Chapter 104
The snow stopped, but the camellias in the house were still covered with a thin layer of snow. These flowers had little fragrance; in winter, they only knew how to release their bright red color. All that could be seen was their color, not their fragrance, so Nangong Min didn't like them much.
Qin Zheng read the letters presented by the followers under her command, stood by the stove and said, "Several groups of people were sent but none returned. There has been no movement in Jincheng so far. Protector Wen is determined to oppose the leader."
The charcoal in the stove was burning brightly, and in no time, the teapot lid popped open with a loud clatter. Nangong Min didn't ask Qin Zheng to do anything; he picked up the teapot handle himself, poured some tea, and said calmly, "She's been imprisoned for so many years, and she harbors resentment. As for Jincheng, she values it highly."
Qin Zheng observed Nangong Min's expression intentionally or unintentionally, and after a moment of silence, said, "So we'll just let her continue to act recklessly? Putting everything else aside, I truly admire her for being able to survive for five years in the Blazing Fire Pool. But even the Blazing Fire Pool couldn't extinguish her will. If the sect leader releases her, I'm afraid it will only do more harm than good."
Nangong Min laughed and rinsed her teacup with hot water. "The biggest difference between you and her is that you don't even know who you are yet." She splashed the water from rinsing the cup at Qin Zheng's feet and said casually, "Since I was willing to let her out, I must have my reasons. And what she will do after she comes out is all within my expectations. Even I, the sect leader, am not in a hurry, so why are you?"
Qin Zheng sensed the warning in her words and quickly bowed, saying, "This subordinate was only thinking of the sect leader's best interests."
"Don't worry, you won't lose your position as the Grand Protector," Nangong Min looked up at her. "Protector Wen is now in decline, and I have no intention of using her anymore. She no longer poses a threat to you. There's no need for you to be jealous of her in front of me."
Qin Zheng chuckled twice.
Although she didn't reply and outwardly appeared humble, she didn't mean it that way.
Wen Chaoyu dared to openly detain Qin Zheng's people and ruin her plans, clearly intending to help Yunhua Palace. Such a crime of colluding with foreign enemies would be punishable by a thousand cuts for anyone else. However, Nangong Min not only did not question Wen Chaoyu's crime, but also exonerated her. Such blatant favoritism was a favor that Qin Zheng would never receive in her life.
Qin Zheng was not actually a member of the Ziwei Sect in her early years, but a disciple of another sect. She was expelled from her sect for committing a crime. With the idea that if one place does not keep a person, another will, she plunged into the Ziwei Sect and became a member of the sect that was considered a villain in the eyes of the world.
She wasn't old, much younger than Wen Chaoyu, and the other two protectors were already over thirty. She became one of the four protectors at such a young age because of her diligence and hard work. She was willing to risk her life to charge into traps for Nangong Min's sake, and that's why she gained Nangong Min's favor and stood out among the believers to become the youngest protector.
At first, Qin Zheng was full of vigor and thought she had found the right path and had a bright future. But as time went on, she realized that no matter how hard she tried or how much she sacrificed for Nangong Min, she could never catch up with Wen Chaoyu.
The achievements she made through pain and tears were hard-won, yet Wen Chaoyu could obtain them easily without doing anything. She could even stand above her for years, always superior to her. Even now, though she has replaced Wen Chaoyu, in Nangong Min's heart, she is still inferior to Wen Chaoyu.
She treated herself as Nangong Min's dog, dedicating her youth and energy to the Ziwei Sect, yet Nangong Min just said that she didn't even know who she was.
who is she?
Who is Wen Chaoyu?
Who else could Wen Chaoyu be?
Half an hour later, Qin Zheng stepped through the puddles and left the small building. The sky outside was getting dark, and there were faint signs of rain.
Two subordinates were guarding the courtyard gate. Qin Zheng called them to her side and placed them in a position out of Nangong Min's sight.
"What's the biggest difference between dogs and people?" Qin Zheng picked a leaf, popped it into her mouth, and chewed it. "Do you know?"
