Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 422 Clearing the clouds and revealing the sun
rustle----

Fine snow pattered against the window. Zhao Wumian, who rarely slept in, felt as if he were leaning against a warm and tranquil cloud, making him feel extremely lazy.

The rhythmic sound of the wind and snow outside captivated him, making him want to sleep forever.

He was awakened by the creaking sound of the courtyard gate being pushed open.

There were faint footsteps outside, approaching from afar and then fading away... The footsteps reminded him that it was already dawn.

In a daze, he recalled his time in Lin'an... He would sleep in late while Jiu'er cleaned the house and did chores outside.

There's a unique sense of comfort and ease.

He opened his eyes and glanced to the side. The room was sparsely furnished, with obvious signs of age, and a sense of decaying gloom seemed to permeate the space.

But the girl's delicate fragrance in the air and the warmth of the brazier on the ground quickly suppressed the gloom.

The bedding was in disarray, and when I reached out to touch it, it seemed a little damp.

Moist, warm memories flooded my mind, leaving it dry and parched.

Zhao Wumian looked at the corner, where most of the blankets were wet, but he was too lazy to clean them before going to bed, so he just casually changed the side of the blankets to cover himself.

He recalled that last night, the little nun's face had been flushed, and her jade bowl was adorned with delicate, cherry-red lips, which was unexpected...

He had assumed the young nun was the same type as Miss Su—fair-skinned, youthful, and full-figured—but to his surprise, she possessed a surprisingly mature womanly charm…though not much, just a sparse amount.

It was quite a contrast, causing him to lose his usual self-control in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Wumian shook his head slightly and glanced to the side. His and Guan Yunshu's clothes were nowhere to be seen, and she was also nowhere to be seen beside them.

In the corner, clean clothes were neatly folded, and socks were crumpled into two small balls and placed next to them... presumably for Zhao Wumian to wear?

Zhao Wumian opened his clothes with both hands, thinking that he had already married Guan Yunshu, which was why she was taking such good care of him.

After getting dressed and washing up, he walked through the not-so-spacious lobby, glanced at the paintings on the wall, sighed softly, and then pushed open the door.

sough----

The dilapidated house immediately shook three times, and the snow on the eaves fell down and piled up in front of the door.

He looked up and surveyed the old house, considering whether he should renovate it.

Although Zhao Wumian was highly skilled in martial arts and of noble birth, he was not a scion of a wealthy family who was all talk and no action. He was also quite adept at carpentry.

Outside, everything was covered in a blanket of white, and there were several rows of footprints in the courtyard.

The white horse was tied to a tree, its head bowed as it ate the hay that someone had prepared for it.

Zhao Wumian exhaled a puff of white breath, rubbed his hands together, and followed the footprints out of the courtyard. In the distance, he saw a girl in a white dress sitting by the river, washing clothes by herself.

In the distance, there is a vast snowfield, with birds flying past.

A few rays of morning light shone through the wind and snow onto her, as if casting a hazy halo over her figure.

She no longer had her long, flowing hair that cascaded down like a waterfall; instead, she had tied her short hair up, revealing her slender, fair neck. As she did the laundry and other chores, Zhao Wumian was mesmerized by her gaze.

Guan Yunshu did not notice Zhao Wumian watching her until she finished washing the clothes and turned around with the basin of water.

"What are you looking at?" she called out to Zhao Wumian as she walked into the courtyard.

It's quite a distance, I have to call out.

"Why did you cut your hair?" Zhao Wumian asked.

Guan Yunshu's hands were a little damp, so she subconsciously touched her hair, which was tied up with her sleeve. This small gesture showed her youth and liveliness.

"You just cut it because you wanted to... and it doesn't look good?"

"It's so beautiful."

Guan Yunshu carried the basin of water up the small hill.

The two of them didn't speak, perhaps because they felt it was too much effort to talk loudly.

Zhao Wumian then noticed the dress she was wearing.

She wore a clean white jacket with blue patterns, paired with a dark blue pleated skirt. A bright green belt was tied around her waist, and the hem of the jacket and the waistband of the skirt were taut inwards, making her waist look exceptionally slender.

