Chapter 49: Clear Heart in the Green Forest

Seeing Ye Xuanshang walking this way, the crowd naturally made a path for him to pass, their eyes filled with a bit of admiration, and they did not show disrespect because he, a Mu person, had killed a swordsman of their own country.

In this era of turmoil, the trend of martial arts is prevalent, and sword technique and military strategy are the keys to determining a person's fame and status. Just like the Shao Yuan Jun, the reason why he enjoys such a high reputation in Chu is not only because of his prominent family background and high official position, but because his Zhu Ri Sword and his Liefeng Cavalry have been invincible so far, which is why he can become an irreplaceable hero in the hearts of the Chu people.

Ye Xuanshang walked through the crowd, and Han Xi secretly circled over at some point. "Ye Big Brother!" She took his hand to avoid the passersby and flashed into a nearby alley. "This is the jurisdiction of the Duqi Forbidden Guard. Helian Qi's subordinates will arrive soon. Let's go quickly!"

Ye Xuanshang smiled, knowing that Huang Fei had sent a protective talisman temporarily. Even if the Helian Marquis Mansion wanted to avenge his son's death, they would not dare to do anything to Princess Han Xi, so he let her lead him forward. "Why are you dressed like this? I almost didn't recognize you just now."

Han Xi looked back while walking and said: "I originally planned to go find Zi Rao sister to play. Didn't Zi Rao sister say that if I want to find her, I should go to Kou Shiniang at Yan Xiang Fang in Qianyi Alley in the East City?"

There were sounds of hooves on the street, and there was a clamor of people and horses, obviously the Duqi Forbidden Guard had arrived. Han Xi didn't have time to say anything else, and pulled his hand: "Go quickly!"

The two used light work to pass through two blocks, avoiding the Duqi Forbidden Guard. Han Xi leaped down from a row of green-eaved walls, looked around and said: "It should be here! Ye Big Brother, it turns out you haven't been here either. Oh! I'll tell you a secret, there is a person who likes Zi Rao sister very much. You must be careful in the future, don't let her be snatched away by others!"

Ye Xuanshang raised his hand and flicked her forehead. "Her affairs with others, what does it have to do with me?"

Han Xi's pretty eyes were flexible, glancing at him sideways. "Eh? It doesn't matter? I don't know who it was, fighting with my Bailong'er for her in Wangliang Valley... Ouch!" She hugged her head and dodged Ye Xuanshang's big hand knocking over. "I guessed it right! Hey... Oh! Not good!" Suddenly she screamed and pointed forward.

Ye Xuanshang also turned his head quickly. Two rows of guards wearing Duqi army uniforms were riding horses and turning into the alley entrance. The first person shouted: "It's Ye Xuanshang! Take him down!"

Before the words fell, two rows of sharp arrows shot out, and the arrow rain covered them like locusts. Obviously, they didn't recognize that the other person next to them was Princess Han Xi. At such a close range, with strong bows and crossbows, even with the strength of the Guili Sword, he didn't dare to face it head-on. Ye Xuanshang protected Han Xi, dodged sideways, condensed True Qi on his shoulders, and hit the door of the shop next to him.

Bang!

The door panel cracked, and the two hit it and leaped up on the spot, dodging sideways again. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Several sharp arrows brushed past, and the Duqi Forbidden Guard had already chased to the door. Outside, there were horse hooves and hissing, mixed with continuous shouting, and the situation was extremely chaotic.

There was no time to look at the situation in the shop, Ye Xuanshang took Han Xi and swept toward the inner hall quickly. Just as he was about to find the back door, someone suddenly said: "Third Young Master, follow me!"

A woman in black flashed past the door. Ye Xuanshang followed behind with Han Xi, and at the same time heard the sound of breaking doors in front, followed by a chaos of people and horses falling.

The Duqi Forbidden Guard who chased into the shop were shot by a burst of hidden weapons as thin as cow hair, holding their heads and crying out in pain, falling apart one after another. Those with quick skills dodged backward, but were caught off guard and stepped into the air, screaming and falling into the trap that appeared out of thin air.

