《The Crimson Empress》 Prologue and Chapter 1 Prologue Rain. ¡®Where¡¯s the rain? The stormy sky?¡¯ The woman¡¯s brows furrowed before reverting back to match her impassive expression. It even pained her so. Frowning. Rain. Thunderclouds. ¡®Ironic.¡¯ Irony. That word resounded through her mind as she gazed up at the clear, blue sky. The sun blazed high above her broken form. It is indeed an irony. She had read in books, and even heard in tales of years past, that whenever tragedy occurred, a torrent of rain will descend, often accompanied by the barrage of lightning and thunder. Clearly, they lied. The books. Those drunk merchants. All the events of the world. All a lie. It didn¡¯t rain when Wu Ji died, as he succumbed to the injuries inflicted upon his person. ¡°Please.¡± Tears fell as she begged him to open his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t go. Don¡¯t leave me.¡± It didn¡¯t rain when Jiu Ye followed soon after. His death came as a surprise, oddly cleaned up with nary a whisper or hear-say. Droplets of tears stained the letter that was brought to her. It didn¡¯t rain when they stole the life of her daughter. She wasn¡¯t even given the chance to see her before it happened. Emotionless eyes stared at the pile of rocks that served as the gravestone of her child. No. It didn¡¯t rain. Instead, the sun had brightly shone far unto the horizon as each of those tragic events occurred. All of them were liars. It didn¡¯t rain. And now, here she lay, dying. She remembered what happened. She remembered the injustice and humiliation that they put her through. Irony. That word resounded through her mind again, as she never let her eyes stray from the sight of the majestic sun. Even as her body was carried by the flow of the river. Even as her body sank just beneath the surface of the water. The sight of the sun distorted as the image of it was marred by the water. But no, she didn¡¯t dare take her sight off it. Darkness consumed her. ..... .... ... .. . . . Chapter 1: Setting the Stage ¡°Thief!¡± A loud voice disrupted the peaceful scenery. All attention was diverted towards the ongoing scuffle. The thief, accompanied by a giant silver wolf, attempted to retreat. ¡°Are you sure you can run faster than my arrow?¡± The thief halted in her tracks, with the silver wolf growling protectively by her side. Yes, even with the cloth covering the face of the intruder, and dressed in what looks like worn-down tribal garments, he could still deduce that this so-called ¡®thief¡¯ was in fact a member of the fairer sex. Jing Yen was berating the thief, most likely about daring to cross them even if they had the Desert Wolves insignia out in the open. But he tuned them out, as he continued to observe the woman in front of him. The wolf suddenly moved in front of the mysterious woman. Automatically, he pointed his crossbow towards the wolf. ¡°It has nothing to do with him.¡± The woman intervenes, her calm voice muffled as she spoke through her veil. ¡°I was the one who wanted to steal from you.¡± He had a stare down with the woman, briefly wondering how calm she was. Those vacant eyes stared back at him, not once breaking their gaze. After a moment or so, he put down his crossbow and slightly tilted his head in wonderment. ¡°Miss, what do you intend to steal?¡± He broke the silence first, seeing that the woman insisted on staying silent. ¡°A woman¡¯s clothing.¡± Was the cool reply. Disbelief ran through the rest of his entourage. Muttering broke out, lightly threatening the woman to tell the truth. He ignored them. ¡°Second brother.¡± He called out, focused on this woman. ¡°Give the dress from the top box to her.¡± ¡°Jiu Ye!¡± ¡°Listen to Jiu Ye.¡± Jing Yen, another subordinate, intervened. Once the clothes was handed to the woman, an odd expression crossed her face. It was so brief, that had Jiu Ye not been intently focusing on the woman, he would¡¯ve missed it. ¡°You¡¯re really giving it to me?¡± ¡°As a group of men, we shouldn¡¯t have any female clothing. Fortunately, as we were passing through our travels, this set of female clothing was given to me. I hope you¡¯ll like it.¡± As he was saying this, for the first time since the start of their encounter, the woman broke her gaze from him to examine the cloths on her hands. Gently, she caressed the cloth, tracing some intricate designs. It surprised him. The moment the woman looked away from him. He suddenly felt a burst of yearning. Selfish as it may sound, he didn¡¯t want the woman to look away. ¡°What is your name?¡± He asked, hoping that the woman would dare meet his gaze again. ¡°My name is not important.¡± The woman coolly replied, expressionless from her voice to the gaze within her eyes. ¡°Thank you.¡± Swiftly, she turned and began to traverse away. The silver wolf faithfully followed by her side. ¡°Miss!¡± He called out, as he tightly gripped his wheel chair. For some reason, a conflicted feeling arose within his chest as she began to walk away from him. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should say this, but¡­ keeping in the company of wolves isn¡¯t suited for you. You should be with people.