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Chapter 23

Nie Jiuluo woke up feeling sore as if she had been beaten. Upon reflection, she realized she had indeed been in a fight.

With a sigh, she got up and went to the bathroom, turning on the light to inspect her injuries. Half of her face was swollen, resembling a bloated steamed bun. The corner of her lip was split, and applying a band-aid would make eating and drinking inconvenient. She had a nail-sized abrasion on her forehead, which she hadn’t noticed before—perhaps she had been too caught up in the fight. She applied a band-aid to her forehead, giving her face a more bitter and resentful look.

After examining her face, she turned her attention to the rest of her body. Standing with her back to the wide vanity mirror, she loosened her nightgown and slipped it down to her elbows, then turned her head to look at her reflection.

She had always prided herself on her porcelain-like skin, but with that delicate quality came its own drawbacks. Her skin was prone to bruising and swelling from even minor impacts, and the marks often took days to fade. From her shoulder blades to her waist, especially where Yan Tuo had gripped her forcefully, the bruises were dark purple and nearly black, a distressing sight.

Grinding her teeth in anger, she twisted a towel to wipe her face, imagining it was Yan Tuo and using excessive force, causing many cotton threads on the towel to snap.

Exhausted last night, she had fallen asleep immediately and hadn’t had a chance to think things through. But with the new day’s light and a clearer head, she began to reconsider the events of the night. Many questions arose. Why did Yan Tuo come alone? Was it a matter of pride, wanting to handle things by himself? Additionally, he seemed more interested in questioning her about certain topics than in exacting revenge.

He had asked about things she hadn’t anticipated: what is a dogtooth, its origin, the meaning of Sun Zhou’s “taking root and sprouting,” and what is a ghost? It was intriguing that he didn’t know these things but still sought answers aggressively.

Deciding whether to involve Jiang Baichuan, she hesitated as she typed out a message detailing last night’s events but soon reconsidered. It might be better to inform him only when the situation is resolved rather than detailing all the complexities now.

Just then, there were two knocks on the door, followed by Sister Lu’s voice: “Miss Nie, Mr. Cai is here.”

Nie Jiuluo added a cardigan over her nightgown, closed the placket, and went downstairs to meet Mr. Cai.

Lao Cai, in his fifties and owner of a high-end art supply firm, was a familiar and respected figure to Nie Jiuluo. His store sold a variety of fine art supplies, including paintings, sculptures, and folk handicrafts. He also organized art salons and exchange events regularly. Over time, their relationship had developed into one of friendship and mentorship, with Lao Cai taking on a role akin to an “uncle” guiding a younger relative.

As Lao Cai greeted Nie Jiuluo, he wore a new type of neckband headset and appeared to be listening to something. Upon seeing her, he smiled warmly and said, “Ah Luo, I haven’t seen you in a few days… What happened to you? Have you been beaten? Domestic violence? Do you have a boyfriend?”

Nie Jiuluo, knowing Lao Cai’s logic, understood the underlying question. Domestic violence typically implies a male partner, so Lao Cai’s inquiry was about her having a boyfriend. She merely squinted at him, not confirming nor denying his assumption.

Lao Cai, interpreting her silence as confirmation, was visibly upset. “I told you long ago that this man isn’t worth much. What’s his name? Where does he work? Give me the address, and I’ll arrange for someone to deal with him. He won’t get away with this!”

Nie Jiuluo responded, “I just fell while walking. It’s nothing.”

Lao Cai, dismissing her explanation, said, “You’re young. Why don’t you watch where you’re going?”

Handing her a ticket, he continued, “Here, go to this exhibition next Tuesday.”

Nie Jiuluo took the ticket and looked at it. It was for a themed sculpture exhibition titled “Frozen Notes,” showcasing music-related masterpieces. The back of the ticket featured an exhibit from France called “Dancer,” with simple lines and no elaborate expressions, conveying profound meaning through body movements.

Lao Cai added, “The VIP show is private. See what others are doing with their exhibitions, and consider it for your own future shows.”

Nie Jiuluo asked, “When will I be able to hold a solo exhibition in the truest sense? So far, I’ve only been invited to contribute individual works.”

Lao Cai replied, “You could do it now by simply moving your sculptures to the outer wall and displaying them in a row. That could be considered a solo exhibition.”

Nie Jiuluo was not satisfied with this answer.

