Chapter 125

A gust of wind, seemingly from nowhere, stirred the candlelight, causing shadows to flicker in the room. The ink bamboo on the screen cast its shadow, lingering on the two figures lying intertwined, before finally fading into silence.

Wen Chaoyu lay with her eyes closed, not opening them for a long time. Her black hair was spread out on the ground, like spilled ink, making her already pale face look even more bloodless.

Ji Wanshu waited for her to tell the story of those five years, but Wen Chaoyu remained silent until the embers in the small stove were completely extinguished.

As Ji Wanshu waited, her heart, along with the stove, slowly grew cold.

She looked at Wen Chaoyu's face, which was so close to hers, and her voice suddenly became hoarse.

"It's so hard to hear the truth from you."

The moment Wen Chaoyu heard these words, her heart felt as if it were being fried in oil. She opened her eyes with trembling eyelashes and stared at Ji Wanshu's eyes, which were now misty with tears. She was speechless.

“I used to think you valued the Ziwei Sect highly,” Ji Wanshu said with a sense of loss, “but now it seems that you can’t let go of Nangong Min, can you?”

Wen Chaoyu said, "I..."

“Now that I have captured Xue Tan, I will not only ask him half of what he wants to know,” Ji Wanshu said. “He has already told me everything I wanted to know, but I still want to hear it from you yourself, so I came to ask you. And you have not disappointed me. After all these years, you still only know how to run away and only know how to remain silent.”

Wen Chaoyu was speechless after hearing what she said, and could only clench her fists tightly.

“You and I both know what kind of person Nangong Min is,” Ji Wanshu’s eyes glistened with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. “Even if she hurt you, she also saved you and made many incomprehensible concessions for you. She gave you many privileges and many things that others could not obtain. She even protected you in some absurd ways. I don’t understand why, and I don’t understand why you do it either.”

Wen Chaoyu looked momentarily confused. She pondered Ji Wanshu's words for a moment before asking, "What do you mean...?"

Ji Wanshu tilted her head back, as if trying to force back the tears. Perhaps finding her appearance somewhat ridiculous, she simply laughed and said in a normal tone, "What else could it mean? She values ​​you very much, and you value her very much too. No matter what has happened between you, you can't live without each other, can you?"

After understanding the meaning behind her words, Wen Chaoyu said incredulously, "You mean you think that Nangong Min and I..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but both of them knew exactly what the rest was about.

"Isn't that right?" Ji Wanshu was still smiling. "I can't think of any other reason besides that."

Wen Chaoyu was filled with mixed feelings and said with a complicated expression, "You're wrong. My relationship with Nangong Min isn't what you think."

Ji Wanshu asked, "What kind of situation is that?"

Wen Chaoyu also couldn't give a definite answer to this question.

Even she herself found it difficult to describe the nature of her relationship with Nangong Min.

Ji Wanshu's previous analysis was correct. Nangong Min did treat her differently, and because of this difference, Wen Chaoyu suffered a lot of jealousy and exclusion in the Ziwei Sect. She used to think that Nangong Min's special treatment of her was a tactic of Nangong Min, who wanted to make Wen Chaoyu the jealousy of the sect members, so as to motivate them to fight for power and profit and to work harder for the Ziwei Sect. However, after the incident at the Fiery Pool, Wen Chaoyu no longer felt that way.

No one would treat a chess piece like this; it certainly goes beyond the treatment a chess piece should receive. However, no one in this world can say for sure what Nangong Min was thinking.

So Wen Chaoyu could only answer Ji Wanshu like this: "She doesn't think much of me," and then added, "If she did, she would have done it already. There's no need for her to torment me like this."

Ji Wanshu observed her expression, as if to confirm whether she was lying, before finally asking, "And what about you?"

Wen Chaoyu said with a chill down her spine, "Don't ask that. Who's so reckless as to have feelings for Nangong Min?"

Ji Wanshu said, "Then why won't you leave her?"

“It’s not that I’m unwilling,” Wen Chaoyu said. “She saved my life. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am today. As long as we’re alive, we should know how to repay kindness.”

"Then what am I?" Ji Wanshu asked. "Does my existence matter to you?"

Wen Chaoyu sighed: "Late farewell..."

“I want to know,” Ji Wanshu stared at her stubbornly, “am I important to you?”

The feeling of being fried in oil returned to her heart, and Wen Chaoyu's chest heaved more. She looked at Ji Wanshu and, after a moment of silence, said as naturally as possible, "I have told you countless times that the master is fake, and the disciple is fake. Besides, you have never really regarded me as your master. In fact, I don't understand what kind of thoughts could make you chase after me for more than ten years without giving up. If you are holding a grudge and feel that I have deceived you, then I have also said that you can vent your anger on me as you please. You can hit me, scold me, or even kill me. As long as you stop bothering me, I will do whatever you want."

