Murong Qing Lian wanted to find the answer from Mishaâs face, but Misha still had a clean and gentle smile. Nothing could be seen from it. It seemed, this time, to drive a duck onto a perch, she had no choice but to stake it all!
To drive a duck onto a perch: to push somebody to do something beyond their ability
Murong Qing Lian grabbed the cylinder of the gun, but her heartbeat was a mess. She had never seen this âgunâ. Could it be a thing to smash other things? Murong Qing Lian clutched the cylinder of the gun and knocked the table with the butt of the gun. In her heart, she believed that this was something similar to a hammer, but it wasnât as easy to use as a hammer.
Misha smiled gently. His expression hadnât changed. Murong Qing Lian saw Misha like this, she was surer that she guessed right! It seemed that god stood on her side and was biased towards her!
âBig brother, look, itâs used like this!â Murong Qing Lian proudly raised the gun in her hand.
âMm, very well!â Misha took the gun in Murong Qing Lianâs hand. His fingers gently stroked the cylinder of the gun. âIf the person who invented the gun saw you like this, he would certainly find it funny...â
âBig brother...â
Even if Murong Qing Lian was very stupid, she heard the unspoken implication of those words. She was startled for a moment, then she laughed embarrassingly. âBig brother, presumably it had been too long. I donât remember how to use it, so I became unfamiliar with it. Let me think a bit more. Let me try...â
Murong Qing Lian wanted to get the gun back from Mishaâs hand, but she was stopped by him. Misha took the gun and pointed it at Murong Qing Lian. The wheelchair came closer in her direction, âEven if youâve forgotten everything, then, you should at least remember how you died!â
âBig brother...â
Donât know why, Murong Qing Lian sensed an unprecedented coldness from Misha. Although, his smile was still the same, but that pair of clear eyes was surging.
âPa...,â Misha narrowed his eyes and aimed at Murong Qing Lianâs heart. He made a gun sound. Seeing that he was like a different person, Murong Qing Lian went blank. She didnât say anything, afraid that if she made a mistake, Misha would get angry.
Seeing Murong Qing Lianâs timid look, Misha laughed out loudly.
âSo funny! Hahahaha!â Misha laughed and even had to bend his body. His tears fell from the corner of his eyes on his disabled legs. He laughed too much that his breath couldnât keep up. Only after he choked twice did he stop laughing.
âIn my past life, I hated people deceiving me the most. To this life, I still hate being lied to.â Misha raised his head. A smile still hung on his mouth, but his face was like it came from an icehouse. It was stiff and cold without any emotion.
âBefore finding you, I did a test on Penglai Island. Two female disciples passed, but they were very honest and generously admitted that they arenât Lian. So, I didnât make things difficult for them...â
âDo you know how much I wanted to see you when I heard Jia Lan say that you were the first one to arrive at the seventh floor of the pagoda? From Penglai Island to here, it took more than a month on water. The moment I came on shore, without stopping to rest, I rushed to meet Jia Lan. Then, I rushed to Bei Zhou. I just wanted to know if youâre the person I was looking for.â
âIn fact, from the first time I lay my eyes on you, I knew you werenât her. However, I still brought you here; do you know why?â
âI...,â Murong Qing Lian felt air choke in her heart, making it very uncomfortable to breath. She couldnât swallow it nor spit it out.
She never imagined that from the beginning, Misha already know that she was a fake. However, why didnât he expose her? Why did he watch her act like a clown? Why?!
Murong Qing Lianâs question soon got the answer from Misha.
âWhen adoptive father brought Yi Lian, she was only five years old. She was so dirty like a worn out doll. And you, the image of that day was like the first time I saw Yi Lian. So, I got compassion and brought you back. You must thank Yi Lian. It was she who saved you!â
Misha didnât look at Murong Qing Lian, but he had been staring at the gun in his hand.
