scar
Yun Wei's gaze darkened, and she suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist, her grip firm and unyielding. "Who wrote those two words?" Her voice was icy as she looked directly into his evasive eyes. "Xie Lanchen, I'm talking to you. Answer me."
The boy frowned, abruptly shaking off her hand. The medicine bottle fell to the ground and rolled twice on the rock.
He quickly straightened his clothes and tightened his belt. After a long while, he chuckled and said, "Senior Sister still cares about me?" He looked up at her, his cobalt blue eyes seeming to surge with dark currents. "Seven years ago, you were the one who rescued me from that mountain of corpses and sea of blood. I was on the verge of death, covered in blood, and you said to me, 'If you survive, I will teach you swordsmanship.'"
"But what did you do after you brought me back to the Cloud Sect?" the boy continued.
“You carelessly tossed me into the outer sect and then ignored me. Do you know what the outer sect is like? It's a dog-eat-dog world, more terrifying than demons. Day after day, I swept the stone steps, chopped wood, carried water, and washed dirty clothes. Those so-called senior brothers, seeing that I was helpless, bullied me to the extreme. The word 'lackey' was carved into me by them, one stroke at a time, while they trampled me in the mud. They laughed at me for being a dog you picked up, only to be discarded by you so easily, not even worth a second glance.”
“A year…a whole year. Every day I struggled in that mud, hoping that you might still remember this promise and come to see me. But where are you? You are at the top of your Sword Pavilion, the revered and radiant senior sister. Has your gaze ever lingered even for an ant like me?”
Yun Wei paused, a lump forming in her throat, her previously composed expression softening slightly.
She naturally remembered the village that had been slaughtered by the wolf demon and was now devastated, and the child lying in a pool of blood, his ribs broken and on the verge of death.
She asked herself honestly: Bringing Xie Lanchen back then was truly out of good intentions. Seeing that he had no foundation, she felt that although the outer sect was tough, it was the right path to toughen one's body and temper one's character, which was better than forcing growth in the inner sect.
At that time, she devoted herself to swordsmanship, practicing diligently day and night, hoping to live up to her father's expectations and prove that women could be just as good as men.
She was gradually buried in endless cultivation, preoccupied with many trivial matters in the outside world, including the boy she thought had been properly settled. She never imagined that the outer sect was such a dog-eat-dog hell, nor did she know that he had suffered a lot of humiliation because of her actions.
Yun opened her mouth slightly, but it took her a while to find her voice: "Since you suffered all this, why did you later become Father's adopted son and gain his favor?"
From the moment the boy appeared, his father's gaze fell more and more on him, and the praise that once belonged to her, and even that meager affection, gradually shifted towards him.
She was puzzled, and unwilling to accept it. Yun Wei thought to herself.
Following her gaze, the young man noticed the spirit-suppressing talisman on her chest, and the turbulent emotions in his eyes suddenly subsided.
He lowered his eyes and tugged at the corners of his mouth: "Why? Because I want to live, and one day I want to stand high enough so that some people can see me. My time in the outer sect taught me that waiting for pity is the most foolish thing. The sect leader happened to see that I had decent potential and was willing to fight desperately, so he gave me a chance."
Yunwei's emotions were churning like the sea.
Looking at his pale and stubborn face, she suddenly realized that what stood between them was a misunderstanding that had lasted for seven years.
She instinctively reached out to touch the hideous scar on his chest, as if trying to confirm something, or perhaps to smooth over the traces of the past.
Before her fingertips could even touch him, her wrist was suddenly gripped.
"What are you pretending to be compassionate for now?" Xie Lanchen's eyes darkened as he pinned her against the cold rock wall. He leaned closer, his breath hot against her cheek, filled with barely suppressed anger and seven years of pent-up resentment: "Why did you abandon me back then? Just because I was a burden? Because back then, all you cared about was your sword, your path, and your father's high and mighty expectations of you. There was no room for anything else, no one else, right?"
He pinched her chin with his fingertips, the movement carrying a hint of unconscious lust, and his tone suddenly softened: "If you still believe that I stole everything that originally belonged to you, then keep hating me. How good it is to hate... When you hate me, you only have eyes for me. That's better than you not even remembering my name, right?"
