Chapter 55
The sunlight warmed the snow, and the snowmelt, like beads, dripped down from the eaves like a light drizzle. A gust of wind carried it to the edge of the pond surrounded by red maples.
The pond was emerald green, and a large number of colorful koi swam in it. Nangong Min stood by the pond, holding a box of fish food in his hand, and was feeding the fish very leisurely.
"Master, Protector Wen has arrived."
A maidservant whispered from behind.
Nangong Min continued feeding the animals without turning his head, saying only, "Call her over."
The maidservant curtsied and immediately left the garden to deliver the message. A short while later, Wen Chaoyu entered the garden and stood behind Nangong Min, asking, "What business does the sect leader have with me?"
Nangong Min put down the food box, turned around and glanced at Wen Chaoyu, then stepped into the waterside pavilion.
"Can't I call you over if there's nothing wrong?"
Wen Chaoyu coughed for a while in the cold wind, then followed her, limping into the pavilion.
"Your injury seems to be getting worse," Nangong Min said, sitting down at the low table and pouring tea with a half-smile. "You didn't even bring your big sword with you. Are you that weak?"
Wen Chaoyu stood straight with no expression on his face and said, "I have a hard life. Whenever I travel around the martial world, I'm always the one who gets beaten up. The leader won't understand."
Nangong Min looked at her meaningfully: "But I've seen that your injury has been there for several months, and it hasn't improved at all. In fact, it seems to have gotten worse today. What happened? Did the Yunhua Palace group get beaten up by Man Jiangxue again?"
Wen Chaoyu paused for a moment, then said calmly, "It's not her fault. The person who entered Yunhua Palace this time was Protector Qin. I don't know if she was beaten or not, but my injury is an old one, so I can't blame anyone else."
Nangong Min chuckled slightly: "You're quite magnanimous. Whether it's an old ailment or not, isn't it all the work of Man Jiangxue? If you don't blame her, who else can you blame?"
Wen Chaoyu glanced at Nangong Min's expression before revealing her usual smile and said, "Of course it's your fault, Master. If you hadn't sent me out to do bad things, how could I have put up with this?"
Nangong Min's expression was playful as he lazily said, "I'm afraid you can't blame me. You did all this for nothing, someone else stole the credit, and you even got new injuries. What does that have to do with me?"
Upon hearing her words, Wen Chaoyu's eyes flickered.
“You’re one of the elders in the sect,” Nangong Min sighed, taking a sip of tea. “How come you still don’t know that nothing, big or small, can be kept from me?”
Wen Chaoyu lowered her eyes, chuckled softly, and didn't reply.
Nangong Min stared at her for a moment and said, "You were supposed to be the head of the Four Protectors, but you are utterly useless, allowing the other three to take advantage of you all day long, getting something for nothing. You are such a pathetic leader of the Protectors."
"What can we do?" Wen Chaoyu shifted her body and leaned against the pavilion pillar, her face completely indifferent. "You've already tacitly accepted that they're bullying me, what can I do?"
Nangong Min said meaningfully, "If someone hadn't caught you red-handed, who would have bullied you to this extent?"
Wen Chaoyu turned to look at the fish swimming in the pond and said, "I don't have any dirt on me, so don't talk nonsense."
Nangong Min chuckled, stood up, and his tone suddenly turned cold: "Speaking of which, you should thank your disciple this time. If she hadn't been there, Qin Zheng could have killed you behind my back and then framed Yunhua Palace. Given your situation at the time, it would have been easy for her to kill you."
Wen Chaoyu and Nangong Min's way of getting along has always been very subtle. Even if they both know something, neither of them will easily say it out loud. But Nangong Min is obviously not in the mood to beat around the bush with her today. When Wen Chaoyu heard this, she also put away her pretense and lost her smile.
“That being said, my patience is almost exhausted,” Nangong Min said, his gaze scrutinizing and his tone cold. “Over the years, you have ruined my plans countless times because you showed mercy to Ji Wanshu. Although you successfully brought Yin Qiu back this time, you have also crossed my bottom line. Originally, I intended to cultivate you, but with your inattentiveness and lack of ambition, I cannot keep Ji Wanshu for much longer.”
