Chapter 28
Wen Chaoyu drank her medicine, rinsed her mouth, and tidied up the scattered bandages by the bedside. Just as she was about to turn off the light and rest, a maid knocked on the door and said, "Is the Protector still awake? The Sect Leader wants you to come over."
The sound of rain was irritating, and Wen Chaoyu responded impatiently, kicking open the door.
The midnight air was chilly, and a cold wind whistled around her. Despite the pain, Wen Chaoyu arrived at the familiar small building. Before she even entered the courtyard, she saw three people already there, huddled together and talking in hushed tones. Upon hearing her subordinate's report, they all stopped talking and turned to look at Wen Chaoyu.
"Oh, Protector Wen is here too?"
Wen Chaoyu walked to the door expressionlessly, glanced at the three people, and had no intention of speaking.
The events that occurred in Jinzhou had already spread throughout the sect. Now everyone knew that Wen Chaoyu was incompetent. First, she lost Yin Xuan's daughter, and now she had made a fool of herself in front of Yunhua Palace, making a laughing stock of herself and getting injured. She hadn't completed a single task assigned to her. The sect members were talking about it, and the way they looked at her was different from before.
Given the magnitude of the incident, Nangong Min should have summoned Wen Chaoyu as soon as she returned. However, it had been two days since Wen Chaoyu's return before she finally received Nangong Min's summons. Among the four protectors, she was usually the most favored by the sect leader, and the other three protectors were already resentful and jealous of Wen Chaoyu because of this. Now that they saw that Wen Chaoyu was showing signs of falling out of favor, they couldn't help but be smug and contemptuous.
"I heard that Protector Wen is seriously injured," a woman in black said with a smile. "I have some good medicine for treating internal injuries. I'll send someone to deliver it to you later."
Wen Chaoyu always had a smiling face, but she was in a terrible mood at the moment and didn't even bother to pretend anymore. There was no smile on her face, and she said indifferently, "No need for Protector Qin to worry. You should keep it for yourself."
Qin Zheng smiled slightly and said in a very kind tone, "Protector Wen, you are too kind. We have worked together and are also fellow disciples. I saw that you were pale and unsteady, so I thought you were seriously injured. That's why I asked you to show my concern. The medicine was given to me by the sect leader in the past. It is very effective. Please don't refuse it, Protector Wen."
Wen Chaoyu ignored her, leaned against a pillar, and closed her eyes to rest.
Seeing her indifferent expression and unresponsive attitude, the other two guardians scoffed slightly, their eyes filled with disgust.
Qin Zheng exchanged glances with the two protectors, then leaned closer to Wen Chaoyu and said, "The three of us have only been here a short time, and we don't know what the sect leader will say later, but I can guess that it will definitely be related to the Jinzhou matter, which makes me a little worried."
Wen Chaoyu didn't open her eyes and said, "What are you worried about?"
Qin Zheng said, "Of course I'm worried about you. More than two months have passed in the blink of an eye. Not only did Protector Wen fail to bring back Young Master Yin's daughter, but he also handed over Shen Mandong and the Holy Sword to Yunhua Palace for nothing. He also lost so many elite subordinates. With these multiple crimes, I'm afraid your health can't take it."
The two guardians chuckled and stood beside Qin Zheng, their hands clasped together, constantly scrutinizing Wen Chaoyu.
Wen Chaoyu then looked up at Qin Zheng, reverting to his usual carefree demeanor, and said with a smile, "The capable are often burdened with more work, which means a greater chance of making mistakes. Since I have made a mistake, the sect leader should punish me as he sees fit. I have no complaints. After all, I am not as good as the three of you, who spend your days drinking tea and taking time off, without even having the chance to make a mistake."
Qin Zheng remained unmoved and said gently, "That's right. Who doesn't know that the sect leader favors you? We can only watch helplessly. However..." She paused here and lowered her voice, "I just feel sorry for you, Protector Wen. You've done this and put in the effort, but you've never gotten anything in return. If the sect leader really wants to punish you this time, I'll feel heartbroken for you."
Wen Chaoyu grinned: "I, Wen Chaoyu, will remember Protector Qin's kindness. I will have to rely on Protector Qin to put in a good word for me and plead with the sect leader later."
Qin Zheng's eyes flashed, and she replied with a smile, "Of course, of course."
