Chapter 117: The Mystery of Yunmeng (Part 2)
The poison was so potent that before Shen Lang and Zhu Qiqi could rescue the other martial artists, they had to give Jin Wuwang and his apprentice Adu the antidote to ensure they wouldn't suffer from the poison's effects. When Jin Wuwang learned he was poisoned, he was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into three laughs. He had no more complaints about his defeat that day, acknowledging his inferior skills and utterly surrendering to the enemy.
However, the ancient tomb was far too lively today, and many unexpected things happened on the way there and back, completely unknown to Xie Huailing. She didn't want to stay in the ancient tomb any longer, so she returned to the house with Bai Feifei ahead of time. After getting into the house, she immediately took a comfortable bath. Without clairvoyance, how could she possibly know what was happening every moment?
It was only when Shen Lang and Zhu Qiqi hadn't returned that she realized something had probably happened. Just as she was about to complain to Bai Feifei, the three of them stepped into the courtyard without being delayed for too long.
Zhu Qiqi's voice arrived before she did, lively and boisterous. Her complaints came from afar, leaping across the empty courtyard in the night: "...Why talk to him like that? How can there be such a shameless person in the world? If I ever see him again, I'll skin him alive!"
She spoke harshly, but anyone who knew her understood it was just a fit of anger. If Zhu Qiqi were actually asked to skin someone alive, she wouldn't dare, not even if she had a thousand lives. This tough-talking young lady would probably run away faster than anyone else if the situation actually came to her.
Shen Lang's voice followed. He knew Zhu Qiqi well. He smiled lazily, but there was also a hint of helplessness in his voice. He said, "If I really had the chance, I would definitely tie him up."
If even Shen Lang said that, then things were really interesting. Xie Huailing, who was lazily basking in the moonlight on a recliner in the courtyard, opened her eyes and nudged Bai Feifei beside her. Bai Feifei immediately stood up and transformed back into her shy and timid self, serving her tea and water with impeccable performance.
Zhu Qiqi was still complaining when Xie Huailing entered, and she knew what was going to happen. Seeing her half-angry, half-scolding face behind the courtyard gate, Xie Huailing knew something was wrong. She sat up straight and blocked Zhu Qiqi's charge before she could rush over, muttering, "Wait! Go take a bath first!"
She was genuinely bothered by Zhu Qiqi's dusty appearance, and Zhu Qiqi understood perfectly well. Already harboring a bellyful of anger and grievances to vent to Xie Huailing, seeing her like this only fueled her rage, making her angry as well. Zhu Qiqi stomped her foot and said, "Fine, you're going to complain about me now? I've been completely bullied today!"
After saying that, she tried to run into the house, but turned back after a couple of steps. Xie Huailing wouldn't listen, she was determined to say it. She grabbed the stool that Bai Feifei had been sitting on, hugged her legs and sat down next to Xie Huailing. A bright light shone in her eyes, like moonlight puddles in the courtyard, but then it turned into tears that didn't fall. She couldn't hold back any longer and finally blurted it out.
Zhu Qiqi slammed her hand on the stone table in anger and said, "You know Huailing, right? That 'righteous and courageous' Jin Buhuan from the Beggars' Sect. I thought he was someone important, with such a good reputation, but he turns out to be a treacherous villain and a despicable scoundrel!"
Then she slapped it again. Luckily it was a stone table, otherwise, what would have happened?
Let Zhu Qiqi tell the story; it could go on for at least fifteen minutes. Shen Lang also came over, gently coaxed Zhu Qiqi a couple of times, and then told Xie Huailing what had happened.
After she left, Shen Lang and his group went to rescue her, but when they arrived at the prison, they found that everyone inside was gone. They searched again and finally encountered Jin Buhuan. Jin Buhuan was the adopted son of Jin Wuwang's father and also Jin Wuwang's younger brother. This was why Jin Wuwang hadn't drugged him that night. This man had a false reputation; his moral standards were inferior to those of the heroes of Bianjing City. His reputation was all carefully cultivated; in reality, he was treacherous, cunning, and greedy. He even took the opportunity to kidnap other martial arts figures, forcing Shen Lang and Zhu Qiqi to give him money.