¡± The woman stopped, and tilted her head until he could see the side of her face, but she didn¡¯t turn back. Instead, she nodded, before she walked away. Longing. He was perplexed. But yes, Longing was the word best described to what he felt as he watched her walk away from him. ¡­ A loud howl broke the fight. Everyone was stunned into silence as they looked for the source of the sound. After the initial howl, a series of howls started in different directions. The bandits started back, some even dropped their weapons as they were scared to submission. A pack of wolves descended from the steep domes of sands, before stopping several steps away from the people. They began to growl threateningly at them. ¡°Retreat!¡± The bandits scurried away, fearing for their lives. He looked past the tense forms of countless wolves, and what he saw made him momentarily forget to breathe. Standing atop of a sand dune was a maiden elegantly garbed in an azure Luo Lan outfit. Years into the future, he would remember clearly, not the mundane events of this day, but simply the sight of her, silently gazing back at him. With a long howl from the maiden, the wolves surrounding them dispersed, retreating back to where they came from. The maiden, with a huge silver wolf by her side, turned back and disappeared on the other side of the sand dune. Anxiety burned at his chest. He urged his horse to a quick gallop, ignoring the calls of his men. ¡°Wait!¡± He called out, stopping a few feet away from the duo. The maiden stopped on her tracks, her back to him. Her utter stillness made her delicate form more pronounced. A few moments later, as his entourage arrived at his side, she slowly turned towards him. Li Chen looked at him for directions. He just tilted his head towards the maiden. The old man nodded at him, before setting off. ¡°Thank you, Lady.¡± Smiled Li Chen, bowing to show his gratitude. ¡°You helped us escape from those bandits.¡± The maiden just nodded at him. At this, Li Chen seemed to be at a loss. He decided to help the old man a bit. It didn¡¯t hurt that he also wanted to purposefully meet this woman too. ¡°Lady, we¡¯re from Chang An.¡± He addressed her, not once taking his eyes away from her. Like a predator hunting down a prey. ¡°May I ask where you are from?¡± The woman observed him for a while before replying in an impassive tone. ¡°I am a Han, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡± He smirked at her. She just averted her gaze from him. ¡®A Han wearing a Luo Lan outfit. Insteresting.¡¯ He thought. ¡°Lady, we cannot thank you enough for helping us.¡± Li Chen interrupted, sensing the atmosphere. His Young Master wasn¡¯t always the most polite individual. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t interfere, but since the lady saved them earlier, he might as well diffuse the situation. ¡°Judging from your clothing, we cannot thank you with something common. Fortunately, we have a pair of emerald earrings. Please, accepts this.¡± The maiden slightly pushed the offered box towards the old man. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Came her soft reply, her face still covered by the veil that came with the outfit. ¡°I have no use for that.¡± As the maiden made to turn away, he unconsciously almost reached out towards her. ¡°Wait, lady, can we ask for some directions?¡± Li Chen interrupted. ¡°We seem to have lost our way.¡± The maiden looked at them for a moment before replying. ¡°Fine, follow me.¡± She said, turning around and walking onwards. The large wolf accompanying her at the side. ¡°I¡¯ll get you out of here.¡± As the entourage moved on, he stayed rooted at the spot for a moment. He curiously examined his hand, which unconsciously moved on its own a while ago. He directed his gaze at the woman again. Curiosity burned him. He needed to know her. With an intense look, he followed behind her. ¡­ As they rested from their travels, Li Chen began to regal the lady of their ¡®Spice Business¡¯, imploring the lady to guide them to Yue Ya Quan. He stayed a distance away, merely observing their interactions for now. From their time together, he kept on watching her. The maiden distanced herself from the rest of them, only briefly answering in short responses if the need arose. He could understand that, probably, in the maiden¡¯s point of view, they were strangers, add to the fact that they¡¯re all men and she¡¯s a lone woman. Well, a lone woman with a fiercely protective silver wolf at her side. He glanced at the wolf. The wolf had never, not even for a second, strayed far from the woman. Occasionally, its sharp eyes wandered over the group, somehow threatening them not to do anything suspicious. He suddenly felt a sense of respect for the wolf. Judging from the protective stance the beast made by her side, the maiden was very important to this creature. His thoughts drifted back to the maiden. Yes, she distanced herself, even her every gesture and words spoken was tinged by a hint of coldness. Every time he would like to look at her straight into the eyes, she would glance away, averting her gaze from him. But when their eyes do meet, blank eyes would stare back at him, as emotionless as a rock. Currently, Li Chen began introducing the members of the entourage to her. ¡°This is Wang, this is Tu, and this is¡­¡± Li Chen trailed off, as he didn¡¯t know what to call the Young Master, seeing as they were undercover. At that particular moment, as the maiden stared back and, this time, bravely held his gaze with those inexpressive eyes, he decided to take a gamble. ¡°I¡¯m Wu Ji.¡± He told her, intensely looking for any sign of reaction that he desperately wanted her to have. ¡°Wei Wu Ji.¡± And there it was. The flash of surprise. It only lasted for a second, before it was buried, and her blank gaze stared back. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. But no matter how brief it was, a burst of elation imploded within him. He couldn¡¯t help but smirk mischievously at her. Call him shallow, but it felt like a small victory to him, to have those beautiful eyes show even a hint of expression. All around him, his men were even more surprised. Nonetheless, he ignored them to stare at this beauty in front of him. Yes, even with the outfit that covered most of her form, even with the veil covering her delicate face, he knew a great beauty when he saw one. At their short time together, he couldn¡¯t help but be entranced by this maiden. Women were troublesome creatures to him. He didn¡¯t pay attention to them, but they surely paid enough attention to him. Women had always tried to get close to him, some of them were even considered great beauties in their own right. However, they never interested him in the least. Thus, they were promptly rebuffed whenever one showed even the slightest interest in him. That was why it was safe to say that no other woman had made him feel this way. Made him feel so interested in such a way that he dared risk their cover. And judging from the flash of surprise that passed her gaze, she knew who he was. Or at least, the Great Wei name. Who wouldn¡¯t? Especially, if she was indeed a Han. Old man Li Chen was the first to recover from the shock. ¡°Lady, what do we call you?¡± Li Chen asked her. She was silent for a moment as she appraised him, before turning back to Li Chen. ¡°Call me whatever you want.¡± She replied, before turning back to her spot in the tree, gently petting the wolf sitting by her side. ¡°But Lady sounds nice, no one has ever called me that before.¡± Looking unsure for a moment, Li Chen just tilted his head before acquiescing, smiling as he retreated. Clearly, the lady wanted to be left alone. ¡­ As they got ready to depart for another day¡¯s journey, he saw Li Chen intently approaching the maiden with a horse in hand. The maiden was still a few yards away from them. Looks like she was saying goodbyes with her wolf at the moment as her back was to them. In a sudden flash of ingenious idea, well, to him it was ingenious. He stood in the way of the old man and the horse that he¡¯s leading. ¡°Ah, Young Master.¡± Li Chen bowed. ¡°Yes, this horse is perfect, let it carry the other baggage.¡± He instructed the old man. ¡°That way we would surely gain speed and be able to get to our destination faster.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Li Chen looked unsure, as he stared at the horse, before staring at the lady, who still sat beside her wolf, gently stroking his fur. ¡°If it¡¯s about the lady, I would let her ride with me.¡± He stated nonchalantly. Li Chen stared at him in shock, jaw dropping slightly. He walked away before the old man could argue. He caught sight of the returning maiden and couldn¡¯t help but let out an amused smirk. As soon as the lady saw his smirk, she stopped in her tracks and frowned slightly, a hint of suspicion passing by her. That only caused him to widen his smirk. She narrowed his eyes at him, silently asking what he had done now. He just turned back and re-arranged the saddle on his horse, tightly securing the straps. He heard the maiden ask for a horse, saying that she knew how to ride one. On the other hand, as he expected, Li Chen explained that they were short one horse as the spare horse was burdened by the baggage for faster travel time. He got unto his horse before he extended a hand towards the maiden. ¡°Well, I could let you ride with me.¡± Never once losing his smirk, as he extended a hand for her. ¡°Come on, judging from the position of the sun, we should depart soon if we don¡¯t want to waste a good day¡¯s travel.¡± The maiden¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion clearly written in them. Her gaze drifted from his face, his outstretched hand, and towards the spare horse. She sighed, before placing her delicate hand on his rough, calloused one. With a great heave, he swiftly lifted the maiden, until she was seated directly in front of him. Stunned silence descended the group, aside from the soft gasp that escaped the maiden¡¯s lips, no other sound was made. It was clear to all that he was staking his claim. As primitive as it may sound. He slipped his hands on either side of the maiden¡¯s waist to grab the rains, and promptly kicked the horse to a running start, forcing the lady to lean back on his chest from the sudden take off. He smiled as he heard the lady huff indignantly. ¡°So, this is how the Chang An people treat their savior.¡± The maiden coolly stated. ¡°Better than letting our savior fall from the horse.¡± He countered back, tightening his arms, slightly forcing the lady to be flushed against his chest. But not enough to the point of embarrassing the lady. He was, after all, a descendent of the Wei. ¡°Weather¡¯s great.¡± He lightly whispered, his hot breath near the lady¡¯s ear, causing her to shudder against him slightly. This attraction, as he guessed, was mutual. With a smile, he urged the horse into a gallop, leading the group into the desert, heading towards Yue Ya Quan. ¡­ ¡°Thank you for leading us.¡± Li Chen smiled at the young lady, bowing slightly. ¡°You¡¯ve been such a great help. We would¡¯ve still been lost in the desert if it wasn¡¯t for you.¡± The lady just nodded at him, accepting his gratitude in silence. ¡°As a show of our gratitude, we would like to give the young lady a small token of our appreciation.