Chapter 8, When Spring Flowers Meet Autumn Moon

Lei Lei let out a sound of "en" while tidying her clothes and complained, "Just say it, why pull at my clothes!"

Take me to meet Shangguan Qiuyue

He remains still

Is it trustworthy now

"If you are afraid, from now on, brother will not do these things in front of you," Shangguan Qiuyue said as she pulled her along to continue walking down. "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and we siblings have finally reunited. Let’s go eat some mooncakes first, and then have a good sleep."

Leilei knew that this person must have already noticed her, yet he still did not look at her, as if he regarded her as an inanimate object. His beautiful eyes only glanced sideways at the woman beside him, sighing: "You might as well come yourself."

Yet that warm smile, akin to the spring sun, made this enchanting being appear less like a monster

Leilei urged him: "Let's go."

Thousand Moon Cave

Shangguan Qiuyue was also surprised: "Aren't you the best at disguise? At that time, we designed it so that you would disguise yourself as that maid and blend into the Huajia wedding procession."

A gentleman of upright conduct, who harbors a deep aversion to evil, yet possesses a sinisterly beautiful smile

"It was only a matter of time, and its absence is of no consequence," Shangguan Qiuyue said as she took her hand and walked down the stone steps. "What is there to fear? With my brother here, it is enough to return safely. Once you regain your memory and remember who harmed you, I will kill him."

Lei Lei let out a sigh of relief; it truly is a demonic sect, with such cruel methods of punishment. Since he recognizes himself, what is there to say about "coming back"? It seems that this "Chunhua" is very likely a person from the Qianyue Cave, perhaps truly related to Shangguan Qiuyue

Having already seen, Lei Lei was taken aback and exclaimed: "You... you are a man?"

Later, the flower house maid was inexplicably burned to death, and I could not find you. I thought you had betrayed me, until recently I heard that you have returned and even changed your name..." Shangguan Qiuyue said with a hint of guilt, reaching out to smooth her hair, "I should not have doubted you; you are the most obedient, how could you betray your brother

The pure white sleeves were lifted by the wind, almost devoid of any color, resembling the peaks of ice and snow, untouched by a speck of dust. In an instant, the moon above lost its luster, leading one to mistakenly believe that he should be the lofty full moon, radiating brilliance.

Do I possess martial arts skills

Looking up at the top of her head, she could vaguely see the rocks; this should be a cave. The light was coming in from the right side, and the wind was blowing from that direction as well, indicating that it was the entrance. Without having time to ponder why those people had abandoned her here, Lei Lei resolutely decided to leave first, and thus she decisively walked towards the source of the light.

The moonlight in the vast sky is as bright as silk, and the surrounding scenery is exceptionally clear, with rolling mountains in the distance

Of course," he said softly, "of course I know him, how could I not know him?"

He suddenly laughed and said, "Alright."

My brother can't look at my chest either, you really have a personality! Lei Lei felt depressed, now she has truly become a demoness of the evil sect, why! Why is the beauty my brother! Suddenly recalling the terrifying scene from earlier, she shivered again, secretly relieved that if this person were not her brother, she would have probably been dealt with long ago, fortunately, this demon still cares for his sister!

Indeed, I am Shangguan Chunhua

Leilei was confident and composed, raising her voice: "Why aren't you taking me to see her right away!"

In the cold wind, the woman's voice trembles, "My Lord..."

Who am I

The sweetness of indulgence in the smile is so evident, akin to an elder brother who dotes on his younger sister, making one feel warm and at ease. Lei Lei relaxed a little, feeling less afraid. Ah, it seems that ninety percent of the possibility is related to this demon!

Shangguan Qiuyue said: "I am following that girl from the Hua family to Baisheng Mountain Villa. You rarely move about in the martial world, yet this time you insist on going, saying you want to retrieve the Xiao Xiao Fengming sword technique for me..."

