My Gentle and Pure Sect Leader Husband - Chapter 29

Yan Hongyin and Yu Luocha got along quite naturally and harmoniously.

–At least on the surface it appeared that way.

After staying in Jinling City for two days, the two people, each harboring their own purposes, immediately agreed to stay longer.

However, when choosing a residence in Jinling City, the two had their first disagreement.

“I have a mansion in Jinling City,” said Yan Hongyin. As the Jinyiwei Commander, she was accustomed to keeping all variables in her control, especially when accompanied by Yu Luocha, whose depths she couldn’t fathom.

The two sat in a private room at a restaurant, with window seats that overlooked the bustling crowds of Jinling City.

Yu Luocha poured himself a cup of wine and took a sip, finding it somewhat lacking in flavor. He pursed his lips in dissatisfaction, then reasoned with Yan Hongyin. “But I also have a mansion in Jinling City.”

On the surface, Yu Luocha needed Yan Hongyin’s help and didn’t want to get involved in court disputes, which was why he stayed by her side. However, their relationship wasn’t as unbreakable as it seemed—Yu Luocha indeed wanted to live, but he had always been capricious and willful. If one day his mind went astray and he decided to seize the moment for enjoyment, it wasn’t impossible that he might leave Yan Hongyin to cause some destructive mischief.

In fact, this possibility wasn’t small at all.

–Yu Luocha was inherently a dangerous predator without restraint, bound by no chains.

Yan Hongyin’s eyes darkened.

With the court in turmoil and the situation tense, letting Yu Luocha roam freely at such a time would be an uncontrollable variable. Moreover….ever since Yu Luocha had stopped concealing his martial arts in front of her, Yan Hongyin had felt several times when he was meditating and regulated his breathing that the internal energy in her dantian subtly stirred.

This wasn’t normal.

But if she could discover the reason and utilize it properly, it might not be a bad thing.

–As long as Yu Luocha didn’t know that he had this additional value to her.

Yan Hongyin lowered her eyes, picked up some bamboo shoots with her chopsticks, and chewed slowly without speaking further.

Yu Luocha wasn’t in a hurry either. He leaned against the window, holding the wine pot in one hand and the cup in the other, leisurely satisfying his craving.

After a long while, Yan Hongyin put down her chopsticks, dabbed her lips with a handkerchief, and calmly said, “We’ll split the cost and buy a new one.”

Yu Luocha thought for a moment. “What about the furnishings?”

Who bought the house wasn’t important; what mattered was that Yan Hongyin had a habit of digging secret chambers in her residences, and coincidentally, so did Yu Luocha.

After all, as the leader of a demonic sect and the head of a spy network, they both needed some private space where they wouldn’t be disturbed.

“Half and half.”

Yan Hongyin’s solution precisely hit the bottom line of Yu Luocha’s acceptable range.

The maximum safety range he could accept was probably sharing the lodging place equally with Yan Hongyin, not interfering with each other but keeping mutual surveillance.

Yu Luocha nodded happily. “Agreed.”

Yan Hongyin raised her hand and rang the bell beside her. The waiter quickly came to clear the table and thoughtfully brought a pot of tea for the two.

After the waiter closed the door from outside and his footsteps faded away, Yan Hongyin took out a map of Jinling City from her sleeve, spread it on the table, and gestured to Yu Luocha with a tilt of her chin.

Yu Luocha lowered his head. “…You Jinyiwei really do have everything.”

Yan Hongyin: “We’re still missing maps of the Western Regions beyond the border. If Sect Leader Yu is interested, perhaps you could provide some.”

Yu Luocha blinked. “You want ones marked with safe routes?”

Yan Hongyin looked at Yu Luocha. “Would you give them?”

Yu Luocha smiled. “I could, if Wife comes back to the borderlands with me to be the Sect Leader’s wife, wouldn’t she have everything then?”

