Chapter 61
Fresh blood kept spilling from his mouth. Ji Wanshu lay on the ground for a long time, his strength like the receding tide, unable to recover for a long time.
Her vision was blurry, and her mind was in a cacophony of noise, like a flock of sparrows chirping in her ear, making a racket that was hard to bear.
A moment later, a hand gently helped her up. After a moment of dizziness, Ji Wanshu steadied herself and opened her eyes again. Wen Chaoyu was holding her, his other hand groping for something in his arms.
Ji Wanshu choked up, her eyes bloodshot, and silently looked at Wen Chaoyu.
"Eat this." Wen Chaoyu pinched a small pill and brought it to Ji Wanshu's lips.
Ji Wanshu could not move.
Seeing her like this, Wen Chaoyu sighed, her tone slightly impatient: "Stop being stubborn. This is the antidote for the power-reducing powder. If you don't recover your power, you're not leaving tonight."
Ji Wanshu paused, but still didn't speak. She opened her mouth and swallowed the pill. Wen Chaoyu withdrew her hand, intending to stand up and check the situation outside. But as soon as she moved, Ji Wanshu quickly grabbed her wrist and said in a hoarse voice, "You before..."
She didn't say what she was going to say, but Wen Chaoyu knew what she wanted to ask.
“I was faking it,” Wen Chaoyu said. “I’m not stupid enough to die for you.”
She originally wanted to take a gamble, to see if Nangong Min really wanted to watch her commit suicide, and also to see what Nangong Min was planning. At that moment, Wen Chaoyu had already made up her mind. If Nangong Min did not stop her, it would mean that he did not care about Wen Chaoyu at all, and then she would no longer work for the Ziwei Sect.
Nangong Min wanted to test her sincerity, and so did Wen Chaoyu, who also wanted to take this opportunity to see Nangong Min's heart. However, the sudden appearance of the little girl ruined their plans, and neither of them succeeded.
A cold wind blew fiercely in from outside the window, and Ji Wanshu felt cold all over. She had no strength left to hold Wen Chaoyu's hand. She said, "Come back to Yunhua Palace with me."
Wen Chaoyu looked down at her: "Impossible."
Ji Wanshu questioned, "Why are you so loyal to the Ziwei Sect? What kind of bewitching potion did Nangong Min give you?"
Ji Wanshu had asked similar questions countless times before, but Wen Chaoyu had never answered them. However, at this moment, Wen Chaoyu answered for the first time: "She has been kind to me."
"What 'Hmm'?" Ji Wanshu stared intently at her.
“A life-saving grace,” Wen Chaoyu said, “When I was little, I had a serious illness and was abandoned by my parents at the clinic. It was the Nangong father and daughter who brought me back to the Ziwei Sect. It was also Nangong Min who personally asked her father to save me.”
Ji Wanshu asked in surprise: "Were you abandoned by your parents?"
Wen Chaoyu hummed in agreement: "My parents are businessmen with a large and prosperous family. But since I was born, not only have I been sick for many years, but my family has also been plagued by misfortunes and all sorts of problems. A wandering Taoist priest passed by my house begging for alms and said that my fate was ominous and that I would bring bad luck to my relatives and friends. He told my parents that if they did not want their family to decline, they should send me away as soon as possible."
As she said this, she glanced at Ji Wanshu with a complicated look in her eyes: "Your family is also in business, so you should know how taboo business people are about this. At that time, I was seriously ill and no matter what treatment I received, I couldn't be cured. My parents listened to what that quack Taoist priest said and hardened their hearts to abandon me at the clinic and never look after me again. Later, the Nangong father and daughter passed by and asked me whose child I was. After learning about my background, they took me back to the Ziwei Sect. That's how I was able to live to this day."
As the words echoed in his ears, Ji Wanshu looked astonished.
This was the first time she had heard Wen Chaoyu talk about her background, but she never expected it to be like this.
"And then?" Ji Wanshu asked.
"And then?" Wen Chaoyu stared at her for a moment before saying, "Later, I settled down in the Ziwei Sect. A year later, I secretly went back home to visit them and found that my parents were doing very well. They had become a well-known wealthy family in the area. Not only did they live in a magnificent mansion, but they also set up sheds outside the city every day to distribute porridge. Everyone said that the couple were great philanthropists with a very good reputation."
Ji Wanshu lowered her eyes and asked, "Didn't you say your parents passed away a long time ago?"
