Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 135 She Doesn't Care (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Lu Xingzhou beheaded Ye Wufeng at Qingyao Garden...

It's hard to imagine the magic of those words, making the Demon Suppression Division's main hall quieter than if a gavel had been struck, leaving even a seasoned veteran like Sheng Qingfeng completely stunned, his mouth agape like a statue.

It wasn't until his subordinate stammered out that Lu Xingzhou's attendant had also joined the battle that Sheng Qingfeng's expression shifted slightly. He seemed to snap out of his petrified state and patted his subordinate's shoulder with a heavy heart: "What's your name again... Report to the document department tomorrow, and you'll come up with the titles from now on."

Those who were aware of the significance of the combined attack by the demon children in this matter understood that at least the impact wasn't as outrageous, but it was still very bizarre.

Because no matter how you deduce it, someone like Ye Wufeng who relies on agility, even if he can't beat you, at least can easily run away.

There's a huge difference between defeating and killing... How could someone die so cleanly and decisively...?

In any case, with the case that had troubled the Demon Suppression Division finally resolved, everyone in the division, including Sheng Qingfeng himself, was in a very good mood.

Sheng Qingfeng recalled what Lu Xingzhou had said at home: "Even if Uncle is unwilling to get involved in the Huo family's affairs, if Ye Wufeng dares to hurt Miss Sheng, I will not let him get away with it."

Who would have thought that what was thought to be a boast would actually come true that very night...

Sheng Qingfeng thought for a moment, then waved his hand and ordered, "Go, bring back Ye Wufeng's body. The injuries on his body must not be studied by outsiders, and you are not allowed to spread this information. The Demon Suppression Division owes Lu Xingzhou a great favor for this matter, and we must protect his battle tactics privacy."

"Yes."

As he watched his subordinate leave, Sheng Qingfeng's relaxed expression slowly stiffened again.

Oh no, this kid is so reliable, what's my daughter thinking?
For most people who have no idea what's going on, the fact that a child is involved in a battle is hardly worth their attention. Ah Nuo's role in it is completely ignored. The only thing that's still being said in the capital is: Lu Xingzhou killed Ye Wufeng at Qingyao Garden.

Upstairs in the Misty Rain Pavilion, Huo Jin looked at the table full of cold dishes as if in a dream.

When Lu Xingzhou didn't come, he assumed he was deliberately being arrogant and late. He thought to himself that it was better to wait a little longer. The longer Lu Xingzhou wandered around outside, the more opportunities Ye Wufeng would have, right?
And what happened... Lu Xingzhou even wandered all the way to Qingyao Garden, a place completely opposite to his own, which he never even considered coming here!

Looking at the dishes on the table, Huo Jin felt as if the pig faces on the plates were laughing at him.

And what... how did Lu Xingzhou kill Ye Wufeng? Just thinking about the scene where Ye Wufeng's eyes made her feel numb all over, Huo Jin simply couldn't imagine it. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and she rushed home.

Sheng family.

Sheng Yuanyao, who was lying on the bed recovering from her injuries, jumped up and grabbed the maid who came to deliver the news: "Say it again?"

The maid stammered and repeated it, her eyes filled with envy and a hint of schadenfreude as she looked at her mistress.

Sheng Yuanyao understood the maid's gaze, and her pretty face unconsciously flushed.

Why choose Qingyao Garden when it doesn't matter where you fight?
Of course, that was the place where Sheng Yuanyao was attacked. Lu Xingzhou was clearly telling Ye Wufeng that he was avenging Sheng Yuanyao, and there was no doubt about that.

She was attacked in the morning, and Ye Wufeng was beheaded that very night; not even a day had passed...

Lu Xingzhou had initially been hesitant to even agree to deal with Ye Wufeng, and after agreeing, he hadn't taken it seriously, each going about their own business, only reminding themselves to be careful, showing no initiative whatsoever. But on the very night Sheng Yuanyao was attacked, Lu Xingzhou made his move…

Thinking of Lu Xingzhou's fury when she was injured, Sheng Yuanyao subconsciously bit her lower lip. The shock that had subsided after a day of rest suddenly returned, even more intensely.

Sheng Yuanyao spun around in circles for a few moments before finally unable to contain herself: "I...I'll go out and find him to express my gratitude."

The maidservant quickly pulled her back: "Miss, you are injured, you shouldn't go out so casually..."

"It's alright, the inn he's staying at is very close to here." The maid couldn't stop Sheng Yuanyao; her voice was still ringing in her ears when she was already gone.

As Lu Xingzhou and his group leisurely returned to the inn, Pei Chuyun said with a smile, "To be honest, before we set off, I thought I would be the one to step in."

“There was indeed an expectation that you would need to take action, but it was a last resort. We tried our best to leave no trace of you... In short, you are my trump card that I am confident I can kill him. Without your escape technique, I dare not boast that I could have kept him alive.”

Pei Chuyun nodded: "He's quite strong, but in a head-on fight, he's just average... He probably can't beat me in a one-on-one fight, but if Anuo has the Yuan Ci Bing, he should be able to beat him too."

"What about when he was carrying out the assassination?"

Pei Chuyun was silent for a moment: "Then I really have no confidence. His assassination and direct combat are two completely different levels... Considering the pressure he exerted during his covert assassination, I still agree that he is the number one rookie, and there's not much exaggeration in that. To be honest, it's laughable that someone like him would abandon his greatest advantage and be willing to come out and fight you head-on."

