Divine Tree
Xie Lanchen moved swiftly, shielding Yun Wei behind him with his backhand. With a flick of his wrist, the Lone Goose Sword appeared horizontally in front of him, its blade gleaming with a chilling light.
"Step back." The boy's voice was as cold as ice.
Having said that, he made a light stroke along the spine of the sword with his left hand and his right hand held the sword steadily, the tip of the sword slightly raised, pointing at the red silk.
Yunwei observed intently, her expression remaining unchanged.
This tree exudes a powerful spiritual energy, unlike any evil spirit.
A woman dressed in a plain white dress slowly appeared, her features gentle and kind, and she looked up at the two of them.
Yunwei gazed intently, her fingertips slightly curling inside her sleeve.
Even though she knew it was most likely an illusion, she still felt a pang of sorrow in her heart when her mother's face appeared so vividly before her eyes.
His eyes and expression were exactly the same as she remembered—gentle and loving.
"Mother?"
That's impossible.
Xie Lanchen immediately held his sword horizontally in front of him, his brows furrowed with a fierce aura, the sword tip pointing directly at the phantom: "What kind of demon are you, daring to use your illusion to deceive people?"
A surge of rage rose in the boy's heart: How dare it transform into the appearance of Yunwei's mother? It's courting death.
The woman seemed oblivious to Xie Lanchen's hostility, her gaze remaining gentle on Yun Wei, a smile playing on her lips: "I am not your mother."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and the red silk on the branch swayed with the gentle movement of her sleeve. “My name is Qingwu, and I guard this sacred tree. In the past, your mother passed through this place and left a wisp of her spirit to nourish the ancient tree, which is why I was able to appear in the world in its form.”
Yun Wei's eyes flickered slightly, but she remained vigilant.
The mother left her spirit here? That explains why the tree spirit could take on the form of the mother.
But she still needs to confirm whether the tree spirit is friend or foe.
Thinking of this, she slowly stepped out of Xie Lanchen's protective range, her tone cold: "Since you bear the karma of your mother, what brings you here?"
"The earth's veins tremble, and danger lurks everywhere." A hint of solemnity gradually crept into Qingwu's brows. She gently raised her slender hand, her fingertips brushing against the drooping red silk, her voice low and deep: "I have seen your wish hanging on the branch. It's a pity..." Her gaze swept over Yunwei's heart, "Your old wounds have not yet healed, how can you break through the illusion?"
Yun Wei frowned slightly. The earth's veins were moving abnormally. Could it be related to her father's recent actions?
She carefully observed the tree spirit's expression, trying to discern the truth from its falsehood.
Was her candid revelation of her injuries a well-intentioned reminder, or was she acting with ulterior motives?
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar. Anian came running up, panting, her face pale and her eyes filled with panic: "Sister...do you know Ning Xihe?"
Yunwei and Xie Lanchen turned around at the same time.
Anian's panic must mean something terrible has happened.
Could it be that Father has already discovered their whereabouts?
Anian ran up, breathless, and cried out, "The sect leader announced to the world that Ning Xihe is protecting... protecting you, a demon! Tomorrow at noon, she will be killed on the Lingxiao Platform with the Xuantian Demon-Slaying Seal!" She hurriedly explained, "The news has already spread! I heard it from a Guiyun Sect disciple passing through town, it's absolutely true!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Lanchen's eyes flashed with coldness, and the veins on his hand gripping the sword hilt bulged.
"Xie Qingfeng." He almost gritted his teeth as he uttered the name. "He's set a trap to force you to show yourself." The young man looked at Yun Wei, his voice cold and sharp. "If you go, you'll be walking into a snare."
Yun lowered her eyes, a chill suddenly rising in her heart.
Her father's actions were not only intended to force her to show herself, but also to definitively establish her reputation as a "devil" in front of everyone, thereby implicating all those who were on good terms with her.
"Xie Qingfeng not only wants my life, but also to destroy all my ties. If I back down today, he will dare to slaughter everyone in the world connected to me in the future." Yun Wei raised her eyes, her gaze having regained its usual calmness. "Xi He has suffered because of me. If I cower and do not come out, how is that any different from indirectly harming her?"
“Since this is a trap he set, then I will break it. I will not only rescue Xihe, but also expose his true colors of framing his own daughter and harming his fellow disciples in front of the whole world.”
Xie Qingfeng has acted perversely, framed his own daughter, and harmed the innocent; he has lost his moral compass.
This trip is not only to rescue Ning Xihe and prove his innocence, but also to let the world know that the Guiyun Sect's century-old reputation is not something he can control with his own hands.
Upon hearing this, the young man pursed his thin lips, his eyes filled with worry, but ultimately he did not utter a word in rebuttal.
“What a brilliant ‘breakthrough’.” The woman flicked her sleeve, and countless red ribbons transformed into flowing light, wrapping around Yunwei. “Your mother once made a vow under this tree. At that time, demons raged, and the common people wept blood. Seeing the people displaced and children orphaned, she felt endless compassion. You inherited her compassion, but you are even more resolute. You have a grand vision and a will to govern the world. Even if you are imprisoned, you will not change your will.”
She paused, then said, "I can help you restore your former appearance, or even surpass it. But the pain will be unbearable for most people, so think it through carefully."
Yunwei raised her eyes to meet his gaze, knowing that this trip was dangerous. Since Xie Qingfeng dared to openly set up a trap, he must have laid a net that could not be cast.
However, Ning Xihe suffered because of her. If she shrinks back, she will not only betray her old friend, but also allow the evil scheme to succeed.
