexion changed subtly, but she forced herself to remain calm and said softly: "It is merely something I came to know by chance. Young Master Qiu, if you wish to know the whereabouts of Tai Yue Ling, you must release me."

"Miss Xie, you seem to have quite a leisurely spirit at this late hour, and you appear to be in good spirits." Qiu Kaiyu's voice emerged from the shadows, as if it had suddenly penetrated the void, coming without a trace and departing without a sign, making it difficult to discern its direction

Qiu Kaiyu sat down beside her leisurely and said, "Autumn has never been a gentleman." Xie Fangfei looked at him with resentment, hugged her body tightly, and closed her eyes, saying, "Just kill me!" This kind of pain truly made her wish to no longer live. Qiu Kaiyu crouched down, supporting her to lie on his arm, his clothes already soaked through, hair sticking to his neck, sweat pouring down like rain. He gently brushed aside the wet hair clinging to her cheek and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Miss Xie, I just said, sometimes wanting to die is not an easy thing to do." Xie Fangfei was shocked and angry: "You—" Truly deserving of being called the 'Evil Lord' of the demonic path, cold-blooded and heartless! She then closed her eyes, no longer looking at him. The pain within her body surged again, coming in waves like a tide. She twisted her body in Qiu Kaiyu's hand, and in the end, unable to hold back, she bit down on his arm in a fit of rage, almost to the bone, refusing to let go, anyway, she was done living! The pain within her body surged again, coming in waves like a tide. She twisted her body in Qiu Kaiyu's hand, and in the end, unable to hold back, she bit down on his arm in a fit of rage, almost to the bone, refusing to let go, anyway, she was done living!

He stood aside, watching coldly, without making a move. In order to alleviate the pain in her blood, Xie Fangfei actually struck the ground with her hand, leaving her right hand bloodied and a sight too gruesome to behold. Exhausting all her strength, she gasped out each word: "Autumn—opens—rain—kills—people—only—head—touching—the—ground—you—treat—me—like—this—a mere—huff, huff—woman—what—counts—as—hero—good—man ..." Her words came out in a stuttering manner, lacking coherence and structure. Exhausting all her strength, she gasped out each word: "Autumn—opens—rain—kills—people—only—head—touching—the—ground—you—treat—me—like—this—a mere—huff, huff—woman—what—counts—as—hero—good—man ..." Her words came out in a stuttering manner, lacking coherence and structure.

After a long time, Xie Fangfei sat down against the wall, feeling dejected, drenched in cold sweat, and still shaken. Just now, she had recklessly offended Qiu Kaiyu, and fortunately, he did not unleash his wrath and resort to violence. What exactly is Qiu Kaiyu up to, and why did he let her go? What did that just mean? Was it a warning or a show of force? Xie Fangfei had no certainty in her heart. He is unpredictable, capricious, neither a gentleman nor a villain, truly an anomaly; she could not fathom his thoughts at all. What did that just mean? Was it a warning or a show of force? Xie Fangfei had no certainty in her heart. He is unpredictable, capricious, neither a gentleman nor a villain, truly an anomaly; she could not fathom his thoughts at all. What should she do now? After catching her breath, Xie Fangfei leaned on the table, tilting her head and lost in thought. After a long while, she still could not come up with any clues, feeling anxious and restless. However, after the pain, her stomach began to rumble. Food is essential for the people; she is not above the needs of the world.

Xie Fangfei was so frightened that she clenched her hands tightly, her heart racing rapidly, almost making it hard for her to breathe. After a while, she regained her composure, and taking advantage of the faint light, she opened her eyes wide, straining to see a vague figure in the corner of the room amidst the darkness. For some reason, amidst the panic, there was a fleeting moment of reassurance. She relaxed slightly, considered for a moment, and then slowly walked over, fearing that he might leave without a word, just like that, as if this place was not much different from hell. Unable to help herself, she reached out and grabbed the hem of his blue garment, afraid that he would disappear again. She tilted her head and deliberately asked in a light tone: "Qiu Kaiyu, you finally came back! Did you bring me something to eat? I'm about to starve! In this ghostly place, where the birds have flown away and the paths are devoid of people, I have been drinking the northwestern wind all day long."

