Chapter 51 Who Betrayed Whom? Upon hearing this, Lu Qing was already in a daze…

Lu Qing felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this.

Indeed, less than a hundred paces after she and Lawson left Kaiying, two tall figures were waiting for them on the edge of the cliff.

Lu Qing glanced at him once and rushed over. But when she got to Wu Chen, she suddenly stopped. She tilted her head back, hands on her hips, looking furious and ready to devour him.

Wu Chen pulled off his face mask and looked at her with a smile.

Lu Qing glared at him, really glared at him: You think I'd jump into your arms? I'm just trying to beat you up, but I'm giving you some face since there are other people around.

Wu Chen smiled broadly, took her hand, and said to Yu Jitang and Luo Sen, "You two rest here for a while, I'll be right back."

So the two left hand in hand, leaving Yu Jitang and Luo Sen looking at each other in bewilderment.

When they reached a place where they could clearly hear Qi Ying and Lu Qing talking, Wu Chen stopped, lifted his cloak, and pulled Lu Qing inside.

The long-lost warmth and familiar scent of pine wood relaxed Lu Qing completely. She turned around and buried her face in Wu Chen's chest, squeezing him tightly. Wu Chen wrapped one arm around her waist and placed the other on the back of her neck, his arms tightening until he gradually released her after a while.

So the two of them silently nestled together, listening to the entire conversation between Qiying and Qizhi.

But Qi Zhi's infatuation and persistence still sent a chill down Lu Qing's spine.

Love is a deep affection and beautiful intentions.

Qi Zhi was indeed infatuated, but her good intentions were truly hard to bear. Lu Qing felt a chill run down her spine.

Wu Chen felt Lu Qing shiver. He patted her back, untied his cloak, and draped it over her shoulders. Then he took Lu Qing's hand and walked over.

Qi Ying heard footsteps, stood up alertly, drew her sword, and asked, "Who's over there?"

When he recognized Wu Chen, he was both surprised and delighted. "My lord!"

Wu Chen smiled at him, "Why aren't you making a fire? Aren't you cold?"

Qi Ying knelt on one knee, "It is because this disciple is incompetent, please punish me, Your Excellency."

Wu Chen waved his hand, "It's not your fault. Get up. It's cold in this wilderness at night. Make a fire so you don't freeze."

There are quite a few dead branches nearby.

Qi Ying immediately drew her sword and chopped down some branches. Once a fire was lit, Qi Ying realized that the person standing behind Wu Chen was actually Lu Qing, and she was even wearing Wu Chen's cloak. "Miss Qi?"

Lu Qing smiled at him but didn't say anything.

Qi Ying couldn't understand why Lu Qing had returned alone with Wu Chen, but now that the master was back, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. But Qi Zhi… He turned to look at him and saw Qi Zhi staring intently at the master's face, without any attempt to hide it.

Qi Ying sighed inwardly, too lazy to say anything more.

Wu Chen remained calm, seemingly showing no displeasure, and said to Qi Ying, "Give her the antidote."

Without a word, Qi Ying shoved the antidote Lu Qing had given her into Qi Zhi's mouth. Qi Zhi regained some strength and immediately sat up, tidying her disheveled hair. Her beautiful eyes gazed intently at Wu Chen, "My lord, you...you heard everything, didn't you?"

Wu Chen nodded. "I heard you."

Qi Zhi felt her heart pounding. She had followed him for thousands of miles, imagining countless possibilities. But when she saw the official, besides excitement and grievance, she also felt lingering fear. However, the official didn't scold or reprimand her upon meeting her, so was there still hope? She mustered her courage and spoke, "My lord, since you've heard me, I... may I?"

Wu Chen looked at her. "I've already discussed how to handle this matter with Qi Ying. You must already know my decision. You know I never change my mind once I've made a decision."

"My lord, my feelings for you come from the bottom of my heart, and I dare say that no one in this world can match them. I would go through fire and water for you without hesitation. Can't you have a little pity for me and keep me by your side? Even if I can't become your wife or concubine, I will be satisfied as long as I have the opportunity to serve you." Qi Zhi's eyes were filled with tears, and she looked incredibly pitiful.

Even Lu Qing had to admit that, although he was hateful, he was also pitiful.

Wu Chen's gaze remained unwavering. "Qi Zhi, to me, you are no different from any other disciple on Nukun Peak."

He reached for a branch and stirred the fire to make it burn brighter, speaking as if in conversation, "I'm an orphan, without family support or connections. I've gotten to where I am today entirely on my own. I understand all the difficulties you've faced. After becoming a Divine Servant, I became the head of Nukun Peak. For the past ten years, all I've done is try to provide a fair and just environment for talented disciples like you who lack support, so that your talents aren't buried because you lack background. And now, you're using my hard work as a bargaining chip for emotional exchange? The cultivation I taught you, instead of using it to help others, you want to use it to put on an act in front of me, even risking your life to gamble on my soft heart."

"No, that's not how it is." Qi Zhi shook her head repeatedly.

Wu Chen looked regretful. "You may feel that your devotion has been betrayed, but I also feel that all my hard work has been trampled on and rendered worthless by you."

Lu Qing bit her lip hard, afraid she would burst out laughing. Wu Chen's words were polite, but the accusation was unmistakable. You feel your sincerity has been betrayed and ignored, and I feel my painstaking cultivation, careful guidance, and all the rare treasures and precious medicines have been wasted.

