Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 151 Tender Feelings at the End of the Night
The banquet at the Dugu residence was in full swing, with wine and dishes being served frequently.

Perhaps it was the cook's cooking that suited his taste, but Zhang Xutuo picked up the food and ate heartily, drinking cup after cup of wine.

Even though martial arts practitioners can resist the effects of alcohol, their stomach capacity is limited.

The general drank heartily, displaying his heroic spirit; Dugu Shenglian boasted of his enormous capacity for alcohol.

Luo Shixin had followed Zhang Xutuo for many years and rarely saw him drink heavily. But when another jar of Yangzhou wine was opened, he sighed at the sight of it:

"The last time the General got so drunk was when he defeated Wang Boshi at Changbai Mountain."

He added, "But I haven't had the same enthusiasm as this time."

He was a straightforward person to begin with, and after drinking, he became even more outspoken.

Zhang Xutuo said to him:
"I don't drink much, but I do know a bit about wine. This wine is at least twenty years old. Thinking back to twenty years ago, during the Kaihuang era, the Qiang people rebelled, and I went with General Shi Wansui to quell the rebellion. For my merits, I was awarded the title of Yitong. Time flies so fast. Two Sui emperors have passed away, and I have turned white-bearded and white-haired. I no longer have the courage I once had."

Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin, standing nearby, could both sense the sadness in the air.

Luo Shixin stood up, picked up the wine jar, and poured wine for Zhang Xutuo.

So it turns out the general treats the past as a snack with his wine, which makes it no wonder he finished all the wine at the Dugu residence.

Upon hearing this, the old man Dugu Sheng also became interested in drinking.

So he ordered someone to bring over the cellar, and pulled Zhou Yi to drink with him.

After the banquet, as Zhang Xutuo and his entourage took their leave, a north wind howled outside, carrying damp air from the river, making it chilly and eerie.

Fortunately, the wine warmed their hearts, and the generals, riding their horses through the cold wind, did not see anything desolate.

Dugu Sheng watched Zhang Xutuo's retreating figure and thought, "Zhang Xutuo has had a tough time, but I'm not much better off than him."

"What is troubling you, Second Uncle?" Dugu Feng asked.

"Naturally, it refers to the situation in Jiangdu and Dongdu."

With no outsiders around except Madam Zhang and Zhou Yi, he said with a bitter expression:

"In the Eastern Capital, my elder brother is currently fighting against the Seven Ministers. If you ask me, I'm afraid he can't defeat Wang Shichong."

"Although Jiangdu City is safe, there are many powerful enemies outside. Leaving aside the two emperors of Liang and Chu, at least we are separated by the river. But the most powerful Jianghuai Army is right behind us. And that Grand Commander is a ruthless man. Otherwise, Zhang Xutuo would not be so worried."

After saying that, he looked at Zhou Yi and said, "If it weren't for the fact that you were going to the Eastern Capital to find your mother, I really wouldn't want you to leave."

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "With Second Master's wisdom, he is more than capable of solving all kinds of troubles in Jiangdu."

That was too much of a consolation; even Dugu Sheng himself didn't believe it.

The old man knew immediately that he couldn't keep him, so he didn't try to persuade him to stay.

Madam Zhang asked, "What should we do if Jiangdu falls?"

"I'll ask my mother sometime; I don't have any ideas either."

He should have said that he would return to Dongdu after the loss of Jiangdu, but Dongdu refused to recognize the Prince of Yan and instead established the Prince of Yue as emperor.

If we take the Prince of Yan to the Eastern Capital, wouldn't that lead to them killing each other?

He harbored resentment towards his elder brother, Dugu Feng, wondering why he couldn't accomplish anything in Dongdu.

If the Eastern Capital also supports the Prince of Yan, then the legitimacy will be clear. At that time, Zhang Xutuo will guard Yangzhou, and he will lead the Prince of Yan back to the Eastern Capital to restart the court. Perhaps then the world will have a chance to turn around.

Now that things have turned out this way, it's unclear who's in charge and who's supporting; it's become a huge mess.

Madam Zhang looked at Dugu Feng: "Feng'er, are you going back too?"

"Yes, I need to explain my third uncle's situation to my grandmother."

