Chapter 141 Calling Back the Soul: She's the One Who Makes You Feel Guilty

Entering the inner workshop? Lou Cangyu paused abruptly. This… Lou Cangyu had considered it before, but dared not delve into it. The Lou family had followed Xingguo Workshop for generations. Even though his great-grandfather had died by sword, his grandfather still followed Xingguo Workshop to Canglang Island. And there was his father who died young… The father and son had burned firewood their whole lives without complaint… And there were his mother and elder brother left on the island…

Such a deep bond, their lives are intertwined with Xingguo Ward, the inner ward… Lou Cangyu’s palms were sweating. “The Lou family has received Xingguo Ward’s favor for many years. Helping the inner ward… I’m afraid I can’t do it.”

"Didn't you help the inner workshop today?" Wushuang laughed. "You can do it."

Seeing Lou Cangyu's conflicted expression, Wushuang patted his sweaty palm and said, "Just kidding. Since it's inconvenient for me to enter the neighborhood, it's still early. Let's go stroll around West Street."

Lou Cangyu nodded emphatically, his eyes suddenly lighting up again.

"You're seeing me for the first time on the Lingbo Terrace. I remember your eyes that day; they were different from theirs today. You weren't afraid."

"I have a clear conscience, so what is there to be afraid of?"

"They feel guilty, don't they?"

Lou Cangyu wouldn't tell Wushuang that he overslept that day and missed witnessing Jiang Muyun's sacrifice at the furnace. He was still regretting missing the scene. But thinking about it now, he realized that if he hadn't witnessed it, he wouldn't have been afraid. His impression of Jiang Muyun would only remain at her most beautiful moment—she was just like Wushuang on the Lingbo Terrace, her clothes flowing gracefully, exuding a noble and unrestrained air. She would smooth her hair, her body moving like a butterfly, her jade-like skin shimmering with an alluring glow in the sunlight, making her unforgettable at first glance.

She was truly beautiful. When Lou Cangyu saw Wushuang on the Lingbo Terrace, he felt no fear. This was the same thought that popped into his mind: Jiang Muyun had already perished, but Wushuang was still alive and well. She stood on the Lingbo Terrace like a goddess descended from the heavens. Heaven had taken pity on him; he hadn't witnessed Jiang Muyun's heroic sacrifice, but Heaven had made up for it in another way.

"Who knows?" Lou Cangyu seemed to smile slightly. "I am different from them."

"What's her name?"

--"she?"

"What's the name of the person who made them feel guilty?"

—Jiang Muyun.

"—Mu Yun…a beautiful name. Did she stay on Canglang Island?"

"She...is gone."

"How can the people on Canglang Island possibly get out?" Wushuang asked, tilting her head.

Lou Cangyu held Wushuang's hand without any emotion. "Who can hold her back? It's better that she's gone. Staying would only torment people's lives."

Has anyone asked her if she wants to leave?

Lou Cangyu suddenly found it somewhat amusing; no one had asked them what they meant when they left.

Wushuang was silent for a moment, then said, "Since she's gone, why didn't you treat me as her when you saw me? You should be happy to see an old friend again, why are you afraid?"

A night wind suddenly rose, and Lou Cangyu shivered. Wushuang's words were light and melodious, yet they also carried a hint of eeriness, making people afraid to think too deeply.

—"Jiang Muyun!"

Who is it?! Lou Cangyu suddenly released his grip on Wushuang's hand, his other hand unconsciously reaching for the hilt of the sword at his waist. Who called out that name?

—"Jiang Muyun?"

Not far away, Guan Ye had been watching the two for a while. She blurted out Jiang Muyun's name and calmly observed Wu Shuang's reaction. She seemed to have never heard of this name before, and her face remained calm and undisturbed.

"What are you doing, calling for ghosts?" Lou Cangyu, recognizing Guan Ye, gripped his sword, annoyed. "Screaming, screaming, are you trying to summon a soul in the middle of the night?"

Lou Cangyu's shout... Guan Ye saw a fleeting resentment flash across Wushuang's deep, icy eyes. What was she resentful about... Lou Cangyu's loud voice, or... his disrespect for the ghost spirit...?

Jiang Muyun and she are not related, so why should she harbor resentment? Wushuang... who exactly are you?

"Jiang Muyun." Guan Ye walked towards her step by step. "Is he a person? Or a ghost?"

"Is she the one who makes you feel guilty?" Wushuang smiled as she looked at Guan Ye, who was walking towards her.

Guan Ye stared intently at Wu Shuang's familiar smile. In the cell, Jiang Muyun said to Guan Ye: She did it willingly. Who would truly be willing to die for a Meteor Sword? Atop the Heavenly Furnace, Jiang Muyun gazed at Guan Ye, seemingly with unfinished business. She had so much left unsaid, so much left undone, and she hoped someone could do it for her.

Wushuang is right: Jiang Muyun is the one who makes everyone feel guilty.

"Lou Cangyu said." Wushuang touched the dimple at the corner of her lips, "I look a lot like Jiang Muyun. Where is she? I really want to see her and see how much I resemble her, so much so that even a swordsman can't hold his sword, so much so that everyone looks like they've seen a ghost."

Guan Ye stared intently, desperate to know if the woman before her was truly the one she believed in. "She's dead."

Wushuang paused slightly. "Dead? How did she die?"

Lou Cangyu shuddered, glanced at Guan Ye, and stammered, "Dead... that's it."

"No one deserves to die." Wushuang seemed to sigh. "It's such a pity. I wanted to see her, but she's dead."

Guan Ye stared intently at Wu Shuang's face, as if trying to see right through her. She resembled her, but... she wasn't. Jiang Muyun was gentle and pure, like a goddess from the heavens. Although Wu Shuang had a face exactly like hers, her eyes revealed a hint of cunning. She and Jiang Muyun were completely different people. Wu Shuang was Wu Shuang, and she was definitely not Jiang Muyun.