The moment she finished speaking, the candlelight behind the screen burned out its last bit of oil, and the room fell silently into darkness.

Fortunately, a few paper lanterns were still hanging in the corridor, but the night was so deep that the dim light could not illuminate the place. It could only vaguely outline the two figures into a blurry silhouette, as if a gust of wind could blow them away.

After a long while, Ji Wanshu's slightly melancholic laughter finally rang out in the dim light.

"Thoughts..." she murmured softly, gently stroking Wen Chaoyu's face with her palm, "What thoughts did I have? Did you really not notice anything at all?"

Her hands were trembling slightly, and the tears that had been scattered were gathering again without her realizing it. Wen Chaoyu couldn't see Ji Wanshu's face clearly; she only felt a few drops of cold liquid fall on her cheek.

Wen Chaoyu's heart sank suddenly.

Having known each other for many years, she had never seen Ji Wanshu shed a tear. Even though she couldn't see it clearly right now, the sensation of those tears dripping onto her face was very real.

Unable to express her innermost thoughts, all she could say was a deep sigh. Listening to Ji Wanshu's words, Wen Chaoyu was momentarily stunned, unsure whether to be shocked or delighted. She stood frozen in place, countless images flashing through her mind.

In those distant memories, Ji Wanshu chased after her, gazing at her. She always kept quiet, and even when she did speak, it was always something she said in a fit of pique. The expression in her eyes was complex and complicated. She hadn't laughed sincerely in a long time. And then there was the sword that attacked her, swift and powerful, yet without a trace of killing intent.

idea……

What kind of thought was it?

Didn't she notice? No...that's not true. In fact, she had noticed it a long time ago, but she couldn't believe it, or rather, she didn't want to believe it.

A lock of long hair cascaded down her cheek, completely blocking out the light from the window. The person above seemed to have lowered their head. When Wen Chaoyu saw Ji Wanshu's approaching eyes, her heart pounded wildly.

The next moment, a soft touch and a warm temperature suddenly appeared on her lips. Wen Chaoyu's breath hitched, and she subconsciously opened her eyes wide. But Ji Wanshu raised a hand and covered her eyes, trapping her in darkness.

More tears fell, sliding down her cheeks and neck, leaving hot marks that seemed indelible, deeply etched into her skin.

"I hate you so much..." Ji Wanshu bit her, biting so hard, "Wen Chaoyu, I hate you so much..."

An unbearable pain spread across my lips, but that pain was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

Wen Chaoyu was completely disoriented. She lay there, utterly exhausted, bearing everything Ji Wanshu had said. Those fragmented words were like thunderclaps exploding in her ears, creating a chaotic buzzing in her mind, twisting her remaining thoughts into a tangled mess.

The night enveloped the two entangled individuals deeply. Though they were so close, it felt as if there was a vast gap between them. Only the ever-growing pain subtly pulled at the distance, stubbornly forcing them together.

Wen Chaoyu raised her hand countless times, only to let it fall dejectedly each time. She felt Ji Wanshu's outburst and his barely concealed awkwardness. She wanted to push him away, but couldn't bear to. She thought desperately that if she really pushed him away, there would be no going back.

But isn't it exactly what she wanted that she couldn't come back?

Wen Chaoyu struggled, tormented by the decision of whether to push him away or not. She felt pain, yet at the same time, she was also addicted to that pain.

She deserved it.

The cold wind swept across the world, bringing boundless desolation, but the two people close together huddled together, their bodies warming each other. Gradually, the pain on their lips lessened, replaced by a rare tenderness from Ji Wanshu.

She suppressed her anger and hatred, and revealed the tenderness she had buried deep in her heart, a tenderness she dared not let anyone see. She was cautious, with a hint of fear and uncertainty. She was also afraid of being pushed away, so she restrained herself, trying her best not to lose control and maintaining what little rationality she had left.

The kisses became delicate, overflowing with tenderness in the slow caresses. Wen Chaoyu's eyes involuntarily welled up with tears, and Ji Wanshu's gentleness at this moment brought a glimmer of light to her gloomy heart.

The light prompted her to raise her arms, and she finally embraced the person leaning over her. Wen Chaoyu slowly closed her eyes, giving a response for the first time during this long process.

Their lips met, their breaths mingling, and they embraced tightly, neither speaking nor making any unnecessary movements, simply lost in the moment, kissing, almost yearningly taking.