Zhao Wumian's heart raced again, much to his dismay.

A person like him is unlikely to panic and can always remain calm, but in front of Guan Yunshu, he often acts like a naive and inexperienced young man, becoming inexplicably nervous.

Guan Yunshu's calm and beautiful face suddenly turned to the side. For some reason, she blushed inexplicably after walking for only a short distance.

When they came close, the two felt as if they had been granted a pardon.

Zhao Wumian looked at the clothes inside, then at the clear river water under the willow tree.

"Why don't you boil some water to do laundry in this cold weather?"

Guan Yunshu pinched a corner of the white cloth in the basin with her fingertips. "Only such cold water can kill the evil things."

"Hot water gets you cleaner... but aren't you implying that I'm the dirty one?"

"do not you?"

"Where is it dirty?"

Guan Yunshu suddenly raised a small hand to cover her pink lips and gave him a cold look.

Zhao Wumian couldn't help but think back to last night...

Then Guan Yunshu snorted coldly, arrogantly stepped past him, entered the house, hung up the clothes to dry (below a brazier), and continued:
“There’s no reason for me to do all the work. Go and buy some vegetables, meat, pots and pans.”

Zhao Wumian became interested. "Are you going to cook?"

Didn't you say you were hungry last night?

"I will wait until I am hungry to taste the monks' cooking."

"I am no longer a nun."

“But I still like to call you that.” Zhao Wumian left the courtyard, then remembered something and came back to Guan Yunshu’s side, reaching out to her.

Guan Yunshu looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"You've washed all the clothes, and you don't have any money... could you give me some?"

Guan Yunshu smiled helplessly, carefully counted out the silver from her purse and handed it to him, "Buy some more good wine."

Give me more.

Guan Yunshu counted some more, "How much more will it cost to buy some ingredients?"

Give me some more.

She counted a few more, "Is there anything else you want to buy?"

"More..."

"Here you go!" Guan Yunshu shoved the money pouch into Zhao Wumian's hand. "If I find out you're using this much money to go to brothels, I'm going back to Xiaoxitian tomorrow!"

"Didn't you just say that you're no longer a nun?"

"There's no other way; if we go anywhere else, I'm afraid you won't be able to find it."

Zhao Wumian was taken aback, then chuckled and stuffed the money pouch into his sleeve. "Why would I go to a brothel?"

"Really? Who was it that tried so hard to dissuade me from taking you to a brothel back in Taiyuan?"

After saying that, the two looked at each other and smiled.

Zhao Wumian led his horse away from the courtyard, while Guan Yunshu stood in front of the gate watching him.

After he rode into town, Guan Yunshu returned to the courtyard to continue cleaning the old house.

The courtyard was truly dilapidated, with several small holes in the roof. Guan Yunshu was troubled and felt restless.

She moved a small stool from behind the door, sat in front of the courtyard gate, and gazed into the distance, waiting for Zhao Wumian to return. That would make things much better.

The snowfall gradually subsided, and before Zhao Wumian could arrive, Guan Yunshu saw Xue Xiao first.

The snow owl stood on the wall and handed the mail tube with its paw.

Upon opening it, I saw that the letter was from Mu Li'er.

It is said that she already knew about the matter between Shamantian and Mo Jingxue. Moreover, because Mo Jingxue drew her sword, the Rong people at Yagu Pass immediately lost their morale and fled with Goguryeo in a sorry state. They were then driven north by the Yan King's army for a hundred miles.

Seeing that everything in Yanyun was settled, she brought Luo Xiangzhu to find Zhao Wumian a few days later.

Luo Xiangzhu's cold has also been cured.

Xiao Lengyue will also come along... After Mo Jingxue's death, Jian Kui remained in the pass to protect the Prince of Yan. Unable to escape, he sent the Birth Sword and the Sheath of Seclusion to the Sword Sect.

When Jian Kui spoke with Zhao Wumian, he openly and secretly expressed his desire to step down and hand over the reins to a more capable person. To Zhao Wumian, the Sword Sect was clearly his own family's foundation.

Therefore, there is no problem with placing the two nine-bell pieces there.

