Chapter 212
The rain subsided, the dark clouds seemed to disperse, and the fierce winds unknowingly transformed into gentle spring breezes, softly caressing the hems of everyone's clothes and the tips of their hair.
The misty rain, fine as embroidery needles, perfectly blurred the devastation and the three figures that were gradually disappearing into the distance.
Blood still lingered in the muddy puddle beside her feet, unable to seep in. Broken trees and messy footprints—traces that the wind and rain couldn't wash away—silently told the story of what had just happened. Yin Qiu watched Fu Xiang and Meng Wugui gradually disappear from sight. She could no longer see Afu, only the hem of her skirt, no longer ruffled by the wind, and the bow on her back—the bowstring had broken at some point, she didn't know.
Is it all over?
Will those unforgettable past grievances and hatreds never be brought up again after today?
A deep sorrow welled up in her heart, like a lingering dark cloud enveloping her. Yin Qiu slowly turned her back and quietly looked at Man Jiangxue.
Everyone remained silent, seemingly affected by the desolate scene and heavy atmosphere.
Man Jiangxue's white clothes were already stained with blood, no longer as clean as before, but she still looked as beautiful as ever, and did not appear weak due to her pale complexion. Her eyes shone with a gentle light, a kind of unwavering spirit that had remained for many years, exuding a strange sense of comfort and solace.
She reached out a hand to Yin Qiu.
"Xiao Qiu, come here."
Yin Qiu forced back her tears, and Man Jiangxue's figure blurred into a hazy halo in her eyes.
If she were a child, she would immediately cry and rush into Man Jiangxue's arms, but she has grown up and is no longer the little girl who would rely on Man Jiangxue for everything.
So she took a steady step, grasped the hand that was outstretched to her, and slowly walked towards Manjiangxue amidst the wind and rain, standing beside her.
Nangong Min coughed lightly twice, and a few streaks of blood trickled down her palm as she covered her mouth. No one had ever seen her so badly injured and disheveled. The followers looked worried and offered to pass on their skills to Nangong Min, but she waved her hand and stood up with some difficulty, refusing any help.
Nangong Min said, "A promise is a promise. Meng Wugui has been defeated, and I have healed Manjiangxue's injuries. As we agreed beforehand, it is time to return the Holy Sword to me."
Yin Qiu lowered her head, gazing at the incomparably exquisite sword in her hand, and said bitterly, "The world is unpredictable, and people's hearts are unfathomable. Even with a precious sword in hand, one cannot rest easy. Because of this sword, the Ziwei Sect attracted countless greedy and jealous people, becoming the leader of a demonic sect despised and cursed by everyone. The Ruyi Sect offered a large sum of money to purchase a top-secret mechanism, thinking it could be used to defend against external enemies, but in the end, their entire sect perished tragically, harming both themselves and others." She shook her head and chuckled, raising her eyes to look at Nangong Min, "But whether it's a precious sword or a mechanism, things themselves are not at fault; it's only the nature of the people who possess them that matters. Just like some poisons, we know they should not be touched, but some people still insist on touching them, or use them to harm people's lives. Then we cannot blame the poison. So I want to know, now that I'm returning this sacred sword to you, can you guarantee that you will not use it to harm the innocent in the future?"
Upon hearing her words, Nangong Min slightly curled the corners of his mouth, saying with a half-smile, "Well, that depends on my mood."
“I’m not joking with you,” Yin Qiu said seriously. “If you can’t guarantee it, then I’ll be a faithless person and I won’t return it to you.”
Nangong Min's smile widened as he spread his hands, saying, "Xie Yijun is dead, so I have no reason to be your enemy, Yunhua Palace. As long as you stop causing me trouble, I naturally won't bother you anymore. Let bygones be bygones. Once this is over, I'll go back to Ziwei Sect to retire. I've killed enough people in my life. Don't worry, even if I kill again, I'll only kill those who want to get rid of me. I won't act as recklessly as before. How about it?"