The two subordinates looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Even the most loyal watchdog will be rejected if it makes a mistake,” Ye Zi chewed up, his mouth full of bitterness, but Qin Zheng seemed oblivious, his eyes filled with ruthlessness. “But people can make mistakes and be forgiven again and again.”
The two subordinates looked suspicious and were completely confused.
"Who doesn't want to be a human being?" Qin Zheng spat out what was in her mouth and continued speaking as if no one else was there, "but they can only be dogs. But remember this, even if you are a dog, you have to be a dog with dignity."
Although they didn't know what she was trying to say, one of her subordinates followed up by asking, "Then, in the Dharma Protector's opinion... how can one be a dog with dignity?"
"Dignity..." Qin Zheng sneered, "If you want to hold your head high, you have to kill all those who are suppressing you, so that your master can't see anyone but you, his dog."
A raindrop pierced through the clouds and landed beneath Qin Zheng's eyelashes, like a tear sliding down her cheek. She raised her hand to wipe it away and said expressionlessly, "I don't care what methods you use, after the leader sets off for Weicheng, I want to hear the news of Wen Chaoyu's sudden death."
Upon hearing this, the two subordinates were taken aback.
“If she’s not dead, then you’ll be the ones who die,” Qin Zheng said, drawing her longsword and gripping the hilt so tightly it cracked. “Do you understand?”
·
Wen Chaoyu had someone prepare wine and food, changed into a decent set of clean clothes, and decided not to go out today. She didn't wear a straw hat, leaned against the window and enjoyed the breeze for a while, and then a rain came.
Before long, someone came in the rain with an umbrella, passing through the deep courtyard, like a ghostly wandering spirit, and lightly drifted into the eaves.
He was a young master dressed in a plain-colored long robe with a round neck and narrow sleeves, wearing black boots and a dark cloak draped over his shoulders.
He was handsome and dressed simply, yet he exuded an innate nobility, as if he had been raised in a wealthy family. Every gesture he made showed signs of being well-mannered.
"Hey, Seventh Young Master," Wen Chaoyu peeked out the window and made eye contact with the other person across the distance, "It's been years, and you still look the same. What kind of magic pill for eternal youth have you taken? Give me one too!"
Xue Tan limped out of the house, took the umbrella, and invited the man inside. The young master took off his cloak, sat cross-legged in front of the low table, and said, "I'm afraid you wouldn't dare to take medicine that costs you your lifespan."
Wen Chaoyu had only said it casually, but upon hearing his words, she became very interested and said, "Did I really guess right?" She paused, then looked at the person opposite her without any restraint, "What deep-seated hatred do you have to deal with Yunhua Palace that you're willing to ruin your lifespan and your body? Looks are something that will age when they're supposed to; the price of going against the natural order is not easy to bear."
“I don’t have many years left to live, and I’ve already paid the price,” the young master coughed twice, his voice slightly hoarse. “If I hadn’t maintained my appearance, my enemies would have recognized me years ago.”
Wen Chaoyu, with her long legs propped up, sat in an extremely improper posture. She poured two cups of warm wine and asked with great interest, "How old is Seventh Young Master?" After saying this, she deliberately corrected herself, "Wrong, it should be Seventh Young Master's age."
The young master watched as she brought the wine glass to his face, but he didn't touch it. He replied, "Thirty-five."
Wen Chaoyu paused in his cup-holding motion, and most of the wine spilled immediately.
"Thirty-five?" Wen Chaoyu was genuinely surprised. She looked at the person in front of her with a complicated expression and said, "Are you kidding me? You looked about sixteen or seventeen five years ago, and you still look sixteen or seventeen now. You're telling me you're thirty-five?"
“I’m not lying to you,” the young master said, clenching his fist to his lips and coughing again, “It’s a miracle cure, no deception, young or old.”
Wen Chaoyu clicked her tongue in amazement, raised her hand to bring the rim of the cup to her lips, only vaguely smelling a hint of wine before lowering her hand under Xue Tan's intense gaze.
“…Then you’re older than me,” Wen Chaoyu put her wine glass on the table, rolled her eyes at Xue Tan, and then said to the young master, “How much longer do you have left to live?”
