Chapter 54: The Guest on the Returning Boat's Long Dream (Part 2)

  That scar-faced Dark God's face was momentarily stunned, and I maliciously provoked him: "When did you change your profession to become a matchmaker? You're always managing my emotional direction, what are you doing? And what business is it of yours about my son? Are you infatuated with me since the first time we met?"

  "You really aren't afraid of death, or have those two brothers spoiled you to the point where you truly don't know what kind of virtue you possess? Apart from these brainless men from your original family, who else do you think would like you?" The Dark God hummed and his hands crawled up my neck.

  I also sneered coldly: "So you like my son, but unfortunately my son doesn't like you. That's why you deliberately ignored me and Bai San Ye yesterday when we were in danger, and after Bai San Ye killed Yuan Qing Wu, you came to capture me to threaten Bai San Ye." An Shen's face was gloomy and terrifying, his eyes flashing with a fierce killing intent, my heart was shocked, could it be that I had accidentally hit the nail on the head, was he really...? I changed the subject and asked: "Where is Bai San Ye?"

  After a long silence, just when I thought I was going to die in this pool, die in the arms of this strange palace master, he finally spoke up: "You really are spoiled and arrogant! Don't think that because Rong family's old three is protecting you, you can be so reckless and forget who you are." He coldly let go of me, and I immediately squatted down, grabbed the torn clothes, and covered my private parts.

  The Dark God put on a mask again, snapped his fingers, and two masked men immediately came in. One hastily picked up the small zither on the ground, while the other busied himself wiping away the bloodstains on the ground. Both of them didn't dare to breathe loudly. I saw the person holding the small zither rapidly tapping many times on its body, and the small zither's hand slightly moved. It should still be salvageable, right? My heart slightly relaxed: "I want to see White Third Master."

  The white mask of the Dark God stared at me: "If you jump out of this medicinal spring again, don't say it's your third uncle, I guarantee that for the rest of your life, you won't be able to see anyone." He paused: "This medicinal spring is not available for non-family members, and only the master of the Yuan family has been allowed to use it. Your master has made an exception for you to enter this pool, he..."

  "What's wrong with him?" I asked urgently, but he just smiled coldly and didn't answer me, then left.

  I shouted myself hoarse, but no one came to attend me, nor did anyone come in; only the strange and eerie lotus by the pool silently watched me.

  The dark palace replaced another masked child to take care of my physical therapy, in the past three days, this child only helped me with meals and going to the bathroom, and just forced me into that pool, that dark god didn't appear either. I tried talking to that child, maybe she learned from the previous one, she didn't say a word to me.

  These three days of hot spring life made me think of vomiting whenever I see a hot spring in the future, and my scalp feels numb whenever I see a mask.

  Three days later, I finally recovered and changed into a coarse hemp ordinary garment. I walked out of the stone room with a cane, but as soon as I exited the stone gate, I found myself in a hot air-filled cave. A spring was bubbling up, emitting steam, which seemed to be connected to the medicinal pool. As I walked out of the cave, I saw that I was in a small courtyard. Lifting my head to gaze at the bright sunlight that I had not seen for so long, I felt an urge to cry. Who wouldn't want to live freely under this beautiful sunlight? Thinking about those people living in the dark palace, I couldn't help but wonder why they were being kept there. From the servants who attended to me to the master of the dark palace, everyone had extremely high martial arts skills. Why did the original family raise these powerful warriors in the dark palace? How did they manage to keep them trapped forever?

  As I looked around, the entire courtyard was filled with large blooming water lilies, a purple ocean. It reminded me of the tattoo on the arm of the master of the Dark Temple, and I thought to myself that even if I didn't have that dream about being Mrs. Xie, I still wouldn't have good feelings towards these water lilies now. At this time, the mute girl handed me a bowl of dark stuff, and I stared at her blankly as she quietly drew a "three" in my palm. I was overjoyed and whispered: "You know White San Ye?"

  She slightly nodded and pointed to the bowl of black medicine. I didn't say another word, and drank it all in one gulp. Heaven! What is this? It's more bitter than any other medicine I've ever had before.

