343 Belle (1/2)
As Ji Lingxi and Yue Rulan watched Yun Yang and Lei Dongtian battle and train each other, had different thoughts running through their heads.
Yue Rulan was thinking, ”This Young Master Yun is intelligent and thoughtful, with great foresight. He’s a rare talent and will definitely become an influential figure in the future. Lingxi is really, really lucky to have found such a man!”
Ji Lingxi was thinking, ”This man is really cunning, to be able to get along so well with his own enemy. I think he can lead this idiot along by the nose to his death! He's a manipulative b*stard... But I'll be damned if he isn't a charming one!”
On that night, Ji Lingxi and Yue Rulan were exchanging whispers in their room when someone suddenly knocked on their door.
Yun Yang’s voice came drifting in, ”Are you ladies asleep?”
”Lingxi, go open the door!” Yue Rulan rolled her eyes. ”Your crush is here!”
Ji Lingxi wore a dark expression as she retorted, ”What is this bastard doing here so late? Surely he is up to no good. Handsome men are never with good intentions; how befitting of him!”
She was still grumbling as she stood up to open the door.
”Not asleep yet?” Yun Yang entered the room with a swirl of his robes.
Ji Lingxi mocked him the instant he stepped, ”Does it look like we’re asleep? If we’re asleep, would you dare enter? If we were asleep, who opened the door for you?”
Yun Yang rubbed his face tiredly. ”I’ve asked a stupid question. It is good that you are still awake. I have with me here a good quality tea, let us try it together. I have heard Lingxi proclaim that Sister Lan is an expert in tea-tasting.”
Yue Rulan glanced at Ji Lingxi before saying, ”Lingxi really has no secrets in front of you, does she? I guess she has already sold what secrets we have left to us.”
Ji Lingxi blushed and rolled her eyes at Yun Yang, feeling slightly puzzled as she thought, ”Since when have I told him anything about Sister Lan? Why don’t I recall anything of the sort? This is rather strange.”
As they spoke, Yun Yang had taken out a bag of tea. Just as he opened it, a rich aroma filled the room.
”Great tea!”
Yue Rulan’s eyes shone with anticipation. ”That is truly a great tea. What tea is it, to have such an aroma? I have never come across tea leaves that could emit such an aroma before being brewed. It looks like my taste buds will be blessed today!”
Yun Yang smiled and replied, ”The name of this tea is especially befitting of Sister Lan and Lingxi. The people and the tea are exceptionally matching and reflecting off each other.”
”What is its name?” Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi asked together. Yun Yang had obviously gotten their interest.
”The tea is called… Belle!”
Yun Yang said, ”Take a whiff of its aroma; it smells even better when brewed. The color of the brewed tea is like the sapphire sea and sky, beautiful beyond description.”
”To think, that there is such an amazing tea in this world; what a fantastic grade of tea this has to be!” Both the girls grew more appreciative as their interest towards the tea increased.
The tea was great, so was its name – Belle!
Merely hearing the name could almost make one feel the extraordinariness of the tea. It was indeed right for the both of them to taste it.
As the conversation went on, Yun Yang brewed the tea.
When the water boiled, not only did the tea's aroma grow stronger, the tea’s color was just like Yun Yang had said; emerald like the blue sky and crystal-clear. It was a feast for the eyes.
However, Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi still felt that despite the pleasing sight, the tea still seemed to be unworthy to have the name, Belle. How could they utter this out loud, though?
”Great tea! Great tea indeed!” Yue Rulan complimented. ”It’s deserving of the name Belle.”
”Lingxi, try it too,” Yun Yang said smiling.
Ji Lingxi picked her cup up to have a taste and said, ”Good tea indeed.”
”The tea is good and so is the company.” Yun Yang said slowly, smiling, ”The reason for tonight’s visit is to taste the tea, but I confess that there’s also something else that’s more important which I have to convey.”
Yue Rulan asked in a soft voice, ”What is it? Younger Cousin Yun can be frank with us.”
Before she finished her words, Yue Rulan felt her head spinning slightly and raised her arm to hold it steady, but was surprised at her inability to find the strength to doing so.
Yue Rulan was shocked, looking at Ji Lingxi only to find her in the same state. Her guard was up in an instant. ”Yun Yang, what tea did you let us drink?”
Ji Lingxi was already seeing double as she spoke dizzily, ”What? Why am I so dizzy? I feel like sleeping…”
”It’s right for you to want to sleep, it’s the normal effect of this tea,” Yun Yang said.
”I see,” Ji Lingxi nodded innocently. She had already lost her ability to think straight and was only left with her basic motor reflexes.
Yue Rulan immediately knew that something was wrong, as she spoke harshly, ”Yun Yang! Give us the antidote!”
Yun Yang's silhouette was already growing increasingly blurred. She could only hear Yun Yang as he replied gently, ”This tea is not poisonous, it is to calm and aid sleep. Its strength is a little stronger, but there isn’t any antidote to speak of… the Residence of Yun is already a place for havoc and is especially dangerous during this period of time. I’ll send you both out to avoid it, and will come retrieve you two again after everything blows over.”
Amidst the haze, she almost heard Yun Yang’s last words, ”I don’t want to do so either but… if you two don’t leave, how can I watch over eighth brother’s…”
Eighth brother’s what?
Yue Rulan did not get anything else as she fell into a dead faint; she was not even sure if what she had heard was her own imagination. Ji Ling, who was opposite her, probably did not even hear any of it, since she had lost consciousness somewhat before Yue Rulan did.
…
”Wuyin!”
”You know their identities! You know what they mean to the both of us!”
”Their safety must be ensured! This is the highest priority of all.”
”When they regain consciousness, and if news about me hasn’t reached you, tell them I’ve died. Ask them to take care and don’t act rashly. Find a chance in the future to avenge me.”
”If I have really died by then, do tell the truth. However, I've also told you before I die, Supreme Wind of Yutang is currently Ji Lingfeng and have them search for Supreme Wind. Don’t mention anything about me.”
”If this has passed, tell them everything honestly. Ask them to wait for me to pick them up.”
”Yes, young master.”
Shui Wuyin completely understood Yun Yang’s decision.
”I understand where you’re coming from.”
If it had been him, he would have done exactly the same, and that was what he was going to do now.
…
Later in the night, Shui Wuyin picked up Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi carefully.
”Young master, you’ll definitely be safe and sound!”
”If you pass on, I will make arrangements for the two ladies and follow your instructions.”
”If you’re still here, I, Shui Wuyin, will continue to fight the world with you!”
…
Having sent Ji Lingxi and Yue Rulan away, Yun Yang could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Recently, it had been Yun Yang’s main worry; to see to the safety of the people in the Residence of Yun. Now that Dong Tianleng and group had left and Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi had been sent somewhere safe, Yun Yang had nothing else to worry about.