“Young Master Song, were you looking for me?” Qin Junyue’s voice carried a hint of guilt.
Her gaze lingered on Song Ning’s face for a moment before quickly shifting away.
It fell on the thin blanket over his shoulders, his slightly messy hair, and his hand resting on the edge of the table.
She had held that hand last night.
Song Ning nodded, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Have a seat. I want to talk to you; it’s been a while since we last chatted.” His tone was casual, as if he were greeting an old friend who visited frequently.
Xia Ling answered and moved a chair to the opposite side of the tea table, then went to fetch the tea set.
Xia Shuang walked over and gently held Song Ning’s arm, helping him up from the lounger and guiding him to sit at the table.
Song Ning’s hand rested on her arm, his fingertips pressing down slightly as he used her for support to sit firmly. Then, he let go.
Xia Ling began to pour the tea.
“It was Young Master Song’s wedding,” Qin Junyue said as she sat down. “I haven’t come by recently because of that.”
A look of loneliness flickered in her eyes. One night of passion was, after all, only one night.
In the many days to come, Song Ning would still belong to Qi Chuyao. He would never belong to her, Qin Junyue.
He would eat with Qi Chuyao, talk with her, live with her, and grow old with her.
And she could only sit in a guest’s seat like today, drink a cup of tea, say a few words, and then leave.
She looked up at Song Ning and silently thought to herself, ‘I really want to be with you. If only I could be with you.’
She had repeated this sentence to herself for many years, all the way until today.
Song Ning smiled faintly and placed his teacup on the table.
“It’s no matter. You said my lecturing was of great use to you, so come whenever you like. After all, we’ve known each other for a long time.”
In truth, he didn’t understand much about Martial Arts or Internal Power.
He was simply retold the principles from the History Books, Buddhist Sutras, and Taoist Canon he had read in his previous life, using the language of this world.
Qin Junyue listened intently every time. Afterward, she would always ask follow-up questions and even transcribe what he said.
She claimed those things helped the flow of her Internal Power. He didn’t know if it was true or not, but since she said so, he believed her.
Qin Junyue lowered her head and sipped her tea.
Indeed, it had been a long time. The older boy she had looked up to as a child was now married.
And she had also grown up.
That was all many years ago.
Qi Chuyao sat to the side, the sweet residue of a candied hawthorn still in her mouth, her cheeks slightly puffed out.
She looked at Song Ning, then at Qin Junyue, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
“What lecturing?” she interjected. “How come I didn’t know about this?”
She had only recently discovered that her husband seemed to have quite a few secrets.
As a blind man who stayed in the manor all day, never going out or seeing guests, he seemed to know everything.
Even her mother came to discuss matters with him. Now, even Junyue had this “lecturing” business with him, yet as his legitimate wife, she knew nothing at all.
Qin Junyue gave Qi Chuyao a somewhat awkward smile.
She didn’t want Qi Chuyao to know anything about her and Song Ning.
She wished she could hide everything from Qi Chuyao so she could keep Song Ning all to herself.
Those moments spent lecturing, those papers covered in writing, those afternoons where it was just the two of them — these were hers.
Song Ning, however, was frank as he explained, “Junyue likes some of my lecturing. She says it’s beneficial to her Martial Arts and Internal Power, so I often speak to her.”
“If it’s inconvenient, I’ll write some down for her.”
He didn’t understand Martial Arts or Internal Power, but Qin Junyue was always incredibly grateful after each session. He assumed it really was useful to her.
“You’re useful to her martial arts?” Qi Chuyao looked as if she had heard something incredible, doubting if there was something wrong with her ears.
A blind man lecturing a Second-Rank Martial Artist, and it was actually useful? What was this nonsense?
Qin Junyue nodded sheepishly at Qi Chuyao and quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the matter.
“Young Master Song, you had Ling call for me,” she began. “Is there something urgent?”
“Xia Shuang,” Song Ning called out. “Give it to her.”
Xia Shuang took a letter from her robes, stepped forward, and handed it to Qin Junyue.
Song Ning’s expression turned solemn.
“I have already consulted my mother and your mother-in-law regarding the matters in this letter.”
“They both agreed. Just follow the instructions. This letter must never be seen by anyone else, do you understand?”
Qin Junyue took the letter. The moment her fingers touched the paper, a warm current rushed through her heart.
He had indeed entrusted such an important task to her.
Qi Chuyao sat by the side, watching their mysterious behavior. Her curiosity turned into annoyance.
What letter? What matters? What couldn’t be seen by others? She was his legitimate wife, so why was she being treated like an outsider?
“What is it?” she grumbled, reaching out to grab the letter. “Can’t I see it right here? What’s the big deal?”
Before her fingers could touch the paper, Qin Junyue suddenly snatched the letter back into her robes.
Qi Chuyao’s fingers caught only thin air.
Without even looking at her, Qin Junyue solemnly tucked the letter inside her garment, pressing it against her chest.
It rested right next to the blood-stained handkerchief from last night.
Then, she stood up, walked in front of Song Ning, and dropped to one knee. She cupped her hands in a respectful salute, looking up at Song Ning’s face.
His face looked exceptionally handsome and refined under the sunlight.
As she gazed up at him, a wave of inexplicable emotion suddenly surged within her.
She knew.
She knew clearly that her Essence Blood had already flowed into his body.
When that wisp of Essence Blood left her body, she felt as if something from deep within had been drawn out, carrying her warmth, her scent, and her life, entering another person’s body to merge with him.
It was her first time, and his too.
Qi Chuyao knew nothing.
Qin Junyue knelt there, looking up at him.
“Young Master Song.”
“Rest assured. As long as you entrust a task to me, Qin Junyue, even if it means being ground to dust or crossing a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, I will not hesitate.”
Her voice echoed through the quiet courtyard.
“Trust me, and I shall not fail you.”
“Whatever you ask me to do, I will do it. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west. If you tell me to keep a secret, I will take it to my grave; I won’t tell a soul, no matter who asks.”
Her gaze never wavered from Song Ning’s face.
“Through a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, I would die 10,000 deaths without regret.”
The courtyard fell deathly silent.
Qi Chuyao was stunned, her mouth slightly agape and her beautiful eyes wide.
She rubbed her eyes.
She truly doubted if she was even awake.
Was she stuck in a dream? Was this really her good friend, Qin Junyue?
Kneeling before her husband, saying those things.
Ground to dust, mountain of blades, sea of fire, dying 10,000 deaths without regret.
Qi Chuyao’s mind went blank. She opened her mouth to say something, but not a single word would come out.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.