The Flower in the Sea of Desire

In the deep and spacious bedroom, all eight latticed windows were closed. The spring sun, like powdered gold, filtered through the carved paper, its beams slanting down and then rising, revealing dust motes dancing in the light. She was led into the room by a servant and, at the owner's behest, was allowed to venture within. Now, she sat on a plump cushion before the bed in the inner chamber. Despite wearing a long skirt, she crossed her legs like a man, quite at ease. However, her casual posture didn't last long. The servant deftly rolled up the golden silk curtain. Behind it, the slender figure lying on the spacious bed slowly sat up. The servant placed soft pillows behind him for support, and he half-reclined, coughing softly. The faint light enveloped his entire being, making him appear smooth as silk and his complexion like snow. His eyes seemed particularly deep and bright, reminding her of the black crystal jade she kept in her own boudoir. It was a gift from her elder sister when she came of age last year. She kept the crystal jade in spring water, and it became more translucent, shining black, just like his beautiful eyes. She gazed at him, somewhat entranced, her heart in a daze, her body tingling, something stirring in the darkness. Her elder sister always said that when you see someone you like and they capture your heart, you feel light and airy, wanting to smile at that lovely person, to smile for no reason. The seventy-two beauties of "Feixia Tower," who had seen countless people, put it more bluntly: if you see someone you like and they capture your heart, you don't see them as a person, but as a delicacy, a fragrant roasted quail, a juicy plump peach, making your cheeks salivate and your stomach rumble, wishing to devour them whole. She strangely felt hungry. She had eaten various pastries prepared by the servant in the outer hall just two hours ago and had eaten a large crisp red apple, but seeing this man, her heart pounded, her stomach felt empty, as if she hadn't eaten for several meals. Was this the feeling her elder sister and the seventy-two beauties described? Hungry... so hungry... "Miss Hua Er, this letter is indeed from my master, the hermit Nanpu. You traveled for two days to deliver it personally, you've worked hard—cough..." The man covered his mouth with a fist and coughed. He still held several sheets of letter paper in his other hand. The servant stepped forward to help him soothe his chest, but he shook his head, gave a faint look, and the clever young servant withdrew. "Young Master, it's time for your medicine soon. Shengchun, go and see if the medicine is ready." The young servant named Shengchun, looking mature for his age, respectfully exited the bedroom, leaving only the sickly master and the guest with a strange, greedy expression. On this side, the man, being coveted as food without realizing it, suppressed the heat in his throat. He took a deep breath, his gaze returning to the young woman just a few steps away, and slowly said again, "My master left Nanpu Willow Village five years ago to roam the world and has not sent any news since. When did you see him, Miss Hua Er? Is he still in the Jiangnan area? Miss Hua Er? Miss?" The person sitting cross-legged on the cushion suddenly trembled, as if violently pulled back from a dream. Her face, ears, and throat felt hot. She blurted out, "My name is Lengxiang. Cold fragrance in the night's thin, cold wind. I have a nickname; my family all call me Xiaoxiang." After a slight pause, she added, "My elder sister's nickname is Daxiang. I'm the second eldest, so I'm Xiaoxiang. You can call me Xiaoxiang!" The man's cold face, still handsome despite his illness, visibly stiffened. His gaze was steady, as if he was paying more attention to the young woman before him. The room fell silent. His pale, thin lips suddenly curved into a smile, a very faint one. He smiled... He, he smiled! It was a cold smile, somewhat unfathomable, but in Hua Lengxiang's eyes, the man's smiling lips were like a flower slowly blooming in the sun, like a small flame warming a red sprout. Her heart felt both happy and warm, and saliva was about to drip from her cheeks. He breathed with a slight gasp, his brows remaining cold, only his lips curving slightly again. "My master and your Aunt Shuang have known each other for many years; they are close friends despite the age difference. He also has connections with the two flower queens of 'Feixia Tower' from Jiangnan and Jiangbei. 