Chapter 65

The smile on Jiang Ming Yue’s lips gradually disappeared, his gaze that had been averted returned to her.

His deep eyes grew cold, and he sneered, “Miss Shen is so thoughtful.”

It had been a long time since the young man called her Miss Shen, the distant tone carried a chill that seeped into her heart and lungs, for a moment it felt like they had returned to the past.

Shen Yao Xing lowered her head to look at her toes, the two stood in silence.

After waiting for a long time with no response from the girl, Jiang Ming Yue’s expression grew increasingly cold. His fingers slowly clenched into a fist, as if mocking himself, “I never thought I, Jiang Ming Yue, would come to this day, actually falling for someone as heartless as you.”

How truly pathetic.

Shen Yao Xing hesitantly looked up at him, her throat seemed to be holding something back, wanting to speak but unable to, “I…”

Jiang Ming Yue no longer looked at her, walking past her into the room.

Sigh.

Shen Yao Xing tilted her head back and knocked her forehead, the sunlight above stinging her eyes. Her delicate brows furrowed tightly, her mind in a jumble as she raised her foot to leave the young man’s residence.

Returning to the temporary mud hut where she was staying, the boss was already waiting there early, standing at the door talking with Meng Xin Yi. As she approached, the two turned to look at her.

“Eh, little sister, you’re back?” The woman’s rough face was full of warmth, revealing several large white teeth.

The way she called her “little sister” sounded especially natural.

Shen Yao Xing looked at Meng Xin Yi in confusion, only to see her shrug.

A large hand unceremoniously patted the slender shoulders of the young girl, as Zhu Hong laughed loudly: “Where did you go so early? Your big sister has been waiting for you!”

Big sister, please don’t randomly claim relatives, okay?

“What business does the boss have with me?” Shen Yao Xing brushed off her hand and asked coolly.

Zhu Hong didn’t mind, withdrawing her hand with no less joy on her face, “It’s like this, I’ve been thinking, before getting married I should cultivate feelings with Young Master Yin some more. Since you are his friends, I wanted to ask what Young Master Yin usually likes?”

He likes killing people.

Thinking about it, Shen Yao Xing felt that saying this would be too horrifying, so she could only shake her head and say she didn’t know.

Unable to get an answer, Zhu Hong’s face darkened, “I came specially to ask you, yet you tell me you don’t know? Aren’t you Young Master Yin’s friend? Or are you unwilling to tell me?”

Shen Yao Xing was already very impatient, not even bothering to pretend anymore on her face, she pouted and muttered: “If you’re so eager to know, why don’t you go ask him yourself?”

How would she know what Jiang Ming Yue likes.

“Boss, there’s no need to rush.” Meng Xin Yi stepped forward to interrupt their conversation, still wearing a faint smile, “My friend here is very simple-minded, how would she know what men like.”

Zhu Hong turned back, “Then does Sister Meng know?”

Sis-Sister Meng?

Shen Yao Xing could barely control her expression.

Meng Xin Yi glanced faintly at the young girl, smiling as she continued: “Although I can’t claim to have read countless men, I do know a thing or two in this area.”

“Oh? Then tell me.”

“Men are always soft-hearted, and Young Master Yin is no exception. Since you and Young Master Yin are already a good match, why not send some small gifts? That will surely win his favor.”

“Small gifts?” Zhu Hong stroked her chin, looking worried, “But where can I find things men like in this stronghold?”

“Didn’t you say there’s a town nearby, boss? Why not go look there?”

Zhu Hong felt this was a good idea, and immediately nodded in agreement, “Alright! Then Sister Meng, you come along too. I’m just a rough person who doesn’t understand these things, you can help me pick!”

Meng Xin Yi nodded, her gaze falling on the indifferent young girl, “Yao Xing, you come too.”

Of course Shen Yao Xing refused. Go shopping if you want, why drag me along?

However, all refusals were in vain, and she was eventually dragged down the mountain by the two, along with Qian Er. Bai Sha insisted on staying behind, fearing someone in the stronghold would be bold enough to bully Young Master Yin.

