This is a disaster, Lu Chengsha!
For three whole months, she had stayed within the sect, practicing her swordsmanship day and night, just hoping to see him sooner. And what was he doing at Tingjian Manor? He even learned to buy hairpins for girls! He never gave her one!
Hua Yan was furious. She decided not to return this plain hairpin to him and kept it for herself.
Unexpectedly, Lu Chengsha, who had been avoiding the fight, suddenly became serious.
He moved swiftly, targeting her vital points. Hua Yan, caught off guard, had to dodge. The Tiancan Sword Technique was incredibly powerful, but it didn’t mean she could engage in close combat. She narrowly avoided Lu Chengsha’s incoming palm strike, but with a quick reverse grip, he caught her wrist. Hua Yan felt his fingers tighten, as if he was about to break her wrist holding the hairpin.
She didn’t expect him to turn against her so ruthlessly and couldn’t help but say, “Great Hero Lu, do you really want to do this to me?”
The familiar title and tone carried a hint of hurt.
Lu Chengsha was momentarily stunned.
Taking advantage of this, Hua Yan broke free from his grasp. Her wrist now bore five red finger marks. She was both angry and aggrieved, and the words of their sect leader echoed in her mind, making her heart sink even further.
It seemed he knew her true identity and really didn’t want to forgive her.
Would explaining herself even help?
Looking at the hairpin in her hand, she felt even worse. In just three short months, he had found someone else.
Clearly, he hadn’t known anything before.
She sniffled and handed the hairpin back to him. “I don’t want it. Take it back.”
Hua Yan felt that her hard trip had been for nothing. He truly hated the demonic sect, as Xie Yingxian had said. The fact that he didn’t kill her on the spot already showed deep feelings and righteousness.
Since their reunion, he looked at her with none of the warmth or intimacy from before. No hatred or struggle either. He looked at her like a stranger, no, a strange enemy.
She still missed him so much.
Were they really beyond reconciliation?
Bitter feelings surged within Hua Yan. She almost wanted to throw a tantrum and cry, but feared Lu Chengsha would cut her down. Things were different now. She forced herself to stay calm and said softly, “Let me say a few more words, and I’ll leave.”
Lu Chengsha snatched back his hairpin, feeling a trace of displeasure in his heart.
He shouldn’t be wasting words with this demonic sect witch. However, her face kept flashing before his eyes, disturbing his peace of mind. He already felt his mind was not very clear and didn’t want to converse with anyone. Otherwise, he would have killed her long ago…
“This place is not very safe. Yin Xiangsi… the old witch from before, she’s tough to deal with. You should leave as soon as possible and treat your injuries promptly,” Hua Yan paused before continuing, “I didn’t mean to deceive you. I was truly being chased back then and had no internal strength, which is why I insisted on following you. I hid my identity because I was afraid you’d kill me on sight. I didn’t mean to seduce you. Although I kissed you first, you didn’t refuse…” Her voice grew quieter, and despite herself, she couldn’t help but add, “I have one more question. Who did you buy that hairpin for?”
She really cared about it!
Just let her die knowing the truth!
Who was the bastard who took advantage of her absence to steal her man?
Lu Chengsha grew more confused as he listened. He thought this woman was just like other demonic sect witches, using some evil method to make him see her face and deliberately get close to him for some unknown reason. But when he heard about the kiss, he was truly puzzled about how she knew and why she cared about who he bought the hairpin for.
It couldn’t be that he was hallucinating words.
She was taller, her martial arts skills were higher, and she wore very unfamiliar clothes—not even a dress. Apart from her face, everything else…
Hua Yan, seeing his lack of response, thought Lu Chengsha didn’t even want to acknowledge her.
She clenched her fists, feeling deeply aggrieved. If she stayed any longer, she didn’t know what she might do. Hua Yan bit her lip and said, “Then I’ll go.” She moved a few steps to the side, reluctant to leave.
Before she could take two steps, her wrist was grabbed again.
Hua Yan was startled. She turned and said, “I gave you the hairpin back, do you still want to break my wrist?” Her wrist, still red, was once again covered by his fingers. His palm was hot, and Hua Yan felt her wrist was particularly fragile. “Be gentle…”
Lu Chengsha had no intention of breaking her wrist. He blinked hard twice, and with some difficulty, said, “Who… who are you?”
Hua Yan was momentarily stunned.
“You don’t recognize me?” She blinked a few times, her mind going blank for a moment before she sighed with relief, “Did you lose your memory?” Her tone even carried a hint of lightness.
