NIP #444 - I recognize you as the new big sister (2 in 1 please order)
#444 - I recognize you as the new big sister (2 in 1 please order)
Under the scorching sun, dust swirled in the desolate desert. Qin Huan's close-guard Golden Cicada Thieves, armed with long spears, warily watched their surroundings. Zhong Wuye, carrying a pack, paced back and forth beside Qin Huan.
"This land is barren. Where would any envoy be?" One of the thieves spat, muttering as he turned to leave. Qin Huan frowned, took out a yellowed secret letter from his bosom, and carefully examined the address: "Could something have gone wrong? It seems we must scout ahead."
Just then, a faint rustling sound came from nearby. Everyone tensed instantly, staring at the source of the sound. Several small sand dunes gradually revealed human figures in the breeze, approaching steadily. Soon, nearly a hundred fully armed palace guards appeared before them, surrounding them completely.
"Where did this rabble come from, daring to spy on imperial secrets!" The leading guard shouted sternly, ordering his men to draw their swords.
Qin Huan's face darkened immediately. He raised the secret letter high, questioning the guard loudly, "This letter says there's a marriage envoy passing through here. Is that false? What are you plotting?"
The guard sneered, looking down at Qin Huan and his companions, "Stop playing dumb in front of me! This place has been a royal forbidden zone since ancient times. Commoners who trespass must be arrested and interrogated. Did you hear about treasures buried here and come like wolves smelling blood?"
Qin Huan, indignant, was about to argue again when the guard continued to shout, "Silence! You chivalrous thieves dare to spy on military secrets, a crime punishable by death! Whoever ordered you to do this will also be severely punished. It seems Grand Tutor Ouyang was right; you rebellious subjects intend to harm the envoy!"
Before he finished speaking, he signaled his men to draw their swords, preparing to attack. Qin Huan was shocked and immediately drew his saber, pointing it at the guard, "You are lackeys of treacherous officials! Today, I will demand justice!"
With a wave of his sleeve, the thieves beside him charged with their long spears, attacking the guards from multiple directions! The two sides clashed fiercely, spears and swords clanging, with valiant figures flying and exchanging blows.
Zhong Wuye, clutching her chest, watched the intense battle in terror. She saw Qin Huan wielding his sword, his movements agile and graceful, like a soaring raptor in a fierce fight. Each time his saber struck, guards fell. The loyal thieves fought valiantly, their seamless teamwork quickly driving back dozens of guards, but they remained surrounded.
Qin Huan took a deep breath, wiped the blood from his saber on the ground, and rushed toward the guard. Their swords clashed in mid-air, creating a series of bright sparks. The ground trembled beneath their feet.
Just as Qin Huan was about to strike, the guard grunted and dodged his attack with a swift spin. Qin Huan's blade became stuck in a boulder, unable to break free.
In desperation, he lunged, pinning the guard to the ground, his saber against the man's throat. The battle froze as both sides watched in disbelief.
Qin Huan gasped, closing his eyes in concentration. He gripped his saber tightly, appearing pained and devout, as if praying. Zhong Wuye saw his saber tremble slightly, shimmering with faint silver light, like a distant galaxy flowing across its surface!
After a long moment, Qin Huan opened his eyes and said in a heavy voice:
"So that's it! I've read everything from this blade. The envoy never came here; they were diverted to..." He glanced at the guard, lowering his voice to reveal a location.
Zhong Wuye stared in astonishment, wondering, How did he do that?
Just as she hesitated, the guard sneered, "So, you do possess some martial arts skills, but they're nothing special to me."
He quickly reversed his grip, striking at Qin Huan with the hilt!
Qin Huan fought back, engaging in a fierce struggle. They twisted and turned, entering a strange state, as if exchanging blows at an imperceptible rate. Zhong Wuye noticed the summer sun becoming warm and gentle, and a cool mist filled the air!
As the fight reached its climax, Zhong Wuye suddenly remembered something and shouted, "Qin, that place! It seems to be the site of the East Sea Divine Saber Sect!"
...
