He must be someone who knows her. Who could he be, if he was disguised?
Searching through her mind, there weren't many people who claimed to like her. Besides Changsun Zhu, who constantly professed his affection.
Then there was the enchanting Chu Qianyi, and finally the Emperor. But the Emperor was impossible, as he was thousands of miles away in the capital. So, was Yin Xuan that enchanting Chu Qianyi?
The thought of this possibility made Qingyao stand up. She owed him a tremendous favor.
Silently, she walked to Yin Xuan's side and stopped gently.
Behind her, Wuqing remained expressionless, though a fleeting trace of sadness flickered in his eyes. Qingfeng pushed the young master aside to admire the scenery, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable.
Wuqing sat in his wheelchair, gazing at the distant mountains and flowing water, shrouded in a thin mist, appearing indistinct and ethereal.
Everything felt like a dream.
In his childhood, he followed his master, who taught him about ruthlessness, about how to torment or even kill anyone he disliked. From then on, his name became known. Whenever Wuqing was mentioned, adults and children alike would tremble.
Initially, he felt a sense of unease, but gradually, he grew accustomed to it.
However, as he grew older, he realized he was distant from everyone, feeling lonely in his heart, with not a single friend.
Due to his beauty and the characteristic of being in a wheelchair, many people recognized his background the moment they saw him.
Until Xiao Yu'er saved her, and she not only wasn't afraid of him but also wanted to become his disciple.
No one knew that he was slightly excited upon returning that day, because finally, someone in the world was not afraid of him and didn't treat him like a monster.
He hadn't expected her to intrude into Wuqing Valley and then refuse to leave.
Slowly, her defiance and strength attracted him, making him constantly think of her when he had nothing else to do.
Until he realized he had fallen in love, not just out of loneliness.
Now, seeing her smile at others with the same warmth, a slight bitterness welled up in his heart. But he didn't want to make things difficult for her, for as long as she was happy, it was enough. It was already a rare blessing from fate to have met her. Perhaps he should remain a simple person, because she liked simple people.
As the gentle breeze blew, a rare, faint smile appeared on Wuqing's face, his clear, bright eyes like glazed glass, enveloped in the mist.
In the distance, Qingyao stood beside Yin Xuan and spoke slowly, word by word.
"Yin Xuan, who exactly are you? I feel like we've known each other at least once."
Yin Xuan abruptly turned his head. Half of his hair covered his face, while the other half was exquisitely beautiful. His handsome eye was shrouded in a deep, boundless darkness, like an oceanic expanse.
A brilliant smile curved his lips, and he spoke softly, "You're overthinking it. In the past, I liked a woman, and she looked very much like you. So, I saw her shadow in you."
After speaking, Yin Xuan turned away from Qingyao and looked at the distant mountains, his eyes hazy, making it impossible to discern the truth of his words.
Qingyao didn't bother to press the issue. However, she had caused a major catastrophe at Chunfeng Tower, leading to the loss of his business and leaving the young women without a place to stay.
"I am very sorry about the Chunfeng Tower incident. I will compensate for all the losses."
"There's no need. I've been in one place for too long and was just thinking of moving and starting anew elsewhere."
Yin Xuan spoke indifferently, refusing Qingyao's offer of compensation. However, even if he didn't want it, Qingyao was not someone who would be greedy. So, she raised an eyebrow and looked at Mo Chou, who was walking back from the lake.
"Mo Chou, how much money do we have left?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Chou knew her mistress intended to compensate them. With Chunfeng Tower destroyed and the young women needing a place to go, it was logical for Miss to take this action. She respectfully replied,
"We still have over ten thousand taels."
This was the amount they had withdrawn earlier. They had initially taken out twenty thousand taels, paid five thousand taels to the madam, and after expenses, there was still over ten thousand taels remaining.
Qingyao extended her hand, and Mo Chou took out the bank notes and handed them to her. Qingyao took them and presented them to Yin Xuan, speaking slowly, "Although it's a bit less, it's enough to settle the girls for now. This is my token of sincerity; please don't refuse, or I will feel uneasy."
Since she had said so, Yin Xuan coldly turned his head to the side.
"Accept it."
The woman named Nian Yao walked over. Her original name was Qingcheng. Since she had left Chunfeng Tower, there was no need for her to use her former name.
She had originally intended to rely on the Crown Prince to elevate Chunfeng Tower's business to the next level. Who knew she would be ruined by this woman who suddenly appeared? And it seemed the Master was quite concerned about this woman.
However, Changsun Zhu had shown no mercy last night. It seemed men always had two faces.
"Yes, Master." Yin Xuan accepted the bank notes and stood up. The wind stirred his long robes, making them seem to flutter. He exuded an air of arrogance, like a hero in troubled times, and calmly commanded, "Everyone, get in the carriages, let's go."
"Yes."
The madam, who had been hesitant to approach, heard the Master's words and quickly scurried over, speaking cautiously, "Young lady, now that we are parting ways, you must give me the other half of the antidote."
Qingyao chuckled with utter delight.
"That was the antidote. I lied to you; there's no such thing as an antidote to be taken in two doses."
As her words fell, the madam's lips twitched. She dared not speak out of anger. She didn't know the relationship between this troublesome young lady and the Master, so it was best to avoid provoking her.
The ladies of Chunfeng Tower brothel were somewhat reluctant to leave. However, their Master had given the order, so they dared not disobey. They turned and boarded the carriages. Two carriages, along with several fine horses, sped away.
Qingyao watched them depart and then turned to lead Qingyao over. Now, there were only a few people left on their side.
There was her, Wuqing, Qingfeng, Mo Chou, and Mo You.
"Let's go too. I fear we'll have to proceed with caution from now on. We're still within the borders of the Qingluo Kingdom. Although we've left Fengfen City, the imperial edicts have likely been posted all over the country."
Wuqing nodded and mounted his horse in a flash. The others followed suit, mounting their horses.
Qingfeng carried Wuqing's wheelchair, and the group galloped away.
More than ten days later, the group, avoiding soldiers, reached Yanmen Pass.
In front of Yanmen Pass, layers of soldiers stood guard, with strict security. The formation was immense and formidable, seemingly so tight that not even a fly could escape. But Qingyao and the others were not afraid. If they couldn't get through, they would force their way. Everyone in their group was highly skilled in martial arts; they could handle not only the people at Yanmen Pass but even more. However, unexpectedly, they didn't need to force their way through at all.