Relying on his status as Jin Wuwang's younger brother, he even tried to persuade Jin Wuwang to side with him, but fortunately Jin Wuwang rebuked him. However, since the lives of others were in his hands, Shen Lang had no choice but to accept it. He was unwilling to let Zhu Qiqi write the IOU, preferring to bear the injustice himself. He bit his finger to write it to Jin Buhuan, but at that moment, the "poisoning" took effect.
In an instant, Jin Buhuan collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony, a truly gruesome sight, as if he were in the deepest hell. Shen Lang watched, a bead of cold sweat almost dripping from his forehead, but he couldn't help feeling fortunate. He had initially disagreed with Xie Huailing's arrangement for Zhu Qiqi but had only acquiesced, but now he felt that Xie Huailing had ultimately been very thoughtful.
But the situation took an unexpected turn. Just as they were about to take advantage of the situation to move the others away, the drug Jin Wuwang had administered completely wore off, and the effects of the "poisoning" wore off. The kidnapped martial artists slowly regained consciousness. The rest of the story involves Jin Buhuan using his own poisoning as an excuse to accuse Shen Lang and his group of conspiring with Jin Wuwang to kidnap them. Based on his reputation for "righteousness and bravery," quite a few people actually believed his lies.
The only good news was that Shen Lang was quick-witted and seized the loophole in his words, preventing the mudslinging from being poured on him. Instead, he made an agreement with everyone that they would have three days to prove their point and find the antidote for Jin Buhuan, thus making the "righteous" Jin Buhuan change his story.
"I'm so angry, so incredibly angry! That Jin Buhuan even claimed to be a man of great loyalty and righteousness, saying that if you have evidence, just show it to him. He's shameless to the point of being ungrateful! And everyone else actually believes him, saying they all agree with him. They're all blind!"
Zhu Qiqi angrily clicked all the downvotes and cursed them all: "Are you really going to find evidence for him? I won't do it! I'm going to put him in a sack and beat him up! I'm going to knock all his teeth out!"
Her eyes were practically spitting fire. Jin Wuwang stood silently by her side, waiting for her to finish. He hadn't expected Jin Buhuan to be so disregardful of brotherhood and so intent on harming them. He said, "It's my fault for dragging you all down with me."
"It's none of your business," Zhu Qiqi said. When she hated someone, she hated him wholeheartedly. "Now look what's happened! Where are we going to find this evidence? Damn it, I'm not going to look for evidence, I'm going to beat him up. Huailing, did you hear me? I'm going to beat him up!"
Xie Huailing's ears were filled with the word "beat up," it seemed to linger for days. She sighed softly and remained silent. Shen Lang, however, spoke gently: "But the three-day period has already been witnessed by many people in the martial arts world. If we break the contract or if Jin Buhuan gets into trouble, this mudslinging will really be thrown at us. After all, he is an elder of the Beggars' Sect, and his reputation for 'righteousness and courage' is too good. We can't afford to have our reputations ruined."
He also felt a headache coming on, but in his opinion, it was necessary to find the evidence, but Zhu Qiqi didn't think so.
Normally by this time, Zhu Qiqi would have already been persuaded by him, her anger subsided, and she would listen to him. But this time, she frowned and objected, saying, "Listen to me, I said I won't go looking for them, and that means I won't. Is a 'righteous and courageous' Beggar Clan elder so great? So what if so many people in the martial arts world are watching? Can't we handle this?"
When Jin Wuwang heard her say that, he thought she was having a fit of temper, acting arrogantly and unaware of her place. Even though the "living god of wealth" was rich, he couldn't prevent her from acting so domineeringly. He wanted to remind her, but then he saw Zhu Qiqi turn to look at Xie Huailing, clearly wanting Xie Huailing to speak.
Xie Huailing also spoke up, rocking back and forth in his recliner, saying, "It's really nothing special, there's no need to be so nervous."
She slowly fanned herself, her eyelids drooping as she yawned: "It's such a waste of life to think so much about this kind of thing and this kind of person, Shaman—"
A cold-faced beauty emerged from behind the door. Having followed Xie Huailing around for so long, this was actually what she should be doing, and also the easiest thing to do. She was ready, waiting for Xie Huailing's next words:
"Go and write a letter to Chief Ren, stating that Jin Buhuan is an unscrupulous person and that Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou has cleaned up his house on his behalf. Also, please ask him to write a letter kicking Jin Buhuan out and send it over as soon as possible."