¡± Li Chen reached over to hand her a bag of money. ¡°Please take it. Otherwise, we¡¯ll feel bad.¡± He added, as he saw that the lady had started to refuse. The lady just looked at the old man for a moment, before taking the bag of money. ¡°Thank you.¡± She said, before nodding again, and turned around to leave. He reached out and grabbed her hand. The lady looked at him coldly. ¡°Chang An is not like the desert.¡± He said, squeezing her hand gently, before letting go. ¡°Be careful.¡± She observed him, as he in turn observed her. He wanted to memorize every detail of her features, to ingrain it in his mind. They would surely meet again, he was sure of that, but he knew not on the When, as well as on the How. So, till then, he would treasure this image of her. The lady gave him a slight bow, before she continued on her way, never once turning back. Still, he remained there, rooted at the spot, watching as she walked away from him. Staring into the distance as her form slowly lessened until she was completely out of sight. .... The people couldn¡¯t help but stare at the woman standing before the dancing house. There was something about her that made them wonder. An enigma. As they passed by, whether man or woman, old or young. Their attention was caught first by the flamboyant color of crimson, as it moved along with the wind, delicately pronouncing the woman¡¯s form. But as they stared for a moment longer, the tasteful dress of the woman was but secondary to her presence itself. A kind of aura surrounded her. As it was, the woman just continued to stare at the sign of the dancing house. Either unaware, or just didn¡¯t care, about the attention that she¡¯s been given. After all, wasn¡¯t she here for that reason? ¡°Luo¡­ Yu¡­ Fang¡­¡± Yes. She looked above to check the position of the sun. Anytime now. As she had anticipated, a worker had begun to sweep the front of the dancing house. Her heart began to thump loudly against her chest. Cold sweat ran down through the back of her neck. Her hands began to tremble ever so slightly. This was it. The beginning. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She couldn¡¯t make even the slightest mistake. She couldn¡¯t fail. No. She definitely will not fail. Just then, she heard the door open, and subsequently smelt the ever-so familiar powerful perfume that adorned the woman. Even with her eyes closed, she saw the mannerisms of that seductive woman. Her head slightly tilted upward, eyes criticizing the clothes and accessories of other women, no doubt not up to par with her standards. She let a small smile slip past her lips at that. Even after all those years that they¡¯ve been together, that woman never really changed. She strengthened her resolve, then opened her eyes. Hong Gu. Still beautiful as always. Just then, Hong Gu caught sight of her. A predatory look suddenly descended upon the older woman¡¯s face. ¡®The beginning.¡¯ Was her last thought before she buried all the insecurities, the anxieties, all of her fears deep within her. They have no place in her life right now. Nor will they ever be again. Not if she wanted to succeed. Nothing can stop her. Not even herself. She straightened her form and took a step forward towards her future. .... All of the people inside the dancing house hushed as they saw the woman dressed in red. They couldn''t help but be fascinated by the mere presence of said woman. The graceful way that she walked. The hidden beauty that was evident to all, even if her face was half-hidden by a crimson veil. Even the way she talked had inveterate the fact that she had the potential to be a singer. ¡°It is not often that I find myself recruiting a willing employee.¡± Hong Gu stated, the current Furen of Luo Yu Fang. ¡°I am in search for work.¡± The woman replied. ¡°I have the talent, so why not use it?¡± The older woman appraised her. Seeming to like what she saw in the young talent every passing second as her devious smile only grew wider. ¡°You¡¯re not from here, are you?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You speak our language very well. No accents.¡± The older woman observed. Before smiling at her. ¡°You may call me Hong Gu.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Yu¡± she bowed. ¡°Jin Yu.¡± ¡°Jin Yu.¡± Stated Hong Gu. ¡°What an attractive name. It suits you well.¡± ....... A/N: I know, I know, this chapter is like the first episode of Da Mo Yao, but like the title stated: ''Setting the Stage''. Some events needed to be the same. Without Xiao Yu / Jin Yu intervening with her wolves to rescue Wu Ji, well, some people from Wu Ji''s side would''ve definitely died. Jin Yu also needed to meet Jiu Ye since she needed that dress. Nevertheless, from this point on, this story will begin to deviate from the original story. Sometimes, the characters will be OOC, but not too much. I myself do not want too OOC characters. And as you have noticed, I''m using the TV VERSION of Da Mo Yao. I did not read the Novel version completely, I only watched the TV version completely. So, Huo Qu Bing''s name will be Wei Wu Ji (TV version). BUT, Brother Wolf is a Silver Wolf, not the TV version black wolf-like dog. This is one of the few things that I will retain from the Novel version. Again, as for those who didn''t read or watch Da Mo Yao / Ballad of the Desert, don''t worry, you won''t be lost while reading this. I''ll gradually introduce the characters that we will encounter. Chapter 