The woman in black turned around and smiled lightly. "Dare to cause trouble in the territory of the Mingyi Tower, let you know how powerful it is!"

Passing through the back garden, facing the side bank of the Chu River, the woman leaped onto a small boat moored on the shore and said to Ye Xuanshang and Han Xi: "Two, please get on the boat. Shiniang was ordered by the Princess to come and meet you. We will leave by water, and the Duqi Forbidden Guard will not be able to catch up."

Ye Xuanshang stepped on the boat and bowed to her with a smile: "Thank you Shiniang for your help, saving us a lot of trouble." Han Xi was still sulking about the Duqi Forbidden Guard, thinking that they were so bold, she would definitely complain about them to her royal brother after returning to the palace.

Shiniang raised her hand and knocked on the cabin: "Hey! Come out quickly, the master punished you for rowing the boat here, and you are lazy. Be careful of being demoted to the Mobei branch next time, I won't plead for you!"

Someone in the cabin said lazily: "You woman, why do you speak like this? Marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog. If I am demoted to Mobei, wouldn't you have to follow me, what good is it?"

Shiniang's pink face turned slightly red, and she said angrily: "What marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog, when did I marry you?"

The person in the cabin wondered: "Eh? It was clearly agreed, why is it not counted so soon? It's really a woman's heart, a needle in the sea. But Shiniang, you are exactly the most like a woman in this point."

Shiniang's willow eyebrows twitched, but her tone couldn't hide her smile. "Nie Qi, do you want to fight? Why don't you come out quickly!"

A man in black wearing a bamboo hat turned out of the cabin, laughed, and said to Ye Xuanshang and Han Xi: "Two, don't be surprised, Shiniang and I are used to bickering, and I feel uncomfortable if I am not scolded by her for a day."

Shiniang glared at him angrily. "Still talking nonsense, if you miss the matter, see if the master doesn't punish you for rowing the boat for another month!"

Nie Qi laughed boldly: "If there is still a share of punishment for you, it doesn't matter if you take it again."

Han Xi asked curiously: "Shiniang, what mistake did you make, why were you both punished to row the boat here?"

Shiniang and Nie Qi looked at each other and smiled. "Not reporting the situation," "deceiving the master," this crime would have been enough for someone to commit suicide to apologize according to the rules. It's just that this time, being punished to row the boat on the Chu River, not allowed to return to the villa for a month... How does this decision look more like an award? But Mo Heng was a bit miserable, sent to monitor the movements of the Xuan King. The Xuan King's temperament and martial arts are enough to make people think about it and have a headache...

The small boat was fast, and after more than half an hour, it arrived at the villa outside the city. Nie Qi moored the boat to the shore. "Shiniang and I can only send you here. The Princess is in the Bamboo Forest Hermitage, the road is easy to recognize, two, just go directly."

Thanking the two of them, Ye Xuanshang and Han Xi abandoned the boat and went ashore, entering the villa. There were no attendants or guards in the villa, but Ye Xuanshang felt the dark stakes spread everywhere by intuition on the way. Presumably, if Nie Qi and Shiniang hadn't led the way first, it would not have been easy for anyone to approach this villa.

The two walked up the stone steps. On both sides of the path, one could only see a sea of cultivated bamboo and a forest of secluded groves. The rustling emerald bamboo stood tall and elegant, growing in continuous clusters along the mountain's contours, hiding the entire manor within deep and light shades of green. The surroundings were deathly silent, with the occasional fine leaf drifting down onto the stone path, making the area seem even more empty and tranquil. Even someone as lively as Han Xi seemed to be subdued by the serene atmosphere of the place, and she couldn't help but settle down.

