Chapter 2657: A Window of Smoke

Subtle rain hasn't yet ceased, and the human world is already enveloped in smoky hues.

The entrance of the dim stone cave serves as an exceptionally beautiful window. The distant mountains are green, and the human world is elegant. Even the cloud-covered mist and damp fragrance all enter the painting.

Indeed, it is a rare scene of tranquility. After all, among the world's drifting travelers, who doesn't seek peace of mind?

The person gazing at the window scene leans back lazily, the wet and cold stone wall her pillow, this nameless stone cave accommodating her brief rest.

The wet spring rain brings a slight chill, making one's breath cold as well.

A crackling sound echoes within; someone has lit a bonfire.

The firelight leaps once, twice, then climbs wearily to a high place, swaying precariously, maintaining its hold, illuminating a flawless face.

Today's Ye Lan Er is wearing Folded Branch's latest custom splendid clothes, her entire being refined to the extreme, even the curl of her hair seems carefully arranged.

It's a pity she's also staying in this not-at-all refined stone cave.

Her clothes, as light as a fragrant flower embroidery, seem also affected by the dampness, inexplicably wilted and aged by several points.

Folded Branch originated in Jing Country, said to be Yu Que's business. In its early years, it also prospered for a while, but later, Yu Da Shuai spent more time in the military camp (not at home anyway), focusing on training soldiers and warfare (playing with flowers and flirting), and its momentum gradually declined.

But in recent years, it has risen again, relying on the Central Domain and spreading widely throughout the world. Just judging by the ingenuity of the clothing itself, in Ye Lan Er's heart, it's no less than Yun Xiang Zhai.

Just like the splendid clothes she is wearing, with its unified design and texture, it has conquered the habitually picky Chu people, and in this year's spring new products, it has almost no rival. The name of this series is also very good, called "Woman Adorns Herself."

Ye Lan Er blinks her eyes, as if suddenly understanding why Yu Que had so many illegitimate children...

Ah, wrong, Yu Que is already gone. This business is now managed by Yu Xian Yu.

She heard that after Yu Xian Yu took over the Yu family and became Ji Jing Lu's apprentice, she brought back all of Yu Que's illegitimate children, placed them in different positions, and made them all submissive. Later, when she held military power, was it possible that her personal guard was an entire team of siblings?

These thoughts swirl in her mind—not entirely unfounded, as Three Points Fragrance Building has recently focused on the Central Domain, and she is in charge of everything here—her eyes cross the bonfire and look at the face that is still extraordinarily gorgeous even in the dim, cold mountain cave.

This woman who can stun people is herself stunned.

Are we friends? Ye Lan Er inexplicably asks in her heart.

To say they are intimate is intimate, to say they care is also true, they indeed get along very well, and their cooperation is always pleasant... but she has no answer.

Mei Yue seems extremely easy to approach, intimate and natural with everyone, her eyes filled with affection, her manner extremely flirtatious, but she never opens the door to her heart. She is never stingy with her flirtatiousness, often giving people the illusion of closeness, but even with her alluring breath near your ear, there is an eternal chasm between you and her.

Ye Lan Er herself, on the other hand, is very willing to repeatedly strive, to prove enough ability and sincerity to the "warrior" who has undergone countless hardships, to open her own heart's door, and give a reward. Of course, this heart's door is carefully carved, and beyond the heart's door is a secret garden where every blade of grass and every tree is meticulously trimmed.

And her true heart's matters are perhaps buried deep in the moist soil. Perhaps they have already dissipated in the wind.

Who would be foolish enough to expose their true heart? Who would truly dissect themselves without reservation?

Who doesn't have some heartfelt matters that cannot be told to others...

The most difficult thing in the world to look at directly is the human heart!

She understands Mei Yue, and she also understands herself.

She maintains her guard, and also feels pity in her heart.