Madam Zhang nodded: "It's most appropriate for you to talk to her about this. Mother often scolds my younger brother, but we are family. She will definitely be saddened to hear this news. You should comfort her and spend more time with her."

Dugu Feng thought of her grandmother's old illness, her beautiful brows furrowed with deep worry.

After Madam Zhang and Dugu Sheng left, the two of them headed towards the pavilion in the backyard.

Dugu Feng stared at him intently for a long while before finally asking, "Are you going to the Eastern Capital?"

Zhou Yi suddenly said it at the banquet, and even she didn't know it.

"Can't you?"

Zhou Yi smiled at her and said, "I'm going to visit my grandmother."

Little Phoenix, hearing him call her that so easily, blushed slightly and softly replied:
"Uncle is still keeping the news from me. I'll go back first and comfort Grandmother. She has a fiery temper, and I was disobedient before, which angered her. If you go too early, you'll suffer along with me."

"It's alright. I benefited greatly from reading my grandmother's insights on martial arts. Suffering a little humiliation is nothing. Perhaps she has seen me before and won't be angry."

Seeing the confidence on his face, Dugu Feng smiled slightly:
"Master Zhou has not yet become emperor, yet he is already causing trouble in politics and the harem. How can I add to your troubles?"

Zhou Yi suddenly looked disappointed and fell silent.

Dugu Feng poked his arm with her hand: "What, didn't you say that yourself?"

Zhou Yi sighed: "I didn't expect you to be so clueless about me."

"Ok?"

"My second uncle just said that with so many emperors and concubines, the struggles in the harem are just commonplace. But I think otherwise, and my thoughts are quite different from those of the emperors."

What are you thinking?

Zhou Yi said, "In this life, why crave the forest of desires and lust? It's enough to have a confidant."

The little phoenix noticed the flaw: "Then tell me, how many confidants do you have?"

Zhou Yi counted on his fingers: "I met one at the Giant Kun Gang's base in Yongqiu, another at the mass grave in Yunshou Mountain, and I estimate I'll meet another one in Langya, Jiangdu, and eventually in Dongdu. How about I tell you about them?"

"You don't need to tell me."

Dugu Feng wasn't angry with him to begin with, and now she was all smiles.

She pulled his hand, but then, remembering she was still at home, she let go. However, Zhou Yi pulled her to the pavilion.

When the topic of Dongdu came up, Zhou Yi listened to her opinion.

We'll go when Grandma's mood improves.

Even so, Zhou Yi did not intend to stay in Jiangdu any longer.

Before leaving, he received another letter, this time from the Giant Kun Gang.

Bu Tianzhi has learned the movements of those who caused trouble in Jiangdu. Zhou Yi plans to wait for him to return and have him set up a new branch of the Giant Kun Gang in Jiangdu.

While waiting for others, I went to Fenglin Palace to look at the books in Guangshen's collection.

I'll make the most of these last few days and finish reading all these Taoist classics.

Dugu Feng plans to return before the end of the year.

Therefore, since I could stay a few more days, I accompanied Zhou Yi to read books.

Now, Fan Yibai and Qiu Hui from Shaofu Temple have more to talk about.

While Zhou Yi was immersed in Taoist classics in Jiangdu, a group of people in Xingyang County were also quite immersed in them.
Wagangzhai, the weapons foundry.

A young man in gray, with a single crutch slung over his back, was hammering away at the iron. He was imposing yet possessed a refined air, a stark contrast to the sharp-eyed and domineering Ba Feng Han standing beside him.

"Brother Liu, why do you believe what that Taoist priest said?"

Su Su comforted him, "There's no such thing as someone who says he won't live past twenty-eight and that he'll definitely die before he's twenty-eight. He's not a god."

"That's it."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling chimed in.

"You, Lao Liu, are not as good as Lao Ba in this respect. He fought his way from the northern desert to Xingyang, becoming more courageous with each setback. That kind of fighting spirit is more like that of a real man. Perhaps you, Lao Liu, should live to be a hundred years old, and then go and piss on that Taoist priest's grave. Maybe that will revive him."