“Stop dreaming,” Yan Hongyin said expressionlessly and mercilessly, “Just choose quickly.”

It wasn’t clear what point Yan Hongyin had hit, but Yu Luocha’s mood suddenly improved considerably. With a smile at the corner of his mouth, he lowered his head to scan the map of Jinling City. The map had obviously been deliberately limited—besides mansions, roads, and government offices that were obvious to anyone, there was no information that shouldn’t appear.

But Yu Luocha didn’t mind because if he wanted a map of Jinling City, he could get one that included the distribution of underground forces.

His finger circled the map and finally settled on a certain location, tapping it lightly.

Yan Hongyin laid out three floor plans in front of Yu Luocha, gesturing for him to continue.

Yu Luocha shook the floor plans in his hand and smiled brilliantly. “It seems that Ah Yin and I have chosen the same place?”

To produce the floor plans so quickly, Yan Hongyin must have selected this location herself earlier.

This result wasn’t surprising.

Jinling City was a prosperous town, but correspondingly, the jianghu forces and the imperial court forces there were also quite complex. The place Yu Luocha had pointed to, although seemingly on the outskirts and far from the bustling main streets of Jinling, backed onto a dense forest. Beyond the forest was an official road, and there were no major forces’ strongholds adjacent on either side, making it a rare peaceful area.

Yu Luocha held his chin and selected a house he liked, watching as Yan Hongyin took it. Suddenly he sighed, “Ah, suddenly it feels like we’re properly married.”

The previous marriage had been too difficult to describe, and only now did Yu Luocha truly feel the reality of being married.

…Although it was still somewhat absurd.

Yan Hongyin quoted a price to Yu Luocha, who responded with a sound of agreement.

His eyes rolled as he thought of something else, “What should we write on the plaque above the door?”

This concerned the major question of whether he was still considered to have married into her family.

Yan Hongyin looked at him and said slowly, “Ordinary households don’t hang plaques on their doors.”

Yu Luocha: “…”

Yan Hong Hall had one because it was essentially a medical clinic open to the public, but the two had no such intentions on this trip to Jinling. This was just a residence for them to stay, and since they officially had neither government positions nor were they wealthy households, there would naturally be no plaque.

Yu Luocha thought about it, and suddenly his mindset balanced out inexplicably.

After all, even if they hung a plaque, he might not be able to convince Yan Hongyin to hang “Yu Residence,” so it was better not to hang one at all.

The matter of the house was thus decided. After getting the property deed, how to arrange the house would be split equally between them, but for these few days, they would still stay at the inn.

Yu Luocha stretched his neck, and his gaze paused slightly as it swept over the crowd below.

“Hmm?”

When Yan Hongyin heard his rising tone, she also looked down, only to see the person sitting opposite her suddenly flip out of the window. In the blink of an eye, he had snatched a half-grown child and brought him up.

Yan Hongyin grabbed Yu Luocha’s wine cup, flicked it with her finger, and the cup hit precisely on the acupoint, immobilizing a middle-aged man who was about to escape into a carriage.

Yan Hongyin gave Yu Luocha a sideways glance. “We just signed the Three Rules of Agreement, have you forgotten?”

Yu Luocha defended himself. “The house isn’t even ready yet, how can the house rules take effect?”

Yan Hongyin couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. Fortunately, Yu Luocha’s movements had been extremely quick; even if others had seen, they wouldn’t have understood what happened. The child was also unconscious, so there was no problem.

Yu Luocha felt the boy’s bone structure and said with satisfaction. “Indeed, I wasn’t mistaken. This child has excellent bone structure.”

“It is good, but you can’t abduct him,” Yan Hongyin didn’t believe Yu Luocha was truly doing a good deed; he most likely wanted to take the boy back to his sect to be raised for the Luocha Sect’s service. After all, Western Region faces were not convenient for operations, and Yu Luocha probably didn’t have many subordinates with superior martial arts. “This child’s identity is probably not ordinary.”