Yin Qiu said, "I believe you, but I still need you to guarantee in front of all of us that as the leader of a sect and a prominent figure in the martial arts world, you cannot go back on your oath. You previously compared yourself to Senior Sister Ye and the sect leader. In some aspects, you are indeed more open and honest than them, but that cannot cover up the evil deeds you have committed and the bloodshed you have caused. If you swear an oath in public today and then go back on your word in the future, your name, Nangong Min, will be even more despised. You will not be worthy of using the word 'open and honest' to describe yourself."
When Yin Qiu was still young, Nangong Min had already experienced her sharp tongue; she spoke eloquently and reprimanded people without holding back. Nangong Min sighed, "What else can we do? Whatever you say goes." He then pointed two fingers to the sky and said, enunciating each word clearly, "I, Nangong Min, hereby swear that I will never use the Holy Sword to harm the innocent or take lives. If I violate this oath, may I be struck by lightning and die without a burial place—is that acceptable?"
“No other swords will do,” Yin Qiu added.
“Alright, alright, no other swords will do.” Nangong Min added Yin Qiu’s comment in perfect agreement.
Seeing that she had put on a mysterious smile again after making the oath, Yin Qiu felt somewhat uneasy. However, since she had already done as she said, he couldn't continue to make things difficult for her. Yin Qiu returned the holy sword with both hands, and said with some unease, "You must keep your word. Don't say one thing to my face and another behind my back. As long as your Ziwei Sect stops causing trouble, our Yunhua Palace will no longer threaten to kill you... Do you hear me?"
With the sacred sword, lost for many years, back in her hands, Nangong Min's lowered gaze revealed a rare focus and tenderness. She gently stroked the sharp blade, the joy of regaining it filling her heart in an instant. The dazzling cold light of the night-shining pearl reflected in her eyes, like a bright starry sky spread out.
“I heard you,” Nangong Min flicked the thin blade with his finger, and when he looked up again, the emotions in his eyes had vanished. “I never wanted this sword to kill people. I can kill people without it. This is a relic left to me by my father, and it is also a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation in our Nangong family. The meaning it symbolizes is far more profound than you think.”
“I understand,” Yin Qiu said. “Just like the Zhubing sword that my mother left me, it may not be able to rival your holy sword, but in my heart it is still the best sword.”
Nangong Min glanced at her, a playful look suddenly appearing on her face. Without warning, she suddenly attacked Yin Qiu with her sword. Yin Qiu saw that she didn't use any true energy, so she knew that she was just playing a trick on her. She stood still. However, the people behind her saw Nangong Min's action and stood in front of Yin Qiu.
Among them, Man Jiangxue was the fastest.
Yin Qiu felt a lightness at his waist as Man Jiangxue drew Zhu Bing and slashed at Nangong Min. Nangong Min smiled slightly, dodged, and laughed at the people in front of him, "What's the rush? We're not really fighting. I'm just playing around."
Seeing that she had retrieved the Holy Sword, Ji Wanshu, who had been secretly on guard, almost struck her with a palm. Lu Huaiwei and Bai Ling also drew their swords, intending to protect Yin Qiu. Only Wen Chaoyu remained calm and composed, saying somewhat speechlessly, "...Don't joke around at a time like this. Are you afraid that Man Jiangxue won't be able to kill you, since you're injured like this?"
“I would like to fight her,” Nangong Min said, standing with his sleeves down, his eyes provocatively looking at Man Jiangxue. “However, we are both injured right now, so there’s no need to fight. Once we’ve recovered, would you dare to pick an auspicious day to spar with me?”
Man Jiangxue sheathed her sword and handed Zhu Bing back to Yin Qiu, replying, "I'm always ready to accompany you."
“Then it’s settled,” Nangong Min said with a smile. “You must remember today’s agreement.”
“I will never forget,” Man Jiangxue said, then bowed to her and said, “Thank you.”
Nangong Min paused for a moment, then smiled leisurely: "I rarely hear anyone say 'thank you' to me," she said brightly, "You're welcome. But you, don't you have anything else to say to me?"
