Regret in the Bloom of Spring Chapter 4

Although the Happy Sect has been destroyed, the relationship between Ethan Qin and Oliver Zhao can no longer be as open as before because of the poisonous snake.

Oliver Zhao seemed to enjoy this and was willing to be Ethan Qin's anonymous guest in bed.

If she wanted something, she would run to the host, act coquettishly and surrender, and beg for it pitifully. Although Ethan Qin appeared indifferent on the surface, perhaps because of the guilt deep in his heart, he was always a little more indulgent towards his disciple, and would give it to Oliver Zhao if she wanted it.

But that's all.

Just as Ethan Qin said, he could not promise Oliver Zhao anything.

In Yuchunlou, ties are lethal swords, emotions are bone-chopping knives, and weaknesses are death warrants.

And the host must be indestructible.

There were some things that Ethan Qin only learned by chance after he joined Yuchunlou.

For example... Why has Yuchunlou been standing in the martial arts world for fifty years? Why is it feared by everyone in the martial arts world, but no one questions it? Why has the current imperial court allowed it to flourish and even intimidate the martial arts world, but has never stopped it?

Yuchun Tower was built by the royal family a hundred years ago. It had been dormant for many years during the turbulent times. In the early years of this dynasty, it was taken over by the emperor in order to restrain the people in the martial arts world.

Yu Chunren is both a man of the underworld and a dog of the imperial court.

This is Yuchun’s biggest secret, and only a very small number of people have some insight into it.
 
More than a year after he wiped out the Huanxi Faction, Ethan Qin received another secret order from the court, this time requiring him to go to the northwest to assassinate General Fuxi Tristan Zhou.

Tristan Zhou is the descendant of a famous general of the founding of the nation. He has been stationed in the northwest for decades. Now he is only in his forties. Because he supported the third prince during the party struggle, he was not tolerated by the new emperor.

However, Tristan Zhou had made great military achievements. If the emperor took action against him, he would not be able to stop the gossips, so he could only send Yu Chun, who seemed to have no connection with the court, to take action.

Ethan Qin took the secret order, and even though he knew that the trip would be dangerous, he could not hesitate or refuse.

In the past ten years since he ascended to the throne of Yuchun, he has killed too many people for the imperial court. Military commanders, power-seekers, ambitious people, and opportunists. Anyone who might threaten the imperial power died under Ethan Qin's three-foot sword.

He's used to it.

Once you enter Yuchun, you can control the world and gain both fame and fortune, but there is no turning back.

Ethan Qin threw the secret order into the candlelight beside him, watched the silk cloth burn out, then walked out of the room with his sword in hand.

Oliver Zhao had been waiting outside the door without knowing when, carrying a bag on her back. She blinked her amorous peach blossom eyes and stared at Ethan Qin, asking knowingly, "Master, are you going on a long journey?"

Ethan Qin said nothing. Seeing Oliver Zhao following behind him, he spoke coldly, "Let's go to the northwest. You stay here alone. I will ask the Third Sect Master to protect you."

"No." Oliver Zhao followed Ethan Qin closely, walking closely behind him, as if afraid of being left in the building.

"I am going to join the Northwest Army alone, and the chances of survival are slim." Ethan Qin said patiently.

"I will not go to the army. I will only meet you in a safe place. Even if you die, you must die in front of me. You promised me that you would die in my hands."

Ethan Qin weighed the pros and cons for a moment and finally gave in.

Oliver Zhao cheered and brought Ethan Qin into the room. He rummaged through the boxes and found a pair of mink knee pads. He stuffed them into his bag and said, "I went out with the Second Sect Master a few days ago. I accidentally found a piece of mink in Zhongyuan City. I asked someone to make knee pads for me. I thought I would give them to you in winter. Now that you are going to the northwest, you'd better take them with you."

Ethan Qin refused, saying, "Those who practice martial arts have their own internal strength to protect their bodies, so why would they need such things? You can keep them for yourself."

Seeing that Ethan Qin refused to accept it, Oliver Zhao did not show any displeasure, and still put it into the luggage with a smile on his face: "The northwest is bitterly cold, and Master will always be able to use it."

It was already October when we reached Fushuo Pass. The river was blocked by ice and snow and the spring breeze did not blow.

Oliver Zhao was already covered in fox fur and curled up into a ball, but still felt the chill from the wind and snow. However, Ethan Qin was still wearing only one piece of clothing, and his plain white martial arts robe almost blended in with the world.

"Why can't I learn this internal force to protect my body?" Facing the wind and snow, Oliver Zhao stomped his feet hard, and the snow in the pine forest trembled and fell all over his body.

"Master, why do you always wear white? It's snowing so hard that you can't even see clearly."

Ethan Qin gestured to silence them. A patrol passed by across the glacier. Oliver Zhao crouched to avoid them. After a moment, he heard Ethan Qin say, "We have to kill people anyway. Wearing white is a way to pay tribute to the dead souls under the sword. It will give us peace of mind."

Oliver Zhao's face turned cold, then he smiled again, and said in a sly way, "These days I've always wondered what Master would look like if he wore red."

"Red?" Ethan Qin stared at the movements in the military camp and responded casually without paying attention to what Oliver Zhao said.

Oliver Zhao stood up, hugged Ethan Qin from behind, and said softly: "I mean...wedding dress."

Ethan Qin lowered his head, his chest seemed to ache, and his stomach ached for some unknown reason: "I won't have it in this life."

Oliver Zhao suddenly remembered the bloody rain at Cui Yun Villa that night, when Ethan Qin came with a sword in hand, his plain clothes dyed blood.

That was the only time in his life that he saw Ethan Qin in red clothes, like a ghost crawling out of purgatory.

He clasped his arms tightly, put his face against Ethan Qin's back, and agreed, "Indeed."

As night fell, the wind and snow suddenly became fierce, and the patrol troops retreated back to the barracks. Ethan Qin gently stroked the sword at his waist and said, "You hide here, I will go to the other side to kill Tristan Zhou."