The woman in front is still wearing a gorgeous red skirt, slightly curled like a peony waiting to bloom. The corner of her skirt lifts lightly in the slightly cool spring breeze, as if dancing in the bonfire. This vaguely stirs her mood.

"Oh dear." Ye Lan Er sighs with a hint of sarcasm: "I was wondering why that person was blind and said I was only the fifth best he had ever seen!"

"White Lotus, Wonderful Jade, Jade True, Mei Yue..."

She counts on her fingers seriously: "Isn't this just the fifth?"

Pretending to be dissatisfied, yet truly offering comfort. When she expresses goodwill, she becomes even more indescribably beautiful.

Her fingers are also very beautiful to look at, slender and well-proportioned, even the color of her nails is just right.

She is as beautiful as a work of art.

Preferring to regret her fate, she usually doesn't outline it this way.

"I may not have been born as good-looking as my sister," Mei Yue says in a lazy voice.

"Those who like always want to add points in their eyes." Ye Lan Er laughs lightly: "I can accept this ranking, actually."

Mei Yue slowly withdraws her gaze, her face originally expressionless, suddenly bringing light to the dim cave. She puts on a soul-stirring smile again, as if her mood was never affected by anything: "The comfort of a defeated dog sounds quite heartbreaking."

"Oh my, oh my." Even when Ye Lan Er speaks strange words, her voice is controlled to the perfect thickness and thinness. She is born knowing how to match other people's emotions to release the most perfect version of herself: "Who is the defeated dog?"

Mei Yue looks at her, with a slightly wanton laugh: "You, the fifth, not me, the first. We, hiding in a mountain cave, blowing cold wind."

Ye Lan Er really likes her smile, but also feels that this smile is truly heartbreaking.

"There are too many people in this world, everything is debated intensely."

"But no matter what it is, there's only one first place. Being ranked among the top is already very impressive."

"Not to mention a blind man, the kind with a blind heart. He's all muddled, what does he know about beauty or ugliness?"

"Moreover, even if you're not first, you're infinitely close to that first one."

Tian Xiang is not very good at comforting people, but she thinks perhaps making others feel better by comparing them to someone worse off might help: "At least it's better than Xiang Ling Er. She has charmed for over a hundred years, captivating how many hearts. This time, she ran to Yong Country with ambition to achieve merit, but she didn't expect that just exchanging greetings, she was almost pinched to death...

"She fled continuously for twenty to thirty thousand Li, sending distress messages non-stop along the way. Now she doesn't know where she has fled to, fearing that person might change his mind."

The name White Lotus, of course, she heard from Xiang Ling Er. She also naturally remembers Zhen Hai Zhen Jun's declaration to Three Points Fragrance Building. At this point, she changes the topic: "You say he's truly so ferocious, or is he secretly caring about you?"

Ye Lan Er is not sure who Jiang Wang cares about. But whether Jiang Wang is a ferocious person, she has personally interacted with him.

Although there have been some bloody and stormy stories, he has never been soft on his enemies.

But there is no mention of the word "ferocious" when describing him.

Honestly, he's even a bit overly gentle... of course, also a bit cold.

"Infinitely close, is another way of saying forever unable to reach." Mei Yue lightly wipes her red lips with a pink finger, stained with who knows if it's rouge or blood, and says with a smile: "Being closest to the first person is the biggest failure."

Ye Lan Er suddenly feels a tremble at the tip of her heart.

Indeed, it is beauty holding the heart, seen and born pity.

But that beauty, like calamitous water, laughs again: "Heartache for me? Good sister?"

She lightly draws on the stone wall with her stained red pink finger, outlining a mysterious and heartbreaking pattern.

"How can I not feel heartache?" Ye Lan Er steadies her mind.

Having also seen the truth of the world, she thinks she has tried to avoid the influence of a confused heart.

But this sister's every frown and smile captivates people's hearts, seeming to have long surpassed supernatural power.

She meticulously adjusts her voice, refines her language, with just the right amount of flirtatiousness: "Seeing you frown, my sister's heart twists. I always feel that whatever you do is right, and I can forgive anything."

