Turning against
“I’ll go with you.” She looked up at Xie Lanchen, her eyes now clear, as if the vulnerability she had shown just moments before was merely an illusion.
Being sad is useless; tears cannot bring back a mother's life, nor can they wash away the injustice she suffered.
She wanted to end it all herself, for her mother and for herself.
Upon hearing this, the young man frowned and instinctively wanted to retort, "How are you going to go? The sect leader doesn't trust you at all. Do you want to..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.
Was she trying to hide it back in the Lone Goose Sword? He instantly understood her intention, and his expression turned even more unpleasant.
“Now that I’m certain that my mother was killed by him, I have no more scruples.” Yun lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing the fleeting murderous intent in them. “He murdered his wife and daughter; the evidence is irrefutable. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
The man who was called father no longer deserved that title.
Xie Lanchen remained silent for a moment, but in the end he couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he could only bluntly say, "If things can't be done, leave immediately. Don't be stupid enough to fight it head-on."
"Don't worry, I won't die before him," Yun Wei said calmly. "But you, be careful he doesn't do anything rash when he's cornered."
“He can’t jump.” The boy sneered, his eyes gloomy. “Now that I’ve sided with you, I have no intention of leaving him a way out.”
He spoke with absolute certainty, but inexplicably felt a sense of unease, sensing that tonight would not go so smoothly.
*
At midnight, in the main hall of Lingyun.
The hall was brightly lit by candles, but that couldn't dispel the oppressive atmosphere.
Xie Lanchen stepped in, his steps steady, the Lone Goose Sword at his waist swaying slightly with his movements.
He couldn't help but recall the last time he was urgently summoned here, when he was informed of Yunwei's "fallen demon and executed."
What were his feelings when he stood there, listening to Xie Qingfeng's hypocritical lament? It seemed to be a blank, cold emptiness, and a hidden, irritating anger that he himself had never truly explored.
A faint hint of mockery flashed across his eyes. He felt he should have seen through Xie Qingfeng's true colors long ago, but he had wasted his time because of that ridiculous "gratitude for raising him."
"Lan Chen, you've arrived." Xie Qingfeng sat upright in the main seat, his voice carrying his usual, deliberately gentle tone.
Xie Lanchen looked up and saw four elders standing on either side. Elder Wang and Elder Duan stood to Xie Qingfeng's left, while the other two elders stood on his right, forming a protective formation.
He composed himself slightly, his face remaining impassive. The whole scene resembled an interrogation.
Yunwei focused her mind on sensing the outside world through the sword.
Why did Father summon him so urgently in the middle of the night? Was it to establish a new sect leader, or... did he already know about Elder Wu's death?
If it's the latter, he'll definitely become suspicious; tonight might be a trap.
Thinking of this, she subtly reminded him through her sword, "Don't arouse his suspicion."
Xie Lanchen snapped out of his daze, stepped forward as instructed, gave a perfunctory cupped-hand salute, and asked indifferently, "Sect Master, what urgent matter do you have to summon me for so late at night?"
Xie Qingfeng scrutinized him, a worried look on his face: "I've heard that you've been getting quite close to that woman named Wuming. Lan Chen, you are my most valued adopted son. I've always treated you like my own son, and I don't want you to be deceived and used by people of unknown origin and with ulterior motives." His words were earnest, as if he were truly a worried and loving father.
Yun Wei sneered at the sword. Treat it like her own child? It's nothing more than training a more obedient and sharper blade.
She suppressed her surging murderous intent and told herself to wait a little longer, to wait for an opportunity.
Xie Lanchen smirked indifferently, the curve of which carried his usual coldness: "Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. I know what I'm doing in this nameless matter, and I don't need others to interfere." He emphasized the word "others," his tone revealing a clear distance.
Xie Qingfeng's expression softened slightly: "You've indeed become much more composed and thoughtful since you came back this time." He then changed the subject, adding meaningfully, "It seems that your travels have truly helped you grow."
"Sect Master, you flatter me," the young man said calmly, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the Lone Goose Sword at his waist. He took a half-step forward imperceptibly. "However, there is indeed one thing I don't understand on this trip. Since Senior Sister Yunwei... was killed, this sword was bestowed upon me by you. I wear it day and night, but I always feel that the sword's intent is stagnant, and I can hardly unleash its full sharpness. I wonder if the Sect Master knows the reason for this?"
As he spoke, he took a few more steps forward, seemingly unintentionally, getting closer and closer to Xie Qingfeng, his right hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.
