Chapter 419: Beauty Under the Moon (Third update, two-in-one, seeking monthly votes)

Li Yishan, courtesy name Yuanying, came from a humble background and was known to the world as a sinister talent, skilled in using poisonous schemes.

His reputation was not prominent, yet in the Beiliang Prince Mansion, no one dared to show the slightest disrespect to this first guest of the mansion.

Even Prince Xu Fengnian, who could pick up a broom and chase the Great Pillar Kingdom all over the mansion, had to listen obediently in front of him, not fighting back when hit or talking back when scolded.

Li Yishan put down his brush, picked up the green gourd on the rosewood side table, pulled out the stopper, and the fragrance of wine overflowed. He poured a few mouthfuls, coughed twice, revealing a sickly flush, and then slowly said: "Guangling King Zhao Yi and that person in the Imperial Court today are brothers of the same mother, and their bond is extraordinary; I fear he will not let this matter rest so easily."

"So what?" The Great Pillar Kingdom said dismissively: "Although I am only a Second-Rank Small Grandmaster, I can guess that the fellow who calls himself Heavenly Venerable Murong has the strength to contend with Wang Xianzhi. Cao Guanzi enters the Imperial Palace three times as if walking through a corridor, and the Imperial Court is helpless against him, let alone Murong Tonghuang, whose strength is likely above Cao Guanzi's."

"Indeed, unless the Imperial Court's army is dispatched to encircle and suppress Murong Tonghuang, it is difficult to deal with such an expert. But as soon as there is the slightest disturbance, he will discover it and Escape." Li Yishan said slowly: "But Murong Tonghuang and Cao Zhangqing are different in one respect."

"Oh, how are they different?"

"Cao Zhangqing is a lone wolf; apart from the one in our mansion, I fear he would not care for anyone's life. But Murong Tonghuang comes from the Murong Family and was previously known as the Huishan Master, with extensive connections. If I am not mistaken, perhaps before long, the Imperial Court will take action against Huishan and the Murong Family."

The Great Pillar Kingdom's fingers tapped continuously on the tabletop, his eyes flickering. After a moment, he said: "This is an overt scheme."

"Indeed, this is an overt scheme. If Murong Tonghuang ignores it, the Imperial Court will easily destroy the Huishan Heaven Beyond Heaven and the Murong Family to warn the martial arts world, which is gradually surging with waves." Li Yishan nodded: "And if Murong Tonghuang goes to rescue Huishan, I fear a net has long been prepared, and he would simply be going to his death."

The Great Pillar Kingdom sighed: "What of the martial arts world? Even if one is invincible in the world, in the end, one is just a martial artist."

Li Yishan nodded in deep agreement: "No matter how high one's martial arts, it is but the strength of one person, the courage of a common man, and it has little influence on the great trends of the world. Otherwise, you, Prince, would not have trampled the entire martial arts world with your Beiliang Iron Cavalry back then. Civil officials may disrupt politics, but a martial artist can never throw a country into chaos."

Even though Yu Liancheng had the feat of breaking three thousand armored cavalry, in the eyes of the Great Pillar Kingdom and others, he still could not escape the category of "martial arts expert."

Li Yishan said: "I estimate he came for the Tingchao Pavilion."

The Great Pillar Kingdom laughed: "Let him come. It is rumored that this person is handsome and peerless; I wonder if it is truly that exaggerated."

Li Yishan chuckled: "Speaking of which, I recall an interesting anecdote."

"Oh, let's hear it." The Great Pillar Kingdom said with interest.

Li Yishan took another sip of wine and laughed: "The Imperial Court posts wanted posters all over the world, but some of these posters often vanish into thin air. Prince, can you guess why?"

Xu Xiao pondered for a moment and shook his head: "I can't guess." Or rather, he was too lazy to guess.

Li Yishan laughed: "Because Murong Tonghuang is simply too handsome, and coupled with the legend of 'Heavenly Venerable breaks three thousand armored cavalry, a flick of the finger and a Flying Sword slashes the river tide,' he has gained many followers in the martial arts world, especially women. If a wanted poster is drawn slightly well, it might be stolen that very night and spread among the common people, which has become quite a funny story."

"Hahaha, interesting, interesting." The Great Pillar Kingdom laughed heartily.

The two chatted for a while longer, and Li Yishan changed the subject: "By the way, Zhao Xituan, one of the Four Great Heavenly Masters of Longhu Mountain, is also coming."

"Zhao Xituan is coming to take Huang Man'er away." The Great Pillar Kingdom shook his head: "If his brother doesn't return, it won't be an easy task for anyone else to take him away."

