Chapter 166
Gongzi Fan stood in the rain, the sword in his hand no longer stained with blood, but gleaming from the rain. He put his mask back on, and his upright figure exuded a strange sense of loneliness.
A moment later, several figures flew in from behind.
"Father, the group from Yunhua Palace has returned. They found Ye Zhilan's body, and Miss Yin has also been rescued."
The sword was sheathed, making a crisp scraping sound. Gongzi Fan turned around and said calmly, "I want to hear what happened."
The disciple bowed and said, "As my godfather instructed, we had been lying in wait near the foot of the mountain since early morning. As soon as Miss Yin fell, she fell into the rope net we had prepared in advance. We originally intended to put her on the riverbank, but a boat came by at that time, and the disciples could not show themselves, so we threw Miss Yin back into the river. Fortunately, the people on the boat did not leave her to die. After Miss Yin was pulled out, Man Jiangxue also quickly appeared."
Gongzi Fan asked, "Are you sure no one saw you?"
The disciple hesitated for a moment before saying, "Well... no one else saw us, but Miss Yin woke up for a while on the way. I don't know if she will remember this after she wakes up."
Gongzi Fan frowned slightly and sighed, "Never mind, it doesn't matter if she remembers. The people of Yunhua Palace will definitely think that I saved her because I was afraid of Manzhen. Let them guess. As long as Xiao Qiu's life is not in danger, that's all that matters."
“But then, wouldn’t our godfather become…” the disciple said worriedly. “If we let them speculate about you, and if Miss Yin ever suspects it’s your godfather, she will definitely think of you as a villain.”
Gongzi Fan smiled helplessly and said slowly, "So be it, you're the villains. But even if she sees you, she won't know whose subordinates you are. She and Man Jiangxue and the others won't suspect me for the time being. As long as everything is over, Xiao Qiu will eventually know my good intentions. What others think of me doesn't matter, as long as she doesn't hate me. Even if she hates me for a while for some reason, it doesn't matter."
The disciple sighed softly: "Father heard Ye Zhilan's conversation with Miss Yin last night. What are your plans next?"
Gongzi Fan was silent for a moment, then said, "After meeting Xiao Qiu last time, I originally wanted to go to Weicheng to find Manzhen. Fortunately, I didn't rush to leave, otherwise Xiao Qiu would definitely not have escaped death this time. Now that we know everything Ye Zhilan said, then it's time to go and meet Manzhen. But before that," he raised his eyes and asked, "how is the investigation into the Gu poison going?"
Upon hearing this, the disciple looked troubled: "This...sigh, this is also a problem. My younger brothers and sisters who went beyond the Great Wall have sent a letter, and they do have a solution, but that solution..."
Gongzi Fan asked eagerly, "How do you solve this?"
The disciple looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered a few words in Gongzi Fan's ear.
Upon hearing what he said, Gongzi Fan's expression changed slightly, but after a long while, he laughed again: "This solution is very good."
The disciple asked doubtfully, "Where would it be alright? Those evil spells from beyond the Great Wall are truly harmful." As he spoke, he noticed the smile on Gongzi Fan's face and couldn't help but pause, "Father, you wouldn't be thinking of..."
Gongzi Fan hummed in agreement: "Consider it compensation."
“But your chronic illness has not been cured, and it has recurred in recent years,” the disciple said with a worried expression. “But this is the only solution at present… Why don’t we children take over this matter? After all, Ye Zhilan is dead, and we are not afraid!”
“There’s no reason for you to come,” Gongzi Fan waved his hand. “In that case, we’ll postpone our trip to Weicheng for now.”
After he finished speaking, he turned back and glanced at the summit of Yunhua Mountain, and said softly, "It seems I'll have to go to Yunhua Palace again."
·
Rain falls on the courtyard, wind whips through the houses, and the red maple leaves sway pitifully in the wind and rain.
The floodwaters had overflowed the steps, carrying many fallen leaves. Wen Chaoyu stood on the steps, bent down, picked up two leaves, and held them in her palm, looking down silently.
Jingyue Peak was deserted. Man Jiangxue and Yin Qiu were both lying in the medical pavilion. The disciples, having heard of their return, all rushed there to visit them. As far as the eye could see, the torrential rain continued to pour down, and there wasn't a soul in sight.
The sound of a door opening came from behind him. Xue Tan rubbed his aching wrists as he came out of the room and entered the corridor. He asked Wen Chaoyu, "What are you looking at, Protector? Those two have been sent to the medical pavilion. Aren't you going to go and take a look?"