Realizing that her last question was directed at her, Yin Qiu asked in return, "What question?"
Nangong Min waved to her.
Yin Qiu took a few steps forward, and Nangong Min leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear, "Just now, Meng Wugui mentioned Gongzi Fan for no reason. This person saved you at the main altar back then, so you must have a close relationship. However, he did not show up this time, so he must be someone with a powerful background, right?"
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu hesitated and said, "This..."
"Is it him?" Nangong Min asked softly.
Yin Qiu did not give a definite answer, only saying, "If Auntie says so, then it should be."
Nangong Min looked enlightened, straightened up and said, "Is that so? It seems I'll have a lot to do next."
Yin Qiu frowned, scrutinized her, and asked, "What else do you want to do?"
"Don't always look at me like that, as if I'm always up to no good," Nangong Min chuckled, reaching out to pat Yin Qiu on the head. "Since we're old friends, we should meet. After all, we're family. If you've officially recognized him, come to Cang County with me. A family feast is always necessary." He then feigned coldness and added, "He stole my holy sword and burned down my headquarters. I still need to settle accounts with him for those two things. After so many years, he should give me a proper explanation."
Although the two spoke in hushed tones, the people behind Yin Qiu, all with keen ears and eyes, heard almost every word. Wen Chaoyu exclaimed in astonishment, "They mentioned Young Master Fan, and they mentioned stealing the Holy Sword... Could it be that Young Master Fan is...?"
She was asking Man Jiangxue this question, but Man Jiangxue replied calmly, "Whether it is or not, we will only know after meeting the person in person to confirm it."
“No wonder the people from Fanxin Valley knew Yin Qiu,” Ji Wanshu suddenly realized. “So that’s how it is.”
Bai Ling looked left and right, scratching her head, and asked, "Who is it?...Who is it?"
Duan Ning interjected, "How can you be so stupid? I understood everything!"
Bai Ling asked, "What did you understand?"
"Yin Xuan stole the Holy Sword and is already dead. Gongzi Fan is his brother!" Duan Ning said seriously. "Besides his aunt, Yin Qiu now has an uncle. What a good thing!"
"Yin Xuan has brothers?" Bai Ling asked in surprise. "...How come I've never heard of that?"
The elders were speechless and too lazy to explain to them. Lu Huaiwei said, "Things have come to this, and it's getting late. We should go back to the palace as soon as possible. The palace probably doesn't know what happened yet, and there are many messes to deal with. As for the sect leader's body... I'll take it back first."
Man Jiangxue hummed in agreement, and Lu Huaiwei led several disciples to collect Xie Yijun's body. The group then entered the tunnel entrance and headed back home.
A carriage slowly emerged from the depths of the forest. Nangong Min glanced back and said, "I should be going now, everyone. Farewell."
Man Jiangxue took off her outer garment, raised her hand and threw it at her, saying, "Your clothes."
Nangong Min gladly accepted the gift with a slight smile. The followers went ahead to meet the carriage, and the figures immediately began to move. Nangong Min was helped into the carriage, and then looked back at Wen Chaoyu, saying, "Protector Wen, aren't you going to see me off?"
Wen Chaoyu subconsciously took a step, but quickly stopped, turned to look at Ji Wanshu and said, "Wanshu, I..."
“Go then,” Ji Wanshu replied.
“Yi Jun is dead, and you may become the sect leader this year,” Wen Chaoyu said. “You also heard about the agreement between Nangong Min and Yin Qiu, you…”
“I know what I’m doing,” Ji Wanshu interrupted her again. “As long as she keeps her word, I will naturally prioritize peaceful coexistence.”
"Then can I send her to Cang County?" Wen Chaoyu avoided her gaze. "You have Man Jiangxue and the others here, so you don't have to worry about not having anyone to share your burdens, but I'm not too comfortable with the Ziwei Sect."
