Chapter 04: Rescuing People

The maid was hurriedly pulled to a secluded and uninhabited place, where Du Qianzi assumed a gentle demeanor

Li Yue was both surprised and embarrassed, her heart racing as if it were about to leap out of her chest. She couldn't help but tremble all over, unsure of how to articulate her thoughts: "You... you..."

However, before her anger could erupt, he suddenly softened his tone, anxiously releasing her hand, with a face full of guilt: "I am sorry, I hurt you! I... I swear, I will never force you; as long as you are willing to be with me, I will listen to whatever you say! Is that alright?"

This truly burdens the entire Nan Gong family, as they are busy attending to these guests in plain sight while also having to remain vigilant against the hidden coveters lurking in the shadows

Li Yue extended half of her hand, which immediately froze in mid-air

He is different from Nangong Qing, who once spoke to her in such soft and gentle tones, constantly lowering himself to coax her, all for the sake of earning a smile from her beautiful face. However, Nangong Qing is not as innocent as he is; his words carry not only a sense of infatuation but also a childish dependence.

Du Qianzi rolled her eyes and took out a small embroidered pouch she always carried with her. She also slipped off a gold bracelet from her wrist and stuffed both into Xiao Qing's hands: "Those scattered silver coins along with this bracelet should be worth at least twenty taels. You must quickly sneak out through the back door and never return to the Nangong family from now on! If the master and mistress find out that you scared away the bride, your life will be in danger!"

Xie Yang quietly watched her eat, and unknowingly, his gaze became increasingly gentle, almost entranced.

Qian Yang?" She silently repeated this name several times in her mind; this surname was quite peculiar. She cast a suspicious glance at him and asked, "Are you a Hu person?"

He clung to her like a twisted candy, leaving her astonished, while the strange feelings in her heart once again overwhelmed her anger

Li Yueqing could not help but swallow her saliva.

The courtyard of Yibi is adorned with lanterns and decorations, as today the newlyweds will be escorted out from here. After the wedding ceremony and the exchange of vows, they will be taken to the main house for the bridal chamber. Outside, people are bustling about in a flurry of activity, yet no one could have anticipated that the bride would run away at the last moment

Tears hung at the corners of her eyes as she drifted into a hazy sleep. In her dreams, she vaguely seemed to return to the Qi Feng Pavilion, nestled at her mother's knees. Her mother issued a decree to widely recruit suitors for her, and on the day of the grand wedding, as the bridal veil was lifted, what came into view was a face twisted in a grimace.

So... would you be willing to be with me

In this vast world, where should I go and what should I do? She was lost in thought, and before she realized it, tears began to fall.

Xie Yang ran far away, and in the night, his cheerful singing could be faintly heard, with a strange melody and lyrics that seemed to be in a foreign language

She was somewhat stunned, her mind wandering elsewhere, and a subtle change arose within her heart that was difficult to articulate, causing her to lower her head and ponder deeply

A stir in her heart, curiosity tugged at her emotions, and she could not help but say: "Alright, since I have nowhere else to go in the future, I agree to go with you, but you must not... bully me again!"

However, within those vacant eyes, there was a mysterious power that seized her heart, causing her to momentarily forget to struggle

Really

"Are you hungry?" Qian Yang suddenly asked. Without waiting for her response, he brushed off his long robe and stood up, looking around as if speaking to himself, "It wouldn't be bad to find something to make for a late-night snack"

The marriage of the Nangong family was originally a matter of little significance, but Nangong Baisheng and his wife had intended to maintain a low profile. However, they did not expect that it would ultimately attract many unknown experts. The couple naturally understood that these individuals, regardless of their moral standing, were truly there for the purpose of obtaining the "Imperial Phoenix Formula".

Whenever I think of Tong'er, a wave of sadness washes over me. I turn over and sit up, only to be startled to find that I am covered with a rough gray fur coat. Turning my head, I am astonished to see a roaring bonfire burning beside me.

After a long period of unanswered questions, Qie Yang suddenly became agitated. He turned around and kicked the rabbit meat off the fire rack, rushing over to pull Li Yue up from the ground: "I don't care whether you are afraid or willing; in any case, I want you to be with me, and you can't go anywhere!"

This ... ... '' Xiao Qing was astonished and speechless, and after a while, she was moved to tears, `` I am grateful to Madam Xie Si for saving my life, the grace of Madam Si's life is as if she were my reborn parents ... ... '' Suddenly, she knelt down and bowed her head three times to Du Qianzi.

Li Yue suddenly turned around, and under the night sky, more than ten people were faintly visible lined up in a row. The person at the front looked somewhat familiar, but unfortunately, the moonlight was not bright enough to clearly see his appearance

Biting her lip and arching her back, she rested her head on her knees, enduring in silence.