Probably, because he stayed long-term in the wheelchair and couldnât exercise, Misha was very thin. Even his fingers were very slim. He gently stroked the gun in his hand. So focussed, so serious as if this gun was his only treasure. Mishaâs voice wasnât as gentle as before. Instead it had a bit of coldness in it, making Murong Qing Lian frightened. She didnât know what she would face next.
The gentleness of this young man was all pretense. He compiled a large web and looked at her struggling and bouncing in the web. He applauded and went along, but didnât expose and didnât unmask her. Now, he was like this, did it mean that his patience was gone? Then, would he kill her?
Murong Qing Lian grasped the collar of her clothes. Her face was pale.
Donât know why, but now she felt that Misha was very frightening! To be more exact, Misha had always been frightening. Before, he was like a gentle milk, warming her heart. Now, he let her know that all of this was a pretense. What was it that would make a person pretend so flawlessly? Could it be that those gentleness and warmth in his eyes could also be pretended?
Misha didnât want to know Murong Qing Lianâs emotions and also had no interest or care in them. He only cared about the person he cares about. As for Murong Qing Lian, she was just a plaything for when he had the interest. Looking at her unceasingly exchanged the four types of human emotions, was nothing more than to let his life be a bit livelier.
Four types of human emotions: happiness, anger, sorrow and joy
âI lived ten years with Yi Lian. When I was twenty, she was fifteen. At that time, we already went our different ways and had different lifestyles. However, we would go every year to adoptive fatherâs home to spend the Spring festivals (Chinese New Year). I saw how Yi Lian turned from a crying little girl full of snot to a slender and elegant woman who caught many peopleâs eyes. My heart also began to beat for her!â
Misha reminisced bit by bit about the good times of the past. Murong Qing Lian saw a thing called âhappinessâ from his face. Now, she knows how stupid she was. She actually wanted to use the identity of âYi Lianâ and continue living in her (YL) disguise. She didnât know, in Mishaâs eyes, she was just a clown-like character.
Although this young manâs voice turned cold after exposing her, but every time when Misha said âYi Lianâ, Murong Qing Lian could hear the deep love from his voice.
At this time, Murong Qing Lian was envious of this woman called âYi Lianâ from the bottom of her heart. Although, she didnât understand many things from the content Misha told her, but she could feel the deep love Misha had for Yi Lian.
Thinking about her own encounters, Murong Qing Lian laughed bitterly once. Before, she was set up by Murong Xin Lian and had been dirtied by Wanyan Hong. Then, she, the victim was put into prison by Wanyan Lie who didnât distinguish between right and wrong, making her bear the pain of the flesh daily...Everything she experienced was things ordinary people couldnât imagine.
Misha searched everywhere for Yi Lian. No matter what kind of ways he used, even if he may kill her (MQL), but the real care he had for Yi Lian still let Murong Qing Lian be touched.
Misha cared so much about that woman called Yi Lian, then what about her (MQL)?! When she was in pain, where was the person she liked?
She liked Longze Jing Tian so much, but he wasnât a bit concerned about her and paid no attention to her. Now, presumably Longze Jing Tian had already returned to Xi Qi! All her heart thought about and missed was him, but what about him? Who was the person he thought about and missed?
Murong Qing Lian recalled her experiences after coming to Bei Zhou. She didnât notice that the gun in Mishaâs hand was pointing at her head. Until when the coldness from her temple spread to her skin, did Murong Qing Lian wake up. Now, Misha face was already in front of her. So close, that she could count the eyelashes on his beautiful eyes.
âYou pretended to be the woman I love to deceive my feelings. Tell me, how should I punish you? Mm...â
The elongated tone from Mishaâs made Murong Qing Lianâs heart made a âthudâ sound once and froze there. After being played by this man for so long, Murong Qing Lian couldnât distinguish clearly if he was good or evil. She also didnât know which one was the real him.
Anyway, it was just the death. Although, Murong Qing Lian was unwilling to die at Mishaâs hand, but she accepted. At least, these past few days, Misha gave her a beautiful dream; let her see the hope to continue living and also let her have a purpose. Dying here was at least clean. It was a lot better than dying in the smelly prison.