Yu Luocha shook the boy he was holding.

Whether knocked unconscious or drugged, the boy’s eyes were tightly closed, his body limp. The clothes he wore didn’t look expensive at first glance, but pushing aside the outermost layer of fabric, the inner garment was made of cloud brocade silk, which few people could afford.

–Yes, the kind that Yan Hongyin had once prepared for Ah Yu.

After his identity was exposed, Yu Luocha no longer received this loving care. Looking at the cloud brocade, he suddenly felt nostalgic.

Since he couldn’t keep the boy, Yu Luocha lost interest.

He held the boy’s clothes and handed him in Yan Hongyin’s direction.

Yan Hongyin frowned disapprovingly, took the child, and placed her fingers on his pulse.

“Hmm?” Yan Hongyin was somewhat surprised.

Yu Luocha: “Recognize him?”

Yan Hongyin thought for a moment, unbuttoned the boy’s clothes to look at his chest, found two already healed knife scars and bruises that had not yet faded, then paused before arranging his clothes back.

“It’s the Hua family’s youngest son who met with misfortune.”

****

Because of this unexpectedly rescued child, before their house was ready, Yan Hongyin and Yu Luocha were welcomed into the Hua family fortress by the immensely grateful Hua family.

In Jinling City, the Hua family could be said to be the local kingpin.

Hua Ruling, the head of the Hua family, was kind to others, cultured, and polite, and believed in the principle that harmony brings wealth. Not only was he famous in the jianghu world for making many friends in his youth, but three of his seven children had achieved high ranks in the imperial examinations and held official positions at court, so his relationship with the government was also very close. He could be said to be a figure who dominated both the underworld and legitimate society.

Because of this, the Hua family’s business ran smoothly, and over the years, they had subtly shown the potential to become the wealthiest family in Jiangnan.

Half a year ago, the Hua family, together with other jianghu masters, had surrounded and attacked the vicious Iron Shoe Bandit, only to suffer revenge. Their seven-year-old youngest son was taken hostage, stabbed multiple times, and blinded. During this period, the Hua family had sought renowned doctors throughout the land to treat their youngest son.

Yan Hongyin and Yu Luocha didn’t care where they stayed during this time; living in the Hua family fortress was more convenient and quieter than the inn with its constant flow of people. Moreover, Yan Hongyin’s original purpose in coming to Jinling was to treat the Hua family’s youngest son.

However…

Yu Luocha observed how Hua Ruling behaved when meeting Yan Hongyin, and it didn’t seem like they had a past acquaintance as Yan Hongyin had said. Instead, it looked more like a first meeting.

“Did you and the Hua family head have a relationship in the past?” Yu Luocha lay on the chaise lounge by the bed, sunbathing, while asking Yan Hongyin.

After learning Yan Hongyin’s purpose, Hua Ruling immediately increased his respect for the two several notches and sent many precious medicinal herbs. Yan Hongyin was currently sorting through them, selecting those that could be useful.

“Never met him,” Yan Hongyin’s answer was watertight, typically revealing only half the truth.

But Yu Luocha understood.

A relationship without meeting meant that most likely the Jinyiwei had a relationship with the Hua family head, and this time the Hua family head had sought help from the Jinyiwei.

Yu Luocha bent one leg, rested his arm on his knee, and waved it gently. “Why do I feel that Wife’s identity doesn’t quite match what I know?”

Could a fourth-rank Zhenfushi really have access to so much Jinyiwei intelligence?

Oh… right, how would a fourth-rank Zhenfushi know about the emperor’s cuckoldry, such a private secret?

Tsk.

Yan Hongyin focused on the medicinal herbs in her hand without raising her head. “If you’re suspicious, go investigate yourself. I’m not restraining you.”

Yu Luocha stretched and changed his posture, facing the sun with closed eyes. “Wife is probably an onion spirit, peel off one layer and there’s another, each layer stinging and burning the eyes.”