A deep voice suddenly responded from in front: "Since you have already seen me, why are you so afraid? Is my appearance frightening?"

My surname is Qie, and my given name is Yang.

She suddenly turned her head at the sound of "ah," only to see that a person had unknowingly squatted by the campfire, casually picking up dry branches and tossing them onto the fire

Li Yue did not respond, yet her pace quickened. The maid had not practiced martial arts, and her speed could not match that of Li Yue. By the time she hurriedly chased out the door, Li Yue had already vanished from sight

It is said that approximately twenty-five years ago, a remarkably skilled young talent emerged in the martial arts world. With his unpredictable and extraordinary martial arts abilities, he defeated disciples from various major sects within a month, challenged numerous underworld gangs, and even eradicated the once formidable Heavenly Sacred Sect in a single night. From that point on, the Heavenly Sacred Sect fell into decline and gradually disappeared forever from the rankings.

Are you afraid of me now

If it is a misunderstanding, then go well, no need to see you off! Qie Yang's tone was quite unfriendly, imbued with a sense of arrogance and a wild demeanor, as if he regarded himself as the only one of importance, completely disregarding others.

"Haha, that's great!" He excitedly embraced her waist and lifted her high up.

He suddenly stepped back, shaking off her hand as if avoiding a snake or scorpion

Xie Yang lowered his hands, bending down with a smile that seemed to be both genuine and feigned, and the invisible sense of oppression frightened Nangong Kanghua, causing him to retreat and crawl backward.

"Hey! What are you a bunch of men surrounding my aunt planning to do?" The bushes suddenly parted, and Qie Yang stepped out with a light and graceful stride

The maid shuddered in fear; Li Yue's voice was not loud, nor was it harsh, yet every word carried an undeniable authority that instilled a sense of dread in those who heard it

Li Yue has been cherished in her life, has been pleaded with by others, yet has never been relied upon by anyone

She was so frightened that she quickly crouched down, but after a moment of thought, she felt something was amiss and hurriedly fumbled to extinguish the fire. As soon as the flames were out, she was choked by the black smoke and began to cough repeatedly, and that group of people had already arrived behind her.

The rabbit leg slipped from my hand with a thud

Li Yue's face turned red: "Are you annoying or what?"

Du Qianzi became increasingly impatient with her mother-in-law, who urged her repeatedly: "Go! If you are late, you might not make it in time!" She urged Xiao Qing to leave quickly, fearing that their conversation would be interrupted by passersby if they lingered too long.

Little Qing, if you wish to survive, you must run!

He clenched his hands tightly, and after a moment, suddenly pushed one hand against the ground, leaped up from the ground, turned his back to her, and said with a self-mocking tone: "I am just this kind of reckless person, no one would think highly of me"

Xie Yang turned his head and smiled, a smile that did not seem feigned, but rather appeared to genuinely express the joy from the depths of his heart. He reached out and waved to her, and Li Yue moved closer to him. He tore off a piece of the roasted rabbit leg and handed it to her, saying: "Be careful, it's hot."

As night fell, Li Yue realized that she had nowhere to go and could only find a sheltered spot in the wilderness outside Yangzhou City to huddle. With no money to her name, she was unfamiliar with the ways of survival in the wild and ignorant of worldly affairs. Having left the imperial palace, the former Princess Yufeng was utterly helpless.

Just as I reached the garden gate, I accidentally bumped into someone head-on, causing the phoenix crown and colorful robe I was holding to scatter all over the ground

Really? He was a bit skeptical.

This person ... . ... Amidst the inexplicable, there is also an indescribable charm.

As he stepped forward cautiously, suddenly an object flew through the air and landed with a thud at his feet, startling him to jump back a yard, anxiously glancing around.

Li Yue's heart settled slightly, and for a moment, the two were speechless. Under the tranquil night sky, only the sound of dry branches crackling under the heat of the flames could be heard. She had not eaten all day, and the hunger in her stomach was unbearable. Suddenly, a spasm occurred in her stomach, and a thin layer of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead

Aunt? Which aunt?

"Get lost!" he suddenly shouted.

"Do not leave me..." he whispered softly, bending down to gently kiss her soft hair

Li Yue let out a sigh of relief, moved his feet, and quietly hid behind him

"Madam... Miss Li, Miss Li... where are you going?" The young maid, terrified and pale, lost her composure and hurriedly chased after her out the door

Nangong Kanhua felt a growing suspicion in his heart, drawing closer, even signaling to his subordinates behind him to light a torch, hoping to see the appearance of the woman before him clearly

All around, there were trees as far as the eye could see, and it was extremely quiet. Occasionally, a few calls of night owls would echo from deep within the forest. She felt her hands and feet turn icy, a chill creeping up to her heart. In her moment of confusion, a faint, ethereal sigh suddenly sounded in her ears. She turned around abruptly, only to find that no one was there. Fearfully, she called out, "Who? Who is there? You don't need to pretend to be a ghost to scare me, I... I have already seen you!"