Guan Yunshu unfolded the envelope with her fingers, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. Zhao Wumian hadn't told her about these things last night... but Guan Yunshu didn't care.

As long as Shaman Tian is dead, that's all that matters.

She casually tossed the envelope into the stove to burn, clapped her hands, and sat down in front of the courtyard gate.

Snow Owl stood on the wall, yawned, and fell asleep without moving. Soon, both it and Guan Yunshu were covered in snow.

Crunch, crunch—

The soft sound of wheels rolling over the snow reached Guan Yunshu's ears, and she turned to look.

Zhao Wumian sat on his horse, his saddlebags stuffed full of vegetables, fruits, and large chunks of cooked meat.

The horse also pulled a cart laden with pots, pans, wooden tiles, and brand-new furniture.

Guan Yunshu was taken aback. She lifted her skirt and ran down the hillside, glancing at the cart a few times.

Why did you buy so much stuff?

Zhao Wumian dismounted, took the reins, and walked with her into the courtyard.

"Make sure to repair the house properly."

"We won't be staying here for long... After a few days of rest, we should head back to the capital. Why bother with all this trouble?"

“It has nothing to do with how many days you stay. This is your ancestral home, so it definitely needs to be renovated. It was fine before you didn’t come, but now that you’re staying here, can you just do nothing?”

Guan Yunshu glanced at Zhao Wumian a few times, said "Oh," and didn't say anything more.

The kitchen was old, but with the newly bought pots and pans placed there, it looked somewhat brand new.

It feels like I have a new home.

Guan Yunshu added firewood to boil water.

Remembering something, Zhao Wumian took out a simple and elegant white plum blossom from his saddlebag, put it in a vase, and placed it on the stove.

Guan Yunshu glanced at the white plum blossoms.

“I saw it on the street when I went to town to buy things, and I thought you would like it, so I picked a branch and brought it back.”

When did I ever say I liked flowers?

"You don't like what I gave you?"

"like."

"Actually, I didn't just pick it randomly by the roadside. I searched for it all over the town, and this plum blossom was the most beautiful."

"I like it more."

"How about a kiss?"

Guan Yunshu took out a piece of pig's head wrapped in oil paper, held it in both hands, and brought it close to Zhao Wumian's face.

"So you think you're a pig's head!" Zhao Wumian dodged, feigning sudden realization.

Then he laughed and said, "It's okay, I'll still like you even if you're a pig's head. I said before that even if you weren't pretty, I would still fall in love with you."

"That's not true. Who knows if you're being sincere? You've certainly given me plenty of lecherous looks."

"That kind of look?"

The two joked and teased each other, then suddenly moved closer. Zhao Wumian put his arm around Guan Yunshu's waist, and the fragrance emanating from her body filled his nostrils.

Guan Yunshu buried her face in his chest, her little face growing hotter and hotter.

Zhao Wumian lowered his head and gazed at her thin, pink lips, then couldn't help but lean closer to savor them.

His hand, through the pleated skirt, couldn't resist gently caressing the firm curves, then he lifted the skirt inch by inch until his palm slipped inside before lowering it.

Guan Yunshu closed her eyes, and the two hugged each other even tighter, pressed tightly together. This suffocating sense of fullness made them feel extremely comfortable and happy.

When Zhao Wumian placed her on the stove with his hands supporting her buttocks, Guan Yunshu suddenly broke free and stood up, her pretty face flushed, patting the back of her skirt to shake off a cloud of dust.

The stove was dirty and hadn't been cleaned properly.

She smeared it with her fair little hand, leaving her fingertips covered in black.

"So filthy..."

She smeared the stain on Zhao Wumian's face, then chased him out so she could cook in peace. "You're dirty too, get out of here and wait to eat."

Zhao Wumian, with a black mark on his face, smiled, buried the several jugs of wine he had just bought into the snow to freeze, then casually took out a jug, drinking it while watching the busy Guan Yunshu.

She always says she can do everything, which is a lie. At least last night on the bed, she couldn't understand anything Zhao Wumian said.

