Fourteen or Three Requests
The existence of Yin Zong has always been shrouded in mystery.
It is not a sect in the traditional sense, but more like an organization.
The outside world knows nothing about their location, organization, or personnel. Even their members are hard to pin down; they simply follow orders, appearing at specific locations at specific times to perform ordinary tasks. Market vendors, wandering cultivators, and even disciples of prominent sects mingle among them. If there truly is a mastermind orchestrating the entire situation, their planning and control are terrifying.
Such strange behavior went unnoticed at first.
Around the time of Tianmu, the Yin Sect's activity reached its peak, and people began to notice some traces - this group of people had long been dedicated to collecting secret treasures left behind by ancient Taoist ancestors scattered throughout this world, meticulously setting up schemes, framing others, and even committing massacres of entire families. Their actions were meticulous and ruthless, and they often obliterated all traces afterwards. They were impossible to prevent beforehand and difficult to detect during the incident, so the truth behind many tragedies could only be pieced together many years later, confirming the involvement of the Yin Sect.
However, it is impossible to verify how many murders went undetected, and how many were wrongly attributed. All that is known is that during the Tianqi period, a few decades before Lu Yinche's accident, the Yin Sect's style of conduct suddenly deteriorated, and their focus shifted from ancient secret treasures to indiscriminate looting of all valuable "goodies."
Worse still, many scoundrels began to use the name of the "Sound Sect" to commit such low-level highway robbery. Their recklessness led them to besiege by both immortals and demons, and their whereabouts were hard to find for a hundred years.
"But what does this have to do with me? Why are you putting all the blame on me?"
"Haven't you heard about the murders you committed to steal the treasure?" Wei Qi sighed. "The widely circulated version is that you not only slaughtered the entire sect, but also killed nearly a thousand innocent people in your quest for the secret treasure."
Lu Yinche sneered.
"My sect only has one person in total - my master is at most half a disciple, and I can only be considered half of his disciple. This rumor is pure nonsense."
Wei Qi shook his head: "You didn't tell me these things, I only found out when they were shouting and calling for your death.
The key evidence to convict you is that among the many secret treasures stolen by Yin Zong, one is definitely the [Heart-Searching Bell]. Another is known to belong to your master, Xiaoyao Sanren, the [Spiritual Restoration Lamp].
He paused and emphasized, "It is said that you carried them one in each hand as you went to blow up Tianmen."
One in each hand? Lu Yinche frowned as he thought about his actions, wondering if someone was watching him do it?
"It's the Xuanji Tower's Tracing World Mirror. [Tracing back through a hundred generations, karma is revealed]. Why did you have to go and provoke them? Not only did you smash that beautiful mirror into pieces, but you also packed up the pieces and took them all away. You left one piece for them, and now you've got your comeuppance. They'll eventually find you, the culprit. They'll even unearth your majestic figure as you blew up the Heaven Gate. It was only a short clip, but anyone who saw it would know it was you."
Lu Yinche had some impression of this mirror, but he couldn't remember what good things he had done, so he could only smile and say, "I'd like to take a look."
Wei Qi taunted him, "If you're ready to be killed, the Immortal Alliance might let you look at your 'crimes' and repent."
"Speaking of the Immortal Alliance," Lu Yinche changed the subject, "When did they become so 'righteous'? And why is Liang Xin so persistent in pursuing me? How have I offended him?"
Wei Qi's expression grew serious. He glanced warily outside the door, making sure the soundproof calligraphy Lu Yinche had set up was intact before saying, "That's what I wanted to say. Originally... you had asked me to do that..."
Wei Qi said that not long after Yan Yanshu became the first Guixu cultivator after Tianmu to achieve the title of Sword Saint, Lu Yinche announced to several close friends that they were in love!
Without waiting for people to catch him and ask him questions, he packed up his belongings and moved to the snow-capped mountains in the north without any hesitation.
Wei Qi also went to look for him, but at that time Lu Yinche only used some half-true and half-false words to prevaricate, such as "a friend in need is a friend indeed", "I love you to death", "I can't live without him in this life".
...The more noisy and exaggerated it is, the more false it appears.
On the contrary, Yan Yanshu's expression was unfaithful, as if he had truly been tempted by worldly desires - even though everyone had previously believed that he was practicing the path of ruthlessness.
