Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery ButterflyBziniDNQNLhfYPNEPtflmZDmPnHrcK

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At that moment, no one expected a savior to suddenly appear out of nowhere.POYpjEPqDjieykfxvastdbWCaPWxso

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The two enemies, aware of their severe injuries and fearing any unexpected changes, quickly jumped backward.bJXKJglOcJCeswphiBEpLOExEjnnIs

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As they focused their eyes, they saw a chubby young boy burst out from the bushes, rolling and crawling, even stumbling twice along the way, holding a dazzling long sword, and rushed to Huai En’s side.HpqYruNZyGspfYupdPuYBMleOCxptn

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“Maiden Zheng, are you alright? It’s all my fault for being late. Don’t be afraid, leave everything to me!” Xiao Bao spoke with a face full of tender affection, uttered reassuring words without his face turning red or his heart skipping a beat, though his legs were trembling with fear.IGLVfEBTEhOJsIoYMtiGWnDhMfEQBd

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Huai En barely opened his eyes, looking at him with some confusion, his scattered gaze gradually becoming clear.EjmTRtdcOTNWkXDMsvnFdYXZBxtRkR

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Xiao Bao turned around to protect him, pointing his long sword and standing heroically on the spot, despite his trembling right arm betraying his cowardice.aamBTaiYSuWfFYfbJkNhpDKXakRNpr

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Damn it, why didn’t I realize before, this sword is too heavy. Worth it! This money was damn well spent, it’s heavy even if sold as scrap iron!LziJKwpiXRvJtqthfLGKaAiKvQrrZD

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The leader’s face suddenly filled with anger, but seeing that fine sword, he didn’t know Xiao Bao’s true strength and dared not act rashly. “Kid, who are you?”nfauUcabTIvCdGswPFEEzmUpcKXMzd

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“I’m the young master of the Jin Family’s Jin Qian Sect from Jiangnan. This person is my future wife. If you know what’s good for you, don’t mess with the Jin Qian Sect!” His voice was trembling as he spoke.qNinzuWLMuCPsfwcINyzzqKXSUXGRO

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The two enemies were taken aback and then burst into strange, unpleasant laughter.FhVUQemLDWfbxyiGoEUJKIAGRxzKUz

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“Future wife? Future wife? Haha, kid, are you crazy… Do you know that he¹…” The leader waved his hand to stop the woman from continuing, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Jin Xiao Bao. “Young master of the Jin Qian Sect? The very wealthy Jin Qian Sect?”diMGKYONavdRvNIMFQTsduKzQTmjvM

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“That’s right.” Xiao Bao pulled out a stack of paper from his chest, trembling as he extended it over. “This is a banknote worth two hundred thousand taels of silver. If you leave now, all of this is yours.”CavORzRMhXwZnGvJrSHCktjHMtBfGE

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The two enemies were stunned again. It would have been better if he hadn’t taken out the banknotes. As soon as he did, they knew he was scared. Indeed, the Jin Family’s Jin Qian Sect was a well-known sect, famous for its immense wealth. Everyone in the martial world knew that the Jin Qian Sect  had no real martial arts skills. All their members, fighters, and retainers were bought with money, so they figured that the young master of the Jin Qian Sect must not be very capable either.ZPkTsArRDvFZZmbslsccRHFOrvpNyv

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The two of them squinted at the stack of silver banknotes. It would be a lie to say they weren’t tempted. After all, they were working for Prince Shen precisely for money. However, they couldn’t just let Huai En go, or they wouldn’t be able to explain it to Prince Shen and would end up in an even worse situation, perhaps even ending up getting a gruesome death.bvDXYSyICGOxBfAxFqtpWxynDsDvhJ

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The leader extended his hand to Xiao Bao. “Kid, hand over the banknotes.”CIWdLIxBPHkbJzudlhQOFtsafvEzdg

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Xiao Bao looked at his rough hand, swallowed hard, and felt very intimidated. He didn’t dare move closer. “If you… take the money, will you leave?”LIKKbPGwmOufAOgHIroHNkdnnDnIrj

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The old woman swayed her hips as she walked over. “Hand over the banknotes.” In the blink of an eye, the banknotes were in their hands.HcxVzlEDrQTXUYsTqyBUzayIvPXtnB

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“Brother, it’s real, two hundred thousand taels,” the old woman said, her eyes shining with excitement despite being covered in injuries.GcJehgIlSwxzDmRypvLsCZemTPomvJ

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The leader was also excited. “We’ve hit the jackpot, haha, we’ve hit the jackpot.” He stuffed the banknotes into his chest and laughed sinisterly. “Kid, you and your little wife can become a pair of doomed lovers, hahaha~~”SDZAtSTtUlEOyPCbHAQdAmbillfVqJ

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As he finished speaking, the two of them lunged forward again. Xiao Bao, on the verge of tears, raised his sword in despair, ready to fight to the death.ehKdGxegtGwBnQAcBHCEGvMwvZwmMR

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Suddenly, their movements stopped. They rushed in too quickly, causing them to stumble and fall to the ground in a rather comical manner.rTYVQZaCyUVGwkDotrDwdeZqfhRgCt

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“Uh… uh… what’s happening…” The leader lay on the ground, gradually losing strength. He tried to get up several times but collapsed back each time.ayBBohdGsqpodOwCELbFIbxOcxrmtd

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“Kid, what poison did you give us… you…”XJlfgxLrazHKNrwWRlkRrJarDADaZg