Even though Nangong Min has made peace with Yunhua Palace, news of her finding the Holy Sword will spread like wildfire throughout the martial world within two days. Furthermore, given her injuries, although she pretends to be unharmed, everyone present can see that she is feigning composure. Under such circumstances, the martial world will inevitably be thrown into turmoil again. Other sects might not let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once Nangong Min returns to the Ziwei Sect, she will surely face a new round of pressure and attacks from all sides.
Wen Chaoyu knew the Ziwei Sect inside and out. Those protectors were all good at drinking tea, but they were all bad at doing their jobs. The followers were also scheming against each other and were no pushovers. If she didn't go back and keep an eye on things for Nangong Min, Nangong Min would probably be overwhelmed.
Moreover, she still owed Nangong Min a debt of gratitude, and there were some things that needed to be clarified.
“I’ll wait for you,” Ji Wanshu smiled for the first time ever. “Take care on the road.”
Seeing the unusual smile on her face, Wen Chaoyu's heartstrings were touched, and without saying a word, she flew to Nangong Min's side.
“You’re quite strict,” Nangong Min looked the two of them over and over, and said sarcastically, “You’re really spineless as a master.”
Wen Chaoyu rolled her eyes at her and said very impolitely, "Mind your own business. If someone ever manages to keep an eye on you, I'll be laughing my head off."
Nangong Min said, "I am the one who manages others, not the other way around, so you don't need to worry about this."
Wen Chaoyu said with utter disdain, "What are you being so stubborn about? No matter how arrogant you are, you still need me to manage these people under you. Be nicer to me. It's rare to see you injured like this. Be careful, or I might come looking for revenge."
"What revenge do you want from me this time?" Nangong Min lifted the curtain and sat down inside.
Wen Chaoyu said, "To avenge the five-year grudge against the Fiery Pool, and to use this trick on me, you have to compensate me, right?"
“Then cut off mine too,” Nangong Min sighed. “While I am still seriously injured, I will be unable to resist if you cut off my hands or feet. Such an opportunity is rare, so don’t miss it.”
Wen Chaoyu said, "You don't need to remind me. There will be plenty of opportunities along the way. I won't let you go, so you'd better not fall asleep."
Nangong Min smiled slightly, but didn't reply. She leaned against the car wall and let out a long sigh, relaxing completely. She seemed truly exhausted; her eyelids drooped, and she closed her eyes. Wen Chaoyu soon heard her breathing become even and long.
In the blink of an eye, a person falls asleep without any warning.
The wheels began to turn, with the cultists leading the way on horseback, their subordinates following on foot. Wen Chaoyu sat inside, feeling as if she were in a dream she never dared to imagine. She lifted the curtain and looked at Ji Wanshu through the drizzle. The two gazed at each other from afar until the carriage drove into the distance, obscured by branches and leaves, until the person inside could no longer be seen. Only then did Ji Wanshu look away.
“Uncle Wen will be back soon,” Yin Qiu said gently, observing Ji Wanshu’s expression. “Senior Sister, there’s no need to be sad. We’re here with you.”
Ji Wanshu looked down at her and said, "It's not that I'm heartbroken... it's just that everything suddenly changed, and I wasn't prepared."
With Xie Yijun dead, Ji Wanshu, who has already been appointed as the young sect leader, will inevitably move into Mingguang Hall and officially become the sect leader of Yunhua Palace sooner or later.
She knew that day would come, but she didn't expect it to come so soon.
"Forget it, let's not think about it now. There's still a mess to clean up in the palace," Ji Wanshu said, adjusting her mood and not wallowing in self-pity. "We can't delay treating my uncle's injury. Let's go to the medical pavilion quickly."
After she finished speaking, she was the first to head towards the underground passage, and the remaining disciples followed suit. Yin Qiu took Man Jiangxue's hand and walked in the center of the crowd. Man Jiangxue asked, "Yin... when do you plan to meet with Young Master Fan?"
The eternal lamp in the tunnel was still burning, and signs of a struggle were still visible everywhere. Avoiding the blood and filth, Yin Qiu sighed softly, "Uncle-Master isn't surprised at all? Did you already guess?"