He turned around

He then turned his gaze towards her, filled with a smile, and walked over leisurely. His demeanor was so striking, his steps so unhurried, and his expression so self-satisfied. The fabric of his clothing was lifted by the wind, as if he were an immortal arriving on the breeze, or a poet wandering under the moonlight, or a young nobleman on a casual outing, making it utterly unimaginable what he had just done.

Some black hair cascades down, like thick ink spilled over the shoulders. The firelight and moonlight illuminate the perfect profile, with the corners of the lips slightly curved, displaying a warm smile that is strikingly incongruous with his inherent temperament. This smile makes him appear less ethereal and illusory, finally giving him a hint of earthly essence

Because ... ... when will the spring flowers and autumn moon come to an end

There was not the slightest hint of surprise or astonishment; he quietly gazed at her face, missing not even the subtlest change in her expression. A living person stood right in front of him, there could be no mistake, yet there was indeed something slightly different—she actually did not recognize him

Shangguan Qiuyue shook her head, a light sigh revealing her self-reproach: "Had I known it would lead to this, I should not have indulged your temperament and allowed you to handle the matter."

"Who told you that Shangguan Qiuyue is a woman?" It seemed that he had succeeded in teasing someone, as he tilted his face and smiled contentedly, "What, you don't even recognize me?"

With a faint smile, he let her go

There was not the slightest hint of surprise in his expression as he smiled and shook his head: "Not enough."

I know that you truly cannot remember, otherwise how could you not even recognize me?" Shangguan Qiuyue smiled, "Brother has always cared for you the most, and you are so understanding, how could you betray him? Who has harmed you?"

He was taken aback for a moment and smiled: "Have you forgotten me so soon?"

When will the spring flowers and autumn moon come to an end? He laughed and said: "Nowadays, I cannot do anything else, but I have learned to compose poetry. Who taught you to make a joke out of my name? You have become increasingly bold."

Go ahead

Seeing that this person did not intend to take action, she became increasingly certain of her suspicion and probed: "Do you know who I am?"

Leilei looked up at him in terror

Leilei became alert and took a step back: "How do I know you are not deceiving me"

"Of course, it is my younger sister Shangguan Chunhua." Shangguan Qiumei pinched her face

And that beautiful man, resembling the bright moon and possessing a warm smile, is currently observing with great interest the two blood-stained fingers, which are delicately pinching an eyeball, featuring black, white, and red.

What is she doing! Lei Lei was so frightened that she bit her teeth tightly, holding back her voice without making a sound

With a flick of the hand, the bloodstained handkerchief floated down to the bottom of the ravine

At last, he lifted her chin and said, "Since you have returned, why are you not happy?"

He smiled and, with a flick of his finger, extracted a eyeball from that beautiful left eye

She murmured, "I don't remember anything."

Qian Yue Cave! The three characters struck like a bolt of lightning, and Lei Lei immediately had a flash of inspiration, exclaiming: "I want to see Shangguan Qiu Yue!"

No way, it's really Chunhua! Lei Lei was left speechless, feeling both joy and worry. The joy came from having such a beautiful brother, while the worry stemmed from the fact that this brother was ruthless and a great villain. The terrifying scene of bloodshed from earlier still haunted her, but the person before her now was playfully smiling at her, genuinely a gentle and refined brother who adored his sister, making it impossible to associate him with such cruel acts.

Unlike the ordinary cool breeze of autumn, the wind carried with it countless icy chills, pricking the skin with a faint pain, the cold penetrating to the bone. Lei Lei felt as if her entire body was on the verge of being frozen numb, and when she opened her mouth, she could even see white vapor escaping, as if she were in a vast icehouse. She almost began to doubt that this place was indeed the legendary underworld.

He seemed not to have noticed Leilei, merely standing with his hands behind his back, looking at the woman in white who was kneeling before him: "Did I tell you to kneel?"

Lei Lei suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, her empty stomach began to cramp, and she couldn't help but turn her face to retch

The fine hairs stood on end as Lei Lei was filled with immense fear. Suddenly, a cold wind swept through, causing the surrounding gauze curtains to flutter silently in the breeze, creating a shadowy and eerie atmosphere.