At this moment, all the unspoken love and hate were left behind, and all the relentless pursuit and avoidance ceased to exist. There was only the present moment, only the other person within reach. Even though this night would eventually give way to dawn, at least for this moment, they truly possessed each other.

After an unknown amount of time, their lips, which had been pressed together intimately, finally parted, still reluctant to part. In the dim light, the two gazed deeply at each other, each suppressing their breaths as the other looked at them with passion.

Their breaths mingled, their hair tangled together, Ji Wanshu's eyelashes were still wet, glistening with tears. She looked down at Wen Chaoyu, and after a long while, she finally spoke: "Is this charity?"

Wen Chaoyu's deep-set eyes became even more profound after the kiss. She was still holding Ji Wanshu in her arms. Even though her vision was blurred, her swollen lips were still very clear in Ji Wanshu's eyes.

Wen Chaoyu looked up at her, her breath slightly ragged, and said, "If I said no, would you believe me?"

Ji Wan paused for a moment, then replied, "I believe it, even if it's a lie."

Wen Chaoyu tugged at the corners of her mouth, her smile somewhat bitter. She was about to tell Ji Wanshu that this was not a lie when Ji Wanshu released her without warning and stood up.

"Who told you that someone was planning to harm Yin Qiu?" Ji Wanshu suddenly asked.

Wen Chaoyu paused for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "It's a flute player."

Ji Wanshu asked, "What's your name?"

Wen Chaoyu remained lying down, and upon hearing this, shook her head: "I can't tell you that."

"Why?"

"If I tell you, you will be in danger."

“I am not the same person I was five years ago. No one can hurt me.”

“Two different things,” Wen Chaoyu closed her eyes. “Even someone like Man Jiangxue couldn’t guard against being plotted against, let alone you?”

Ji Wanshu remained silent for a moment, then asked again, "Is it really impossible to leave the Ziwei Sect?"

Wen Chaoyu looked at her: "Can you leave Yunhua Palace again?"

Ji Wanshu fell silent.

After a while, she whispered, "I can't."

Wen Chaoyu sighed: "Late farewell..."

Ji Wanshu stared at her silently, her eyes still red after her tears had dried. She stood there for a moment, then walked to the door and pushed it open.

"You may leave."

The curtain blocked her view, and Wen Chaoyu could no longer see her.

Ji Wanshu turned around, but Wen Chaoyu was no longer in sight. Clutching her sleeve, she said with difficulty, "From now on, I will no longer pester you. You have your choices, your unfinished business, and so do I. Over the past years, I have focused all my attention on you, forgetting who I am. But you just reminded me that I am the chief disciple of Yunhua Palace, and I will never leave Yunhua Palace in this life. I am letting you go, letting you do what you want to do, and I am also freeing myself to do what I should do."

Wen Chaoyu looked up at the roof beams, where Ji Wanshu's shadow was everywhere.

“I originally thought that after five years of seclusion and diligent study, I could defeat Nangong Min and bring you to my side,” Ji Wanshu said calmly. “But now I realize that what stands between us is not her, but an unchangeable position. We are destined to stand on opposite sides and are destined to have no good outcome. Since that’s the case, let’s let go in time and move in opposite directions. Even though I have been on this path for more than ten years, it’s not too late for me to understand now.”

Her already blurry vision became even more hazy. Wen Chaoyu listened quietly, a look of relief on her face. She choked up as she said, "You've grown up."

Ji Wanshu smiled knowingly from a corner where she couldn't see her and said, "Five years is enough time for me to grow up."

Wen Chaoyu raised her arm to wipe her eyes, groped her way to her feet, and asked listlessly, "So, how have you been these past five years?"

Ji Wanshu looked at the swaying hem of her skirt and said softly, "Except when I think of you, I'm doing very well."

Wen Chaoyu's vision blurred, but she steadied herself by holding onto the dressing table and asked, "Then when will you think of me?"

Ji Wanshu said, “When I’m awake,” she paused, then added, “luckily I never dream.”

Hot tears welled up and fell silently. Wen Chaoyu bit her lip and squeezed the corner of the table so hard it shook.

Ji Wanshu didn't speak again, and she fell into a long silence once more. Wen Chaoyu stood there in that silence, waiting. She thought that Ji Wanshu would say something more to her, but a long time passed and Ji Wanshu's voice did not come out again.

With that outer robe still draped over her shoulders, still bearing Ji Wanshu's scent, Wen Chaoyu suddenly realized what was happening in the long silence, and lifted the curtain to run outside.

The doorway was empty; Ji Wanshu was nowhere to be seen.

Wen Chaoyu stood there stunned for a long time before she took off her outer robe from her shoulders, held it in her hands, and buried her face in it.