Wen Chaoyu sneered: "Just kidding. I'm just unilaterally assuming they're dead, since they must think I'm dead too."
Ji Wanshu gazed at her intently, speechless for a moment.
Wen Chaoyu continued, "A few years later, they had another child." She was clearly smiling, but the smile on her face didn't seem genuine. "However, I heard that the child was adopted from the Guanyin Temple. It is said that my mother couldn't get pregnant again after that, which may be retribution."
After saying this, she pushed Ji Wanshu away from her embrace and said, "For me, Yunhua Palace is just a place where I stayed for a few years. Ziwei Sect is my true home. You are just a disciple with me who shouldn't have a relationship. But ten years have passed. You should let it go as soon as possible. Besides, I have already told you about my connection with Ziwei Sect. From now on, don't bother me anymore. Just do what you should do."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Ji Wanshu mustered her strength and held onto Wen Chaoyu tightly, refusing to let go, and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm clinging to you not because of that, I just..."
Wen Chaoyu turned to look at her: "Just what?"
Ji Wanshu's lips moved, but she couldn't say what was in her heart. She observed Wen Chaoyu's expression, and after a long while, she closed her eyes and said in a deep voice, "I just want to know why you didn't tell me before you left back then." Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her knuckles turned white. "Even if you had told me you were going to the Ziwei Sect, I wouldn't have stopped you. If you had just told me, I would have felt better. You... after all, you were the master I personally chose. Even if something terrible happened, you shouldn't have abandoned me without a word."
Like a pebble dropped into a deep pool, creating ripples, Wen Chaoyu felt a mix of emotions, her heart heavy with unease. After a moment of silence, she looked directly at Ji Wanshu and said, "Then I'll tell you now, the reason I left without saying goodbye is because," she paused, turning her head away, "...because I felt there was no need to say hello to you."
Upon hearing what she said, Ji Wanshu was taken aback.
“The master is fake, and the disciple is fake,” Wen Chaoyu maintained her posture of not looking at Ji Wanshu. “All the affection is fake too. I didn’t get into the role, but you took it seriously. You can only blame yourself.”
After she finished speaking, she forcefully broke free from Ji Wanshu's hand, turned around, and walked out of the building.
The sound of the wind in her ears subsided instantly, leaving only Wen Chaoyu's words echoing endlessly. Ji Wanshu stood there for a moment, then, seeing that Wen Chaoyu had reached the door, she got up breathlessly and shouted, "I don't believe it!"
Wen Chaoyu's movements faltered slightly.
Ji Wanshu's eyes were red, and he stared stubbornly at her back: "If you really weren't in character, why have you secretly sneaked into Yunhua Palace to see me so many times over the years!"
Wen Chaoyu had her back to her, and subconsciously clenched her fists.
"Don't think I don't know you've come to see me many times!" Ji Wanshu's voice was hoarse, but her tone was unusually firm. "Whether I went down the mountain to carry out missions for my sect or returned to Jincheng to visit my parents, you secretly followed me wherever I went. So let me ask you one more time, why did you do this!"
A deathly silence fell over the hall.
After a long while, Wen Chaoyu turned around and said, "You are the chief disciple of Yunhua Palace, and I am the head of the Ziwei Sect's protectors. I should investigate and report any of your movements in a timely manner. There's nothing strange about that."
Ji Wanshu was about to speak again when Wen Chaoyu seemed to suddenly lose patience and interrupted, "Stop talking nonsense! Just get out of here! When Nangong Min comes back, I won't be coming to your rescue again!"
“You’ve already saved me twice,” Ji Wanshu said. “Nangong Min won’t let you go. There’s no point in you staying in the Ziwei Sect any longer. Come with me!”
Wen Chaoyu couldn't help but lose her temper again: "You're just a spinning top, you won't move unless you're whipped!" After saying this, she immediately shouted to the cultists outside the door, "Get in here! Quickly arrest this Ji Wanshu! Whoever catches her first will be rewarded!"
"You—!" Ji Wanshu breathed heavily, but seeing a large number of believers rushing in through the door, she could only glare at Wen Chaoyu and then leap out of the window to escape towards the Magnolia Hall.
·
The night was dark and the wind was fierce. Dust and fog filled the sky. Buildings collapsed in the fire, raising thick smoke. As far as the eye could see, the entire headquarters of the Ziwei Sect was engulfed in slaughter and war.
Man Jiangxue stepped on a nearby artificial hill, using the momentum to land on the ground. Holding Yin Qiu, she gracefully stood still and turned to look at the area not far behind her.