Yan Hongyin unpacked another box and took out a lingzhi mushroom. Seeing that it looked good quality, it was a precious item that could save lives, but since it wasn’t needed at the moment, she put it aside and chatted casually with Yu Luocha. “Then what are you? A gecko?”

A gecko is a cold-blooded animal that can change color to blend with its surroundings, and some are highly poisonous, so they aren’t particularly welcomed.

Yu Luocha’s expression immediately became sorrowful. He raised his hand to stroke his face, looked at the datura flower in Yan Hongyin’s hand, and said softly, “With this face of mine, wouldn’t it be fitting to say I’m a datura spirit?”

Yan Hongyin lowered her head to look at the dried datura flower in her hand, and finally spared a glance at the Western Region beauty posturing on the chaise lounge. After a speechless moment, she slowly said, “I think narcissus would suit you better.”

Suited to growing by the water’s edge, gazing at one’s own reflection.

Yu Luocha immediately laughed heartily. Sunlight fell on his face with its deep features and distinct contours, coating it with a golden edge.

Suddenly, Yan Hongyin and Yu Luocha’s breaths paused, and they both looked up toward the door.

Not far away, next to the moon gate in the courtyard wall, a small piece of clothing was visible. A somewhat nervous and hesitant aura hid behind the wall, with unsteady and weak footsteps and slightly labored breathing.

“Your little patient has come to find you,” Yu Luocha said languidly.

Yan Hongyin lowered her eyes and continued sorting the medicinal herbs, showing no intention of bringing the person in.

After all, Doctor Yan and her husband were just ordinary people without martial arts, so how could they hear such faint movements from across half a courtyard?

Hearing those footsteps slowly approaching and stopping near the doorway to the corridor, Yu Luocha suddenly asked Yan Hongyin with mischievous intent, “Is the Hua family’s little master’s eyes truly untreatable?”

Yan Hongyin had naturally heard the footsteps that stopped outside the door. Upon hearing Yu Luocha’s question, she glanced at him and said calmly, “The knife’s energy has damaged the inside, and there is no medicine to cure it. But if one insists, there is still one method.”

“What do you mean?” Yu Luocha became interested, “Don’t doctors always do their best to treat patients? What do you mean by ‘insist’?”

“Eye transplantation,” Yan Hongyin put aside the sorted medicinal herbs and said to Yu Luocha, “These are all the herbs you’ll need tonight. Go grind them.”

Yu Luocha’s last medicinal bath was in Lin’an Prefecture. Upon hearing this, he very obediently took the herbs and sat on a small stool at the other side of the room, took the grinding wheel, and began to grind.

Yan Hongyin looked at the shadow reflected on the door, saw that the little master still hadn’t moved, sighed, and continued. “Let’s not even discuss how difficult eye transplantation is. Just the single condition that it must be taken from a living person’s eyes to be usable already makes it hard to find.”

After a pause, Yan Hongyin continued, “Moreover, for people who survive the transplant, even one out of ten is fortunate; most die from high fever after the transplant. This method leaves life and death to fate, beyond a doctor’s control, and that is why it’s called ‘insisting’.”

With medicinal herbs related to himself to busy with, Yu Luocha no longer paid attention to the little master at the door.

Yan Hongyin felt that after saying this much, this delicately raised little master would likely not come in, so she began to organize the herbs she had set aside earlier.

However, to both their surprise, after just a few breaths’ time, this little master who had never practiced martial arts and whose constitution was even weaker than normal people due to his mother’s advanced age during his premature birth, walked in with determined steps, holding onto the doorframe.

The thresholds in the Hua family had all been removed after the Hua little master was blinded, ordered by Hua Ruling who doted on his youngest son. But from the way the Hua little master was not skilled at groping his way around, it was clear that half a year of blindness had not yet allowed him to become accustomed to walking in darkness.