'Feixia Tower' shelters all sorts of women. The women in the tower must learn martial arts for self-defense. You have many people, and more than half do not know martial arts, nor are there any with exceptional skills, so arranging formations is the most feasible way to fight." Lengxiang nodded her head. She changed her sitting posture from cross-legged to kneeling, sitting on her heels. "Your master said the same thing! A few years ago, at my Aunt Shuang's request, he arranged the Twelve Sword Formation for 'Feixia Tower.' This time, when he visited, he actually ordered your fellow disciple, Yu, to test the formation. It only lasted two hours before your good fellow disciple broke it." By the end, her tone was tinged with sourness and frustration. The man's willow-like eyebrows, partially hidden by his hair, subtly raised, and his eyes gleamed slightly. "So, Junior Brother Yu is here too." It had been half a year since his junior brother left Nanpu Willow Village to search for his master's whereabouts. It seemed he had found him. His lips curved into a half-smile, and he coughed a couple of times before saying, "Miss, there's no need to be angry. My Junior Brother Yu has excellent bones and is naturally gifted for martial arts. He has learned almost all of my master's true teachings. The Twelve Sword Formation of 'Feixia Tower' can withstand his fierce attack for two hours, and the twelve people practicing the sword formation are also quite capable." "Your hermit master said the same thing!" She grinned, her pointed nose and chin showing off. "He even picked out a hundred sisters from the tower, saying they could practice the Twenty-Four Sword Formation, the Thirty-Six Sword Formation, or even the Seventy-Two Sword Formation, and then combine different formations for inner and outer encirclement. Once mastered, even famous martial arts experts in the jianghu would be no match." He nodded slightly. "My master's letter mentions this matter, asking me to set up new sword formations for 'Feixia Tower'..." His master had always been playful, dumping responsibilities onto his eldest disciple's shoulders and then washing his hands of them. The wording in this letter was truly taking advantage of him, saying he was idly lying around in Willow Village all day and specifically finding something for him to do to pass the time... He sighed, his hair brushing his face. He slowly tucked his hair behind his ear and noticed the little girl still staring intently, even wiping her lips and chin with the back of her hand, as if... she had drooled? "Miss Hua Er, besides the new sword formations, my master also mentioned another matter in this letter. Do you know about it? Miss Hua Er?" Why was the little girl always distracted? Lengxiang's back stiffened, and she snapped back to attention. She swallowed her saliva and smiled at him. "Young Master Sui Bo's will follows the waves. Everyone outside calls you the most amiable person. Nanpu hermit also praised you as his most good-tempered disciple. I have a nickname; you can call me Xiaoxiang!" "My master only has two disciples. Compared to my Junior Brother Yu, my temper is indeed considered good." However, he strongly suspected that his master's so-called "praise" was more of a mockery. The name "Young Master Sui Bo" was also something his master had randomly concocted. Now, the little girl wanted him to do as she wished, to go with the flow. What was so difficult about that? "Xiaoxiang..." "Yes." That gentle call was indeed pleasant... Hua Lengxiang couldn't help but rub her small hands on her thighs, then clenched them into fists, her cheeks flushed. She took a deep breath and said with a crisp laugh, "I naturally know about the other matter mentioned in the letter. Nanpu hermit said that his poor disciple has a good head but a broken body. His years of wandering the world were mainly to find a pure yang woman born on a yang year, yang month, yang day, and yang hour for his sickly disciple. The purer, the better. She needs to have pure yang eight characters, and her appearance and physique should be beautiful and strong. Hehe, he's talking about someone like me!" She was quite confident in her appearance, puffing out her chest and lifting her chin proudly. "Do you know the purpose of a pure yang woman?" She nodded straightforwardly. "You are a pure yin man born on a yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour, very pure, very pure. When you were young, practicing martial arts improperly injured your heart meridian, making your internal energy too weak. You need the fresh blood of a pure yang woman to protect your body and regulate your qi." He slowly put away his master's handwritten letter and said in a low voice, "This is not a one-time affair. You must drink fresh blood at least every six months. Although drinking blood regulates qi, no one knows how much progress will be made. If it drags on for your whole life, will