Chapter 06: Pride

The other party's fierce and menacing attitude caused Li Yue's brows to furrow, and her pale cheeks slightly flushed with color

Minghui, Mingcong, you are to pay a visit to the abbot and inform him that an old friend from Shaolin has come to visit

She does not understand what the world of rivers and lakes is all about, but her sensitive intuition has already informed her that Qie Yang bringing her to Shaoshi Mountain is by no means as simple as a leisurely outing.

What can the Eighteen Arhats Formation do to me?" He sneered, reaching out to wrap his arm around Li Yue's slender waist, leaping three zhang high like a crane soaring into the sky, with the Eighteen Arhats following closely behind, raising their staffs to strike.

"Rest assured, everything is under my control!" He flashed her a bright smile, and the slender, frost-like short sword was gripped in his left hand without her noticing.

Haha... the martial arts of Shaolin are nothing more than this! The confident young man suddenly laughed loudly, flicked his hand, and knocked the two monks to the ground. He then quickly stepped forward and struck their acupoints.

Qian Yang! Is this merely a jest? Is it just his capricious mischief?

At times, he treats her exceptionally well, while at other times, he completely disregards her as if she were invisible. She is unable to keep up with his complex and ever-changing emotions, much like being unable to predict the fluctuations in the weather

In an instant, the two monks were screaming as they rolled on the ground, desperately scratching their bodies until their skin was torn and blood flowed.

She smiled faintly and said, "It's no problem."

This is indeed a very strange matter; from beginning to end, she could not understand what exactly had happened. Out of the blue, she got into a fight, and out of the blue, she became entangled with the Shaolin Temple.

A chill ran through her heart, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, leaving her hands and feet icy cold and her entire body numb

He sat up straight, motionless, with his head bowed and silent, unable to see his expression

Qian Yang involuntarily called out softly, in a humble voice.

Who goes there? State your name!

By following the stone steps upwards, one can reach Shaolin! He casually tied the horse to a tree trunk, but your body...

He no longer paid her any attention and walked straight past her, ascending the stone steps.

"Yes, Master Guangzhi!" Two middle-aged monks stepped forward from the Eighteen Arhats, bowed in respect, and then ran towards the mountain top

She is a princess! She is the most beloved princess of the queen mother

Guangzhi no longer spoke further and led the monks to leave on their own. Just a moment ago, the atmosphere was intense with the tension of drawn bows and arrows, yet unexpectedly, with the emergence of Qie Yang's Sword of Sentiment, the situation was completely turned around

She felt a pang of anguish in her heart, both for his indifference and for her own lack of resilience. Why was it so easy for her to feel sorrow over his indifference?

In the midst of contemplation, Qie Yang had a disagreement with the two monks and ended up fighting on the spot. However, in Li Yue's eyes, this altercation was more of a playful skirmish than a serious contest.

Xie Yang remained silent, only a few disdainful cold snorts could be heard

The sadness of that day will remain in her heart for a lifetime, even though she has deliberately tried to forget that feeling. However, she is very aware that some things, some emotions, have already changed.

She has regarded Qie Yang as the closest person, but it is evident that he does not feel the same way

Xie Yang remained very gentle with her, occasionally displaying a bit of a spoiled demeanor, sometimes resembling a child who has not yet grown up, and at other times appearing as a towering man capable of supporting the heavens and the earth

A trace of anger flashed in his eyes: "I said... let's go up."

Alright then. If you get tired along the way, we can stop and take a break, after all, there is no rush

Qie Yang coldly glared at him, "My aunt and I will arrive shortly!"

Thus, she pressed her lips tightly together, staring at him expressionlessly, until he, feeling guilty, forced out a faint smile: "Let us go up the mountain!"

Ah—those two monks lay on the cold ground, curled up, emitting chilling and horrifying cries

"Hey, what are you two shouting about? My aunt and I are in a good mood today, so I won't hold it against you. Quickly, make way!"

I am not an aunt! My surname is Li, and my given name is Yue! I am called—Li Yue! Finally... finally, I could not help but vent the discontent within me, even... even touching that layer of secrecy deep within his heart

Even though he is unique in her eyes, the inherent pride within him does not allow for others to look down upon or be arrogant towards him

The ascent up the mountain has left her, already in a weakened state, feeling a heaviness in her chest and a sense of discomfort. Fortunately, the elegant surroundings do not diminish her enthusiasm in the slightest. However, the sudden appearance of two annoying monks along the way is truly a dampener.

The innate pride of a princess that resided deep within her began to shatter and crumble, bit by bit, in this moment, for the sake of a "stranger" she had only known for a month

Good eyesight," he flicked his right hand finger on the back of the sword, and the Sword of Thought emitted a crisp dragon's roar. "I believe you bald donkeys should be familiar with this sword!"

The old monk's gaze swept past Li Yue beside him, and a fleeting look of embarrassment crossed his face: "I should have recognized it long ago."