âMy life is here. You can take it any time! I only have one request. When Iâm dead, burn me to ashes and bury me on a mountain facing the west. So, I can look at Xi Qi and look at my hometown.â
Murong Qing Lian raised her head. She closed her eyes. The eyelashes on the closed eyelids trembled slightly. She was afraid, but on the surface, she still pretended to be calm. Seeing Murong Qing Lian like this, Misha chuckled. He retrieved the gun.
âHehe, I wonât kill you...â
After hearing Misha, Murong Qing Lian opened her eyes. She looked in disbelief at Misha. She didnât dare to believe that Misha would let her off like this. Just now, she saw the strong killing intent in Mishaâs eyes. He was truly going to kill her!
âI have a lot of ways to let someone die, but Iâm better at letting people feel like living is more painful than death!â
He didnât wait for Murong Qing Lian to understand, a silver light flashed in Mishaâs hand. Two needles made from bones pierced into Murong Qing Lianâs shoulder blade.
âAh...â A piercing pain let Murong Qing Lian scream.
That bone needle pierced into the gap between her bones. Every time she breathed, Murong Qing Lian could feel the bone needle went a bit deeper and pried open her shoulder blade. It mercilessly drilled inside, making her unable not to slow the frequency of her breathing to reduce the pain the bone needle brought her.
âNot bad! The ability to adapt is quite fast!â Misha smiled and returned to the gentle him of before as if what had happened was only a nightmare of Murong Qing Lian. He was still an innocent young man. His voice was gentle like warm milk without any impurities.
âWhy donât you directly kill me...,â Murong Qing Lian had never experienced such pain. Although, before, she was beaten hundred times every day in the prison, but that was only the pain of the flesh. Compared with this pain that came from the bones, it paled into an insignificance by comparison.
Now, Murong Qing Lian finally understood what kind of feeling was Mishaâs âliving is more painful than deathâ. That kind of numbness and heaviness spread from the shoulder. Inch by inch her shoulders lost consciousness. When she felt something was wrong, she was already unable to lift her hands.
âI think, you presumably donât know what the paralysis of the upper body is. Your people of this era presumably donât know...So, I specifically let you have a taste of it. It wonât take long before your whole body, aside from your head, would be like your hands and would gradually lose consciousness until there is no feeling.â
âNo! I donât want it to be like that!â
Although, Murong Qing Lian couldnât fully understand what Misha had said, but she could understand his meaning. If other parts aside from the head couldnât move, then wasnât it that she would be no different from trash? She didnât want to be trash. No! Rather than being a trash, it would be better to die fast!
âDonât be like this...â
Aware that Murong Qing Lian wanted to bite her tongue, Xia Xue who was next to Misha, pried her mouth open. She stuffed a piece of wood to keep her mouth open, so, her teeth couldnât come together and she wouldnât be able to bite her tongue.
âYouâre not a bit well-behaved, yo!â Misha pushed the wheelchair a few steps back.
âOnly weak people will choose suicide to end their own lives. You want to use suicide to end all of this, but you need to ask me first! If Iâm unhappy and let your whole body be paralyzed, then you will completely continue to live on like a rubbish! By then, I will throw you on the street and let everyone see how Murong householdâs fourth miss looks like. You say, how would people evaluate you?â
Murong Qing Lian knew that Misha wasnât scaring her.
This man had the means and had the ability. What he said, he could do. it was not a simple joke. The thought that she would lay on the ground like rubbish, receiving the gazes with despise from the peopleâs eyes, being ridiculed and maybe even insulted, Murong Qing Lian gave up the idea of suicide.
Forget it, she accepted her fate! Falling into Mishaâs hands, she could only be manipulated by him!
âReally well-behaved. Itâs fine if you donât want to die!â
Misha saw compromise from Murong Qing Lianâs eyes. He gave Xia Xue a glance. Xia Xue went forward and took out the wood in Murong Qing Lianâs mouth and took out the bone needles in her shoulders.