you let me drink?" "Okay! I'll let you drink." She answered quickly and clearly, without any hesitation. There seemed to be a ripple in his brows, and his gaze returned to the little girl's face, his dark pupils deep, probing. This time, his composure wavered slightly, and his attention finally focused on her appearance and figure— She was not a woman with skin like congealed fat and a slender, soft physique. She had a small, delicate, and round face with honey-colored skin. Her fine eyebrows were arched, and her thick lashes encircled a pair of bright, large eyes. There was a heroic spirit between her brows, yet she was not without beauty. Her small nose was well-shaped, with a slightly upturned tip that was very cute, almost imperious. Even better was her peach-shaped lips, full and luscious, truly like a small, alluring peach. Her black and red casual dress roughly outlined her figure, giving the impression of well-proportioned bones. Although she was petite, her limbs were slender. Undeniably, her appearance fully embodied the words "beautiful and strong," and even her smile radiated warmth. "Liu Guizhou..." she suddenly called him by his full name, her honey-colored face shining as if inlaid with light. He didn't answer, only tilted his head slightly, waiting. "Drink my blood! Although there are other very pure, very pure pure yang women in the world, I just want you to drink my blood. Don't drink the blood of other girls." What was going on in the little girl's mind? "If it's for a few sword formations, you don't need to do this. My master has given instructions, and I, Liu, will certainly agree and not disappoint the ladies of 'Feixia Tower'." Lengxiang shook her head and asked with a smile, "Liu Guizhou, you yourself say, if you don't drink pure yang woman's blood and continue to let your body decay, how will you live?" I can't live. He knew this all too well. Without the essence of pure yang woman's blood as a catalyst to protect his heart and meridians, he wouldn't have much time left if he continued like this. His master also knew about his condition, which was why he sent such an exceptional pure yang woman to Nanpu Willow Village. He smiled bitterly inwardly, the thin air entering his lungs tickling his throat. With great effort, he suppressed his cough, only to hear that crisp, sweet voice laughing again— "Liu Guizhou, without me, you will have a hard time living. It would be a shame if you couldn't live and I couldn't save you. So... will you accept my blood and be mine?" Given Liu Guizhou's cold and aloof disposition, few things could disturb his heart. However, at this moment, his breathing paused, and his thin breath gathered in his chest. The girl's unreserved enthusiasm and admiration fell upon him, so bold that he was stunned. After a long pause, they just looked at each other. His deep, abyss-like eyes locked onto her straightforward and alluring pupils. The girl's family was probably accustomed to boldness, and she calmly accepted his gaze, her cheeks flushed and lips curved, as if she really liked him. "To be yours, does that mean I have to be with you, like a couple?" "Yes!" The answer was so quick! He instantly calmed down. Liu Guizhou's thin lips slowly curved into a smile. Seeing her face bloom like a delicate flower, her suddenly bright eyes clung to his lips, gazing foolishly, endearingly, as if unwilling to blink. He suddenly realized, had she fallen for his cool, indifferent smile? What a strange girl... he sighed inwardly and couldn't help but ask, "How old are you? Have you come of age?" "Liu Guizhou, I'm sixteen, almost seventeen! How old are you?" Her voice was clear and melodious. "Just sixteen years old..." he murmured, as if singing a song, a sigh and a smile. Just as he was about to say something, the young servant returned, holding a tray with a bowl of steaming soup medicine, and slowly approached. "Xiaoxiang, didn't you want to know how old I am? Come closer, I'll tell you." Liu Guizhou said. Hua Lengxiang was first made weak-kneed by the way he called her by her nickname. This man had such charm even when he was ill. When he recovered, wouldn't he be able to overthrow cities with a smile and destroy nations with a second smile?! Seeing his faint smile and wink, she swayed her head as if she could barely hold on, then wrinkled her nose slightly, her eyes darting left and right, and blinking. "Okay!" She boldly moved closer to him, until only one step separated them. His wide sleeve, carrying the scent of medicine, suddenly wrapped around her arm, and a gentle force dragged her towards the inner side of the bed. She yielded to the force, not panicking or shouting. A "bang" was heard from someone else. All the changes