  I handed her the empty bowl with a bitter face, just about to speak, when a tall figure walked in, it was that Dark God. I gripped my cane tightly, truly afraid in my heart.

  He held a package in his hand, looked at me for half a moment, threw out a sentence: "Follow me." and then turned around and left.

  I followed him from behind, walking slowly for a long time, until my calf started to ache. He suddenly stopped, and we arrived at the secret villa before the breakout. The scenes of the past floated before my eyes, and my hand holding the crutch trembled slightly.

  "You are free," said the Dark God, handing him a paper: "This is what your family's White San Ye asked me to give you. From now on, you have removed your slave status and are no longer a slave of your original household, just like your brother."

  I took the paper, opened it and found it was my contract of servitude. I stood there, only to hear Anshen say: "Yu Fei Bai privately ordered Yanzi's army to enter Xi'an City, although they lifted the siege of Xi'an, but caused Hou Ye to be trapped in Luoyang. Three days ago, Yu Fei Bai left Han Xiu Zhu to guard Xi'an City and went with your brother to attack Luoyang. He asked me to give you this contract of servitude and also asked me to bring a message to you: since your heart only welcomes Nifei, you and he are destined to be shallow in love, this can be considered as a master-slave relationship, take it as a keepsake."

  He handed me a roll of painting, I opened it and took a look, it was the picture of Sheng Lian Yan Xi Tu that he promised to give me.

  "As for the antidote to the poison that will not leave your body, he said that he currently does not have it on hand, but when he gets it one day, no matter where you are or when, he will personally bring it to you with both hands. Anshen's tone was tinged with a hint of sighing as he spoke these words."

  Isn't this the freedom I've been yearning for? Why do I feel so uncomfortable in my heart, holding my contract of sale, and not feeling any joy at all? Is it because I've gotten used to being someone else's slave for these seven years, and there's actually a slave in me? Or is it because this freedom has come too suddenly?

  Anshi gave me another burden: "He originally wanted to escort you personally to General Yu's place, but now that he is in a difficult situation and the wind and fire are continuous for two years, Luoyang is not a safe place either. So, please go to the Weiwu Escort Agency in Wan City, Henan Prefecture to hide."

  I coldly interrupted him: "Since he gave me freedom, why does he still care about my life and death?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I was stunned. What was I saying? What's wrong with me? The Dark God didn't say anything, just slightly bowed his head: "Miss, your future is long and uncertain, please take good care of yourself."

  After the Dark God walked far away, I sat down, calmed my mind and thought for a moment. I opened that heavy package, only to find some ordinary clothes, but mostly men's clothing. My heart couldn't help but move, wasn't it originally planned for me to disguise myself as a man to head to Wan City?

  He packed a lot of gold and silver in the bundle, and I felt that this young master was not very good at helping people escape. Didn't he know that bringing some silver bills would be safer and more convenient than gold and silver? Thinking again, it seemed to be an unexpected event, and he made temporary preparations for me. What happened after all?

  As I dug deeper, there were two small packages. One of them was opened and it turned out to be some osmanthus cakes. I broke off a piece and put it in my mouth, the sweetness rushed straight to my brain, reminding me of that day when he had a secret meeting with Jinxiu at the Moon Osmanthus Courtyard. The three of us, him, Jinxiu and I, how thrilling it was, and on that same day, I tasted the most delicious osmanthus cakes in the world as well as the most terrifying poison.

  My nose was inexplicably sour, and I opened another small handkerchief. The handkerchief was the same as the one in my memory and dreams, with a pattern of pomegranates, but it was only half-embroidered, and one corner didn't have the jade ring that I had seen in my dream. Inside the handkerchief were two things: a complete Dongling white jade hairpin, and the wrist guard that I had given to Fei Bai, with the words "Longing to be together" engraved on it.

  I stood there stupidly holding that white jade hairpin for a while, grasping it in my hand, and felt the icy coolness of the jade piercing my heart.

