Chapter 164: Postscript
Before the final battle began, who could have imagined that the deadly struggle between Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou and Liu Fen Ban Tang would end with Guan Zhao Di's return after fifteen years? She brought Guan Qi to light Lei Sun's murder of his wife, seeking justice for herself. Then, relying on Guan Qi's martial prowess, she overpowered Su Meng Zhen and took Lei Sun's head.
What exactly happened that night, perhaps only Guan Zhaodi herself knows. After that night, the news spread that Lei Sun had brought this upon himself, Guan Zhaodi's revenge was gratifying, and the Six and a Half Hall was now leaderless. During this time, Guan Qi lost control once, accidentally injuring Su Mengzhen who couldn't escape in time. Lei Dongtian, for Lei Sun's sake, almost died at Guan Qi's hands, only saved by Lei Mei's desperate efforts, preventing him from joining Lei Sun in the underworld.
This sudden turn of events plunged the martial arts world of Bianjing back into an eerie silence. Su Mengzhen focused on recovering from his injuries, and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion ceased all activity, falling into complete silence. Meanwhile, the Six and a Half Hall, following Lei Sun's death, was thrown into turmoil over the vacant position of its head hall master.
However, Lei Gun is crippled, Lei Hen is dead, and the remaining hall masters are not qualified or capable enough to command respect. Lei Sun's daughter, Lei Chun, is too young, and will not turn sixteen for another month. The only ones qualified to challenge for that position are Lei Mei, who escaped unscathed from the decisive battle, Lei Dongtian, who is injured, and Di Feijing, who arrived late on the eighth day.
Di Feijing explained his seven-day disappearance by saying he had been ambushed by the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion and had also encountered Guan Zhaodi, who had just returned to Bianjing. With this reason, his injuries, and his unwavering loyalty to Lei Sun, no one suspected him. On the contrary, some elders in the hall hoped that he would take charge of the situation.
As for the Seven Saints Alliance of the Bewitching Heaven, no one had anticipated Guan Zhaodi's appearance. However, Guan Zhaodi's severe blow to the Six and a Half Hall and the damage to the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion presented them with a golden opportunity. Among the remaining six Saint Lords, some even wanted to recommend Guan Zhaodi to lead the Seven Saints Alliance of the Bewitching Heaven and use the pretext of revenge against the Six and a Half Hall to launch a war against them. However, Guan Zhaodi rejected all of these proposals.
"I'm too tired, and I have no interest in these struggles anymore." These were her exact words when she faced the Seven Saints of the Bewitching Heaven Alliance who came to find her in Bianjing City.
She was willing to let go of Liufenbantang, she only wanted Liufenbantang to be given to one person, Lei Sun's adopted daughter, Lei Chun.
Lei Chun was adopted by Lei Sun fifteen or sixteen years ago after Guan Zhaodi "disappeared." Those with a keen eye could vaguely guess her background, and therefore felt that Guan Zhaodi's request was only natural. At this time, the Six and a Half Hall was already beset by internal and external troubles. They thought that if Guan Zhaodi brought Guan Qi to cause trouble again, decades of foundation would be destroyed in an instant. Therefore, under Lei Mei's supervision, Lei Chun was sent to the Seven Saints Alliance of the Bewildering Heaven.
Guan Zhaodi, however, did not kill her.
According to busybodies, Guan Zhaodi and Lei Chun talked all night long, and no one knew what they talked about. At dawn the next day, the people serving Guan Zhaodi saw Lei Chun kowtow to Guan Zhaodi and say something like, "Our ties with our parents are severed in this life, and we will never recognize each other again." On the third day, the place was deserted, and Guan Zhaodi and Lei Chun were never seen in Bianjing again.
Some speculate that Guan Zhaodi took Lei Chun away, and her whereabouts and fate are unknown. Others speculate that Guan Zhaodi gave Lei Chun an incurable poison and then released her. But none of these speculations will ever be known.
Xie Huailing knew the truth, but she had no intention of asking further. Let bygones be bygones in Guan Zhaodi's life, so that these things would no longer be related to Guan Zhaodi. That would be the best course of action.
Let's return to the Six and a Half Hall. Although it was internal strife, it didn't last long. With Di Feijing's abilities, suppressing all the troublemakers was a piece of cake. Lei Mei had already pledged allegiance to the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion. After receiving Xie Huailing's orders, she went to Lei Dongtian to inform him that she was willing to withdraw from the struggle for the position of Hall Master and give it to Di Feijing. Since she had saved Lei Dongtian's life, and her mind was made up, Lei Dongtian naturally had to consider her feelings.
