Blooming of the Red Spider Lily: The Enchanting Pavilion Master - Chapter 44 - Don't Touch Me

Feng Moqing stood at the entrance of the Pavilion of Rebirth, staring at the people coming and going all day without catching a glimpse of Li Bai’s lonely figure. He was unsure whether to feel relieved or regretful about this situation. On one hand, he didn’t want Li Bai to easily give up the chance of being with Le Zimu; on the other hand, he didn’t wish for her to selfishly take another’s life to fulfill her own desires, ripping out someone’s heart in the process.

This conflicting mindset left Feng Moqing with a dark expression throughout the day. The townsfolk passing by the Pavilion were nervous at the sight of their noble prince in such a state, instinctively wondering if the stunningly beautiful pavilion master had cast him out. Otherwise, why would the second prince look so melancholic sitting at the entrance of the Pavilion of Rebirth?

The thoughtful glances from passersby only deepened Feng Moqing’s gloom. Helplessly, he shifted his gaze to the interior of the pavilion, where Bi’an lay lazily on a soft couch, her eyes half-closed, seemingly having fallen asleep. Recalling how tired Bi’an had looked when she returned a few days ago, Feng Moqing could only imagine how exhausting her recent travels must have been.

He sighed quietly to himself and finally moved from his spot. He winked at Hua Ning and Jiang Qing by the counter before stepping into Bi’an’s room to grab a thin blanket, moving carefully as he draped it over her.

As he tucked in the corners of the blanket, Feng Moqing was about to leave when Bi’an unexpectedly grasped his wrist, her eyes meeting his with a hint of tear stains that froze him in place.

Compelled by an impulse, he gently wiped away the tear from the corner of her eye. Grasping Bi’an’s hand back, he put away his usual playful demeanor and said earnestly, “It’s okay, we’re all here.”

The warmth from his hand caught Bi’an, still in a daze, off guard. By the time she regained her senses, she instinctively jerked her hand away from Feng Moqing and huddled back into the couch, displaying a measure of wariness on her face.

“Don’t touch me!” Bi’an coldly replied, suddenly bristling like a hedgehog against his approach. Feng Moqing, seasoned in martial arts, sensed a faint yet chilling intent to kill emanating from her. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it sent shivers down his spine. The realization that Bi’an could entertain thoughts of killing him was shocking. Their skill levels were worlds apart; if she truly wanted to harm him, he likely wouldn’t stand a chance to defend himself.

“Bi’an, you…” The words were stifled before they could leave Feng Moqing’s lips, crushed by a single indifferent glance from Bi’an. He noticed that her expression was devoid of emotion; her pupils seemed unfocused, as if she had completely disregarded him, or perhaps it felt as if Bi’an herself was no longer in this world.

This realization jolted Feng Moqing in his chest, prompting him to seize Bi’an’s wrist once more. This time, she didn’t shake him off; she merely glanced at the panicked Feng Moqing before calmly saying, “Second Prince, we have a guest.”

The wind chimes at the entrance had begun to jingle at some point, and from the courtyard, Feng Moqing faintly heard Hua Ning’s laughter. It was clear that she had eagerly rushed to greet the visitor. Bi’an needed to attend to the guest outside, yet Feng Moqing had no intention of letting go of her hand at that moment.

“Bi’an, what happened during the time you were gone? You’ve been acting so strangely lately-do you even realize that?” Ever since her return, Bi’an had been different from her usual self. Despite her perpetually cold demeanor, as if nothing had changed, Feng Moqing could sense that something was amiss within her. Her heart was clearly tangled in disarray!

“Second Prince, the matters of the Pavilion of Rebirth are more important than my own issues. You are an attendant of the Pavilion, not my personal keeper!” Bi’an coldly stated, effortlessly pulling her hand away from Feng Moqing’s grip. Without hesitation, she turned and walked out into the courtyard.

Feng Moqing stood frozen, watching helplessly as Bi’an’s figure receded farther away from him. In the end, he bitterly smiled and waved his fan, feigning indifference as he slowly followed Bi’an’s steps.

After all, he had approached her out of curiosity, coming to the Pavilion of Rebirth just to observe. There was no need for him to intervene too much, was there?

As soon as Bi’an stepped outside, Hua Ning beamed and rushed over, whispering a few words in Bi’an’s ear. She then waved goodbye, taking Jiang Qing along as they headed out, clearly planning to enjoy a stroll through the market.

“Young Master Le, what brings you to the Pavilion of Rebirth?” Bi’an asked, offering a slight nod in acknowledgment before settling into her seat across from the newcomer. She pointedly ignored the radiant smile on Feng Moqing’s face beside her.

Young Master Le? Hearing this, Feng Moqing felt a twinge of surprise as a name flashed through his mind. Sure enough, the handsome man seated across from him eagerly asked, “Did Li Bai make a wish while she was here? I heard that fulfilling wishes here comes at a cost. Can I cover the cost of Li Bai’s wish? Or better yet, can I fulfill her wish myself?”

Seeing such an eager and worried expression, it was clear that Young Master Le was the one Li Bai had been yearning for. Were these two truly so deeply in love with each other? Feng Moqing couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Yet he wondered, if this man knew that Li Bai was a flower demon, would he still love her this much?