A gust of wind swept by, sending the maple leaf in her hand flying into the air, leaving only a slightly cool touch. Wen Chaoyu said, "Going there would just be a commotion. Even if I glance at them, they won't feel any better because of me, so it's better not to look."
Xue Tan said with lingering fear, "Today was really too dangerous. That sheer cliff, and such a heavy rain, and Miss Yin fell down and came out unharmed. She is truly blessed. Speaking of which... Miss Yin is indeed unfortunate. She is so young, yet she has already experienced so much turmoil. It is true that one's fate is not in one's own hands when one is in the martial world."
Looking at the gloomy sky, Wen Chaoyu said calmly, "Who says otherwise?"
Noticing that Wen Chaoyu was in low spirits and her face was not very bright, Xue Tan looked her over for a moment and said, "The Protector doesn't seem very happy. Is something on your mind?"
The wind was strong and the rain was heavy. The water in the courtyard surged up the last step like a wave, soaking Wen Chaoyu's black boots. She shifted her feet slightly, her dark blue dress appearing even heavier than usual in the downpour. Wen Chaoyu said, "Pack up, it's time to go back."
Xue Tan paused for a moment: "Go back where?"
Wen Chaoyu said, "Have you gone mad from staying in Yunhua Palace? Have you forgotten where you're from?"
Xue Tan was taken aback: "You're going back to the Ziwei Sect? But..."
“But what?” Wen Chaoyu glanced at him sideways. “Our backgrounds cannot be changed. Yunhua Palace is not a place to stay for long. Don’t tell me you want to stay here for the rest of your life.”
Xue Tan remained silent for a moment, then scratched his head and said, "I joined the Ziwei Sect when I was young, and I was already used to the treacherous atmosphere within the sect. But since following you, I've realized that there are good masters in this world. Now that I've come to Yunhua Palace, to be honest, the people here are much friendlier and more upright than the sect's followers. Protector... I don't want to go back. Of course, I know that someone like me doesn't deserve to stay in Yunhua Palace, and they wouldn't want me either. But I'm fine with going anywhere; I just don't want to go back to the Ziwei Sect."
Before following Wen Chaoyu, Xue Tan had followed other people, but he was not quick-witted and inflexible in his actions. In particular, unlike other believers, he was not good at winning over his master, so he was never valued. He was an honest boy who suffered losses without even realizing it.
With a personality like that, he would only be bullied and beaten in a place like the Ziwei Sect. The reason he was able to follow Wen Chaoyu was because when he was young, someone stole his credit, and in a fit of anger, he fought with that person. As a result, that person was favored, and instead of punishing him, the master beat Xue Tan severely, scolding him for not making any progress in public but only knowing how to compete for fame and fortune in private, and even wanted to expel him. It was Wen Chaoyu who learned of this incident, and seeing how pitiful Xue Tan was being bullied, she took him in to stay by her side.
In truth, Wen Chaoyu hadn't initially intended to cultivate him; she was merely moved by a touch of pity. She was often ordered around by Nangong Min and didn't see Xue Tan often. However, as time went on and their relationship deepened, Wen Chaoyu realized that Xue Tan was a person untainted by the world's corruption, and she happened to need someone like that by her side. Gradually, Xue Tan became Wen Chaoyu's confidant. The two had been companions for many years, their relationship far exceeding a simple superior-subordinate dynamic. Xue Tan, being young, would sometimes boldly call Wen Chaoyu "sister."
Over the years, Xue Tan had run around for Wen Chaoyu, suffering a lot and getting into trouble. Wen Chaoyu had always felt guilty towards him and had thought about sending him out of the Ziwei Sect to find him a better place. But the difficulty was that Wen Chaoyu herself was having a hard time. All she could do for Xue Tan was to keep him by her side so he could have food to eat.
"What do you think of Man Jiangxue?" Wen Chaoyu asked suddenly after a moment of silence.
“Man Jiangxue?” Xue Tan leaned on the railing, resting his chin on his hands, and said, “He’s a good person. He doesn’t talk much and seems aloof, but his character is impeccable… He’s definitely much better than our leader.”
“Yes, she’s much better than me,” Wen Chaoyu said. “I left a letter in her bedroom. From now on, you can follow her.”
Xue Tan said, "Ah...?"
"What do you mean 'ah'?" Wen Chaoyu said, "You know my background. Nangong Min has been kind to me, so I can't just leave like this. But you don't need to come back with me. You can stay here. With Man Jiangxue as your backer, no one in Yunhua Palace will dare to bully you, not even Yijun."