“Seventh Child pays respects to Doctor Yan and Young Master Yu. Thank you both for your help yesterday. Without your intervention, Seventh Child would certainly not have returned to his parents’ side. This life-saving grace will never be forgotten.”

Due to his young age, the little master’s face still had some baby fat, but his expression was very calm despite his still somewhat pale complexion.

Yan Hongyin didn’t mind that Little Master Hua’s bow was directed at empty space, and said evenly, “Did the little master hear just now?”

Hua Manlou’s ears twitched, and he shifted his body in the direction of the voice, making another bow, and nodded gently. “Seventh Child already understands, and thanks Doctor Yan for her concern.”

Yan Hongyin quietly looked at the little master before her, waiting for his next words.

“Seventh Child has another impertinent request, and hopes Doctor Yan will grant it.”

“Regarding the eye transplantation method, when informing my father, please don’t mention that anyone has regained sight through this method. Just speak of its drawbacks.”

Yan Hongyin looked at the frail little master before her and asked, “This method already defies heaven’s will, and even one survival out of ten is extremely rare. Why conceal it?”

The little master smiled slightly. Though young, his delicate features were tinged with light melancholy, yet without sorrow or anger. He already showed the initial glimpses of the dignified and gentle scholarly elegance he would possess in the future.

“My parents and brothers have always doted on Seventh Child. If Doctor Yan mentioned that this method still holds a glimmer of hope, my family’s elders would certainly seek medical advice at any cost. If ill-intentioned people heard of this, they might commit atrocities against others for the Hua family’s reward.”

The little master spoke at a measured pace, seemingly deliberating in his mind as he spoke, then slowly exhaled and said softly, “I am already blind. If because of me, other innocent people are plunged into darkness, then it wouldn’t just be my eyes that are blind, but my heart as well.”

“But if you abandon this method, you will remain blind for your entire life. Are you willing to accept this fate?” Yu Luocha had somehow approached, looking at Little Master Hua with an unusual light in his eyes, somewhere between amusement and inquiry. “You should know that with your family background, you still have decades of worry-free life ahead. There’s a long way to go.”

The little master made another bow in the direction of Yu Luocha’s voice, then stood in place pondering for quite a while before speaking, “In the period just after I woke up, I also thought countless times, why did I have to suffer such a hardship?”

“But later, I began to think that there are many people in this world who face different desperate situations from birth. I was born into a wealthy family, loved by my parents, protected by my brothers—already something many people envy. If I were to feel sorry for myself because of this hardship, what about those whose lives are much more difficult than mine?”

“Several decades is indeed a long time, but since I’m already blind, I’ll have to get used to it gradually…Perhaps one day, I’ll understand heaven’s arrangement and accept this fate?”

“I just…” This time the little master paused for a very long time, then slightly lowered his head, as if trying to convince himself, and said softly, “need a little more time.”

This child…

Yan Hongyin looked deeply into those dim eyes.

She saw no hatred or indignation, only a kind of acceptance of one’s lot that was difficult to capture even in the eyes of elders who had seen a thousand sails, as well as a hint of anxiety and confusion about the unknown future.

Yu Luocha was also gazing at the child who was only seven years old.

His gaze had an indescribable complexity, but Yan Hongyin felt that through Hua Manlou, Yu Luocha was looking at someone else.

Perhaps a person from the past, or perhaps… his former self.

“What is your name?”

Yu Luocha, who had been looking down at the little master, bent down to be at eye level with the still young child.

Hua Manlou was somewhat surprised, and although he didn’t understand why the person before him asked this question, he still answered gently and softly, “My name is Hua Manlou.”

“Hua Manlou,” Yu Luocha repeated softly, “I will remember.”

Author’s Notes:

Gecko is actually chameleon

Regarding eye transplantation, my personal thought is that in the wuxia world, such medical techniques might not be impossible, but in an ancient environment lacking matching technology, it would purely be leaving things to fate and luck.