Chapter 137 Ruoxin: "Mother, I have someone I like."...

Wen Yizhan woke up on a bamboo bed.

The bamboo bed was placed in the small hall in the backyard. The two doors opened in opposite directions, allowing a breeze to pass through, making it cool in the summer. He liked to sleep here, and sometimes he didn't want to go back to his bedroom at night, so he would sleep here instead.

Whenever this happened, his mother would gently and patiently persuade him to go back to his room to sleep, lest he catch a cold at night.

My mother's room was the first one on the east side of the small hall.

When Wen Yizhan woke up, she naturally wanted to find her mother.

He walked through the small hall, down the corridor to the backyard. He had walked this path countless times; he could find his mother's room with his eyes closed.

Yanling is humid and rainy. Although the house is made of century-old fir wood, the steps and the base of the pillars are covered with a thin layer of moss, and he is very familiar with every piece of moss.

Because this was a villa at the foot of Qingwu Mountain in Yanling, he and his mother lived here when they didn't need to return to the main house.

Wen Yizhan walked into his mother's room, where a graceful figure sat on the windowsill with her back to him.

Looking out the window, you can see low mountain passes in the distance. My mother often sat here to practice calligraphy, read books, or simply look at the scenery in the distance.

"mother."

Wen Yizhan called out to the retreating figure.

The person by the window turned around, and the gentle and beautiful woman smiled at him, "Zhan'er, you've come."

Wen Yizhan hummed in agreement and sat down opposite her mother.

Strange, the couch has become lower. He sat on it effortlessly, whereas before he had to push himself up.

No, what do you mean "before"? Hasn't he always been here?

Wen Yizhan ignored the strange thoughts in his mind. He saw a piece of his mother's calligraphy on the table. It was written in delicate small regular script, and he looked at it with great interest.

His mother was very skilled in calligraphy and painting, and his handwriting was taught to him by his mother.

"You're not practicing your sword today? You're in the mood to watch me write."

Her slender, delicate hand held a seal, and her mother stamped it on the small calligraphy. The vermilion seal bore four seal characters: "My heart is your seal."

My mother's name is Wen Ruoxin, and this is her personal seal.

Wen Yizhan smiled sweetly and said, "You can practice swordsmanship anytime, but you can't see your mother practicing calligraphy often."

Wen Ruoxin smiled, but even when she was happy, her smile was always gentle and restrained, just like all daughters of noble families.

"You've been good at flattering your mother since you were little. When you grow up, who knows how many women you'll be able to deceive."

Wen Yizhan was somewhat confused. Why would he say such a thing? Didn't his mother practice calligraphy often? How come he couldn't see her?

Why would a mother say that? Hasn't he grown up yet?

"Zhan'er, what's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Wen Ruoxin looked at him with concern, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly, making her already pale face appear even more sickly.

Yes, Mother fell ill and has rarely picked up a pen since then. Even when she does, she can no longer write such delicate and elegant characters.

My mother's illness is getting worse and worse; she is bedridden and unable to get up.

Mother is dead.

He died when he was eight years old.

His master took him to Kunlun.

He studied swordsmanship in Kunlun.

And then what?

there is none left.

No, there must be something else, but he couldn't remember it.

Wen Ruoxin waited a while but didn't see his reply, so she continued, "Did I say something that upset you?"

She smiled and said, “But you must listen to your mother on this point. If you meet a woman you like in the future, you must treat her sincerely and never deceive her. You must know that sincerity is very precious.”

The woman I like...

Does it count if you keep something in your heart?

A blurry figure seemed to emerge, but was always blocked by some force, as if deliberately preventing him from remembering it.

she is……

Junior sister!

Yes, he has a junior female student.

Wen Yizhan broke out in a cold sweat. Jiang Yuhuo was outside, still waiting for him!

The moment she remembered, Wen Yizhan hurriedly got off the bed and ran outside.

Wen Ruoxin called to him from behind, "Zhan'er, Mother is right here. Where are you going?"

The call made Wen Yizhan stop abruptly. He turned around and saw that the courtyard had gradually faded into a pale white background, leaving only Wen Ruoxin standing by the door.

Wen Yizhan smiled at her.

"Mother, I have someone I like."

...