Lao Cai smiled again and gestured towards the exhibition ticket. “If you want to achieve this level and tour internationally, you’re not there yet. But if you work hard, you have potential. I believe you can achieve it within five years. To enter the top ranks of the industry, you must be exceptional.”

Nie Jiuluo fell silent. Five years felt like a long time—one-fifth of her past life.

In the following days, Nie Jiuluo continued with her usual busy schedule, focusing on repairs. She attended to the Shuiyue Guanyin statue that needed fixing and dealt with the damaged roof. However, she chose not to repair the dragon skeleton that had lost its head, considering it a work that was cursed once it was incomplete. She decided to abandon it and start anew in the future.

As she went about her tasks, she occasionally glanced towards the door or window, feeling a sense of unease. She anticipated that Yan Tuo might reappear, though he was unlikely to choose her house as the next location. He would probably select a different time and place, and when they next crossed paths, he would likely be even more challenging to handle, given his increasing familiarity with her life.

The next time Nie Jiuluo encountered Yan Tuo, it was outside the exhibition hall. She had just finished viewing the exhibition, and the timing was awkward: it was four in the afternoon, too early for dinner and too late to do anything else.

As she descended the steps in front of the pavilion, she waited for her ride-hailing service to arrive. After a short while, a dilapidated car pulled up. She assumed it was her ride and, with a sigh of frustration, moved to open the passenger door. As she did, the driver turned towards her.

Their eyes met, and Nie Jiuluo’s body tensed. An inexplicable sense of perverse pleasure surged within her. Here was Yan Tuo again, provoking trouble as usual. This was like a repeat of their previous encounter—a situation where things were bound to get worse.

At that moment, she had already recovered from her previous injuries. Her face was no longer swollen, the scabs on her lips had fallen off, and the bite marks on her neck had healed. Only the bruise on her right cheek remained, giving her a somewhat resentful look.

Nie Jiuluo fixed her cold gaze on Yan Tuo as people moved around them.

Yan Tuo said, “Get in the car. Our business is over, isn’t it? Early death and early rebirth, or do you want to reschedule for next week?”

Nie Jiuluo glanced at the passenger seat.

Yan Tuo added, “There are no bombs, no accomplices—just me. With so many people around, it’s inconvenient. Let’s find a secluded spot in the suburbs and settle this once and for all.”

Nie Jiuluo eyed the car critically. “Why is the car so beaten up?”

She wasn’t concerned about riding in a dilapidated vehicle, but Yan Tuo’s choice of transportation seemed odd. Given his apparent resources, driving such a car felt… unsettling.

Yan Tuo shrugged. “I drove a nice car last time. What happened to it? It’s been retrofitted and stripped. If you want to ride in a better car, you’ll need to find one yourself. Just follow me.”

Nie Jiuluo hesitated but eventually climbed into the car. She tested the seat before settling in and surveyed the interior.

Yan Tuo reassured her, “There’s no trap, just a broken car.”

Nie Jiuluo fastened her seatbelt and, as she canceled her ride-hailing order, realized she was late. A fine had already been incurred. After paying it, the car merged onto the main road. This kind of vehicle, with cameras and observers everywhere, was unlikely to cause trouble.

She rummaged through her bag, concealed a dagger in her sleeve, and popped a piece of gum into her mouth.

Yan Tuo glanced at her and asked, “Miss Nie, what about those questions I asked you? Any answers?”

Nie Jiuluo raised an eyebrow. “Interesting, do you expect me to answer? You could always schedule an afternoon tea with international spy agencies to get your answers.”

Ignoring him, she focused on planning her next move. It would be foolish to start a fight after getting out of the car at a local spot; it was better to act on an open stretch of road where she had the advantage of space over Yan Tuo.

Yan Tuo smiled knowingly. “I suppose there’s no hope for you then.”

Suddenly, Nie Jiuluo remembered Sun Zhou. “What did you do with Sun Zhou?”

“Sun Zhou?” Yan Tuo seemed surprised. “Isn’t Sun Zhou with you?”

Realizing his mistake, he quickly corrected himself. “Sun Zhou isn’t with us? Then I don’t know. He wasn’t with us.”

This response was somewhat expected. Jiang Baichuan mentioned that Sun Zhou was rescued, and Yan Tuo’s statement indicated that Sun Zhou might have escaped during the chaos. This left the possibility that Sun Zhou had taken the opportunity to flee.

