Running to the street, I couldn't stop replaying A Li's word "will" in my mind.
Though it was just a single word, it felt like a deeply etched感动 imprinted on my heart.
I kept guessing.
"Does A Li like me as much as I like him?"
"Is A Li willing too?"
"But he never said anything."
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel happy, skipping and humming all the way.
"I love you, you love me."
Unknowingly, I had already passed the city gates.
Walking all the way, I arrived at the moat outside the city.
Following the river upstream, I didn't know what month it was.
The flowers on the bank were still blooming so passionately.
Excitedly, I squatted by the river, looking at my reflection in the water.
I couldn't help but smile foolishly again, casually picking a water plant to play with the surface of the water.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew, causing ripples on the calm lake.
A yellowed peach leaf fell into the mirror-like water with the wind.
My reflection blurred into two figures, and I was startled, turning my head.
It was Dao Lang and Fei Xiong. I exclaimed in surprise.
"You're back!"
Dao Lang smiled slightly and took a flower as red as flame from behind him, handing it to me.
"For you."
"Huh?"
I took the flower with surprise and looked at it carefully.
It looked like a red rose and a peony. I asked curiously.
"What kind of flower is this?"
"This is called Ten Mile Red."
"Ten Mile Red?"
What a strange name.
Fei Xiong explained.
"Ten Mile Red refers to its color, as red as blood, and as beautiful as a spring painting.
It can be seen even from ten miles away."
"So that's how it got its name."
Fei Xiong looked around and saw that I was alone. He asked doubtfully.
"Mu Ye, why are you here alone?"
I couldn't possibly tell him that I ran out because of A Li.
If they heard it, they would laugh their heads off, so I said.
"I, I, I came out to clear my head. Oh, how come you two are here too?"
I retorted.
"To be honest, we were also invited to investigate the matter of the Ten Thousand Ghost King.
It's just that we brothers are used to freedom and can't stand others bossing us around.
So we refused, and after that, we lived as carefree wanderers.
We roamed for some time before returning."
Dao Lang was a straightforward person and told me the whole story of their presence.
"Do you have a place to stay?"
I thought they could stay with us.
Fei Xiong chuckled.
"We've returned this time at the invitation of the owner of Qian Ji Hall.
We should be staying at Qian Ji Hall."
"That's good. A Li, Liu Shi Nian, and I, along with a young master A Da, are staying at an inn on the long street.
Let me take you to find them."
"We must go to Qian Ji Hall to see Young Master Jin now. We'll find you later."
Dao Lang said.
"Alright then."
Although a little disappointed, I had no choice.
Fei Xiong smiled heartily.
"Hurry back, don't stay out alone."
I acknowledged him, and after parting ways with them, I happily returned to the inn.
Liu Shi Nian poked his head out and saw me, who had been out for a long time, returning happily and skipping.
Quickly, he sidled up to me and asked.
"Have you decided? Who are you marrying, or do you want them all?"
I turned and flicked him on the head.
"Ouch, what are you doing?"
Liu Shi Nian clutched his head and said indignantly.
"You, you always think of useless things.
Look at you, you have so many beautiful women pursuing you.
Why do you keep bothering me all day?"
Liu Shi Nian replied disdainfully.
"So what? It doesn't make a difference whether you're here or not."
"Shameless!"
"Curse all you want, you'll regret it if you anger me."
"Speechless."
At this moment, he suddenly noticed the Ten Mile Red I was holding.
He squinted and guessed, then remembered.
"This Liu Mu Ye, he went out for a while and came back with a flower given by someone else.
He's quite the player, more flirtatious than me."
Seeing his ill-intentioned gaze, I quietly moved aside.
He snatched the flower from me and demanded.
"Who gave it to you?"
"Give it back!"
I pounced to grab it, but he raised his hand and refused.
"Tell me who gave it to you, and I'll give it back."
"Who else could it be? Give it back to me!"
Liu Shi Nian looked at me with disdain and accused me.
"Liu Mu Ye, Liu Mu Ye, I never thought you were this kind of person.
First, the gentle young master from Qian Ji Hall, then a stranger from the roadside.
And now, which man is it? Are you worthy of A Li?"
"I'm telling you, don't talk nonsense, or I'll..."
"Or what? You can't say it, can you? I guessed it right, which wild man was it?"
"It's none of your business."
I jumped slightly, snatched the Ten Mile Red back, and ignored him.
I walked straight to A Li, smiling sweetly and said.
"Guess who I just met?"
"It must be an acquaintance."
A Li guessed seriously.
"You guessed right, I met Dao Lang and Fei Xiong."
Hearing this, A Li was also full of surprise.
