Chapter 86

West Lake in Hangzhou is world-famous.

However, most people only know about the beautiful scenery in summer. Yang Wanli’s “The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green; the lotus flowers, bathed in sunlight, are a unique shade of red” perfectly captures the beauty of West Lake in June.

Little did they know that the beauty of West Lake is such that a sunny lake is not as beautiful as a rainy lake, a rainy lake is not as beautiful as a moonlit lake, and a moonlit lake is not as beautiful as a snowy lake…

Located in the Jiangnan region, Hangzhou experiences a short snow season each year, and heavy snowfalls are rare.

Once the lake is covered in snow, it creates a magnificent scene that is completely different from the usual scenery. The Broken Bridge in Snow is one of the famous Ten Scenes of West Lake.

Whenever the snow clears and the sun shines, looking west and north from the Broken Bridge, the buildings and terraces around Gushan and Geling appear as if they are covered with jade, crystal clear and possessing a cold and elegant beauty.

In such frigid weather, most people would just take a short walk around the lake and not stay for long. But today, a painted boat was slowly drifting on the lake, looking particularly lonely.

“Zheng…zheng…” Suddenly, the sound of a zither rang out from the exquisite painted boat. The sound was crisp and clear, like the tinkling of a spring, and serene, like an echo in a valley. In the snow-covered world, it sounded particularly ethereal.

The music slowly carried into the distance, quickly covering the entire West Lake.

If someone stands by the lake and listens with their eyes closed, they will feel as if the music is right next to them, and the person playing it is only a few feet away.

“This music…” Huang Zhonggong, who was playing the zither for his own amusement in Plum Manor, suddenly sat up, took a few steps up to the pavilion, and looked at the painted boat in the middle of the lake.

Although the remaining snow was like silver and the frozen lake was like ink, the music made people seem to see a scene of a hot summer day, with lotus flowers blooming and lotus leaves unfurling on the lake, and a gentle breeze blowing, creating ripples that were beautiful and moving.

“To be able to create such an atmosphere with the sound of the zither, this person’s zither skills must have reached a divine level! Moreover, being in the middle of the lake, yet being able to make the sound of the zither cover the entire West Lake, this skill alone is already astonishing!”

Huang Zhonggong closed his eyes, stroked his beard, and showed a look of amazement on his face.

Although he was over sixty years old and extremely thin, his eyes were bright and piercing, revealing his profound inner strength.

“Brother, you must have misheard!” a drunken voice rang out. “Hiccup… I refuse to believe there’s anyone in this world more skilled at playing the piano than you!”

“Fourth brother, you’ve been drinking too much again!”

Huang Zhonggong smiled and turned his head to look. A drunkard with a long beard reaching his belly was standing behind him, holding a jade cup that looked like it was dripping with emerald green. It was Danqingsheng, who loved wine as much as life and painting as much as life.

“Haha, brother, he didn’t just crave a cup, he craved a whole bucket!”

A short, stout, bald man in his fifties standing next to the drunkard said with a smile. He was holding a large brush in his right hand, and his clothes were covered in ink stains, as if he had just been writing.

“Third brother, you always spoil him like this!” Huang Zhonggong shook his head with a smile, then frowned as he glanced at him and asked, “Second brother went to the dungeon again?”

Bald-Brush Weng and Dan Qingsheng exchanged a glance but neither spoke.

“Alas…” Huang Zhonggong sighed and shook his head, saying, “To try and get something from a tiger is wishful thinking!”

At this moment, the music coming from the lake also slowly came to an end.

Huang Zhonggong turned his head and looked into the distance, where he saw the painted boat drifting away.

“I really wanted to have a good talk with him…” Huang Zhonggong murmured to himself, his eyes filled with regret.

********************

“Are you sure this will get us into Plum Manor?” Ren Yingying asked softly.

Although it was a bitterly cold winter outside, the pleasure boat was warm and cozy.

Not only were the doors and windows completely covered by thick curtains, preventing even a breath of wind from getting in, but the stove burning with silver frost charcoal made people feel so comfortable that they wanted to sleep.

She held a teacup in her hands, her exquisitely beautiful face flushed slightly.

Today, as she listened closely to Nie Yun playing the zither, she once again fell into a state of complete absorption.

However, although she acknowledged that Nie Yun’s musical skills were unparalleled, she still had some doubts about whether this plan to lure the snake out of its hole would work.

“That Huang Zhonggong is obsessed with music. Now that he has heard my zither playing, he must be itching to play it!”