The two exchanged insincere words, and soon the door beside them opened, and a flamboyant and beautiful woman came out, bowing and saying, "Protector Wen, the sect leader invites you."
Qin Zheng maintained her smiling demeanor throughout, while the remaining two guardians displayed expressions of anticipation. Wen Chaoyu ignored them and followed the woman into the building, stopping outside the crimson gauze curtains.
"You've arrived?" Nangong Min lifted the curtain and stepped out, holding a scroll in her hand. Her beautiful eyebrows and eyes held a faint smile, making it impossible to discern her true emotions.
Several figures moved about in the hall, their eyes filled with alluring figures, and laughter lingered in the air. Wen Chaoyu looked around and said with a smile, "It's so late, and the sect leader is still keeping these beauties for the night. He really has a lot of energy."
Nangong Min walked to the table and sat down. The beautiful woman from before came over and served tea, inviting Wen Chaoyu to sit down. Nangong Min said, "I am a person with few desires and only have this one hobby in my life. Why do you have to interfere?"
Wen Chaoyu sat down cross-legged, leaning to one side, and said, "If the leader is so celibate, then I'd be a living nun."
Nangong Min laughed and raised his hand to pour tea for Wen Chaoyu: "Enough of the small talk, let's talk."
Wen Chaoyu took the teacup and reported, "I saw Shen Mandong with my own eyes. She was carrying a sword box on her back, and she certainly didn't seem like a fake. As for the Holy Sword, I didn't see it."
Nangong Min didn't respond immediately, and after a while said, "We can put the Holy Sword aside for now. What I'm more interested in now is how much of Shen Mandong is genuine?"
After thinking for a moment, Wen Chaoyu replied, "Nine out of ten."
Nangong Min raised an eyebrow slightly: "Then that means it's true?"
“I dare not make a definitive judgment on that,” Wen Chaoyu said, “but I really can’t think of anyone who could impersonate her. Even with the most skillful disguise, it is not easy to impersonate someone who looks nine-tenths like them.”
“So it seems that Yunhua Palace really didn’t spread rumors this time,” Nangong Min said, taking a sip of tea. “But there’s something I don’t understand. Man Jiangxue also came down the mountain this time, but she didn’t participate in the Jincheng incident. Don’t you find that strange?”
Wen Chaoyu pondered for a moment and said, "I sent my disciples to investigate. She appeared in Shangyuan City on the day the incident occurred in Jincheng."
“Shangyuan City and Jincheng are not far apart,” Nangong Min said. “Is it possible that she impersonated Shen Mandong and then deliberately went to Shangyuan City?”
Wen Chaoyu said, "It's possible, but she and Shen Mandong are very different in appearance and temperament. Shen Mandong is lively, while Manjiangxue is aloof. When I was still in Yunhua Palace, the two of them were known as the Twin Swallows of Yunhua. Standing together, they were two completely different scenes. If Shen Mandong is Manjiangxue in disguise, then we have underestimated Manjiangxue too much."
Nangong Min pondered for a moment, and Wen Chaoyu continued, "Besides, Man Jiangxue is not the only one who knows Shen Mandong. I was able to pick someone from the sect to impersonate Shen Mandong and make Ji Wanshu and Ye Zhilan believe it was real. Yunhua Palace can certainly do the same. Not to mention that Yunhua Palace also has a master of disguise. But while appearances can be imitated, speech and mannerisms cannot be learned overnight. In short, this Shen Mandong is very likely not fake."
Nangong Min said, "Your precious disciple and Xie Yijun's first disciple were both deceived, which means they didn't know that Shen Mandong was still alive." After saying that, she chuckled, "Interesting. This matter seems simple at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it is quite complicated. Even I am confused."
Wen Chaoyu had said everything she needed to say; the rest was up to Nangong Min to decide. She silently sipped her tea without saying another word.
“Then let’s assume for now that Shen Mandong has really returned,” Nangong Min put down his teacup and stood up. “If she is a fake, then all of this is just a trick by Yunhua Palace. There’s no need to rush things. We’ll find out in a few days.”
Now that Shen Mandong has reappeared after ten years, the news will surely spread throughout the martial arts world, and Shen Mandong will inevitably come into the public eye. If she stops making any moves after that, it means that Shen Mandong is a fake, and the Ziwei Sect has been deceived again.
Wen Chaoyu stood up and stood behind Nangong Min, asking, "What about the Holy Sword?"