Kou Zhong laughed heartily, and Xu Ziling asked, "What kind of wandering sorcerer is he? What does he look like?"

Shi Long and Ba Feng Han also looked over and saw that Brother Liu looked a little dejected.

This Brother Liu is none other than Liu Heita, who served King Dou Jiande of Xia.

When Li Mi attacked Luoyang, he worried that Dou Jiande would attack from the north. Shen Luoyan suggested that he adopt a strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones. Li Mi then sent a letter to Dou Jiande seeking cooperation.

The Xia king sent Liu Heita, Zhuge Dewei, and Cui Dong to Xingyang.

He brought his documents, but also wanted to find out Li Mi's true intentions.

As many forces successively declared themselves emperors, Li Mi captured Xingluo Granary and opened it to distribute grain, attracting a continuous stream of people, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

He then ordered Zu Junyan to write a proclamation to be sent to various prefectures and counties, announcing the ten major crimes of Emperor Yang of Sui, and condemning him, saying, "Even if all the bamboo in the Southern Mountains were used to write down his crimes, they would not be exhausted. Even if the waves of the Eastern Sea were used to wash away his evil, they would not be enough."

During this period, the name of Pushan Gong became widely known.

Zhai Rang was the head of Wagangzhai, but Li Mi was the leader.

After Liu Heita arrived in Xingyang and met Li Mi, he accidentally bumped into Kou Zhong, who came out of the Dalongtou Mansion. At first, they fought a battle because they didn't know who was friend or foe. Later, after finding out who he was, they found they had something in common and began to admire each other, so they became friends.

Liu Heita was brought to work as a blacksmith by Kou Zhong, and thus learned of Li Mi's conspiracy.

At first, he didn't want to get involved; the internal strife in Wagangzhai was none of their business.

Although he wanted to help his friend, the Xia king had not given such an order.

But unexpectedly, he ran into Fang Susu at the weapons foundry.

There's a feeling called love at first sight. Seeing her worried about Miss Zhai's matter, I couldn't bear it.

Liu Heita stayed in Xingyang, and his blacksmithing skills have improved significantly recently.

When he spoke of his fate, he glanced at Susu, buried his feelings deep in his heart, and turned to Xu Ziling, saying:

"That man read my face and said that my bridge of the nose was too low and my eyebrows were too fierce, so I wouldn't live past the age of twenty-eight. If an ordinary person had said this, I wouldn't have believed it, but he was not some kind of fortune teller."

Shi Long listened quietly, but Ba Feng Han asked, "Who exactly are they?"

"I will never forget his calm and composed demeanor until the day I die."

Liu Heita said in a deep voice, "It is indeed Ning Daoqi, the number one expert of the Daoist sect."

"what?!"

Everyone was shocked, even Ba Fenghan's usually cold and iron-like expression changed.

At this moment, Liu Heita smiled with relief: "How about that? Doesn't it sound despairing? But that's just right. I, Liu, won't live past twenty-eight. Before that, I'll risk a few years of my life to have a good fight with you all."

After speaking, he continued to strike the iron, producing a series of pitiful "bang bang" sounds.

Kou Zhong's eyes lit up, and he suddenly said, "Old Liu, have you ever heard of the Master of the Five Villages Temple in Nanyang?"

"I've certainly heard about his great battle with the master of the coffin palace."

“If you find him, this fate can definitely be resolved. He can communicate between the living and the dead, and bring the dead back to life. Besides, you are not dead yet, so what is a little bit of evil energy in your eyes and brows?”

Kou Zhong grinned, his words quite persuasive.

Liu Heita pondered this as well, while Xu Ziling said, "Brother Liu's understanding from a few years ago was somewhat biased. I once heard from a friend in the Daoist sect that the current number one person in the Daoist sect is only recognized by outsiders; within the Daoist sect, Ning Sanren is not acknowledged."

"what?"

Liu Heita had never heard such astonishing news.

Even the taciturn Shi Long spoke up, and he spoke frankly: "As far as I know, the abbot of Wuzhuang Temple has surpassed Ning Sanren in the study of Taoist scriptures and classics. His knowledge is extensive and profound, and he may have a way to decipher your facial features."

