THE LEGENDARY TWINS / JUE DAI SHUANG JIAO a.k.a HANDSOME SIBLINGS - by Gu Long

123

Tie Ping Gu and Herbalist Hu have left with Li Da Zui's body. Before they left, it seems that Tie Ping Gu wanted to tell Xiao Yu'er something, but stopped herself just as she was about to speak a few times. In the end she did not say anything at all. But Xiao Yu'er knows that she wanted to ask about Jiang Yu Lang's whereabouts, but in the end she still did not ask him. Obviously her heart no longer feels for Jiang Yu Lang.

This is really one of the happiest thing that has happened to Xiao Yu'er in recent months.

Before they left, it seems that Herbalist Hu wanted to tell Xiao Yu'er something as well, but like Tie Ping Gu, he stopped himself just as he was about to speak. Xiao Yu'er also knows that he wanted to ask about Madam Bai's whereabouts, but he did not ask him. Obviously he has shifted his feelings to Tie Ping Gu.

This also made Xiao Yu'er very happy. A loving couple can finally be together, this is the happiest thing that can happen in life.

Xiao Yu'er mumbled with a smile, "No matter what, I still can't figure out how these two came together, this is really strange."

Su Ying said gently, "It's not strange at all. They met one another while in dire straits, and people's feelings grow most easily when faced with danger. Besides, they've both been hurt, and in similar situation, thus feelings will grow most easily." She smiled, lowered her head and added, "You and me, didn't we became closer when faced with danger?"

Xiao Yu'er wrinkled his nose at her and said, "You are close to me, but whether I'm close to you, that's not for sure yet."

Su Ying smiled, "Don't you forget, this is Heaven's arrangement!"

Xiao Yu'er laughed, "Don't be too smug, don't forget your love rival has not appeared yet, for all you know..." He had wanted to make fun of Su Ying, but once he mentioned Tie Xin Lan, he thought of Hua Wu Que, and his heart seems to shiver, and he can't be bothered to talk any further.

Su Ying's expression became serious as well, and after a whole, she sighed and said, "It seems like the battle between you and Hua Wu Que, is something that cannot be avoided."

Xiao Yu'er sighed as well, and agreed.

Su Ying asked, "Are you thinking of ways to delay it again."

Xiao Yu'er replied, "Umm."

He suddenly lifted his head and stared at Su Ying, "How do you know what I'm thinking?" Su Ying replied nonchalantly, "This is called connection of the heart." Her sweet smile was on her face for only a second, and she furrowed her brows again, "Have you thought of a plan?"

Xiao Yu'er sat down lazily and said, "Don't worry, I always have a plan."

Su Ying said gently, "I know as well that you'll certainly have a plan, but even if you can think of an ever better plan than what you thought of in the past, what is the use?"

Xiao Yu'er stared at her, "Who said it's of no use?"

Su Ying sighed, "Even if you can delay it, but you need to settle the matter sooner or later. The Floral Princesses will never let you off. Look, when they were in the cave, they seemed to be slowly warming up to you, but once we left that cave, their attitude changed immediately."

Xiao Yu'er replied with hatred, "Actually I've known long ago that they will surely make use of me then."

Su Ying replied, "Therefore you will have to duel with Hua Wu Que sooner or later, unless..." Su Ying looked at him with gentle eyes, and said slowly, "Unless we go far, far away now, find a nice, scenic place and live in solitude, never seeing anyone, never be bothered with anyone again."

Xiao Yu'er was silent for a moment, and he replied loudly, "No, I can never run away. If you want me to live in hiding all my life, I might as well die. Besides, there is Uncle Yan... I've made a promise to him!"

Su Ying sighed sadly, "I know as well that you'll refuse to do this, but once you and Hua Wu Que duel, then one of you must die! Isn't that so?"

Xiao Yu'er's gaze focused in the distance, and mumbled, "That's right, once we duel, then one of us must die..." He suddenly smiled at Su Ying and said, "But if one of us were to die, then the problem would be solved, right?"

Su Ying suddenly felt a shiver, and she stammered, "You... can you bear to kill him?"

Xiao Yu'er closed his eyes, not speaking.

Su Ying said quietly, "I know that the outcome of your duel has nothing much to do with your level of martial arts. The question is the one who can be more hard hearted, will win..." She suddenly grabbed Xiao Yu'er's hands tightly and said, "I only beg one thing of you."