Without the stimulation of the bone needles, Murong Qing Lian felt the pain was relieved a lot. With the bone needle pulled away, the numbness on her body disappeared. It seemed that Misha wanted to try to truly torture her, but it was to give her a deterrence to let her fear and also surrender.
âSay, what do you want to get from me?â
The difference in Mishaâs treatment and his merciless torture of just now, made Murong Qing Lian become clear of one reality. That was, in Mishaâs eyes, sheâs a very insignificant existence. Whether it was the gentleness and consideration of before or the coldness and ruthlessness of now, she was just a plaything in his hands. She couldnât even be compared to a plaything. She was just an existence like an ant.
Murong Qing Lian came at things like this made Misha very satisfied. He handed the gun in his hand to Xia Xue. With his hands crossed, he leaned against the chair.
âI want to know everything that happened at the tournament of the four countries. Especially, everything that happened after you entered the pagoda...â
Murong Qing Lian wasnât a fool. Misha must have his reasons for asking this. Could it be that the person Misha was looking for was a contestant of the tournament?
âYou want to find Yi Lian, that was why you brought me back, isnât it?! Are you so sure that Yi Lian was among the contestants?â
âPa...â The moment Murong Qing Lianâs words fell, the wood in Xia Xueâs hand directly hit Murong Qing Lianâs face. This wood was small and exquisite. It was only the size of a palm of the hand. Using it to beat people, wonât let your hand hurt, but it would inflict serious damage on the other party.
âCough, cough...,â Murong Qing Lian spit out two blood stained teeth. It couldnât be seen that this Xia Xue was so ruthless. Her mouth had been cracked. Her left face was very swollen. Her mouth was full of the taste of blood.
âJust answer whatever young master asks. Donât waste young masterâs time.â
Xia Xueâs voice was cold without any emotions. After hearing Xia Xue, Murong Qing Lian laughed. While laughing, blood came out of the corner of her mouth. Coupled with the original scars on her face, she looked more hideous.
âWho do you think you are?! Now, itâs your young master who is begging me. You donât serve me well and still treat me like this? Then...kill me! Donât think you can get anything from me!â
Murong Qing Lian faced death with equanimity. She thought about it clearly. Sooner or later, she would die after falling into Mishaâs hands. She couldnât be casually tortured. If Xia Xue treated her like this, she would just be a dead pig doesnât fear scalding water and let them toss around! It was just, Misha wouldnât get any valuable information from her.
A dead pig doesnât fear scalding water: unaffected
âLooking for death!â Xia Xue raised her hand and slapped Murong Qing Lianâs right cheek.
If that slap from before, Xia Xue only used fifty percent of her strength, now she used eighty percent. The reason she didnât use hundred percent was because she was worried that if she used full strength, she wouldâve killed Murong Qing Lian. So, she held back some strength.
This slap made Murong Qing Lianâs mind make a âwengâ sound. In front of her eyes, were gold little stars. Her nose felt a warmth. Hot blood flew out.
Murong Qing Lian got a burst of dizziness. Both sides of her cheeks were swollen, so that her eyes narrowed into a narrow slit. Just when Murong Qing Lian wanted to let herself sober up, from her ears came the gentle and long voice of Misha.
âI forgot to tell you. Aside from hating people lying to me, I also hate to be threatened. To talk conditions with me, you should at least have the same strength as I do.â
Now, she finally knows the difficulties to deal with Misha. This person wore a lovely and normal face and always maintained a clean and pure smile, but his heart was harder than anyone elseâs. It seemed, she was mistaken. She simply didnât have the qualifications to talk about conditions with such a person.
âGood, I will talk...â
Murong Qing Lian was completely woken up by Xia Xueâs two slaps. Looking at Mishaâs smiling face again, in Murong Qing Lianâs heart raised a fear she never had before. This man was completely different from the ones she encountered. She could only follow his rules...
While at Mishaâs, Murong Qing Lian remembered what happened at the tournament of the four countries, at Feng Cangâs Nan Lin wangfu1, a special guest arrived.
1. Wangfu: residence of the prince of first rank