Shi Long was mature and prudent, and Liu Heita felt a sudden sense of enlightenment upon hearing his words.

“Alright, I will definitely go and seek guidance from the Master of Wuzhuang Temple.”

The group stayed at the foundry for a few more days, until one day...

Tu Shufang, the chief steward of the Dragon Head Mansion, came to visit, bringing several important messages.

Wagangzhai is about to hold a banquet to celebrate Li Mi's victory over Liu Changgong, the annihilation of 20,000 troops in Luoyang, and the capture of 3,000 surrendered soldiers.

At the same time, Chai Xiaohe, the magistrate of Gong County, and Zheng Yi, the imperial censor, surrendered the county town to Li Mi. Pei Renji, the Tiger General of the Sui Dynasty, also surrendered Hulao Pass to Li Mi along with his son Pei Xingyan.

For a time, Li Mi's influence grew greatly.

The South China Sea sent people to the banquet and brought good news.

The Immortal of the South Sea is about to emerge from seclusion and arrive in the Central Plains.

The old immortal will most likely summon two other immortals, at which point all three immortals will arrive together.

Tu Shufang added, "Li Mi used the monk Bu Tan from Jingnian Temple as bait to get Shen Luoyan to contact the demonic monk from India, and they have now received a response."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned even more grim.

They had witnessed firsthand how terrifying that wicked monk was.

However, Kou and Xu maintained a good attitude.

Without considering anything else at the moment, they finalized the banquet plan with Tu Shufang.

Under Kou Zhong's persuasion, Tu Shufang made arrangements based on the worst-case scenario.

Two days later, a lively banquet was held in Wagang Village.

Although Zhai Rang was the head of the banquet, Li Mi was the absolute protagonist.

What was supposed to be a fine banquet turned into a nightmare when, near the end, a group of axemen suddenly appeared and, in the voice of Zhai Rang, went to kill Li Mi.

The sudden attack injured Li Mi, but not fatally.

The fierce battle between the two sides thus began!

Shen Luoyan summoned a large number of men, and Li Mi gave the order to surround and kill Zhai Rang.

Zhai Rang was in a hopeless situation when suddenly Li Mi's camp caught fire, which spread to hundreds of camps, attracting a large number of troops to put out the fire.

Therefore, Tu Shufang's men resisted for a period of time.

Yangzhou Sanlong, Ba Fenghan, and Liu Heita arrived at the critical moment and rescued Zhai Rang from Li Mi's Earthly Fiend Fist.

Shen Luoyan calmly commanded her army to surround the group.

In the critical moment, they took refuge in the weapons foundry.

They escaped from the camp by following the secret passages dug out during this period.

Li Mi sent men north to pursue and kill them, but they encountered Yuwen Huaji's troops in Wei Commandery, and Kou Xu Zhai Rang and others got caught up in the chaos.

Liu Heita was seriously injured while protecting Susu. He said that Ning Sanren's words had come true and told them to leave quickly.

Kou Zhong berated him, carelessly threw away the gold and silver packages on his body, and carried Liu Heita on his back.

Ba Feng Han was about to leave, but seeing their affection, he turned back and charged into the chaotic formation.

At the critical moment, Zhuge Dewei and Cui Dong, who had traveled south with Liu Heita, finally arrived with their men.

They broke through the chaos and fled towards Hebei.

Previously, with Miss Zhai's help, Sanlong got rid of the Goguryeo people.

This time, the three dragons of Yangzhou rescued the Zhai family father and daughter along with their entourage, thus escaping Li Mi's clutches.

After a relentless pursuit, the group finally arrived at the Xia King's territory.

Dou Jiande personally led a large army to provide support and welcome the Wagangzhai group.
Li Mi was already in a bad mood because his plans were disrupted and he failed to kill Zhai Rang. When he returned to his residence, his anger was further ignited.

My home was robbed.

The gold and silver he had placed in the box had vanished without a trace.

News of the fighting at Wagang Village spread. Although Li Mi had made arrangements, Zhai Rang was still alive, so it was impossible to ensure that there were no witnesses.

They usurped the nest and harmed the former master.

Li Mi, bearing the infamy, gained complete Xingyang, while the righteous Wagangzhai was reduced to ruins.