Everything happened so naturally.

As they went down the mountain, the group was chatting and laughing. It was only then that Shen Yao Xing learned that this bandit leader wasn’t as “fierce” as imagined.

“I used to be just a farmer before, with nothing but brute strength. It was only later that I got the chance to become this mountain king.”

“I’m not completely evil either, we have our rules. We rob less from poor families, or don’t rob them at all. We’ve all been through it, I know how hard it is for them.”

From the moment they started down the mountain, Zhu Hong’s mouth hadn’t stopped, telling them about her past experiences.

Finally, she changed the subject, “I know you’re not from ordinary families. I’m sincere about marrying Young Master Yin. You can rest assured, I will treat him well for a lifetime, so…”

Shen Yao Xing glanced at her with a wooden expression.

“So, when you go back, you can tell Young Master Yin’s parents not to worry.”

Who would have thought that this person looks fierce, but her thoughts are not fierce at all. She knows to act first and report later, and is afraid of trouble coming to find her in the future.

Nevermind, it doesn’t affect her anyway. Once her inner power recovers, she’ll leave this place.

In the stronghold, after Zhu Hong went down the mountain, there were indeed many people who became restless, peeking and peering around the young man’s residence, wanting to approach but not daring to due to Zhu Hong’s deterrent power.

Plus with Bai Sha guarding at the door, even without inner power she was not afraid at all, and didn’t let them succeed in getting half a step closer.

In the end, the group of women could only leave resentfully.

Bai Sha was like a loyal guard dog, always on alert for the surroundings, preventing anyone from finding an opportunity to harm the fragile Young Master Yin.

Although the climate was about to enter autumn, the sun was still not diminished at all. Drops of sweat slid down from her temples, disappearing into her collar.

Bai Sha had just raised her hand to wipe off some sweat when the young man’s voice, as pleasant as plucking harp strings, came from inside the house.

“Come in and have a drink of water.” His lazy voice was like heavenly music, making people even more infatuated with his extremely handsome features.

Bai Sha’s forehead sweated even more profusely, her head shaking like waves, “Thank you, Young Master Yin, this subordinate is not thirsty.”

Jiang Ming Yue’s long narrow eyes lowered slightly. He didn’t call her again, his jade-like long fingers lightly brushing over the body of the celadon cup. After a while, he lazily raised his lips and asked as if casually, “Did she tell you to guard here?”

Bai Sha didn’t react at first to who “she” was, but after a moment’s blank, she hurriedly replied: “Yes… yes! It was the young miss who ordered this subordinate to come here!”

Although he knew this person was lying, Jiang Ming Yue was still in a good mood. He supported his chin with one hand, while the other played with the fox hairpin the girl had “given” him, his thin lips curling up slightly.

“Actually… actually, the young miss she…” Bai Sha stammered.

The young man glanced at her faintly, gesturing for her to continue.

Bai Sha’s mind was like a whirlwind, constantly thinking about what she should say now to help the young miss. Suddenly inspired, her expression became earnest, “The young miss actually always has Young Master Yin in her heart, she’s just too shy to express it.”

Jiang Ming Yue’s hand playing with the fox hairpin paused, his long lashes trembled slightly, actually feeling a flutter in his heart.

His beautiful eyes stared at the fox hairpin, mixed with a hint of sweet affection, quietly listening as the woman continued.

Once she started talking, she couldn’t stop. Bai Sha began a series of seemingly true and false boasts, “Our young miss is pure in nature, simple in mind, not like those frivolous women outside who spend all day in debauchery. She’s highly skilled in martial arts, and has a good temper too. In the future when Young Master Yin marries our young miss, our young miss will definitely be wholeheartedly devoted to you blah blah blah…”

If Shen Yao Xing were here now, she would probably be so embarrassed that she’d want to knock out this Bai Sha who was “praising her own goods”.

“Then…” A touch of blush had unknowingly crept onto Jiang Ming Yue’s face as he interrupted the woman’s words, “Has she ever… been so fond of anyone before?”

Bai Sha denied it without a moment’s hesitation.

