Untouchable Lovers

Chapter 189: Chapter 171: Luckily Guessed Right

Even though Yue Jiefei was fully prepared for battle, the mourning-dress man made no move; he even leisurely swung the fishing rod, creating ripple after ripple on the serene and clear surface of the creek.

Liu Sang wasn’t aware of how dreadful that gust of wind had been; he was still curiously pondering how the stone made sounds, even trying to wave his hand to produce noise, but to no avail. He then reached out to push the mourning-dress man, “Would you please step aside?”

Was that boy seeking death?

Chu Yu’s heart was nearly in her throat. She popped her head out from behind Yue Jiefei and called out, “Liu Sang, come back.” After she spoke, she realized her voice was hoarse and off-key.

The man chuckled softly, surprisingly heeded Liu Sang’s request, and lightly hopped off the rock. He walked a few steps in the opposite direction of Chu Yu and the others before sitting down again, his figure largely obscured by the boulders: “If you like this stone, take it and play with it. I found it during my travels and brought it back because it was interesting. I’ve sat on it for three years and am almost sick of it; it’s yours to keep if you want.”

Liu Sang had intended to return to Chu Yu upon her command, but at the mourning-dress man’s words, he immediately went back, caressing the half-human-high stone with unabashed delight. When he pushed it and couldn’t really move it, he turned around and called out to Amman, “Xiao Hei, come and try, see if you can lift it up?”

Amman, however, seemed not to have heard him. His eyes fixed ahead, his face full of yearning, clearly in awe of the technique the mourning-dress man had just displayed.

Chu Yu was also staring straight ahead; it took her a moment to show a relieved expression, and she patted Yue Jiefei on the shoulder with a smile, “No need to be on guard. If that person had any hostile intentions toward us, do you think you could have defended against him?”

The other party was calm and generous, repeatedly showing forbearance. If they remained cautious and defensive, it would seem rather petty. Meeting this man today was likely a mere coincidence, with no nefarious scheming involved. It was just a few special individuals encountering another special person. In fact, it was they who were overly suspicious and hostile toward the man, for which Chu Yu felt rather apologetic.

Yue Jiefei was taken aback, then bowed his head in embarrassment, also letting go of the sword hilt.

Chu Yu advanced a couple of steps and made a bow in the man’s direction. “Some days ago, I encountered some dangers, and my family couldn’t help but worry. If I offended you earlier, I hope you can forgive me.” The man was sitting behind the rock, covered in a cloak as well; perhaps he didn’t want others to see his face, so Chu Yu didn’t approach, merely speaking across a distance.

Even though the stone and cloak blocked them and the man couldn’t see her gesture, Chu Yu sincerely completed the formalities, beckoning Liu Sang over, “Liu Sang, stop messing around. Such a large stone, even if Amman could lift it, do you really intend to flaunt it all the way home? If you truly like it, I will send someone to fetch it tomorrow.”

Liu Sang hesitated. They had left for a walk today, and he knew it wouldn’t be proper for them to carry a stone back in such a manner,

The man said lazily, “Your bodyguard is simply doing his duty, there is nothing wrong with that; you need not worry about him. In any case, he couldn’t possibly offend me.”

His words were rather arrogant, virtually dismissing Yue Jiefei, a skilled martial artist as inconsequential. However, Yue Jiefei didn’t take offense, continuing to watch the rough hemp cloak the man revealed from behind the stone with caution, not daring to let his guard down too much.

Although somewhat curious about the relationship between Xiao Bie and this man and his purpose for being here, the current situation presented a man with whom they had no acquaintance and who could not be subdued by force—a solid iron plate without a seam. After pondering for a while, Chu Yu had no choice but to order a return to the residence.

“Liu Sang, let’s go back; we still need to wait for news from Yu Wen.”

Chu Yu turned and led the way back, speaking as she walked, “Although we haven’t heard back from the person we’re supposed to meet in a few days, it wouldn’t be good to leave the house empty and have him be unable to find us.”

Liu Sang felt puzzled, thinking didn’t they inform the guards left at the house of their whereabouts before leaving? If Yu Wen came by, they could just relay the message; what could be bad about that?

