Wang Cuicui deeply hated Zhang Dajiang, borrowed a longsword, and stabbed him several times. Blood pooled around as Zhang Dajiang knelt and apologized, sincerely admitting his mistakes, finally showing fear. Wang Cuicui became even more furious and struck him down with a single blow.
Blood stained the hall.
Li Xian wrapped the corpse with coarse cloth. He sneaked into the city hall, hung the corpse at the entrance, and used a sword as a pen to write down the crimes on the corpse.
He also drafted a letter to intimidate the local county magistrate, demanding he return the treasures and provide Wang Cuicui a place of refuge.
After finishing these tasks, the sky was already light. Li Xian and Wen Caishang, having drifted on their boat for several days, found it difficult to enter the city. They looked for a tea stall outside a hall, ordered some tea, and watched as the first rays of the sun appeared and the crowd grew thicker.
The hustle and bustle began to stir.
The government office was surrounded by people, gesturing and discussing. Zhang Dajiangās corpse hung there, stripped clean of clothing. The local county magistrate was so frightened by the grisly sight that his legs went weak.
Dared not pursue the matter.
Fearing Wang Cuicuiās potential backing, he visited her with generous gifts that day to offer his condolences. He reopened the old case and cleared her name.
Li Xian also resented this county magistrate. But being a government official with a complex family network behind him made it troublesome to kill him. Li Xian wasnāt afraid of trouble, yet after months of fleeing with Wen Caishang, stability was now a priority as they neared the end.
All matters were settled.
Li Xian and Wen Caishang returned to their pleasure boat. Without the disturbance of outsiders, the boat drifted gently, and their affectionate warmth began to grow again.
[Yang Sword sheathed, Setting Sun Bloodsword skill level +1]
[Charged forward fiercely, fully sheathed, skill level +1]
...
Their spirits soared, days and nights seemed reversed. Once the boat sailed out of the reeds, and occasional river boats were spotted, they slightly restrained themselves.
Li Xian, once oppressed, now celebrated his rightful identity after mastering martial arts, venting his past grievances. He was restless all day, causing Wen Caishang both agony and joy.
Thus, they sailed their lone boat.
With a beauty to accompany.
The joy was endless.
That day, the wind and rain temporarily ceased, and Li Xian suddenly came back to his senses. Staring at the emerald lake waters, he thought: "I have gained my ladyās esteem and embarked on my martial arts journey because of it. Our love is so profound; could it be... could I betray her?"
"I... although I yearn for freedom, if my ladyās feelings are true, how could I betray her? I... my situation is no longer one that allows frivolity. Alright then, living together forever is not bad either."
Deeply grateful for Wen Caishangās sweetness. While he could control his passions, he couldnāt bear to betray true feelings. As the boat glided along gently, Li Xianās mind was open-minded as he embraced Wen Caishang while enjoying the scenery.
Sometimes, Wen Caishang would momentarily break free from the sweetness, then feel immense panic. An unspeakable anxiety made her temper quite peculiar. Sometimes, she would scold Li Xian, but every time harsh words were spoken, she would regretfully apologize.
She was extremely adept at calculating benefits. Because she demanded "perfection" and was incredibly clever. She calculated benefits clearly, and when handling matters, she was reasonable and measured.
However, when it came to emotions, the more she calculated, the more chaotic it seemed, and the more she calculated, the more afraid she was of losing. Her usual principles didnāt work here.
Hence, a sense of unfounded fear and exasperation always lingered. Unable to control it, yet sinking deeper into it, unable to extricate herself. The longer she interacted with Li Xian, the more so it became. It was only during the daily "Three-Layer Swordsmanship" practice that she could temporarily forget her worries.
Yet as the tide recedes, the more joy, the deeper the fear. Despite her immense knowledge and vast experience, she was confused and clueless.
Not as carefree as Li Xian.
Although Li Xian was flirtatious, he wasnāt necessarily promiscuous. If bound by her love, Li Xian, being deeply emotional, would indeed be tightly tethered. However... being too close to see clearly, Wen Caishang found it hard to realize this point.
A river of water flows south.
Wen Caishangās feelings, melancholy, and fear amassed in her heart. She thought of past events, with Zhang Dajiang, those trivial matters, and thought to herself: "I love Mr. Li so much. As long as heās by my side, Iām extremely happy. His talents are too great, his lies too numerous, too flirtatious, too spirited. If he surpasses me, if Mr. Li leaves... can I stop him?"
"If... if only he had a perfect appearance. Ah! Just a perfect appearance! He... said he loves me and would do anything for me. If... if I asked him to pluck out his heavy pupils, then henceforth, wouldnāt he only see me? No matter how beautiful a woman he meets, he would only see me."
"Despite it being unfair to him, but... Iāll definitely compensate him well for the rest of my life, whatever he wants, even if he hits or scolds me, Iāll be happy."
Once she had this thought, it became harder to restrain. She no longer knew how to measure things, and her heart was pounding with excitement. Believing she found a perfect solution, her panic faded instantly, and she thought: "Mr. Li is willing to take risks for me, what are just a pair of eyes to him? I... I really have no other way, it hurts me to harm his body, but if not, I..."
That night, the pleasure boat gently swayed, with spring waters rippling, she spoke in a charming, bone-melting voice: "Mr. Li... do you really love me?"
Li Xian said, "Of course. Why do you suddenly ask this, my lady." Wen Caishang said, "Would you leave me?"
Li Xian paused thoughtfully, then replied sincerely, "I... I wonāt run away, Iāll stay with you forever." Wen Caishang joyfully said, "Good, good... would you do anything for me?"
Li Xian thought, "That depends on the situation, Iām not foolish." But in such a scenario, speaking the truth would spoil the mood, so he said against his true feelings, "Of course, how dare I not heed my ladyās words?"
Wen Caishang was overjoyed, her heart wrapped in sweetness, hugged Li Xian nonstop, and said: "Then... then what if I ask you to pluck your heavy pupils for me, would you be willing?"
Li Xian said, "Youāre kidding, my lady." Wen Caishang said, "Iām not kidding, Mr. Li I love you so much, would you... would you pluck your heavy pupils for me?"
"From then on, Iāll take good care of you. Iāll teach you superior martial arts, anything you want, Iāll give you. Good gentleman..."
Li Xian listened and felt distinctly that Wen Caishang wasnāt joking, his expression changed subtly. Although he valued feelings greatly and had lost the intention to leave, genuinely exchanging feelings, willing to give up freedom to stay with her, yet this request inevitably gave birth to other thoughts: