cold clothes

Hong'e found Wang Yiqing in no time. He was standing alone outside the crowd, looking as if he had something on his mind. He had declined invitations from others. Hong'e thought he was waiting for her, so she took a few light steps to him, patted his shoulder, and waved for him to follow.

Wang Yiqing was suddenly startled. When he saw that the person taking his picture was a beautiful woman he had never seen before, he was immediately captivated and followed Hong'e without thinking twice.

Reaching a secluded path, Wang Yiqing asked with a beaming smile, "Who are you, young lady? I've never seen you before."

Hong'e stopped in her tracks, turned around and saw Wang Yiqing's stupid face. She frowned and asked, "Didn't Wang Yuqing tell you?"

Wang Yiqing looked bewildered: "You know Sister Yuqing?"

"Hmph, just as I thought," Hong'e thought to herself, Wang Yuqing really didn't carry out the plan, but... she scanned Wang Yiqing with her eyes, it seemed that she could still achieve the desired result.

She crossed her arms, a sly smile playing on her lips, and looked at Wang Yiqing with narrowed eyes, saying, "Young master, would you like a beauty if I offered you one?"

"This, such a good thing actually happened?" Wang Yiqing couldn't suppress his smile. He immediately reached out to hug Hong'e's waist and pouted to kiss her cheek.

Hong'e immediately took a few steps back in disgust. What filthy thing dared to covet her! She quickly said, "It wasn't me. You know Ningbi, the courtesan of Fengxiang Pavilion, right?"

"Ningbi?" Wang Yiqing was stunned, then his face paled in shock. "You mean Ningbi?"

"That's right, it's that stunning beauty with blue eyes."

Now it was Wang Yiqing's turn to step back, turn around, and run away. Hong'e quickly grabbed his arm to stop him from leaving, but Wang Yiqing shook his arm wildly and broke free.

"Let go, let go! What kind of wild girl is this who's trying to harm me! I knew you weren't a good person long ago!" Wang Yiqing was lustful but not stupid. Ningbi was now the Third Prince's woman, and if he touched her, he would only end up being beheaded. This woman from who-knows-where was trying to kill him!

Wang Yiqing's shouts drew a frown from Hong'e, who immediately kicked him in the stomach and then sprinkled the intoxicating powder on his face. Wang Yiqing quickly lost consciousness and began to whimper softly.

"What a cowardly man," Hong'e said disdainfully, grabbing Wang Yiqing's collar and intending to drag him to Cuizhuzhai. She stopped after a few steps. There was no wind or snow, but her ears could still catch the faint sound of breathing and a faint, familiar fragrance.

"You've released her pressure points? You really underestimated Ningbi." Hong'e said through gritted teeth, but she was still fearless because she was very familiar with the smell of the poison she made when it evaporated. Although Ningbi did not appear, she still detected her.

Leng Yi was indeed hiding behind a rock not far from the path. She hadn't run more than a few steps when the fire in her body became so hot that she couldn't move. She had to stop and circulate her internal energy to resist it. She found that the effects of the aphrodisiac were gradually lessening. She didn't know why, but she gradually regained her senses.

When she heard human voices, she subconsciously lowered her breathing. When she heard it was Hong'e's voice, she couldn't help but feel a little desperate.

"Heh, it seems you want to have an affair. Well then, so be it." Hong'e muttered to herself, tossing Wang Yiqing out like trash. The delirious Wang Yiqing lay on the ground, unable to get up, wriggling like an earthworm—the details of which are omitted here.

Leng Yi realized that Hong E must have found her, and her heart jumped into her throat. The more anxious she became, the stronger the effects of the aphrodisiac became, making her breathing even more rapid. She couldn't help but curse, "Damn it."

Red Calyx heard it.

She chuckled and walked slowly toward the artificial hill, approaching her dying prey with the unhurried pace of a fox.

As the footsteps drew closer, Leng Yi steeled her resolve and decided to strike first!

A flash of cold light, and the sword energy slashed towards Hong'e's face in an instant. Hong'e quickly dodged to the side. Leng Yi realized that the sword missed, so she swung her sword again, giving Hong'e no chance to catch her breath.

Hong'e constantly dodged Leng Yi's sword strikes. Compared to Leng Yi's unsteady steps and chaotic sword moves, she seemed much more at ease. However, she still couldn't do anything to Leng Yi for the time being, simply because Leng Yi's sword swings were extremely swift and fierce, as if she had gone completely mad.

Hong'e was worried that the noise of their fight would alert others, but the next second the sound of fireworks launching and exploding rang out one after another, and her heart calmed down and returned to its place.

Everyone was watching the fireworks; no one would notice them.

Before long, Leng Yi collapsed to her knees, too exhausted to even hold her sword, which fell to the ground. The reason for this was that without a controlled circulation of internal energy to resist the drug's effects, Leng Yi's struggles were merely a delaying tactic, ultimately futile.

“Finally, I couldn’t hold on any longer,” Hong’e kicked Lengyi’s soft sword away, then stepped on Lengyi’s outstretched hand and mocked, “Is this the famous sword dance in the capital? Oh dear, it’s a pity that I was the only one who saw Ningbi’s crazy appearance. But don’t worry, Ningbi, I will have the whole Wang family come to see you later, hahahaha.”

"Ahem, I'm so sorry, and I saw it by accident too." Suddenly a woman's voice clearly reached Hong'e's ears, so clear that even the sound of fireworks became blurry.

"Who?!" Hong'e looked up in alarm and looked around.

There's no mistake, this is internal force transmitting sound, and there are highly skilled martial artists nearby watching.

How could this be? How could the Wang family have such a master?

"Looking for me? Little sister, I'm here... can you see me?" The gentle female voice seemed to come from a different direction, and Hong'e looked in panic again in the direction the voice came from, but she could see nothing but the silent courtyard wall in the dark night.

Hong'e composed herself and said in a clear voice, "Sister, I don't know who you are. I am a disciple of Hanyan Pavilion. This is a personal matter between me and someone else. I hope you will not interfere. In this way, I will be indebted to you."

"Oh? So you're from Hanyan Pavilion. No wonder you resort to such underhanded tactics." The woman who hadn't shown herself suddenly turned cold.

Hong'e was now truly panicked. The newcomer clearly had a grudge against Hanyan Pavilion. Introducing herself would only be detrimental to her. The best of the thirty-six stratagems was to flee!

"Trying to leave?" Suddenly, a woman's ethereal voice came from behind her. Hong'e had just caught a whiff of fragrance from behind her and hadn't even had time to react when she was struck hard on the back of the neck and instantly lost consciousness.

The woman emerged from the shadows, looked at the three unconscious people lying on the ground, shook her head, and muttered, "This little brat really knows how to cause trouble."

She glanced at Hong'e. "I was thinking of arresting you and interrogating you properly, but I'll pass. There are people more worthy of my concern now." As she spoke, the woman straightened the cold-clothed woman who was curled up in pain and asked softly, "Ningbi, can you still endure it?"

The man in cold clothes asked, panting heavily, "Who are you?"

"Hmm? After all these years, you don't recognize me." The woman's voice was slightly tinged with laughter. "Don't worry, I'm Yun Qiu, here to help you."