Leilei calmed down a bit and asked, "Do you know me?"

Leilei was more certain now, too lazy to say much, and mustered the courage to ask: "Was it Shangguan Qiuyue who asked you to bring me back?"

Leilei finds it strange: "Doing business?"

Monstrous! Absolutely monstrous!

The woman gritted her teeth and suddenly grasped her left wrist with her right hand. Immediately, there was a "crack" sound, and her beautiful left hand folded at the wrist, resembling a Transformer toy she had played with as a child, bending at an extremely bizarre and utterly impossible angle, with the back of her hand pressed against her arm

Yet the terrifying man before me, who could easily captivate one's attention, possesses a gentle and refined demeanor, with a smile as warm as the spring sun

Rei Lei is merely your alias

He smiled and said, "How can I make you remember better if you do not follow orders and act on your own?"

Reflected in the firelight, half of her beautiful face was as pale as that of a corpse. The woman took a step back in terror, wanting to retreat further, but her feet seemed to be firmly rooted to the ground, nearly causing her to fall. She dared not retreat any further, nor did she dare to take her own life, for such actions would only lead to more severe consequences, and her fate would be even more tragic.

Seeing that she did not respond, Shangguan Qiuyue revealed a hint of dissatisfaction, her tone carrying a hint of reproach: "It is one thing for others to forget, but have you truly forgotten even your brother?"

His voice was gentle, devoid of any hint of malice. Had she not witnessed his actions with her own eyes, Lei Lei would surely have felt a sense of admiration. Yet at this moment, she was compelled to gaze directly at that stunning face, feeling a chill run through her body: "Who are you?"

Where to go

Leilei looked at him and said, "I don't remember."

Is it really a ghost? Lei Lei forced herself to remain calm, rubbed her legs, and made an effort to stand up, moving her arms and legs. After feeling somewhat better, she began to carefully analyze her current situation; she certainly would not believe that there are truly ghosts in this world

As the layers of gauze are lifted, the light grows increasingly bright, and the chill in the wind becomes more pronounced, with the faint sound of water still audible.

You have already seen him

What is there to fear from one's own brother

The gaze was naturally drawn to the one standing.

Shangguan Qiuyue unexpectedly said: "Were you scared? Don't you often do the same?"

In an instant, Lei Lei unexpectedly thought of the young master

Leilei remains silent, indeed it is time to have a good sleep, hoping it is just a dream

Lei Lei finally understood the ins and outs of the situation. No wonder the loyal maidservant would commit regicide; it turned out that the real maidservant had already been replaced by this Shangguan Chunhua halfway through!

Leilei, frightened, clutched her chest and stepped back: "What do you want to do! This is not the kind of action a brother should take!"

Shangguan Qiuyue smiled and said: "Aren't you still doubting that I am deceiving you? You have had a red birthmark on your body since childhood, shaped like a flower bud, which is why you were named Chunhua. If you don't believe me, take a look for yourself"

Shangguan Qiuyue raised her eyebrows and suddenly lifted her hand. Before she could react, she heard a "shh" sound, and a large portion of her chest garment was unexpectedly torn open.

The movements are as graceful, natural, and effortless as plucking flowers and leaves

Then how did you know to look for me

The word "kill" was spoken lightly, as if those matters were done by others and had nothing to do with him. Lei Lei immediately recalled a phrase describing "an angel's face, a devil's heart," and pondered: "Do you... do you often gouge people's eyes out?"

Watching helplessly as that beautiful hand reached out towards her, the expression on the woman's face shifted from pain to despair, without a plea for mercy, for she knew it would be futile, and she lacked the courage to escape

I resemble a woman

On one side of the face, there originally was a large, pitch-black eye, but at this moment it had transformed into a gory, flesh-ridden hole, from which blood continuously flowed, resembling a line of tears sliding down the cheek. The juxtaposition of beauty and ugliness rendered that half of the face particularly eerie

Her whole body was cold, and she could not move even a fraction at the soles of her feet. Lei Lei watched him walk up to her, slowly extending his hand to caress her face, his clean and slender fingers looking particularly beautiful up close, as if carved from fine jade. The wind here was strong, and the chill was even more intense. Her face was already icy, yet his fingers were colder than her face, and she could even faintly sense the lingering smell of blood on his fingertips.