In the chaos of the warring states period, Li Mi resorted to any means necessary to seize supreme power. Some of Zhai Rang's old subordinates became disloyal to Li Mi and soon found an opportunity to leave Xingyang and seek refuge in Hebei.

However, the Goguryeo, Turks, Tiele, Mohe, Khitan and other tribes greatly admired Li Mi's 'character'.

Liang Shidu and Liu Wuzhou each sent people to Xingyang to contact Li Mi.

With the Li clan capturing Chang'an, the situation in the north was already extremely chaotic.
Jiangdu, the headquarters of the Giant Kun Gang.

The Jiangdu court changed its appearance, and the Giant Kun Gang no longer needed to hide itself, directly hanging up plaques and banners.

"Heavenly Master."

As evening fell, Bu Tianzhi saw the young man coming from outside the door and immediately went out to greet him, leading him to a quiet, secluded room.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Bu Tianzhi, Zhou Yi got down to business.

Where have the people of the Great Ming Sect gone?

"It must be Bashu."

"Bashu? Where did you hear that from?"

Bu Tianzhi handed over a letter, and while Zhou Yi read it, he explained, "I have been keeping an eye on their movements within the city. On the day of the chaos, some people followed the Yuwen Clan into Linjiang Palace, while the rest left the city and headed west along the river."

"Fortunately, we have plenty of manpower along the riverbank. We overheard them asking about the boat route to Sichuan and Chongqing, and they even mentioned a certain place."

"The Temple of the Evil Emperor".

When Bu Tianzhi mentioned the location, Zhou Yi had already observed it from the paper.

What are these people doing at the Evil Emperor's Temple?
To seek the great method of planting demonic seeds in one's heart, one should also go to the Coffin Palace.

Bu Tianzhi didn't know the reason either, but the contents of the paper were very detailed, describing where they heard the news and what those people looked like.

The one leading them was a young woman.

Good Mother and Liexia appeared at Linjiang Palace, while the Great Venerable was practicing his skills in search of the root of all dharmas.

The woman leading the group is most likely Cinnaia.

They had faced off at Longxing Temple, and Zhou Yi was deeply impressed by it.

Could it be that they're after the Evil King's daughter?
This is too much! Did the Great Venerable collaborate with the Evil King?

After putting the letter away, I couldn't think of any reason why they went to Sichuan.

However, there is one point worth noting.

"After the Turks who fled from Jiangdu went to Jiujiang, do you know where they went afterward?"

I don't know the specifics.

Bu Tianzhi thought for a moment and then said, "I guess they're going to the Iron Cavalry Society. Their accents are very similar to those of the Western Turks, so they might be under the command of the Tiele King."

"It's that Tiele king again."

Zhou Yi snorted softly, recalling the events in Yancheng County: "Has the Iron Cavalry Association not disbanded yet?"

"of course not."

Bu Tianzhi said, "The Iron Cavalry Society is notorious in the south. Ren Shaoming's thugs have the vices of the northern bandits, committing murder, arson, rape, and plunder. However, their power is immense, and they have many experts. Now that they are cooperating with Lin Shihong, no one dares to touch them."

"Among the forces that have joined forces with the Yuwen Clan this time, there are members of the Iron Cavalry Society."

Ren Shaoming, also known as Qu Te, is the son of Flying Eagle Qu Ao.

With the help of experts sent by the King of Tiele, he was no ordinary force to be defeated.

It seems they didn't take my words in Yancheng to heart.

Zhou Yi's expression turned cold, and Bu Tianzhi also noticed it: "Does the Celestial Master want to know Ren Shaoming's whereabouts?"

What are your plans?

Bu Tianzhi was a steady and reliable man. After thinking for a while, he said, "This man once escaped from Tian Dao's hands. He claims to be no weaker than Song Que and is extremely confident in his martial arts. He always travels light and simply, with only a few skilled fighters accompanying him. He is a womanizer and often frequents brothels. Finding his trail should not be difficult."

"I'm sure I'll find a way to track him down before the end of the year."

Zhou Yi nodded: "Go ahead and do it. I need to go to the Jianghuai camp anyway, which isn't far from Lin Shihong's territory."