Amitabha! A resonant chant of the Buddha's name echoed from the mountaintop, the powerful inner energy causing Li Yue's eardrums to throb with a dull pain

The old monk's expression was serious, mixed with deep anger: "You possess great skill and courage, since you dare to openly provoke, you must also be prepared to face the consequences. Therefore... please accompany me back to the temple to provide an explanation!"

Various local rebel armies have been rising up to oppose Empress Wu, attempting to seize the Li dynasty's power from her hands, but they have all been forcefully suppressed by troops dispatched by Empress Wu. Wu Zetian's influence has grown significantly, and she has completely taken control of the government, even unwilling to maintain the facade of "curtaining the curtains". To attempt to overthrow her at this moment is nothing short of a delusion

In the blink of an eye, a dazzling light flashed before them, and with a clanging sound, the Eighteen Arhats jumped back a large step, all staring in disbelief at the iron rod in their hands, which was only about a foot long.

The two stared at each other for a long time, and finally, a trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, a cold smile blooming at the corners of his lips: "Is that so? You are not my aunt! Indeed, you are not... you are actually nothing at all! Get lost..." He suddenly roared, "Get lost—get as far away as possible!"

Having witnessed the deceit and rivalry within the palace, what she longs for is merely that sense of ordinariness and simplicity

An old monk clad in a bright red robe rushed down the mountain, his movements so swift that they dazzled the eyes. He had firmly exchanged a palm strike with Qie Yang, and both retreated a considerable step.

He harbors a secret, yet she is acutely aware that this secret will remain an eternally buried mystery. He will not reveal it to her, thus she can only pretend to be unaware.

The old monk's originally serious expression changed dramatically: "The Sword of Thought and Emotion!"

It is said that Emperor Taizong received assistance from the Shaolin monks when he waged war against Emperor Yang of Sui. This is merely a rumor, and Li Yue is unaware of its veracity. However, due to this rumor, even this inexperienced princess has heard of it within the confines of the imperial palace.

Li Yue was taken aback, her expression changing dramatically

A large number of Shaolin monks soon arrived, surrounding the two of them with sticks in hand. The old monk had already ordered for the two injured disciples to be carried back to the temple.

The wind rolls and the clouds stretch, his heart is as elusive as the clouds drifting in the sky, completely intangible and inscrutable

The two invited guests! Guangzhi clasped his hands together and said humbly and courteously

She lightly lifted the hem of her skirt and slowly ascended the stone steps, with him closely following, matching her pace. As they reached the halfway point up the mountain, two monks in gray robes rushed down the stone path.

His background and origins are a mystery, and she has never inquired about them, for she is well aware that if he does not bring it up himself, any questions she might ask would be futile

The old monk waved his hand, and a group of monks brandished their staffs, their movements vigorous and powerful, exuding an impressive force

Li Yue picked up a large stone and sat down steadily. She casually watched Qie Yang deliberately entangle himself with the two guest monks, leaving them confused and flustered, which made her smile unconsciously

The figure ascending step by step showed no hesitation or pause, and his voice was cold enough to make one tremble: "Is this name, Qian Yang, one that you can also call?"

She hesitated for a moment, yet stubbornly raised her face and gently shook her head

Xie Yang released Li Yue, who leaned against his chest, her legs feeling somewhat weak

He heartlessly abandoned her like this

She took a deep breath and said with unusual determination: "Don't go!"

This young man, exuding an aura of sinister charm, often leaves people perplexed. Just when you think you have come to understand him, he appears before you in an entirely different demeanor. He is remarkably changeable, with transformations so rapid that they are beyond imagination. Yet, such a man possesses a deadly allure for women as well

Standing at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain, gazing at the lush green pines and cypresses, breathing in the fresh air, and listening to the melodious chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects, one cannot help but feel a sense of tranquility and a blissful escape from the mundane.

strangers to each other

"Guangzhi, aren't you going to invite me up to sit for a while?" The tone was laced with great sarcasm

She almost forgot that he is capable of murder! In the midst of laughter and conversation, he can kill with a single sword strike, leaving no trace! ... He will not show mercy, nor will he hesitate

Qian Yang! She was stunned and speechless, "Are you alright?"

The Shaolin Temple is located here? Even though the large seal script inscribed on the stone tablet covered in moss at the foot of the mountain has proven it, Li Yue still finds it somewhat hard to believe

Although the Qingming Festival has passed, it is still often characterized by continuous rain. Nevertheless, the weather is gradually warming up.

Although she was not fully acquainted with everything about him, she genuinely did not wish to categorize him among the likes of Nangong Qing. She was reluctant to accept his closeness, which also carried a certain degree of utilitarianism and calculation

Aunt, we are going up the mountain He reached out his hand, palm slightly open, wearing a captivating smile

Li Yue shook her head. Although she was very reluctant to go against his decision, the somewhat coercive tone truly provoked her inner pride. She was a princess! The Phoenix Princess of the Great Tang!