Thus, there was no longer a Chief Lei, only a Chief Di. The layout of Bianjing returned to the state where the Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion and the Six and a Half Hall stood side by side.
Of course, this is only what it seems.
In today's world, there is only one Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion.
.
However, as the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are always intertwined. When good things happen, bad things will follow. The great victory of Jinfeng Xiyu Tower naturally had both good and bad aspects, and the first victim to suffer was actually Shaman.
To be honest, she never expected that after Liufenbantang was taken over by Jinfeng Xiyulou, she would be the first one whose livelihood would be threatened.
Shaman knew that Xie Huailing had always wanted a subordinate like Yang Wuxie. This lazy woman wished she could poach Yang Wuxie from Su Mengzhen's team and even tried to cultivate a second Yang Wuxie. But in reality, neither Shaman, Qu Wurong, nor Lin Shiyin were up to the task. A person like Yang Wuxie was a rare find, so she gradually gave up.
But now, such talents have emerged again.
Di Fei was shocked. Shaman never dreamed that the competitor who posed the biggest challenge and the biggest blow to her career would be him.
Actually, Di Feijing didn't do anything, but when Xie Huailing, because of trouble, dumped many cleanup tasks that should have been hers on Di Feijing, Shaman vaguely sensed something was wrong; when Di Feijing replied without any complaint, and even told Xie Huailing that he could handle everything, she felt that she had been provoked.
...So why would there be competitors for being Xie Huailing's deputy? This job only looks glamorous on the surface. Who would actually want to do it? Give her back her achievements!
Shaman was furious and helpless. She wanted a promotion and a raise to get rid of Xie Huailing, but she didn't want to be transferred, nor did she want to be stuck in this position due to a lack of performance. In order to protect her performance, she had no choice but to start competing fiercely. After failing to overcome this competition, she tried to go to Xie Huailing to directly solve the most critical problem.
It didn't work out. Although people's joys and sorrows are similar, they are not the same. She wanted to go to her boss, and Xie Huailing also wanted to go to her own boss. They missed each other just as they were about to meet.
The incense had just been lit, and the air was still clear and still calm. Thin wisps of mist and dark clouds swirled around, like a veil woven from the roof. As soon as Xie Huailing opened the door, she smelled the scent and saw the pale white figure moving even without wind. She pushed the door open a little wider and slipped inside, carrying the incense with her. The scent of medicine seemed like an embellishment in the fragrance. She placed her hands behind the large vase, bent down, and then peeked out again.
Su Mengzhen, who was taking her medicine, got a perfect look at her. She had noticed her before she even entered the room. She saw her head appear behind the pure white flowers, and the flowers were also in her eyes. She asked, "What are you doing?"
"Ah..." Xie Huailing was caught red-handed and walked out disappointedly, feeling quite regretful. "The guard didn't tell me you were here."
Su Mengzhen then asked again, "What do you want to do?"
His gaze lingered on Xie Huailing's hands hidden behind her back. Reluctantly, she moved closer inch by inch, taking tiny steps: "I'm not doing anything. Actually, I came here because I had something to do, so I'll just do something else on the way."
"Take it out."
"No, please..."
She spoke in a low voice because if she sat down, she wouldn't be able to hide her things, so she preferred to stand.
Hearing her words, Su Mengzhen coughed twice, but still looked at her and said, "Even if you don't take it out, I'll find out sooner or later. Are you afraid of being scolded by me?"
Thinking about it, Xie Huailing sat down and took out what she was holding: "That's fine then, we'll have to make a cut anyway."
Hidden so tightly were just a few sheets of paper. Su Mengzhen knew from the first page that it was a document he had asked her to write and submit. However, as he flipped through the pages, he realized it was just an empty shell to fool him. Only the beginning was written; the last few pages were completely blank, filled with her laziness and part of her intentions for this trip—she clearly wanted to submit it while he was away.
In this way, even if he finds out about it later, she will insist that she has already submitted it and refuse to rewrite it.
Su Mengzhen's tolerance had been greatly stimulated, and she could still ask a few questions: "Isn't Bai Feifei going to help you with the writing?"