Xue Tan was stunned and said, "Guardian, are you... joking with me?"
Wen Chaoyu ignored him, turned around and pushed open the door. Once inside, she realized she had practically no luggage to pack. She then went back out and looked at Xue Tan, saying, "Don't worry. Although I've been beaten by Man Jiangxue many times, it was all because I did bad things for Nangong Min. Actually, I have some connection with her. It's good for you to be by her side. Yin Qiu will definitely treat you well. I won't say more. Just be good, be sensible, and you'll still have a place in Yunhua Palace."
Seeing that Wen Chaoyu's expression was serious and didn't seem to be joking, Xue Tan was dumbfounded and quickly straightened up, saying, "Guardian! You...you don't want me anymore?"
“Yeah,” Wen Chaoyu said coldly, “I don’t want you anymore, you unlucky thing. You’re useless with me. I’m so unlucky, it must be because you’re unlucky.”
After she finished speaking, she ignored Xue Tan's reaction and stepped down the steps through the puddles.
Xue Tan hurriedly followed, and the two walked one after the other in the rain for a while. Wen Chaoyu turned her head and said, "Let's go back!"
Xue Tan looked at her without saying a word.
"How old are you? Do you still think you're a child?!" Wen Chaoyu scolded. "I'm not your mother! Get back here!"
Xue Tan felt a lump in his throat, and his eyes reddened.
Seeing his expression, Wen Chaoyu immediately looked like she had seen a ghost and said with a chill down her spine, "If you dare to piss on me, I'll break your legs!"
"I'm not going back!" Xue Tan wiped the rain off his face and said firmly, "Wherever you go, I'll go!"
Wen Chaoyu said, "I need to go to the outhouse right now!"
Xue Tan said, "Then I'll wait for you outside!"
“I’ll beat you to death, you shameless bastard,” Wen Chaoyu said. “I’ve already planned your future and chosen a new master for you. What more could you possibly want?”
Xue Tan said, "Going back to the Ziwei Sect is suicide. The sect leader will definitely not tolerate you this time. Please take me with you. If the sect leader asks you to go to the Blazing Fire Pool again, I can still serve you!"
Wen Chaoyu cursed, "Shut your mouth! I know how Nangong Min is going to treat me, so why are you interfering? I'll count to three, and you'd better get back right now!"
Xue Tan shouted, "I've grown up! I don't listen to you anymore!"
Seeing the familiar stubbornness and determination on his face, Wen Chaoyu was momentarily stunned. She cursed under her breath and used her lightness skill to fly out of the courtyard.
Xue Tan's legs were weak, and his broken joints would ache on rainy days like this. He couldn't use his light-footed skills and could only limp after Wen Chaoyu.
Wen Chaoyu felt as if she were being pricked by needles. She forced herself to stay away from Xue Tan and ran along the corridor to Chenxing Palace. Just as she was about to leave Jingyue Peak without stopping, a green figure suddenly appeared on the small bridge.
Wen Chaoyu froze, instantly stopping in her tracks.
Ji Wanshu, holding an umbrella, stopped the moment she saw Wen Chaoyu and stood on the bridge, gazing at her from afar.
The two gazed at each other silently through the curtain of rain, and after a long while, neither of them took the initiative to approach the other.
Xue Tan hurriedly turned out from the corner of the corridor, but the word "protector" stuck in his throat. When he saw Ji Wanshu on the other side, he was overjoyed and quickly covered his mouth to hide.
·
"Are you leaving?" Ji Wanshu walked through the courtyard and up the steps. She closed her umbrella, shook off the rain, and asked, looking at the ground.
Wen Chaoyu hummed in agreement, then leaned against a pillar and said in a flat tone, "It's time to go."
Night fell, and it was already dark. No one was guarding Chenxing Palace except for an oil lamp. The two stood in the dim light, neither of them looking at each other.
Ji Wanshu placed the umbrella against the wall, and as she turned around, she took out a handkerchief to wipe Wen Chaoyu's face, saying, "Aren't you going to see your uncle and Yin Qiu?"
Wen Chaoyu was soaked through, rainwater streaming down her face from her hair. Her gaze was lowered as she watched Ji Wanshu's slender white fingers reach out towards her, as if they could touch her very heart.
“I’ve seen it,” Wen Chaoyu said without moving. “There were too many people in the Medical Pavilion, so I just took a look from afar.”
Ji Wanshu focused intently as she wiped the water off Wen Chaoyu's face and said in a low voice, "Elder Xu said that the two of them probably won't wake up until tomorrow. If you're leaving, at least say goodbye in person."