"What are your plans?"

"The Tiele King owes me a huge debt. I'm going to collect a small amount of interest and also teach the northern bandits a lesson: even if the Sui Dynasty falls, the Central Plains are not something they can covet."

Bu Tianzhi quickly replied, "Understood."

He was busy with his business, so Zhou Yi didn't linger.

Three more days passed, and all the Taoist classics in Maple Forest Palace had been read.

"Thank you both."

Zhou Yi thanked the two from Shaofu Temple for their help in making them travel back and forth these past few days.

Fan Yibai waved his hand and smiled, "If there is an opportunity in the future, you can go to Dongdu, where there is a library. The late emperor's other collections are in the palace in Dongdu."

The two looked at the girl next to Zhou Yi, guessing that he would definitely have a chance to see her.

after all
In the Eastern Capital, the Dugu clan leader controls the Twelve Guards, so it's not difficult for his son-in-law to go to the palace to study.

Through their time together, Fan Yibai and Qiu Hui had a general idea of ​​what kind of person he was.

Zhou Yi nodded and smiled as he said goodbye to them.

Watching the two disappear into the maple forest, Fan Yibai stroked his beard and smiled:
"Mr. Zhou is highly skilled in martial arts and of high status, but he is very approachable and easy to get along with."

Qiu Hui: "It is indeed a strange thing. I have never met such a person from Dongdu to Jiangdu. Apart from not putting the books away neatly, I can't find any fault with it."

"What's wrong with that?"

Fan Yibai said, "It's a pity. If His Majesty had been like him back then, that would have been better."

"Haha, it's not even dark yet, and Brother Fan is already dreaming."

The two old friends from Shaofu Temple exchanged a glance, each with a touch of emotion.

The two left Maple Forest Palace with smiles on their faces.

With Zhou Yi gone, the two of them were happy to have some peace and quiet.

In winter, the days are short and the nights are long; the sunset has barely faded when darkness falls all around.

The sky seemed to be covered with a layer of snow clouds, completely obscuring the moonlight.

During this time, the two of them read books and practiced martial arts together in Maple Forest Palace, keeping each other company, but such time was rare and short-lived.

People are like the tide, moving with the waves.

Dugu Feng will be returning to Dongdu tomorrow, and she is very reluctant to part with him.

After dinner, the two chatted for a long time in the pavilion.

The west wind was so strong that it made the curtains sway wildly, making it impossible to read in peace.

Normally, it would be late, and Zhou Yi would be heading back to his place.

But Little Phoenix didn't want him to leave, so she rebelled and, disregarding the family etiquette taught by her elders, took Zhou Yi to her boudoir.

We lit the lamps and continued our late-night conversation.

At first, Dugu Feng flipped through the Celestial Master's Random Thoughts while talking to Zhou Yi about the affairs of the Eastern Capital.

For example, who are the elders in the family, what do the parents look like, what are their temperaments, etc.

As he spoke, his random thoughts fell onto the table.

She leaned into Zhou Yi's arms.

I won't talk about family matters anymore.

"After I've comforted my grandmother for a while, when you have some free time, come to Dongdu."

"Don't worry, I never break my promise."

Zhou Yi thought of Lu Miaozi and Shang Qingya's matter and asked gently, "I'm never around to see you. Do you ever complain about me?"

"of course."

Dugu Feng pressed half her face against his chest, glancing upwards: "Especially when I hear those rumors in the martial arts world, how you can be associated with saintly women and demonesses."

Even as she said these angry words, her voice remained gentle.

She simply hugged him tighter and said, "Sometimes when I'm unhappy, I secretly think that I won't talk to you the next time I see you. But when I see you, I can't be heartless, because I know that you are also very good to me."

“In previous years, when I was traveling around, I thought about my grandmother the most and worried about her health. Now, I think about you more. I can’t tell my grandmother this time when I go back, or she will be unhappy again.”

Zhou Yi looked down and saw that when she said this, half of her face was smiling, looking gentle and lovely.

"When I go to the Eastern Capital next year, I will try to see if I can cure my grandmother's old ailment."