"Is this true? He is not ruthless?" Lu Yinche was shocked.
"Are you satisfied with breaking the vow for you?" Wei Qi asked him not to interrupt.
Wei Qi had some kinship with the Gong family and had lived in their home when he was young. Thus, he got to know Gong Jin, the young master of the Gong family at that time, as well as Lu Yinche and others who often came to visit.
The last time he saw Lu Yinche was on a winter day three hundred years ago. Lu Yinche personally sent a letter inviting him and Gong Jin to go to the northern border to enjoy the snow.
This medical practitioner who grew up in Nanjun has been afraid of cold since childhood, and his cultivation is not enough to easily draw the inner energy to protect his body. He was so cold that he gritted his teeth all the way and scolded Lu Yinche for an hour and a half.
After he had eaten and drunk his fill and felt a little warmer, Wei Qi was suddenly told by Lu Yinche that he was the instigator of the Tianmu Incident. He cursed for another hour.
Now that I think about it, Gong Jin at that time... didn't look surprised at all.
Wei Qi suddenly realized that because he was obsessed with medicine, he was too far away from the treacherous current situation.
At that time, Lu Yinche had private conversations with Wei Qi and Gong Jin respectively. The conversation with Wei Qi was quite harmonious.
Lu Yinche frankly confessed that he was seriously injured, his consciousness in disarray, and his soul incomplete, all due to the Tianmu Incident, but avoided discussing the details. Although Wei Qi was horrified, he could only suppress his emotions and listen to him talk as if he were explaining his last wishes.
Lu Yinche said three things:
First, besides opening the Heavenly Gate, he also did many other things, trivial and unrelated to Wei Qi, so I won't go into detail. However, this would attract a vengeance from his enemies, and he was prepared to suffer another serious injury, perhaps horrific. He begged Wei Qi not to intervene to treat him, lest he be implicated and unable to escape.
"Everyone knows that you and I are close friends," Wei Qi recalled, his face darkening. "How could I stand by and watch you dying while you were seriously injured? But since you insist on doing this, I can only leave you some elixirs to keep you alive."
Facts have proved that these pills did have some effect after Lu Yinche was hit by Feng Ling's sword, and they barely saved his life.
Second, Lu Yinche handed Wei Qi a strange list.
They were labeled with crude code names, such as Tall, Pockmarked Face, and so on, along with specific times and locations, and some even indicated the type of poison and injuries. The list involved more than ten people.
He asked Wei Qi to help the people on the list and treat their injuries when the time was right in the future, as a way of repaying Wei Qi for his kindness in purchasing the storybooks for them over the years.
"How could I refuse your trust?" Wei Qi said, "Later, I treated them one by one, which was not difficult. The most expensive one was not as precious as the elixir I left for you. But..."
He paused, his voice low, "This list of people who can 'predict' the injured, don't you think... looks too much like the work of the 'Sound Sect'? It seems unrelated, yet it's like an invisible web controlling the entire situation. I'm afraid even I'm part of your scheme. However, I have no regrets."
Lu Yinche hesitated to speak.
Although he was not as proficient in divination as Ding Zhu, he was also well versed in it and knew how difficult it was to achieve such an accurate "prediction".
Wei Qi said, "I'm not as familiar with Ding Zhu as you are. But since he's your closest friend, he must be trustworthy. I tentatively asked him about this matter after arriving at Cheng Xiao Sect. He didn't say much, only revealing that you had entrusted him with some tasks, and hinting that exchanging information would be inappropriate. He's an expert in astrology and believes in cause and effect, so I didn't ask any further questions."
Lu Yinche asked, "So... your stay in Chengxiao Sect is also because of me?"
"Not entirely," Wei Qi shook his head. "I'm just a nominal external doctor, just looking to 'lean in for the shade'. If there's any connection, it's probably more to do with the third thing you mentioned."
Third, it is the present.
Lu Yinche explained that he might have mental issues when he emerged from seclusion after being seriously injured, and that the situation would have subsided by then. He pleaded with Wei Qi to treat him. Wei Qi was initially concerned, wondering if he had completely lost his mind and was no longer human, but was relieved to discover that he was only slightly forgetful. This also explains why Wei Qi was not overly shocked when he learned of Lu Yinche's amnesia.
