Volume 3 Chapter 86 / Chapter 253: Senior Brother, Words Fail Me...
The atmosphere in the rear garden of the Yun Residence was solemn.
After the four disciples from Central Peak recounted everything they knew, Yun Yiyi frowned deeply, her head bowed in contemplation.
She couldn’t understand why Zhuang Yan had chosen this moment to abduct Yun Xi.
Just a few days ago, the alchemy furnace at Qiong Peak had exploded. Yun Yiyi didn’t believe that, in such a short time, Zhuang Yan could have gathered another set of materials to refine the Demonic pill.
Regardless, this matter was undoubtedly tied to Yun Kunwu.
Her original plan had been to enter the Shadowmoon Sword Sect’s forbidden grounds in seven days with the two elders and Yun Jiujiu. But now, every moment of delay increased the likelihood of Yun Xi losing her life.
Yun Yiyi glanced at Ye Anping, who was sitting silently beside her. After a moment of thought, she asked,
“You didn’t mention the situation with Martial Aunt Pei just now. She was kidnapped and escaped—how is she now? Was she injured?”
Ye Anping, who had been mentally running through his plans, suddenly looked up in slight confusion. He didn’t understand why Yun Yiyi was suddenly concerned about Pei Lengxue’s condition.
However, when he saw Yun Yiyi’s smiling face directed at him, he understood—she was asking the question on his behalf.
The Shadowmoon Sword Sect disciple hesitated before answering with a bow,
“I heard that Martial Aunt Pei suffered some internal injuries. She is currently weak and unable to get out of bed, but her life is not in danger, and she has no external injuries.”
“Is someone looking after her?”
“There are two mid-Core Formation disciples guarding her, and Xiri Peak is now under strict watch. Please rest assured, Young Mistress.”
Yun Yiyi nodded and glanced at Ye Anping, as if to reassure him, “It’s okay, don’t worry too much.”
“… …”
Ye Anping didn’t know what expression to make.
No one understood Pei Lengxue’s current condition better than he did. The weakness and inability to move were all caused by him.
All he could do was nod awkwardly and say, “Understood.”
Yun Yiyi tilted her head and smiled before turning serious again. Looking back at the reporting disciple, she said,
“Go to Central Peak and ask Elders Tian Xing and Elder Wu to come here. Tell them I have an urgent matter to discuss. Also… Martial Aunt Pei carries the legacy of the Sect Founder. Her health must not be treated with the slightest carelessness. Have Madam Zhang from Central Peak assist in looking after her.”
“Understood.”
The Shadowmoon Sword Sect disciple bowed and then left the garden, flying off on his sword.
Yun Yiyi exhaled softly and looked at Ye Anping as if she had something to say. However, noticing the remaining three disciples in the garden, she tactfully said,
“Young Master Ye, Jiujiu and the others probably don’t know about this yet. Come with me to tell them.”
Hearing the hint that Yun Yiyi had something private to discuss, Ye Anping took a deep breath, bracing himself, and nodded. He helped Yun Yiyi up from her cushion, and together, they left through the crescent gate of the rear garden, heading toward the main hall of the Yun Residence.
The two walked slowly along the residence’s covered walkways, lined with winter flowers in bloom. The air was filled with a faint, intoxicating aroma of wine.
Yun Yiyi led the way, and after crossing three walkways, she stopped. Seeing no servants nearby, she turned to face Ye Anping.
A cold breeze brushed her face, lifting a strand of golden hair.
Looking at Yun Yiyi’s faint smile, Ye Anping felt as though her expression was anything but genuine. She was likely angry about the drugging incident last night. Deciding to preempt any reprimand, he bowed and said,
“Young Mistress Yun, I ask for your forgiveness regarding last night. I didn’t mean any disrespect. Since we are not yet married, I felt it was inappropriate to act against proper decorum.”
Yun Yiyi pouted and complained,
“Then drugging me was proper decorum?”