But it wasn't exactly a lie. At that moment, she moved nimbly back and forth in the kitchen, boiling water and adding oil on one side, chopping vegetables and mincing meat on the other, tasting the dishes from time to time. She seemed flustered, yet she was methodical.

This lively young woman, whom he would spend his entire life with, made Zhao Wumian stare in a daze for a moment before finally regaining his senses and asking:
"How can I help?"

"Just don't bother me. Stay over there and drink. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet," Guan Yunshu said without turning her head.

Zhao Wumian didn't sit idle. After finishing his wine, he leaped onto the roof and used his Crane Control and Dragon Capture Technique to draw up the wooden planks and tiles piled up in the courtyard to repair the roof.

Soon, a series of clanging sounds rang out from the roof.

Guan Yunshu, carrying a soup ladle, walked out of the kitchen and stood in the courtyard looking at Zhao Wumian on the roof, loudly complaining:

"Clanging and banging, it almost shook the soil off the roof beams!"

Zhao Wumian paused, "The food is ruined?"

"Do you think I don't know martial arts? Once I stop using my internal energy, all the dust will be gone, but the kitchen will still be dusty and look dirty."

"As long as I didn't ruin your hard work, that's fine. But when you're cooking, the fumes from the chimney are pouring straight into my mouth!"

Did I choke you?

"Do you think I don't know martial arts? Once I separate my internal energy, all the cooking fumes will disappear."

"Don't imitate me!"

Guan Yunshu picked up snowflakes from the ground and threw them at Zhao Wumian on the roof. Before he could retaliate, she ran into the kitchen.

The clanging and clattering sounds, along with the rising wisps of smoke, finally brought a touch of life to this long-abandoned, dilapidated courtyard.

Guan Yunshu's craftsmanship far exceeded Zhao Wumian's expectations.

Boiled fish, Mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork, spicy blood curd... In the freezing weather, to warm up, all her dishes are boiled in chili oil, making them authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Zhao Wumian picked up the bowl and shoveled food into his mouth, "You used to never eat meat, so how come you can still make so many meat dishes... Did you secretly break your vow?"

"like to eat?"

"I'm not picky."

"Change your answer."

"……like."

Guan Yunshu also fried an egg, taking small bites, a stark contrast to Zhao Wumian's wolfing down of his food. She ate slowly and gracefully, saying:
"The monks in the temple's kitchen aren't very skilled. My senior uncle... Dongzhen, you know him, right?"

"Yes, Jiu'er's best friend, Lan Qiushuang."

“Father… The abbot is often not in the temple, so my senior sister takes care of me. But she is a woman of the martial world and has never been involved in these household affairs. She finds the vegetarian food in the kitchen unpalatable and does not want to cook for herself, so she buys me a bunch of cookbooks and tells me to learn.”

Zhao Wumian sipped his hot soup while listening to Guan Yunshu tell him about these trivial matters. Later, feeling it wasn't enough, he got up, dug out some wine from the snow, and poured a cup for both of them.

"Cheers!" they both said in unison.

Then Guan Yunshu said, "Eating Sichuan cuisine and drinking cold wine is bad for your stomach."

"I'm not an ordinary person, why have you become so nagging..."

Guan Yunshu stood up with her bowl, expressionless, and was about to leave when Zhao Wumian quickly coaxed her back.

After finishing their meal, the two carried a deck chair and sat in front of the courtyard gate to digest their food.

Guan Yunshu held Xuan paper and a paintbrush in her hand, but she was actually painting.

"What are you drawing?" Zhao Wumian asked, glancing at him sideways.

The painting depicts him as a carpenter, squatting on the rooftop, hammering and tinkering.

"Hua Ni, the dignified Marquis Weiming, actually does such menial work of lowly people. If word gets out, it will become a laughing stock in the martial arts world."

"What kind of jokes are you going to add?"

"Afraid of Madam?" Guan Yunshu tapped her chin with her finger, hesitated for a few seconds, and then asked in confusion.

As she spoke, she seemed to recall the way Zhao Wumian was scolded by his wife and dared not talk back, and she covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Zhao Wumian withdrew his gaze, put his hands behind his head, and leaned back in the recliner, which creaked and groaned, looking extremely comfortable.