happened and ended in an instant, as fast as lightning. She was pulled onto the bed. At the same time, the person disguised as a servant splashed the contents of the bowl of hot liquid onto the bed. Hua Lengxiang saw a quilt suddenly spin in the air, catching the liquid. A few drops splashed onto the bed, immediately making a "sizzling" sound and corroding the soft cushion in an instant. It was very poisonous! "Liu Guizhou!" The attacker roared, holding a seven-inch dagger. With two swift slashes, he tore through the quilt, about to stab Liu Guizhou in the chest! Three lotus gold needles shot out from behind Liu Guizhou, aimed at the attacker's forehead, throat, and chest. Hua Lengxiang's gold needles did not hit their target, but the seven-inch dagger in the attacker's hand froze in mid-air. Without Liu Guizhou's sleeve moving, the attacker was like a kite flying in a strong wind, its string snapped. He was swept backward, crashing into many furnishings. "Young Master! Baozi—" The real Shengchun, the young servant, burst through the door, followed by several Liu Zhuang servants who looked skilled in martial arts. Seeing the chaos in the room, they were all stunned. They also noticed the girl who delivered the letter snuggled on their master's bed. Their master seemed to be shielding the little girl, but his complexion was like gold, and his cheeks showed a strange flush, as if he wanted to fall into her soft embrace. "Young Master, this person is a dwarf." The servant who was the first to recover turned the unconscious intruder over and saw his appearance clearly. Liu Guizhou nodded. "He is one of the Tu brothers from 'Wuhua Sect'." Shengchun listened with indignation. "Young Master, 'Wuhua Sect' outwardly operates legitimate businesses, but in reality, they commit all sorts of evil deeds! Robbery, r**e, kidnapping children, causing unrest in the three rivers of Nanpu! You couldn't stand it, so you suggested to the county magistrate to expose their true nature. However, when the officials surrounded 'Wuhua Sect' to arrest them that day, one of the Tu brothers escaped. This scoundrel actually had the nerve to come to our Liu Zhuang?" What was even more hateful was that he disguised himself as his servant! Liu Guizhou's expression was blank. He said calmly, "Tie this person up and hand him over to the officials. Also, send some people to the bamboo path behind the mountain to investigate. I fear something has happened." Nanpu Willow Village had a willow forest in front and a bamboo mountain behind, both set up with formations using the mysteries of yin and yang and the five elements. Only the bamboo path behind the mountain was left for bamboo shoot harvesters. Outsiders who could find their way in likely found that hidden path in the bamboo forest. They were afraid that some bamboo shoot harvesters might encounter the man named Tu. The servants responded. Some had already started carrying away the "corpse" lying on the ground. The servant's mouth moved, saying something, but Liu Guizhou let the sound drift past. A soft body was intimately close to him, not skin against skin, but he could feel the warmth of her breath and even the body heat emanating from her pores. His back was warm, heated by her presence, and his ears were buzzing. His sleeve seemed to have been intertwined with the girl's slender arm the entire time. This little girl, he protected her behind him, yet she was not flustered or afraid, reacting with unexpected speed. As the hair by his cheek swayed, he slowly turned his head halfway. His dark jade-like eyes met the beautiful face close behind him. He saw her bare two rows of fine, white teeth, without any shyness, her emotions clear and bright. Suddenly, her smiling expression changed, and her eyes widened. Her apricot eyes were originally clear, but now they were wide open, full of imposing spirit. "Liu Guizhou!" "Pfft—" As the sharp, crisp cry rang out, he knew it was bad. He could no longer suppress it. The blood dammed in his chest rushed to his throat, spraying her upper body vibrantly. Liu Guizhou fell into darkness. He had a vague illusion of being on a boat on a black river, drifting, drifting... All around was endless black, so dark he couldn't see his hand in front of his face. The small boat disappeared from here, and his remaining life would turn into eternity here. He felt no fear being swallowed by the darkness. If he had to say anything, perhaps... perhaps... it was a little bit of loss. There were things he hadn't tried, people he hadn't befriended deeply. Also, he was alone on this black river, without even a zither. It was a small regret. "You... what are you doing?! My young master is spitting blood, why did you cut yourself? Am