Oh dear

She shook her head

"Are you afraid of me?" Suddenly, he asked this question, his expression tinged with a hint of loneliness

Nangong Kanhua was well aware that he had encountered a setback tonight. He clumsily got up from the ground and turned to leave. After distancing himself by about seven or eight zhang, he seemed unwilling to let it go and turned back to shout: "Kid, if you have the guts, state your name!"

On the 8th of March, the grand city of Yangzhou appeared particularly festive, with various characters, both prominent and obscure, bustling about the streets and alleys. As early as three days prior, the inns of all sizes within the city were fully booked, and the innkeepers were so delighted with the booming business that they could hardly contain their smiles.

No

The "Imperial Phoenix Technique" is precisely the martial arts manual left behind by that mysterious man from years ago. However, after twenty-five years, through the vicissitudes of time, the "Imperial Phoenix Technique" has, like its master, mysteriously vanished from the martial world

She was startled, waking up from a nightmare, her heart racing, lingering fears difficult to quell

The auspicious day is approaching, yet the bride has inexplicably gone missing. With guests filling the hall, it is only natural for the Nangong family to be in an uproar. Now, she only needs to keep this news concealed; the longer Li Yue remains at large, the more difficult it will be for the Nangong family to trace her whereabouts.

Approximately half a stick of incense had passed when a strange sound came from behind. Li Yue thought that Xie Yang had returned and stood up in surprise, but not far away, shadows were overlapping, and it turned out that a large group of people was approaching here

Run

"It is! It is! It is my fault..." He chuckled as he set her down, "I will go hunt some game again!" He hurriedly took a couple of steps, turned back to wave at her, "Aunt, wait for me, I will be back shortly!"

Although Nangong Kanhua is the steward of the Nangong family, he is also a prominent figure in the martial arts world. The abrupt eviction order issued by Qie Yang caused him some displeasure.

I ... ... I ... ... '' The sudden madness made her chest burn, and his actions finally exceeded her limits of tolerance

Xie Yang fell to the ground, staring at her with a strange expression, his eyes filled with frustration, self-mockery, disappointment, and resentment, a mixture of complex emotions that ultimately transformed into a deep sense of despair

She did not dare to speak, only retreating continuously.

Xie Yang's fiery lips then kissed her forehead, causing her to shudder, as if her entire body were ignited by fire.

Li Yue felt a sudden jolt in her heart, not quite understanding his definition of "being together," and for a moment hesitated, unsure of how to respond

"Is the young lady from Yangzhou?" the person asked hesitantly.

The maid, Xiao Qing, shivered, her face filled with fear: "But... where can this servant run to?"

Li Yue understood that he meant well, and with a blush, she was just about to say "thank you!" when he had already left without looking back. Gazing at the warm glow of the fire, she suddenly felt a warmth in her heart, and her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

Xie Yang sneered coldly, raising his right hand in a gesture, and uttered the same word again: "Get lost"

Li Yue was both surprised and delighted. Although she did not understand what Xie Yang had done to frighten them to the point of fleeing in terror, running faster than rabbits, he had shielded her from the pursuit of the Nangong family, which made her develop a slight fondness for this unfamiliar young man before her

The person turned his head, the orange-red glow of the fire illuminating his face. He was a young man of about eighteen or nineteen years old, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his features deep and well-defined, strikingly handsome. His thin lips were pressed together, the corners of his mouth slightly raised in a smile that was neither fully a smile nor a frown.

A voice, almost obsessed, calling out "Aunt... Aunt..." completely jolted her awake. She shivered and suddenly pushed him away.

I apologize for the disturbance, I take my leave! He clasped his fists, appearing to have no ill intentions, yet secretly kicked at Xi Yang's lower body. However, just as his foot was raised halfway, he felt a numbness in his ankle, twisted his foot, and fell flat on the ground in a most embarrassing manner

"Get up! Why are you crying!" Du Qianzi shouted. Although her beautiful face remained expressionless, she was secretly overjoyed upon hearing such news.

Regardless of the reasons behind Li Yue's departure, it is an undeniable fact that she has caused the Nangong family to lose face today. After losing such an important person as Nangong Qing, will he still be able to like her in the future

She shook her head, realizing that he could not see, and added, "Not afraid."

Well

Little hoof, what are you doing? Instead of properly attending to the bride, why have you come outside?