Her thin lips moved slightly, each word clear and distinct:
"As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will not give up. Even if it is a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I will not be afraid."
Qingwu said no more, and his illusory figure slowly drifted back into the tree trunk.
The next moment, the entire towering ancient tree trembled violently, and countless roots broke through the soil, emitting emerald light, which converged into a huge pillar of light that completely enveloped her.
Within the beam of light, countless tiny green specks rushed into her brow.
A scorching force coursed through his meridians, burning everything in its path as if it were being scorched by fire.
Yun Wei's face turned deathly pale instantly, cold sweat poured down her back, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
She bit her lower lip hard, even tasting the blood, but she didn't utter a single groan of pain.
She closed her eyes and focused all her energy on circulating her internal energy.
Although the pain was intense, it paled in comparison to the agony of being betrayed by a loved one in Shitang Town that day.
Anian watched this scene with worry, when suddenly she heard a faint "tick-tock" sound.
She looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xie Lanchen standing to the side, staring intently at Yun Wei, his face still cold, as if he were unmoved.
But when you look down, you see that the boy's left hand, hanging by his side, is clenched into a fist. His knuckles are white from the force, and bright red blood is seeping out from between his fingers, dripping onto the ground and spreading a dark patch.
Xie Lanchen stared intently at the slender figure in the pillar of light, feeling as if every bit of pain was being inflicted upon him.
He desperately wanted to rush forward and pull her out, yet he knew this was a trial she had to endure.
She was trembling with pain, but she didn't utter a sound.
He couldn't help but recall that rainy day when she, too, held on to her last breath and personally broke the bond of life... Thinking of this, he gripped his palm even tighter, his nails digging deep into his flesh, as if the pain could slightly alleviate the torment in his heart.
This process lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
After the beam of light dissipated, the ancient tree returned to its calm state, though its branches and leaves seemed slightly dimmer.
Yun Wei swayed slightly, and the moment she knelt on one knee, Xie Lanchen quickly helped her up, the young man gripping her arm tightly with his blood-stained palm.
She steadied her breath, gently brushed his hand away, and solemnly bowed to the ancient tree: "I will remember this kindness and never forget it."
She felt the surging spiritual energy within her body and knew that Qingwu had opened her meridians and helped her restore her cultivation. This kindness was indeed heavier than Mount Tai.
Qingwu chuckled softly, her voice ethereal: "No need. Your mother only wished that there would be no more tears of orphans in the world, and that she could have a clear conscience. The path of revenge must be taken, but do not let hatred blind you or cause you to lose your true self."
She paused, her tone turning somber: "But this young man beside you... his murderous aura is too strong. His malevolent energy has disturbed the balance of the earth's veins, and he needs to stay here temporarily to harmonize yin and yang."
Yunwei felt a slight stirring in her heart, sensing that Qingwu's words had a deeper meaning.
She exchanged a glance with Xie Lanchen and saw that although he looked displeased and his thin lips were tightly pursed, showing great reluctance, he did not object. He just snorted and turned his face away.
“A-Nian and I will go ahead to discuss tomorrow’s matters. You should stay here and recuperate for now,” Yun Wei said softly. As she stood up, her gaze swept over Xie Lanchen’s left hand, which was still bleeding, and a slight soreness rose in her throat.
Those three crescent-shaped wounds were particularly glaring and would likely leave scars.
He's always like this; when he cares, he gets confused, but he insists on expressing himself in the clumsiest and most self-destructive way.
She was not unaware of these feelings, but with the future uncertain and her great revenge yet to be avenged, she could not make any promises and could only pretend not to know for the time being.
As she turned to leave, she paused for a moment, but ultimately did not look back.
*
Xie Lanchen leaned against the tree trunk, his tone icy: "Alright, send her away. What do you have to say? Surely you don't really think I'm too murderous, do you?"
Qingwu's figure emerged from the shadows of the trees, his expression solemn: "The Soul-Binding Lock on your body has not been truly removed; it's just that the one who cast the curse has temporarily relaxed their control."
The boy's pupils contracted slightly, and his face instantly darkened.
He pursed his thin lips and said coldly, "I know."
After Yunwei knocked him unconscious that day, the Soul-Binding Lock in his body did temporarily subside, but he could still feel a faint pull these past few days.
He had told Xu E about this, and the owner of Biyue Manor could only shake his head and sigh, saying that the curse was strange and could not be broken by ordinary means.
Thinking of this, Xie Lanchen lowered his eyelashes, his mind uncontrollably recalling the scene in the rain that day.
How could he forget? The cold rain pounded on Yunwei's pale face, his once clear and bright eyes closed helplessly, and the blood gushing from his heart stained his hands.
He was like a drowning man, futilely trying to keep her with his spiritual power, pleading incoherently, even shedding tears, looking utterly pathetic.
He absolutely cannot, he absolutely cannot, hurt her again.
no way.
If this soul-binding chain truly has the power to control him again, to make him raise his sword against her... he will end his own life.
"Since you have this question, do you have a solution?" He raised his eyes, suppressing all his turbulent emotions as he looked at Qingwu, leaving only a cold and stern expression.
The woman remained silent for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly, her knuckles rubbing against her sleeve. After a long pause, she slowly spoke: "Yes. But this method is extremely brutal and requires a great price. Are you willing?"
Upon hearing this, the boy chuckled softly.
He raised his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable as he looked in the direction Yun Wei had left, as if he could see her through the dense shadows of the trees.
What price? He had never been afraid of any price. As long as he could protect her and help her achieve her wishes, he would not back down even if it meant his heart was ripped out and his soul was scattered.
"explain."
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