The person in his dream could no longer hold him back, and Wen Yizhan suddenly opened his eyes.

The night was deep, and Jiao Chongyuan was no longer there.

He hurriedly searched the lakeside, but Jiang Yuhuo and Bai Hui were nowhere to be seen. Jiao Chongyuan stood dejectedly by the lake, the water calm, seemingly looking at something.

There were a few faint wisps of demonic energy on the lake, but Wen Yizhan had no time to pay attention to them at the moment; he only cared about one thing.

Where are they?

Jiao Chongyuan did not answer; he seemed completely lost.

Wen Yizhan was already extremely anxious, and seeing Jiao Chongyuan's appearance made her even more uneasy, so she immediately drew her sword.

Tell me, where are they?

Perhaps it was the lingering resentment, or perhaps the disappointment had accumulated to a certain degree. It was only when Bai Hui was by his side that he could suppress it deep in his heart. Now that Bai Hui was gone, he had lost his restraint, and when Wen Yizhan's sword came, he was about to explode completely.

The battle was about to break out, like two sparks colliding, each move aimed at the other's most vulnerable spot.

Jiao Chongyuan became fierce, as if he wanted to pour all the resentment he had felt over the years into the tip of his sword. He thought he could accept the fact that Bai Hui only had Mu Yi'an in his heart, but when he saw Bai Hui enter the seal to die for him, Jiao Chongyuan had to admit that he was angry and jealous.

Wen Yizhan's sword came swiftly and fiercely, like a rain of swords. Jiao Chongyuan knew that he was anxious and burning with impatience. It was under such fierce attacks that Jiao Chongyuan could calmly release his anger.

But in the end, he was at a disadvantage. This young disciple had long surpassed him and could defeat him fair and square without resorting to sneak attacks or tricks. However, Wen Yizhan was not faring well either. He had suffered a soul injury that had not yet healed, and he had forcibly broken out of the illusion in the wine. Even if he could defeat Jiao Chongyuan, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.

Wen Yizhan stood there, looking disheveled, pointing her sword at the people on the ground. "I'll ask you one last time, where are they?"

"What good would it do to tell you?" Jiao Chongyuan spat out a mouthful of blood, then laughed in a retaliatory manner. "They're sealed under a demonic seal at the bottom of the lake. Can you break the seal to find them?"

Sure enough, he saw Wen Yizhan staring blankly at the lake, her expression full of disbelief.

Look, he's not the only one who got left behind.

Wen Yizhan suddenly felt her body couldn't hold on any longer.

Under the Demon-Sealing Seal...

How did they get trapped down there by the Demon-Sealing Seal, which hadn't been disturbed for a century, and how... did they come back alive?

Wen Yizhan leaned against a tree and asked, "How can I get to Yinxia?"

Jiao Chongyuan's eyes dimmed. "I don't know, otherwise I wouldn't be here now."

A seal is different from an array. A seal is meant to block everything, preventing those outside from getting in and those inside from getting out.

Unable to get in, they could only hope that those who had gone in might have a way back. The two said nothing more, simply waiting by the lake, hoping the water would change.

Wen Yizhan dared not imagine what was happening to her junior sister inside that place that imprisoned a bunch of demons.

But then Jiao Chongyuan looked towards the dense forest, his expression suddenly changing. "You, why did you come out?"

Wen Yizhan turned around and saw the remaining three river-guarding immortals.

Zhao Wujian gave him an unfriendly look. "Who do we have here? It's you guys who's playing tricks. Is it fun to trap us in this illusion?"

Jiao Chongyuan didn't try to explain, but asked urgently, "Did you discover it and then break the illusion?"

Mo Huaiqing shook his head, his eyes still slightly red, "The illusion disappeared on its own before we were able to come out."

Upon hearing this, Jiao Chongyuan coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at the lakeside, yet he let out a short laugh.

The others were bewildered, staring at their companion who seemed to have gone mad.

Wen Yizhan felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Others might not know, but he did. The illusion was created by Bai Hui.

The illusion vanished on its own before the appointed time, which can only mean that the person who set up the formation is dead.

If Bai Hui dies inside, then Junior Sister...

It felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

He recalled Jiao Chongyuan's words, "You shouldn't have helped her leave."