“Yes,” Shaman replied.
The swaying of the tree shadows was faster than a weak figure, and the outcome was decided in an instant, with less effort than turning the page of a book one was tired of reading.
"Alright," Xie Huailing said calmly, "Three days from now, in front of everyone, go and take his life."
Power as imposing as a mountain can easily crush a person.
Only then did Shen Lang realize the narrowness of his thinking. He had never coveted fame or fortune, so he had never gained power. Having witnessed Xie Huailing's schemes and plots so often, he now clearly understood that the vast majority of people in the world did not even have the right to witness her schemes.
This isn't even in Bianjing. If this were in the city, Jin Buhuan would be beheaded tonight. If Xie Huailing wants someone's life, that person often won't see the next day's sun. Their life would be lighter than a gust of wind, worthless than a speck of dust, more laughable than a joke, and less worthy of anyone's attention than a speck of dirt.
An elder of the Beggars' Sect is nothing more than an elder of the Beggars' Sect.
Shen Lang wanted to say something, but seeing Zhu Qiqi's overjoyed expression, he was very happy that Xie Huailing understood his thoughts. However, she hadn't really thought about letting Jin Buhuan die. No matter how cruel the young lady's words were, she was still only eighteen years old: "Just teach him a good lesson, beat him half to death and then throw him back to the Beggars' Sect. Anyway, he won't be able to fool anyone anymore."
Xie Huailing shook her head and pushed Zhu Qiqi, who was moved to tears and felt that "her good sister stood up for her, she is the best sister in the world" back again, urging her to take a shower.
The two whispered among themselves, and seeing this, Shen Lang didn't seem inclined to say anything more. What Zhu Qiqi couldn't see was all too obvious to him. For example, they seemed like sisters raised by the same family, but in essence, they were completely different. One was as fiery as a raging flame, seemingly ready to burn everyone to ashes, while the other was as calm as still water, seemingly indifferent to everything, holding the power of life and death in her hands.
If Xie Huailing were to harm Jin Buhuan, Jin Buhuan would be doomed, with no chance of survival. If someone like her were to show him leniency, what would become of the ever-growing number of corpses in the Bian River? Those who fell at her hands, those who had built her prestige with their lives, would surely have something to say about it.
Ultimately, the most ruthless killer in the world is "power." She was always the most powerful woman in the martial arts world, and also the most adept at wielding power. Sometimes, for her, human lives were simply counted and glossed over—this should not be forgotten.
Therefore, Shen Lang always knew that he and Xie Huailing could never be friends.
But so what? There's nothing to worry about. The world is so vast, everyone has their own way of living, and everyone has their own choices. Shen Lang understands this better than anyone.
After luring Zhu Qiqi away, Shen Lang went to take a bath. Bai Feifei, who was acting as a maid, went to call someone to clean up Jin Wuwang's room, leaving Jin Wuwang standing under the tree. Xie Huailing continued to rock in her chair, leisurely closing her eyes to rest.
All colors were hazy, waiting for the sunlight to return the next day; all was silent, each breath as soft as a pin drop. She seemed completely unafraid of what Jin Wuwang, who had just switched sides from Chai Yuguan, might do to her. There were only the two of them in the courtyard, and she hummed an unknown tune contentedly. The two red moles on her face were like two tears from the heavens.
But that's true, Jin Wuwang really won't do anything.
His lips moved, and a few seconds later he abruptly uttered, "You are 'the one who can cut the sky with bare hands'."
Xie Huailing didn't even bother to open her eyes, finishing the line she was singing, the long, drawn-out note of the tune fading into the air. She said, "Will you tell anyone?"
Jin Wuwang gave a slight smirk and simply said, "...No."
He could only say no, because: "I haven't lived enough yet."
Then he fell silent, his face turning cold and expressionless, devoid of emotion. His ugly, triangular eyes stared at a point in the air, and he remained motionless, even more coldly.