2 Chapter 2: The New Talent The music produced by the zither broke the stillness of the air. It was soon followed by the sound of footwork and cloths being brandished as the dancers moved in a synchronized pattern. Some girls had missed the routines and rushed to catch up, others perfectly learned the steps, yet lacked that certain vigor to present the dance. A select few danced prettily, never missing the beat, and correctly executing the steps. Yet, one woman stood out. From her agile stance, to the way she powerfully executed the dance, up to the passionate aura she exerted, as if she put her all into it. The dance was supposed to be a simple routine that was commonly seen in different dancing houses. But this woman was able to transform something so common into a seemingly magnificent work of art. Simply watching the way she dances was mesmerizing. As the song neared its end, Jin Yu, grasped by the emotions that she wielded with every step, upped her tempo, adding intensity to the dance, as she gave it a fervent finish. Gasps was heard all throughout the practice hall. Most haven¡¯t seen such passionate dancing performed before. Suddenly, claps were heard as giggling girls surrounded Jin Yu, in awe of her dancing prowess. ¡°Our Luo Yu Fang has been famous in the city for a long time.¡± A feminine voice interjected, disrupting the commotion. ¡°Our dancing style is among the most graceful. Hands as if holding flowers. Body like a willow tree.¡± Shuang Shuang, the lead singer and dancer of Luo Yu Fang, roamed her eyes at Jin Yu from head to toe, clearly trying to dissect a non-existent flaw. The woman arrogantly crossed her arms before stepping up close to Jin Yu. ¡°People are interested in seeing graceful dancing.¡± Shuang Shuang smiled condescendingly, as she stared down at Jin Yu. ¡°You are like those at the desert. No grace at all.¡± The other girls in the practice hall stayed silent as they held no courage to go up against Shuang Shuang, seeing as Hong Gu highly favored her. Clearly, they didn¡¯t know Hong Gu that well, as the older woman that Jin Yu knew was impartial and fair. Jin Yu noticed this early on, so she then decided to bring the arrogance of her ¡®senior¡¯ down a notch. ¡°You say people are interested in graceful dances.¡± Jin Yu replied, giving an acquiescing nod to her senior. ¡°That is true. Nonetheless, one has to take account that drinking the same tea, or even eating the same food¡­ well, one would eventually grow tired of it, would they not?¡± ¡°After all,¡± Jin Yu continued, returning Shuang Shuang¡¯s earlier smile back at her, and despite half her face still hidden by a crimson veil, she managed to pull off a more superior look than the senior¡¯s attempt. ¡°There was a saying to not keep looking for ¡®something¡¯ in a bag of ¡®nothing¡¯, as you will see the same thing again and again no matter how many times you repeat the look.¡± Shuang Shuang was so indignant that her mouth dropped and stayed that way for a few second. Her face was so comical that Fang Ru suddenly snorted loudly in laughter, before putting her hand to mouth to stop herself, eyes widening in embarassment. Shuang Shuang sputtered indignantly before she let out a screech and went off like a bat. There was a few seconds of silence, before laughter erupted from the practice hall. ¡­ The Luo Yu Fang¡¯s popularity began to rise. Even though it was already considered as one the finest dancing houses in Chang An, it may be hard-pressed to call it as the best. Especially when Tian Xian Fang was among the competitors. Nevertheless, more and more people began visiting Luo Yu Fang. It all started when a new talent appeared. The first few customers had greatly enjoyed her performance, what with her unique way of dancing, her seamless execution, coupled by an emotional display of action that had them on the edge of their seats, eyes wide, and halted breaths, not wanting to miss even the slightest part of this dancer¡¯s performance. Every performance made by this young maiden always ends with a thundering applause. Eventually, news began to circulate around Chang An about this mysterious maiden with the crimson veil. Curiosity was alighted in the minds of the people, thus, the continued rise of popularity of this particular dancing house. No, Luo Yu Fang wasn¡¯t considered the best, but it was getting there. ¡­ A melodious tune was heard rising towards the clear night sky. Every strategic strung of the zither was accompanied by the sounds of the crickets. Delicate hands caressed the strings, plucking at certain times, and gently sliding along the cords to balance its tune in between intervals. The result was a lingering yet riveting melody. ¡°Not only talented in dancing, but in the zither as well.¡± The older woman observed, casually approaching this young girl which upturned her dancing house. She re-arranged her shawl to fit snugly around her arms as a shield from this breezy night. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, you¡¯re also trying to steal the position of the musician in our esteemed house.¡± The woman didn¡¯t stop playing, her hands gently gliding along the cords, yet a hint of a smile was shown as the corner of her eyes crinkled slightly. Well, Hong Gu preferred to think that she was smiling. One really never knows what was hidden beneath that veil. Heaven forbid if she was frowning, surely not. Just thinking of the wrinkles that one would get from frowning or scowling made Hong Gu¡¯s vain side shudder. ¡°I enjoy playing the zither. It relaxes me.