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Seeing the poison take effect, Xiao Bao’s previous fear and despair vanished. He stood with his hands on his hips, feeling invigorated and full of bravado. He laughed loudly, “Ahahaha, you greedy scoundrels! This is what you get for being greedy! This is what you get for bullying my wife! Serves you right! Did you really think I was a helpless kitten?”PIKfhHrMHKqvutRIhJhbAEPBGxVpUC

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The old woman rolled on the ground, trying to get up. She seemed to be in better shape than the leader, but her strength was rapidly draining, and her heart was filled with disbelief.YpCgOwDXUwCWcFQQrNUdYqTpnKomzW

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“Impossible… I’ve been immersed in medicine for over twenty years. How could I be so easily tricked… Impossible… What did you give us?”kbApvOaNcnbnRtlaCjOMPYJGOqwPFf

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“Xuan Xiao’s Bone-Softening Powder.”eFeumFDWXkVhpTCIzDFiUsDhnwNhof

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“What?!” Xuan Xiao Zhenren was a legendary figure in the arts of poison and witchcraft. No wonder…tNvYNSgnccefPxGPYLRjRjNAxqyweK

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“Impossible, Xuan Xiao Zhenren has been missing for over twenty years. It’s said he died long ago. Where did you get…”fWwbDClvPHilfHDxfrZAZeoWmoGZQY

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“Hahahahaha, Zhenren my ass, missing my ass, dead my ass. That old scoundrel is alive and is still kicking. He lost everything in my family’s casino and used this to settle his debt. Damn, a small bottle costs one tael of silver. I thought he was just bragging, afraid it wouldn’t work. But who knew it would actually save my life at a critical moment. Hahahahaha.” Xiao Bao was now exceedingly proud of himself, thinking about how he not only jumped out to heroically save the beauty but also made a grand impression in front of her.qeWqFVjZDLkISGwntqPCAEqmgoaFBN

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Xiao Bao turned and smiled tenderly at Huai En. “Maiden Zheng, you can rest assured. I will avenge you now.”BdbeCdiCkHohqXASKWZQYfhYSXHbMd

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The woman, unwilling to accept defeat, laughed sarcastically. “Hahahaha, Maiden Zheng, you call him Maiden Zheng, hahahaha.”xoAMouhYZLhdmJSrMMQLiWVYZEjyUX

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“What? What’s wrong with that?” Could it be that she’s not surnamed Zheng?ZqFgjgnXCKlxqIhtTWKVFVYAQJoRXc

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“Hehe, kid, he is no Maiden Zheng. Do you want to know who he really is?”AtIJIibNyNIxuupaPIGRXmwVeabxEC

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Xiao Bao tightly gripped his sword and stepped towards them.ETEfIfCOZyyhTyDrgHeFuAGOBzDVSf

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“What are you trying to say? Spit it out!!”zKPmrXgNOIwbLAnSrBXrbsIwirqzyp

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Although he intended to avenge Huai En, he had never killed anyone before. He hadn’t even personally hurt anyone, and those were just minor scuffles. The thought of stabbing a living person with a sword made his scalp tingle. He didn’t think he could do it.JkiLnfjhjjIQyLHBoXWdWumtWzRPMn

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While Xiao Bao hesitated, he heard Huai En yell, “Watch out!!”mMhXvrhElUeuFGjQVQwUhobLQrxyFe

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His vision blurred, and he was pulled into a slender embrace, a strong smell of blood mixed with the familiar scent that haunted his dreams filled his nose. Xiao Bao momentarily lost himself.kXRjTlVrzXcvJzObKQHswnejDJnmNt

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A muffled groan sounded in his ear, and Xiao Bao, frightened, struggled to get free.VLDJUkPZOijGwOFmzOYvumEIhGPnaT

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A row of eight silver needles, gleaming faintly, stood menacingly in Huai En’s thin back.GSJszvPqYBYIRUwogMtOqyzPOQPZsL

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Xiao Bao’s eyes turned red, and he screamed in a panic, not knowing what to do. He hadn’t expected Huai En to save him and get hurt in the process. He wished those needles were in his own back instead.oqCDMpIgtRffdRlhsHqoxKYZJNvPmk

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The woman laughed eerily, using her last bit of strength to throw the hidden weapon. She still propped herself up with her hands, looking as if she were making a last desperate struggle, her face filled with ruthlessness. “Haha… cough… after throwing so many poisoned weapons, I finally hit… It’s a shame I used up all the lethal ones, but this will do too… haha… kid… tonight you can consummate your marriage with your little wife ahead of schedule… haha… cough cough… haha…”yINFeAPeaMAsukKdvCNNsktKmHhJdP

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“What are you saying!!” Xiao Bao screamed at her desperately. “The antidote, give me the antidote!! Antidote!!”RBOkAxNrtTHUTjcLTGPDrTnWdIHEMZ

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“Haha… that’s a powerful aphrodisiac… the antidote is… intercourse, continuously… haha… just wait and watch him bleed to death… hahahaha…”YjHFqruYkEkSkrQwVmNJDDUvQntwXt

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SB’s Note: A heartfelt thank you to Kipzi, Clare, and Dani Dragonfly for your incredible support on Ko-fi. Your generosity has truly inspired me, and in your honor, I’ve pushed myself to release a special double update. I hope you enjoy these next chapters of Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow as much as I loved creating them for you. ❤️yLQNWjwGVXwhDCyPYcCZbZTAwrIOgO

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1. In Chinese, the words for “he” (他), “she” (她), and “it” (它) are all pronounced the same as “tā.” The meaning of the pronoun is understood through context. Although they are written differently, the spoken language relies on the surrounding conversation or narrative to distinguish whether the reference is to a male, female, or inanimate object. So, it’s like having different shades of a single sound, with the context determining the specific meaning. ↩︎

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