Dugu Feng raised her head: "My family has consulted many famous doctors, but none of them can cure this. She will be pleased to know that you have this intention, but don't have too many illusions."

Zhou Yi nodded slightly, and after hearing what she said, he decided not to say anything more for the time being.

Dugu Feng didn't want to talk anymore.

But it scooted upwards, finding a more comfortable position.

When they fell silent, the only sound in the room was the faint crackling of the candlelight.

After a period of silence, Dugu Feng suddenly said:

Don't leave tonight.

"Ok?"

Realizing there was something extraordinary in her words, she blushed and added, "Just stay here, don't go anywhere. Consider it compensation for not being by my side all the time."

This is quite simple.

but,

"Okay, but we need to find another place."

"Where?"

Just as Dugu Feng was about to speak again, he was already picked up by the waist.

Soon, the two shoes fell to the ground in a mess.

She held her breath slightly, and in her panic, she was lifted onto the bed and then nestled in a warm embrace under the covers.

His scent filled the air.

"Xiaofeng, you smell so good, but your clothes are a bit in the way."

The girl blushed, not daring to look at him, and whispered, "You...you're bullying me."

"No."

Zhou Yi stared at her without blinking: "I did as you said."

"I never told you to do that."

Zhou Yi smiled: "Xiao Feng, you're so cute."

"Don't look, don't look!"

She didn't run away, she just turned her back, but Zhou Yi gently pulled her back.

several times in a row.

Then, the little phoenix reached out and covered his eyes.

Zhou Yi grasped her slender, fair wrist, separated it slightly, and leaned closer to look at her.

As the lights dimmed, their eyes met, and the tender emotions they felt were beyond words.

The two drew closer and closer, Dugu Feng's beautiful eyes shimmering as she gazed into his.

With a forceful pull, she broke free from his grasp, wrapped her arms around Zhou Yi's neck, and dragged him down to almost touching him.

Then they embraced and kissed.

After a long while, they finally separated, panting.

"Shhh".

The girl, like a startled fawn, made a "shh" gesture at him.

Zhou Yi also heard it; footsteps could be heard coming from outside.

Dugu Feng raised her hand, and the palm wind extinguished the candle flame.

"Feng'er."

Madam Zhang's voice rang out from outside.

"Second Aunt, I'm already asleep. What's the matter?"

Knowing that her niece would be traveling the next day, Madam Zhang glanced into the dimly lit room, but didn't find it strange.

“Your second uncle is looking for Mr. Zhou. I thought he was over at the pavilion, but I couldn’t find him, so I came here to check on him.”

"Oh, he went out earlier."

Mrs. Zhang was about to leave when she suddenly paused, sensing something was off about her niece's voice.

"Feng'er, when you return to Dongdu, remember to give my regards to your mother."

"Yeah, I've got that."

Mrs. Zhang stood at the door and looked up at the sky; it wasn't too late.

After thinking for a moment, she said "Get some rest" and left the boudoir.

After a long while, soft, gentle sounds came from inside the room:

"Your second uncle is looking for you. You should leave quickly."

"Don't go."

Dugu Feng gently pushed him away, her shyness tinged with a hint of reproach: "If you stay here, you'll bully people again later."

Even in the dark, just by hearing her voice, one can imagine the girl's captivating appearance.

Zhou Yi gently pulled her into his arms, and after a moment said, "After tonight, we won't see each other for a long time, so we're not going anywhere now."

After hearing this, Dugu Feng stopped talking and simply hummed in agreement.

Before long, the two people in bed had even taken off their outer clothes.

That night, Little Phoenix couldn't fall asleep, even though she had her head on his arm.

However, Zhou Yi fell asleep first, drawn by the girl's delicate fragrance.

Hearing his even breathing, Dugu Feng snuggled into his arms again, and in her sleep, Zhou Yi held her tightly.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already dawn.
……

Yangtze River Ferry Crossing.

On a large ship heading towards the Han Canal, Dugu Feng, holding a long sword, waved goodbye to the distance.

Zhou Yi also waved.

After the large ship had drifted far away, Zhou Yi did not return to the city. Instead, he mounted a fast horse and rode away from Jiangdu towards Liuhe City.
……

(End of this chapter)