Qiu Kaiyu was momentarily taken aback, then frowned, and let out a cold laugh in the darkness. He was not a good person; he had no compassion and naturally lacked any sense of cherishing the delicate. Thus, he lazily spoke: "Miss Xie, you should be cautious with your words; it seems quite unfavorable to provoke someone like me. As for whether I can be considered a man, do you need to verify that personally, Miss Xie?" He cast a sidelong glance at Xie Fangfei, his tone exceedingly frivolous. Qiu Kaiyu had always looked down upon the likes of gentlemen and was not afraid to do anything. Therefore, he lazily continued: "Miss Xie, you should be cautious with your words; it seems quite unfavorable to provoke someone like me. As for whether I can be considered a man, do you need to verify that personally, Miss Xie?" He cast a sidelong glance at Xie Fangfei, his tone exceedingly frivolous. Qiu Kaiyu had always looked down upon the likes of gentlemen and was not afraid to do anything.

This is indeed the best prison in the world. Despite her hunger, Xie Fangfei still does not forget to find joy in her suffering. She carefully searched the room inside and out, but found nothing except for a pot of tea on the table. Alas, it is uncertain whether this was done intentionally or unintentionally. "Well, now it is truly completely empty. What bad luck, and I don't know when that Autumn Wind and Autumn Rain will return; I hope I never see him again!" Ultimately, hunger triumphed over fear, and she gloomily thought that the Autumn Wind and Autumn Rain were indeed perverse; would they really want to starve her to death? Surely not? If they wanted to torment her, it shouldn't be done in such a way! Cold and hungry, she had no choice but to muster her spirits and shift her focus, carefully contemplating the current situation. That Tai Yue Ling seemed to have little use for her at present; she had heard that he could easily manipulate the elements in the demonic realm.

Caught off guard, the autumn rain furrowed her brow, and with a slight pain, she let out a soft "hmph". For a moment, he was somewhat stunned and did not push Xie Fangfei away. Despite having experienced life and death, and having seen many storms, he had never encountered such a situation. He looked at the person in his hands, soft and wet, as if she would dissolve into a puddle before his eyes. The intense pain crashed over him like a wave, nearly shattering him to pieces, leaving him without the strength to bite. Xie Fangfei voluntarily released her grip, yet she did not faint; her mind remained clear. She stretched her neck, desperately arching her body backward, gasping for breath as she called out: "Qiu—Kai—Yu—" The subsequent words of reprimand were all swallowed by the pain, unable to produce a sound.

Perhaps until now, no one has dared to speak such audacious words to the 'Evil Monarch', but there is always a first time for everything. A cornered dog will jump over the wall, let alone a human. Although Xie Fangfei is merely a minor character who cannot stand in the limelight, she does not dare to underestimate her own life. If death is inevitable, it is better to take the opportunity to maneuver and plan, striving for a chance to survive. For someone like me, who is inconsequential, why must Young Master Qiu force me into a dead end? As the saying goes, 'If you can spare someone, then spare them.' Xie Fangfei truly has thrown caution to the wind, speaking so bluntly. Unfortunately, Qiu Kaiyu is not an ordinary person, and naturally, he will not do what ordinary people do.

In the autumn rain, her right hand was still pressed against her back, and with just a slight exertion, she would be sent to meet the King of Hell ahead of time, at the mercy of others. Xie Fangfei endured the pain, her teeth chattering, her face as pale as paper, drenched in cold sweat, and shrinking her body, still trying to stand upright, reaching out to support herself on a nearby chair. With a loud 'bang', she fell heavily to the ground, rolling into a ball. At that moment, not only did she not feel pain, but instead, she let out a sigh of relief, hoping that this fall would render her unconscious. The pain was like Lingchi, cutting her heart and flesh, and her consciousness was not blurred; rather, it was sharper than usual. At this moment, she not only did not feel pain, but instead, she let out a sigh of relief, hoping that this fall would render her unconscious. The pain was like Lingchi, cutting her heart and flesh, and her consciousness was not blurred; rather, it was sharper than usual. Such inhumane torture, how had Xie Fangfei ever experienced it? Yet she stubbornly refrained from uttering a single moan, refusing to make a sound, as if a belief was supporting her—only by expressing her disdain and contempt for him in this way.