What is this for?" Li Yue cast a cold glance at the phoenix crown and colorful robe held by the maid.

She was truly famished, and as she opened her mouth to take a bite of the rabbit meat, she was immediately overwhelmed by its rich aroma. It was indeed a delicacy of the world, incomparable to any of the imperial feasts she had tasted before.

Well

The threshold of the Nangong family has long been trampled to pieces by a surging tide of congratulators, both acquaintances and strangers have come in large numbers. However, as the saying goes, guests are welcome, and since the Nangong family is hosting a joyous occasion, there is no reason to drive away the visitors.

In the pitch-black night sky, the stars twinkle like jewels set upon black velvet feathers. She pressed her hand against her restless heart, recalling that her mother had once gifted her a cloak made of black satin feathers. At that time, Li Tong had looked on with envy, and so she simply decided to give that cloak to her.

The entire Nangong family, from the elders to the young, especially the grandparents, dote on the little girl Li Yue, showing her immense care and affection, to the point that it almost seems as if they are trying to please her. Du Qianzi and the other five concubines see this and are filled with anger but dare not speak out, feeling extremely frustrated yet unable to do anything about it

Do you really want to wait until you die

The maid turned pale with fright: "Y-yes, I am sorry! Fourth Madam, please spare my life, I have realized my mistake..."

According to her previous temperament, she should have slapped him.

Li Yue, however, remained oblivious; she was so hungry that her stomach growled, and the deliciousness of the rabbit meat had completely captured her attention. Suddenly, she felt a tightness on her shoulder, as Qie Yang reached out to embrace her.

Now, Li Yue's sudden departure on the eve of her grand wedding, though completely unexpected, truly fills her with joy and delight

Nangong Kanhua shuddered as if he had seen a ghost, turned around, and ran away. In an instant, more than ten people cried out for their fathers and mothers and fled in a complete rout

The young maid, known for her cleverness and sweet tongue, originally intended to please the new mistress. However, Li Yue's expression darkened, as if covered in frost: "How dare you bring me such clothing? Nangong Qing must think too highly of himself."

Today is a special day, the wedding day of the renowned Nangong family in the martial arts world. In the martial arts community, there is a ranking known as "one sect, one teaching, one palace, one valley, one family," where the last in the ranking, "one family," refers specifically to the Nangong family of Yangzhou, which illustrates its formidable reputation

The campfire was reignited, and Qian Yang silently prepared the wild rabbit on the ground, gutting and skinning it with great dexterity. Before long, the rabbit meat skewered on a branch began to sizzle under the licking flames, with fat dripping and a fragrant aroma wafting through the air

On this day, twenty-five years later, "The Phoenix Decree" has suddenly re-emerged in the martial world, stirring both the righteous and the wicked factions of the martial arts community into restlessness

Li Yue reached out to take it and said shyly in a low voice: "Thank you"

Do not recognize

She couldn't help but feel afraid in her heart, and softly called out: "Qie Yang?"

Do you recognize me

Li Yue stood up, not even glancing at her, and walked straight out the door

She reached out and patted his arm: "Put me down, I am still hungry."

Please, madam, change into new clothes

Xiao Qing expressed her heartfelt thanks and bid farewell to Du Qianzi before hurriedly making her way to the backyard. Once she confirmed that the little maid had exited through the small door in the backyard, Du Qianzi finally let out a slow sigh of relief, a cunning smile appearing on her beautiful face

"Aunt? What are you..." Nangong Kanghua smiled and said, "Little brother, please don't misunderstand. We are just looking for our lost companions, nothing more. We are not bad people..." He glanced at Li Yue again and added, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding... We mistook the person."

No.

Really? Really?

"Madam Si," she knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face, and cried, "Miss Li suddenly lost her temper and left. I wanted to chase after her, but as soon as I stepped outside, I could no longer see her figure. Every word I say is the truth, Madam Si, Madam Si... I beg you, please save me. If the young master finds out, he will kill me... I beg you, please save me. If the young master finds out, he will kill me..."

He had just been wantonly frivolous with her, behaving in an extremely rude and unrestrained manner, yet she, aside from being somewhat startled, did not seem to have much intention to be angry or to reproach him

"Who are you?" She will not be mistaken; just now, there was clearly no one by the campfire.

Li Yue's heart skipped a beat, as she had already recognized that the speaker was Nan Gong Kanghua, the steward of the Nan Gong family

At that time, the disciples of the nine major sects were very unwilling to accept their defeat. They gathered the top experts from their sects to prepare to avenge their humiliation and compete with that young man once again. However, they did not expect that he had actually gone missing for twenty-five years with the most beautiful woman in the martial world, Su Qingying, playing a game of disappearance.

May I ask ... ...