Li Yishan laughed: "Prince, it is a good time to test the level of this Celestial Master."

"Zhao Xituan can be one of the Four Great Heavenly Masters, so he has some level. I heard there is a conflict between Longhu Mountain and Murong Tonghuang; it would be interesting if they started fighting."

On the official road.

Two figures, one old and one young, appeared.

"Damn it, six thousand li, I, Xu Fengnian, have finally returned." Xu Fengnian swallowed hard and cursed: "Xu Xiao, you thousand-knife-slashing bastard, you drove me out of the Prince Mansion. If I don't chase you for two streets this time, I'll take your surname."

Beside him, the toothless Lao Huang giggled.

"What are you laughing at?" Xu Fengnian scolded, but he let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

A few days ago, Lao Huang was studying the so-called "Sword Ten" and had the air of an expert, but no matter how one looked at it, it wasn't as reassuring as this toothless smile.

"I wonder if those three are still behind." Xu Fengnian looked back.

Yu Liancheng and the other two were not traveling with him, following far behind, only occasionally communicating.

It must be said that they are all three peerless beauties, but it's a pity that two of them are men, and both are fierce.

White Fox Face and Murong Wuzhu would both beat people up; a joke could result in him, the number one playboy of Beiliang, being beaten into a pig's head.

As for Murong Tonghuang, he dared not tease him even more.

Last time he looked a little too long, the other party smiled and said, "Look again and I'll dig your eyes out." It immediately made Xu Fengnian's whole body go cold.

This didn't sound like a joke at all.

"Longxiang, brother said he would help you trick a beautiful woman into being your wife. Now I've snatched three at once, but it's a pity none of them are easy to deal with."

Before Xu Fengnian entered the city, he smelled the fragrance of wine. Without further ado, he sat down at a stall selling apricot blossom wine and shouted: "Waiter, bring wine."

Then he put his thumb and index finger to his lips, whistled, and fell asleep on the simple table. He was too tired on this journey, and now that he was on his own turf, he could finally rest completely.

The waiter was confused, but only those with sharp eyes vaguely saw a shadow flash over their heads.

A hawk-like bird of prey swooped into the city like an arrow.

About the time it takes a drinker to finish a bowl of apricot blossom wine, the ground began to tremble. A group of iron cavalry rushed out of the city gate, stretching into a black line as if there were no end.

Amidst the flying dust, on tall horses, were the heavy-armored cavalry of Beiliang, each capable of taking on a hundred. The king's flag held by the general in the lead fluttered in the wind, bright red as blood, with one character written on it.

——Xu.

It was the direct army under the Beiliang King.

Soon, someone in Lingzhou City shouted "The Prince has returned," immediately causing a commotion. Especially those beautiful young ladies, who couldn't care about their elegant demeanor, screamed and fled while lifting their skirts. Some large shops that displayed treasures to attract customers also hid their good things immediately.

At the same time, one man and two women followed two hundred Liangzhou iron cavalry into the city.

These three each had their own charm; usually, one would be enough to dazzle someone, and now, reflecting each other, it made people not know where to look.

Hiss, this is too beautiful. Those two women in white are more handsome than all the top courtesans in the city combined.

As for the man in black, he is even more handsome beyond words. Some panicked, beautiful married women and rich young ladies saw him and immediately regained their elegant demeanor, shyly thinking that even if this youth had nothing, they would be willing to elope with him if he wished.

The beauty in white robes looked at the Liangzhou iron cavalry from afar and shook her head: "They say a tiger father has no dog son. Beiliang King Xu Xiao, the Human Butcher known for breaking over a hundred cities and taking three hundred thousand lives, how could he have such an unpromising son?"

"This kid is very shrewd; don't underestimate him."

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Today is a time for their family reunion, so let's not disturb them. Let's go to an inn for a few days and then pay a visit."

The beauty in white robes smiled: "Good."

Murong Wuzhu's beautiful eyes wandered between the beauty in white robes and Yu Liancheng, muttering to herself that these two seemed to have become much closer along the way.

This won't do; there is no good outcome between boys and boys.

They did not stay in an inn but rented a courtyard.

……

The night was deep.

A bright moon hung high in the firmament.

Nangong Pushe stood in the courtyard; as the starlight and moonlight spilled down, it was as if he were instantly draped in a thin veil, mysterious and beautiful.

He looked up at the moon, his pair of Peach Blossom eyes shimmering with light, blurred with countless colors, and filled with a dreamlike quality. As if stirred by beautiful memories, his rosy lips traced an arc like a crescent moon.