Xie Huailing pouted and complained, "She's been too busy lately, otherwise I wouldn't have to sneak around like this."
"So you've suffered enough?" Su Mengzhen put the scrap paper aside and judged him without any mercy. He happened to have time today and needed to take medicine to recuperate. "Rewrite it. Right here. I'm watching you."
Xie Huailing shook her head repeatedly, a thousand excuses swirling in her mind, then bursting out like a flood: "No, please, I have things to do. I need to write a letter to Zhu Qiqi, deliver something to Feifei, read some stories, and go out for a while... Oh, right."
She shifted the pretext to the important matter at the end, suddenly stood up, and floated to Su Mengzhen's side, as light as a willow branch, her hair like willow leaves: "I remember now, I have important business to attend to."
He saw the willow leaves drooping, and she bent down: "Master, could you get up for a moment?"
Su Mengzhen didn't know what she was going to do, but he still put down the medicine cup and got up. Just as he was about to ask, he saw Xie Huailing staring at him very carefully, too directly, as if she had to find out something. He was slightly taken aback, not understanding her intention, so he let her be. Besides, she was keeping a distance from him, more than usual, so he couldn't find fault with her. If he wanted to argue, it would be even more inappropriate.
But that gaze grew increasingly undisguised, as if it were glued to him. He wasn't entirely innocent; he felt as if he were being burned, the flames spreading across his features and settling on him, demanding a clean break. This continued for about ten breaths. She had been staring at him for so long, almost entranced, that Su Mengzhen couldn't look back at her. He finally couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help but speak. Xie Huailing breathed a sigh of relief first.
She averted her gaze, as if she had shed a burden, and felt completely relieved: "Now I have a solution."
Su Mengzhen couldn't help but ask, "What method?"
Xie Huailing's words were startling; his expression was as if he were about to laugh as he said, "A method to cure the Lord's illness."
Before Su Mengzhen could even react, she clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture. She knew what her words meant and how difficult it was to treat Su Mengzhen's illness, so she had to say this—a very sincere, yet also a crazy and excessive, statement: "I can assure you, it will definitely work, but please don't ask me how it came about, because I can't make it up right now. Let's skip that step."
They were incredibly audacious, completely jeopardizing his life, taking advantage of his favoritism to recklessly demand his trust.
But that's all she could manage to get it from him.
Su Mengzhen's gaze approached like a tide, hazy and indistinct, walking through a thin cloud of medicinal fragrance, which must have been quite warm; it also receded like the tide, leaving behind some faint traces of dampness. On the reef, the two of them stood together in the center, no matter what the ups and downs were.
Su Mengzhen told her, "Okay, I won't ask."
Xie Huailing withdrew her hand without thanking him, feeling that this was how it should be. He also didn't think she should thank him: "Then I'll come again tomorrow. We need to discuss this properly. If you need to recuperate, you need to rest well. We need to find an excuse to tell everyone that your injury has worsened."
After giving her a few instructions, seeing that Su Mengzhen didn't seem to have thought about rewriting, she decided to leave first, saying, "I'm going back to prepare. Goodbye, OP. See you tomorrow."
As soon as she finished speaking, the willow leaf flew away. She took a light step, waved to him, and was about to be blown away again.
"Wait a minute," Su Mengzhen suddenly said, trying to stop them.
He said softly to her, "Now that you're here, there's something I'd like to tell you as well."
Su Mengzhen's tone shifted subtly, like a wind about to rise. Xie Huailing had almost never heard such a tone before, and it elicited a reaction from her. It would be impossible for her not to notice something. After a moment of silence, as if she were being held hostage, she took a step back: "No, I really have to go now, Master..."
"It won't take long, relax, it's not business." Su Mengzhen, unusually persistent about personal matters, refused to let her go, taking a few steps to block Xie Huailing from the door. "I—"
"Master!" Xie Huailing called out.
She wasn't used to speaking loudly; she had to ask others to come closer and bend down to hear what she was saying. So when she suddenly spoke loudly, the volume wasn't too startling, but it was enough to cut off Su Mengzhen's words.
But what truly made him swallow his words wasn't those two short words.
Su Mengzhen immediately understood and confirmed that the answer to the question that had been troubling him for many days was indeed true.
He looked over, but Xie Huailing was no longer looking at him. She turned her head away and focused her gaze on the incense burner, wondering if it would also turn into white smoke and rise with the clouds. Both of them were silent, a rare silence between them. One thought it shouldn't be like this, while the other sighed, lamenting that he had finally fallen to the ground.