Feng Moqing turned to look at the silent Bi’an, hoping she would reveal the truth to confirm Young Master Le’s feelings while also wishing she would keep it secret to avoid ruining Li Bai’s current happiness. Whether to speak or remain silent was indeed a torment.

As if affected by Feng Moqing’s inner turmoil, Bi’an was silent for a moment. Finally, she gazed steadily at Young Master Le and pointed to his chest. Slowly and deliberately, she said, “Li Bai wants a human heart. She wants to become a true person. But to obtain a human heart, one must kill and take it!”

Her chilling words echoed in the pavilion, delivering the unvarnished truth. Feng Moqing sighed in relief but instinctively glanced at Young Master Le’s expression. To his surprise, there was no sign of fear or shock on Young Master Le’s face-instead, it was a bittersweet expression, as if he had known from the beginning that Li Bai was not human.

“Do you know that Li Bai is a flower demon?” Feng Moqing could not help but exclaim, his emotions bubbling over as he nearly lunged forward to grab Young Master Le by his collar.

Young Master Le appeared startled by Feng Moqing’s sudden outburst. He fell silent for a moment, then, twirling the jade pendant hanging from his clothes with a hint of smugness, he replied, “Yes, I’ve known for a long time. What kind of girl climbs trees that high and dares to jump down? At first, I thought I was imagining things, but one day I secretly hid behind a wall to see where Li Bai lived. That’s when I found out she actually melded into that pear tree. At that moment, I figured she probably wasn’t human.”

Thinking back on how every time Li Bai had tried to distract him to avoid having him take her home, Young Master Le couldn’t help but chuckle. She might have believed he was unaware of her true identity, going to great lengths to hide it, but little did she know, he had known all along and didn’t care at all.

He had fallen in love with Li Bai, regardless of her identity! Whether human or demon, everything in the world has a heart. He could see Li Bai’s sincerity in her eyes; as long as they loved each other, the rest didn’t matter. However, it was her actions after he proposed-her using magic to conjure Li Mansion to fit with him-that truly touched Young Master Le.

How could he not love such a considerate woman, who thought of him in everything she did?

The person before him wore a warm and sweet smile, and as Feng Moqing gazed at them, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. In the past, he thought being alone wasn’t so bad, especially since most of the women he encountered were pretentious and difficult to warm up to.

Thus, he had grown accustomed to playing in the flower gardens, feigning affection toward the women who approached him. However, seeing Qian Long, Jiang Qing, Hua Ning, and now Li Bai with Young Master Le for the first time made him long for someone special to spend his life with. He felt it would be a truly happy thing.

“Young Master Le, is there something else you need? Are you perhaps looking to help Li Bai find a human heart?” Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed Bi’an’s voice beside him. Her tone was as icy as ever, but today it made Feng Moqing furrow his brows slightly.

“Could my heart work for Li Bai? If I willingly give it to her, then she wouldn’t have to pay any price, right?” Emerging from pleasant memories, Young Master Le suddenly leaned forward, asking Bi’an eagerly. He had considered the fact that he wouldn’t want Li Bai to suffer for her wish, so the best solution was for him to help her realize it.

Since Li Bai wanted a human heart, he would give her one. Loving someone meant ensuring their well-being, didn’t it?

“Yes. If it’s voluntary, this Pavilion will not collect a price.”

“That’s great.” Young Master Le sighed in relief, embarrassedly scratching his head and grinning like a fool. That smile was dazzling enough to sting Feng Moqing’s eyes. He didn’t even notice when Young Master Le mentioned that he had promised to celebrate his birthday with Li Bai first before helping her fulfill her wish.

When Feng Moqing finally came to his senses after Bi’an’s cold statement, he found that Young Master Le had disappeared, and even Bi’an had gotten up and returned to her own room without him noticing.

Only Feng Moqing remained in the vast Pavilion of Rebirth, along with the tea that had grown cold in front of him.

The words Li Bai, Young Master Le, and heart echoed incessantly in his mind, deepening the gloom within him. In a sudden rush, he stood up and stormed into Bi’an’s room.

Inside, Bi’an was casually setting down the hairpin she had used to tie back her hair, absently brushing it with a comb. Seeing her so relaxed and unfazed stirred an inexplicable anger within Feng Moqing. He strode forward, grasped Bi’an’s wrist, forcing her to face him, and asked in an icy tone, “Why?”

It was a moment of misplaced rage, but he couldn’t help it. If a person could truly control their emotions, they would have long become a heartless immortal.

Fixing his gaze on Bi’an, Feng Moqing’s grip did not weaken even as she furrowed her brow, a rare occurrence for her. He knew that his anger was not only related to Li Bai’s situation but also rooted in his frustration at being unable to cope. If someone could fully control their emotions, they would have become a deity by now.

“Bi’an, why did you do that? You know perfectly well that Li Bai desires a heart for Young Master Le. She wants to be with him as a real person. If Young Master Le dies, what use is a heart to her? You know it all, so why not refuse Young Master Le!”

Feng Moqing shouted at Bi’an, completely unconcerned with how terrifying he seemed in that moment. He couldn’t believe that the Bi’an he knew, while aloof, should have a heart softer than anyone else’s. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have helped Mi Die, rescued Qian Long, or scolded Jing Feng on Hu Xi’s behalf. But now, why was she pushing Li Bai and Young Master Le toward a dead end?

How could she bear to send two innocent lovers to their doom?