Man Jiangxue said, "Indeed, there have been such speculations."
Yin Qiu asked, "When was it?"
Man Jiangxue said, "When I learned that the young master of Fanxin Valley was named Shen Wang..."
“Is it because his surname is Shen?” Yin Qiu said. “I was too slow to react. I thought that people with the surname Shen were not limited to the Ruyi Sect, so I didn’t think much about it at the time. I just thought that my godfather might also be a member of the Shen family.”
“Your surname is Shen, and your given name is Wang,” Man Jiangxue said. “Even without thinking about it, it’s hard to forget. This poem was written for your deceased wife. You’ve always been good at your studies, how could you have forgotten this?”
Yin Qiu was enlightened by her words and felt somewhat uncomfortable: "So that's how it is..."
“Once things in the palace are settled, he should take the initiative to contact you,” Man Jiangxue said. “You can use this time to prepare for your reunion with him.”
Yin Qiu was filled with mixed emotions.
In just one day, she had experienced too much change and turmoil, and had also learned of Gongzi Fan's true identity. It was easy for Yin Qiu to comfort others, but she had nowhere to vent her own sorrow. She responded softly, and her lowered gaze suddenly fell on the two broken pieces of the sword. She stopped and said, "That is my martial uncle's Frost Condensation."
Man Jiangxue picked up the broken sword, and Yin Qiu, seeing that it was full of chips and nicks and was completely ruined, said with heartache, "How did it get like this? Can it even be repaired..."
“Let’s send it to the Sword Forging Pavilion for a try,” Man Jiangxue said, taking it easy. “If it can be repaired, great. If it can’t, it’s alright. We can just have someone forge another one exactly like the original.”
Yin Qiu carefully wrapped Ning Shuang in her skirt and held her to her chest, sighing, "Ning Shuang and Zhu Bing are a pair, neither of them can be missing. I have to go to the Sword Forging Pavilion myself and make sure that the Sword Forging Senior Brother helps me fix it."
Man Jiangxue said, "Before that, you have to keep an eye on me." As she spoke, she put her arm around Yin Qiu's shoulder and leaned against her. "I'm in so much pain."
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu quickly freed one hand to support Man Jiangxue, saying worriedly, "Such a serious injury must hurt a lot. It's a pity I can't share your pain. Please bear with it a little longer, Uncle. After we go to the medical pavilion for a proper check-up, I'll have Meng Jing prescribe a calming soup for you. After drinking it, you can sleep peacefully and wake up without feeling any pain."
"I'm glad you're alright," Man Jiangxue said. "Knowing you were tricked into going down the mountain, I didn't go looking for you. Will you blame me?"
“Of course not,” Yin Qiu pursed her lips. “I know that my uncle has confidence in me. I not only don’t blame you, but I’m actually very happy.”
The two supported each other, speaking in hushed tones that only they could hear. Duan Ning and Meng Jing lagged behind, and seeing Yin Qiu and Man Jiangxue's intimate posture, practically clinging to each other, Duan Ning asked in confusion, "These two... I feel like something's not quite right about them."
Meng Jing, carrying his medicine box, was shivering from the rain and asked in a trembling voice, "What's wrong?"
Duan Ning had already dried his clothes with his internal energy. Seeing this, he tore off his outer robe and draped it over Meng Jing's shoulders. He pointed at the two people in front of him and said, "Something's not right! Look at them, with their arms around each other and whispering sweet nothings. They're just like newlyweds! Could they be having an affair?"
The outer robe still carried the warmth of his body and a faint fragrance. Meng Jing, smelling the scent, for some reason ignored Duan Ning's words and instead asked, "What fragrance are you using?"
Duan Ning was taken aback and asked strangely, "...Fragrance?" Seeing Meng Jing's expressionless face, she lowered her head and smelled herself. "You don't like it? This is a fragrance from beyond the Great Wall. The original scent is quite strong. I've made it lighter. Don't you like it? If you don't like it, give me back my clothes."