Qi Zhi was stunned.

Wu Chen's expression darkened slightly as he stared at her. "Qi Zhi, did I do something wrong? Did I only guide you in your cultivation but not temper your character? Did I shelter you from the wind and rain but fail to broaden your horizons?"

He smiled, a hint of self-mockery in his expression. "What is there for a divine servant like me to be admired? I've taught such a willful, headstrong, narrow-minded disciple who only cares about personal feelings and disregards camaraderie and the greater good. Was I wrong?"

"That's not how it is, sir." Qi Zhi cried her heart out.

"What would that be like?" Wu Chen laughed mockingly. "You're not the first female disciple of Nukun Peak, nor will you be the last. Does that mean all female disciples will follow your example, and their masters or fellow disciples will have to be accommodating and take them in as family members, otherwise they'll be considered heartless, cold-blooded, and unforgivable?"

If Qi Ying or anyone else had said these words to Qi Zhi, she wouldn't have listened, because those words didn't represent Wu Chen's attitude. But now, Wu Chen had truly shattered her last hope right before her eyes, making no attempt to hide his anger. Qi Zhi's mind went blank; all her wishful thinking had been shattered by Wu Chen's calm words. Years of awe resurfaced, and she felt fear, yet she no longer knew what to say.

Wu Chen stared directly at her, not avoiding her gaze at all. But whether she was in despair or pleading, Wu Chen's gaze remained calm and unwavering.

“My lord…” she murmured to herself.

Wu Chen continued, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. Qi Zhi, if the person you love is not me, and after you are really with him, there are also women who are so devoted to you who keep pursuing you, how would you feel? Would you be able to accept them all and advise your husband to be generous and magnanimous, accepting each one who comes along, so as not to disappoint their devoted hearts?”

Lu Qing turned her head when she heard this. This question was so hurtful. No matter which woman it was, she would just say, "Let them die already!"

"My lord, do you already have someone you love, which is why you rejected me?" Qi Zhi asked in a low voice.

Wu Chen asked calmly, "Next, are you going to ask if I would accept you if she weren't here? What makes her better than you? If you were better and prettier than her, would I accept you?"

Qi Zhi remained silent.

Lu Qing glanced at her sideways: You're really good at this kind of trick! How many times have you been asked this before?

Wu Chen said with a playful tone, "Qi Zhi, if it weren't for me, would you have taken a liking to Yu Shenshi, Zou Shenshi, or Luo Shenshi? Even if it weren't them, if someone were stronger than me and more handsome, would you have fallen for someone else?"

"No, that's not how it is." Qi Zhi was speechless, and suddenly burst into tears.

Lu Qing rolled her eyes and didn't say anything. If someone talked to her like that, she would have taken action.

Wu Chen asked Qi Ying, "Is there anything to eat?"

Qi Ying quickly took out some dry rations. Wu Chen shaved a branch, threaded the rations onto it, and roasted them over the fire. The rations emitted a peppery aroma, whetting Lu Qing's appetite. She swallowed hard, her eyes glazing over.

Wu Chen smiled, gave one branch to Qi Ying, then plucked it from the branch in his own hand, blew on it, touched it with his finger to make sure it wasn't too hot before giving it to Lu Qing.

Qi Zhi was still crying, so she didn't see it. Qi Ying, who was watching from the sidelines, was very surprised.

Lu Qing took the food and found it to be warm but not scalding, just right for eating. So she held it and began to eat.

Seeing that she was eating with relish, Wu Chen smiled gently, the gloom on his face disappearing, and he also began to eat slowly and deliberately. Only Qi Ying had no appetite.

Qi Zhi cried for a while before gradually stopping. Seeing that the three people opposite her were only focused on eating and no one even glanced at her, she felt wronged and disappointed.

"My lord, I know I was wrong," Qi Zhi said in a low voice. "I have failed your high expectations. Please punish me."

Lu Qing, with a biscuit in her mouth, suddenly looked up: "You know you're wrong already? Really?"

Wu Chen continued eating the pancake, "Do you really know you were wrong?"

"I understand," Qi Zhi said softly. "I shouldn't have been so preoccupied with love and narrow-minded. I have failed to live up to your many years of careful guidance."

Wu Chen nodded. "Anything else?"

Qi Zhi continued, embarrassed, "I shouldn't have disregarded our camaraderie and turned against Qi Ying with swords."

"Anything else?"

"Anything else?" Qi Zhi's gaze met Lu Qing's round eyes, her face burning. "I shouldn't have acted out of spite and stood by when others were in danger. I shouldn't have colluded with the people from Zhan Yan Tai and ignored their attacks on our fellow disciples."

"Anything else?"

"Anything else?" Qi Ying mentally counted on her fingers, but it seemed like there wasn't anything else.

"Anything else?" Wu Chen urged. "Don't tell me you still have any expectations?"

"No, that's all." Qi Zhi stammered, "That's all, that's all."

Wu Chen looked at her and said, "Now that you know you're wrong, what are you going to do next?"

Qi Zhi wiped away his tears. "This disciple knows his mistake. Tomorrow I will return to Nukun Peak and go to the back mountain to reflect on my mistakes for three years."

Wu Chen stared at her for a while, then took out the several silk talismans from his sleeve. "So what are these?"

Qi Zhi's color drained away instantly, leaving his face ashen and pale...