Why did you suddenly want to draw?

"Mother left a lot of paper; it's such a waste not to use it all." Guan Yunshu lowered her eyes and drew, making a soft rustling sound, as she spoke:
"She definitely wants to use these papers to draw for the rest of her life."

Zhao Wumian didn't speak, but glanced at the paper on the drawing board... it had already turned yellow.

After resting for a while, Zhao Wumian got up to wash the dishes, and Hou Guanyunshu came over to help.

Zhao Wumian washed the bowls, dried them with a towel, and arranged them neatly.

Zhao Wumian really wore her out last night. Even with her high level of martial arts, she didn't seem to have much of an advantage in this kind of situation.

Guan Yunshu was a little tired, so after washing the dishes, she went back to her room to rest and take a nap.

Zhao Wumian continued to knock and bang in the courtyard, but the noise was much quieter.

Guan Yunshu said she was going to sleep, but she didn't... She opened the window, lit a candle, and began to paint a picture of Zhao Wumian.

After drawing a few pictures, she finally yawned, closed the window, and rested fully clothed.

When she woke up, it was already dark outside. Through the window paper, she could see the dim yellow firelight in the courtyard and the shadowy figures of people.

On the table inside the room was a thick stack of brand-new papers.

Guan Yunshu was slightly taken aback. She pushed open the window, and the wind and snow outside invigorated her. She saw Zhao Wumian boiling water in the courtyard and asked:
Why are you buying so much new paper?

"After you finish painting your mother's, then you can paint ours. You'll paint for the rest of your life."

Guan Yunshu blinked and looked at the stack of new papers on the table.

Zhao Wumian had swept the snow out of the yard and tidied up the piles of clutter, making it look much cleaner and tidier.

He boiled water, filled the bathtub, and sprinkled a few flower petals.

Guan Yunshu asked in confusion, "Where did you get these flower petals from?"

"I folded it casually when I went to town to buy paper this afternoon."

"Is it really that easy?"

"...I found it on purpose."

Zhao Wumian reached out to test the water temperature, hesitated for a few seconds, then looked at Guan Yunshu and suggested, "Shall we wash together?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Yunshu recalled what happened last night and suddenly covered her face with a brand-new piece of paper, revealing only her bright red ears.

"No, you go ahead and wash."

Guan Yunshu had just woken up. She sat on the couch, took off her shoes and socks, and put her feet on the bedding. Her arches were beautiful, her skin was as clear as jade, and her cute toes were adorned with light pink, like small and exquisite jade artifacts.

Zhao Wumian's heart stirred; he always felt that even if Guan Yunshu only showed a little skin, he would still be tempted.

He suddenly didn't want to take a bath anymore, but instead sat down by the bed and gently played with Guan Yunshu's feet.

It was warm and soft, yet smooth and tender.

Guan Yunshu pulled her feet back, but couldn't pull the paper out of Zhao Wumian's hand. She moved the paper to the side a little, her eyes filled with shame and indignation.

"You're not going to take a shower, are you?"

"If you wash now, you'll have to wash again later. It's such a hassle..." Zhao Wumian moved closer and put his other arm around Guan Yunshu's shoulder.

Guan Yunshu's face flushed slightly. The usually aloof and sharp-tongued nun would probably never get used to this kind of thing.

She clenched her teeth, but couldn't muster any resistance. As soon as Zhao Wumian lowered his head, she heard a "pop" sound, and her clenched teeth quickly loosened a little without her realizing it.

Zhao Wumian's hand slid down her smooth feet, under her skirt, and caressed her calf skin, which was white, smooth, and silky, as if moonlight had been sprinkled and solidified.

Even if Zhao Wumian were to caress and stroke it for a lifetime, he would never be satisfied.

Guan Yunshu's hair, which had been tied up, had been let down by Zhao Wumian and was now resting on his shoulder.

creak—
Guan Yunshu lay flat on the couch, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

Zhao Wumian held a few strands of her black hair in his palm.

"You cut so much!"

"You don't like it?" Guan Yunshu also picked up a strand with her fingertips, blushing, and glanced at it sideways.