Nie Jiuluo swallowed nervously. Her first instinct was to contact Jiang Baichuan, but she realized the situation wasn’t suitable for that and decided to wait.

As the car left the urban area and entered a more rural setting with fewer people, Nie Jiuluo saw an opportunity. She turned to Yan Tuo and asked, “How did you meet Gouya?”

Yan Tuo’s response was dismissive. “That’s none of your business.”

The car sped up significantly, and the trees and fields blurred past. Nie Jiuluo had to grip the handrail above her to steady herself.

Yan Tuo smirked. “Are you scared?”

The chaos wasn’t over. Yan Tuo pressed a button to open the door, and the front and rear windows were rolled down to the maximum. The dirt road was dusty, and the car’s speed was enough to choke. The wind howled, and the roar of the engine drowned out any normal conversation.

Nie Jiuluo’s long hair was whipped into her face, and she choked on the dust. Annoyed, she yelled, “Are you insane?”

Yan Tuo shouted back over the noise, “Miss Nie, didn’t you ask me why I drove a broken car?”

As he spoke, the car jolted violently as it flew over a ditch, shaking as it landed. After nearly 100 meters of rapid uphill climbing, it jumped onto an iron bridge. The view opened up—there was a wide river encircling the city, not very broad but substantial. The bridge was several hundred meters long, and the old, abandoned bridge could be seen in the distance. The clattering of the bridge slabs below was almost audible.

Yan Tuo turned to look at Nie Jiuluo and said softly, “Because this car is going to be scrapped.”

The car was so loud that Nie Jiuluo couldn’t hear him clearly, only seeing his lips move. Before she could ask “what” out of sheer reflex, she saw Yan Tuo slam the steering wheel, followed by a deafening crash. The iron railing broke, and the front of the car plunged off the bridge, falling five or six meters into the river below.

For two seconds, Nie Jiuluo’s mind went blank as the car tumbled into the abyss of terror. The car fell from the bridge, and she had never experienced such a violent and devastating event. To make matters worse, she had a deep-seated fear of water. Unlike skydiving or bungee jumping, the sensation of being enveloped in suffocating water was unbearable. She had even tried to hold her breath in the bathtub, nearly drowning in the process.

The roar of the water was deafening, and the car was rapidly sinking. The windows were fully open, so there was no “drilling” through water—it was a direct plunge. Water engulfed her, swarming and chaotic, making it impossible to push away or even grasp.

Before she could hold her breath, water filled her mouth and nose. She swallowed, held her breath, and frantically fumbled for her seatbelt as the car continued to sink. The sunset light dimmed above her, growing more distant. She saw Yan Tuo, already having freed himself, escape through the window.

Desperately trying to stay calm, she thought, Don’t panic, don’t worry. She managed to unfasten her seatbelt, but bubbles were forming in her mouth and nose. She grabbed the window frame and kicked against the car, hoping to propel herself to the surface. She needed to at least find a way to breathe, even if no one came to rescue her.

Just as she was about to push herself out of the car, a shadow emerged from the roof again. Yan Tuo reached down and pushed her head back into the water.

It was unbearable—without any ground under her feet, she was left struggling in the void. She lost her breath as water gushed into her mouth, nostrils, and ears. Her body flipped and turned in the water, unable to find balance.

The water grew murkier, and Yan Tuo’s indistinct figure approached once more. In a last-ditch effort, Nie Jiuluo gathered all her remaining strength and reached out to grab him, determined to take him down with her.

But Yan Tuo anticipated this move and deftly avoided her grasp. The oppressive darkness surrounded her from all sides, and Nie Jiuluo felt her breath slipping away. Her struggle ceased, and her consciousness began to blur, sinking into the inky blackness.

She was overwhelmed with regret. If she had known she would die at Yan Tuo’s hands, she should have attacked him first and taken him down before it was too late. The thought echoed in her mind as everything faded to black.

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An Owl Rising From The Green Soil

An Owl Rising From The Green Soil

Love On The Turquoise Land (Drama)
Score 8.0
Status: Ongoing Type: , Author: , Artist: Released: 2020 Native Language: Chinese
Over two thousand years ago on a deep night, Xu Fu* set sail to the eastern seas in a treasure ship to search for immortality, but few people knew that at the same time, a group of black-turban soldiers secretly entered the vast and dense Nanbao forest
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