The rain outside was falling heavily, pounding against the bluestone slabs with a clattering sound. The young master reached out and picked up a few bites of light vegetables with his chopsticks. His movements were somewhat peculiar, displaying a unique solemnity, as if he had been carefully trained. The young master said, "If I don't avenge this great grudge, I might live for another two years while clinging to life. But if I do avenge it, I might die on the spot."
Wen Chaoyu looked at him for a while, then shifted her weight to the other leg. She picked up two oranges and put them on the fire to roast, saying casually, "We've only met twice in total, so we're not close, but we had a good conversation. They say you shouldn't speak too deeply with someone you don't know well, but you've opened up to me like this. That's strange. You can't be so frank just to befriend a useless person like me, can you?"
“I’m the one who took the initiative to see you today, so I should show some sincerity,” the young master said after taking a couple of bites of food and swallowing. “I can help you leave the Ziwei Sect, but on the condition that you do me a favor.”
Wen Chaoyu paused for a moment, and while Xue Tan was leaving, she quickly drank the glass of wine on the table, and didn't forget to refill it.
“I never thought of leaving the Ziwei Sect,” Wen Chaoyu said, “but tell me what you think.”
The young master put down his chopsticks and leaned his upper body slightly toward Wen Chaoyu, a gesture that indicated he was about to whisper. Wen Chaoyu understood and moved closer.
A moment later, Wen Chaoyu sat back down in the same spot.
The rain pattered against the pavilion, making a clear, crisp sound. Wen Chaoyu listened to the rain outside, her ears twitching slightly. She raised one eyebrow and said with a strange expression, "You want me to go... how do you know something like this will definitely happen?"
The young master was not surprised by her reaction at all, and said calmly, "Even a fool could figure that out."
Wen Chaoyu looked at her heels.
She couldn't believe it.
“As long as you go and do as I say, my plan will proceed smoothly,” the young master said, looking at her. “It will also allow you to leave unscathed and without any trouble.”
Wen Chaoyu remained silent, lost in thought.
"In short, I've laid out my conditions; it's up to you to decide," the young master said when she didn't answer. "Besides, I don't believe you really don't want to leave the Ziwei Sect."
Wen Chaoyu looked up and stared at him briefly for a moment. Xue Tan came with the medicine, and Wen Chaoyu silently drank it. He was thinking about whether to agree to his request when he suddenly heard Xue Tan say, "Protector, the doctor has repeatedly instructed that you cannot drink alcohol while taking the medicine. You said this distinguished guest is ruining his health, and I think you are the same."
Wen Chaoyu looked at Xue Tan calmly and asked, "What about me...?"
“Most of the wine in this glass was spilled earlier,” Xue Tan said emotionlessly, “but it’s full now.”
Wen Chaoyu paused, casually put down the medicine bowl, picked up a roasted orange and handed it to the young master, saying with a straight face, "...Here, this stuff will stop your cough."
The young master looked at her and reached out to take it: "Thank you..."
"You're welcome," Wen Chaoyu said, peeling an orange. After a long pause, she asked, "Where were we?"
The young master, holding an orange wrapped in a handkerchief, said, "Speaking of..."
He met Wen Chaoyu's blank gaze, and for a moment seemed somewhat helpless. For the first time, he smiled and sighed, "Never mind, we can talk about it after we finish eating."
"Oh," Wen Chaoyu said expressionlessly.
·
After lunch, the sound of rain pattering outside the inn began. Bai Ling packed her bags and stood at the door for a moment. When she saw Yin Qiu and Meng Jing arrive, she complained, "I can't stand this awful weather. It's either snowing or raining. There hasn't been a single sunny day along the way. It's driving me crazy."
Yin Qiu settled the room bill and smiled when she heard this: "You're upset because of other things, so you're even more unhappy when you see Yuxue. What good does being upset do?"
Bai Ling said, "I can't help it, I'm so upset, I... Hey, didn't you sleep well last night?"
Yin Qiu wiped her face, her exhaustion barely concealed. She hummed in agreement and was the first to climb into the carriage, saying, "I'm not a good sleeper, so let's set off early."