Xiao Yu'er laughed, "You're begging me to marry you?"

Su Ying chewed on her lips and said, "I only beg that you promise me, don't let Hua Wu Que kill you. You must not die no matter what!"

Xiao Yu'er replied, "What if I must die?"

Su Ying shivered, and said, "Then... then I can only die with you..." Two rows of tears flowed slowly down her eyes, and she looked at Xiao Yu'er in a daze and said, "But I do not wish to die, I want to live on together with you, live a hundred years, a thousand years. I think we will definitely live very, very happily together."

Xiao Yu'er looked at her, his gaze revealing gentleness as well! Su Ying added, "As long as you can live, it doesn't matter what I have to do."

Xiao Yu'er asked, "What if you're asked to die?"

Su Ying replied, "If my death can save you, then I'll die immediately..." Her words were so determined, spoken without any thought at all. Xiao Yu'er pulled her over and said gently, "Don't you worry, we won't die, we will certainly carry on living..." He looked out the window at the sky and suddenly laughed, "We can at least live happily for another day, why must we think of death?"

A day may be a short time, but to people in love, the sweetness of one day is enough to let them forget countless pain...

Night.

The surrounding silence, everyone seems to have fallen asleep. At a temple embraced by the mountains, most people would be able to appreciate the joy of silence. But to Hua Wu Que, this silence does not feel good at all.

Almost everyone is here, Tie Zhan and his friends, the Murong sisters and their husbands, the Floral Princesses... Hua Wu Que only felt perplexed why he could not hear their voices. Maybe they have no wish to disturb hi, to let him have a good rest so that he can face the great battle tomorrow. But why aren't they talking? Now the only thing he wish for is someone to talk with, but who can he look for to talk? Who can he share his concerns with? The wind blew against the paper window, as if the wind is crying as well.

Hua Wu Que sat there quietly, what is he thinking about? Thinking of Tie Xin Lan? Or thinking of Xiao Yu'er? No matter who Hua Wu Que is thinking of, it will only be filled with pain.

The lamp in the room is not lighted, on the table there's still the bottle of wine that he did not finish. He sighed quietly, and was about to take a wine cup when the door was suddenly pushed open gently. A weak looking person, looking like a spirit walked in. It's Tie Xin Lan! In the darkness, her face looked so pale but her eyes were so frighteningly bright, like a flame burning in her heart. Her hands were shaking, it seems that she's extremely nervous. Why is this so? Could it be that she has made a decision to do a terrible thing! Hua Wu Que looked at her in shock, unable to speak for a long time. Tie Xin Lan gently closed the door, and looked at him quietly. Why are her eyes so bright, so frighteningly bright.

After a long, long while, Hua Wu Que sighed and said, "You... is anything the matter?" Tie Xin Lan shook her head.

Hua Wu Que replied, "Then you... you should not have come." Tie Xin Lan nodded her head.

Hua Wu Que seemed to have been shocked by the fire in her eyes, and for a moment does not know what to say either. He just picked up the wine flask but put it down again, picked up the wine cup for a drink, but he forgot that there's no wine in the cup.

Suddenly Tie Xin Lan said, "I've always wanted to treat you as my elder brother, but now I know I'm wrong. Because the feelings I have for you, are no longer the feelings between siblings, so why must we continue to lie to ourselves?" It seems that she has said these words countless times, and now that she is determined to say it out loud, she said it all at one go, without a moment of hesitation.

But once Hua Wu Que heard her words, he can't even hold on to his wine cup properly. He never imagined that Tie Xin Lan would say these words to him, although the feelings he has for Tie Xin Lan, and the feelings Tie Xin Lan has for him, they're both very clear on that. But they think that this is their deepest secret, which will never be said out loud. They think that until they die, this secret will stay with them in the deepest corner of their hearts.

Tie Xin Lan stared at him, her gaze never leaving, and continued calmly, "I know your feelings for me, is definitely not that of a brotherly nature, right?" Her eyes is bright, so bright that it can shine into his heart. There is no way Hua Wu Que can hide, and he can only lower his head, "But I... I..."

Tie Xin Lan asked, "You're not? Or you do not dare to say it?"

Hua Wu Que heaved a long sigh and said dejectedly, "Maybe it's because I can't say it."