Looking at the gradually subsiding rain outside the window, Nangong Min said, "Of course we need to investigate, but now is not the time. We have already fallen into a passive position. If we act rashly, Xiao Qi will be at risk of being exposed."
Wen Chaoyu paused for a moment, then asked, "What else do I need to do?"
"What else can you do?" Nangong Min turned around, his smile carrying a hidden meaning. "Go and take good care of your injuries. You don't need to do anything else."
Wen Chaoyu had been waiting for these words, so she didn't say anything more and left as instructed.
The subtle aroma of tea filled the air. After Wen Chaoyu's figure disappeared from sight, Nangong Min stood there for a while, then turned to the side and said, "Go and inform Xiao Qi, tell him not to act rashly, but also not to be unprepared. Find out the truth about Shen Mandong as soon as possible and report back to me."
The beautiful woman bowed slightly, disappeared into the gauze curtain, wrote a note, tied it to the leg of a carrier pigeon, then opened the back window and released the pigeon into the drizzling rain that was almost over.
·
The night rain seemed to stop but didn't stop, like tiny embroidery needles, drifting over the eaves and landing on the window frame. The room was dark, with only a small patch of red light from the lanterns hanging under the eaves, casting the shadow of the person standing in front of the window.
A homing pigeon, soaking wet, fluttered its wings and landed in the man's palm.
"Seventh Young Master, is it a letter from the Sect Leader?" a masked subordinate asked from behind.
"Light up."
The subordinate quickly fetched a tinderbox, and a dim candlelight flickered in the room. With this faint light, the figure by the window gradually became clearer.
This person didn't look very old, his face was still quite youthful, he wore a plain-colored long robe with a round neck and narrow sleeves, and black boots. He was a young master with a noble appearance, but because he looked somewhat feminine, he was a little androgynous. He had both the heroic spirit of a young man and the gentleness of a woman. If he hadn't been wearing men's clothing, it would have been hard to tell whether he was a man or a woman.
"There might be a trap in the Jincheng incident. The sect leader ordered me to investigate the truth, but I cannot take any action in the short term." As he spoke, the young master placed the note above the candle flame, which instantly turned to ashes.
"What should the subordinates do?"
“You all stay put,” the young master said, his hands behind his back, his voice low. “I can’t be away for too long, or people will suspect me. I’ll be able to go to Yunhua Palace in the next couple of days. With my status, it won’t be difficult for me to investigate discreetly. Tell your subordinates to stay here. As for you, hurry up and inform the informant in the palace and do something for me.”
"Seventh Young Master, please speak."
"Find an opportunity to kill that person," the young master said calmly. "Do you know who I'm talking about?"
"Understood."
“Very good,” the young master said, taking the cloak and wrapping himself up, leaving only his lips and chin exposed. “Be careful in everything you do.”
A gust of wind struck, extinguishing the candlelight. Accompanied by a brief, mournful bird cry, two figures flew away one after the other, and the room returned to silence, as if no one had ever been there.
Beside the coffin bathed in crimson light, a dying carrier pigeon lay unnoticed, blood trickling from its beak, soaking a patch of its white feathers.
·
The next morning, Yin Qiu woke up in Man Jiangxue's arms.
Accustomed to the palace's routine, Yin Qiu still woke up on time even though no one rang the bell at Jingyue Peak. She nestled in Man Jiangxue's arms for a while, then looked up at the window. The rain had stopped.
A familiar, light fragrance wafted between the bed curtains, and the comforting warmth of her body was within reach. Yin Qiu withdrew her gaze and looked at Man Jiangxue's peaceful sleeping face.
Even though they had spent many days and nights together, Yin Qiu had never looked at Man Jiangxue so carefully and attentively. She rubbed her eyes very gently, looked at Man Jiangxue for a long time, and felt increasingly breathless as she looked at her. She couldn't help but secretly marvel in her heart—her martial aunt is so beautiful.
There are many outstanding-looking people in Yunhua Palace. Among the people Yin Qiu has met, Ye Zhilan, Ji Wanshu, Lu Huaiwei, and even the sect leader Xie Yijun all have admirable good looks. Even the classmates in the disciples' courtyard are not lacking in outstanding appearances. However, in Yin Qiu's mind, none of them can compare to half the beauty of Man Jiangxue.