Bai Ling then jumped onto the carriage and became the driver, urging the horses forward. Meng Jing lowered the curtain and noticed dark circles under Yin Qiu's eyes. He asked with concern, "I heard some noise in your room last night. Did something happen?"
Yin Qiu leaned against the car wall, slightly rolled up the curtains, and calmly looked at the rain outside, saying, "It's nothing. I couldn't sleep, so I sat in the room for a while. Did I disturb you?"
“No, not at all,” Meng Jing thought for a moment, then took out a small medicine bottle from his pocket and handed it over. “Take one calming pill.”
Yin Qiu reached out and took the pill, swallowed it with water, thanked Meng Jing, and then closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
She had something on her mind.
After Nangong Min left last night, Yin Qiu couldn't sleep for most of the night and lay in bed with her eyes open until dawn.
Even though she knew that the trip to Weicheng would be extremely dangerous, Yin Qiu really didn't expect that Nangong Min would personally come to her at this critical juncture and reveal a lot of important information to her.
Nangong Min said that someone would kill her, and it didn't sound like she was lying, otherwise she wouldn't have made this special trip in the middle of the night. But besides the Ziwei Sect, who else could want to kill her?
Furthermore, Nangong Min specifically mentioned the palace's observatory; what secrets does that place hold?
She was fully aware of what had happened and what was about to happen. She knew that Xie Yijun would order Man Jiangxue to take her life, that Shen Mandong might be in the Nine Immortals Hall, that someone might want to kill Yin Qiu, and that she even knew about the Star Gazing Platform in Yunhua Palace.
Is there anything in this world that Nangong Min doesn't know?
But most importantly, what was her purpose in reminding herself?
Yin Qiu closed her eyes and fell into deep thought amidst the noisy rain.
As time passed, her emotions gradually became more complex, like the swirling rain outside the car, intricate and intertwined, chaotic and dense. Yin Qiu sat there for a long time, listening to the endless, incessant rain, and for some reason, she gradually became restless. It was as if something invisible had disturbed her mind, making her somewhat uneasy.
Suddenly, a few barely perceptible sounds appeared amidst the dense, misty rain.
Like the ethereal and melodious sound of a flute, it drifted faintly through the rain curtain in the mountains and forests, finally carried gently and slowly to the edge of the car window by the cold wind.
Yin Qiu felt as if her heart had been violently clenched. She suddenly opened her eyes, her forehead immediately covered in a thin layer of sweat.
The sound of the flute lingered in her ears, sometimes near, sometimes far, as if someone was whispering in some obscure language. Yin Qiuling felt a moment of dizziness and, amidst the constant swaying of the carriage, grabbed Meng Jing beside her.
"Stop the car..." Yin Qiu crumpled Meng Jing's robe, her breathing quickening for a moment. "Stop the car now."
Meng Jing looked up in surprise, and seeing her pale face, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly grabbed Yin Qiu's hand and called out, "Bai Ling!"
Soon, the carriage stopped swaying. Bai Ling dropped the reins and poked her head in from outside: "What's wrong?" After saying this, she suddenly noticed Yin Qiu's pained expression, and her face immediately changed as she jumped into the carriage, "What happened? Xiao Qiu!"
The car had stabilized, but Yin Qiu still felt dizzy. Meng Jing immediately grabbed her wrist to take her pulse and frowned, saying, "Why is your pulse so irregular? Is something wrong?"
Yin Qiu gasped for breath, her voice weak: "Did you hear the flute?"
The sound of a flute?
Meng Jing and Bai Ling immediately strained their ears, but they heard nothing but the sound of rain.
"Where did that flute music come from?" Bai Ling asked. "Did you hear it?"
Yin Qiu secretly circulated her true energy, trying to suppress the discomfort in her body. However, once she started to circulate her energy, her chest ached as if it were being bitten by ants. The sound of the flute in her ears suddenly intensified, becoming sharp and piercing, as if it were a knife cutting into her brain.
Yin Qiu's face turned pale. Just as she was about to speak, blood trickled from her lips before she could utter a sound.
Blood slid from the corner of her lips, dripping down her chin onto the white dress, instantly staining it a blush.
Upon seeing this, Meng Jing and Bai Ling were stunned.
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