Nie Yun downed his fragrant tea in one gulp, a confident smile spreading across his face. “Tomorrow I’ll play another piece of ‘Guangling San,’ which Xiang Wentian got, and the day after that, you and I will play ‘The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.’ I don’t believe he can sit still then! Let alone him, if it were you, wouldn’t you want to get to know this mysterious zither player when you hear my music?”

“Are you saying my zither skills are inferior to Huang Zhonggong’s?” Ren Yingying pouted slightly, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

“No, no…” Nie Yun shook his head and denied it. After Ren Yingying smiled, he continued, “After all, in my opinion, neither of you is very good. It’s not a matter of who is better or worse.”

Ren Yingying was furious at these words. She walked up to Nie Yun with a face full of shame and anger, glaring at him fiercely.

“Ahem…” Nie Yun coughed lightly and said in a serious tone, “Of course, my wife’s zither skills far surpass those of that old geezer. When she plays, her music is as beautiful as flowing clouds and water, it’s simply heavenly music that can only be heard in the celestial palace!”

“Pfft…” Ren Yingying couldn’t help but laugh, and gently slapped Nie Yun, saying, “Who’s your wife? You’re shameless!”

“I wasn’t talking about you.”

Nie Yun glanced at her sideways, “Don’t forget that you’d rather commit suicide than marry me. Look, I still have the scar on my hand!”

As he spoke, he raised his right hand, revealing two hideous scars on it, the wounds he had inflicted when he tried to seize Ren Yingying’s short sword.

Ren Yingying was so angry at his first sentence that she wanted to kill him, but when she heard him talk about the unforgettable thing that happened to her, and saw the two scars, she couldn’t help but tremble and couldn’t say anything.

Although the wound has healed considerably, she can still seem to smell a trace of blood.

“Are you… still in pain?” After a long silence, Ren Yingying gently held his hand and asked. At this moment, the shyness on her face had disappeared, replaced by a look of heartache.

“It definitely still hurts a little, but with you holding my hand like this, it feels like I’m not injured at all!” Nie Yun said with a grin, as he tightly grasped her slender hand in return.

“You…you let go!” Caught off guard, Ren Yingying blushed, her fair face flushed, looking stunningly beautiful.

“Don’t move, it’s so cold, let me warm you up!” Nie Yun ignored her struggles, lifted her little hand and blew warm air on it.

“How can you be so domineering!” Ren Yingying struggled a few times but couldn’t break free, so she had no choice but to let him hold her hand. The blush on her face spread from her ears all the way to her snow-white neck.

“If I weren’t domineering, I wouldn’t dare marry you, Holy Maiden!” Nie Yun laughed.

Ren Yingying listened to Nie Yun’s teasing words, but she was not as embarrassed or annoyed as she had been the previous times.

She turned to look at the lake view outside the window and said softly, “You are the leader of the Huashan Sect, and I am the Holy Maiden of the Sun Moon Sect, and also the daughter of the former sect leader. We are irreconcilable enemies, and there is an unresolved blood feud between us. Why do you have to say such pointless things!”

“What’s wrong? Did the incident involving Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang scare you?” Nie Yun raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

“The feuds of the martial world never end. Do you really think you can stay out of it?” Ren Yingying said softly, her voice tinged with weariness.

“Indeed, wherever there are people, there are grudges; wherever there are grudges, there is a world of intrigue. As long as human greed persists, this kind of thing will never end!”

Nie Yun also sighed, “Yingying, you must have been tired of the intrigue and power struggles within your Sun Moon Sect, which is why you left Blackwood Cliff and went into seclusion in Luoyang City. But there are many things you can’t avoid!”

“Yes, there’s no escaping it…” Ren Yingying murmured to herself, a blank look on her face.

“Yingying, have you ever thought about what your father will do after he returns to the martial arts world?” Nie Yun suddenly asked.

“This…” Ren Yingying hesitated for a moment, then said with certainty, “He will definitely stir up a bloodbath, first killing Dongfang Bubai to unify the Divine Sect, and then…”

She glanced at Nie Yun, sighed, and continued, “To dominate the martial arts world!”

“Dominate the martial arts world? You’d better advise him to give up that idea!” Nie Yun took the longsword, slowly drew it, and then suddenly shoved it back into its sheath. “If I can rescue him, I can send him back!”

He turned to look at Ren Yingying, still smiling, but his eyes were cold.

Ren Yingying suddenly shivered, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

The two stared at each other for a long time, and Ren Yingying suddenly became a little excited.

“Is being king and dominating so important to you men? To the point of sacrificing everything?” Ren Yingying shouted. “Is there nothing else in your eyes besides power?”

