Chapter 87

"Such a severe injury, yet it healed in less than a day. I underestimated him."

The leader of the Five Poisons Sect stood atop a tree, looking at Bai Chen and Mu Wan'er deep in the forest. His face showed no emotion, but occasionally a hint of surprise flashed across it.

"Lord, the task you assigned has been completed," a servant appeared beside the leader of the Five Poisons Sect. This servant's cultivation was already beyond the innate stage, moving like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

"Have they been lured here?"

"Yes, Lord, but there was a small unexpected turn."

"Oh?"

"I intended to lure one of the Seven Stars, Tianxuan, who was closest, but there was another person with Tianxuan. From their conversation, it seems this person has just replaced Wumouzi and is the new Tianquan."

The leader of the Five Poisons Sect frowned slightly. "Each of the Seven Stars has their strengths. When Wumouzi was Tianquan, he was skilled in military strategy. What abilities does this new Tianquan have?"

"I haven't engaged him in combat, so I can't tell yet, but I detected the scent of Northern Miao secret techniques from him."

The leader of the Five Poisons Sect's face darkened. "They have indeed gotten involved!"

After some thought, he turned to the servant. "Are there any others with them?"

"No, these two are skilled in movement and have already reached the edge of the forest. However, they haven't rushed to attack, probably waiting until nightfall."

The leader of the Five Poisons Sect suddenly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "They have already made their move."

"This is Wuyou Smoke. I heard that Tianxuan of the Seven Stars is skilled in poisoning. This method is not bad. That couple hasn't noticed yet, so they have already lost."

By now, the sun was setting, and a mist rose in the forest, quickly covering the entire mountain under the forest wind.

Bai Chen and Mu Wan'er walked for a while and suddenly found themselves back at the starting point.

"Strange, why can't we get out?" Bai Chen scratched his head. When he and Mu Wan'er entered, she had supported him, and they had deliberately gone deeper without paying much attention to the path.

Looking at Mu Wan'er, she seemed a bit tired after walking for a while.

"Tired? Do you want me to carry you?" Bai Chen opened his arms generously.

Mu Wan'er spat, "Get away, don't touch me with your dirty hands."

"Whatever," Bai Chen shrugged, unbothered.

Mu Wan'er's forehead was slightly sweaty as she looked around. "The forest is now shrouded in mist, and the way out is obscured. We can't find the path we came in."

"Let's just stay here for the night. In this deep forest, with a man and a woman, many stories are bound to happen." Bai Chen looked at Mu Wan'er with a lecherous gaze, full of anticipation.

It had to be said, Mu Wan'er, even with a hint of fatigue, still had a certain charm.

Mu Wan'er didn't back down, glaring at Bai Chen. "Do you remember my vow? If you don't want to die early at my hands, you'd better behave."

"I'm just afraid you'll end up alone for life. With the spirit of 'if I don't go to hell, who will,' I'm here to help you out of your suffering."

"My future doesn't need your concern. Take care of yourself. I've heard that you and the girls from Qixiu are also entangled. Don't give me a chance to catch you!"

"That's none of your business. I'm like a flower that passes through a thousand blooms without a single leaf sticking to it. People call me the Prince of Flowers."

"Prince of Flowers, I'm tired from the journey. Could you start a fire and set up a bed for me?"

Mu Wan'er was truly tired, leaning against a tree for a rest. Talking with Bai Chen like this actually relaxed her mind and body.

Watching Bai Chen busy around, Mu Wan'er's eyes twinkled as she teased, "Didn't you say you only wanted to stay on Wuliang Mountain, enjoying a life of luxury? Why are you going through so much trouble for Zhao Mo, risking your life? If it's not for fame and fortune, what are you after?"

"For peace of mind. If there's a pit in the road, I'll step on it. If there's an injustice, I'll help."

"There are too many injustices in the world. Can you handle them all?"

"The world is vast, and I can't handle everything. But I can at least be true to my heart."

Just being true to your heart? Mu Wan'er smiled, not commenting on Bai Chen's words.

"Life is too hard. When this is over, I'll return to the Tang Sect and never venture out again."

"Without experiencing the bitter cold, how can you appreciate the fragrance of the plum blossoms? Happiness is accumulated bit by bit. I may not conquer the world, but I can create my own happiness."

Bai Chen took out the rabbit Mu Wan'er had caught earlier and started roasting it. Soon, the aroma of the meat filled the air.

The roasted meat was golden and oily, steaming hot. Bai Chen tasted a piece and then handed the rabbit to Mu Wan'er.

Mu Wan'er took the roasted meat and looked at Bai Chen. "Aren't you eating?"

"Watching a woman enjoy the delicious food I made is a kind of happiness."

"Your happiness is so small." Mu Wan'er didn't hesitate, tearing into the meat without any ladylike manners.

"Life is about learning to enjoy and find happiness. Watching my sister grow up and get married is happiness. Growing old with Qin Kelan is happiness."

Mu Wan'er paused, then continued to gnaw on the meat. "And then? When one of you dies, all the happiness will vanish."

"So I'll work hard to live longer, at least longer than Qin Kelan."

"Greedy and afraid of death." Mu Wan'er spat.

"If I die early, she'll be very sad. If she dies early, I'll be very sad. A man shouldn't cry easily, and he shouldn't let the woman he loves cry."