Beside the artificial hill and pond, Nangong Min stood alone on one side, with a man and a woman standing opposite him. The three of them occupied different sides, forming a triangle that restrained each other, exchanging different glances.
Just now, Nangong Min was only one step away from catching up. Man Jiangxue was already prepared to counterattack, but unexpectedly, two uninvited guests appeared halfway and helped her stop Nangong Min behind her.
Man Jiangxue observed the two people from afar for a while, only to find that she did not recognize them. She also noticed that the man and woman clearly did not know each other either, and were both silently scrutinizing each other.
That's very strange.
Appearing and striking at the same time, these two clearly had the same goal, yet they were complete strangers, and yet they did the same thing without prior arrangement.
The woman in purple was wearing a veil, so her face was not visible. However, upon closer inspection, she was not someone he knew. Only the back of the man in black robes reminded Man Jiangxue of him; he was the man in black who had led her into the dark room to rescue Yin Qiu.
Man Jiangxue narrowed her eyes and quietly moved away from the shadows.
"Who are they?" Yin Qiu pressed against Man Jiangxue's chest, cautiously observing their location. "Were they people arranged by Martial Uncle?"
Man Jiangxue shook her head: "No."
Yin Qiu looked slightly surprised: "Then what happened to... the girl from before?"
Man Jiangxue said, "I don't know her either." She paused, "I did meet her once before in Hezhou City. She gave me a map of the Ziwei Sect's headquarters, which is why Wan Shu and I were able to sneak in relatively smoothly."
Yin Qiu was taken aback: "She gave you the blueprints? So, when she shot the arrow to interrupt Wen Chaoyu's suicide, she helped both us and the Ziwei Sect. What exactly is she trying to do?"
“It’s not clear yet,” Man Jiangxue said. “Let’s take a look first, and don’t make a sound.”
Yin Qiu nodded and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Across from them, Nangong Min glanced at them, as if he knew that Man Jiangxue and Yin Qiu were hiding in the shadows, but he didn't say anything. He just looked at the two of them and said with a smile, "Lively, very lively indeed. You two esteemed masters have graced my Ziwei Sect with your presence, both for that little girl?"
The woman in purple glanced at the man beside her, her gaze calm: "I have long admired the name of Master Nangong, and have come here today to meet him."
Nangong Min looked at her with a shifty gaze: "That little girl who shot the arrow looks like she's one of your people."
The woman in purple chuckled, "Indeed, my unruly disciple is being naughty and has disturbed Sect Leader Nangong. Please do not take it to heart, Sect Leader Nangong."
Nangong Min glanced at the man in black robes again, scanning him up and down, and said, "Your attire... did you bring those men in black outside?"
The man turned slightly to the side without saying a word.
Although he did not admit it, Nangong Min already knew what was going on. He smiled and said, "On our first meeting, you sent people to burn down my sect's headquarters. How do you plan to settle this score with me?"
The man remained silent.
He stood sideways, most of his face hidden under the brim of his hat, with only his silver mask reflecting the faint firelight, making him appear even colder.
Upon seeing the mask on his face, Yin Qiu's expression changed, and she secretly widened her eyes.
It's Young Master Fan!
How did he get here?!
Noticing that Yin Qiu seemed to pause for a moment, Man Jiangxue shifted her gaze to her and asked, "What's wrong?"
Yin Qiu was startled and quickly shook her head, saying, "It's nothing... I'm just a little cold."
Man Jiangxue glanced at her, then reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms.
·
“If I’m not mistaken, the two of you are complete strangers,” Nangong Min said calmly, as if nothing had happened that night. “That’s strange. You two came to my Ziwei Sect and stopped me on behalf of Man Jiangxue. Are you on good terms with Man Jiangxue, or do you have some connection with that child?”
Gongzi Fan remained silent, but the woman in purple said, "Naturally, we are on good terms with Yunhua Palace. When I heard they wanted to rescue someone, I came to help them."
Nangong Min looked at her and smiled slightly: "Is that so? But I think Man Jiangxue doesn't recognize you."
“Whether she recognizes me or not is not important,” the woman in purple said. “It’s enough that I recognize you.”
Nangong Min said, "So you've taken this opportunity to seek revenge on me?"
The woman in purple said, "You could say that. We'll have to deal with each other sooner or later. It just so happens that this young master is here as well. Although I don't know who he is, I don't mind showing up with him. I've long heard that Master Nangong is highly skilled in martial arts. How about we exchange a few blows?"