“No, dominating the martial arts world is the most boring thing in the world to me. For me, living a happy life with the woman I love is what I want most. If my master hadn’t entrusted the Huashan Sect to me before he died, I would have found a beautiful place to live a carefree life long ago. Why would I still be causing trouble in the martial arts world?”

Nie Yun approached Yaoqin and gently plucked the strings. “In this life, one can’t just seek personal happiness; one must also have responsibilities. As the saying goes, ‘If you’re not ruthless, you can’t stand firm.’ There are many things I don’t want to do, but I have no choice but to do.”

He looked at Ren Yingying, who seemed lost in thought because of his words, and said affectionately, “I just want to protect the beauty that I cherish in my heart, and that is you, Yingying…”

Ren Yingying blushed slightly and said somewhat awkwardly, “You…you’re talking nonsense again!”

However, although she said that, she felt like she had met a kindred spirit.

She disliked worldly troubles, otherwise she wouldn’t have chosen to live in seclusion anonymously.

Back then, Linghu Chong was a middle-aged man, seriously injured and on the verge of death. The reason he resonated with her was because they were the same kind of people at heart.

Now, hearing Nie Yun’s words and knowing that he, like herself, was not a power-hungry person, Ren Yingying’s goodwill towards him grew even stronger.

Nie Yun smiled slightly, placed his hands on the strings, and said, “Yingying, let me teach you a song!” Before Ren Yingying could agree, he began to pluck the strings.

Ren Yingying was stunned for a moment, but was quickly drawn to the song Nie Yun was singing.

“Her beauty is so captivating that fish sink and geese fall from the sky, so enchanting that the moon hides and flowers blush. To have her by one’s side is like basking in the spring sunshine; even death would be without regret…”

Li Lifen’s “Irresistible Love” played in the cabin. The straightforward lyrics made Ren Yingying blush and her heart race. She felt a little dizzy, as if she had drunk a glass of strong liquor.

After singing the last line, “Let me hold the beauty in my arms—”, Nie Yun looked at Ren Yingying and chuckled, “How was this song?”

Ren Yingying looked at him, her eyes seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words.

“Did you write this song?” she asked hesitantly.

“This song is called ‘Irresistible Love,’ is it nice?” Nie Yun took her small hand and gently kissed it.

“Ah!” Ren Yingying felt as if Nie Yun’s lips were on fire, as if they were about to burn the back of her hand.

She tried to pull away, but Nie Yun held her tightly and pulled her into his arms.

“Let go… What are you doing… Let go… Hmm… No… Ugh… Hmm…” Ren Yingying’s shy voice quickly turned into a low moan, sounding as if something had covered her mouth.

A few murmurs drifted from the pleasure boat, only to be scattered by a gust of cold wind…

********************

“Hey, Brother Nie, what happened to your face?” Xiang Wentian asked curiously when he saw Nie Yun’s face was red and looked a little swollen.

“Hehe…” Nie Yun touched his face and said nonchalantly, “It’s probably a mosquito bite, it’s nothing, it’ll be gone in a bit.”

“Where did these mosquitoes come from in the dead of winter?” Xiang Wentian was completely baffled.

“That’s right, the female mosquitoes in Hangzhou are really fierce! Yingying, remember to bring a mosquito repellent sachet tomorrow.” Nie Yun’s words almost made Ren Yingying, who was about to walk into the house, twist her ankle.

She turned around, her beautiful eyes filled with a mixture of shyness and anger as she looked at Nie Yun, and said coldly, “You deserve it, I’d rather bite you to death!” With that, she slammed the door shut.

“Brother Nie, you and Miss…” Xiang Wentian guessed something, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

“Old Xiang, do you know why Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of Wudang, lived so long?” Nie Yun patted Xiang Wentian on the shoulder and asked.

“Master Zhang possesses profound internal strength, and has cultivated his character and temperament for many years…”

Before he could finish speaking, Nie Yun interrupted him, saying, “Because he doesn’t concern himself with other people’s business!” With that, he turned and went into his room, leaving Xiang Wentian looking sullen.

********************

“This piece of music is tragic and stirring, generous and heroic, with a strong sense of killing intent. It can be called a famous piece of music throughout the ages, so why have I never heard it before?”

Upon hearing the zither music coming from the painted boat again, Huang Zhonggong’s expression changed, and he walked up to the pavilion.

“Could it be…could it be the Guangling San that has been completely lost since Ji Kang’s death…” A thought suddenly flashed through Huang Zhonggong’s mind, making him very excited. Thinking of this, he immediately wanted to go to the lake to invite the person playing the zither, but he hesitated again just as he was about to set off.

