The Moon That Shone Then

Take up your sword and head for Jiangnan. Ask not when you’ll return. As the moon happens to be full tonight, let us invite all passersby and spectators to listen together to a tune beneath the moon of yore [Mad, twisted young master of the Miaojiang Gu Clan x innocent young woman new to the martial world] The Gu Clan had vanished from the martial world for years. Its young master, Yan Gui, carried the burden of restoring it. While fleeing his pursuers, he became trapped in a maze of illusions with Yin Qing, who had come down from Kunlun in search of her older brother. Yin Qing had grown up with a chill in her body and had no martial arts skills. While they were on the run, she was nothing but a burden. As their pursuers closed in, Yan Gui wanted to save himself and left her a path to certain death. He lied to her: “Stay here. If anyone comes after you, run east.” She caught hold of the hem of his robe and asked, “Where are you going?” The boy lied without a flicker of expression. “I’m going to find a way out.” A few days later, the boy returned injured. She was still there, waiting obediently for him. He stared at her in surprise. “You haven’t left?” “You’re finally back. Didn’t you go look for a way out?” “You told me to wait for you…” She had no idea he’d meant for her to draw the pursuers’ fire. He’d wanted her dead. From then on, he could no longer escape the knot of love. He fell deeper and deeper, unable to turn back, and gave his whole heart to her, ready to lay down his life for her. “Don’t even think about leaving me.” Peach blossoms and willow fluff filled the city, willow branches were green, and apricot blossoms drifted down. The boy raised his flute to his lips and played a languid tune. “Otherwise, don’t blame me for making you taste what it means to wish you were dead.” His voice was like a cold rain in the morning and a breeze in the evening, so gentle and so lovely to hear. But… Yin Qing stared at the snakes and insects crawling toward them at the sound and burst into tears as she threw herself into his arms. “Good girl.” Yan Gui smiled, as warm as spring. “Since you’ve chosen not to leave, you’re never allowed to leave again.” “If you need to hide, you can only hide in my arms.” [Face-slapping comeuppance. The male lead will pay for using her.] We traveled together in our youth, spring flowers in our hair. Since then, it has been hard to recall how the moon once shone on the clouds. The moon wanes and the crows roost, yet we remain as we were. Both leads are single-mindedly devoted to each other, one-on-one. [Many other couples share this setting, and their stories will be released in due course.] Warnings: The male lead kills without blinking and does not fall in love at first sight. At heart, this is a story about someone who doesn’t understand love learning what it means to love sincerely. This is not a story about an all-powerful heroine. The heroine is naive and cries easily. I respect that you may not like her, but please allow the author to. “Young man” can refer to either a boy or a girl, but in this story, due to the author’s habit, it usually refers to the male lead. This is a shortcoming of an early work, so please understand if that bothers you. The young couple gradually fall deeper into the relationship. The male lead is possessive and jealous, and whenever he gets jealous, he goes mad. Both leads are full of youthful energy. They are not mature adults, and they bicker immaturely. [Cover artist: Yiye Shu, Mayi] Theme: We were all young once