"Long hair has its gentle charm, and short hair has its lively spirit. You're beautiful no matter what."

Zhao Wumian's hand then gripped her pleated skirt and began to climb it inch by inch.

A pair of long, slender, beautiful legs gradually came into Zhao Wumian's view, followed by a pair of tightly fitted underpants.

Although Guan Yunshu resisted, her body was actually surprisingly sensitive, and she had already gradually entered a state of ecstasy when Zhao Wumian came to her.

She bit her pink lips tightly, then noticed Zhao Wumian's fingers pinching the waistband of her underpants.

Squeak squeak —

The soft rustling of fabric against her skin reached her ears, and Guan Yunshu closed her almond-shaped eyes, unwilling to look any longer.

But after waiting for a while, she didn't see Zhao Wumian make any move. Looking around blankly, she saw Zhao Wumian looking down and examining something closely, as if he were looking at some unique treasure in this world.

He then stretched out his fingers and gently pushed them to the sides, then leaned back a little closer.

The clouds parted to reveal the sun.

A soft cry of pain suddenly came from inside the room.

The wind and snow continued to fall outside, occasionally pattering against the eaves and windows with a soft rustling sound.

On the other side, the evening breeze stirred the drifting clouds, and two more wandering swordsmen arrived on horseback across the vast snow-covered plains.

"I don't know if I'll be able to make it."

"So what if I can catch up? So what if I can't? I don't believe that Shaman Tian has the ability to kill my husband."

"Is that your husband? Aren't you ashamed? Are you married?"

"It's done. He didn't tell you? Oh~ Of course he wouldn't dare. You're the best at pretending to be well-behaved and magnanimous in front of him. He knows that if he tells you, you might not say anything to his face, but you'll definitely be secretly wiping away tears in bed."

Su Qingqi was wrapped in a pure white cloak. Her youthful and spirited face had not changed much from her recent journey through the martial world, except that she looked a little more travel-worn.

Upon hearing this, she merely furrowed her brows slightly, too lazy to argue with the enchantress beside her.

But Shen Xiangge was not one to be content with solitude and silence. Her lovely eyes darted around, and she said:
"What if he's found another woman after not seeing him for several months?"

"Let him look for me, he won't hide it from me," Su Qingqi said casually.

Although she was the youngest, she always considered herself the first wife and had a very dignified demeanor.

"I won't hide it, but with so many people in the backyard, I have to think about who he'll be with tonight and who he'll be with tomorrow..."

Su Qingqi recalled for a while, and her face flushed.

"I think that with your... physique, it doesn't seem like a difficult task for you to spend a dozen or so nights with girls."

"..." Shen Xiangge was speechless.

After a moment, she continued, "That's not quite how it works. Even if his body can keep up, he'll still have a ranking in his heart of who he prefers to spend time with..."

"what do you want to say in the end?"

Shen Xiangge leaned closer and whispered something about being agreeable and welcoming people from all sides.

Su Qingqi's face immediately turned red, she spat out a sound, and stopped talking.

Shen Xiangge found it boring; if it were her and her aunt, it would definitely be...

Soon, the two women arrived at a small town called Yanyun. They intended to find an inn to rest before contacting Zhao Wumian, but to their surprise, the town was still noisy even at night.

Many江湖人 (jianghu people, people of the martial arts world) were talking about it in taverns, tea stalls, and street corners:

"It's true, I saw it with my own eyes! Marquis Weiming cleaved a huge gash in the snow with a single sword strike, and Shaman Tian was cut in half at the waist on the spot!"

"That's Shaman Tian! Do you think it's so easy for you to kill him, Lord Marquis?"

"Tsk, you still don't believe me? Didn't you all see the strange phenomena that day? Besides Marquis Weiming, who else could have done such a thing..."

The two women exchanged a glance as they listened to the enthusiastic conversation among the martial arts practitioners.

Shen Xiangge blinked.

"Oh no, we really missed it... We didn't even get there to help before my husband killed Shaman Tian with a single sword stroke..."

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I'd like to ask for a monthly pass.

(End of this chapter)