He thought of Ren Woxing, who was imprisoned in the dungeon, and his expression changed repeatedly, but in the end it turned into a look of melancholy.

“Alas… They say they are free and unrestrained, but with that person here, there is not a day without fear. How can they compare to the carefree joy of this zither player!”

Huang Zhonggong sighed, looking at the painted boat with envy in his eyes.

********************

“I reckon he’s getting restless right now. Let’s rest tomorrow and play ‘The Smiling, Proud Wanderer’ again the day after. He’ll definitely invite us to Plum Manor then.”

After Nie Yun finished playing the piece, he spoke to Ren Yingying, who was deliberately sitting at a distance.

“snort!”

Ren Yingying rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, “Then why did you ask me to come out today?”

Today, she not only sat far away from Nie Yun, but also wore a veil and a bamboo hat to completely cover her face.

“Isn’t it just that seeing you makes me feel good?”

Nie Yun approached her, his eyes filled with deep affection. “Working together makes the dream easier. When husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can break metal. With you by my side, I can play so freely and easily. Otherwise, if I’m here but my heart is constantly thinking of you, my celestial maiden, how could I possibly play well!”

Ren Yingying felt a sweet warmth in her heart, but her face still looked angry. “Don’t think that you can make me forgive you just because you say a few nice words. Yesterday you dared to… dared to…” Her pretty face flushed slightly, and the shyness in her heart made her unable to continue speaking, so she turned her head to the side.

“After I rescue my father, I will definitely settle the score with you!” The beautiful girl tried to make her tone fierce, but it was like a kitten that hadn’t been weaned yet bristling, which only made people more lovable.

After Ren Yingying finished speaking, she didn’t hear a reply from Nie Yun. She turned her head in confusion and saw Nie Yun looking at her with a smug smile on his lips.

“What…what are you looking at?” Ren Yingying awkwardly tugged at her clothes.

“Now that you’re listening to me say that husband and wife are of one mind, you don’t even disagree. It seems you’ve already agreed to marry me!” Nie Yun’s leisurely words made Ren Yingying jump up as if she were on fire.

“Pah! You’re delusional! I would never marry a scoundrel like you!” Her face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed, and her chest heaved violently, the full curves making Nie Yun’s eyes burn even hotter.

Using the same old tricks, Nie Yun once again channeled his domineering CEO persona, this time not only using words but also his hands.

“Mmm…no…Nie Yun, let go…ah!” However, Ren Yingying’s reserve and shyness made her react immediately the moment her breasts were touched, and she pushed Nie Yun away.

“Where are you touching?” She took a few steps back, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared at Nie Yun with murderous intent.

Nie Yun shrugged, put his hand in front of his nose and took a light sniff, a look of infatuation on his face.

“Nie—Yun—” Ren Yingying’s forehead veins bulged, and the string of reason in her mind snapped instantly. She drew her short sword and stabbed at Nie Yun.

The cat-and-mouse game of chasing and escaping lasted for a long time, and finally ended with Ren Yingying panting and Nie Yun unharmed.

“Huff…huff…huff…you…you’re not…you’re not a man, all you do is…hide!”

Ren Yingying’s bamboo hat and veil had long since fallen to the ground, and her beautiful face was covered with beads of sweat, as red as the sunset.

Her long dress was somewhat disheveled, and even the neckline had become a bit too wide, revealing her fair and radiant skin.

Unlike her usual quiet and aloof demeanor, Ren Yingying’s captivating charm ignited a fire within Nie Yun. He licked his lips and said, “If you keep tempting me like this, I’ll show you whether I’m a man or not!”

Ren Yingying followed his gaze, exclaimed in surprise, and quickly dodged far away, wrapping herself tightly in her cloak.

Nie Yun’s face flushed red. He took a few deep breaths and quickly turned and walked out of the cabin.

“I’m going to cool off!” His voice came through the curtain into the cabin, sounding somewhat muffled.

Ren Yingying sat in the chair, biting her lower lip tightly, her pretty face full of shame, but also mixed with a hint of joy.

“Although he’s glib all the time, he’s actually quite a gentleman at heart. He’s definitely the kind of person who can play such beautiful music. If we play the qin and xiao together the day after tomorrow…” The beautiful girl smiled as she thought of something.

“Like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, the strategy is to let it go first before catching it. Eating you on this cold boat in this weather must be so unbearable!”

Looking at the calm lake, Nie Yun’s previously feigned restraint was no longer visible. “The beauty has fallen into the trap, and the father-in-law has been framed. Ren Woxing, you can prepare to be your leader on the road to the Yellow Springs!”