However, Xie Huailing didn't continue singing, which meant that this dialogue initiated by Jin Wuwang wouldn't end easily. She tapped her fingers on the armrest, her closed eyes bathed in the silvery moonlight that spread across half her face, weaving it into a silver veil that refused to fall, so her voice flowed along with the moonlight: "Then let me ask you a question and you answer it. Shen Lang saved your life, and you have betrayed Chai Yuguan; this cannot be faked."
Then she asked, "How much do you know about Chai Yuguan?"
Jin Wuwang remained silent, refusing to utter a word. His righteousness was genuine, and so was his loyalty to Chai Yuguan. Faced with this situation, it was as if his mouth had been sewn shut, unable to utter a sound. Unfortunately, Xie Huailing's greatest skill was also confrontation, allowing people to repeatedly ponder her emotions in a silent standoff. No matter how uneasy or hesitant one became, she would never lose the upper hand.
Jin Wuwang's quietness is genuine quietness, but Xie Huailing's quietness is coercion.
She was driven to the brink of despair, knowing she was certain to lose. She even knew when this deathly silence would end. She knew she would hear what she wanted to hear, and hear Jin Wuwang say, "He doesn't talk to me much. When he calls me over, it's either to give orders or to teach me martial arts. What I know is that he faked his death at Hengshan nine years ago, obtained most of the martial arts in the world, and then practiced them diligently for nine years."
"Besides these, who are his four envoys, and what have they been doing outside the Great Wall all these years?" Xie Huailing asked again. "I must remind you, your life belongs to Shen Lang."
Jin Wuwang forced a smile and said, "I know."
He said it. Once he got to the point, it became easier to say everything: "The four envoys of 'wine, lust, wealth, and anger' are Han Ling, the 'wine envoy'; Miao Langjun, the 'lust envoy'; me, the 'wealth envoy'; and Dugu Shang, the 'anger envoy'. However, now, the 'lust envoy' has been replaced by Situ Bian, and the 'wealth envoy' is Bai Choufei."
"As for what he did outside the pass, I haven't been under his command for very long. I only know that when he entered the pass, he had quite a bit of money. But that doesn't prove anything. He was invited into the pass by someone."
Xie Huailing opened her eyes: "Please come in?"
Jin Wuwang anticipated her question and said, "I don't know who he is, and I've never seen him before. He never reveals what he's going to do, but from his extravagant spending, I can tell he doesn't care about not being able to live a life of luxury in the future. Besides..."
Jin Wuwang hesitated for a moment, but still spoke. As expected of Chai Yuguan's confidant, he immediately introduced an important person: "I once heard him talking to Dugu Shang, who had followed him the longest. I only heard the gist of it. The person who asked him to enter the pass was initially asking him about 'Yunmeng Fairy'. He said that 'Yunmeng Fairy' died at his hands nine years ago, so how could she still be alive? That person didn't ask any more questions."
"Fairy of Cloud Dreams".
When the name was brought up again, Xie Huailing finally got the answer to the mystery.
"Is that so?" she thought to herself. Wang Yunmeng, who was rumored to have died at the hands of "Chen Tianjun," was now being told he died by her own hand. How could she not understand? It must have been nine years ago that Chai Yuguan conspired with Wang Yunmeng to cause the disaster at Hengshan, plotting to seize the martial arts secrets of various sects, then faking his own death to escape. On the way, Chai Yuguan harbored malicious intentions again, ambushing Wang Yunmeng in an attempt to monopolize the martial arts, but unexpectedly, Wang Yunmeng hadn't died. For nine years, she had hidden in the shadows, watching him intently.
Thus, Wang Yunmeng's intentions become clear. While many villains and female scoundrels have emerged in the martial world, only in her generation has the first female villain become such a formidable figure, demonstrating her ruthlessness and character. Such a Wang Yunmeng would undoubtedly want to tear Chai Yuguan, who betrayed her, to pieces, making him wish he were dead.
It's unclear what the person seeking Chai Yuguan wanted, but the fact that Chai Yuguan still entered the pass suggests that this person had given him something to do. The lack of communication at the border also suggests this was his doing. Someone capable of persuading Chai Yuguan must possess immense power…
Xie Huailing had an idea. This trip was definitely the right one.
