My enemies became my companions

Chapter 675 A Mind Free of Distractions (Part 2)

Yin Weiying walked slowly through the winding corridors of the Prince's Mansion.

She originally wanted to find Qin Yue and show him some care, since he was his first child and she should take care of him no matter what. However, the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion was vast and complex, and she was new to the place and had difficulty figuring it out.

The female Taoist priest pretended to admire the scenery and gracefully asked a passing maid carrying clothes where Qin Yue lived.

The maidservant simply bowed respectfully, said "This servant does not know," and hurriedly withdrew. She asked two or three more people in succession, and they all gave similar responses: either giving vague answers or directly apologizing and avoiding the question.

Yin Weiying understood immediately; Qin Qingluo or her loyal princess must have given strict orders beforehand to prevent her, an outsider, from getting close to the child…

Since that's the case, forcing it will be pointless. It would be better to familiarize ourselves with the layout of the Prince's Mansion first, and then we can make a more thorough plan later.

So she simply strolled around and secretly memorized the locations of the pavilions, terraces, and gardens along the way.

The Prince's Mansion was magnificent, quite different from the layout of the residences in the capital she was familiar with, and appeared more solemn and spacious.

After passing through several moon gates, she arrived near a somewhat secluded courtyard. Her steps faltered slightly, and her delicate nose twitched gently.

A familiar scent lingered in the air.

It's like... Chen Yi's aura...

However, Yin Weiying knew that Chen Yi had just gone to make love with Qin Qingluo last night, so he was definitely not here. If that was the case, could this be the guest house where he usually stayed temporarily in this palace?
She looked up and examined the place closely. She saw that the courtyard was shaded by green bamboo and decorated in a fresh and elegant style, with a simple yet ancient feel. It was quite different from the majestic and solemn main building of the Prince's Mansion that she had seen along the way.

The female Taoist priest's heart stirred slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

I wonder if Chen Yi deliberately asked Qin Qingluo for this guest house because of her. Perhaps he was. His affections are often revealed in subtle, unnoticed ways...

She slowly walked into the courtyard, wanting to see more clearly.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind. As she was observing, she suddenly sensed a very slight movement behind her, the presence of which seemed out of place in the tranquility of the courtyard.

Yin Weiying remained calm and composed, showing no panic, and simply turned around.

Suddenly, a grotesque ghost face loomed close to her face, almost touching the tip of her nose.

Who else could it be but Donggong Ruoshu?
Yin Weiying didn't even blink, and said in a flat tone, "Miss Donggong, what brings you here?"

Actually, she wasn't particularly surprised by Donggong Ruoshu's appearance. Given Chen Yi's nature of wanting to protect all the women he knew, once he returned to the palace, he naturally wouldn't leave this silly girl out there unattended, even though it seemed that nothing had really happened between them yet.

Seeing that she hadn't frightened her, Donggong Ruoshu felt bored. She scratched her head and asked with a surprised look, "Fairy Yin? What are you doing here? Did Chen Yi pick you up?" She blinked, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "Then... then why didn't he pick up Madam Lin?"

Yin Weiying immediately understood, but a perfectly appropriate look of helplessness appeared on his face. He said softly, "Lin Daiyu has only been a member of the family for a short time. In his heart, she is still relatively insignificant. It is normal that he cannot take care of her for the time being."

Donggong Ruoshu nodded, agreeing that it made sense.

The female Taoist priest then subtly changed the subject, appearing extremely natural and considerate, "However, since you, Miss Donggong, have brought it up, I will go and persuade him later. It wouldn't be right to favor one over the other."

In truth, whether Yin Weiying offered a word of advice or not, it wouldn't affect Chen Yi's thoughts. That's just his nature; he would never overlook any woman he had ever cared about.

But given Donggong Ruoshu's inability to keep secrets, it won't be long before she loudly tells Lin Wanguan everything, and then the favor will naturally fall on Yin Weiying's shoulders.

Even if Lin Wanguan were to try and compete with her for something in the future, he would at least have to remember the kindness of her, the First Madam, speaking up for him today.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but nod to herself in admiration for her clever and shrewd approach.

Donggong Ruoshu was indeed completely unaware, only nodding blankly. Then, as if remembering something more important, her eyes lit up, and she floated closer to Yin Weiying, tugging at her sleeve and whispering, "Fairy Yin, has Chen Yi returned? I haven't eaten enough these past few days, I'm so hungry, and I miss him terribly."

Her tone was exceptionally serious.

Upon hearing this, Yin Weiying's eyes flashed with doubt. He didn't quite understand what it meant, but he figured it was nothing more than this silly girl having done something foolish again.

Although he and this silly girl were incompatible, one can't hit a smiling face. Who knows, this silly girl might get involved with Chen Yi someday. Even if Yin Weiying didn't want to, he still had to be wary. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Okay, I'll take you to find him now."

………………

It turns out that Qin Qingluo's broad and strong back can also be so relaxed and soft. Although the lines are still sharp and there are hard lumps of muscle everywhere, it is still much softer than before.

