Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

Chapter 414: The Person in the Painting

"Hurry, tell us your story!"

In a pavilion at Red Cotton Market, Jiang Yuebai sat with Mu Yueting and Xu Hongqiu, who were both leaning in eagerly, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Fairy Jiang and Chu Liang...

Rumors about the two had been swirling for ages, but neither had ever confirmed anything. Yet, just moments ago, Jiang Yuebai's subtle nod had left Xu Hongqiu and Mu Yueting utterly shocked.

Mu Yueting couldn't wait and immediately begged Jiang Yuebai to share the details. Despite feeling a little disappointed, Xu Hongqiu's curiosity got the best of her, and she timidly asked if she could listen too.

Jiang Yuebai, helpless under the burning gazes filled with the thirst for gossip, finally sighed, "Alright, I'll tell you."

With that, Xu Hongqiu quickly found a quiet pavilion where the three could sit down and talk in private.

"It's not as exaggerated as the rumors say..." Jiang Yuebai began slowly after they settled in.

She recounted her first encounter with Chu Liang.

She emphasized how Chu Liang charged in while riding the Baize youngling, but she quietly skimmed over the part where she had been slurping noodles at the time.

She went on to describe how she taught Chu Liang divine techniques and skills, and how he would give her curious little things in return... Over time, these simple interactions fostered an unspoken connection between them.

Whether this connection was what people called "catching feelings," she was uncertain.

She spoke quickly about these events, so much so that Mu Yueting was still a bit stunned after listening.

Mu Yueting mulled it over before asking, "So you're not really sure if Chu Liang actually has feelings for you..."

"Of course he likes her," Xu Hongqiu interjected firmly. "How could any man not like Fairy Jiang?"

"Huh?" Jiang Yuebai and Mu Yueting both looked at her strangely.

They seemed a bit surprised by her change of stance.

Xu Hongqiu blinked, then hurriedly added, "I just mean, if I were a man, I'd definitely feel the same way..."

Mu Yueting listened and nodded as she agreed, "That's true."

"And from the way you describe it, even though Young Hero Chu hasn't said anything outright, the way he acts around you is completely different from how he is with others," Xu Hongqiu said thoughtfully.

As she spoke, she recalled how Chu Liang behaved around her—always warm and friendly, yet never with the same quiet attentiveness he reserved for Jiang Yuebai.

With just a bit of observation, it was clear whom he favored.

However, Xu Hongqiu didn't feel too heartbroken. She wanted to confirm things first, which was why she asked. Seeing that the two seemed to share mutual affection, she decided she wouldn't interfere. As the Young Lady of the Whale Gang, she knew how to gracefully accept defeat... and there was no shame in losing to Fairy Jiang.

"Is that so?" Jiang Yuebai mused quietly as she whispered. "I feel like there are quite a few women close to him..."

"Chu Liang is a young prodigy with a heroic spirit. It's no surprise that many want to be close to him," Xu Hongqiu replied. "But if you truly like him, Miss Jiang, you should act fast."

"Me?" Jiang Yuebai was taken aback.

"Who is Jiangjiang? Being liked by her is already a great fortune. Why should she have to make the first move?" Mu Yueting asked, genuinely puzzled.

"When it comes to matters of the heart, you have to seize the moment," Xu Hongqiu remarked wisely. "Who knows what tomorrow might bring?"

"But if a girl takes the initiative, won't she be less cherished?" Mu Yueting asked.

"That's nonsense. Men aren't fools." Xu Hongqiu dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand. "Only people who lack confidence worry about things like that. As you said, Miss Jiang is already so remarkable that if she shows interest, it's a blessing for him! If she's a bit more proactive, he'll be worshiping her like a goddess!"

Mu Yueting nodded slightly. "That... makes sense."

Jiang Yuebai, still looking a bit bewildered, softly asked, "So, what should I do?"

"On a night when the moon hangs high, the wind whispers, and the darkness is deep... Uh..." Xu Hongqiu started dramatically, then paused, realizing she might be overdoing it. She quickly pivoted, "I mean, find a romantic spot under a blooming tree, with the mood just right, then take his hand—or better yet, pull him into your arms—and ask him if he wants to spend the rest of his life with you," she declared boldly.

The other two girls stared at her, wide-eyed. Mu Yueting weakly asked, "Isn't that a bit too forceful?"

"My dad said that's how he wooed my mom back in the day," Xu Hongqiu replied.

"Is it possible that, um..." Mu Yueting said hesitantly, "Your dad is a man... and your mom is a woman. Even if we should learn from them, shouldn't we learn how your mom did it, right?"

"Oh, right!" Xu Hongqiu slapped her thigh and immediately corrected herself. "Then just find a romantic spot under the moon and stars, and when the mood is right, get him to hold your hand and then fall into his arms."

Mu Yueting nodded in agreement. "That sounds better."

Jiang Yuebai furrowed her brow, feeling unsure. "Will that work...?"

Before she could think further, the other two girls, more excited than ever, started chiming in with their advice.

"It will definitely work!"

"Just ask him to go on a mission together, pick a place with beautiful scenery, and then... do this and that..."

"And that and this..."

"And you'll succeed!"

"Yay!"

Jiang Yuebai silently watched the two, an inexplicable feeling stirring within her that she couldn't quite place.

After a while, the two finally calmed down from their excitement.

Jiang Yuebai then hesitated before asking, "Miss Xu, didn't you ask me this question today because you also..."

"Of course not," Xu Hongqiu interrupted before she could finish, shaking her head decisively. "He's my uncle!"

...

It was a dark and windy night.

A slender young man, gripping a flickering candle, cautiously stepped into the pitch-black room.

"What was that noise..." he murmured, pushing open the door.

Before entering, he carefully shielded the candle flame with a lamp cover. The room was filled with his father's collection of famous paintings—one stray spark could lead to disastrous consequences.

The candlelight illuminated the room, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"Maybe it was just a rat," the young man muttered, preparing to turn back.

Suddenly, he noticed that something was off.

Hanging on the wall directly in front of him was a painting his father had recently acquired, titled Ladies of the Eastern Suburbs. It depicted a scene of noblewomen from the previous dynasty, elegantly enjoying a serene spring outing.

The centerpiece of the painting was a breathtaking woman in palace attire, standing gracefully by the riverbank, her beauty so vivid it seemed to leap off the canvas.

But now, as he stared at it, he noticed something unsettling—the riverbank was empty.

Where did the woman go?

What's going on? Did my father get swindled with a fake?

A wave of panic surged through him, and he spun around to notify his father of this. But as he turned, his blood ran cold.

Her slender waist, snow-white skin, and full bosom, along with a face as delicate as a peach blossom, exuded an indescribable charm.

The young man's gaze locked onto her, his eyes glazing over as if in a trance. He slowly asked, "Miss, where did you come from?"

"I come from my home. Would this young master care to visit me?" the woman in the red dress whispered.

The young man nodded numbly, "I... I'm willing."

With a sudden clatter, the candle slipped from his hand, the flame snuffing out as it hit the floor.

The room was plunged into darkness.