"Really? They've been gone for a while, and they're finally back."
"Yes, they're very busy, unlike Liu Shi Nian, who only knows how to eat and be lazy.
Doing nothing, looking so slovenly.
I really don't know how he gets by."
As I spoke, I continued to talk about Liu Shi Nian.
"Oh, I know, it must have been Dao Lang who gave it to you.
No wonder you didn't say anything, you two must have a secret."
Liu Shi Nian suddenly interjected. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"I warn you, don't talk nonsense."
"I'm so scared, tsk tsk tsk, Liu Mu Ye, your taste is getting worse and worse."
"Even if it is, it's better than yours.
Lazy, talkative, full of lies, shameless and vulgar."
Liu Shi Nian listened to my evaluation of him and was indignant.
"Hey, hey, hey, am I that bad in your heart?
But you can't blame me entirely.
If someone took care of me, doted on me, and loved me,
I would also become a distinguished young master like Jin Yu Lan."
"You still want someone to support you, dream on, pfft!"
"You pfft, I pfft too, pfft!"
"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
We started bickering again, while A Li and A Da watched helplessly from the side.
This kind of scene was almost always playing out.
This time, they remained silent as before, pretending not to hear anything.
At night, a gentle breeze arose.
Liu Shi Nian lay on the bed, tossing and turning, thinking about Zhang Tianshi and the Ten Thousand Ghost King.
"The Ten Thousand Ghost King was difficult to deal with when he was alive, and he's still difficult to deal with after death.
I wonder if Tianshi can return safely this time.
It's likely that the four cities will send another wave of people to investigate in the next few days.
Mu Ye,哼, that old woman, it's best if she can't go back.
When I run out of money, I'll sell her to a wealthy family as a concubine.
Hahaha, then let's see what she says to me."
Thinking of this, Liu Shi Nian couldn't help but laugh, pulled up the covers, and said happily.
"Sleepy, sleepy, it's best not to dream of that old woman.
My Xue Ji is so much better, Xue Ji, here I come."
Even his sleep was so lewd and greasy that Xue Ji would tremble.
A Li rested his head on his hands, reminiscing about the happy days.
He also thought of Nanshan, the little civet cats on Nanshan, the village chief and the elders.
Although the village chief appeared fierce on the surface, he was actually a thoughtful and considerate person.
It had been a long time since Mu Ye left Nanshan.
I wondered how Nanshan was doing now, and if the little civet cats had grown a bit.
Thinking of Mu Ye leaving soon, he couldn't help but sigh again.
I thought about what happened during the day and wondered if A Li would say anything touching in his sleep.
So I secretly went out and put my ear to the door, trying to eavesdrop.
However, it was so quiet inside that I could only hear the wind. It seemed A Li didn't talk much in his sleep.
"Miss, aren't you sleeping yet?"
A sudden sound startled me, and I stood frozen at the door, my heart pounding.
"Miss, what are you doing here so late?"
I looked closely and saw that it was just a passing waiter.
I quietly wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, relieved that it wasn't Liu Shi Nian.
If he found out, it would be another war of words.
I waved my hand and said.
"Nothing, nothing, just taking a stroll, just taking a stroll."
Saying that, I quickly returned to my room.
The waiter scratched his head and wondered.
"How strange, walking around and ending up at someone else's door."
Shaking his head helplessly, he went downstairs.
I lay in bed and smiled foolishly again.
The next morning, as Liu Shi Nian had thought the night before.
Early in the morning, Jin Yu Lan sent someone to invite us to Qian Ji Hall.
"Young Master Liu, Young Master A Da, Young Master A Li, Miss Mu Ye.
My young master invites you!"
A voice called out from outside the door.
"My young master invites you!"
A Li rubbed his eyes and woke up from his sleep, constantly hearing the phrase.
"My young master invites you!"
He asked loudly in confusion.
"Who is it?"
But the person only replied.
"My young master invites you!"
Damn it, it's like meeting a broken record early in the morning.
He rubbed his eyes, got up, and went to the door.
He opened it, and saw several people dressed in luxurious clothes,
Standing respectfully in the corridor, they called out loudly.
"Our young master invites you!"
"Alright, stop shouting, we heard you."
He was uncharacteristically annoyed.
We also pushed open our doors one by one. Seeing that we were all awake,
They stopped shouting.
I rubbed my eyes and looked at the people in front of me, asking doubtfully.
"What are you doing so early in the morning, are you calling spirits?"
The person at the front said.
"Our young master invites you all to Qian Ji Hall."
"Qian Ji Hall? Did Young Master Jin send you?"
I suddenly became energetic.
