Startled, Qingyao thought nothing of it, and the silver lotus ring, her concealed weapon, flew out with lightning speed.
Piercing through the trees, it zipped forward with a fierce, dominating wind.
Those men startled, and they all dodged. But the lotus ring possessed great power, whistling with a fierce gust of wind as it circled around and finally struck one of them on the shoulder. He let out a soft cry in pain.
The others' faces changed instantly. With a movement of their bodies, their long swords were all drawn. They leaped into the air, as fast as lightning, and completely surrounded Mu Qingyao. The leader roared.
“Boldly, who are you?”
Qingyao beckoned, and the silver concealed weapon returned to her arm. A chill emanated from her, her face covered with a thin layer of ice. Her pupils danced with a chilling light as she fixed her gaze upon them. Those men immediately felt enveloped by a killing intent and trembled inexplicably in their hearts. They took a step back, turned to look behind them at Wuqing, and retreated.
Qingfeng pushed Wuqing forward. Qingyao withdrew her fierce gaze and examined Wuqing from head to toe, only to find that he was completely unharmed. Relieved, she spoke softly.
“You’re alright, who are these people?”
It was then she remembered something. Without Wuqing’s consent, no one could enter this Wuqing Valley. So, who were they? She had always thought Wuqing was simple, with no background or connections.
However, these people clearly meant trouble, yet they were very respectful towards Wuqing. Just who was Wuqing?
Doubt flickered in Qingyao’s eyes as she fixed her gaze on Wuqing.
Under the moonlight, Wuqing, facing a bewildered Qingyao, said nothing. He merely shot a cold gaze at the tall men and commanded in a deep voice.
“All of you, go back. Without my permission, you are not to come again.”
“This?” The few men looked troubled. Even Qingfeng exclaimed, “Young Master.”
His eyes held an unreadable emotion as he glanced at Qingyao, a fleeting sharpness.
“Leave.”
Wuqing’s anger made the men dare not say more. They immediately accepted the order respectfully and replied in unison, “Yes, Young Master.”
They flashed away. As they passed Mu Qingyao, they glared at her fiercely and took her in with a glance. However, upon meeting Qingyao’s unfriendly gaze, they all hissed and fled.
This woman looked formidable. Her concealed weapon had been used flawlessly just moments ago, especially by the injured man who clutched his shoulder and followed the others, trembling.
If he hadn’t dodged so quickly just now, his neck might have been hit. This woman was truly wicked.
On the edge of the woods, silence fell. Wuqing’s clear voice sounded.
“You two, you may go down now.”
“Yes, Young Master,” Qingfeng and Mingyue obediently retreated, not daring to say more. Their master was in a bad mood tonight, and it was best they spoke less, lest they bring trouble upon themselves.
Finally, no one else was around, only Wuqing and her.
A light breeze blew past their ears, rustling the leaves. Neither of them spoke, the atmosphere tense. Finally, Qingyao broke the silence. She knew Wuqing was introverted and usually didn't know what to say, so she spoke first.
“Who are they?”
Wuqing raised his eyes. His gaze was clear and untainted by any darkness. He smiled faintly. When he smiled, even the moon seemed almost captivated.
His sculpted features had skin like a pure spring, moist and tender. His brows were long and slender, his eyes bright and sparkling, his lips perfectly shaped. Everything about him was exquisite.
Looking at him like this, Qingyao couldn’t help but recall the ceramic dolls sold in modern times that women adored, enchanting in every movement.
His voice was also pleasant and melodious.
“They came to invite me to diagnose and treat patients.”
Qingyao raised an eyebrow, a flicker of doubt in her heart. She felt something wasn’t quite right. If they were truly inviting him to treat patients, why did Qingfeng and Mingyue look displeased when they saw her, as if she had disturbed something important?
“Is that really so? Then I was too rash. I thought they wanted to harm you just now, and in my excitement, I forgot if you needed anyone’s help.”
Qingyao laughed self-deprecatingly. He had taught her martial arts, yet in her haste, she hadn't thought at all and had immediately moved to save him.
Hearing her words, Wuqing’s mood visibly brightened. The gloom of the entire evening dissipated. His eyes, filled with a soft gaze, looked at her, his smile becoming even more harmless.
“Although I didn’t need it, I am very happy.”
Thinking of her departure the next day, Qingyao let go of her doubts. This time, she didn’t know when she would return. It was best to simply have a chat with him.
Qingyao relaxed her mood, walked to the grass opposite Wuqing, and sat down. They talked freely.
“Wuqing, you’ve never spoken about your family. Can you tell me about them?”
The moment she finished speaking, Wuqing’s entire being turned cold. His face became somber and unsightly, his perfect face darkening. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing the pain in his eyes.
Seeing his expression, Qingyao knew she had touched upon his sorrow and immediately apologized.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up your painful memories.”
Wuqing slowly composed himself and smiled. Perhaps some things should be let go of; dwelling on them only brought more weariness. His clear eyes, filled with deep sorrow, looked at Qingyao and he spoke softly.
“Actually, I am a child abandoned by my family. My legs were frostbitten during a severe snowstorm. If it weren’t for my Master, perhaps I wouldn’t be here. He found me and took meticulous care of me. My Master was highly skilled in martial arts, yet he lived in seclusion. This Wuqing Valley was left by him for me to reside in peace. When my Master was on his deathbed, he had only one regret: although his medical skills were excellent, he couldn’t heal my legs. In truth, it wasn’t his fault. My legs were frozen due to my meridians becoming stiff, so they can no longer be restored.”
Qingyao listened to his voice, which flowed like water, and her eyes became slightly moist.
She hadn’t expected Wuqing to have such a tragic childhood. Not only was he abandoned by his own parents, but they had also caused his legs to be crippled. Such parents were truly heartless, like wolves and tigers.
“Alright, don’t be sad. Everything is in the past. Don’t dwell on it.”
Qingyao showed a big smile, hoping to cheer Wuqing up.
“Yes, everything is in the past.” Wuqing smiled. Originally, he was cold-blooded and indifferent, seeing through worldly affairs. When he was in a good mood, he would save people; when he was in a bad mood, he only wanted to destroy things. But now, it was different. He thanked heaven for letting him meet such a person, someone he wanted to draw close to for warmth. Just looking at her made him feel that life still held some joy, and that he wasn’t entirely empty-handed.