Chapter 73: The Flower and the Sword
After Gu Hanshuang left, the two of them naturally did not stay long. They soon returned to the city and found a place to stay temporarily. Mingyan did not hide his whereabouts because, according to his judgment, as long as Jade Peony knew he had appeared, she would definitely come looking for him.
As expected, it wasn’t long before she appeared.
Her movements were like a ghost. She appeared in the courtyard where he was staying.
He was brewing a pot of clear tea in the courtyard, waiting for her. After she walked in, she came over with a light laugh.
“Brother Ming.”
“Celestial Yu.” He nodded lightly, poured her a cup of tea, and pushed it towards her.
She was not polite. After taking it and taking a light sip, she put it down. “Brother Ming was outside the city before?”
“Yes, I only entered the city after I learned that you had arrived, because I knew that as long as I entered the city, you would find me,” he nodded, took a light sip of the tea in his cup, and said, “I heard that Gu Hanshuang has also arrived.”
“Yes, she and I had a face-to-face,” she shook her head. “But it was still not very pleasant. There is no room for reconciliation between us. Actually, if we could not be enemies, I would be happy to be at leisure.”
“I don’t really believe you when you say that, Celestial Yu,” he said with a half-smile. She had said she wanted to make Gu Hanshuang her “property.” For her to say “we could not be enemies” now…
Jade Peony’s smile was gentle. “After all, having her as an enemy is a headache. Sometimes I also think about what it would be like if we weren’t enemies. Of course, if I have the chance, I’m still very willing to bring her over to be your slave, Brother Ming~ The kind that surrenders completely.”
Saying such things with a gentle smile and a friendly tone.
Women, they are really complicated, he sighed inwardly. Unless necessary, he really didn’t want to get too close to this kind of woman. It was too tiring. He had to guess what she was thinking and also find ways to maintain his initiative to avoid being at a disadvantage in their relationship and then being used by her.
He chuckled lightly and shook his head. “To make Celestial Gu my slave, I’m afraid I would be retaliated against.”
“There’s always a way. For example, planting a slave mark on her or something, giving her a reason she can’t refuse, wouldn’t that be enough?” Jade Peony’s smile was brilliant. “Think about it, the proud and arrogant Gu Hanshuang, although her heart is not convinced, she has to completely obey you, a face full of entanglement and unwillingness, but her body is very honest, can only honestly serve you, can only honestly protect you. Such a slave, I believe countless people would be moved. Don’t you think so, Brother Ming?”
If possible, he didn’t want that kind of physical submission without the heart’s willingness. If he really wanted to make her a slave, he would have to make her do it willingly.
To make such a proud person willingly give everything, that would be…
Why am I thinking about this? He came back to his senses without showing it. Sin, oh sin.
“Celestial Yu, it’s better not to say such things. But, compared to Gu Hanshuang, I do prefer to get along with you. If I have to choose someone to cooperate with, I hope it’s you, not her,” his tone was steady. Hearing this, her eyes moved slightly, and a smile spread across her lips.
“Gu Hanshuang’s personality is indeed a bit arrogant. She doesn’t know how to talk or how to behave,” she said with a smile, then paused, her brow furrowing slightly, and she sighed softly. “But Brother Ming has said that you don’t want Gu Hanshuang to know about our relationship. I won’t force you. I’ve said before, I won’t make it difficult for you.”
…He sighed inwardly. Although Gu Hanshuang was not lacking in her own thoughts and schemes, compared to Jade Peony, in terms of winning people over, she was indeed lacking by more than a little. This kind of gentle and considerate tone, compared to Gu Hanshuang’s arrogant and cold personality, there was no comparison. Unless someone had a special preference, they would probably prefer Gu Hanshuang, right?
“Does Celestial Yu really not remember how the conflict between you two started?” he asked. “I want to know some details. Perhaps, I don’t necessarily have to stand on the sidelines.”
She raised her beautiful eyes, stared at him for a while, then looked away and sighed softly. “Does Brother Ming really want to know?”
He was silent, which was a kind of tacit agreement.
She pursed her cherry lips and said softly, “My master has also taught Gu Hanshuang. I met her at that time. Strictly speaking, I am her senior sister, and she is my junior sister. Our talents are similar, but she always wanted to surpass me, and she was very fond of targeting me, finding ways to make me look foolish. I always let her have her way, but not only was she ungrateful, she even became worse.”
“Until I couldn’t take it anymore, I thought of a way to ‘warn’ her. But I didn’t expect her to hold a grudge and set a trap to make my master punish me…” she sighed. “Of course, I was not convinced. The conflict between us slowly accumulated.”
Although she didn’t go into details, her meaning was clear. The conflict between them was because Gu Hanshuang “found ways” to make her look foolish. The details were unknown. If she wasn’t lying, then Gu Hanshuang had probably done something excessive, which was why she couldn’t bear it anymore.
Speaking of which, these two were actually senior and junior sisters…
…It’s so complicated.
It seemed to be Gu Hanshuang’s fault?
Of course, this was based on the premise that what she said was true. Whether it was true, he, an outsider, would probably have a hard time getting the answer from them.
After all, what he had learned from Gu Hanshuang was that “the first time they met, Jade Peony had given her a show of strength, making her very embarrassed,” which was why she had taught her a lesson…
The real truth… perhaps Bai Ze knew a thing or two?
He thought for a moment. There were several ways to get the real truth now. First, to get closer to both of them, to become true, trusted friends. Perhaps they would tell him the real truth. Find the root of the problem, and then solve it.
Second, perhaps Bai Ze, who was their master at the time, actually knew about this matter. If that was the case, then he could get some possible truths from her… but he couldn’t be sure. Perhaps what she saw from her perspective was not necessarily the truth. He still needed to make his own judgment…
The first one seemed very difficult. These two women had their own schemes. Their relationship with him was nothing more than worrying that he would side with the other, causing the balance of power to be lost, and then restricting him. It wasn’t like Feiyan, who genuinely wanted to be his friend.
But it was impossible to go back to the sacred mountain now. He hoped that their relationship could make some progress in the sea area.
This one flower and one sword, they were really a headache.
