Su Xiaoliu clenched her fists and secretly made up her mind. She looked up at Fang Xie and said, "If I help you find out the truth, you'll let me go and stop interfering in my life." She didn't want to be involved in this jianghu world anymore. Seeing that Fang Xie showed no sign of refusal, she hesitated for a while and whispered, "Also, if the current alliance leader steps down as we wish, could you change back to the old Gu Rongxue..."
"The one who saved me only asked me to avenge the Gu family. He helped me revitalize it." Fang Xie said slowly, "But finding out the true identity of the alliance leader and making him step down is something I want to do on my own."
Su Xiaoliu pursed her lips and looked at him. "Why do you hate the current alliance leader so much?" Zuo Jinzhi was indeed detestable, but Fang Xie showed such intense hatred.
Under the black cloak, the thin lips on the half - visible jade - like face moved slightly, uttering words that left Su Xiaoliu stunned on the spot.
"Because everyone in the Gu family hates Zuo Jinzhi to the core."
The carriage bumped along. No one knew how long they had been traveling.
Su Xiaoliu leaned against the carriage curtain, feeling drowsy. Her eyelids seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently, hitting her head against the carriage board. She gasped in pain, slowly opened her eyes, and rubbed the sore spot.
Fang Xie gave her a casual glance. Just as Su Xiaoliu was about to ask when they would arrive, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
After getting off the carriage, a gentle evening breeze blew. In the early summer, the chirping of cicadas could be faintly heard.
The attendant slowly opened the gate of the Gu family's mountain villa. Su Xiaoliu followed Fang Xie closely, treading carefully.
"My lord." A beautiful figure stopped not far from them.
Su Xiaoliu peeked out from behind Fang Xie. A young girl in a plain silk dress with an exquisitely coiled发髻 was looking at Fang Xie with big, watery eyes.
It was the girl who had sung a ditty last time.
The moonlight shone down, illuminating the crabapple flowers on Fang Xie's dark red robe that dragged on the ground. His voice slowly came from under the black cloak.
"What's the matter?"
Yu Lingyao looked up at Fang Xie, then her gaze fell on Su Xiaoliu behind him. She was slightly taken aback, then lowered her head and said, "A distinguished guest has come to visit."
Su Xiaoliu was startled. There was a faint sense of anticipation in her heart, and she slowly curled the corners of her mouth.
Fang Xie also guessed who the guest was. He said indifferently, "Didn't I tell Ban Tu and Cai Ling to say I was out? Why was the guest still allowed to stay?"
Yu Lingyao pursed her lips and said nothing.
"Let's go. Take me to see the distinguished guest." Fang Xie continued walking forward.
Yu Lingyao looked up, a hint of joy on her face. She quickly walked in front to lead the way.
Su Xiaoliu followed Fang Xie, temporarily forgetting all the previous trivial matters.
When they reached a door with a flickering candlelight, Yu Lingyao gently pushed the door open and stepped aside.
Fang Xie slowly walked in. Su Xiaoliu looked up into the room. The handsome young man in white sitting quietly in front of the sandalwood table was none other than Zhong Fengyue, whom she had been longing for day and night.
"Situ Qianyue!" Su Xiaoliu's face lit up. She curled the corners of her mouth and ran out from behind Fang Xie.
Fang Xie turned his head slightly to glance at her. In the blink of an eye, she had run in front of Zhong Fengyue.
When Zhong Fengyue saw Su Xiaoliu, he slowly curled the corners of his mouth. A hint of doting flashed across his jade - like black eyes. He smiled and said, "So you came here. You've made me search far and wide."
Wen Tong looked at Fang Xie and quickly stood up. Under the black cloak, it was hard to tell whether Fang Xie was angry or happy. Wen Tong was slightly taken aback, then quickly lowered his head.
Zhong Fengyue looked up at Fang Xie in the dark red robe. A hint of annoyance flashed across his eyes. He said with a faint smile, "May I ask what your intention is for taking away my wife?" Sure enough, it was him, the man who had bought the qin last time.
Su Xiaoliu glanced at Zhong Fengyue, hesitating whether to tell him about Gu Rongxue.
Under his cloud - like sleeves, his long, fair fingers gently stroked the red jade finger ring. Fang Xie said slowly, "I just invited her to help with something."
Wen Tong glanced at Fang Xie, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his head. "My lord Fang Xie, this is Young Master Zhong, the young master of the Tianci Cult. He's here to look for Miss Xiaoliu."
Fang Xie gave him a non - committal look and said slowly, "Since you invited him, then entertain him well." After a moment, he added, "You may step down."
Wen Tong's face changed slightly. He lowered his head and responded.
After Wen Tong stepped down, the three of them were left alone in the large room.
Zhong Fengyue curled the corners of his mouth and looked at Fang Xie. "The eldest young master of the Gu family invited my wife to help. May I see if there's anything I can do to assist as well?"
Su Xiaoliu looked at Zhong Fengyue and vaguely felt that he was a bit angry. She curled the corners of her mouth and secretly smiled.
Fang Xie showed no excessive reaction. He said indifferently, "If Young Master Zhong has nothing else to do, come with me when we go to find the alliance leader tomorrow."
Zhong Fengyue looked at Fang Xie. Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, a hint of solemnity flashed across his eyes.
Find the alliance leader? What did he want to do with the alliance leader?
The moon was dark and the wind was high. The candle shadows flickered.
Su Xiaoliu sat quietly in front of the table. She had felt sleepy in the carriage, but now she was wide awake and didn't feel the slightest bit tired.
Sitting there was really boring. Su Xiaoliu walked to the door and was about to go find Zhong Fengyue. Just as she pushed the door open, a figure walked in. Su Xiaoliu was startled. She looked up and saw Fang Xie in his dark red robe.
The black cloak covered his whole body from head to toe. The dark red robe embroidered with crabapple flowers dragged on the ground.
"Gu... Fang Xie..." Su Xiaoliu was stunned. She wanted to call out Gu Rongxue's name but stopped herself and changed her words at the last moment.
Fang Xie walked to the sandalwood table. The white smoke from the gilded incense burner rose straight up. The candle flames flickered, making the shadows dance.
Under his cloud - like sleeves, his long - fingered hand gently untied the black cloak. His inky hair cascaded down like water, and his extremely beautiful face was revealed, with a hint of sadness. His long, fan - like eyelashes drooped.
Su Xiaoliu stared at him blankly and pursed her lips. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Fang Xie slowly raise his eyes. His deep, pool - like eyes met hers. He said indifferently, "Between me and Gu Rongxue, who is the real one?"
Su Xiaoliu was stunned. She pursed the corners of her mouth and looked at him. "In my eyes, Gu Rongxue will always be the real one." Another meaning was that Fang Xie would never be better than Gu Rongxue.
The dark red figure paused slightly. Fang Xie slowly closed his deep, pool - like eyes. "Gu Rongxue was so cowardly and easily exploited. Is that what a good person is?"
Su Xiaoliu looked at him quietly and whispered, "But Gu Rongxue would never use others just to live for himself."
Fang Xie slowly opened his eyes and looked at Su Xiaoliu. He said indifferently, "Only one of me and Gu Rongxue can live. Gu Rongxue is already dead. So now, there's no more Gu Rongxue. There's only Fang Xie. Do you understand..."