I not busy enough? Fine! You like pain, no one is stopping you. Cut yourself as many times as you like, just don't splash the blood around—Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing holding my young master's head? Wahhh—You, what are you pouring into him?!" "Shengchun, you're so noisy!" The melodious voice was slightly sweet and soft, and it was clear the owner was sighing with a laugh, especially when she said "Shengchun." Her voice, light and rising, even carried a hint of coquetry. He inexplicably felt like laughing, a strange sense of comfort and joy. The dark, ink-like surface of the river suddenly rippled, and the uncontrolled small boat drifted towards that voice, carrying him out of the chaos. "You, you, don't call me by my name like that!" the young servant's voice trembled, as if trying to shake off goosebumps. He then angrily shouted again, "My young master is like this, and you're still messing around? Let go! If you don't let go, I... I'll fight you one-on-one!" "Shengchun, be good, read this letter to me from beginning to end. My blood is very precious. The more your young master drinks, the stronger he'll be. If you keep making noise, I'll poke you with gold needles." After a pause, she said with a laugh, "And I'll take off your pants and pinch your little butt." "You, you, you... you bastard! Binglai, come here! Let's fight one-on-one! Huh? Huh? It's a letter from Shangzun to the young master..." The angry scolding suddenly softened, followed by the sound of several sheets of paper being quickly read. Then the young servant's attitude changed drastically. "Quick, quick! Drink more! Don't be stingy. I'll help you brew a nourishing blood-replenishing soup later. Is that cut big enough? Do you want another two? Young Master, Young Master, open your mouth wider! Baozi, swallow it—" "You little brat, who were you calling a bastard just now?" "...I'll call myself one, okay!" He wanted to laugh again. It was truly strange! His consciousness was unstable, and the voices of others were like a gust of wind passing by his ears. He didn't intend to catch them, but he was inexplicably amused. The warm, thick liquid slid down his throat, slightly fishy and sweet, the unique warmth of fresh blood. He was being fed. The pure yang woman's blood was infused with a strange fragrance, divided into three stages. First, it had a warm, fishy smell, turning warm and sweet before entering his throat. After reaching his stomach, his nose, mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach all exuded a strange fragrance. He subconsciously lengthened his breathing, his breath becoming rich, his left chest and dantian feeling warm. He drank her fragrant blood. He was forced to drink it by circumstances. He was enticed by the smell, and after tasting it, he couldn't help himself. He had no choice but to accept her life-sustaining blood. His whole body felt light, like spring flowers, his limbs and bones feeling warm. This time, he fell into a deep sleep, entering a dreamless state... When he slowly regained consciousness, the noisy bickering between the large and small, the delicate and the restless, was still going on in the bedroom— "Why are you taking off the young master's clothes? You, don't touch him!" the young servant said nervously. "Silly child, I'm helping him circulate his energy to heal his wounds. It's easier to do it with his clothes off!" "No need!" The child's voice was exasperated. "Your skills are mediocre, you don't have much internal energy. If my young master hadn't protected you, you would have been battered by that guy surnamed Tu. And yet you're bragging here! I think you just think my young master is handsome and want to take advantage of him!" "Shengchun, you're so annoying. You know it, but you say it so loudly. Your young master will be embarrassed when he hears it." "You, you— I'll fight you to the end! Get off the bed, don't huddle with the young master!" He was so angry, the boy was jumping on the spot. "From the beginning, it was your young master who dragged me onto the bed. He wanted to press me down, so I had no choice but to let him. Besides, he's so sickly right now, I can't bear to defy him!" Liu Guizhou thought he was smiling, but only intermittent groans escaped his lips. However, this small movement drew everyone's attention to him, making them forget what they were arguing about. He opened his eyes. The furnishings in the room had been replaced. There were three servants of the "Chun" generation: Yangchun, Fengchun, and Shengchun. Yang and Fengchun stood obediently before the bed, their dark, bright eyes curiously darting between the speakers. Shengchun, who always tried to act mature, was now so angry that