When their eyes met, Ming Suwen was first to avert her gaze. Seemingly unable to stand his gaze, she lowered her head.
"Why is he here, and in that appearance no less?" wondered Ming Suwen.
Ming Suwen took on the persona of Juese to approach Ming Feizhen; however, she was unaware that he immediately saw through her disguise at first glance.
Back then, she silently waited until New Year's Eve, when the crowd was out and candles in countless homes were bright. She entertained herself with the sight, and then left after leaving her name behind. After vanishing for years, she came back and told Ming Feizhen that she had gotten married in the capital already. At the time, Ming Feizhen should've been married. The two looked at each other, laughed and reminisced their childhood together, and their younger days spent wandering the pugilistic world. They were still childhood friends, still Shiyi and Ming Feizhen…
Ming Feizhen went to pursue his own life, while she just needed the memories. For some reason, though… nothing went the way she expected.
"Why?" she wondered. "Why has he already appeared before me?"
It was her first time meeting him after watching him kiss with Jingan. The memory of Ming Feizhen and Jingan kissing involuntarily surfaced in her mind again. The stifling feeling in her chest had her hang her head down.
Ming Feizhen wasn't too sure what to do. According to his memories, his shiyi rarely ever displayed such a lonely expression in front of so many people, especially when there were enemies in the vicinity, as well. Frankly, Ming Feizhen felt agitated all of a sudden the moment entered and saw Jin Wangsun.
Jin Wangsun was their common enemy, yet he was there carrying himself as though he owned the place. Jin Wangsun used his most beloved money to try and buy Ming Feizhen's shiyi, while his shiyi, herself, was the one who created the predicament.
Ming Feizhen was unaware that Jin Wangsun and his shiyi had reached out to each other. Nevertheless, he was unable to keep up with his shiyi's wayward character. Hence, the memory of the twin mental cultivation manual from back then appeared in his mind again and, of course, the scene his eyes were treated to that day… Realising that the man before him might get to see that same scene, Ming Feizhen got mad for a number of reasons. He was also a tad angry with Ming Suwen. He was angry at her for not being forthright.
In his mind, Ming Feizhen asked, "If you don't want me to marry the Princess, why not just tell me? Why sabotage and punish yourself? You know that I always listen to you. Why do you refuse to trust me…?"
But nonetheless, witnessing the crowd treating his shiyi as a commodity to bid on, rage and sorrow accumulated in Ming Feizhen's chest. He was on the verge of exploding and levelling the entire place.
Jin Wangsun didn't know much about Lord San Shen. However, the Orange Prince's rebellion was a huge deal. According to the intelligence he received on the insurgence, the Demon Sect's Lord San Shen got involved with the incident. Thanks to that information, he was able to recognise him when he saw Ming Feizhen's long white hair and fang mask.
Jni Wangsun, a member of the Seven Champion White Princes, was the nemesis of Divine Moon Cult. Hence, he had to comment. Having said that, he was in an awkward position. Remember, he sneaked out of his abode. He was not supposed to be at a brothel. Subsequently, he carefully chose his words and gauged his manners, "My family name is Jin. I have made the highest offer for Miss Juese, y-"
"Shut up!" thundered Ming Feizhen.
Ming Feizhen yelled in his mind, "I have yet to say anything, and you're already starting?!"
Like a whirlwind, Ming Feizhen zipped over next to Jin Wangsun and grabbed him with one hand, true qi flowing through his fingers. His afterimage became an actual figure, his grip tough and sharp enough to crush a skull. Jin Wangsun was an erudite on martial arts styles thanks to Golden Crow Moon Eater Manual. Seeing the destructive true qi from Ming Feizhen, he knew better than to clash head on with it.
Not one to lose in verbal warfare, however, Jin Wangsun exclaimed, "Audacious nobody! You would sneak attack a man?!"
With a roar, Jin Wangsun leapt back and drew his broadsword out with his right hand. Because he secretly sneaked out and wanted to avoid being noticed, he didn't dare to carry a famous weapon with him, therefore bringing an ordinary iron broadsword along. He poised his broadsword in front of him in a defensive stance. He sunk his hips and positioned his feet without a fixed form, but allowed him to retreat quickly. No matter how impressive his opponent's claw grabs were, he would be able to guard and retreat.