  I silently combed my hair into a bookish bun, secured it with a white jade hairpin, then tied up my chest and changed into men's long shirt. Finally, I put on the Longxiang Shou and headed down the mountain road. Suddenly, I remembered what the Dark God had said: if Non-White obtained the Life-and-Death Token, no matter where I was, he would present it to me with both hands. What did this mean? If he really wanted to abandon someone, how could he still care about her life and death, and say something like "the ends of the earth"? Did that mean he would come looking for me again?

  He didn't let me go with big brother, because they were going to attack Luoyang. Why didn't he take me along? Didn't he used to like having me help him conquer the world? I thought irritably, and before I knew it, I was walking back on the road.

  I thought of Fei Ge again, thinking this was a great opportunity to find Fei Ge. Never mind the unfaithful Yuan Fei, I walked down the mountain again, but after just a few steps, I stopped and reflected - how could I think that Yuan Fei was unfaithful? He wasn't originally in love with me, he just used me as a substitute for Jiang Dong.

  No way, I went back again. At least when the labor contract is terminated, someone from the personnel department should come to talk to you in person, tell you why you are being fired, and give you a termination letter. If you need it, they can also provide a good letter of recommendation. He's not just anyone, thinking that being a "snow gentleman" makes him superior, so he can send some shady agent to fire me like this. If there's something fishy going on, I want to talk to him even more. What does he plan to do with Jinxiu? And what about this trip to Luoyang, will it be dangerous? So much so that I'm not even allowed to go to my brother for help.

  I came and went several times, finally made up my mind, and walked towards the Dark Palace. Before I even reached the place where I parted ways with the Dark God, a white shadow suddenly darted out, scaring me half to death: "You're running back and forth, what do you want to do?"

  "Huh? How is it this Dark God? He didn't even leave, and I feel like there's more to this. I composed myself, cleared my throat: 'Please introduce me, Dark God, I want to see the original White San Ye of the Yuan family.'"

  "You're more fond of pestering men than your own son, and yet you still won't leave them alone even when Third Master has already rejected you."

  "I'm not trying to cling to Third Master, this trip to Luoyang is extremely dangerous. Mu Ge has a deep affection for Third Master as his master and servant have been through thick and thin together, and wants to lend him a helping hand, also to fulfill the oath he made with his sworn brother. Mu Ge has already lost one brother, doesn't want to lose another, please Palace Master grant my wish." By then, thinking of Song Mingyue, I was already tearful, choking back sobs.

  The Dark God remained silent for a long time, and just as I thought he was about to agree, the silver bell on his waist suddenly rang out. His voice was cold and stern: "It's been fifteen years, and yet someone dares to invade the Dark Palace." He turned around and started walking back, only to find me following closely behind him. With a wave of his hand, he used his internal energy to knock me down, saying: "Mù Gèn, if you truly want what's best for your Third Master, go to the Weiwu Escort Agency in Wàn City. He has arranged everything for you there. You absolutely must not enter the Zǐ Qī Mountain Estate on your own. If someone comes looking for you in the name of a member of the original family, unless they have the Yuè Jūn Ring as proof, do not believe anyone."

  I shouted loudly for the palace master, but he had already exercised his light skill and disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving me standing alone on the mountain slope, listening to the howling wind.

  My god! What is Yu Jiong Huan? What does it look like?

  Isn't that the jade ring on the handkerchief given by Mrs. Xie in my dream? Thinking of that dream, I shuddered again.

  I headed in the direction of the Dark Palace, but found that the road I had taken to get there was nowhere to be seen. After wandering around for half a day, I still couldn't find the entrance to the Dark Palace. So I decided to enter the Zi Xiu Manor first and then think of a way to enter the Dark Palace. After walking for half a day, I was starving too. The rice cake that Bai gave me had been eaten long ago. Fortunately, it was early, so I managed to dig up some sweet potatoes and yams, started a fire, and roasted them over the flames.

  For years, every time I recall that day, I have many regrets for not persevering through hunger and hardship to continue into the Zi Xuan Mountain Villa, sneaking into the dark villa. I think, perhaps everything was fate.