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Wen Chaoyu did not reply upon hearing this.
She originally intended to take advantage of the fact that Man Jiangxue and Yin Qiu were still asleep and no one was watching her, planning to leave Yunhua Palace, but she did not expect Ji Wanshu to arrive at this time.
Right now, besides Wen Chaoyu, only Xue Tan is left on Jingyue Peak. Wen Chaoyu knows perfectly well who Ji Wanshu came here for.
She remained silent, and Ji Wanshu also fell silent. The noisy sound of rain filled the air, which just happened to ease the awkwardness that had spread from the silence.
The atmosphere between the two was somewhat subtle and inexplicable.
After a long pause, Ji Wanshu finally spoke again: "Do we really have to leave today?"
Wen Chaoyu sighed softly: "They'll all leave sooner or later."
Ji Wanshu looked at her and asked, "Will you come again in the future?"
Wen Chaoyu answered truthfully, "I don't know."
"What if I asked you to stay?" Ji Wanshu said. "Would you stay for me?"
Wen Chaoyu was slightly taken aback.
Ji Wanshu said, "I won't force you. If you insist on leaving, I can even see you off. But I want to know what your answer is to this question."
The eaves kept out the wind and rain, but Wen Chaoyu still felt like she was standing in the rain. She closed her eyes and after a while said, "If the situation allowed, and if you wanted, I would of course stay for you, but not now."
Ji Wanshu reacted calmly, as if she had expected Wen Chaoyu to answer in this way. She responded softly, without commenting on Wen Chaoyu's words. She simply took her hand and led her into Manjiangxue's bedroom, then found a set of Manjiangxue's clothes for Wen Chaoyu, saying, "Change your clothes first."
Holding the clothes, Wen Chaoyu felt a mix of emotions. Seeing Ji Wanshu turn her back and sit down at the small table, she went behind the screen and took off the wet clothes.
She deliberately slowed down her movements.
The candlelight flickered, casting lingering shadows throughout the room. Ji Wanshu poured herself a cup of cold tea, but held it without drinking. Hearing the faint sounds behind her, she suddenly spoke up, "By the time you return to Cang County, I should be the young sect leader."
Wen Chaoyu took a handkerchief and wiped the water off her body while saying, "Good thing."
Ji Wan's eyes reflected the candlelight, her gaze wandering elsewhere. She spoke slowly and deliberately, "Becoming the young sect leader means taking on many responsibilities I never had before. I can no longer descend the mountain as I please, nor can I act as willfully as before. Senior Sister Ye is dead, and I must set a new example for the disciples of the palace. I must stabilize everyone's hearts. The current sect leader is not yet over fifty, yet he has already expressed his intention to step down. Perhaps in a few years, I will become the true sect leader again."
Wen Chaoyu listened quietly, not knowing what to say. She could only reply, "This is a good thing."
Sensing that she was just giving him the runaround, Ji Wanshu smiled silently: "Since I entered the palace, the number of times the sect leader has come down the mountain can be counted on two hands. I have to walk the path she walked and be trapped in this Yunhua Palace for the rest of my life. So if you don't come again, we will never have the chance to meet again."
Wen Chaoyu paused in her dressing, a look of bewilderment instantly appearing on her face.
She had never thought about it.
Even though she and Ji Wanshu haven't really been together yet for various reasons, their mutual affection is an undeniable fact. She admires Ji Wanshu, and Ji Wanshu admires her too; this is something both of them know perfectly well.
But this time when Wen Chaoyu returned to the Ziwei Sect, she was prepared to die. Her life was saved by Nangong Min. If Nangong Min was determined not to forgive her because of this incident, she could only accept it calmly. At worst, she would give her life back to Nangong Min. It is harder to repay a debt than a debt, so she could only choose to give back what she had received.
Even if Nangong Min is willing to let her go this time, she will only stay in the Ziwei Sect as his protector and will never return to Yunhua Palace.
But this would indeed make it very difficult for her and Ji Wanshu to meet again.
Even if we assume that she did leave the Ziwei Sect and return to the Yunhua Palace, what identity would she have to stay in after Ji Wanshu became the head of the Yunhua Palace?
Would a former spy planted in the palace by the Ziwei Sect be accepted by the Yunhua disciples? Would a sect leader who associates with a traitor with a long history of misdeeds be despised by the Yunhua disciples?
