Chapter Fifteen: Escape in Disguise

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The first rays of dawn streamed through the carved window into the guest room of the tavern. The beautiful girl lying on the bed turned over comfortably and opened a pair of eyes that gleamed like black gemstones.

She seemed only half awake, as though she had just come to her senses. Lazily, she stretched like an indolent little kitten, utterly endearing.

Ming Yue patted her still-dizzy head, then suddenly let out a startled cry and sprang from the bed.

This was not her guest room! Whose room was it?

She anxiously examined her surroundings and her clothing from head to toe. Fortunately, fortunately, she was still wearing the ordinary clothes she had put on after washing up in her own room the night before.

But this guest room...

She patted her woozy head and gradually remembered that this seemed to be the room where Shui Yanxi had invited her to drink. Had she occupied someone else’s bed last night? Then where had Shui Yanxi gone?

The more carefully she thought about it, the more certain she became that something was wrong. Ming Yue noticed a mirror beside the bed and cautiously leaned toward it. Sure enough, the familiar face reflected in the glass was her own.

Her expression changed at once, and annoyance filled her heart.

“Wife, you’re awake?”

Just as she stood there in bewilderment, the door opened and Shui Yanxi entered, his face glowing with delight.

Ming Yue eyed him warily and took two steps back.

Shui Yanxi carried a steaming bowl of porridge, its fragrance filling the room. His alluring eyes gazed at the beautiful girl before him with deep affection, shining as though he had discovered a priceless treasure.

“D-Don’t come any closer!” Ming Yue snapped angrily. “Why did you remove my disguise?”

Shui Yanxi set down the porridge, spread his hands, and smiled. “Wife, weren’t you the one who wanted to remove it?”

Ming Yue searched her memory, but how could she possibly remember what had happened the previous night? She demanded angrily, “Wife? What do you mean, wife?”

“Wife, have you forgotten again?” Shui Yanxi said with a wicked grin. “After wiping away your disguise last night, you insisted on offering yourself to me. Seeing how sincere you were, I reluctantly agreed. Your husband has brought you breakfast, so come and eat, little darling. Once you’ve finished, return with me to the West Nether Immortal Sect so we can be married.”

“M-Married?”

Ming Yue was utterly bewildered. She truly could not remember whether she had said any such thing. She regretted having dinner with Shui Yanxi the night before and drinking so much fruit wine. Wine and beauty truly did lead to trouble!

Shui Yanxi drew a handsome, aggrieved expression and said pitifully, “Wife, I already belong to you. You can’t abandon me and run off to Shu Mountain by yourself.”

His limpid, affectionate eyes gazed at Ming Yue, and she could not help shivering.

Ming Yue felt as though she had two heads and four minds, with no idea how much of Shui Yanxi’s story could be trusted. He was indeed handsome and pleasing to the eye, but rumor had it that he kept more than thirty concubines. As the young master of the West Nether Immortal Sect, he was certainly not someone she wished to marry. Not even in her wildest dreams.

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This was her first venture into the martial world, and she had unexpectedly encountered such a formidable character. She racked her brains, desperately trying to think of a way to rid herself of him.

Ming Yue’s thoughts spun rapidly as she stammered, “Brother Shui, I... You said I was drunk last night. Even if I did say those things, they were merely drunken nonsense and shouldn’t count, right?”

Shui Yanxi shook his head with a smile. “Little Moon, ever since I agreed last night to offer myself to you, I decided that I would marry you. Little Moon, I will treat you with all my heart. Set out with me today and return to the West Nether Immortal Sect.”

He stepped closer and seized both of Ming Yue’s small hands, like a big bad wolf tempting a little white rabbit.

“Besides, we already shared a bed last night. All that remains is to consummate the marriage.”

Ming Yue had never encountered such a situation before. Her face flushed, her heart pounded, and the pent-up anger inside her had nowhere to go. She grew flustered.

She tore her hands free and lifted her head, pretending to be calm. “I-I’ve never thought of marrying you. I-I’m going back to my own room.”

Shui Yanxi’s expression changed, and a chill gradually spread across his handsome face. In this world, no woman had ever been able to resist his charm. Naturally, he was in no hurry with a young girl like Ming Yue. He assumed she was merely shy, yet he spoke with displeasure.

“Little Moon, whether you agree or not, you are still my wife. I have decided that I will marry you.”

Ming Yue had grown up without ever being confessed to in such a domineering manner. Panic surged through her. Before Shui Yanxi could finish speaking, she fled from the room and dashed back to her own, slamming the door shut behind her.

Shui Yanxi watched the girl’s retreating figure. The expression of utter heartbreak he had worn moments before instantly vanished. His mesmerizing eyes narrowed, while a wicked, seductive smile appeared on his face, still carrying a trace of unfinished amusement.