Passing through the bamboo forest, several hermitages appeared in front of them. A clear spring in front of the bamboo corridor sounded like a bell, clear to the bottom. Turning into it, it was a spacious and bright quiet room. Through half a crystal curtain, a woman in a green shirt was kneeling in front of the mat, concentrating on grinding some herbs. A snow-colored little beast was squatting there, tilting its head to look. Suddenly finding Han Xi, its golden eyes rounded, the hair on its tail suddenly bristled, and it rushed out.

The woman in the green shirt looked up strangely. "Snow Battle!" Han Xi called out joyfully, pinched the spiritual formula in her hand, and several True Qi shot out from her fingertips, chasing the fleeing little beast quickly. Snow Battle flipped nimbly in mid-air, stumbled when landing, and passed through the window like running for its life.

This scene had been staged countless times in Wangliang Valley, and Ye Xuanshang had long been used to it. Just as he was about to explain the purpose to the woman who stood up, a soft and pleasant voice came from outside: "Let me see who is here? Actually scared our Snow Battle like this?"

The pearls and jade rang outside the corridor, and Zi Rao entered with Snow Battle in her arms, lifting the curtain. She was unexpectedly wearing a pure white soft silk long robe today, a spring light floating and flowing between the wide and soft sleeves, dancing with her lazy and elegant steps. Under the curtain, dots of light flashed, reflecting the ice-jade-like charm in the moving faint smile on her lips.

Looking back suddenly, Ye Xuanshang was almost stunned. "Zi Rao sister!" Han Xi jumped up to meet her, climbing her hand: "Why does Snow Battle always refuse to listen to me? Every time it runs fast, I can't catch it even with spiritual arts!"

Zi Rao stroked Snow Battle and smiled: "The Cloud-Born Beast only gets close to the person who raised it when it was young. It won't listen to anyone's orders except its master. You want to control it with spiritual arts, of course it will run." Her gaze passed over Han Xi and looked at Ye Xuanshang. He bowed slightly to her, his movements elegant and good-looking. She also turned her eyes and smiled lightly, bright and moving.

Han Xi looked at the little beast squatting in Zi Rao's arms with some discouragement, and didn't forget to look up and ask: "Zi Rao sister, why do you live in such a remote villa? It's far from the inner city, and it's cold and clear, very boring."

Zi Rao smiled: "My brother doesn't like noisy places."

"So it is, but it's quiet everywhere here, not fun at all. I won't come next time, how about you go to Chu Du to find me?" Han Xi said and suddenly remembered something: "By the way, is the snake gall effective? Is your brother better now?"

Zi Rao nodded: "He took the snake gall medicinal wine, and his body is much better. I haven't had time to thank you yet!"

Han Xi said: "That's great! But, you don't have to thank me, thank Ye Big Brother instead." She leaned into her ear and whispered: "Someone is hard-mouthed and soft-hearted. I said he fought with Bailong'er for you, and he refused to admit it."

Zi Rao raised her eyes. Such a whisper naturally couldn't hide from Ye Xuanshang, but his eyebrows raised, with a lazy smile, then looked at Han Xi and signaled to the outside.

Zi Rao let go of Snow Battle. The golden-eyed little beast confronted the girl who leaned forward for a while, and then left one after another. Li Si also put away the herbs, put down two hanging curtains for them, and withdrew from the room.

Zi Rao moved forward and smiled at Ye Xuanshang: "Third Young Master just did such a earth-shattering event, I was afraid that there would be a mistake, so I specially sent someone to meet you. It seems that I was overthinking."

Ye Xuanshang didn't seem surprised that she knew about Chu Du so quickly, leaning leisurely against the door: "Xuanshang just doesn't like being a fish, and others being the knife."

Zi Rao said: "If you don't show mercy when you strike, you won't make a sound, but you will be amazing?"

Ye Xuanshang smiled again: "You know, I'm not used to being hesitant and dragging my feet."

Zi Rao raised her eyebrows: "It seems that Tai Zi Yu will be in trouble in the future."

Ye Xuanshang's lips with a smile curled coldly, noncommittal, and looked at the mat: "Can I sit?"

Zi Rao raised her hand gracefully: "Of course."