Even though Wen Chaoyu didn't encounter any difficulties or disdain from anyone at Jingyue Peak during her time at Yunhua Palace, and was even well-liked by the disciples, that was only a small minority. There were so many disciples at Yunhua Palace, and there were bound to be some who would be resistant to her because of her past and identity. Perhaps the younger generation could be open-minded, but what about the elders of the various peaks? Could they calmly accept her return?
In short, unlike Xue Tan, she has little chance of gaining a foothold in Yunhua Palace.
Unless Ji Wanshu is not fit to be the young sect leader.
But how could that be possible?
“Originally, I bluntly refused the sect leader. I didn’t want to be her successor, and I didn’t even want to be the chief disciple anymore,” Ji Wanshu said, taking a sip of tea and savoring the brief coolness on her tongue. “But after what happened to Senior Sister Ye, I suddenly realized that I couldn’t be so selfish. I learned the swordsmanship I’ve always dreamed of in the palace, and I’ve also received a lot of guidance and care from the sect leader and my uncle. As a disciple of Yunhua, if there’s anything the sect can do for me, I can’t refuse no matter what. So I promised the sect leader in the Mingguang Hall that she would officially appoint me as the young sect leader after the New Year.”
Wen Chaoyu was stunned for a long time.
After a long while, she finally shuffled to the screen, looked at Ji Wanshu's back, and said, "That day at the observatory, you said you had something to tell me. What was it?"
Ji Wanshu's fingers, which were holding the teacup, twitched. She wanted to turn around and look at Wen Chaoyu, but she couldn't turn back.
"Wan Shu?" Wen Chaoyu called out.
Ji Wanshu put down her teacup, clenched her fist, and said, "Senior Sister Ye mentioned your background at the cliff. This is what I want to tell you."
Wen Chaoyu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her heart suddenly raced. She gripped her sleeve tightly, her voice momentarily hoarse, and said heavily, "...You know?"
Ji Wanshu said, "I understand."
Wen Chaoyu's heart sank suddenly, and she asked, "How did you know?"
“My birth certificate is kept at home,” Ji Wanshu said, “and it’s stamped with the seal of the Guanyin Temple.”
Upon hearing her words, Wen Chaoyu was speechless and asked the heavens for an answer.
She had considered that it might have been Man Jiangxue who told her, and after hearing Ye Zhilan's words, she also wondered if Ye Zhilan had told Ji Wanshu a long time ago. But she never expected that the couple hadn't covered the things properly and Ji Wanshu had found them.
This is utterly ridiculous!
Is there anything more ridiculous than the person who most wanted to keep the secret ultimately revealing it?
Overwhelmed with emotion, Wen Chaoyu sighed softly, "Wan Shu..."
“I’ve thought a lot these past few days and come to understand many things I didn’t understand before,” Ji Wanshu stood up and turned to look at Wen Chaoyu. “I used to think that the only thing standing between us was our different positions, but now I realize that the so-called positions are not worth mentioning at all. I also finally understand why you ran away and why you remained silent. What is harder to overcome than positions is the irreversible relationship between us.”
Wen Chaoyu met her gaze, her throat dry, unable to speak.
But Ji Wanshu suddenly laughed. She walked step by step to Wen Chaoyu and said, "But do you think I would give up like this? No, I have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of my sect, and I still have to take care of my parents at home. As for you," she reached out and hugged Wen Chaoyu, her eyes sparkling with starlight, "I still can't let you go, and I won't let you go. As long as you are willing, I can wait for you to come back anytime."
“I won’t stop you from going to the Ziwei Sect. It’s what you want to do, and there’s nothing wrong with repaying a debt of gratitude,” Ji Wanshu gazed at her, her tone unusually gentle. “But you have to promise me that you will come to see me again in the future. You can’t just leave and never come back. If you don’t want to come, I will be very lonely in Yunhua Palace.”
Looking at that smiling face, Wen Chaoyu's lips moved slightly, and she said, "You..."
“I want to do my best to soothe the suffering and pain you have endured, and I also want you to know that there are people in this world who love you and cherish you, but the prerequisite is that you are willing to give me this opportunity,” Ji Wanshu said. “Now, it’s your turn to make a choice.”
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, Wen Chaoyu was lost in thought and couldn't give an answer for a long time.
Ji Wanshu gazed at her intently.
The two embraced in the dim light, feeling each other's body heat. This intimate distance suddenly gave them both a sense of mutual dependence.
After a long while, Wen Chaoyu finally calmed down her complicated thoughts. She threw all obstacles and concerns to the winds and stopped thinking about anything. She simply smiled and said to Ji Wanshu, "Okay, I promise you."
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