"Really?" Mei Yue draws and laughs happily, laughing until the flowers tremble, swaying charmingly.

Suddenly, her eyes change, sinking with several points of resentment, falling with several points of pity, as if the west wind withers the green trees, and beauty casts a lonely shadow: "Then, good sister, you help me..."

Ye Lan Er instantly sobers up.

Deep sisterly affection is possible, seeing and feeling pity is also true, helping with small matters is not impossible, even initially being angry at Jiang Wang because of her danger... But drifting in the bitter sea, who truly helps whom?

Generally speaking, sisters can offer comfort, but not borrow money.

No one is wrong, one is first, one is hair, one is inner, one contains, one is in, one looks!

Being a little closer to Mei Yue, borrowing money is also possible... desperately not.

She laughs dryly: "The Building Master is truly angry this time, the top Yan Sheng is pursuing, and also wants to personally come to the human world. This time, she has issued an order to summon you, which is something my sister cannot influence..."

"I just came to inform you, tell you the exact time, and incidentally handle the aftermath on Yong Country's side."

Whatever the Building Master wants to do, whoever she wants to deal with, she always gives a definite time, neither rushing nor slow, this is absolute control and confidence.

Frankly speaking, she doesn't want to touch this bad luck.

But speaking so dryly, her voice is indeed not pleasant, and it also diminishes the perfect flirtatiousness.

Then she sighs again: "Zhen Hai Zhen Jun's anger, although it falls on Xiang Ling Er's body. But at the root, this matter is still under your charge. You went to Yong Country, originally to atone for merit, the resources within the building were tilted towards you, and the matter did not succeed... you can't escape responsibility no matter what. Alas, you say, how should this matter be handled?"

She is genuinely worried about several points, and also vaguely probing several points: "You and Jiang Wang have such a deep entanglement, the Building Master said he even specially went to the South Dipper Secret Realm's corpse hall to find you... even if he wants to maintain a posture of great impartiality, not helping you, he shouldn't be so cold-hearted."

The biggest problem is that Luo Sha Ming Yue Jing has suspicions about her relationship with Jiang Wang!

So for Jiang Wang's harsh declaration in Yong Country, she always feels there's an unshakeable suspicion.

Now a very important link is Fu Huan.

To what extent is Li Country willing to help cover up? Is their self-worth sufficiently demonstrated?

If Li Country is not sincere enough and easily abandons itself in front of Luo Sha Ming Yue Jing—this is too common—how can they remedy the situation?

Mei Yue turns her body, facing the wall, and slowly finishes her drawing.

Then she takes out a handkerchief, wipes away some stalactite, and lightly wipes her stained pink fingers.

Those mysterious and heartbreaking patterns, as if having life, grow naturally, gradually converging into a portrait of a lady. The drawing seems to depict a dancing woman, and a bonfire about to extinguish, and eternal long night, and some difficult-to-describe strange shadows.

The overall painting style is exaggerated and bizarre, the dark red color spreading across the dim, cold stone wall, like a preview of some bloody story.

"Because of Liu Yan Zhao's negligence, Jiang Wang's sister ran into our meeting."

The woman temporarily leaves only a graceful back, appreciating her own painting, her voice faint, as if climbing into people's hearts: "I ensured she didn't hear anything. But Fu Huan is cautious by nature, fearing an association with Zhen Hai Zhen Jun, and doesn't dare to plot against Jing Country again. For the Building Master's great plan, and also to try to remedy the organization's losses, I only advised them to go to Yong Country and see."

"In fact, I also didn't think. He would be truly so sensitive. Directly killing his way to Yong Country... Fu Huan's caution is correct, Zhen Hai Zhen Jun's regard for his family does not allow anyone to ignore it."

"His determination has also long been known throughout the world."