Life had been unbearably dull. It seemed he had finally found passion and purpose: marrying this beautiful girl and making her his wife.

He had lived in luxury since childhood, accustomed to having his clothes laid out and his meals brought to him. Countless beautiful women had coveted his looks and wished to throw themselves at him. He had long since grown tired of those vulgar beauties.

Only this beautiful girl had stirred such boundless passion within him.

Shui Yanxi rapped his knuckles against the table. Four beautiful maidservants entered soundlessly and knelt on the floor.

Shui Yanxi ordered, “Keep a close watch on that young fellow from before. If he escapes, every one of you will die.”

The maids shuddered and softly answered, “Yes, Young Master.” They lowered their heads and withdrew without a sound to arrange for people to keep watch.

Ming Yue locked herself inside the guest room, still shaken, and patted her chest as she frantically considered how to escape. She approached the window and looked out. People were already watching the area from the corridor outside, the room opposite, and various other places. Escaping would certainly not be easy.

She blamed herself for her carelessness in becoming entangled with such a flirtatious young nobleman. He was undeniably handsome and wealthy, but he was far too much of a womanizer. She had absolutely no desire to marry him.

There had always been someone living in her heart: a young man with determined phoenix eyes, the one who had once given her a jade phoenix and promised to meet her again ten years later.

She had always dreamed of going to the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect to find a young man named Mu Jiu. If he was still at Shu Mountain, he should be in his twenties by now, shouldn’t he? What would he look like now? Ming Yue could not help wondering.

Just then, through a crack in the window, Ming Yue saw a short, thin waiter walking toward another room with breakfast. Her eyes lit up, and an idea immediately came to her.

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Before long, the people concealed near the door saw the short, thin waiter approaching with a tray of breakfast: steaming meat buns, porridge, and several small dishes.

The waiter remained in Ming Yue’s room for a while, then emerged with an empty tray, muttering as he walked, “That young master says the meat buns taste awful and wants steamed buns instead. What a fussy eater.”

Not long afterward, the short waiter returned with a plate of snow-white steamed buns. When the door opened, a handsome little boy appeared and shouted, “Put them on the table. If they still taste bad, I’ll complain to your boss!”

The waiter put on a woeful expression and carried the buns to the table.

A moment later, the guest-room door opened again. The people hiding nearby saw the frail waiter emerge with the tray, trembling as he carefully closed the door behind him for the guest. Wearing a miserable expression, he lowered his head and went downstairs.

The watchers merely glanced at him before turning back to continue monitoring the guest-room door.

The waiter descended to the first floor and entered the kitchen. The cook said, “Ergouzi, go to the street and bring back the salt.”

The waiter lowered his head, accepted the money, and left through the side door connecting the kitchen to the street. After walking for a while, he slipped into an empty alley.

A short time later, a filthy little beggar emerged from the alley. He wore a tattered, patched hat, and his face, neck, and hands were black with grime that could not be washed away. Carrying a stick for beating dogs, he quickly slipped into the crowd in the marketplace and disappeared.

Inside the guest room on the third floor, Shui Yanxi’s face was filled with fury as he stared coldly at the eight beautiful maidservants kneeling before him.

“Eight grown women, and you couldn’t keep watch over one person. What use do I have for you?”

The head maid cautiously glanced at her master’s face, cold as ice, and pleaded in a trembling voice, “Young Master, please spare us. We’ll immediately split up and search for her. Ming Yue knows how to disguise herself. She must still be somewhere in the city.”

The head maid carefully glanced at Shui Yanxi once more before continuing, “Miss Ming said that her next destination would be Jinlu City. Even if we can’t find her here, we’ll certainly find her in Jinlu City.”

Shui Yanxi remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand. The maidservants quickly withdrew and continued sending people to search for Ming Yue’s whereabouts.

Shui Yanxi stood by the window with his hands behind his back for a long while. When he recalled the girl’s peerless beauty, a surging passion immediately rose within him.

He smiled wickedly. “Little one, you’re quite clever. I’m very pleased. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will find you.”

From then on, Ming Yue began running for her life. Several times along the way, she nearly fell into Shui Yanxi’s hands, but fortunately her skill at disguise was excellent, and she managed to evade them with quick thinking.

It was fortunate that she encountered disciples of the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect in Jinlu City. Otherwise, it would all be over if he caught her and dragged her back.

In the darkness, Ming Yue playfully stuck out the tip of her tongue. No matter what, she would enter the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect and search for her “Brother Mu Jiu.”

Ming Yue was utterly exhausted. As she thought about it, she gradually sank into a deep sleep.

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