“It’s quite unique, I can’t help but like it,” Meng Jing said, then added after a while, “It’s a bit like the hair oil my mother used to use, with a hint of orchid scent.”
“Then I’ll send you two boxes another day,” Duan Ning said. “I have plenty in my room, more than I can use up.”
Meng Jing frowned slightly and froze on the spot upon hearing this.
Duan Ning's arm was still sore, and it was currently bandaged and hanging across her chest, her fingers trembling. Duan Ning said, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go, I'm starving. Last time I ate at your Yunhua Palace, there was a cold shrimp dish that was pretty good, remember to have someone get me a plate later."
Meng Jing's eyes flickered as he stared at Duan Ning for a moment before suddenly asking a seemingly random question: "Are you serious?"
Duan Ning rubbed the soles of his shoes, making several small movements, trying to distract himself from the pain in his joints. Duan Ning said, "What are you serious about?"
"What you said last time," Meng Jing looked away, "was it serious that you wanted to be with me...?"
When she brought it up, Duan Ning was overjoyed and said happily, "You mean this? Of course it's true! To tell you the truth, after I finished delivering the goods last time, quite a few matchmakers came to my house to propose marriage. My father wants me to find someone of equal social standing, so that the money he has worked so hard to earn in his life won't go to someone else. I'm his only daughter, and the entire Duan family is considered my dowry. He values my marriage very much."
“Then you should go find someone who is a good match for you,” Meng Jing said. “I come from the mountains and have no distinguished family background or promising future. My parents have long since passed away, so I am not a good match for you. Besides, you know that I am not a man, but a woman. If you are not satisfied with the arrangements made by your family, Master Duan cherishes you as the apple of his eye. I believe that as long as you speak kindly to him, he will not force you to marry someone you do not like. In that case, you should keep your distance from me from now on, as if we have never met. You still have a huge family business to inherit, and you probably can’t come to Yunhua Palace. There are plenty of good young men outside, so you will not have trouble meeting someone you like.”
Duan Ning was speechless for a while, and finally said dryly, "Why are you belittling yourself? I haven't even looked down on you, but you're already criticizing yourself. That's so pointless. There are many good men out there, but I've only taken a liking to you. If you agree to marry me, my father will be all smiles. He'd love to have a son-in-law who lives with his family."
Meng Jing said, "Marriage is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. You have no feelings for me, so why be so persistent?"
"Who said I had no feelings for you!" Duan Ning raised his voice. "Back when you were with Yao Dingcheng, when you brought a bunch of people to our house to cause trouble, I took a liking to you. What's that called again... love at first sight, right?"
Meng Jing hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly, "Then what do you like about me?"
Duan Ning thought for a moment and then sighed, "It's really unbelievable. How would I know what I like about you? I just like you! I talk about you at home, I talk about you when I go out, and on the way here from Jinhuai City, I kept mentioning your name. I asked your Senior Sister Ji a lot of questions about you, and I annoyed her. I still can't explain why I like you. Anyway, I like you, and that's all! If you really don't want to, I'm not going to knock you out and carry you home for our wedding night. Don't push me away, okay? Let's be friends, alright?"
Meng Jing said, "I just don't want to hold you back." After a moment of silence, he continued as he walked, "I have a congenital heart disease that is incurable and I won't live long."
Upon hearing this, Duan Ning's expression changed, and he quickly grabbed her, saying, "What? Your heart condition can't be cured?!"
Meng Jing hummed in agreement and said calmly, "I won't live past thirty. Many people know that."
Duan Ning was stunned.
She stared at Meng Jing, speechless for a moment.
Meng Jing had anticipated her reaction, and didn't feel embarrassed at all. He simply withdrew his hand and said in the same tone, "Now that you know, can you reconsider what I just said?"
Duan Ning felt a lump in her throat, unable to spit it out, and after a long while, she finally managed to shout, "Then won't I become a widow at such a young age?!"
She was instantly filled with anxiety and confusion, and after a long while, she finally replied, "Then I'll think about it some more!"
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