—Jiang Muyun died right before your eyes, how could Wushuang possibly be her?

Jiang Muyun was willing to die, but if it were Wushuang, she would kill everyone with her sword rather than allow herself to face an absurd death.

"Are you still looking?" Wushuang leaned closer to Guan Ye, lifting her chin with a finger. "After looking for so long, tell me, am I a human or a ghost?"

Guan Ye brushed her hand away, stepped onto the snow-covered ground, and looked away. Wu Shuang, dressed in green, stood to the side, a half-smile playing on her lips. Lou Cangyu tried to take her wrist, but Wu Shuang brushed it away as soon as she touched it. Lou Cangyu dared not touch it again, annoyed as she watched Guan Ye's departing figure. Such a beautiful moment, ruined by her. Why did she have to make Wu Shuang unhappy?

As night fell, the wind and snow began to rise again. Lou Cangyu took off his cloak and draped it over Wushuang. Seeing that Wushuang did not resist, Lou Cangyu felt a surge of relief. He mustered his courage and took her wrist. Wushuang let him do as he pleased, her icy fingers gently stroking the back of Lou Cangyu's hand. Lou Cangyu's knuckles trembled, and he couldn't help but hold her hand even tighter. "Let's go."

“Guan Ye, relying on her sword-making skills and A Jiu’s backing, has become increasingly arrogant lately. You don’t need to stoop to her level.” Lou Cangyu became more talkative, speaking for a long time without receiving a response from Wushuang, who bit her lip, not daring to continue. In the snow, their footsteps echoed in layers, stretching endlessly, their destination unknown.

When Ajiu left the palace, it was already completely dark. He declined the yellow carriage that offered to take him back to his quarters, and carrying the imperial gifts, he walked out of the palace gate. He took a few deep breaths, still feeling heavy-hearted. This day had been so long. Looking back at the palace gate in the night, with no end in sight on the snow-covered path, Ajiu knew that the night was far from over.

Turning into the deep alley, Ajiu sensed something and stopped. Suddenly, he saw a blade slashing down. Ajiu raised his sword to block the blade's momentum, skimming half a zhang under his feet to stop steadily. Before he could stop his sword, the blade flashed towards him. Ajiu dodged it, his unsheathed sword pointing directly at the person. The shadows of the trees swayed, and the person, carrying a horizontal sword on his shoulder, appeared in a flash, flicking his nose at Ajiu.

"You were able to withstand several of my attacks without even drawing your sword. It seems you are still the most skilled swordsman in Xingguo Ward." Wanqi walked towards Ajiu amidst the swirling snow. "Ajiu has sharp eyes. Maybe you really are someone who can accomplish great things."

—Ah Jing? Ah Jiu's brow twitched, and she held her sword tightly, not daring to be careless.

"Don't you know his name is A-Jing?" Wan Qixi called out from behind the big tree, "A-Jing, come out now."

Cui Jin, dressed in a black robe, slowly walked out, his single eye sweeping over A Jiu's somewhat surprised expression. He then looked at Wan Qixi and said, "My name is Cui Jin. A Jing is the name given to me by the young lady. I like this name very much. Now that the young lady is gone, what I am called is no longer important. Cui Jin or A Jing, you can call me whatever you like."

“Grand Preceptor Cui,” Ajiu lowered her sword, “you and this Western Region man knew each other long ago? Wanqixi…who exactly is he?”

Wanqi Xi strode closer to Ajiu, pointed to his face and said, "Western Regions person, hahaha, is my makeup skill really amazing? Western Regions person, yes, sometimes I even feel like I really am a visitor from the Western Regions. Even real Western Regions people don't look like me."

"Who exactly are you?"

“His name is Cui Jin, and also A Jing.” Wan Qixi laughed loudly, carrying his knife. “A cunning rabbit has three burrows, and a two-faced beauty. I am Wan Qixi, and I have another name that Cui Jin didn’t tell you. My name is Lu Xiaoyun.”

“Lu Xiaoyun?” Ajiu felt that the name sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. “Lu Xiaoyun, Lu…” Tianhufang, the Lu family, Lu Xiaoyun, a descendant of the Lu family.

Wan Qixi's eyes lit up suddenly. "Have you heard of it? Did the Guan family girl tell you about it?"

“Lu Xiaojun? Tianhu Fang…” Ajiu stared in surprise at Wanqixi’s exotic attire. “Tianhu Fang was completely wiped out, the whole family was executed, and you are Lu Xiaojun? You’re not dead?”

"Hahahaha." Wan Qixi laughed loudly, "If Guan Xiaotian can live, why can't I? If the Guan family girl can return to Rongdu alive, why can't I return to the capital?"

They already knew Guan Ye was Guan Xiaotian's daughter. Ajiu's hand unconsciously reached for the sword at his waist, but Cui Jin brushed his hand away with his sleeve, his single eye coldly saying, "We're all from Tianhu Fang, we won't do anything to Guan Ye. Do you think you can kill both of us by yourself, or do you think you can walk your own path without me?"

"You're also from Tianhufang?" Ajiu released his grip, the scar on his brow twitching with fear.

Seeing that Cui Jin remained silent, Wan Qixi spoke for him: "The Cui Guoshi before you is the most skilled swordsman in Tianhu Fang. He promised my sister that he would clear all obstacles for Tianhu Fang and be invincible."

The scene of Ajiu's first meeting with Cui Jin flashed before his eyes. Cui Jin, dressed in rags and covered in dust, had come to Yuxian Palace. When he saw the palace gates appearing and disappearing in the clouds, his deep-set eyes shone with the light of rebirth.