But there are still twists and turns.
Ever since Lu Yinche vanished from a serious injury three hundred years ago, rumors have circulated that he was in seclusion, leaving Wei Qi unaware of his whereabouts. The Immortal Alliance's pursuit of him was thwarted by the Sword Saint's sword strike, effectively closing the case.
However, sixty years ago, the situation changed dramatically. Liang Xin, the new leader of the Immortal Alliance, came to power and threatened to reopen the old case! Besides the crimes of Tianmen, which Lu Yinche had personally admitted to, he also listed over eighty other "pending" charges, vowing to bring him to justice.
Wei Qi was puzzled as he had never heard of any conflict between Liang Xin and Lu Yinche before.
Lu Yinche said, "So, the third thing I entrusted you with might not necessarily be 'now.' If I had clearly stated 'the storm has subsided,' it must have been to avoid implicating you. But now I'm still on the wanted list, so wouldn't that have delayed you?"
Wei Qi said sternly, "Don't flatter me! How could I possibly revive the dead or turn flesh and bones into dust? I'm not exaggerating. Your physical body is already damaged, and your spiritual consciousness is even more shattered. I don't need to examine you closely to know that if you continue to suffer like this, how many days can you still jump around?"
Lu Yinche knew this was the truth and pressed on, "Furthermore, what do you mean by 'pending charges'? Judging from his actions, it's clear he wants to nail me to the pillar of shame. Why use such ambiguous terms?"
"That's why the world almost unanimously curses you," Wei Qi said sarcastically, "We are the 'magnanimous', 'prudent and fair' Immortal Alliance. What are you? Do I need to explain? I want to defend you, but who will listen? Even a figure like Feng Ling retired because of you and stayed away from the world. There are countless people who change their minds according to the situation! As for others, Gong Jin..."
He paused, his face showing annoyance: "Forget it, let's not talk about him."
Lu Yinche's eyes flickered slightly: "How about Gong Jin? I must have entrusted him with something, right? He owes me a favor that I will never be able to repay in several lifetimes."
He spoke with a smile, and it was obvious that he had a deep friendship with Gong Jin.
But this smile made Wei Qi even more unhappy: "Yes! You probably asked him to 'break up' with you, and then go to the Immortal Alliance to report you for blowing up the Tianmen Gate!"
It turned out that the fuse that ignited the fire of pursuit was actually Gong Jin.
Lu Yinche understood.
Given Gong Jin's ability to assess the situation, he could have done something like "defection" without arousing suspicion. However... after years of friendship, Gong Jin must have felt a pang of pain, just like the torment Wei Qi felt when he forced him to stand aside and watch.
For a few close friends, words are no longer enough.
Only deep gratitude.
"So in the end," Lu Yinche rubbed his brow, suppressed his chaotic thoughts, and changed to a more practical question, "No one knows what's going on between me and Yan Yanshu? I really have a bond with him."
Wei Qi said, "If I had known this would happen, I would have let me gossip to my heart's content. Why am I groping in the dark now? I'm asking for trouble."
"But," he said with a hint of sarcasm, "isn't there still one person involved who's still alive and kicking? If you just shout to the heavens, 'Husband, save me,' I guarantee he'll be there in a heartbeat, no matter where in the world he's at, and he'll answer your every question and do whatever you ask."
Lu Yinche: "Please forgive me..."
This was strange. It was fine if I was just joking with him, but what about Yan Yanshu? Didn't he care? Wei Qi, was he actually that close to him?
"Ache." Wei Qi's voice suddenly became deep, no longer containing any hint of joking.
Lu Yinche looked at him.
"Ever since I met you, you've been the smartest one. No one can beat you in chess. We're all willing to be your pawns. At least... I am."
He paused, retracted his gaze, and looked seriously at Lu Yinche's slightly stiff back: "You can also... believe in yourself a little more. Whether it's the you of the past or the you of the present. I believe that every step we take is moving in the best direction. Even though... I have never seen the whole game clearly."
Lu Yinche stopped at the door and did not move for a long time.
Finally, he lowered his head and chuckled softly, "Why are you suddenly so sentimental? I'm not used to it."
"Tsk!" Wei Qi immediately turned his head away, not wanting him to see his expression. "You get embarrassed when it comes to serious matters. If you're new to this, practice more!"
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