"Why pretend you don't know and distance yourself from me?" Su Mengzhen never expected that on the day he was about to expose her, he would first ask her such a question.
Xie Huailing wouldn't show him her face, but instead asked him, "When did you realize I was pretending not to know?"
Su Mengzhen replied, "It was only in these past few days, when you were away, that I realized, when I thought back to what you said about Di Feijing, that you were actually pointing at me, and that you were trying to distance yourself from me."
“I was pointing at you, but I didn’t distance myself from you.” Xie Huailing didn’t understand why she had to say these things to him here. She lowered her eyes and said, “Why does it seem like I did something wrong? Didn’t I just take your chair not long before I left?”
Su Mengzhen replied, "It's different."
People with different intentions will see things with different emphases. After he came to his senses, he could tell that during her commotion of getting close to Bai Feifei and disappearing for several days, her occasional closeness and deliberately inappropriate words were all to prevent him from seeing through her.
She wanted him to give up.
Having failed to maintain his stubbornness, Xie Huailing unusually remained silent during the conversation.
Taking advantage of her silence, Su Mengzhen continued.
"You don't need to worry. I know the time is not right now, the great cause is not yet accomplished, and I shouldn't be telling you these things in the first place. So I will save the last words for later."
Like a gentle stream flowing slowly, those who live almost like a raging fire, like a dying maple leaf, rarely experience such moments. But perhaps it is precisely because of this that he will not leave any regrets for himself. What Su Mengzhen wants to do, he will do even if it takes ten thousand years. What Su Mengzhen wants to say, he will say even if she is not looking at him. Even she herself cannot stop him: "And I am pointing this out today not to do anything inappropriate, but simply to tell you that I cannot do as you wish, nor do I want you to look down on me."
He understood that this was actually her consideration; she knew herself too well, which was why she had to repeatedly remind him.
However, giving up easily is not Su Mengzhen's way of thinking. He also refused to accept the inexplicable ending. Not everything that people care about can be measured by intelligence and wisdom.
Perhaps she has always been successful, so let him be the one to make an exception.
Su Mengzhen said, "That's why I want to tell you this: I would rather you not always see me the way you used to, but from this day forward, you should see me as Su Mengzhen."
At this point, no matter how much more he wanted to say, he chose to stop here and wait for her answer.
Xie Huailing seemed to be frozen in that spot, truly becoming a jade statue. She remained silent for a long time, her voice nowhere to be heard. But she was still herself; she would understand what she needed to understand, and there was nothing she couldn't accept.
Thinking it over, she could have simply agreed to Su Mengzhen's request. Romantic feelings weren't that important to her. However, for Su Mengzhen, that would probably be even harder to accept than her "hinting" at him. So she didn't say anything, and as soon as she turned around, her nonchalant and carefree demeanor returned to her face.
"Su Mengzhen." Xie Huailing rarely called him by his full name to his face, which meant a certain change. She told him in advance, "Then you're going to be bullied terribly by me."
Su Mengzhen knew her personality well and was somewhat prepared. Hearing her words and seeing that she finally turned around, he knew that she had softened and breathed a sigh of relief. There was even a hint of a smile on his face: "What does it matter?"
"Then can I not rewrite the document?"
"……cannot."
Xie Huailing, who had completely ruined the atmosphere, was greatly disappointed, muttering something like, "I don't agree, I don't want to, who pursues a girl like this?" Then her expression immediately changed, and she glanced at Su Mengzhen. Su Mengzhen was all too familiar with this kind of premonition before doing something bad.
She was indeed eager to show him how difficult some things could be: "How can you do this, Boss, Su Mengzhen, Young Master Su? Where is your sincerity? You've only just finished saying so much, and now you want me to obey? Do you think that's reasonable? Besides, these are just empty formalities anyway. If you want me to have something to do, you might as well come and talk to me about business yourself. I won't kick you out. And besides, just ask around, what girl in the world would like a boss like this?"
Xie Huailing stepped forward and tapped Su Mengzhen's chest with her hand: "In short, either I won't write it, or you will write it for me, otherwise I won't hand it in and I'll get angry with you."
Seeing Su Mengzhen's stunned expression change, she tapped him twice more, as if directly questioning his heart: "Just wait and see how you coax me."
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