Xie Fangfei was imprisoned by Qiu Kaiyu at the top of a cliff outside Jiankang City. Surrounded by towering mountains and ancient trees reaching the sky, the landscape extended endlessly to both sides, with no visible boundaries. The mountaintop was shrouded in clouds and mist all day long, desolate and lonely, with a cold wind howling and jagged rocks standing tall. The cliff dropped steeply on all sides, as if hewn by a knife, with sheer walls rising a thousand fathoms. Looking down, the clouds surged upward, and the depth was unfathomable. Xie Fangfei pushed a stone weighing several dozen pounds down, but heard no echo at all. Alas, she felt the weight of despair as she sat down, hand on her chest, and sighed deeply. In her hopelessness, she had no choice but to obediently return to the room. The terrain was so perilous that only someone with Qiu Kaiyu's extraordinary martial skills could come and go freely; naturally, he was not afraid of Xie Fangfei escaping, for with her abilities, there was nowhere for her to flee.

"Good, good, good!" Qiu Kaiyu clapped and laughed, "I never expected Miss Xie to be a remarkable woman, possessing both courage and insight. Today, I have witnessed it for myself." Qiu Kaiyu raised an eyebrow as he looked at Xie Fangfei. In one moment, he was engaging in lively conversation, and in the next, his hand was already gripping Xie Fangfei's neck, his face still wearing the seemingly appreciative smile from before, as if this action were merely a jest. Xie Fangfei had no idea how he had closed the distance so quickly. A wave of intense pain surged through her, and she felt her breath constricting, her chest aching unbearably. She could not comprehend what technique he had employed; it felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at her blood, and arrows were piercing her heart. In the next moment, his hand was already gripping Xie Fangfei's neck, his face still wearing the seemingly appreciative smile from before, as if this action were merely a jest. Xie Fangfei had no idea how he had closed the distance so quickly. A wave of intense pain surged through her, and she felt her breath constricting, her chest aching unbearably. She could not comprehend what technique he had employed; it felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at her blood, and arrows were piercing her heart.

Xie Fangfei took a deep breath, showing no signs of retreat, and responded defiantly: "What the palace master said is indeed correct. However, although I fear for my life, if I am truly pushed to the brink, I will not fear death. As the saying goes, human plans cannot compare to the plans of heaven; one must be wary that in the end, certain matters may not unfold as Young Master Qiu wishes. Shouldn't Young Master Qiu think thrice before acting?"

Her lips were a deep crimson, blood dripping from the corners of her mouth onto the ground. Her right hand gripped the chair leg tightly, her knuckles protruding. She turned her head to look at Qiu Kaiyu, her chin slightly raised, brows furrowed, cold sweat streaming down her face, yet there was no fear in her eyes. At worst, she thought, she would die! Qiu Kaiyu appeared calm on the surface, but internally he was quite astonished. Such torturous methods were merely superficial techniques to him, of which he had seen plenty. Even so, an ordinary martial artist would have already reached their limit, let alone Xie Fangfei, a weak woman who knew nothing of martial arts. Yet this seemingly inconspicuous woman had never once begged for mercy, feeling even the expression of pain was a humiliation. On the surface, she seemed fragile, but deep down, she possessed such pride.

Xie Fangfei lay half-reclined on the ground, resembling a drowning person, with only the breath left in her. The lingering waves of pain still flowed within her, as if a great mountain pressed down, preventing her from rising. Qiu Kaiyu stood a few steps away, observing her with an inexplicable anger in his eyes, yet unsure of how to express it, only able to accumulate his frustration. Upon noticing her eyes fluttering, as if she were about to open them, he immediately turned away, lightly brushing his sleeves, and in an instant, he had vanished, leaving only a fleeting white spot, swift as a ghost.

What if one truly disregards everything? Wouldn't one end up starving to death here? Does this not count as another form of invisible murder? Xie Fangfei could not help but feel anxious and troubled, her brow furrowed.