Chapter 43: How Does It Feel?

Looking at the graceful and elegant Ling Shan standing before him, Yue Buqun’s stern face softened with a hint of a smile. “Shan’er, why are you still up so late?”

“Father, I heard that Yun Zhonghe caused trouble today within the territory of the Mount Hua Sect?” Ling Shan asked.

“That did happen.” Yue Buqun nodded, still unclear about his daughter’s intentions.

Receiving his affirmation, Ling Shan stepped around behind her father and, with her delicate hands, began to gently massage his shoulders.

“If that’s so, why not send Senior Brother and me down the mountain to teach Yun Zhonghe a lesson? It would bring honor to the name of Mount Hua. What do you think?”

Yue Buqun’s smile faded away, his voice turning stern as he snapped, “Nonsense!”

Yun Zhonghe’s martial skills had grown formidable. Even if Yue Buqun fought him with all his strength, he wasn’t sure he could prevail. Besides, Yun Zhonghe’s scheme was clearly aimed at Ling Shan herself—sending her down the mountain would be like sending a lamb into a tiger’s den.

“Father, Senior Brother has been training diligently lately. Dealing with the likes of Yun Zhonghe would be more than enough for him.” Ling Shan tugged at her father’s sleeve, pouting. “Please, Father, let us go.”

Bang!

With a sudden slap on the table, Yue Buqun’s outburst startled Ling Shan. She stared blankly ahead, her lips trembling.

It was a long moment before she collected herself; never before had she seen her father so furious.

Realizing that he had lost his composure, Yue Buqun closed his eyes, breathing deeply. When he opened them again, his stern dignity had returned.

“For the time being, you are to go to the Cliff of Reflection and meditate on your actions.”

Ling Shan wanted to object, but seeing that her father was still angry, she swallowed her words and muttered, “Fine, meditation it is. What’s the big deal?”

With a look of frustration, she left the study.

Yue Buqun gazed at his daughter’s retreating figure, recalling the words Yun Zhonghe had said to him.

Inside the room, the candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows across half his face.

…

Somewhere in an unnamed forest, a campfire burned, blue smoke rising into the night.

“Ow, ow, ow! You’re going to twist my ear off!” Yun Zhonghe’s face was contorted in pain as he clutched his ear, pleading for mercy.

“How dare you, Yun Zhonghe! You proposed to another woman right in front of me!” Azura’s anger only grew as she spoke, twisting his ear a full one hundred and eighty degrees.

“It hurts!” Yun Zhonghe cried out, finally breaking free and rubbing his ear fiercely, glaring at her with wounded eyes. “You’re trying to murder your own husband!”

Azura’s eyes flashed with menace as she drew the soft whip from her waist, snapping it twice in warning.

Yun Zhonghe shrank back, forcing a sheepish grin. “Let me explain—you’ve got it all wrong.”

(Page 1/3)

“What do you mean, I’ve got it all wrong? Clearly, you were drawn to Ling Shan’s beauty and acted on impulse!”

“I…”

In truth, Yun Zhonghe had been tempted in part by Ling Shan’s looks. But his main motive lay with her father. Yue Buqun might be a hypocrite, but in the martial world, he was renowned as the Gentleman Sword and led the Mount Hua Sect. His words carried weight.

“Just hear me out first,” Yun Zhonghe pleaded, reaching out to take Azura’s hand, only to have her pull away.

“I’d like to hear what excuse you’ll come up with.”

Yun Zhonghe let out a sigh of relief. If Azura was willing to listen, she wasn’t truly angry.

He took her hand again. She tried to pull away, but his martial skills were too great, so she finally stopped struggling.

“The reason I did this is to inherit a legacy from a senior of the Mount Hua Sect.”

Azura examined Yun Zhonghe’s earnest face, unsure whether to believe him.

After a while, she suddenly asked, “Is Ling Shan really that beautiful?”

“Her looks… what does that have to do with me? I haven’t even met her.” Yun Zhonghe looked at Azura, eyes brimming with affection.

“Good answer.” Azura was clearly pleased.

Despite the calm on Yun Zhonghe’s face, inwardly he was in a panic. Thank goodness I reacted quickly, or I’d be dead by now.

“Do you really think Yue Buqun will agree to marry his daughter to you?” Azura snuggled into his arms and asked.

“He’ll have to—the condition I set is one he simply cannot refuse!” Yun Zhonghe replied with absolute certainty.

Azura looked skeptical. What kind of condition could force Yue Buqun to sacrifice his own daughter?

Yun Zhonghe said no more, and sensibly, neither did she.

But soon enough, Azura began to squirm uneasily, her cheeks flushing pink. The cause was none other than Yun Zhonghe’s hands, roaming freely over her body.

“You scoundrel, you only know how to bully me.”

Yun Zhonghe chuckled and replied with actions instead of words.

After a passionate entanglement, Yun Zhonghe, breathless and hoarse, asked, “Is it alright?”

(Page 2/3)

As soon as the words left his mouth, Azura’s cheeks turned crimson.

She cast him a bashful glance, thinking to herself what a troublesome man he was.

“I don’t care how many women you may have in the future, but you must never betray me.”

“I promise.”

Yun Zhonghe’s voice was hoarse, as if suppressing some deep urge.

Azura looked at him with a radiant smile, then reached up to undo her collar.

That gesture was all it took to ignite the fuse. Yun Zhonghe became as wild as a beast, pushing Azura down onto the ground.

Under the firelight, their intertwined shadows moved together, expressing their passion for one another.

With the first rays of sunlight, the world brightened.

Scattered clothing bore witness to the intensity of the previous night.

Yun Zhonghe rolled over and sat up, glancing at Azura, who was still sleeping soundly. He had really exhausted her last night.

Now that he had reached the level of a first-rate master, he hadn’t expected the lingering side effects from his past internal practice to remain unresolved.

He shook his head and rose quietly, careful not to wake her.

Just as he finished dressing, a white dove flew in from the horizon.

Yun Zhonghe thought to himself, News from Fu Hongxue at last.

When they had parted ways, they had agreed that, once the information was confirmed, it would be sent by carrier pigeon.

He retrieved the slip of paper from the dove and unrolled it. There were only three words: It’s confirmed.

So like Fu Hongxue, concise and direct.

Yun Zhonghe clenched his fist, channeling his inner energy—the note disintegrated to dust.

Yue Buqun still didn’t fully trust him. It would be best to take care of Xiang Yingtian first.

“Mmm…”

A soft sound came from behind. Turning, Yun Zhonghe saw Azura slowly open her eyes, her fair skin exposed to the morning light.

As she shifted, sharp pain shot through her body, as if she’d been taken apart.

With guilt and tenderness in his eyes, Yun Zhonghe went to her side and supported her as she nearly collapsed. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”