¡± Jin Yu closed her eyes, drinking in the beautiful tunes of the familiar melody she was performing. ¡°Anyone who can compete only with oneself defeats the very first and the basic purpose of doing anything really excellent.¡± Hong Gu sighed, sitting beside Jin Yu on the pagoda. ¡°I¡¯m at fault to a certain extent.¡± Replied Hong Gu. ¡°I let Shuang Shuang get away with strutting around the house because she was our number one talent. Now that there¡¯s competition¡­ I hope this doesn¡¯t come to a head.¡± ¡°I honestly have no care about what others think they¡¯re self-entitled to.¡± Jin Yu plucked a few cords as the song came to a climax, before gently balancing the tremble again. ¡°What matters most is the ability to do it. If she wanted to be renowned and admired, then she should work hard for it, and not just command others to worship her for her so-called talent. Her arrogance dampens her judgement, before long, it may also dampen her career. If she couldn¡¯t take the competition, then maybe she isn¡¯t fit in this line of business.¡± Hong Gu looked at the woman beside her, seeing her in a new light. This girl was frank, calculating, and most importantly, smart. In just a matter of months, she had managed to rise up in the ranks of Luo Yu Fang, even becoming one of the most sought after talents in her house. She clearly had a purpose, a purpose-driven goal that made her almost desperate to give her all in every performance. Excellence was what she sought after. When this girl came to her house a few months ago, Hong Gu first noticed her for her looks. Even covered with a veil, she couldn¡¯t discount the air of elegance that this young woman emitted. At that time, she was in a desperate need for a new talent, especially when Shuang Shuang managed to develop a perfect Prima Donna outlook, only performing when she felt like it, and always bossing the other talents around. So, when this girl came along, Hong Gu immediately grabbed her. Thank heavens she did, this girl really was a diamond in the rough. Although, after a while of letting this girl into her house, Hong Gu began to notice that there was something deep going on. After all, in this line of business, whether intentional or not, one would eventually develop a keen eye in reading people. She didn¡¯t know what this girl was planning, nor did she really care. As long as they both traverse the same path in bringing glory and greatness to Luo Yu Fang, Hong Gu didn¡¯t have any qualms with that. The melody came to an end. Jin Yu gently rested her hand on top of the strings to extinguish their trembles. ¡°I have an idea for a new act.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Hong Gu. Curiosity was peaked. ¡°It actually came to me while performing the zither.¡± Stated Jin Yu. ¡°Why not combine it with a song?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hong Gu didn¡¯t believe that this idea came up just from a whim, and the girl knew that Hong Gu knew. A smile began to form on Hong Gu¡¯s face. She¡¯ll humor the girl in this one. ¡°I dare not to perform it without your permission.¡± Jin Yu simply said. ¡°But I do assure you that it will definitely be a success.¡± ¡°Tell me all about it.¡± A devious smile was seen. ¡­ She was surprised that it took them the same length of time to find her. They didn¡¯t seem to take into account that she would enter this kind of business. Now that she thought about it, it was perfectly plausible to miss this fact. After all, who would¡¯ve thought that a nomadic thief would be able to showcase a talent, enough to be able to enter a dancing house? Wu Ye, the manager of Luo Yu Fang that was under the Shi Enterprises, muttered under his breath whilst looking at me. No doubt wondering if he finally got the right person. As we sat in the carriage, Hong Gu looked a little pale. No use letting her suffer, so Jin Yu grabbed her hand to placate her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jin Yu asked, in a teasing manner. ¡°As far as I know, you didn¡¯t do anything bad. Is the Big Boss really that scary?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know who it is?¡± Hong Gu looked shocked for a moment. Jin Yu feigned confusion. ¡°Shi House takes care of almost all the business in Chang An. Luo Yu Fang is also under Shi Enterprises.¡± Hong Gu then went on to explain some of the basics that she knew about the Shi House, as well as the various rules that they set in place. When they finally arrived at the Shi compound, Hong Gu looked so pale that Jin Yu was momentarily worried that the usually confident woman might pass out any minute now. Nevertheless, they went on towards the waiting room. A few moments later, Jin Yu was being guided towards Jiu Ye¡¯s location. They needn¡¯t bother, even with her eyes closed, she could traverse the corridors of this compound with ease and still get there in time. But of course, they didn¡¯t know that, and they never would. She was guided through the familiar bamboo forest that she had so loved to play in for so many years ago. And there he was. In the middle of the bamboo courtyard sat a refined man, his back to her as he faced the direction of the sun. He made such a beautiful yet forlorn picture. He turned around and just stared at her. ¡°Is Chang An fun?