If Nangong Minruo had been present that day and witnessed Ji Wanshu being poisoned, she would have killed her without hesitation. With Ji Wanshu dead, Yunhua Palace would lose its chief disciple, which would be a great loss to Xie Yijun. After all, sword geniuses like Shen Mandong and Ji Wanshu are rare finds. Killing Ji Wanshu would be of great benefit to the future development of the Ziwei Sect.
Although Nangong Min knew that Wen Chaoyu wouldn't kill her, she didn't expect that Wen Chaoyu would be willing to make concessions, preferring to let Qin Zheng take over rather than care about her own future. Unlike Yunhua Palace, Ziwei Sect doesn't recruit disciples as widely. Although the four protectors in the sect are all formidable, Nangong Min has always been more at ease with Wen Chaoyu. Because of this relationship, she has given Wen Chaoyu many privileges.
However, despite the privilege, Wen Chaoyu showed little gratitude. She disregarded herself and the Ziwei Sect for the sake of an enemy, which was something Nangong Min could not tolerate.
Wen Chaoyu suddenly looked up, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "You know why I showed her mercy."
Nangong Min's eyes were sharp, and his tone remained unchanged: "It is precisely because I understand that I must warn you."
Wen Chaoyu frowned and fell silent.
“There is absolutely no possibility between you and her. Cut off this relationship as soon as possible,” Nangong Min said slowly. “Actually, it is not my business who you like, but if your romantic feelings affect my plans, then I will have to intervene.”
Wen Chaoyu was suddenly extremely agitated. She rarely showed her emotions in front of Nangong Min, but at this moment she couldn't help but get angry and said, "Since you know about what's between her and me, and you also know that I can't bring myself to hurt her, then you shouldn't make me confront her every time. You could have predicted this outcome long ago, so why do you deliberately make things difficult for me?"
Nangong Min said, enunciating each word clearly, "I want to make things difficult for you, so that you'll remember this time and time again: there's no possibility between you and her." As she spoke, she stepped to stand in front of Wen Chaoyu and stared intently at her. "You are a protector of the Ziwei Sect, and she is the future head of the Yunhua Palace. Do I need to remind you which is more important? If you really can't let go of her, you know the rules of the sect. Go through the Blazing Fire Pool, and you'll be skinned alive. As long as you survive, you'll be free from now on. But if you don't have the guts, then stay in the sect and do your job as a protector conscientiously."
Wen Chaoyu clenched her fists tightly, the veins on the back of her hands standing out.
“What I’m afraid of is that you’re willing to walk through the fiery pool for her, but she’s not willing to give up Yunhua Palace for you,” Nangong Min said calmly, having seen all her reactions. “Even if she were willing to give up Yunhua Palace, would she be willing to leave the Ji family? You’re no longer the naive girl you once were. Do I have to explain these principles to you again and again?”
Her fingertips dug deep into her palm, breaking the skin, but Wen Chaoyu felt no pain. She remained silent for a long time before lowering her head and saying, "Don't say anything, I understand."
Nangong Min glanced at her, turned around and sat down in front of the low table, and said calmly, "She and Manjiangxue have been down the mountain for a long time. They might come to Ziwei Sect to rescue people in the next few days. If they really come, do you know what to do?"
Wen Chaoyu's expression was solemn, and she gave a low "hmm": "I know."
·
"My lord, Protector Wen has arrived."
Yin Qiu was squatting on the ground playing in the snow when she heard this. She quickly stood up and peeked out the door. Sure enough, she saw Wen Chaoyu walking slowly towards her from the end of the path.
"Uncle-Master Wen!" Yin Qiu rushed towards her, her expression expectant. "Did you deliver my letter?"
Wen Chaoyu's face was gloomy. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Yin Qiu, and after a long while, he finally said, "What letter?"
Yin Qiu was taken aback, and said anxiously, "You haven't forgotten the letter I asked you to give to your martial uncle that day, have you?"
Wen Chaoyu had just said goodbye to Nangong Min and was feeling extremely agitated. Upon hearing this, she coldly replied, "Forgot?"
Forgot?! Yin Qiu's expression changed, and she exclaimed, "How could you forget? You clearly promised me that day!"
Wen Chaoyu was seething with anger and had nowhere to vent it, but when she saw Yin Qiu venting her anger on her, she said in an unfriendly tone, "So what if I agreed? So what if I broke my promise? I am neither your servant nor your subordinate, so why should I do things for you?"