Tie Xin Lan asked, "Why can't you? You have to say it sooner or later, so why not say it sooner and spare us both the pain." She chewed so hard on her trembling lips, that a faint trace of blood can be seen.

Hua Wu Que replied, "Some words may be better left unsaid."

Tie Xin Lan smiled sadly, "That's right, I did not want to say it either, but now I have no choice but to say it, because if I don't say it now, I'll never have the chance to say it again."

Hua Wu Que's heart tightened, he reprimanded himself, why didn't he have Tie Xin Lan's courage? He should be the one who say these words.

Tie Xin Lan replied, "I know you're doing this because of Xiao Yu'er. I had thought that if we did this, we're letting him down, but now I understand, such things cannot be forced. Besides, I don't owe him anything at all."

Hua Wu Que nodded his head quietly, then said, "It's not your fault..." Tie Xin Lan replied, "It's not your fault either, Heaven did not dictate who must fall in love with who." Hua Wu Que suddenly lifted his head and looked at her. He realized that her irises were darker than the sea, his body started shaking, and slowly he is losing control of himself.

Tie Xin Lan replied, "Tomorrow, you will be in a life and death duel with him, I've thought about it for a long, long time and am determined to tell you what I feel. As long as you know my feelings, everything else doesn't matter."

Hua Wu Que can't help but hold her hands and stammered, "I... I... I'm very grateful to you, you did not have to treat me so nicely."

Tie Xin Lan suddenly beamed, and said "I should be treating you nicely. Don't you forget, we're already married, I'm already your wife."

Hua Wu Que looked at her in a daze, her hands have moved silently up to his face, gently caressing his cheeks which has been getting thinner day by day... a drop of tear landed on her hand, like a clear pearl.

And then, the drop of pearl shattered... The wind was still blowing against the window paper, but it does not sound like weeping anymore.

Hua Wu Que and Tie Xin Lan leaned against each other quietly. This cast darkness and silence, isn't it a gift from Heaven to lovers?

Love is a strange flower. It does not need sunlight, or rain. In the darkness, it blooms even more prettily instead.

But the paper window slowly became white, the long night is finally going to be over.

Hua Wu Que looked at the rising sun outside the window, and did not speak. He knows that the only happiness he has experienced in his life, is slowly ending with the coming of dawn. Light, may bring to others endless hope, but the only thing that it brings to him now, is pain.

Hua Wu Que said with a sad smile, "Tomorrow morning, the sun will still rise, nothing else will change."

Tie Xin lan asked, "But what about us?" She suddenly hugged Hua Wu Que tightly and said gently, "No matter what, we're still together now. Compared to him, we're still fortunate. To be able to live until now, we have nothing to complain about, isn't that so?"

Hua Wu Que felt a stab of pain in his heart and heaved a long sigh, "That's right, we're really a lot more fortunate than him, he..."

Tie Xin Lan continued, "He really is a pitiful person. In his whole life, he has never really experienced any happiness. He has no parents, no relatives, always treated coldly by others, laughed and scolded at by others. I'm afraid not a lot of people will cry for him, because everyone knows that he is a bad person..." Her words gradually became chocked, and she almost could not continue talking.

Hua Wu Que lowered his head and looked at Tie Xin Lan. In Xiao Yu'er's life, Tie Xin Lan could at least have been the one who loves him wholeheartedly, but now Tie Xin Lan lowered her head as well and said, "I... I only wish to beg you of one thing, I wonder if you will agree?"

Hua Wu Que forced out a smile, "Why would I not agree?"

Tie Xin Lan's gaze focused hazily into the distance, "I think that if he were to die now, he would not die in peace, so..." She suddenly reverted her eyes and stared at Hua Wu Que, saying each word clearly, "I only beg that you do not kill him, no matter what, you cannot kill him?"

In that instant, all the blood in Hua Wu Que's body seemed to have suddenly froze! He wanted to scream, "You're begging me not to kill him, don't you know that if I do not kill him, he will kill me! For him to live, you're willing to let me die? Did you come here tonight just to beg this of me?"

But Hua Wu Que will never say words like these, he'd rather that he is the one hurt, then to hurt others, and all the more he has no wish to hurt the one that he loves.

He only gave a bitter smile and said, "Even if you did not plead with me, I will not kill him."