his round face was flushed red, his chubby cheeks looking like they wanted to be pinched, so cute... Cute? This thought relaxed him further, and the tightness in his left chest greatly eased. He glanced down. The front of his inner robe was wide open, and on his smooth chest was a... small hand? The seemingly harmless small hand lay flat, as if intentionally, as if unintentionally, gently stroking. He stiffened, feeling that the male protrusion on his chest was indeed being toyed with. Resting his head on the girl's lap, he suddenly raised his sleeve and pressed down on the beautiful "wolf's paw" on his chest, looking at her. "Liu Guizhou, you're awake!" Her eyes were bright, her voice clear, and the owner of the "wolf's paw" showed a greedy expression again. "Young Master, your qi circulation has affected the old ailment of your heart meridian, and you've spit out a lot of blood. Steward Hao has already sent people to find Shangzun and Master Yu. With them here, they can use internal energy to protect your heart meridian." Shengchun was clearly the leader of the "Chun" generation. Seeing their master awake, the three young servants simultaneously approached, and Shengchun spoke. "Distant water can't quench a nearby fire," Hua Lengxiang snorted. "You, you are... a wolf in sheep's clothing! Your intentions are punishable!" He forced himself to use an idiom. Unexpectedly, Hua Lengxiang laughed heartily, her delicate body pounced forward, hugging the beautiful sick man. Shengchun gnashed his teeth, while the younger Yangchun and Fengchun's eyes bulged as if they would roll out. "Young Master—" Liu Guizhou had nothing to say. He found it both amusing and helpless, so he gave the three young servants a look and waved his wide sleeve slightly. Despite his reluctance, Shengchun grumbled inwardly but could only obey his master's wishes and exit the bedroom with the other two Chun. "When I pulled you onto the bed, had you already realized that the person was not Shengchun?" he asked, allowing the girl to hug him without moving. Lengxiang finally straightened up, met his gaze, and smiled brightly. "I smelled the scent of that poisoned water. That scent was very different from the medicinal aroma in the bedroom, so I knew something was wrong. Liu Guizhou, my nose is very sensitive. Our 'Feixia Tower's' spice and sleeping incense business all comes from my supply. It's easy to distinguish medicinal scents from poisoned water." He slowly blinked his slightly dry eyes, his face clear and cold, the corners of his lips turning up slightly. This smile, not quite a smile, appeared, and he noticed the girl's honey-colored cheeks flushing, just as he had expected. Such infatuation, without reason, was truly directed at him... love at first sight? Love at first sight... He turned over the small hand resting on his chest. Her forearm was wrapped in a thick layer of cloth. The white cloth was still stained with bloodstains. Judging by the area of seepage, the wound was at least three inches long. His brows furrowed, and his gaze was deep. "I drank your pure yang blood." He drank quite a lot, he remembered. "If you accept my blood, you accept me alone. I'm very happy." She said, her face flushed, perhaps from shyness or perhaps from too much excitement. "Liu Guizhou, play with me, okay?" He looked at her deeply and suddenly said, "You are sixteen, and I am twenty-eight. To you, I am an old man. Do you still want to play with me?" Hua Lengxiang grabbed a strand of his dark hair and gently stroked his beautiful jaw. Her apricot eyes were watery. "My elder sister and the sisters in 'Feixia Tower' always say that if you like someone, you should make a move; otherwise, you'll regret it. Liu Guizhou, I don't like regrets. Seize the day! You are twenty-eight now. I want to play with you. In the future, when you are thirty-eight, forty-eight, or fifty-eight, as long as I like it, I will still pester you and play with you. My blood can nourish you for a long, long time. For as long as I feed you, I will pester you for as long." The man's beautiful eyes subtly shimmered, something hidden at the bottom, intriguing and hard to articulate. After a moment of silence, he responded with a seemingly lazy, seemingly weak tone. His long lashes drooped slightly, and a faint smile appeared. "Don't keep bullying Shengchun." Upon hearing this, Hua Lengxiang's honey-colored face glowed, her breathing relaxed, and she placed her hand on his cheek. She smiled, showing her teeth, like a cat that had stolen fish, her eyes and brows full of spring breeze. "Then I'll just have to keep bullying you." And so, she gently cupped his chin and blocked his small peach lips, red and luscious, shamelessly playing with him.