Perhaps because Qin Qingluo was too tall, Chen Yi suddenly felt as if his whole body was about to sink in.

For a moment, though they didn't speak, they shared each other's body heat.

Perhaps because he was too tired last night, and because he tried his hand at something again this morning, Chen Yi's eyelids drooped, and drowsiness swept over him, and he relaxed completely.

This wouldn't have happened a few years ago. Back then, although he and Qin Qingluo had physical pleasure, it was often Qin Qingluo who provided the body while he enjoyed the pleasure. He would often see the woman lose her focus in the end, and his already shattered martial spirit and mental state would be repeatedly crushed by him.

Chen Yi often suffers from his old habit of hesitation. Occasionally, he might want to say something intimate, but he just can't bring himself to say it.

Because he had a vague idea that saying anything to Qin Qingluo at that time would not only be meaningless, but would also backfire and push her further away.

Chen Yi wearily closed his eyes, feeling drowsy. He sensed the concubine who was about to enter behind him gradually losing strength. Qin Qingluo narrowed her snake-like eyes and, without hesitation, used all her strength to throw him off.

The world spun around him, and with a thud, Chen Yi fell off the bed. His back ached, and when he looked up, he saw Qin Qingluo staring at him with an expressionless, cold gaze.
"How long do you plan to stay lying there?"

Chen Yi chuckled, not taking it to heart, and slowly got up. Even he was quite full from last night to this morning.

He said no more, casually picked up a piece of clothing and put it on, then got up and went to the outer room to wash up.

The cool water splashed on my face, dispelling some of the lingering sleepiness and sweet scent. I straightened my slightly disheveled clothes in front of the mirror, and I already had a plan in mind.

The most important thing right now is to find Min Ning.

He had barely stepped out of the bedroom when he turned around to look for another woman. To outsiders, this would be seen as either insanely passionate or utterly heartless.

Although I have just come down from the prince's bed, the most important thing in comforting a jealous woman is to go to great lengths. I can wait until she calms down before comforting and reassuring her, and make vows of eternal love, but I must not leave any scars or neglect her.

Chen Yi knew that once that feeling of being abandoned took root, it would be difficult to eradicate.

The thought of the word "neglect" made his mind wander.

Lin Wanquan, who is still on Gaoliang Mountain... eventually, we still need to find a time to pick her up. Also... suddenly, Donggong Ruoshu's slightly dull face appeared in his mind without warning, and Chen Yi subconsciously frowned.

Damn it... why did I suddenly think of this stupid girl?
Could it be that her wish came true at that time?
Chen Yi shook his head, suppressing these distracting thoughts for the time being. The most urgent task was to find Min Ning.

He strolled out of the Prince's bedroom. In the early morning, the palace was already being swept by maids. He wandered around for a while and came to the vicinity of the guest courtyard. In the distance, he saw a familiar figure practicing swordsmanship on the open ground in front of the courtyard.

It's Min Ning.

Her movements were not as bold and sharp as usual; instead, they were unusually gentle, as if each move was accompanied by an invisible restraint.

But the single-edged sword remained steady in her hand, the blade slicing through the air with a monotonous and stubborn whistling sound. She was dressed in a neat and tidy outfit, her long hair tied back, and fine beads of sweat were visible on her forehead, indicating that she had been practicing for an unknown amount of time.

Chen Yi slowed his pace and approached slowly, hesitating about how to start the conversation—whether to call her directly or observe her quietly for a while.

Unexpectedly, it was Min Ning who noticed his arrival first.

She didn't stop immediately, but completed a sharp slash before sheathing her sword and turning around. Her cheeks were flushed from the exercise, and her breathing was slightly rapid, but her eyes had regained their usual clarity, though a hint of weariness seemed to linger beneath. She looked at Chen Yi, forced a smile, and spoke first, her voice slightly panting from the exertion, but her tone remained as normal as possible:

"You're sober now? The effects... are gone?"

Chen Yi paused slightly, unsure if she was implying something in a double entendre, then smiled and replied, "She's awake."

Min Ning raised an eyebrow, but didn't want to make a fool of herself by asking Chen Yi how things were last night, lest she seem overly concerned.

Chen Yi knew her straightforward nature all too well. Since she didn't ask, it meant that she actually cared a lot, but just didn't know how to say it.

"You used a sword to slay the dragon, so why are you practicing with a saber?" Chen Yi asked casually.

"Heh, isn't it all to teach my foolish apprentice? You can't go wrong with practicing swordsmanship before you start with sabers."

Qingli?

Chen Yi immediately thought of the little girl. Although he had only met her a few times, he still had some impression of her.

Thinking back a little, the little girl named Qingli seemed to have come from a well-off family, but later her family was destroyed and she died. Perhaps it was because they shared a sense of kinship that Min Ning took her in as his apprentice.

Just as Chen Yi was about to ask about his little apprentice Qing Li again, Min Ning turned around and immersed herself in practicing her swordsmanship once more.