"And one unfortunate thing—he personally witnessed the fall of South Dipper Hall, and already has a profound understanding of the Building Master's supernatural power. Coupled with his relationship with Chu Country, it's possible he knows about Calamity Country."

"Once the Building Master's Calamity Country supernatural power is confirmed, with Jiang Wang's style of action and his current position, opposition is also normal... probably not only he will oppose."

"He was not polite to me because I had contact with Jiang An An. He suspected whether I wanted to use Jiang An An for something... in fact, I just casually chatted with Jiang An An a few sentences, wanting to understand him better through his sister."

Mei Yue turns her body, her face charming, her red skirt provocative, and her beautiful eyes faint, as if heartbroken and desolate: "But this matter also made me see through men. There has never been trust between him and me. There has never been emotion either. It was all just my self-assumption. Perhaps he did have some tolerance for me that was different from others, but once it touched the place he truly cared about, I would be mercilessly abandoned."

She looks at Ye Lan Er's perfectly arched eyes: "As for why he is so impolite to Three Points Fragrance Building, is it possible... related to Yan Sheng?"

Ye Lan Er almost laughs with anger.

She doesn't object, even very willing to let Mei Yue push off some responsibility, because she also doesn't want Mei Yue to be killed. But pushing it off so cleanly, simply treating people as fools... blaming everything on Liu Yan Zhao?

Li Country's hegemony, the Building Master's transcendence... can a Frost Union bishop have such sturdy shoulders? Can he carry such a heavy pot?

Unless Yan Sheng now steps forward and says that Jiang Wang's trip to Yong Country was instigated by him. Otherwise, this statement has absolutely no possibility of being established.

Jiang Wang's sudden attack, Mei Yue cannot escape responsibility no matter what. She shouldn't try to escape it like this.

Treating the Building Master as a fool is a sign of self-stupidity!

"Good sister..." Ye Lan Er opens her mouth just wanting to speak, when suddenly she is stunned.

As if a heavy hammer has heavily struck her heart, making her muddled for a while.

The latest news from the Intelligence Pavilion has arrived—

All the branches of Three Points Fragrance Building along the Yong Country border have been sealed.

Yan Sheng has already rushed to Yong Country, and is now sitting in Meng Jing, saying he "must shatter the Luo Sha calamity fruit"!

Ye Lan Er slows down, looking at Mei Yue with complex emotions. Yet she sees her still leaning there, heartbroken and desolate, as if she is the most sorrowful scenery within this damp stone cave. With just one glance from her beautiful eyes, she again reveals a soul-stirring appearance.

"Sister," she probes with her gaze, asking curiously in a lazy voice: "You say this old man Yan... exactly what is he after?"

Ye Lan Er sits up straight, adopting an objective thinking posture. She begins to rethink the "good sister" in front of her, and she realizes this is an invitation to cooperate!

And the other side has already shown their value, shown their sincerity.

Can she slightly push open her heart's door...

She shows a dignified and perfect smile: "Yan Sheng is an extremely stubborn person. What he's after, he's already said from the beginning—he wants an explanation for Gao Zheng."

"So that's it..." Mei Yue changes to a thoughtful expression: "Regarding Gao Zheng, the Building Master didn't say anything, did she?"

"Yes." Ye Lan Er continues to smile: "This is a dead end."

"But the calamity fruit... isn't old man Yan now stepping on the Building Master's Achilles' heel?"

Mei Yue is full of worry: "He no longer chases the Building Master's traces, only goes to the places where the calamity fruit might be born. What should we do later?"

"When the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up." Ye Lan Er says meaningfully: "We, mere True People, how do we deal with Yan Sheng, Jiang Wang? Some things, the more you do, the more wrong they become."

"Alas!" Looking at the smoky rain hazy outside the mountain cave, Mei Yue sighs worriedly: "Then we can only let the Building Master worry about it. What will she... do?"

Thank you to book friend "Future Technology" for becoming the alliance leader of this book! This is for the 869th alliance of "Hong Xin Xun Tian"!