The charcoal fire inside the house was still burning, and wisps of smoke drifted in front of the half-closed window. Yin Qiu glanced at the sky outside, estimated the time, and was about to wake Man Jiangxue when she turned around and saw Man Jiangxue slowly opening her eyes and waking up on her own.
"Uncle-Master." Yin Qiu rolled over, lying face down, and reached out to tidy up the messy hair around Jiang Xue's neck.
"Did you sleep well?" Man Jiangxue pulled the blanket up to cover Yin Qiu's thin back.
“Hmm,” Yin Qiu was inexplicably happy, resting her chin on Man Jiangxue’s chest, “I woke up earlier than my martial uncle, and my martial uncle is lazier than me.”
“There’s no comparison,” Man Jiangxue said. “I haven’t slept much for days.”
Yin Qiu thought to herself that she was in a similar situation. Ever since she met Gongzi Fan, she hadn't had a proper night's sleep. Last night was the best she had slept in recent days. Yin Qiu tilted her head and asked, "So where did you go before, Uncle? What were you busy with?"
The story of Jincheng is too complicated to explain in a few words, and Yin Qiu might not even understand it. Man Jiangxue briefly touched on it, helped Yin Qiu sit up, and said, "It's time to get up."
Man Jiangxue got off the bed first, put on her clothes, and then helped Yin Qiu put on her clothes. Then, as usual, she personally put on Yin Qiu's shoes.
Yin Qiu looked down at Man Jiangxue, deeply moved by the feeling of being carefully cared for. She couldn't help but ask again, "Uncle-Master, can't you really be my mother?"
Man Jiangxue chuckled but didn't answer. Yin Qiu wasn't disappointed and asked again, "Then how about you become my master?"
Man Jiangxue remained silent. She summoned a guard and ordered him to bring some hot water and breakfast. Then she said, "If you win first place in next year's new disciple competition, the sect leader will accept you as a disciple. This was arranged long ago."
Yin Qiu dangled her legs in mid-air and couldn't help but mutter, "But I just want to be your apprentice..."
Man Jiangxue glanced at her, walked to the bronze mirror and tied her hair up, saying, "You still have a choice, but other disciples don't have this kind of treatment."
Yin Qiu thought for a moment and asked, "How do the disciples choose their masters?"
Man Jiangxue glanced at her through the bronze mirror: "There has never been a saying that disciples choose their masters. When a disciple enters the sect, he studies for a year to observe his talent and character. Then the elders of each peak will select whoever they like and accept him as a disciple. You already have priority over others, so don't complain."
So many people are eager to thank Yi Jun for being their teacher, yet this child is still unwilling. If word gets out and people hear this, they'll probably all scold Yin Qiu for being ungrateful.
Yin Qiu finally understood what the master-disciple relationship was all about, but she thought, no matter how good the sect leader was, she only liked her martial uncle and only wanted to be with him. Why couldn't her martial uncle understand her feelings?
Watching Man Jiangxue's retreating figure, Yin Qiu couldn't help but sigh, muttering to herself, "I wasn't complaining..."
"Don't mention this again, especially not in front of the sect leader," Man Jiangxue tapped the table with a wooden comb. "Come here, it's time to comb your hair."
"Oh..." Yin Qiu responded blankly, jumped off the bed and ran towards Man Jiangxue.
Soon, the guards brought hot water and food. After washing up and having breakfast, Man Jiangxue took Yin Qiu for a stroll on Jingyue Peak. The air in the mountain forest was fresh after the rain, and much of the snow had melted. The red maple leaves covering the mountains were as beautiful as mist and smoke, a truly magnificent sight.
“Uncle, you’ve planted a lot of maple trees here,” Yin Qiu said, standing on a flat rock and pointing to the maple forest. “It seems like there aren’t any other places in the palace like this.”
Man Jiangxue followed her hand and said, "These were all transplanted here by your mother. Yunhua Mountain doesn't produce maple trees; only Liucang Mountain does."
Yin Qiu asked in surprise, "My mother used to live here too?"
Man Jiangxue nodded: "Jingyue Peak was originally Master's residence. When we were young, we all lived here for a while."
Yin Qiu suddenly realized: "But now only my martial uncle is left."
A gust of wind swept through the forest, ruffling the hem of her flowing skirt. Looking at the vast expanse of fiery red maple forest, she said in a slightly low voice, "It's just me left."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