The setting sun cast a bloody hue, and the forest was filled with a sense of dread. Zhong Wuye gripped her long sword, charging toward the last squad of guards with murderous intent, followed by the heavily wounded Qin Huan and the disheveled thieves. With each strike, her movements were unrestrained, like a dragon emerging, annihilating the last of the guards.
As silence returned to the forest, she gasped for breath, leaning against an old tree, drenched in sweat. Qin Huan and the thieves looked at her with admiration; the courage of the Glass Troupe's leader was indeed well-deserved.
Zhong Wuye wiped the sweat from her forehead and hurried after the maids' tracks, hoping the princess was still alive.
Soon, a faint moan came from ahead. They followed the sound and found a young woman in a luxurious dress, huddled and trembling in a hidden cave, her beautiful face covered in dirt and tears. The maids quickly helped her up, and the girl's eyes lit up, "Are you sent by the court?! I knew you'd come to save us!"
Zhong Wuye hugged her, full of surprise and sympathy. The girl sobbed, "Our marriage envoy arrived safely in the Western Regions, but on the way back, we were ambushed by the Grand Tutor. They attacked like wolves, surrounding us. I thought we were doomed, but you arrived so quickly."
She looked around, then said anxiously, "But the princess... she was dragged away and is still missing. We tried to follow, but we couldn't overcome their defenses." The girl's words trailed off, and she began to sob again.
Qin Huan and the thieves exchanged helpless glances.
It seemed the princess had been kidnapped and was now missing. They had to take the maid away from the forest, find a place to rest, and consider their next move.
Just then, Qin Huan noticed Zhong Wuye's lonely figure in the distance.
She stood silently in the shade, her long sword resting on her arms, lost in thought. Perhaps because of the fierce battles, she was exhausted.
A breeze ruffled her sweat-soaked bangs and the hem of her skirt. Sunlight streamed through the leaves, bathing her in a faint golden glow. Qin Huan stared at the light, admiring the captivating scene.
Zhong Wuye's slender figure was outlined by her sweat-soaked clothes, revealing her lithe curves. Her every move exuded vitality, and the rise and fall of her muscles showed a unique beauty. Even more captivating was her slightly haggard but still stunning face.
As Qin Huan was lost in thought, he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his cheeks and snapped back to reality. Zhong Wuye had turned around, glaring at him, seemingly displeased with his gaze. Qin Huan was embarrassed and ashamed, quickly waving his hand to explain, "Leader Zhong, I'm not a pervert! I just admire your skill; it's truly admirable."
He bowed exaggeratedly to show his humility.
Zhong Wuye smiled faintly, accepting his explanation. She looked around sharply and announced to everyone, "Everyone, this isn't over! The princess is missing, and her life is likely in danger. Once we recover, we'll start a new search!"
She turned and left, heading to join the maid. Qin Huan and the other thieves exchanged glances, some looking at each other with ambiguous expressions. Soon, someone chuckled, and others followed suit.
After a while, someone shouted, "Leader is mighty! Long live the leader!" He stood up, raising his weapon and shouting. Others followed suit, vying to approach Zhong Wuye.
Soon, they gathered around Zhong Wuye, their weathered faces filled with joy.
Zhong Wuye's expression turned serious. She took a sword from someone and raised it high, saying, "From today on, I, Zhong Wuye, am the sole leader of the Golden Cicada Thieves! We are a family now. Anyone who bullies us will drink the final realgar wine!"
Her words were met with deafening roars and laughter, as if hell had been unleashed. Qin Huan stroked his beard, watching the lively scene with satisfaction. Soon, a wounded thief squeezed next to him, grinning and asking, "Hey! Qin, aren't you going to declare your allegiance? Have you already joined the leader's side?"
Qin Huan smiled faintly and shook his head. He put down his saber and said solemnly, "I, Qin Huan, am an imperial official, loyal to the Grand Commander, acting under orders. I'm only borrowing the strength of the Golden Cicada Thieves to complete my mission. I'll eventually leave you. As long as you listen to me and Miss Zhong, you'll have wealth and glory!"
...
Having barely survived yesterday's battle, yet losing the princess, Zhong Wuye was filled with mixed emotions.