Yunwei's mind tightened as she looked at the sword.
Upon hearing this, Xie Qingfeng tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest: "Oh? Is that so? Perhaps the sword's former owner has passed away, and its spirit has been temporarily lost. It needs to be slowly nurtured."
"Is that so?" Xie Lanchen's voice suddenly turned cold. "But I feel that this sword... harbors an unquenchable resentment!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already approached the head of the table.
The indifferent mask on the young man's face was completely peeled off, and the Lone Goose Sword was drawn with a clang, piercing straight into Xie Qingfeng's heart.
Yun Wei moved her mind and poured all her accumulated cultivation into the Lone Goose Sword.
The longsword in the boy's hand suddenly shone brightly with blue light, its sword energy surged, and it emitted a series of buzzing sounds.
Just as the sword tip was only three inches from Xie Qingfeng's heart, a sudden change occurred.
A golden light surged from his sleeve, solidifying into a tangible barrier.
The Lone Goose Sword collided with the golden light, emitting a deafening clang. The shockwave surged, causing the candlelight in the hall to flicker violently.
Xie Lanchen's pupils suddenly contracted.
He had been preparing this sword strike for a long time, and with Yunwei's enhancement to it, even the elders would not be able to receive it so easily.
Unless he was prepared in advance and used the sect's most precious treasure.
With a flick of his sleeve, Xie Qingfeng sent him flying.
"Bang--"
The boy crashed heavily against a pillar in the hall and fell to the ground.
The Lone Goose Sword in his hand also slipped from his grasp, and the blue light on its blade dimmed instantly.
Yun Wei felt her soul tremble within the sword. Xie Qingfeng's attack not only sent Xie Lanchen flying, but also directly injured her, who was residing within the sword.
Where exactly did the flaw appear? Or perhaps Xie Qingfeng never truly trusted anyone from the beginning, and even Xie Lanchen was always under his surveillance?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in a flash, but then Xie Qingfeng's sinister voice rang out:
"You unfilial son, you are indeed harboring evil intentions."
Yunwei's heart sank.
If she doesn't show up soon, both of them will be in danger.
Moreover, she wanted to face the enemy who had murdered her wife and daughter in person.
A dazzling white light erupted from the Lone Goose Sword. To everyone's astonishment, Yun Wei's figure slowly materialized, clad in pristine white robes, her face serene and cold. She landed steadily before Xie Lanchen, her voice clear and melodious:
"Wrong."
"The one who really wants to kill you is me."
When Xie Lanchen saw her appear, his pupils contracted slightly. He wanted to say something, but due to the surging of his internal energy, he could not speak for a moment. He could only grit his teeth and prop himself up, looking at her back that was blocking his way with complicated eyes.
The four elders looked horrified, and Elder Wang even exclaimed, "Yun Wei? You...you weren't already..."
Yunwei ignored the elders and looked at the figure sitting on the high platform.
“On that day in Shitang Town, I said that if Heaven had eyes and allowed my remnant soul to live on, I would repay the pain I suffer today a hundredfold. Today is the day to fulfill my vow.”
"You murdered your wife and framed your own daughter; each and every one of these acts is an outrage against both gods and men. Guiyun Sect is truly disgraced in the hands of a despicable person like you."
Xie Qingfeng's expression was gloomy. He pointed at Yun Wei with a finger, his tone carrying a sense of entitlement and indifference: "Blame it on you for being a woman. Blame it on you and your mother for having too much talent and not knowing how to restrain yourselves. How can the century-old foundation of Guiyun Sect be handed over to a woman, allowing you to overturn the established order? If you had been well-behaved and behaved as an ordinary disciple, you could have found a good husband and assisted the sect in the future. Why would I have come to this?"
Yunwei felt a chill in her heart.
Even now, he still doesn't feel he's done anything wrong, attributing everything to their gender and talent.
How could such a stubborn and obstinate person be the leader of a sect?
"So what if I'm a woman?" She took a step forward, the Broken Dust Sword at her waist flashing as it was drawn, its tip pointing directly at Xie Qingfeng. Her expression was icy. "Heaven and earth gave me life, endowed me with spiritual roots, and passed on their sword heart to me, so that I might wield my sword, protect those who deserve protection, and slay those who deserve slaying, not confine me to the inner quarters, to be a wife and mother, and live a mundane life. Your constant talk of sect rules and regulations is nothing but a fig leaf to cover your jealousy of talent and your ridiculous authority. My mother was stronger than you, so you harmed her; I am stronger than all your disciples, so you kill me."