¡± Jiu Ye finally said, smiling gently. Is it? The first time Jiu Ye asked her, she had readily agreed that yes, it was fun. But now, embroiled with her goal and desperate pursuit to power, she didn¡¯t have an answer to that. The innocent her was long gone. Instead of answering, she just tilted her head in acquiescence. Silence permeated the surroundings. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.Jiu Ye¡¯s gentle smile faltered as he continued to observe her, nonetheless, he resumed his welcoming gesture by waving a hand to a vacant chair, indicating her to sit beside him. She complied. As they sat there, neither broke the silence. She stared straight ahead and observed the swirling of the smoke rising from the tea pot. On the other hand, Jiu Ye never let his gaze wander away from her. She shouldn¡¯t have come. Jin Yu tried her best to avoid the men in her previous life, tried to avoid letting them near her in this life, so as not to get caught up in her suicidal plan this early on. She didn¡¯t know exactly when Jiu Ye fell in love with her. By wearing a cloth to hide her face the first time they met in this life, she hoped that he would ignore her, carrying on with his business in solitary silence. Nevertheless, she knew deep within that it was futile. The fates of these men intertwined with hers was likened to that hauntingly beautiful Gold and Silver Flowers. The vines will part, but no matter how long it would take, they will meet and intertwine again in a never ending cycle. ¡°Yu-gege!¡± ran towards the courtyard, before abruptly halting as he noticed the presence of his master. ¡°Ah, Jiu Ye.¡± He bowed. ¡°Go Wa Zi.¡± ¡°Eh, don¡¯t call me that, it¡¯s Shi Feng now.¡± Shi Feng began. ¡°Jiu Ye was the one who brought me back.¡± ¡°Shi Feng¡¯s grandfather got ill.¡± Explained Jiu Ye. ¡°So he brought the clothes you left with them and sold it to a thrift store. Fortunately, the owner of the store was one of my companions that traveled with me in the desert. He recognized the dress and informed me.¡± She could¡¯ve avoided him. Avoided meeting him in the desert. Chose not to pretend to steal from that certain caravan months ago. She didn¡¯t want to implicate Jiu Ye in this mess. However, at the same time, she could not. If she had avoided him, she wouldn¡¯t have acquired that dress. If she had avoided him, Shi Feng¡¯s grandfather may not have survived. There were so many factors at stake. So many lives hanging by a single thread. Her knowledge of the future was her most important weapon. She had to be careful and cautious. She had to let certain events play out, whilst planning a strategy to circumvent others. One wrong move will end it all. Failure to her was certainly not an option. Not if she wanted all of them to live. Shi Feng had long ago excused himself, leaving the two in silence. Jin Yu realized she got lost in her thoughts, she looked around and saw Jiu Ye staring intently at her. ¡°I realized we have not been properly introduced.¡± Jiu Ye smiled at her, he softly caressed the pigeon in his lap before releasing it. The pigeon flew back to its coop. ¡°I am Mo Xun.¡± ¡°Mo¡­ Xun¡­¡± she mouthed. Jin Yu was so used to calling him Jiu Ye that she forgot that it was not really his name, rather, it was a nickname given to him by his father. Jiu Ye explained to her the origin of his title, ¡®Jiu Ye¡¯, and of course, she already knew all about it. He glossed over the details, but this time around, Jin Yu already knew the whole story. She was able to witness the deep sadness in Jiu Ye¡¯s eyes that she had not seen the first time they had this conversation. Jiu Ye, the Ninth Lord. His father wanted a big family, hence, the Ninth. However, a series of tragedies occurred, and all of his siblings died due to their respective frail health. As Jiu Ye looked back at her, he couldn¡¯t help but be slightly surprised at the hint of understanding present in this woman¡¯s eyes as they reflected back at him. A warm feeling started to spread within his chest. ¡°I have to ask again, seeing that you had refused the first time back at the desert.¡± He started. ¡°May I know your name?¡± At that, Jin Yu was at a loss. Not because she didn¡¯t know what the proper reply to say, but because she felt that answering this question was an ultimatum for her. Xiao Yu was the innocent, stubborn girl that did anything she wanted. The innocent girl that these men fell in love with. The innocent girl that her close friends liked. She could adapt and revert to the persona of Xiao Yu again, and relieve all the pain, heartache and despair. However, Xiao Yu was also able to experience two kinds of love that not just anyone could possibly experience in their entire lifetime. With all the downsides, there were also great things that happened to Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu was the Yang of Jin Yu¡¯s Yin. Simply put, Xiao Yu was the innocent part of Jin Yu. She could have all of that again with one simple choice. Nevertheless, before she even opened her mouth to reply, before she even arrived at the Shi compound, and before she even stepped foot in Chang An, she already knew her answer. ¡°Jin Yu.¡± Came her soft reply, further muffled by the crimson veil, but there was an unyielding resolution behind her voice. ¡°My name is Jin Yu.¡± She couldn¡¯t turn back now. Xiao Yu is over. ¡°Hong Gu didn¡¯t force me to work for her.¡± Clarified Jin Yu, getting to the point. ¡°I did it out of my own volition. As I said to her, I had the talent, so why not use it?¡± ¡°If that is all.