"If you said that to Qin Kelan, she'd be very moved. But you've chosen the wrong person." Mu Wan'er, having eaten half the meat, seemed to have had enough and handed it to Bai Chen.

Bai Chen was about to eat when he heard footsteps and a girl's voice from a distance.

"Wow... it smells so good."

Bai Chen and Mu Wan'er thought it might be the Shen Ce Army, but as they approached, they saw two Miao women.

One was about eight or nine years old, very cute, with a heavy silver crown and colorful clothing. She hopped along, making a tinkling sound.

The other woman was extremely beautiful, with a full figure and silver bracelets on her hands and feet, following the girl.

"Miss, there are people ahead."

The two Miao women saw Bai Chen and Mu Wan'er and immediately greeted them.

"Two beautiful ladies, where are you headed?"

The older woman smiled, graceful and reserved. "I am Alan, and this is my lady, Aguduo. We are on our way to Qingzhou City and are passing through here. We apologize for the disturbance."

"I am Bai Chen, and this is my friend, Mu Wan'er. We are also passing through. Since we've met, it's fate. If you don't mind this smelly man, why not stay and camp with us for the night?"

Aguduo stared at the roasted meat in Bai Chen's hand, her mouth watering.

"I don't mind, but I don't know if this young lady agrees," Alan laughed, her voice like a silver bell, charming and captivating.

"It's not my place to decide. Stay if you want." Mu Wan'er leaned against the tree, not caring about their stay, but her eyes showed a hint of caution.

The four sat around the fire. Bai Chen couldn't take his eyes off Alan, who was posing seductively.

Bai Chen looked at Aguduo. "Aguduo, if you don't mind, you can have this."

Mu Wan'er glared at Bai Chen. "You say one thing but mean another. Your eyes can't move when you see a pretty woman."

Mu Wan'er's voice was low, but everyone heard it. Alan, being warm and outgoing, laughed heartily.

Aguduo buried her head in the meat, even less ladylike than Mu Wan'er.

"Men who aren't attracted to women are abnormal. I'm a normal man. Besides, I'm just appreciating, purely and critically, like a flower by the roadside that everyone can admire but doesn't have to pick."

"Do all Han and Tang men speak so romantically?" Alan smiled like a flower, her face indistinguishable from the firelight.

"You won't find another man as talkative as him in the world," Mu Wan'er said irritably.

"Who do you think is prettier, me or her?" Alan's laughter carried a hint of challenge, her eyes constantly on Mu Wan'er.

Bai Chen's head ached at this question. Why do all women like to ask such questions, like if my mother and I fall into the water, who would you save first?

"Alan is like a summer azalea, passionate and fiery. Even among a hundred flowers, her redness stands out. Her beauty is like a flower that blooms for admiration, attracting butterflies and birds, and the sunrise and sunset."

Bai Chen's gaze then fell on Mu Wan'er, who lowered her head, avoiding his eyes.

"Mu Wan'er is like a winter plum, standing alone in the cold. She is the purest snow, and the sight of her blooming is a memory from last year. Her fragrance is hard to retain, but it lingers in the heart, longing for the spring breeze but unwilling to flow with the crowd. This flower is the coldest and most resilient, and one should not easily pick it without the same spirit."

Everyone was silent, except for Aguduo, who shouted, "What about me?"

Bai Chen couldn't resist teasing her, poking her little nose. "You are a bud waiting to bloom, longing for the passion of the azalea and the solitude of the plum, the nobility of the peony, and the brilliance of all flowers. You are you... why compete with them? The most beautiful season is the hardest to grasp. If I were ten years younger, I'd probably be circling you all day. If you were ten years older... damn, I'm thinking too much."

Aguduo's smile was as bright as the spring breeze. "If I were ten years older, would you marry me?"

"Ten years ago, you called me brother. Ten years from now, you'll call me uncle. Why add unnecessary trouble? A woman at eighteen is a flower, but a man at sixteen is already trash. Will you remember the dirt you stepped on ten years from now?"

Aguduo felt in her pocket and pulled out a small stone, her face blushing as she handed it to Bai Chen. "Here, this is a token of love. In our village, the young men and women exchange tokens. What will you give me?"

"Miss..." Alan's face changed.

"Are you going to control my young man too?" Aguduo pouted, turning to look at Alan.

Bai Chen opened his arms and pulled Aguduo into his lap. "Tokens should be exchanged. If you give me one and I don't give you one, it wouldn't follow the rules of your village."

"When will you give me one?"

"My token will take ten years. If you still want to give me yours in ten years, I'll give you mine. How does that sound?"

Aguduo hesitated, her eyes welling up with tears. "In our village, if a young man doesn't accept a young woman's token, he must swallow poison and commit suicide. Brother Bai Chen... I can't wait ten years."

Bai Chen's scalp tingled, and he quickly grabbed Aguduo's hand.

Mu Wan'er laughed. "I said before, if you ever fall in love with someone else, I'll kill you. Now your life is mine."

"Mercy." Bai Chen was on the verge of tears, being forced into a corner by a little girl. "Beautiful promises are often made by the young. What if you regret it later?"

Aguduo suddenly looked at Bai Chen with determination, saying something completely out of character for her age. "I will follow you for life, without regret."

Bai Chen searched his pockets but found nothing suitable as a token.

"Jiesha, get out here. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

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