Ming Feizhen thrust straight forward with a lightning swift claw. Suddenly, Ming Feizhen turned and slowed, turning a thrust into a grab. Before Jin Wangsun could finish getting into his guard stance, Ming Feizhen grabbed his blade as if an eagle had sunk its teeth into the blade. Ming Feizhen deftly snatched his broadsword. Using the remainder of strength emitted, Ming Feizhen cleared open a path to Jin Wangsun's centreline by breaking through his two hands.
After uncaringly throwing aside the iron broadsword, Ming Feizhen struck down the centreline, slamming his palm into Jin Wangsun's chest, a blow that launched Jin Wangsun straight out of the window.
Jin Wangsun appeared aggressive and imposing just moments ago on the boat, but the man with the green mask didn't even need one full move to get rid of him! Just what level was this man on? When the people on board saw Jin Wangsun, a part of them wanted to flee; however, after witnessing Ming Feizhen's skills, they regretted why they didn't run before that.
"Now that we have a walking disaster of a monster on board, we might be his next target if we try to leave. How do we leave now?!" wondered the crowd.
Ming Feizhen paid no heed to anyone around and slowly walked up to Ming Suwen. The guards mustered up all of their courage to take a stand, "D-Don't even think about touching Miss Juese!"
Ming Feizhen couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of their loyalty, "I hold this maiden in the same esteem as a deity. I will not be rude with her. Please step aside; we need to exchange a few words."
Frankly, the guards had a faint suspicion that Miss Juese and the man were connected somehow. Whether that was a romantically or not was not something they knew. Regardless, they had never seen Miss Juese show so much emotion on her face before. The gaze she looked at him with was the same gaze every girl looked at the man she loved with. When they looked back at her, though, she kept silent.
Ming Suwen silently looked at Ming Feizhen. She watched him smash Jin Wangsun into Qinhuai River with a single technique, but she neither felt proud nor joyous. Sure, she was unhappy with Jin Wangsun's insults from before, but she disliked Ming Feizhen's current attitude.
She had seen him furious and had seen him composed. When he was composed, he was able to bear with things with equanimity. He seemed to be of the belief that as long as he appeared, then she would go with him given his imposing and powerful self as Lord San Shen.
In her mind, Ming Suwen said, "Feizhen, you once said that you're uneducated in martial arts, but you know how to fight. Despite understanding how to fight, nevertheless, you still don't understand women."
Ming Feizhen had won countless bouts within an instant in his Lord San Shen dress up, but Ming Suwen had always and still considered his Lord San Shen dress up to be a form of avoidance, instead. She wondered to herself, "Do you not dare to see even me unless you wear those clothes that represent the past?"
After she had the thought, Ming Suwen gently removed her face veil, allowing the men to see her gorgeous face. Unsurprisingly, it was very effective. If they were able to defeat him, the men present would have tried to fight Ming Feizhen just to see her smile.
Despite not comprehending the meaning of her gesture, Ming Feizhen demanded, "Leave with me.'
"I… do not know you, Young Master. Please leave."
Ming Suwen was resolute. She cherished her past with Ming Feizhen, but that was precisely why she needed to change.
Let's not pretend that such events between them were few and far between.
Ming Feizhen asked himself, "For what reason has she turned herself into virtually a plaything for men in the capital to gawk at?"
"The young master you hit was bidding for me. If you had not caused trouble, I might have given myself away tonight and became a bride. Please leave."
Ming Feizhen suddenly deduced something from the three words "become a bride." Hence, he frantically said, "So you did this because I was going to marr-. That's not for real. I don't plan to marry her. Let me explain this to you."
"There is nothing that needs to be explained," replied Ming Suwen, lowering her head at the same time. "I have nothing to do with you. Please leave. I am tired and must rest now."
Once her last word left her mouth, she lightly spun around and slowly left.
"Ming Suwen!"