Yin Qiu was completely innocent. She had inexplicably offended this person and didn't even know why this person was treating her badly. Yin Qiu was speechless for a while after being rebuked by her. Finally, she came to her senses and said with a strange look, "I forgot, I forgot... Why are you yelling at me?"
“I’ll be mean to you,” Wen Chaoyu said emotionlessly.
"You—" Yin Qiu asked, sounding aggrieved, "Why are you yelling at me?"
"Because I'm an adult." Wen Chaoyu looked at her expressionlessly.
Yin Qiuping was bewildered and upset after being scolded by her, so she angrily pointed at Wen Chaoyu and said, "You bad woman! I hate you!"
After she finished yelling those words, she couldn't help but purse her lips and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Seeing Yin Qiu cover her mouth and start sobbing, Wen Chaoyu was stunned for a long time before finally snapping out of her daze amidst Yin Qiu's cries.
"Why are you crying?" Wen Chaoyu had a terrible headache. "I'm so annoyed today, please stop crying!"
Yin Qiu brushed away Wen Chaoyu's hand that was about to help her up, wiping away tears as she accused, "You wicked woman... I even called you 'Shishu' (a term of respect for a senior martial arts teacher), and you're no good at all. Do you think you can bully me just because you're an adult? I hate you so much..."
She cried even harder, and Wen Chaoyu was at her wit's end. She had no choice but to order the maids who were standing far away, "What are you all looking at? Come and take her away!"
Several maids rushed over to help Yin Qiu and tried to comfort her, but Yin Qiu's crying brought out all the emotions she had suppressed since coming to the Ziwei Sect, and she cried heartbrokenly.
She thought, Wen Chaoyu is really too bad. She ran into Yunhua Palace and kidnapped her here, and even took her anger out on her. How hateful! These days she has been trying not to think too much, just because she was afraid that she would lose control of her emotions and cry all day long. Even though Nangong Min is good to her, all she can think about is her martial uncle. She just wanted to write a letter to her martial uncle. Wen Chaoyu refused to help, and why did she have to lie to her?
Fine, I'll lie to her... but why did I have to get angry at her and give her the cold shoulder? Why should I?
"You wicked woman..." Yin Qiu sobbed uncontrollably, still cursing Wen Chaoyu, "I never want to talk to you again..."
Wen Chaoyu was fearless in her life, except for Ji Wanshu and children crying. She was just unhappy, so she deliberately lied to Yin Qiu. In fact, she had already sent the letter to Man Jiangxue, but in front of these maids, Wen Chaoyu could not tell Yin Qiu the truth.
Well, that's bad. I made her cry, and she's not easy to appease.
"Go away! Get them away right now!" Wen Chaoyu was extremely annoyed. "Hurry up!"
Several maids tried to pull Yin Qiu back, but Yin Qiu pushed them all away, tears streaming down her face.
"I don't want your interference!"
Yin Qiu glared at Wen Chaoyu, said those words, and stormed off in a huff.
Several maids hurriedly followed.
Wen Chaoyu was left standing there in astonishment, unsure whether to sigh or not.
What sins has she committed? How can even a child be cursing her!
·
Back in the small building, Yin Qiu buried herself in the bedding and sobbed for a long time. No matter how the maids tried to comfort her, Yin Qiu remained unmoved, determined to vent all the grievances and frustrations in her heart.
As night fell, Yin Qiu remained curled up on her bed, depressed and unwilling to eat. She ignored the voices of her maids and just stared blankly at the bed curtains with teary eyes.
Uncle-Master...where is Uncle-Master?
When will she come to save her?
But what if she actually comes and encounters danger?
Yin Qiu wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, her heart already flying to Man Jiangxue's side.
Since they met, she had never been separated from Man Jiangxue for so long. Although she often didn't see her for days while in the palace, how could that compare to the current situation? Even if she couldn't see Man Jiangxue in the palace, Yin Qiu knew that she would definitely come to the disciples' courtyard to see her, or she could take the initiative to go to Jingyue Peak to find Man Jiangxue. But now it was different. She was stuck in Ziwei Sect and couldn't leave, while Man Jiangxue was outside and couldn't come in. The two of them were separated by vast distances and didn't even know what the other was doing.
If Man Jiangxue doesn't come, or if she comes but can't save her, will she be trapped in the Ziwei Sect forever?
Yin Qiu suddenly remembered this, and her heart, which had just calmed down, was stirred up again in an instant.