But she needed to remain calm and deal with the situation. She couldn't stop here; she had to move forward and be wary of enemies.
So, when the maid asked to explore Chang'an this morning, Zhong Wuye readily agreed.
The newest novels are first published on Liu Jiu Jiu Shu Ba!
The girl beamed with joy upon hearing Zhong Wuye's agreement.
She grabbed Zhong Wuye's wrist and ran forward, chattering. Zhong Wuye was startled by her sudden action and was taken aback.
The girl, with the sun behind her, seemed to be gilded in gold, shining in the morning light.
She wore a blue-green dress, and her fair skin was radiant in the morning light. Her delicate face was filled with a bright smile, and her sparkling eyes were like a clear spring shimmering with light.
Zhong Wuye thought she was the evil one, being flustered by the young girl's actions.
But it was understandable. A princess's maid, born in the palace, was probably overprotected and spoiled. Once she left that familiar place, she would be curious and excited about everything new.
Seeing the bustling streets, Zhong Wuye coughed and pulled her back, whispering, "Slow down. This isn't like where you live. Chang'an is the largest city in the world, lively and bustling. We shouldn't attract attention."
The girl nodded cheerfully, obediently letting Zhong Wuye lead her down the street.
Soon, they came across a sugar cake shop, with tempting aromas wafting out. The girl's eyes lit up, and she looked around, whispering, "Ah? What's that smell? It's so fragrant!" Zhong Wuye knew that beautiful girls couldn't resist such things, so she sighed and led her closer.
Several lewd-looking vendors were busy at work, and tempting white steam rose from the hot copper pot.
Zhong Wuye glanced at them with disdain and explained to the girl, "This is a popular sugar cake in the Central Plains, but it's quite crude. I don't like it." But the girl was staring intently at the grease in the pot, captivated by the aroma.
Zhong Wuye sighed and handed some copper coins to a stylish vendor nearby.
Before long, a large, flaky pastry ball filled with candied fruit was handed to her. Zhong Wuye seized the opportunity and placed it in the girl's palm. Only then did the girl awaken as if from a dream, looking down at the golden treat in her hand, and said blankly, "This... this is?"
Zhong Wuye nodded, her tone softening, "Try it. Although the workmanship is a bit rough, the taste is quite nice. Just be careful not to get your dress dirty."
Upon hearing this, the girl hesitated for a moment, then carefully cradled the pastry ball and took a small bite.
Zhong Wuye saw her eyes widen again, a glint of light flashing within them, clearly shaken by this small bite. She couldn't help but hold the pastry ball away to look at it and smell it, her brow furrowing as if lost in thought. But before long, she seemed to have made up her mind, opening her mouth and swallowing the rest of the pastry ball in one go, chewing with effort.
After a short while, she began to marvel, saying, "Wow... this is amazing! Sweetness mixed with a slight salty fragrance, crispy and crunchy to chew, and there's filling in the middle... is this the sugar pastry that you Central Plains people often eat? It's truly astonishing!" As she spoke, she began to look around again, as if searching for the next sugar pastry shop to continue sampling.
Zhong Wuye couldn't help but find the situation somewhat amusing, but she still firmly held onto her hand, intending to pull her away from the bustling street. The girl looked back at her in confusion, her face full of doubt. Zhong Wuye simply smiled faintly and said, "You've already had a little taste of the local flavor. Next, let's go to a quieter place and let you experience another side of Central Plains culture."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhong Wuye felt a sudden tightening in her hand, and then she heard the girl emit a painful groan. When she came to her senses, she saw that the girl's body had stiffened, and she seemed to be frozen in place as if a spell had been cast on her! Even more terrifying, a faint wisp of smoke began to rise from her body.
"Crap! What's going on?" Zhong Wuye thought in alarm, and quickly stepped forward to check.
She saw the girl's hands hanging limply at her sides, her eyes staring blankly ahead, unmoving. Just then, Zhong Wuye felt as if something had burned her shoulder, and she quickly retracted her hand in pain! The unsettling smoke was getting thicker and thicker, and Zhong Wuye had no choice but to grit her teeth, pick up the girl who was already completely stiff, and run wildly into the distance.