"Yes."
Liu Shi Nian said speechlessly.
"He's really something, sending people to call us so early, and not hiring professionals."
A Da rubbed his eyes and said.
"Boss Jin sent people to call us, probably because he has news about Zhang Tianshi."
A Da's words were like a wake-up call.
A Li also said.
"If that's the case, we should go and see."
I naturally walked to A Li's side, yawned,
And grabbed his hand, leading him downstairs.
Liu Shi Nian hurriedly shouted from behind.
"Where are you going?"
"To Qian Ji Hall."
"Hey, wait for me, don't just grab A Li."
He shamelessly ran downstairs, grabbed my hand, and said.
"What are you doing!"
I looked at him in panic.
He smugly raised my hand and said.
"Let's go together."
A Da also caught up.
"I'll go too."
Saying that, he grabbed Liu Shi Nian's hand, like a chain.
I was speechless.
"Is this really okay?"
"What's not okay? Look, how good our relationship is, the four of us."
Saying that, Liu Shi Nian swung the hands of me and A Da.
A Li looked sideways and smiled helplessly.
The messengers walking behind us couldn't help but gossip.
"Are they always like this?"
"It seems so."
"But I don't think it's very appropriate."
"You're not the only one who thinks so."
They looked to the side, at the pedestrians on the street.
They all cast what I imagined to be glances at such bold behavior.
Upon arriving at Qian Ji Hall, Jin Yu Lan personally came down to greet us.
Before we even got close, he saw this confusing scene.
When he got closer, he chuckled and teased.
"You guys are so loving."
I broke free from Liu Shi Nian's hand and said.
"Sort of, but not that exaggerated."
Liu Shi Nian said sheepishly.
"I just came on impulse today.
By the way, did you call us here because of Zhang Tianshi?"
"Yes, and for some other matters."
"What matters?"
"You'll know when you go up. This council meeting is being held in Qian Ji Pavilion."
"Qian Ji Pavilion?"
Qian Ji Pavilion was the place where Qian Ji Hall held important meetings.
It seemed that Zhang Tianshi and his party were likely in grave danger.
We followed Jin Yu Lan to Qian Ji Pavilion on the top floor.
This time, unlike last time, everyone present in Qian Ji Pavilion was an acquaintance.
Jin Yu Lan faced everyone and slowly took out a small piece of paper from his怀, saying to us.
"I called you here today because there are some things I need to tell you.
Yesterday, I received a flying letter from Tianshi.
The letter said that they were trapped in the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest and could not escape for the time being.
Hoping someone could come to their rescue."
"Ten Thousand Ghost Forest!"
Liu Shi Nian was a little excited, then said.
"I won't go."
Jin Yu Lan ignored him and continued.
"For this operation, we need to form a rescue team to go and save them."
Dao Lang, as an experienced江湖 figure, was also apprehensive about the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest.
The terror of the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest was well-known. He worried.
"The Ten Thousand Ghost Forest is a famous maze forest. Legend has it that no one can get out of it.
Moreover, so many experts have gotten lost in the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest.
If we go, aren't we just sending ourselves to our deaths?"
Jin Yu Lan, however, was confident. He leisurely opened his fan and began to sip his tea.
Then, he said unhurriedly.
"There is one person who can lead you out."
Everyone was puzzled. They had never heard of anyone with such great ability.
He closed his fan and pointed directly at me.
I thought he had pointed at the wrong person and moved left and right.
However, he remained steadfast in his pointing.
Liu Shi Nian couldn't help but laugh at his choice.
"Hahaha, when did your taste become so bad?
You just point at anyone and expect them to handle such an important task."
"This matter cannot be accomplished by anyone but her."
Jin Yu Lan replied with certainty.
I smiled sheepishly and waved my hand.
"I can't do it, I often get lost."
"Mu Ye is different from others. Don't look at her usual lack of expression.
But her intelligence and wisdom are no less than anyone else present."
Seeing him praise me so much, I felt a little embarrassed and said.
"No, no, these are just small tricks, not worthy of being presented to the public."
"This matter can only be accomplished by Mu Ye.
Only with her can everyone have a glimmer of hope."
I waved my hand and said.
"I can't do it, I don't know anything."
"Mu Ye, you can do it."
No matter what I said, Jin Yu Lan was convinced that I could handle this important task.
Without giving me a chance to refute, he directly said.
"You are the most suitable candidate. I appoint you as the leader of the rescue team.
You are responsible for safely bringing back all lost personnel."
Everyone present was shocked by his words.
From any perspective, she seemed like an ordinary, weak woman with no strength to even tie a chicken.
They all wondered what he was up to.