"Two against one?" Nangong Min raised an eyebrow, his expression mocking. "Although you two only made one move, I can already tell that you are not ordinary people. In addition, Man Jiangxue has not left either. You are trying to bully the few with the many. Isn't that a bit too unethical of the martial arts world?"
"The words 'jianghu code of honor' sound really grating coming from your mouth, Master Nangong," the woman in purple smiled. "Opportunities to outnumber the weak don't come often, so why not take advantage of them? If you're afraid to fight, just say so, and we'll naturally back down. Everyone's been busy for a long time tonight, and I'm exhausted too. If Master Nangong doesn't take care of his subordinates, I'm afraid your followers will soon be wiped out. All these houses, big and small, are burned to the ground. Master, you should pay more attention to your family and stop talking to us. That way, you'll save a few of your subordinates from dying."
Nangong Min remained unmoved, and said in an exceptionally friendly tone: "I keep them here to die. The house can be rebuilt after it burns down, so there's no need for you to worry about it, Miss."
The woman in purple said, "So, Sect Leader Nangong wants to spar with me?"
"I wouldn't dare," Nangong Min clasped his hands in a fist and said gently, "My protector surnamed Qin has already experienced your skills at Yunhua Mountain. Why should we fight? How can we hurt each other's feelings on our first meeting? Besides, you're just here for a visit and haven't caused any casualties to my Ziwei Sect. I'm a reasonable person and naturally won't hold it against you."
Understanding that she didn't want to clash with him, the woman in purple smiled faintly, returned Nangong Min's greeting with a fist salute, and then gracefully left the place.
She strolled out of the small courtyard, and the little girl from before darted out with a "whoosh," peeked at Nangong Min, and stuck out her tongue with a grin. The two, one big and one small, acted as if nothing had happened, and quickly disappeared without a trace after bypassing the cultists who were still fighting outside.
Nangong Min watched them leave quietly, and surprisingly did not try to stop them. When she turned around, Gongzi Fan had already disappeared without a trace.
Seeing this, Man Jiangxue did not want to linger any longer and immediately led Yin Qiu to the Magnolia Palace in secret.
The group had just left when Qin Zheng, who had been hiding in the shadows and watching without daring to show herself, suddenly flew down to Nangong Min's side. She looked at Man Jiangxue and Yin Qiu's backs, puzzled.
"The sect leader just let them go like that?"
Nangong Min glanced at her with a broad smile and said, "These three are not easy to deal with. I'm not afraid to admit it, but I really can't beat them, and there's no need for me to fight them."
Needless to say, the woman in purple was skilled in martial arts. Qin Zheng was beaten so badly by her last few moves that her meridians were disordered and several ribs were broken. She even had to spend her birthday banquet lying down and has not fully recovered since. The man in black was obviously not a kind person either. He dared to invade the Ziwei Sect and dared to confront Nangong Min head-on. If he did not have absolute skills, how could an ordinary person have such courage?
Not to mention Man Jiangxue, she was the most difficult one to fight.
If these three were to join forces to attack, even Nangong Min would not fare well.
After weighing all the factors, it was a wise move for Nangong Min to let them go.
The fact that such a large sect as the Ziwei Sect allowed these people to come and go as they pleased, and even destroyed its headquarters like this, Qin Zheng couldn't swallow this anger and said angrily, "We can't let them get away with this so easily! We lost a lot of followers tonight, and the headquarters was burned to the ground. We didn't get the Holy Sword, and we also lost Yin Qiu. Sect Leader, we've suffered a huge loss this time! If word gets out, we'll become a laughing stock in the martial arts world!"
In the night breeze, Nangong Min's red dress and black hair fluttered together, her eyes shining like stars. She showed no anger or frustration, but instead was radiant.
"Who said we suffered a loss?" Nangong Min said calmly, smiling leisurely. "Do you think I really wanted to leave that child in the Ziwei Sect? It's the same for her wherever she is. As for the Holy Sword, I have never been genuinely looking for it from beginning to end."
Hearing this, Qin Zheng was taken aback: "Sect Leader... doesn't want to find the Holy Sword?"
Nangong Min chuckled: "How could I not want to find it? It's a treasured sword passed down from generation to generation."
Just as Qin Zheng was about to voice her question, Nangong Min continued, "I know better than anyone who has the Holy Sword, it's just not the right time to take it back yet."
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