No, she couldn't just sit and wait for Man Jiangxue to come to her rescue; she couldn't just sit there and wait to die any longer.
But what exactly should she do to get Nangong Min to let her go?
Nangong Min said that even if Yunhua Palace was willing to exchange the Holy Sword for her, she would not let her go. Since Nangong Min has made up her mind to keep her by her side, how can we persuade her?
Yin Qiu was lost in thought, her mind filled with many worries, and she was so troubled that her guts were practically tied in knots.
As she was silently pondering her plan, she suddenly noticed that the maids by the bed had all retreated and headed towards the palace gate. Yin Qiu shifted her gaze and saw a crimson skirt swirling in through the doorway, followed immediately by Nangong Min's inquiring voice: "Where is she?"
Yin Qiu quickly grabbed the blanket and covered her head with it.
At the door, several maids dared not speak, but they all glanced at the bed inside the gauze curtains with perfect understanding. Nangong Min glanced at it from afar and saw a bulge on the bed, then laughed and said, "Why is she hiding herself? Which of you has bullied her?"
The maids quickly denied it: "We would never dare to bully our mistress. It was...it was in the afternoon when our mistress and Protector Wen exchanged a few words. We were standing far away and didn't hear what they said. Not long after, we heard our mistress start crying. She is still very sad now. She won't eat or say anything. Master, please go and see her."
Nangong Min thought to himself that Wen Chaoyu was really capable. She had deliberately frightened Yin Qiu more than once these past few days, but the child had never cried. Yet Wen Chaoyu could make someone so heartbroken with just a few words. He wondered what she had said.
After dismissing the maids, Nangong Min strolled into the inner hall, sat down by the couch, patted Yin Qiu through the blankets, and said, "Isn't it stuffy in there? Come out quickly."
Upon hearing her gentle voice, Yin Qiu was immediately reminded of the same tone Man Jiangxue used when speaking to her. Her heart trembled, and tears welled up uncontrollably again.
“Auntie’s here. If you have anything on your mind, just tell Auntie,” Nangong Min smiled and gently pulled back the blanket. “Don’t keep it bottled up.”
Yin Qiu huddled up, squinting as the sudden ray of light stung her eyes.
Seeing her like this, Nangong Min found it somewhat amusing and said, "Which ignorant person bullied our Xiao Qiu and made her cry? Come here, tell your aunt, and your aunt will teach her a lesson for you."
Yin Qiu stared blankly at Nangong Min, holding her voice for a long time before finally managing to speak. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she burst into tears, saying, "I...I miss my martial uncle...I want to see my martial uncle..."
Nangong Min glanced at her and smiled meaningfully: "That won't do. You can have any of the other aunts, but not this one."
"Why not?" Yin Qiu sobbed, wiping away her tears. "Didn't you say you'd give me anything? Bring my martial aunt to see me, I miss her so much."
“You can only choose one, your aunt or your martial uncle,” Nangong Min said, “but your aunt won’t allow you to choose her.”
Yin Qiu choked, then couldn't help but get angry and said, "You're a bad woman too! I don't want to talk to you!"
After she finished speaking, she pulled the blanket over herself again, refusing to look Nangong Min in the eye.
Nangong Min was both amused and exasperated. She tried to coax Yin Qiu with kind words for a while, but Yin Qiu was determined not to pay attention to her. After thinking for a moment, Nangong Min had no choice but to say, "Then let Auntie tell you a story?"
Yin Qiu had no interest in listening to her story. She said sullenly, "I'm not listening."
"You really won't listen?" Nangong Min asked.
"I won't listen." Yin Qiu simply turned over and faced the wall.
"Are you sure?" Nangong Min coaxed gently, "The story I'm about to tell you is related to your beloved martial uncle. Are you really not going to reconsider?"
Yin Qiu hesitated for a moment, then gave in once again to Man Jiangxue, shrinking into the blankets and mumbling, "...Then you say it."
Then Nangong Min asked, "Do you know of a small country beyond the pass called Xiling?"
Xi Ling?
Yin Qiu opened her eyes, pondered for a while without saying a word, and then said, "I feel like I've heard this name somewhere before... What happened to Xi Ling?"
Nangong Min smiled slightly, his eyes suddenly becoming more profound, and said softly, "That's a good place."
After saying that, she reached out and pulled Yin Qiu out of the covers, looking at Yin Qiu and saying, "The story has to start from fifteen years ago..."
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