"The people of today do not see the moon of ancient times, yet the ancient moon once shone upon the ancients. The ancients and the people of today are like flowing water; all who gaze upon the bright moon are the same." A long chant rang out, and it was Yu Liancheng who came stepping through the moonlight, holding a wine flask in his hand, and tilted his head back to take a gulp of wine: "So, you aren't asleep either, Nangong; we can both be considered night-wandering Gods."

"The people of today do not see the moon of ancient times, yet the moon of today once shone upon the ancients." Nangong Pushe softly chanted the two lines and praised: "The tone is simple, yet the meaning is profound. Wuzhu told me you were skilled in both literature and martial arts; I did not believe it at first, but now I have truly seen it for myself."

"There is another line that follows: I only wish that when singing and facing the wine, the moonlight will long shine into the golden goblet." Yu Liancheng tilted his head back to drink twice more, then tossed the wine flask to Nangong Pushe.

Nangong Pushe looked at the wine flask, his moth-like brows slightly furrowed, but in the end, he raised his swan-like slender neck and drank two gulps with a gurgling sound. Two blushes immediately drifted across his fair cheeks, and his stunningly beautiful face was like ice and snow beginning to melt in an instant, with a thousand flowers blooming in anger.

Yu Liancheng scrutinized Nangong Pushe carefully, seeing that his skin was whiter than snow and his face was delicate and beautiful; every frown and smile held a unique charm, a natural grace, and he could not help but say: "If only you were a woman."

If this teasing remark had been spoken by Xu Fengnian, it would inevitably have resulted in a good beating.

But coming from Yu Liancheng, Nangong Pushe seemed to blush even more deeply, and he teased back in the same tone: "If I were a woman, I would certainly pursue you; a phoenix seeking a mate, it would surely be very interesting. It is a pity that you and I are both men."

A playful smile curled at the corners of Yu Liancheng's mouth, and he suddenly reached out to hook Nangong Pushe's snow-white, smooth chin: "Men can do it too; although you are a man, you surpass countless stunning women, and that free and easy, elegant temperament is even more fascinating."

"What nonsense are you spouting? Have you had too much to drink?" Nangong Pushe's heart trembled, and he reached out to strike away the other's hand, but Yu Liancheng's arm flickered, and he dodged it somehow, then hooked his chin again.

"Let go." Nangong Pushe's moth-like brows slightly furrowed.

"Truly, you are lovely whether angry or happy." Yu Liancheng laughed: "Nangong, you must know that true love transcends the gender of men and women, and transcends the appearances of all living beings; that is how I feel about you right now."

"Stop spouting nonsense, I am truly angry." Nangong Pushe's willow brows stood upright, and his jade hand pressed against the Xiudong Saber, about to draw it from its sheath.

However, a hand pressed down on the hilt.

No matter how Nangong Pushe tried to pull, it was all in vain.

Nangong Pushe was astonished by the other's strength, and just as he was about to continue his attack, the other's head suddenly leaned in, his impossibly handsome face constantly enlarging.

"Is this guy drunk?"

"Does he actually like men?"

"No, did he see through my disguise?"

The breath, slightly scented with wine, already beat against Nangong Pushe's stunning face; his head gave a 'Boom—', and he did not know how to react, his thoughts in a chaotic mess, and countless ideas flashed through his mind.

However, Yu Liancheng's head brushed past his face, and he whispered at his crystalline earlobe: "Idiot, I was lying to you; I'm not gay."

Then he patted his shoulder: "Haha, I fooled you, didn't I? Let me tell you, I like women, beautiful women; no matter how good-looking a man is, it won't do. You must never set your sights on me."

Having said that, he turned and walked away, not forgetting to wave his hand: "Rest early; tomorrow we must go to visit the Great Pillar Kingdom."

Nangong Pushe stood alone in the wind, finally gnashing his teeth and saying: "This bastard! How dare he toy with me." Yet, his heart seemed to heave a sigh of relief; this guy did not like men.

The ones who were not asleep were not just Nangong Pushe and Yu Liancheng; Murong Wuzhu, dressed in snow-white robes, sat before the window with her chin resting in her hand, her beautiful eyes shimmering, and she pouted.

"My brother is getting closer and closer to this guy named Nangong; this is not a good sign."

……

PS: Begging for monthly tickets.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Thanks to book friend jevonscoffee for the 3000 tip, book friend Great Freedom Without Worry for the 5000 tip, and thanks to everyone for the monthly tickets; we have finally passed one thousand.

Listen to me, thank you.

Because of you, the four seasons have been warmed.

Thank you, grateful to have you.

The world is more beautiful.