But when he caught sight of Chu Yu’s cold expression, he also remembered to be cautious. The playful spirit within him slightly retracted, he suppressed his questions, and silently followed her.

Chu Yu had just walked past the creek’s bend, and their group disappeared behind the cover of bamboo, when the surface of the water once again rippled with circles.

On the way back, Chu Yu and her company did not linger as they had on their arrival, hurrying back to the estate non-stop. As soon as they entered, they noticed the atmosphere in the courtyard was different from the usual leisure, less relaxed. Seizing a guard coming to meet them, Chu Yu’s expression changed drastically after inquiring: It turned out that around noon, Hua Cuo had returned alone, collapsing in the courtyard and spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, bearing severe injuries on her body. Although a doctor had been summoned, she had yet to regain consciousness.

Hua Cuo had been sent out to tail Yu Wen, believing that with Hua Cuo’s skills, even if discovered, she would have enough time to escape, and even if she didn’t, being captured by Yu Wen would pose no danger, considering Rong Zhi’s influence. Yet, she had not expected such a tragic end.

Chu Yu had just stepped through the door when the news hit her, leaving her mind in turmoil and unsure of how to proceed. After a moment, she regained her composure. Seeing that the servants arranged by Yu Wen were somewhat frantic but showed no other signs of abnormality, and that the guards they brought seemed completely unaware…

If it had been Yu Wen who had ordered this ruthless action, she feared they would already be at their doorstep waiting for them to fall into the trap by now. So why was everything around them still so peaceful?

Chu Yu went to see Hua Cuo’s condition. The doctor said that Hua Cuo had a laceration on her chest caused by a sharp object and mild internal injuries. However, overall, her life was not in danger,

Chu Yu considered her options. Initially, her first reaction had been to flee immediately with everyone, including the injured Hua Cuo, but upon closer consideration, she was not in such a rush anymore. Forcing herself to remain calm, Chu Yu slowly organized her thoughts, estimating that Yu Wen and his people probably did not yet know about Hua Cuo tailing them. She now faced two choices: to stay or to leave, and outwardly, she had to act as if nothing had happened. However, before Chu Yu could reach a decision, she was suddenly informed that Yu Wen had arrived.

For the past ten days, she had been the one sending people to look for Yu Wen, who had never taken the initiative to visit. His sudden arrival must mean a different response.

Chu Yu paused, then smiled bitterly while standing at Hua Cuo’s bedside. This news had been something she had long hoped for, yet now it came at such a time, leaving her unable to feel happy about it.

Gazing at Hua Cuo for a moment, Chu Yu suddenly smiled, turned, and walked out the door. Soon, she saw Yu Wen in the main hall. He seemed oblivious to Hua Cuo’s situation and got straight to the point, “Canghai Guest has agreed to meet you, but he has one condition: only you and I may go, no one else may follow.”

Upon hearing this, Yue Jiefei immediately showed anger, but before he could react, Chu Yu raised her hand in front of him, “Fine, if I must go alone, then I shall go alone.”

Yue Jiefei was about to persuade her otherwise, but he met Chu Yu’s returning gaze, seeing her soft yet firm look, a sense of unshakable resolve in it, and the clear, bright smile in her eyes, now with a bit more openness and decisiveness than before, “Don’t try to dissuade me, my mind is made up.”

People must always have a spirit of adventure.

Yu Wen couldn’t help but praise Chu Yu’s forthrightness. He invited her to sit in his carriage, and they set off from the East Gate, passed Huashan Peak, and after traveling for about half an hour, he had the carriage stopped.

Both disembarked, and Yu Wen ordered the coachman to wait there, then led Chu Yu into the bamboo forest beside the road.

Starting from the exit of the East Gate, a light smile appeared on Chu Yu’s lips, growing deeper as they crossed Huashan Peak and entered the bamboo forest.

Finally, following Yu Wen to the side of a stream, when she saw the man sitting back on the rock, wearing rough hemp mourning clothes, his back to them, Chu Yu couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

As it happened, she had gambled correctly.