So what about Wang Yunmeng? What did she do all those years ago that she's still being remembered nine years after her "death," and even now, with people going so far as to seek her out at Chai Yuguan outside the Great Wall? Or is it that this former number one female demon in the world possesses some earth-shattering secret, some incredible treasure?
As for her relationship with Chai Yuguan and why they joined forces to plot the Hengshan disaster, Xie Huailing knew the answer without even investigating. For a woman who could be considered the best in the world to follow a man who was inferior to her in every way, and yet remain unguarded towards her, there was only one possibility: she loved him.
This love almost cost her her life, and as time passed, it burned into a hatred that could shatter one to pieces.
The matter became increasingly perplexing, but Xie Huailing only felt more and more at ease. Parting the ripples, she got closer and closer to the answer, like peeling away the yellow leaves of a withered tree, revealing the remaining truth. The exhilaration was unparalleled.
In fact, she was even looking forward to the moment when the young master would come to her door, and she had some plans on how much information she could glean about Wang Yunmeng at that time.
The silver ribbon seemed to have been washed clean, and a thousand splendors did not return. Xie Huailing continued to sing her little tune, and the moon in the sky shifted, casting a gloomy shadow over the courtyard.
.
Xie Huailing said she could predict half of when the person would come looking for her. She didn't give them too much time; the "poisoning" was still there. She thought that within two or three days, the person would come to settle the score with her, and then she would settle the score with them.
But life is fleeting, like a dream, and constant change breeds suspicion. She thought quickly, and the person arrived even more impatiently.
Another day passed. Needless to say, Shen Lang, Zhu Qiqi, and Jin Wuwang were busy all day. Shaman also uncovered some new information, focusing on the "Seductress" clue and solving several cases of missing girls. Xie Huailing had to go back to work after dinner, integrating all the current clues and writing a letter to Su Mengzhen, who was far away in Bianjing City, detailing everything.
Having only managed to scribble a few Chinese characters, the person, disgusted by their own handwriting, bit the pen, wondering if they should slip in some personal touches this time. As they pondered this, the night outside the window, bathed in the gentle spring breeze, revealed the mountain light, and in the distance, the houses with their tiled roofs and eaves, saw one or two lights slowly going out, creating a beautiful, hazy, and dreamlike scene.
But she had closed the window.
Xie Huailing's heart reflected in the lake, serene in the night. She glanced at him slowly, her gaze falling and then dancing, and as she rose again, a face appeared out of nowhere in the distance her eyes could reach.
She wasn't frightened; she even put down her pen to avoid her writing being smeared into a black blob by ink, turning her already illegible words into a fill-in-the-blank question. She said, "Are you going to be a thief?"
“Alright.” The young master readily agreed. In the night, he changed his face to be even more handsome, finally deserving the title of a handsome man, or at least pleasing to the eye. Taking advantage of the most beautiful angle of the moonlight, he tilted his head slightly, revealing his superiority, which he deliberately presented to her. “A nighttime beauty is quite a story. Perfect timing, you have to come with me.”
"You went to great lengths to find the antidote—how does it feel to be tricked by me?"
The young master closed his lips and remained silent for two breaths. He must have felt resentment in his heart, but he still laughed and said, "Of course, I have always been thinking of you."
Then he spoke softly and gently, as if he didn't mind enduring it a little longer, but in reality, he exuded a cold glint in his eyes: "But it's a pity, tonight it can't really be said that I'm the one who invited you, the one who wants to see you isn't me."
He lowered his head, burying his face in the darkness that was difficult for people to see clearly, as if it were the movement of a demon. When he raised his head again, it was indeed like a scene from a ghost story, only his face had changed. In the silvery light, the face that was raised was indistinguishable between male and female. The word "beautiful" that she had once said was already secretly given on this face, as if there was a lingering fragrance on it.
The young master smiled and said, "My mother wants to see you."
Xie Huailing then learned of his relationship with Wang Yunmeng. He tilted his head but remained silent. The young master seemed about to say something when a cold light touched his neck. Behind one handsome face, there was an even more handsome face.
"It's so lively, why not take me along?" Bai Feifei said.
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This is an extra chapter as a thank you for the generous vote! [cheering emoji]
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