The woman let out a pained groan, yet she still managed to endure without fainting

"How can Shangguan Qiuyue be a man?" Surprise replaces fear

Thank you, esteemed master. The woman seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, turned around, and unsteadily walked down the stone steps on the right, disappearing into a patch of shadow

The sound of water splashing is heard, and there should be a deep ravine ahead. The chill is emanating from there. On the opposite bank, there is a vast valley shimmering with silver light, distinctly different in color from the surrounding peaks, creating a remarkably strange and beautiful scene

"Are you back again?" The voice and smile are equally warm, akin to the caring greetings of a family member

At last, I can see that face clearly, the eyebrows, the eyes, the bridge of the nose...! ... Almost more beautiful than a woman! If it weren't for that tall and slender figure, Lei Lei would have thought this was a woman.

Not simple, truly deserving of being a generation's demon, able to discern others' innermost thoughts so clearly! At this point, Lei Lei has no choice but to believe it. In fact, she has seen that mark many times while bathing; it is about the size of a fingernail, vividly colored, and located in a very special place, precisely beneath the shoulder, above the left breast. Who else, apart from her biological brother, who grew up with her, would have seen such a secretive part of a girl!

The woman trembled as she got up from the ground: "Your Excellency ... ..."

This is a high platform, with railings made of Han white jade. On the right side, a row of stone steps extends downward, and on both sides, stone cauldrons are ablaze with roaring flames, dancing wildly with the force of the wind

He nodded

Upon opening her eyes, she was met with a scene of pure white. Lei Lei was so startled that she immediately turned over and sat up, looking around. She saw many soft white gauze curtains hanging down from above, resembling a series of drapes. It was impossible to discern how many layers there were, as they faintly glimmered with light. Beyond this, there was nothing else to be seen, not even a way to distinguish between day and night.

The man remained standing in place, meticulously wiping his fingers with a pristine white handkerchief, in an extremely elegant manner, without looking at her. Soon, those two fingers became clean again

No wonder I felt that his attitude was unfriendly just now; it turns out he was doubting himself. Lei Lei silently lamented while also feeling puzzled. In recent days, there had been no signs of abnormality at Baisheng Villa, indicating that Shangguan Chunhua had not successfully obtained the Xiao Xiao Fengming Knife's heart technique. So why did she kill Miss Hua and flee? Did she not ruin the plan? Did she not want to help her brother? Moreover, how did she end up falling to her death from the cliff later? Or perhaps these events were not actually her doing, and there is someone else behind it?

Wait! Lei Lei interrupted him, puzzled, "Since I am the accompanying maid, there should be quite a few people who have seen me. Why has no one recognized me until now?"

Silent, terrifyingly silent

Lei Lei forced a stiff smile and said, "I fell off a cliff and remember nothing." Her eyes glanced at the two fingers, "Why do you want to harm me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his left hand

He looked at her in silence

At last, everything became clear before my eyes

She defended herself: "I really ... ... "

Where is this

There was no thrill of escape, for Leilei saw two people

Damn, often? After all this time, this Shangguan Chunhua is also a little demon! Lei Lei trembled, unable to help but move her fingers, imagining its blood-soaked appearance as it held someone else's eyeball, her empty stomach churning once again.

One is standing, and one is kneeling

Why does it resemble a morgue so much? Has it already been murdered?

Under the moonlight, Leilei felt a bit dazed, but the intense hunger in her stomach proved one thing: this was definitely not the same moon as before her fainting. It should now be the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival

Leilei truly wanted to leave this dreadful place, and the thought of that eyeball sent shivers down her spine, making her heart race: "Let's go."