Ye Anping had no retort and admitted, “It was not proper decorum either…”
“Then let’s call it even. I was improper to you, and you were improper to me,” Yun Yiyi said, shaking her head. Closing one eye, she added softly,
“Yesterday’s incident was my fault. Perhaps it’s because you’ve completely stolen my heart, making me act so foolishly.”
“… …”
Yun Yiyi stepped closer, stood on tiptoe, and reached her hands behind Ye Anping’s neck, pressing her chest against him. She smiled and said,
“Young Master Ye…”
Ye Anping awkwardly pulled his face back, feeling the impact of her “little melons.” He immediately visualized Feng Yudie’s face in his mind to maintain his composure.
“What is it?”
Still leaning against him, Yun Yiyi studied his face for a moment. Feeling no reaction against her, she concluded that Huang Quan’s words earlier must be true.
After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped back, letting her hands fall from his neck, and asked,
“Young Master Ye, I can tell that in your eyes, our engagement is just an alliance between our two sects—a transaction of sorts. You’re still thinking about Pei Lengxue, aren’t you?”
“… …”
Before Ye Anping could respond, Yun Yiyi pressed a finger to his lips and continued,
“Go to Xiri Peak to check on her later.”
“Young Mistress Yun—”
“You don’t need to come up with excuses or tell me anything about being my fiancé and how visiting another girl might be inappropriate,” Yun Yiyi interrupted. “Sister Pei is your childhood friend. She’s injured, so of course, you should visit her. I know you’re worried about her right now…”
Being interrupted again and again, Ye Anping was slightly annoyed, his lips curling downward.
“… …”
“Besides…” Yun Yiyi averted her gaze and added, “Sister Pei told me yesterday that you like to hit girls…”
What?
Are we seriously not letting this go?
Ye Anping opened his mouth slightly, hurriedly trying to explain:
“Young Mistress Yun, this is—”
Blushing, Yun Yiyi continued, “Sister Pei even said she likes being hit by you. Honestly… I’m kind of curious too. Why don’t you treat me the same way you treated her and… try those things on me?”
“That’s a misunderstanding,” Ye Anping said firmly.
“I’d rather trust Sister Pei than you. You’re so sly,” Yun Yiyi pouted, shaking her head. “The mask you wear in front of me—I saw through it a long time ago.”
“… …”
Yun Yiyi let out a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted.
She turned around, clasped her hands behind her back, and stretched upward. Then, twisting back to look at him, she smiled with narrowed eyes:
“I’ve been holding in those words for so long, and now that I’ve finally said them, I feel much better. Young Master Ye, don’t worry. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were the one I wanted to spend my life listening to music with.”
“Young Mistress Yun, I—”
“Alright, go on now. Sister Pei will be very happy to see you visit her,” Yun Yiyi said cheerfully.
Ye Anping’s lips twitched as he asked,
“Young Mistress Yun, could you at least let me finish my sentence?”
Yun Yiyi, not wanting to hear any polite refusals, immediately frowned and scolded:
“No! Hurry up and head to Xiri Peak. Soon, the elders will arrive, and I need to discuss with them and Yun Jiujiu how to break the seal on the forbidden grounds. For the next few days, just focus on keeping Sister Pei company while she recovers.”
Seeing that Yun Yiyi had finally finished speaking, Ye Anping quietly exhaled and began,
“Young Mistress Yun—”
But just as those words left his lips, a deafening explosion, like a clap of thunder, echoed from ahead, cutting him off once again.
Boom—!
Ye Anping felt his blood pressure spike. Gritting his teeth, he turned toward the source of the sound, only to see a cloud of smoke and dust as a small house collapsed into rubble.
A furious, high-pitched voice followed immediately:
“Feng Yu!! I swear to your ancestors!!! You dare lie to me?!”
“Jiujiu! Jiujiu! Wait! Wait~~~ Ow, ow, ow!!”
Clang—!
Boom—!!
The sudden commotion made Yun Yiyi flinch. She quickly glanced at Ye Anping before rushing alongside him toward the source of the noise.