The single-edged sword in her hand sliced ​​through the air with a steady whistling sound. The light of the blade wove into a dense net, enveloping her figure and also invisibly keeping Chen Yi on the outside.

Chen Yi tried several times to start a conversation.

"last night…"

"Hmm." The blade swept past, creating a gust of wind.

"That Autumn Dew White wine has quite a strong aftereffect; it's a fine wine, although I can't really taste the difference..."

"Is that so?" She shifted her feet, her sword flashing, her tone calm.

"Did you...sleep well last night?"

"Fortunately."

Her response was as brief as wood shavings, her eyes intently following the tip of the knife, as if that were the only important thing.

Chen Yi was a little puzzled, thinking to himself, this doesn't seem like a normal quarrel.

If she were truly enraged, given Min Ning's personality, she would either confront him directly with her sword or utter a few sarcastic remarks; she would never be so... distantly calm.

She seemed to be trying her best to restrain herself and maintain her composure.

He frowned as he watched, his gaze following the back-and-forth movement of the blade. The swordsmanship seemed basic, yet each move was incredibly profound and deliberate.

Suddenly, his eyelids twitched, and he recognized it instantly.

That's the Dragon-Slaying Saber Technique.

That foolish disciple wasn't Qing Li at all; it was never anyone else, but Chen Yi himself!
Connecting hearts through swords...

Sometimes, certain feelings are hard to express, impossible to articulate; some decisions are easy to make, but incredibly difficult to utter...

Chen Yi's heart skipped a beat, and without further doubt, he strode forward. Seizing a moment when the blade's momentum shifted, his right hand shot out like lightning. Instead of blocking, he skillfully and precisely pressed against the spine of the blade, gently guiding it with a flick of his wrist.

hum…

The blade emitted a low, resonant hum.

Min Ning stopped her wrist abruptly, halting the knife's momentum. She didn't break free, but remained in the position where her power had been stopped, breathing slightly, with beads of sweat sliding down her jawline.

The surroundings fell silent instantly, leaving only the two people's somewhat disordered breathing. All pretense and all avoidance were cut off by this gentle press.

A flood of memories surged back into Min Ning's mind: the old stories from the capital, the pain of losing her family, the loneliness of wandering the martial world, the days she spent with Chen Yi, the fleeting glimpse of her little home last night... Complex emotions churned in her eyes, ultimately turning into an indescribable weariness and gloom.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the knife handle, her knuckles turning white.

After a long while, she finally let out a very soft breath, her voice hoarse.
"...Do you understand?"

Chen Yi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I don't understand."

“…You actually understand, there’s no need to pretend you don’t.” Min Ning also curled the corners of her mouth, “No matter how many nice things you say, I won’t believe you.”

She tried to pull the knife back, but Chen Yi's fingertips spread with continuous sword intent, clamping the blade and preventing her from pulling it back in time.

Min Ning calmly said, "I have made my decision."

"What decision?"

"This time, I'll just let her have you first."

Chen Yi was momentarily speechless. For Min Ning, making this decision must have been incredibly difficult. Years ago, she had drunk wine in the wind atop the highest watchtower in the capital, enthusiastically discussing the future of the martial world. The past was behind her, and the future was slowly unfolding before her. She was determined to move forward boldly, but not without looking back.

She would turn back for him, and then become a great hero.

to this end,

Like a wandering knight about to embark on a long journey, she would often pawn the belongings left by her parents to her beloved as a token. She would entrust him with the body and hair she received from her parents, leaving behind a trace of attachment that could never be erased.

Chen Yi, holding the blade, was momentarily lost in thought and suddenly felt a sense of unreality.

Min Ning smiled again, and as she sheathed her sword, she said calmly, "What's there to be afraid of? It's not like I won't marry you. It's just that I won't be the first to marry you. I don't mind at all."

After sheathing the blade, Min Ning loosened his grip slightly, and the blade slid down. He quickly grabbed it, looked down, and realized that the blade had been slightly off-center and hadn't been properly sheathed.

My mind... is indeed a bit confused.

Chen Yi stood silently, unable to utter the vows of eternal love he had prepared on the way. They seemed as fragile as a dream, and his emotions became indescribably complex.

Since meeting Min Ning, apart from her initial high spirits when she slew the dragon, she has always yielded to him.

He was always grateful for this, thinking that he might as well take advantage of it; if she gave an inch, he would take a mile.

But he knew that deep down, she wanted to be with him for life more than anyone else. She had a strong possessive desire for him, like a man for a woman. Like a wandering knight who travels to the ends of the earth, even if he becomes famous, he will never forget the girl with a bright red smiling face at the entrance of the village.

At this moment, he actually hoped that Min Ning's ideas would be more intense and her actions more risky, even if it meant directly kidnapping the bride. However, such an idea was too absurd. Min Ning's mind was made up. Unless her wish came true, she would not do such an unjust thing, given her nature.

Min Ning lowered his eyes and sheathed his sword again. This time, he did so with great precision and steadiness, as if he had finally cleared his mind of all distractions.

(End of this chapter)