Lu Chengsha’s heart began to waver slightly.
If she was acting, it was too convincing.
Hua Yan remembered that she had just used gu poison and thrown toxic powder. She immediately felt she had made a big mistake. If she had known he didn’t remember, then… well, she wouldn’t lie to him anymore.
Hesitating, she grasped Lu Chengsha’s wrist in return, suddenly noticing how unusually hot his body felt.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Being closer, she saw that his face was also flushed, and fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
Hua Yan lifted her other hand to feel his forehead, but Lu Chengsha turned his head away to avoid her touch. He pressed his lips together and said, “I haven’t lost my memory.” Even his breathing sounded unnaturally heavy.
She had thought he was injured, but now it seemed it wasn’t just an injury.
“Then what’s wrong with you…” Hua Yan asked cautiously, “Do you really not recognize me?”
Being this close, her scent finally permeated his senses—a faint, enchanting fragrance like flower petals damp with morning dew, a scent that lingered in his dreams, haunting him.
Lu Chengsha abruptly released her hand.
Hua Yan barely had time to rub her wrist before Lu Chengsha turned and walked away swiftly, as if escaping.
“Wait… Great Hero Lu, you haven’t answered my question. Why did you ask who I am? Do you not recognize me, or have you mistaken me for someone else, or someone else for me?”
She followed closely, sensing there might still be hope.
After recognizing her, Lu Chengsha’s attitude was clearly not as cold as before.
The surrounding area was shrouded in mist and desolate, Hua Yan feared losing him, so she followed more closely, even grabbing his sleeve, calling out his name, “Lu Chengsha! If you have something to say, just say it. Stop running, will you?”
Lu Chengsha stumbled as she pulled on him and finally stopped.
He breathed heavily, seemingly unsure of what to say, and after a while, he spoke, “You lied to me.”
Hua Yan was also taken aback, losing her earlier momentum. She stammered, “I explained just now, I didn’t do it on purpose…”
Lu Chengsha said, “Zhou Xiaohua.”
??? Why suddenly…
It was the first time Hua Yan heard this name from his mouth, and it sounded quite strange. But thinking about the origin of the name, she immediately felt a headache and explained, “It’s not really a false name. My father’s surname is Zhou, and my mother’s surname is Hua. I just took my mother’s surname… so I’m called Hua Yan. You see, Zhou Xiaohua sounds better than Zhou Xiaoyan…”
Lu Chengsha asked, “Chased by the demonic sect? Parents killed by the demonic sect?”
Hua Yan immediately responded, “I was really being chased! Yu Ye betrayed the demonic sect and wanted to kill me. My internal strength was sealed by his poison. Everything I said is true… My parents…” she whispered, “They did die because of the demonic sect. Their graves are still there, just not killed by the demonic sect.”
Lu Chengsha, still somewhat disoriented, suddenly asked, “You were originally going to marry him?”
Hua Yan was stunned again.
She almost forgot about that matter.
Lu Chengsha continued, “You agreed to let him marry you?”
Hua Yan couldn’t believe how petty he had become after three months. It was as if the person who had mistaken her identity wasn’t Lu Chengsha, but herself.
She was about to explain when she suddenly remembered something she cared about and immediately countered, “You still haven’t told me who you bought the hairpin for?”
Lu Chengsha remained silent.
Hua Yan pressed on, “You almost broke my wrist for that hairpin! I still have your finger marks on my wrist!” As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeve and raised her wrist to show Lu Chengsha what he had done.
The red marks from Lu Chengsha’s fingers stood out starkly against her fair skin, clear and striking.
Lu Chengsha abruptly turned his head away.
Hua Yan, thinking he was trying to avoid responsibility, deliberately moved her wrist closer for him to see.
Lu Chengsha quickly averted his gaze, his chest heaving as if he were deeply agitated.
Hua Yan finally withdrew her wrist, feeling a twinge of grievance, and said, “Yu Ye and I were betrothed by our parents when we were young and ignorant. He was already involved with other women. He’s really not a good person. We cut all ties long ago… And that was before I met you. Now, even if you killed me, I wouldn’t marry him. There, I’ve finished. Your turn.”
Lu Chengsha did not move, merely panting heavily, his face turned to the side.
Hua Yan turned her head to look at him, only to see Lu Chengsha suddenly cut another wound on his arm. The previously congealed blood started to flow down his fingers again.
“What are you doing? Stop hurting yourself!” Hua Yan quickly said. “What’s going on? Have you been poisoned by Yin Xiangsi? Let me see.”