He shouldn't have blindly followed Jiang Yuhuo's choice without being absolutely certain.

Wen Yizhan leaned against a tree, his fingertips turning white from the force. The soul injury he had sustained in the sword formation began to throb, making it impossible for him to stand up straight.

A few wisps of coolness took the opportunity to seep into the wounded soul.

A thought suddenly occurred to him: it was all because Jiao Chongyuan stopped him, otherwise he would not have been separated from his junior sister, nor would he have let his junior sister be taken into the seal by Bai Hui. It's all his fault!

Kill him.

Wen Yizhan's eyes sharpened, and she raised the sword she had put down again, its sharpness aimed directly at Jiao Chongyuan.

Jiao Chongyuan sensed his killing intent almost instantly, but he made no attempt to resist or evade. He stood still and waited quietly, hoping that Wen Yizhan would give him a way out.

"stop!"

An invisible force suddenly struck Wen Yizhan's hand.

As Wen Yizhan's sword intent relaxed, the sword energy dissipated by the time it reached Jiao Chongyuan.

That voice… Wen Yizhan’s mind cleared, and he suddenly turned around.

In the night sky, an old man with white hair and beard floated in, holding a little girl's hand.

It was Zhang Zhenyang and Xiao Jing.

"Master..."

Just as Wen Yizhan was about to ask her master why he was here, her gaze fell upon the communication talisman in Xiao Jing's hand.

That belongs to my junior sister.

Before Wen Yizhan could finish his question, someone had already impatiently asked him for the person.

As soon as Xiao Jingfang landed, she ran to him and asked, "Where's Auntie? Why isn't my Auntie with you?"

Wen Yizhan's eyes dimmed, unsure how to respond.

Xiao Jing searched around Wen Yizhan, but there was no trace of Jiang Yuhuo.

She suddenly felt uneasy.

After returning to Xidu City, Xiao Jing initially wanted to go home and wait, but after thinking it over, she still couldn't rest easy. Although her aunt had said to contact Old Man Zhang three days later, she figured she had to find him sooner or later, so why not do it now? Her aunt and the others were in danger, and Old Man Zhang, as her master, should come to their rescue. She didn't care if it would trouble others.

Now that she's back, there are so many people around, but Jiang Yuhuo is nowhere to be seen. She's so anxious she's almost in tears. She tugs at Wen Yizhan's sleeve and asks, "Where's my aunt?"

Only then did everyone realize that the junior sister from Zhenyang Peak who had come with Wen Yizhan was missing, as was Senior Bai.

Zhang Zhenyang sensed that something was wrong with him and injected a stream of spiritual energy into his body. "Yizhan, speak."

Wen Yizhan steadied himself and was about to explain the whole story when he heard Xu Ling, the guardian immortal of the river, exclaim in surprise.

What happened?

The lake surface rippled like a sieve, and crisscrossing golden lines appeared in the center of the lake, only to disappear one by one.

Zhang Zhenyang exclaimed, "This is bad! The Demon-Sealing Seal is disappearing!"

Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred, and everyone was on high alert, thinking that a soaring demonic aura would escape from the seal.

Zhang Zhenyang drew his spirit sword, ready to subdue demons at any moment. Just as he was about to give a few words of advice, he found that his side was empty. When he turned around, the familiar black figure had already leaped into the water.

*

When Jiang Yuhu woke up, he found himself lying on a large rock by the river.

The sky was already bright, and the sun hung high overhead.

She subconsciously looked around, but there was nothing around her except for Dingchun Sword.

There is no one.

Was it really an illusion? She couldn't tell.

She tried hard to recall, but still couldn't find the answer.

As she pondered, she seemed to hear someone calling her. Looking up, she saw several figures approaching her in the distance.

In a short while, a figure appeared in front of her.

"Senior brother."

Wen Yizhan's eyes were slightly red. She squatted down and stared at her intently. "Junior sister, are you injured?"

Jiang Yuhuo sensed his entire body and shook his head.

Not only was he uninjured, but even the burning sensation that had previously burned his body had subsided considerably.

Even though her body was already at its limit when she was in India, and her clothes were full of tears, how could she be completely unharmed?

Jiang Yuhuo slowly furrowed his brow.

Was it really an illusion while I was in the water?