Lu Xingzhou sighed and said, "I'm probably the only one in this world who can make him like this... The pathetic competitive spirit of men."

"But you didn't originally consider him an enemy?"

"Hmm." Lu Xingzhou seemed lost in thought, muttering to himself, "In the end, they weren't even in her eyes. Both were losers, so what kind of enemy were they... It's a pity he can't understand." Pei Chuyun glanced at him sideways. Really, he can't understand? I think it's you who can't understand...

Others thought Ye Wufeng hadn't left any last words, but in fact he had.

Just as Lu Xingzhou struck him in the chest, Ye Wufeng, who was dizzy from being hit by A Nuo, still managed to say, "Lu Xingzhou... if you kill me, you will sever the last thread of affection in the Underworld... I lost, but you didn't win either."

Lu Xingzhou responded: "Actually, how she views me has nothing to do with anyone or anything. Your slander, your struggles, your death... she doesn't care."

These words seemed to startle Ye Wufeng for a moment, but in the end, a hint of relief appeared in his eyes: "Yes... why bother? I was wrong. No wonder you left and made such rapid progress."

Pei Chuyun thought to herself, "That indifferent woman who doesn't care about anything, not even life or death, for her suitors—she wouldn't let anyone touch her hand, would she? Yet she lets you touch her hand! What's wrong with her competitors treating her as the most special one? You are, in fact, the most special one. Why do you feel like a loser?"
But speaking of which, who is this woman? Is there such a succubus in the underworld who can attract so many outstanding young men to pursue her?

Pei Chuyun couldn't believe that this succubus was actually Yama, while the little demon girl Hehuan was a bit unconvinced: "Hey, who is this woman? You were only a few years old when you were in the Yama's Palace, and she was already touching you like that. Don't you have any shame? My Hehuan Sect doesn't lay a hand on underage boys!"

Ah Nuo, who was pushing the wheelchair, bulged out his eyes.

Wow, Sister Ayi! You're the first person in all these years to dare call Sister Yu shameless.

That makes sense. Over the years, you're the first person to not praise Ah Nuo for being cute and to beat her up every time they get the chance.

Lu Xingzhou simply replied, "Why dwell on who those people were in the past... Now, you are the one beside me."

Pei Chuyun immediately put aside her slight dissatisfaction and smiled sweetly: "Although it's just a scumbag's sweet talk, I like to hear it. Say a few more words?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "We're on the street. Let's go back inside and talk about it slowly, all night long."

"What do you mean, 'one night'?" Sheng Yuanyao appeared in front of her, her gaze unfriendly, looking Pei Chuyun up and down as if she were a fox: "A maid who doesn't help her master learn to be good, but only knows how to flirt all day long, what kind of behavior is this!"

She came happily to thank Lu Xingzhou, but her good mood vanished the moment she saw him being all lovey-dovey with his maid.

Pei Chuyun was on the verge of tears: "Sister, I know I have no family background or education, and I can't compare to you. I just want to spend more time with you, young master... If I've offended you, I'll apologize. Please don't send me away, sob sob..."

Sheng Yuanyao's head was swollen to three times its normal size; her face probably wasn't as contorted as it was when she was injured on the back.

"Ahem." Lu Xingzhou quickly tried to smooth things over: "You're still injured, what are you doing out here?"

“Didn’t you say it wouldn’t affect your daily activities? Besides, the danger has been eliminated by you now.” Sheng Yuanyao smiled and said, “Hey, you did such a good job this time, is there anything you want? I’ll buy it for you as a thank you gift.”

"It's only right, we're friends... After all, I share some responsibility for your injury. No need for gifts, it's too formal."

Not knowing whether accepting a gift would be too formal or refusing one would be too formal... Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth: "Fine, don't take it, that's ridiculous. I didn't really want to buy you one anyway!"

After saying that, he took two steps forward, pulled Ah Nuo out from behind the wheelchair, rubbed her several times, and then disappeared in a flash.

He arrived full of excitement, but upon seeing the sullen, tea-obsessed maidservant beside him, and his polite words about "it's what I should do" and "my responsibility," he suddenly didn't know what to say. Sheng Yuanyao's good mood was completely ruined, and she returned home with a sullen face.

As soon as she got home, she bumped into her father, who had just returned. Sheng Qingfeng grabbed his daughter and looked her up and down: "Why are you running around while you're injured? And why do you look so grumpy? Did Lu Xingzhou bully you?"

Sheng Yuanyao said with a stern face, "Does he think he can bully me?"

"He can even kill Ye Wufeng, and you're only fit to be Ye Wufeng's swordsmanship practice. So why can't we bully you?"

"I……"

"Alright, alright." Sheng Qingfeng waved his hand to stop his daughter's outburst: "I understand your urge to go and thank him... but what are you doing in a man's house in the middle of the night? It's good enough if he can give you a polite reply, otherwise, what will you do with your reputation?"

Sheng Yuanyao was stunned for a moment, then her mood suddenly improved: "Is that so..."

Sheng Qingfeng glanced at his daughter sideways: "What else can we do? If you really want to express your gratitude, we can have a proper banquet at home tomorrow to thank you."

Sheng Yuanyao skipped in: "You can arrange it. I don't really want to thank him."

Looking at his daughter's ponytail bouncing, Sheng Qingfeng's good mood after closing the case almost collapsed, and he thought to himself that he didn't really want to thank him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: Still asking for monthly votes!
(End of this chapter)