His heart felt as if it was wrapped in boiling water, melting bit by bit, giving off warm and intoxicating steam. Jiang Ming Yue felt that even his usually cold palms were heating up, and his saliva tasted sweet.

Bai Sha had been facing away guarding the door the whole time, not noticing the young man’s unusual state.

A cloud drifted across the sky, blocking half the sun. Suddenly the surroundings became eerily quiet, even the crows and magpies in the trees no longer called out.

Inside the room, Jiang Ming Yue lazily raised his eyes to glance at the sky outside the door, then got up and sat in the inner room.

Outside, Bai Sha increasingly felt that something was not right. Their location was some distance from the center of the stronghold, and just now she seemed to have faintly heard screams.

She looked back at the room, wanting to go check, but hesitant.

“If you want to go, then go. No need to guard here,” the young man inside said.

Bai Sha thought about it, felt it was inappropriate, and still continued to guard here, completely unaware that the stronghold was already a bloodbath.

By the time Shen Yao Xing and the others returned to the stronghold, the scene before their eyes was truly horrific.

The earthy yellow ground was almost covered in fresh blood, the thick stench in the air even made Qian Er, who had never seen such a “grand scene” before, nauseous. Dense corpses extended from the stronghold entrance all the way inside, each one killed with a single strike.

Zhu Hong’s whole body trembled, her eyes bloodshot, the scene before her devastating, “What… what on earth happened…”

She staggered forward a few steps, fell to her knees, and reached out a shaking hand to check the breath of those on the ground.

Of course, none had survived this scene.

Zhu Hong raised her head to the sky and wailed in anguish, her miserable appearance arousing a hint of pity in Shen Yao Xing.

Although she didn’t know what had happened, she still comforted her, “My condolences…”

But Zhu Hong seemed to think of something, suddenly turning back, her angry red eyes looking as if she wanted to eat them alive, “Was it you!? Tricking me down the mountain to slaughter my stronghold!”

Shen Yao Xing frowned. Before she could say anything, the woman indiscriminately picked up a knife from the ground and slashed at her. Although she had no inner power, dodging was not a problem.

After dodging several attacks, Shen Yao Xing tried to call for her to calm down, but the woman was already frenzied and couldn’t listen, only wanting to avenge her sisters.

“Boss, calm down a bit, we have no reason to do this.”

Zhu Hong’s already rough face became increasingly fierce and terrifying, her attacks growing more vicious. Shen Yao Xing finally found an opportunity while dodging to kick the knife out of her hand, but didn’t have the strength to kick the person far away.

Damn it!

Shen Yao Xing cursed inwardly, hurriedly backing away to avoid the incoming fist. The drug’s effects were taking hold in her body, her limbs growing increasingly weak and sore, her breath only going out and not coming in.

Finally using a clever move, she used all her strength to kick towards the woman’s abdomen. The woman was finally kicked back several steps, sitting down on the ground.

Shen Yao Xing also collapsed weakly on the ground, raising her hand and panting slightly: “Boss, calm down. I went down the mountain with you, how could I have had such an opportunity?”

Zhu Hong’s eyes were gloomy, a trace of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth, “To think I treated you so well, I’ll make you pay blood for blood!”

The woman was as stubborn as a bull, determined that they were the culprits and refusing to back down even in death.

Just as Zhu Hong was about to pick up another knife to finish off the young girl, a piercing chill spread quickly from her spine. Her pupils constricted, the fear of imminent death even making her afraid to turn around. In an instant, her head was separated from her body.

The fresh blood spraying from the severed neck splattered onto Shen Yao Xing’s face. She stared blankly at the headless corpse, unable to react for a moment.

Through her blurry vision, she saw the young man walking towards her in a moon-colored long robe, without a speck of dust on him, like an immortal descending from the nine heavens to show mercy to all living beings.

“You…” Shen Yao Xing opened and closed her mouth.

Jiang Ming Yue walked up to the young girl, lowered his eyes, his pupils sweeping over her shocked face, and said softly: “She wanted to kill you, so I had to kill her.”

As if explaining to her, yet also stating a fact.