¡± Jin Yu finished, standing up and getting ready to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± Jiu Ye grabbed her hand, effectively stopping her from leaving. Judging from his reaction, he too was perplexed by his sudden movement. ¡°I¡­ if you want, you could stay here and-¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Jin Yu coldly cut him off, firmly taking back her hand despite his tightened grasp. She looked away as she didn¡¯t want to see the hurt displayed across his face. It was better this way, she needed a clean break from him. She rather hurt him now, rather than lead him to his death later. ¡°Hong Gu is waiting for me, I must get back.¡± She began to walk away. ¡°Jin Yu.¡± Called out Jiu Ye, with a tone of hurt and slight desperation that even he himself couldn¡¯t understand. He didn¡¯t know why he was feeling this way for a woman whom he met only for the second time. Never in his life had he thought that he would ever feel this way. He had distanced himself from everyone else. But this woman, she¡¯s different. This unforgettable woman had made him, a known recluse, search for her for three long months. She had been able to achieve the impossible. Simply put, she was able to fascinate him in such a short period of time. Even he was perplexed at himself. ¡°You¡¯re a guest here, you can-¡± ¡°Jiu Ye.¡± Jin Yu replied in a cold tone, stopping in her tracks, but she continued to face away from him. ¡°I thank you for the clothes that you¡¯ve given me. But other than that, we have no more connections to each other. Good day.¡± She walked away, never once turning back. Even if she felt like her heart was being shred into a thousand pieces. ¡­ Jin Yu watched through the window of the carriage as snow drifted continuously from the sky. Ever since they left the Shi estate, Hong Gu had been worried about the girl. Up to now, she hasn¡¯t uttered a single word. ¡°Hong Gu.¡± Hong Gu looked shocked for a moment, before composing herself. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Can we eat some noodles?¡± Jin Yu asked, still staring out of the carriage. Hong Gu felt her worry increase as she noticed the despondent tone of this girl. Normally, the girl was distant, always keeping to herself most of the time. But today, it felt different. ¡°It¡¯s my birthday today.¡± ¡°Really? Why didn¡¯t you say so? I would¡¯ve prepared you a feast, the girls back at the house had always love celebrating such days.¡± Hong Gu prattled on about petty things, wanting to alleviate this girl¡¯s somber mood. ¡­ Turns out Shuang Shuang had really wanted to leave. The business closing for a few days in her previous life was just an excuse that the other woman grabbed. Not even a week at that start of the year, had the woman jumped ship towards Luo Yu Fang¡¯s competitor. The Xian Tian Fang. It wasn¡¯t really a loss, she was becoming a burden in Luo Yu Fang with her high and mighty attitude. Better yet, this means less competition for the other talents in the dancing house. Those once oppressed by Shuang Shuang had begun to shine in their own right. But not all talents had the heart and even the will for it. ¡°Crying doesn¡¯t solve anything.¡± Stated Jin Yu, leaning her back against the pillar with her arms crossed. Fang Ru immediately wiped her tears away with her sleeves, before standing up, awkwardly she just stood there, not knowing what to do. Jin Yu observed her for a few more moments, making Fang Ru uncomfortable as she averted her eyes from the other woman¡¯s unwavering stare. Suddenly, Jin Yu tossed something to Fang Ru. The piece of cloth lightly hit her on the chest and bounced off, but Fang Ru was able to catch it. Fang Ru gave the other woman a confused look whilst looking at the cloth. ¡°That¡¯s your contract to this house.¡± Jin Yu explained. ¡°I paid off your debt. You¡¯re free now.¡± Fang Ru gave her a look of disbelief, before looking at the contract again. She let out a sob before throwing herself at Jin Yu, hugging her tightly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Fang Ru sobbed. ¡°But, why? Where did you get the money? I couldn¡¯t possibly-¡± Jin Yu just patted her back in a placating manner. ¡°Truthfully? I couldn¡¯t stand you crying every other night.¡± She said frankly. ¡°I asked Hong Gu about it, and she said that she could release you as long as the contract is paid in full. I have accumulated enough money from my performances, and the customer¡¯s that wanted to see me had also somewhat increased. I got money on the side and I honestly don¡¯t know what to do with it.¡± After her explanation, Fang Ru rained her with thanks, all the while saying that she¡¯ll never forget about her kindness, and promising to pay her back. After that, Fang Ru bolted out, happy to be free. ¡°You know.¡± A seductive voice stated. ¡°I had never seen Fang Ru move so fast before.¡± Jin Yu just smiled at the older woman, before continuing on her way to practice her skills. ¡­ A flash of light was reflected as the blade moved swiftly, cutting through the air. The figure moved with agile speed, going through a series of slashes in predetermined executions. Pivoting in position, the figure raised the sword in a wide arc and swung it down in a powerful finish. In a split second, the sword swung to the side cutting clean through a solitary leaf that fell down. Jin Yu heaved a deep breath before exhaling slowly and opening her eyes. She relaxed her stance and sheathed her sword. Glancing at the full moon above, she briefly wondered how Brother wolf was doing. ...