Lu Chengsha stepped back two paces and finally said in a low voice, “Don’t come any closer.”
Hua Yan was truly at a loss, feeling a headache coming on. She said, “Even if you’re mad at me, you should at least take care of yourself! If you’re really that upset, we can fight again once you’re better… If you keep this up, I won’t feel right leaving you like this.”
Sweat seemed to break out on Lu Chengsha’s forehead again as he said, “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” Hua Yan asked, biting her lip, feeling a bit frustrated. “Do you really not want to make up with me?”
Lu Chengsha looked up at her, his vision blurred as if covered with a faint pink veil. Her every expression, every smile was so enchanting that his heart raced wildly.
In the past, he might have felt his body heat up, but never to this extent.
Before he could touch her, he had already lost control.
Could it really be that not seeing her for so long had made him lose his composure to this extent?
Hua Yan saw that Lu Chengsha seemed dazed, so she tentatively reached out a hand, only to be immediately grabbed and pulled into his embrace.
She was startled by Lu Chengsha’s sudden action, but as she nestled against him, she immediately felt his body was burning hot, not at all normal.
His breath, scorching against her neck, made her face flush instantly.
Lu Chengsha seemed intoxicated, breathing heavily as he struggled to release her. “What did you say just now…”
Even if it were a cold, it shouldn’t be like this. His cheeks were flushed, and there was a heavy sense of desire in his breathing.
Hua Yan touched his forehead with one hand and checked his pulse with the other, then froze.
This wasn’t poisoning—this was clearly the effect of a potent aphrodisiac. She should have known, Yin Xiangsi’s poisons were never benign. No wonder the old witch said those words before leaving.
Normally, this kind of drug would wear off after a few hours, but enduring it would be painful and unnecessary.
Hua Yan rummaged through her pocket and found a pill that could help calm and clear the mind. She put it into his mouth, touching his throat to make him swallow.
As her fingers grazed Lu Chengsha’s throat, he let out a muffled groan. His sweat-soaked lashes quivered, and his eyes, dark and hazy with confusion, suddenly drew closer, as if seeking her lips.
Just as he was about to kiss her, Hua Yan, still troubled by her own concerns, pressed against his shoulder and said, “Who did you buy that hairpin for?”
Lu Chengsha’s eyes flashed with confusion, but Hua Yan looked at him steadily. He blinked, finally understanding what she meant, and glanced down at the hairpin still clutched in his hand.
He had held onto it for three months, countless times wanting to break it, but couldn’t bear to.
Lu Chengsha released his grip, slowly raising his hand to gently place the black wooden hairpin in Hua Yan’s hair. He closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them with a resigned sigh, “…It was for you.”
Through Lu Chengsha’s dark eyes, she saw the bright red silk flower blooming vividly in her black hair, both gaudy and eye-catching.
Hua Yan reluctantly admitted that the gaudy hairpin did suit her, in a way.
…Alright.
She finally exhaled with satisfaction and lifted her head, pressing her lips to Lu Chengsha’s.
That single touch was like kindling a fire, igniting instantly and uncontrollably.
Hua Yan was held tightly in Lu Chengsha’s burning embrace. As their lips and tongues intertwined, it felt like lightning and thunder exploded beside her ears, sending electric shivers through her body. She suddenly realized that it had been three months since they had been this close. Her nose tingled with the urge to cry, but this was just the beginning. Lu Chengsha quickly showed her through his actions that he had been longing for her just as much during these three months.
And clearly, his mind was not entirely clear.
For a moment, Hua Yan regretted it. She should have waited until the drug’s effects had passed, so she wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed by a mere kiss, feeling as if she were being overpowered.
Lu Chengsha’s entire body was scorching hot, from his lips and tongue to his fingers.
Hua Yan could hardly breathe, her entire being enveloped by his presence. Yet Lu Chengsha seemed unsatisfied, wanting to kiss her even deeper. Hua Yan whimpered, trying to push him away, but he firmly held her wrist behind her back, giving her no chance to escape. She was at his mercy, unable to catch even a breath.
Her consciousness was like a small boat in a stormy sea, overwhelmed by waves and quickly submerged. When she finally regained a bit of composure, she found herself weak and limp, her limbs soft.
But before she could rest, Lu Chengsha pulled her back for more kisses, treating her as if she were his antidote.
Then, Hua Yan suddenly realized something. How could this be? They had been kissing for so long, yet he was still so feverish?