Yunwei was trapped in a small space by him, her back pressed against the rock. A trace of surprise flashed in her eyes, followed by an unconcealable bitterness. Even her usually cold eyes became a little dim, and her lips were pressed into a line.
So, in his eyes, he was so worthless, only caring about his own path and coldly abandoning him?
But back then, she also faced many difficulties. Although her father was the sect leader, he never showed any kindness to his daughter, only strict demands and heavy expectations.
Now, the boy, deeply trusted by his father and having gained all that she had lost, turns around and questions her about why she didn't offer more help back then.
How can the cause and effect of this world be judged so simply? Yunwei thought to herself.
“I never thought that way,” Yun Wei said, trying to explain.
"The outer sect is also a path of cultivation. I thought it might be more secure for you, allowing you to lay a solid foundation. I don't know..."
Unaware of the wickedness of human nature, unaware that his unintentional act would plunge him into a pit of fire.
"Safe?" Xie Lanchen interrupted with a cold laugh, his eyes full of mockery. "Safely being trampled underfoot and humiliated? Safely almost dying in a corner where no one knows? Yun Wei, your 'thinking' is really too light."
As Yunwei met his burning gaze, the turmoil in her heart caused by the past suddenly subsided.
She couldn't help but retort, her tone regaining a touch of coldness: "After you became Father's adopted son, did you ever think of explaining anything to me? Since you knew I might have forgotten the past, and since you knew I might harbor resentment because of it, why did you never speak up? You just endured my cold stares, and even... cooperated with Father to take away everything that originally belonged to me. Xie Lanchen, what kind of logic is that?"
She wasn't trying to accuse, but rather genuinely puzzled.
If he truly felt wronged, why did he choose silence and confrontation instead of explanation?
Xie Lanchen's expression froze, a complex look flashing across his eyes, as if stung or self-mockery. He then turned his face away, coldly saying, "Explain? Explain what? Explain how I 'stole' everything that originally belonged to you? Explain what ridiculous reason I had for currying favor with the sect leader? Would you listen? Back then, did you even look at me properly? In your eyes, I was probably just a scheming, ingratiating, and despicable person who stole everything from you, right? If I told you, would you believe me?"
Will she believe it?
If, back then, she was resentful and her Daoist heart was blocked because of her father's favoritism and her own predicament, would she really be able to listen calmly if he came to explain?
She didn't know either.
The cave was silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of water outside and the two people's shallow breathing.
After a long silence, Yun Wei sighed softly, then gently pushed him away, her tone regaining its usual calm: "Old matters are too troublesome to delve into now. Although the soundproof barrier can block out sounds, the two elders must be observing the situation here through the Floating Dust Mirror. Any overly unusual behavior will only arouse suspicion."
She paused, her gaze falling on the boy's still bleeding abdomen, the dark red bloodstains glaringly obvious. "Your injury is serious, apply medicine first."
As she spoke, she bent down to pick up the medicine bottle that had rolled to the side, uncorked it, and handed it to him.
He hates that I abandoned him, hates that I ignored him. Arguing about right and wrong now would only increase the conflict. Yunwei thought to herself.
Moreover, the seasonal trials are imminent, and the elders are watching from the shadows. If he were to miss the process due to his injury, or if the two of them were to clash again and arouse suspicion, it would truly be a loss for him.
For now, we should focus on his injuries; as for his rudeness earlier, there's no need to dwell on it at this moment.
The boy stared at the medicine bottle she handed him, his cobalt blue eyes churning with emotion before settling into a deep, dark gloom.
He silently took the medicine bottle, his fingertips inevitably touching her hand before quickly separating.
He turned his back and tended to his wounds himself. The movements strained his muscles, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Yunwei shifted her gaze and looked outside the cave.
The water roared, and the mist rose.
She knew that although her words had not completely resolved the past grievances, they had at least torn away a corner of the iceberg of the past.
Right now, the more important thing is to deal with the sect competition, and... the two elders who are being observed through the Floating Dust Mirror.
Elder Wu, that old fox, has a sharp eye and a cunning mind. Although she didn't reveal any key information during her confrontation with Xie Lanchen, the physical conflict and unusual expressions must have aroused his suspicion.
He was already under orders from his father to keep a close watch on her, and now he was probably even more determined to kill her.
*
On the other side, in the Guiyun Sect Square.
The two elders were indeed gazing at the floating dust mirror suspended in the air.