She slightly turned her sword, its cold light gleaming:
"Xie Qingfeng, the one who is truly unworthy to lead the sect is you, a narrow-minded and despicable person."
Xie Qingfeng nodded, his usual mask of hypocrisy shattering completely, revealing his sinister and cold true nature.
“Good, very good. I used to think that as my bloodline, you might become more sensible, know how to weigh the pros and cons, and understand the great principles of the sect... instead of being like your ignorant and arrogant mother, who, relying on a little talent, dared to try to overturn the rules of a century-old tradition.”
He paused, then scoffed, "Utterly foolish."
How dare he even mention his mother?
To judge a wife he killed with his own hands, a wife who had stood by him and given everything for him and for the Guiyun Sect, with such contempt and such a self-righteous tone.
His mother's talent, her genius, her gentleness and resilience were described as "ignorance of the world" in his words.
Before she could speak, Xie Lanchen's icy voice came from behind her: "Why waste your breath on someone like this?"
Yunwei turned her head slightly and saw that he had already stood up.
The boy's face was so pale it was almost transparent, his lips were extremely pale, and some messy bangs fell down his forehead, partially obscuring his eyebrows and eyes, but unable to hide the chill emanating from his dark eyes.
Xie Qingfeng stared intently at the two men standing side by side, finally realizing that this was not a spur-of-the-moment betrayal, but a premeditated alliance.
His voice deepened, carrying the last vestige of his authority as he tried to control the situation: "Lan Chen, if you have been bewitched by her, turn back now, capture her, and I will forgive and forget, and the position of sect leader will still be yours. Otherwise..."
"Bewitching?" Xie Lanchen looked at him as if he had heard something utterly ridiculous. His excessively beautiful eyes glanced at him sideways, filled with undisguised sarcasm. "When did it become the Sect Leader's place to interfere in matters between me and her? Do I need a reason to protect someone or kill someone?"
Elder Wang shouted sternly, "Lan Chen! You are foolish! You are exceptionally talented and were the future hope of the sect. Everyone in the sect knows that you and Yun Wei were like oil and water. Now you have betrayed the sect for a woman and committed such a heinous act. Are you trying to ruin your path to immortality and fall into an abyss of no return?"
The young man, his black robe stained with blood, chuckled softly upon hearing this.
"The path to immortality? Ha..." The curve of his lips grew even more mocking. "The position of sect leader that you cherish is nothing but dust in my eyes."
If Yun Wei were to die, would this world still hold any meaning for him?
Yunwei's heart stirred slightly.
She knew Xie Lanchen was awkward and rarely revealed his true feelings, so his frankness at this moment was quite rare.
She looked again at the enemy on the high platform whom she had to kill with her own hands, her expression returning to its previous indifference: "Your scheme to sow discord is useless."
Xie Qingfeng slowly stood up, his spiritual pressure spreading uncontrollably around him, making the atmosphere in the hall even more tense.
He looked at Xie Lanchen and said, word by word, "Stubborn fool. You're willing to give up your promising future for this mere sentimentality. You're a complete idiot."
He paused slightly, then continued, "There is never a gift without a reason in this world. I can give you everything, and I can also take everything back... or, I can use it for my own purposes in another way."
Yun frowned slightly, not understanding the deeper meaning of Xie Qingfeng's words, but felt a sense of foreboding from the coldness in his words.
The next instant, she felt a chill in her back, and a sharp pain instantly pierced through her body.
She slowly lowered her head, her gaze straining to focus on her heart, where a familiar sword tip pierced through, blood quickly spreading and staining her white clothes.
That was the Lone Goose Sword, her Lone Goose Sword.
She slowly turned her head to look at the person holding the sword behind her.
Xie Lanchen's face was expressionless, his long eyelashes drooping, casting a small shadow under his eyes, making it impossible to discern any emotion within him.
The words, "If she dies, will this world still have any meaning for me?" still echoed in my ears, yet now it was he who attacked me.
Warm blood splattered on his cheeks, leaving several striking streaks that made his cobalt blue eyes appear even more unfathomable.
The boy's fingers gripping the sword hilt were distinct and steady without the slightest tremor.
Yun Wei suddenly remembered the words Elder Wu had said to her before he died:
"Xie Lanchen...you used him today...one day...he will surely turn against you..."
The words came true.
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