Ye Xuanshang threw the Guili Sword aside and sat on the mat. Zi Rao knelt on the mat opposite him, washed the cup and made tea herself, and asked casually: "How is Huang Fei?"

Ye Xuanshang said: "Sharp and decisive, thunderous and fast, worthy of being the Shao Yuan Jun."

"Just like his habit of using soldiers, such a person really doesn't need to be an enemy, right?" Zi Rao played with the tea cup, waiting for the water to boil. The water vapor covered the spring light, and the beautiful face was half-hidden in it, like a mirror flower and water moon, with a quiet, cold and clear posture when lowering her eyes.

Cannot be an enemy, and even more cannot let Xuan and Chu form an alliance. That Xuan King Ji Cang entered Chu in person and met Huang Fei frequently. A few days ago, Mo Heng sent news that he actually gave the "Ye Zi Secret Record" to Huang Fei. Originally, I was worried that the rumors in the Jianghu were true, and Huang Fei and the Xuan King indeed had an unusual relationship in private, and even formed an alliance, which would be very tricky. But looking at Huang Fei's actions now, the few steps taken before finally were not in vain.

The six years of continuous pursuit by Tai Zi Yu, the dangerous situation of being forced from inside and outside, not only failed to eliminate Ye Xuanshang, but made him grow into a truly terrible opponent. Today's battle on the long street, the defeat of the Helian Martial Arts Hall's upper-grade swordsman, the public support of the Shao Yuan Jun Huang Fei, and the sharpness of the Guili Sword deeply hidden in the sheath will inevitably become the focus of attention of the forces of various countries.

Ye Xuanshang, the man who was looked at differently by the East Emperor after Huang Fei, the man who never asked any reason, fought side by side with her, and helped with all his strength... Zi Rao's lips curled slightly: "As of now, have you fully accepted my proposal?"

Ye Xuanshang said: "I have never refused your proposal, but don't forget what I said."

Zi Rao raised her eyes through the indifferent water mist, and when her eyes met his, faint ripples rippled: "Okay, I remember." She raised her hand gracefully, poured water to make tea, and the sleeves brushed past the thin and clear taste, handing the porcelain cup to him: "Helian Yiren lost his beloved son, and will never give up. You must be more careful in the future. Since you said such words, don't let people down."

"I originally wanted to use the Freedom Hall as a knife, who knew that Helian Qi sent it to the door himself, then there is no way..." Ye Xuanshang took the tea and drank a sip, suddenly his face changed. If it weren't for his strong concentration, he almost couldn't help but cough out the bitter thing, frowning at the cup: "This... what kind of tea is this?"

Zi Rao held the cup and shook it leisurely. This person, really don't know how he avoided so many secret calculations, actually had no guard at all. But having known each other for so long, it's rare to see his interesting expression of sorrow. The clear and long phoenix eyes slightly picked, and couldn't help but float a clever smile: "Just said let you be careful, the thing in this cup is called Qixin Grass, how is it like tea? You didn't even look and drank it like this, aren't you afraid that this is a deadly poison?"

Ye Xuanshang was stunned when he heard this, and then he realized that his body and spirit, which were originally in a state of alert at all times, had completely relaxed at some point.

Such a strange feeling, letting go of guard against others, had never happened in the long days of the past six years. The word "trust" only meant death to the Third Young Master Ye.

Subconsciously, a little bit of alertness also emerged, but his mood was very happy, and he smiled indifferently. He raised his hand to sweep the broken hair on his forehead back, simply stretched his waist, and changed to a more comfortable posture: "Zi Rao, let's make an agreement, how about it?"

Zi Rao raised her eyes to ask, he turned the tea cup in his hand and raised it to her: "If there is such a day in the future, you really want to take my life, tell me, let me know, use your sword, don't use poison."

Zi Rao turned her head to look at him, unable to distinguish between seriousness and joking from his expression for a while. After a long while, she smiled clearly: "Okay, it's a deal. If one day you have the same idea, you are also not allowed to conceal it."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 50 =====