Elder Wang, his face ashen, turned sharply and sternly rebuked Zhao Changsheng and his companion, who had been teleported out and were now slumped on the ground: "Spirit-suppressing talismans are sinister items that the sect has explicitly forbidden from use in the Grand Competition! How dare you two openly violate the sect rules! Do you have even a shred of shame or bottom line as disciples of the Guiyun Sect?"
Zhao Changsheng struggled to kneel properly, his face filled with fear and cold sweat: "Elder, please calm down! This disciple was just too eager to win and was blinded by greed... Please forgive me, Elder! I will never dare to do it again!" He secretly glanced at Elder Wu and saw that the other party was expressionless, which made him even more uneasy.
Elder Wu coughed lightly: "Young people are bound to make mistakes and be a bit too competitive. Fortunately, no major disaster has occurred. A small punishment will suffice as a warning."
The spirit-suppressing talisman was actually given to Zhao Changsheng privately, with the original intention of using it to besiege the mysterious "Nameless One." If he could eliminate him or force him to withdraw, that would be ideal. Now that the matter has come to light, he naturally wants to downplay it and suppress the issue.
Elder Wang frowned, clearly displeased with such lenient treatment. He reprimanded them sternly for a few more minutes, and seeing the two kowtowing repeatedly, he finally waved his hand impatiently: "That's enough! Go to the Discipline Hall and receive thirty strokes of the cane, then be confined for a month to reflect on your mistakes! If you offend again, you will not be spared!"
The two felt as if they had been granted a pardon and hurriedly retreated, stumbling and scrambling.
The two elders turned their attention back to the Floating Dust Mirror.
At this moment, the scene in the mirror shifted slightly, revealing the interior of the cave.
Xie Lanchen had roughly bandaged his wounds and was leaning against the rock wall, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing, while the "nameless" was sitting near the cave entrance, looking outside warily.
Elder Wang looked at the scene in the mirror, his expression softened, and he stroked his beard, saying, "I never expected that Lan Chen would be so loyal and righteous, jumping into the river to save someone despite his own serious injuries. Such a character is truly rare." He had always held Xie Lan Chen in high regard.
Elder Wu nodded, continuing, "Indeed. Lan Chen possesses unparalleled talent, a resolute character, and a strong sense of gratitude; he is the perfect candidate to inherit the Guiyun Sect's leadership." He then casually added, "The Sect Master and the other three elders are still in seclusion, so we are temporarily handling sect affairs. However… before the Sect Master went into seclusion, he specifically instructed us to keep an eye on this disciple named Wuming. Do you know why?"
"Is it because her appearance is too similar to Yun Wei's?" Elder Wang pondered, his gaze falling on the mirror again, still feeling that there was something indescribable about it, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Yesterday, I was still filled with doubts, so I went to Shitang Town and used the 'Returning Light Jade' to examine the scene of Yunwei's death. It wasn't to investigate any old case, but just to confirm whether Yunwei was truly and completely destroyed, or whether he used some trick of faking his death to escape, so as to avoid leaving any future troubles."
Elder Wu stroked his long beard, his brows furrowed slightly, his tone half certain and half doubtful: "Now that I see it, although this 'Nameless' bears some resemblance to Yun Wei in her features, she may not necessarily be her reincarnation. It's just that this woman's origins are unknown, yet she suddenly appears during the sect's grand competition and gets so close to that child Lan Chen. There are too many strange things going on."
Elder Wang waved his hand and nodded, saying, "Since you have personally verified it, that's for the best. The sect leader is also worried that the past will repeat itself, and wants us to carefully examine the disciples' character. Since this woman is with Lan Chen, let's observe for now."
Upon hearing this, a sinister glint flashed in Elder Wu's eyes.
He subtly made a hand seal with his sleeve, and a faint wisp of demonic energy quietly entered the mirror, spreading towards the rocky cave where Yunwei and the other person were.
He scoffed inwardly: "Observe? There are bound to be complications. This woman must not be allowed to live... Even if it means taking a slight risk, or even involving Xie Lanchen, this hidden danger must be completely eliminated."
As long as it's done cleanly, who can find out that he was the one who did it?
In the Floating Dust Mirror, Yunwei inside the cave seemed to sense something, suddenly looking up at a certain empty space above, a sharp glint flashing in his cold eyes.
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